The drive from Savannah to Fayetteville was only about 4 hours, but we did make a few stops in South Carolina at The Drive-In and Dash-N-Dogz. While we were in town for an event in Fayetteville, technically, we stayed all three days in Springlake.
Our hotel was conveniently located next to Cook Out and across the street from Rustic Burger. I knew for sure that we’d be enjoying Biscuitville the following morning.
In addition to the Camacho Cigars event and eating from travel food spots, Marcela would be out and about looking for antique-type shops.
Three Days in Fayetteville, North Carolina
Rustic Burger
While driving to our hotel, we spotted Rustic Burger. Rustic Burger was our competition at the Camacho Bold Burger Battle event. in an interesting turn of events
The following afternoon, I visited their Springlake location; there’s also another spot in Fayetteville (both are now closed). The owners highly recommended the nachos.
On a side note, if Marcela spots nachos on the menu, I don’t even ask anymore. We’re getting ’em!
They were very bright and ready for the eatin’. Since I’m not into guacamole, I stuck to the opposite side of the plate. But, with Marcela and Fred working on it simultaneously, a collision course with some guac was inevitable.
No complaints from anyone; everyone quietly enjoyed it. The nachos were the perfect choice to start our meal at Rustic Burger.
The All The Way Dog also operated as a starter for us that we shared. It’s an all-beef dog topped with housemade chili, slaw, onions & yellow mustard.
The mayo-heavy sweet slaw gave the dog a distinct taste when mixed with the yellow mustard. This fella is known as a North Carolina Hot Dog for those folks well versed in Regional Hot Dog-Styles.
A must-order from Rustic Burger if and when you visit.
A Patty Melt or a Sandwich?
Speaking of regional styles, I couldn’t resist ordering their patty melt. Since I’m a stickler regarding patty melt authenticity, this is technically a melt or sandwich.
Rustic Burger‘s patty melt has one of their Angus beef patties covered in caramelized onions, Rustic sauce, Swiss cheese, and bacon on toasted Texas Toast.
The bacon was crispy, the cheese was melted, and the caramelized onions were right on. It might not be a patty melt, but it was a great sandwich.
The Rustic Burger, their signature burger, comes with lettuce, tomato, pickles, and onions. The addition of bacon was an afterthought; as it turns out, it was a great afterthought.
I’m not a lettuce and tomato kind of guy, so it should be no surprise that the others took the lead on this burger. They happily ate the Rustic Burger while I polished off the Patty Melt.
Rustic Burger is PERMANENTLY CLOSED237 Skyland PlazaSpring Lake, NC
Cook Out
It’s not the first time I have visited a Cook Out. Cook Out‘s drive-thru in Nashville, Tennessee, has seen me a few times.
If you’ve never been, the menu can be a little overwhelming. So a few minutes before arriving, I was online plotting out my attack.
It didn’t work; I fell apart when it was my turn to order. So I kept it simple with white cheddar cheese bites (cheese curds) and a homemade char-grilled Cheddar-style hamburger.
The only real problem is I didn’t enjoy the cheddar cheese sauce; it took me out of the moment. What’s worse is this is the same burger I’ve eaten on my other two visits.
I need to say no to the sauce and yes to the slice. The Fresh Banana Fancy Milkshake (not pictured) made up for my burger sadness with its thick and creamy consistency and tastiness.
Cook Out
406 Lillington Highway
Spring Lake, NC
(866) 547-0011
Bojangles
One morning I woke up early and drove to the nearest Bojangles (914 Berkley Hall Way, Fayetteville, NC) for a Pimento Cheese Biscuit (no picture cause I ate in on the drive back). The only comparison I could make was to the one I ate at Biscuitville the day before.
Both come on a freshly baked biscuit; I opted out of the egg on the Bojangles version. Biscuitville‘s pimento cheese is served warm while Bojangles is cold.
I’d give the edge to Biscuitville also cause their pimento cheese had diced jalapeños.
Wiener Works
The minute I spotted the sign, I knew two things: that Wiener Works is an old-school hot dog joint, and number two, there is more than one location.
I was right on both educated guesses. The family-owned Wiener Works opened in 1973 and currently has four locations in the Fayetteville, North Carolina, area.
We kept our orders simple: onion rings, a cheeseburger deluxe, and a chili dog with slaw. The onion rings were crispy and came in an open-ended, and branded sack, my preferred carrier for side dishes.
The onions are whole rings, not the ground kind from Burger King. However, I regret not accepting the offer of a dipping sauce.
When I’m handed a burger, my first move is to check under the hood, first the top and then the bottom bun. I’m mostly checking for signs of a fresh beef burger.
This was 100% NOT fresh beef. Additionally, the irregular-shaped burger reminds me of Bubba Burgers, which I do not like.
