The Cook Out is an interesting beast because no one can seem to figure out where they’re based. I’ve heard reports that they are out of Greensboro (NC), but they don’t seem to have a web site at this writing, and it just doesn’t seem to be anything that anyone can verify.
Nonetheless, the company is doing something right. Their down-home style, the original hamburgers “cooked outdoors style”, the 36 “creamery” premium milkshakes and the retro styling of the building has kept the double drive-thru near our house hopping since they opened nearly six months ago.
My only complaint is that the milkshakes are more like a soft-serve sundae. Nothing wrong with that, mind you, it just makes it hard to drink through the straw. The flavor is stll quite good, you understand. It’s just better eaten with a spoon.
As to the food, it’s good. I’m not a huge fan of burgers, so it’s tough to judge, but I’ve been happy enough with what I’ve had to eat, and the family seems to be okay with what they have had as well. Not earth-shattering, but not bad either. Probably worth checking out the next time you’re driving by one.
Update – thanks to Elizabeth, below, we now have an online version of Cook Out’s menu.
Comments
98 responses to “Cook Out Restaurant”
I am very pleased with the taste and variety of food at The Cook Out. I am from Greenville, NC. The only problem we have here is that traffic in Greenville can be extremely heavy all over the city and even with the double drive through and walk up window they are really causing major issues with cars backing up traffic on Memorial Drive trying to get onto the property. With the popularity of this restaurant we probably need at least 3 to 4 more of The Cook Outs through out the city, with one near the East Carolina University campus areas. Just food for thought!
Almost as frustrating as the enigma surrounding headquarters location are the inconsistent menus from place to place. I want brownie in my milkshakes and can only get it at the one next to NC State. The lady off Sugar Creek in Charlotte laughed at me when I asked. Unfortunately this renders cookouts elsewhere in the state useless. Does anyone else live near one that offers brownie? Also I know they are NC based, but I wonder where they get their menu influence from, “Chili Cheese Dogs” (i.e. chili, cheese, onions, but no hot dog, all in a hot dog bun) are absolutely a Cincinnati thing.(rarely found outside the region actually)
Just to set a couple of small facts straight:
Cook-Out did not begin in Florida. Morris Reaves might live there or in Texas, as I’ve heard conflicting stories, but he opened the first Cook-out on Randleman Rd in Greensboro. The Headquarters (if it can really be called such) is still in Greensboro, toward Sedgefield.
They ARE originally a Florda based operation but they’re main office is now in Greensboro.
Welp… I found the ‘cook out office’ on kestermill road in winston-salem, called it. Gentleman there gave me a phone number, and said it was corporate office, located in Archdale, NC.
336-431-1094
called it, it works, unlike the three numbers listed previously here that were “disconnected”
This whole cookout thing is like an enigma, it has everyone confused.
I left a message on the corporate voicemail stating that they should make a website so that everyone can easily find information they need without all the confusion.
I just plainly want a list of locations so I can plan to have a cookout to eat at when I go to Roanoke Rapids.
They don’t even list them on maps.google.com under the businesses.
Bizarre.
Hopefully tomorrow when I call the corporate number again during regular business hours, I’ll get a solid answer.
I am a current student at East Carolina University. I used to live in Raleigh, NC before i came to college here, and went to all of the time. A Cookout would be perfect here because all of the students are looking for really cheap, but delicious fast food! I am going to send a letter to Jeremy Reaves to open a location over here because there will be tons of business.
FL did have a Cook Out, but it was in a poor area so it had to be closed. Wilmington lot was recently purchased and is near UNC-W, but keep in mind it is roughly a 2 year process to get a store up and running from the date the land is bought. All large cities in NC will have a Cook Out, Asheville, Lumberton, etc, but they must wait their turn. A company that grows too fast can lose control, it must grow at a steady rate. If there is a Cook Out just one city over then it’s a good chance your city is on the list coming up soon. The “list” always changes so no point in even posting it… next major college town coming up… GREENVILLE
The cookout will start franchising eventually and they will dominate whichever market it enters! The food was very good.. probably unhealthy, but delicious.
I live in Greensboro, NC, and I just wanted to put in a good word for our Cook Out here, on Battleground Ave., because it’s great. The food is invariably delicious and the service is fast – even when the line of cars is backed out into the street, which it often is. If anyone’s ever in the area I recommend the Oreo Mint milkshake. 🙂
I’m in High Point. We have a Cookout on Main Street here. Every once in a while I go to Cookout and I do not get good food. Tonight the hamburger is pink. The cheese fries had barely any cheese on it. The thing I don’t like… There is no way to call Cookout. Try finding a phone number… they aren’t listed. The fact that they don’t have a website makes me think they don’t want to hear from the public. I’m not that crazy about Cookout because of the lack of contact… If you are hiding from someone there has to be a reason..