Boomer's Drive-In - Bellingham, WA

Time for the Piglets' monthly trip for groceries and other knick knacks!  Like I said before, Bellingham is full of great eateries so if you're down here for gas, groceries or just passing through, there are some eateries worth stopping by for.  Just like this place:

Boomer's Drive In is one of those places, even just for the nostalgia (it's an actual drive in where people actually drive in!).  They boast of gourmet burgers, famous waffle fries, ice cream shakes and of course the carhop service which I was pleased to see people were utilizing on this rare sunny day in April.

 

It looks empty in the photos but I was just that lucky that when I decided to snap a photo, there was no one around.  Not much to see on the inside except some tables and chairs but there's a giant fireplace in the center which obscures the camera's view but is kinda cool since you can sit around it.  It's a no frills place as well - you go up, you order and they bring it to your table.  The menu is quite extensive - lots of burger options, a ton of shake flavors, salads, hot dogs, a variety of ice cream flavors (in waffle cones!), sides and other dessert items.  Now, what to order...

Combo #1 - $7.49

Since Mr. Piglet and I hadn't been here before, we wanted to try their good ole Boomer's burger, the famous waffle fries and a shake (of course) so this was the perfect combo for us.

The burger meat was a bit too thin for Mr. Piglet but he still liked it - it tasted good but he just wished there was more whereas I liked the crunch that the thin patty gave.  It's not the thickest burger but it's spread out so it's still a good size with lots of toppings.  Mr pointed out that you don't end up with the "all-bun-no-meat" scenario that you can get from some other burger places.

Waffle Fries

We LOVED the waffle fries for the shape first of all but also for their seasoning salt and crispiness.  I don't think I'll be able to look at a regular fry the same way again.

Chocolate Chip Mint Shake

The shake was pretty darn good and uber thick!  Probably because it's made from real ice cream...  I think we both got a good workout of our sucking muscles.  Hm, that didn't sound right...  I think I would've preferred a spoon or one of those thick bubble tea straws with this one but either way, it was nice to have an old-school shake without breaking the bank.  Other shake flavors included: hot fudge, creamsicle, peanut butter, pineapple, vanilla, strawberry, peach, blackberry, mocha, root beer and more.  Note: you can also mix flavors!

Cajun Inferno Burger - $4.99
Hamburger topped with sliced jalapeno peppers and a thick slice of Pepperjack cheese.  Served with a Cajun sauce on bun.

This is the burger the counter girl recommended I get and it was a little on the pricier side but it was a wise suggestion.  Look at all those jalapenos!  But don't worry, it's not that spicy if you're into spicy - I can eat moderately spicy foods and this one tickled the tongue for me.  I found the pickling of the jalapenos combined with the cheese and mayo in the burger took the spice factor a few notches down.  If you're a light spicer, Mr. Piglet recommends you eat this with a shake to cool your tongue down.  Again, thin patty but tonnes of toppings.  Well done Boomer's, well done.


Mr. Piglet and I would come back again - prices are comparable to the fast food joints but you get service, nostalgia and something original here.  Mr. wishes he had more room to try other burgers (Guacamole Bacon, Mushroom Swiss, Bacon Swiss and more!) whereas I want to try a mix of shake flavors (mocha and hot fudge or peanut butter and hot fudge?) so we'll definitely visit again.  Get your BOOMER ON!

Pros:

• Friendly service
• Good ole carhop/drive-in service
• Cheap prices
• Good food
• Excellent shakes
• Plenty of free parking
• Take out available (you can also call ahead of time to order)

Cons:

• Slow on a Sunday afternoon - about 20 min for our order - but it was also busy
• Small dining space if you want to dine inside