In and Out Burger Double 2011 Summer Vacation California Las Vegas July 24, 201126 originally uploaded by Steven Depolo
A few weeks back I was asked to attend a preview event for a new restaurant chain coming to Minnesota. The information from the PR firm was thin but I signed up to attend the event anyway and I headed over on Friday evening to see who was coming to Minnesota who may be worth visiting.
I have to admit that after receiving similar invitations for both Old Chicago and T.G.I. Friday’s I was a little skeptical that this would be worth my time. When I arrived and smelled burgers cooking I was even more skeptical. Minnesota has been inundated with burger joints lately and with so many other local and chain restaurants serving pretty decent burgers as of late, I really didn’t see why they were making such a big deal out this new chain. Until they revealed the name: In-N-Out Burger.
Now, I admit to being no fan of In-N-Out burgers. To me they’re no better than Wendy’s. However, I know that there are plenty of people who absolutely adore this chain and will be lining up for months to get a taste of what they used to have to fly to the West Coast to get a taste.
The restaurant was filled with employees, a few bloggers toting cameras, and some city officials. We were told we could order anything we wanted and we were asked to give our honest feedback about the product and whether we’d had the burgers before.
I ordered a double-double with everything: lettuce, tomato, spread, and onions; an order of fries; and a vanilla shake. The Wife ordered a cheese burger without onions, fries, and a strawberry shake. While we didn’t have to pay for our items as part of this promotional event, from what we were told the prices will be competitive with Five Guys and the various other similar chains serving burgers around town.
The review:
- The burgers, again, didn’t impress me much. Even though I hadn’t tried a Nookie Supreme in 2006 when I had my first In-N-Out, time and experience did nothing to improve these for me. That said there were lots of smiles around the room–much in the same way that people believe the burgers at Lion’s Tap in Eden Prairie, because they heard they were great, not because they actually are.
The fries, which never impress me regardless of venue, were fine. Nothing special there but I do appreciate that they make them fresh and in-house–just like any other restaurant worth its salt does.
The shake was ok. I love shakes and have them very rarely and while this was tasty, it wasn’t enough to make me want to drive to Hastings on any regular basis to get them–especially when I’d have to fight the droves of the clueless to do so.
In addition to not caring for the burgers themselves, I really didn’t understand the decision to open the first Minnesota In-N-Out location in Hastings of all places. I feel this would be much better suited somewhere more centrally located such as Minneapolis or St. Paul but the staff on hand assured everyone in attendance that their market research showed Hastings would be an exceptional location for them to begin. At this time they have no plans for other Minnesota locations but they said it is definitely not outside the realm of possibility within the next 2-4 years.
Overall I was unimpressed with the burgers, the location and especially the hype they’re planning around the opening of In-N-Out’s first Minnesota location. I am sure it will be wildly popular and get the traffic they claim but it’s not because it’s really worth it but instead because people want to think it’s a great burger, not because it really is.
Have you ever eaten at In-N-Out before? If so what did you think and what did you order? How do you think it compares to other burger joints both chain and local? Are you planning to be there, waiting in a day-long+ line (their prediction) as soon as it opens next week? Whatever you have to say about this one go ahead and comment on as I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Address:
In-N-Out
15912 153rd St NW
Hastings, MN 55033
Hours:
Monday to Sunday: 10:30 AM – 1:30 AM
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April 1st, 2012 at 7:21 am
I’m a fan of In-N-Out but I don’t lose sight of what it is at the end of the day: a fast food restaurant. Much like the extreme hype there was when Sonic first arrived a few years ago, I won’t be running to an INO anytime soon. I’ll wait for the hype to die down and then maybe I’ll swing by but I’m not in any rush to go there. Hastings is quite a drive from where I live now and no fast food is special enough for me to need to drop everything and drive 30+ minutes for.
Are they open now Bill?
April 1st, 2012 at 8:02 am
Happy April Fools Day to you too, Bill!
April 1st, 2012 at 8:05 am
Bill, neither Google earth or Mapquest can find that address. It sounds to me like that should be at about the corner of 160th and General Seiben Drive, using the county numbering system. Am I close? There is a lot of traffic now on 160th and it will only grow.
April 1st, 2012 at 8:17 am
Lol, I got got.
