Just a two minute drive from campus, Cookie’s is a sleepy old drive-in restaurant that doesn’t exactly grab your attention as it sits on 57th and H Street.

This being my first visit to Cookie’s I actually drove right by the place; it kind of blends in with the scenery. Cookie’s isn’t the chicest place to have a meal, but has to be doing something right to have stayed in business this long.

While Cookie’s may not be visually captivating it has some original quirks that you won’t find at just any drive-in. They serve Ostrich burgers! They even have posters up that promote the strange feast claiming that the burgers are low in fat, low in cholesterol and high in protein.

They also serve a variety of other unexpected treats that offer customers a modern twist on typical fast food. These treats include veggie burgers and fruit shakes, in flavors like blackberry, mango and coconut. They serve traditional drive-in cuisine like burgers, fries and soft-serve ice cream. The extensive menu at Cookie’s has a little something for everyone.

It has all of the basics that many students look for in a fast food meal.

First, and perhaps most importantly, the food just tastes good. The fries were unbelievable – much better than those served at McDonald’s, which, shamefully, is usually my first pick when it comes to fast food. Their burgers are pretty satisfying as well. The one I tried tasted fresh and it wasn’t too greasy.

The overall quality is noticeably higher than typical fast food restaurants and is definitely worth an extra dollar or two.

The main difference between Cookie’s and typical fast food restaurants, however, is the issue of convenience.

In order to eat at Cookie’s you have to physically get out of your car because they don’t have a drive-thru.

In addition to lacking the drive-thru, they are locally owned with only one location to choose from.

They are a local mom-and-pop shop, so you know they won’t be sprouting up on every corner like all the big players in the fast food industry.

One thing that seemed a little strange was the 75 cent charge on every debit or credit card purchase. This seemed a little archaic to me. I mean, who really carries cash on them anymore?

The last reason students might flock to a place like this is its uniqueness. Cookie’s gives its customers more options and is one of those cool hole-in-the-wall places that serves up some good grub.

You’ll stay entertained while you’re there too, as for your reading enjoyment they even have children’s books in Chinese in the indoor dining area.

The employees were nice enough and the service was quick. During the 15 or 20 minutes I spent inside peacefully enjoying my juicy burger, a pair of regulars came in and talked with the staff as if they had been going there for years. This discreet little drive-in seems to have a loyal customer base who returns again and again for the hometown feel and exotic menu.

I think, however, that it would appeal to students more if they stayed open past 7 p.m. on weekdays. This is one of the restaurant’s few drawbacks. Its somewhat limited hours of operation make Cookie’s more likely to be a lunch stop. I’m pretty sure this place would be a late night, post-bar favorite if it stayed open later.

Kate Jones can be reached at [email protected]