The Root Beer Stand

In St. Marys, Ohio, the root beer stand on Celina Road was the place to hang out with your family. It was a great place to get shredded chicken sandwiches and root beer. You pulled up in your car, a carhop came out and took your order, then brought everything on a tray that hung from your car window. Tonight for dinner, Ann and I drove up to Richmond to the Dog N Suds,   

a classic root beer stand that has made few changes since the 1950's.  There is still only a sign menu that you read from your car:   

As you can see, the menu is straightforward 50's drive-in fare, with an emphasis on hamburgers and  hot dogs. Ann had the pork tenderloin sandwich, which, although not as good as you get from Behm's landing in St. Marys, is still pretty good. Sandwiches can come as a basket with fries and cole slaw, or you can order onion rings. No strawberry pecan salads, mango fruit cups, or chicken caesar wraps. No avocados, no sprouts, no monterey jack cheese. If you want something a little different, have tater tots instead of fries. And for dessert, ice cream and funnel cakes. The only concession to today is that the carhops enter your order on a palm screen, before bringing out your food tray and hanging it on the car window. You can get your root beer in a big frosted mug just like the old days. And when you are done, how do you let them know to pick up your tray? The old-timers know, turn on your car headlights, that's right. All in all, it was worth the trip, even if Anderson's candy store was closed as we went through town. Come visit some time and we'll take a drive back to the fifties.   

Believe me, this is good food, and I better not hear any nonsense about your cholesterol. In the 50's, we didn't have cholesterol, so lighten up and eat your corn dog. You'll be fine.