April 1st, 2012 at 10:02 am
Man. I totally fell for this. I suck.
April 1st, 2012 at 10:24 am
There’s no way In-N-Out would put a place here, the state is starting to impose no trans fats laws and carbon taxes for meat producers. I wish though, man do I wish.
April 1st, 2012 at 11:54 am
Ozzie, delete your post.
April 1st, 2012 at 1:40 pm
Kudos Bill… and i thought the Wicked Palate Food Truck was our April Fools day serving given early, that is until I saw the article in the weekly newspaper. LMAO ….. da noive.
April 1st, 2012 at 1:54 pm
bill 1, lazy ltg readers, 0
bb
April 1st, 2012 at 9:03 pm
That was pretty good.
April 1st, 2012 at 9:17 pm
It’ll be right next door to the Dunkin Donuts right?
April 2nd, 2012 at 8:48 am
I just emailed this to Amanda. I think she was wetting her pants she was so excited. Then I read the comments. :(
When I told her, she IMed me back and said, “I’m gonna kill u.” If that happens, I will blame it on you and this post. Considered yourself warned.
April 2nd, 2012 at 12:47 pm
Cruel.
April 3rd, 2012 at 7:00 am
I didn’t even know there was an In-N-Out Burger in the whole state! I’d say that this will be a great surprise for my husband, except that I know he reads this blog. ;-)
April 3rd, 2012 at 7:07 am
And that it’s an April Fools joke ;-)
April 3rd, 2012 at 10:51 am
Damn. You got me! ;-)
April 3rd, 2012 at 12:21 pm
CRAPPPPPPPPPPP… You had me going! I was SOOO excited! I am from California and crave In-N-Out burgers ALL THE TIME!
Oh well! Good joke!
April 3rd, 2012 at 8:16 pm
Well, thank heavens Lakeville will pick up the slack by potentially adding the finest hamburger establishment in the country! I know I was hoping for a McDonalds within walking distance…Especially since there are none for at least 2 miles in every direction…
April 3rd, 2012 at 9:09 pm
The proximity to the others is what’s confusing to me. I mean I guess it made more sense when there was thoughts that housing would actually be going up in that area and there would be traffic on that road but seriously, it’s a decade or more away at this point.
Really and seriously, just drive to Farmington or AV and be done with it. Ridiculous.
April 4th, 2012 at 8:55 am
This is why I read posts from April 1st, on April 4th.
April 5th, 2012 at 1:25 pm
Oh, man, that sucked! I was super excited (despite the scathing review). But I was had!
April 8th, 2012 at 7:02 am
[...] we skipped last week’s poll due to my annual April Fools Day post, the week before I asked if you were looking forward to more summer or more winter. While a few [...]
April 17th, 2012 at 8:05 pm
Lakeville City Council approved the new McDonald’s in Lakeville. Dino’s building to be razed in favor of a new McDonald’s at Dodd & Cedar.
April 18th, 2012 at 9:29 am
Yes I know this post was an April Fools day joke, but I’m currently on vacation in Arizona and actually went to an In-N-Out place for dinner one night. It was without a doubt one of the most disgusting meals I’ve ever had. It made White Castle look like an upgrade!
April 21st, 2012 at 3:45 pm
@Greg – That sucks. I like Dino’s. Not the best “Greek” food around town, but it’s close and a crap load better than anything you can get at McDonald’s. There is so much vacant land around that intersection, including properties that are easier to get in and out of and have better visibility. Why McDonald’s would buy an existing restaurant and tear it down just doesn’t make sense to me. A zoning thing maybe?
I’m sure Dino’s isn’t doing well at that location, I can’t imagine anything in that cluster@#$% mall is, but still sucks to see them go.
April 22nd, 2012 at 8:17 am
The story is that Mickey D’s wanted to build in that spot back in 2003 when they were developing that area, but for some reason didn’t. Obviously they’ve decided it’s still a good spot, and are now pulling the trigger.
I agree, there are other spots open that would be easier, but I would guess that form their point of view, it’s an ideal spot because all they have to do it build a new kit building, and don’t have to develop parking, curbing, entrances, etc. All of that is already in place.
December 31st, 2012 at 7:30 am
[...] In-N-Out Burger: Hastings, MN [...]