"DriveThru" news and stories

Out of all the fast food restaurants, Carl's Jr. probably changes -- or at least augments -- its menu the most often. There's always some newish, vaguely titillating, really-bad-for-you item advertised with a giant banner outside.

On this go round through the drive-in, the wind-fluttered photos were pushing the Mint Oreo Shake, Farmer John's Jumbo Chili Dog, Carl's Catch Fish Sandwich, Crisp Burritos and the Kentucky Bourbon Burger.

While we could have made this a multipart series entitled "Lissa Becomes Quite Hefty Indeed," I decided to restrict myself to the latter two choices, the burritos and the bourbon burger.

Carl's Jr. continues its eternal variations upon the cheeseburger with the guacamole bacon burger. One of their more successful efforts (I still recall my disappointment with the brilliant-in-concept Teriyaki burger and I continue to vacillate on the matter of the Western Bacon Burger.), it has appeared on the menu before. Now, however, it's being offered in single, double and six-dollar variations, with the size reflected in the price.

I went for the latter (Hey, if you're gonna indluge in the drive-thru, indulge in the drive-thru). and found it to be a darn sight better than the average fast food burger. The patty was thick and juicy, the guacamole was pleasantly spicy and the bacon was actually of a quality and amount to enhance the burger, rather than detract from it, like most fast-food bacon-on-burgers.

The guacamole bacon burger was named the official burger of last month's 2008 California Avocado Festival and it's a pretty solid choice. It also makes me consider what other high-end flavors I'd like to see on my low-end burgers. The grilled pineapple on the aforementioned Teriyaki burger raised my hopes, the the execution was distressingly bland. Mushroom Swiss burgers have been tried with varying degress of success, although the chili burgers are usually not terribly enticing. Toppings like brie, caramaleized red onions, roasted tomatoes or any lettuce beyond iceberg is probably out of range. Still, it'll give you something to mull over next time you're waiting at the window for your extra ketchup.

A breakfast sandwich is always a filling, satisfying way to begin the day--or, occasionally, end the night. One of the things I truly missed when I left New York City was the glory of the corner bodega breakfast sandwich. So, I'm always interested when one of the local West Coast, drive-thru, fast food franchise joints comes up with a new combo of bread, egg and cheese. The two most recent entries, Dunkin' Donuts' Egg White Turkey Sausage Flatbread Sandwich and Carl's Jr.'s Monster Breakfast Sandwich lie proudly at opposite ends of the spectrum. A clear-cut rivaly of health vs. indulgence, but what of taste?

Should someone in a wheelchair be allowed to use the drive thru windows at fast food places and coffee shops?

That's the question in Weymouth, MA. Donald Hayes has to use a motorized wheelchair, and he used to go to his local Dunkin' Donuts every morning to get coffee at the drive thru window, but then the establishment stopped serving him, since he wasn't in a car. They cite safety concerns, and a spokesman says that they don't have a corporate policy regarding wheelchairs, even if it is a "motorized vehicle."

Hayes is thinking about suing the coffee and donut giant (and one lawyer says he has a case since the place isn't wheelchair accessible), but says what he really wants is to be able to get his coffee every morning at the window.

Readers, what do you think?