I grew up eating at Bob’s Big Boy during summers when I visited my paternal grandmother, who lived in Glendale, California. I was hoping to recapture some of that magical time in my life by hitting up a Big Boy that I had heard had opened up in Sanford, Florida.
If you grew up in the Midwest, then Frisch’s Big Boy might sound much more familiar to you. In Feb of 2009, I made a trip to Atlanta, Georgia, with a couple of my buddies to just eat; that’s it.
I planned to stop at the Big Boy restaurant on the way up, but my supposed pals had other ideas. It made us venture too far west, so I was outvoted two to one.
Years later (during National Burger Month), I was able to convince my wife to drive there when we were staying in Orlando. Sanford is just north of there.
I was excited during the drive and even more excited when I saw the 8 foot tall Big Boy outside the restaurant. All that excitement went away once I ate the Big Boy.
*So much so that I lost any real interest in documenting the experience on the Burger Beast Blog.
Yes, the Big Boy looks like a Big Mac, and no Big Boy did not copy McDonald’s. It was actually the other way around, a true story.
But then again, you might have known that already if you read my book All About the Burger.
*This post was written after the Sanford Big Boy location shut down.
When I was a kid, I loved their chili spaghetti. (Side note: Miami transplant from Glendale, CA.)
Cool. You a Tommy’s Chili Burger fan too?
Let me put it to you this way: When I fly back to see my family, I go to Tommy’s FIRST, then I go see my family. It’s a tradition.
Haha, Awesome! Thanks for commenting!