A&W Restaurant in Redmond

()

Food: In Okinawa, Japan, where I grew up, you have three major options for a fast-food burger: McDonald’s, a Japanese chain called Mos Burger and A&W Restaurants. While A&W, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, fell under the shadow of bigger competitors in the U.S., it thrived in Okinawa largely thanks to the U.S. military presence on the island and its melting pot of cultures. So, when I learned Central Oregon has A&W Restaurants, I was determined to try it. The A&W Restaurant in Redmond surpasses its Okinawan counterparts (they liked to slather burgers in mayonnaise — also, the fries were kind of weird). I ordered the Papa Burger — a double cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and “classic A&W Papa Sauce” per the website (it looked and tasted kind of like a Russian dressing). It is a quality fast-food sandwich, on a higher tier than your dried-out McDonald’s or Burger King beef patty but not quite at the juiciness or freshness of a Wendy’s burger (my personal fast-food standard). The meal came with fries (nice and crisp) and of course, a fresh-brewed root beer, which I made into a float for an additional 99 cents — easily the highlight of the experience, as you’d expect. All that food was $8.98 — a bargain for the amount you get.

Service: The staff was helpful and friendly, and the food was out fast. But my server assumed the order was take-out without asking, which meant I didn’t get my float in an A&W frosty mug — a cardinal sin in my book.

Atmosphere: The restaurant is located inside the Westside One Stop in Redmond, and looks (and feels) better inside than you might imagine. The small dining area and tables were all clean.

MORE INFO

Location: 1501 SW Highland Ave., Redmond

541-923-8881

Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday-Thursday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday

Cuisine: Burgers, fries, hot dogs and fresh-brewed root beer

Price range: $4 to $10

— Brian McElhiney, The Bulletin