We waited nearly an hour to try Tampa Bay's first Cook Out
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Photo: Yacob Reyes/Axios
I made the pilgrimage this week to Tampa Bay's first Cook Out.
Why it matters: The North Carolina-based chain is a cult classic, serving up chargrilled burgers, crinkle fries, milkshakes and walking tacos to boot.
- Cook Out is the latest in a string of popular eateries to hit town, joining recent arrivals Dutch Bros and Whataburger.
Driving the news: In line with its reputation as a college staple — thanks to its late hours and low prices — the restaurant opened its doors just a short distance from the University of South Florida's Tampa campus.
- So, after tucking in the newsletter on Wednesday, I returned to my old stomping ground, armed with recommendations from my Axios colleagues in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Richmond, Virginia.
- I turned into the lot at 6:54pm, where employees waved me through a maze of parked cars into a line so long I could barely see the restaurant.
Zoom in: I looped around the restaurant (three times), stopping and starting and stopping again for nearly an hour — longer than it would take me to drive from my home in Carrollwood to my co-author Kathryn Varn's in St. Petersburg.
- While I braved Cook Out's drive-thru line, I perused its menu, which felt almost as long as the wait.
- I decided on a big double burger tray (cheddar style, hold the bacon), with Cajun fries and a Roos walking taco. I tacked on an Oreo peanut butter milkshake to wash it all down — waistline be damned.
State of plate: It wasn't until 7:41pm that I got my order — and, feeling claustrophobic, I promptly vacated the parking lot and nestled in a sleepier one down the road, where I inhaled the tray.
- The fries were seasoned to perfection, and the burger was cooked through with a nice smoky edge.
- But the standouts were the walking taco and the milkshake.
Three-word review: Worth the wait.