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It’s probably safe to say that anyone who’s ever had In-N-Out Burger suddenly just got very hungry! Truth be told, Alicia can keep her Chik-Fil-A (which Vegas is, admittedly, sorely lacking) because I have In-N-Out!

In-N-Out Burger is, without exception, something everyone in my family can agree on when we need a quick lunch or dinner. It’s also the first place visiting friends and family want to go – in fact, one brother-in-law loves it so much we were waiting at the front door for them to open at 10:30am during his last visit!

In-N-Out began in 1948 by Harry and Esther Snyder in Baldwin Park, California. Their first shop has the distinction of being the first drive-thru fast food stand in the state! Their philosphy is one that has lived on for decades now: “Give customers the freshest, highest quality foods you can buy and provide them with friendly service in a sparkling clean environment.”

Two other simple things speak volumes about In-N-Out: They don’t advertise on TV (in Vegas anyway – my husband says they used to in California), and their food is the only fast food I have ever had that looks exactly the same as the pictures on the order board. Most sit-down restaurants can’t even claim that! Their fries are also made from actual whole potatoes, cut right there in the restaurant which makes them some of the best I’ve ever had.

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In-N-Out also has a kind of “secret” ordering menu that’s not actually printed and really isn’t kept secret on purpose – it’s just something that’s evolved over the years and people who eat there often know they can change things up the basic menu of hamburgers and cheeseburgers now and then:

- Animal Style (burger and/or fries): The fries are topped with two slices of melted cheese, spread, and grilled onions. The burgers are cooked using mustard, and are then topped with pickles, extra spread, and grilled onions.

- Grilled Cheese: Everything that the cheeseburger includes, minus the meat patty. Can be ordered with or without onions as well as “animal style”.

- Protein Style: Any burger that is offered on the menu will be wrapped in lettuce instead of a bun.

- M x C (3×3, 4×4): “M” meaning number of meat patties and “C” meaning number of cheese slices. Therefore, the 3×3 is three meat patties and three slices of cheese. The 4×4 is four meat patties and four slices of cheese. The biggest burger is a 4×4.

- Double Meat: Simply the Double Double without cheese.

- Veggie Burger: A burger without meat or cheese- only vegetables are used.

- The Flying Dutchman: Two meat patties and two slices of cheese. No bun, vegetables, or spread are inlcuded.

- Well Done Fries: Fries are cooked longer than others, resulting in a crispy fry.

- Lite Fries: Fries are not cooked as long, resulting in a softer fry.

- Neapolitan Shake: Combination of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry shakes.

To order, you’d just ask for “a double double animal style,” etc. My favorite is the single patty animal style with well done fries! What’s yours?

There are dozens of locations throughout California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona. The most popular one in Vegas (because of its close proximity to the Strip) is located at 4888 Dean Martin Dr. (formerly Industrial Rd). The remaining locations are at:

5690 Centennial Center Blvd.

1960 Rock Springs Dr.

51 N. Nellis Blvd.

2900 W. Sahara Ave.

4705 S. Maryland Pkwy.

9230 S. Eastern Ave.

All locations are open Sunday through Thursday 10:30am-1:00am, and Friday and Saturday 10:30am-1:30am.

(For the fun of it, check out this page about the customer who ordered a 100×100!)

Post from: The Las Vegas Adventurer

My husband was treated to dinner at Lucille’s Smokehouse a few months ago after finishing up a late night at work. He brought home a few ribs for me to try and I’ve been impatiently waiting until we could all go together!

We finally made it out to Green Valley Ranch in Henderson to try it out and I think it’s safe to say the entire family is hooked – it’s definitely one of our new favorite restaurants!

We were promptly seated outside (we were given the choice to sit inside or out) and the kids were given crayons and menus that they could color on (always a hit).

Our drinks were delivery promptly – the kids’ in plastic lidded cups and ours in mason jars – by our very friendly waitress. The kids ordered ribs, a hamburger and the bbq chicken and ate every bite, which is saying something for one of them (she gets full just looking at food!).

My husband ordered a half rack of ribs (and ended up taking a few home anyway!) and I ordered the tri tip salad, which I sadly didn’t care much for – the dressing was too sweet and didn’t seem to go well with the beef. The beef itself was tender and perfectly cooked, the greens were fresh, but the dressing really threw the whole thing off. That hasn’t discouraged me, though – I’m looking forward to going back and trying something new.

The menu runs the gamut of what you’d expect from a barbecue restaurant: various salads with grilled meat, full racks and half racks of baby back ribs, spare ribs, combo platters, steaks, sandwiches and burgers, soups, and seafood.

Our meal came with a plate of corn muffins and apple butter (another hit) and our waitress kept on top of refills and napkin requests which was impressive because it was lunchtime on a Saturday and while the restaurant wasn’t full it definitely wasn’t empty!

Lucille’s is located at The District at Green Valley Ranch in Henderson and is open Sunday to Thursday from 11am – 10pm, and Friday and Saturday from 11am to 11pm. You can also order your meal online for pick-up, and even make a reservation as well.

Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que
The District at Green Valley Ranch
257-RIBS (7427)
2245 Village Walk Drive
Henderson, Nevada

[photos: personal collection, all rights reserved]

Post from: The Las Vegas Adventurer