The Wiener Works burger has a proper sear, but I just can’t get past that generic or processed boxed burger taste. Yet, I can see how some folks would enjoy it.
The dog in my chili dog appears to be a pork/beef mix. For you wiener aficionados, it’s not skin-on.
This tasty little ditty hit the spot. Wiener Works has my favorite cole slaw style for dogs, all finely diced.
Based on the burger prices, it appears the regular hamburger is a totally different patty. If I had only noticed that at the drive-thru, it might have been a different burger situation altogether.
Wiener Works
3402 Raeford Road
Fayetteville, NC
(910) 484-3638
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/wienerworks
Southern Coals Country Style Kitchen
We’ve been waiting for Marcela outside an antique shop for at least an hour when I suddenly see Fred walking down the strip mall. It seems that Southern Coals Country Style Kitchen has caught his eye.
He walks to the car, where I’m enjoying the cold air, and tries one of his old tricks. You must have friends like this.
Fred tries to talk me into going to eat at Southern Coals but, at the same time, makes it seem that it was my idea. So I’m guessing this is some sort of food-inception.
Look, it was a great call. Southern Coals Country Style Kitchen is a badass BBQ joint. We stuck to the basics with a platter featuring brisket, pulled pork, cornbread, mac and cheese, pimento cheese, and banana pudding to wash it all down.
The sausage sandwich was an afterthought and timed perfectly with Marcela‘s arrival. She didn’t see us in the car and knew we couldn’t have strayed far.
I never even touched the sauces on the table since I like for the beef to stand on its natural flavor. Southern Coals Country Style Kitchen is the kinda spot I’d love to be in my neighborhood.
The problem is it’s 739 miles away, and I know that cause I just checked, lol.
Southern Coals Country Style Kitchen
3319 C Raeford Road
Fayetteville, NC
(910) 745-7675
Website – https://www.southerncoals.com
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/southern_coals
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/southerncoals
Monday CLOSED
Tuesday 10:30 am – 3:00 pm
Wednesday 10:30 am – 3:00 pm
Thursday 10:30 am – 8:00 pm
Friday 10:30 am – 8:00 pm
Saturday 10:30 am – 8:00 pm
Sunday CLOSED
Shelley’s Moms Bakery
On our way to meet our semi-recently transplanted friends from Miami to Sunni Sky’s Homemade Ice Cream, the Shelley’s Moms Bakery building calls out to us. We’ve got some time to kill, and I’ve got some messages to respond to, so Marcela and Fred investigate.
Shelley’s mom must be Mexican or, at a bare minimum, love the same sweets we usually buy at La Migaja in Little Havana. So a couple of Conchas (Mexican sweet bread) found their way into our car for the very short trip to see our amigos.
Shelley’s Moms Bakery
275 Fish Drive
Angier, NC
(919) 639-6330
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/shelleysmomsbakery
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/shelleysmomsbakery
Monday 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
Tuesday 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
Wednesday 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
Thursday 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
Friday 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
Saturday 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
Sunday 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
Sunni Sky’s Homemade Ice Cream
As it turns out, Sunni Sky’s Homemade Ice Cream was a great middle point for meeting our friends who live in Durham.
Omar and I go way back to 1996 when I worked at Best Buy in Hialeah. He and his wife Mari moved to North Carolina about five years ago, and they have a daughter, Alana.
Tom and Vanessa have been our friends since very close to the beginning of my adventures as the Burger Beast, well over ten years. You might recognize them from Copperpots, our events like Croqueta Palooza, or the Burger Museum, where Vanessa worked for a bit. The Copperpots have a son, Jackson.
I didn’t have any ice cream, so I can’t comment, but everyone seemed to enjoy their sweets. Me? The company of my old pals was enough for me.
Sunni Sky’s Homemade Ice Cream
8617 NC-55
Angier, NC
(919) 427-7118
Website – https://www.sunniskys.com
Instagram – http://instagram.com/sunniskysicecream
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/SunniSkys
Monday – Sunday: Check the Website for Hours
RJ’s Place in Fuquay-Varina
While killing time, we drove by this retro spot, RJ’s Place (712 N Main St, Fuquay-Varina, NC). Unfortunately, we had just missed it during operating hours, but it looks like the kind of place we enjoy for a burger, chili dog, and shake.
RJ’s Place is now PERMANENTLY CLOSED.
Dixie Drive-In in Lumberton
Opened in 1963, Dixie Drive-In (1920 E 5th St, Lumberton, NC) is right up my alley. Unfortunately, I went on the day they were closed.
We were on our way to Philadelphia (actually New Hope for The Burgerly), so there was no way to correct my timing error. So I’ve added it to my Future Road Trips list, hoping I can one day visit and eat a plate lunch.