Happy Veteran’s Day. If you would like to do something nice for our military, ask the President to bring them home, not just those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, all of them. Our young men and women are not the world’s police force, they are our future.
— Yours truly
First I would like to report that Laurie Tackett, the owner of Burger Barn, at 6404 Pony Express Trail in Pollock Pines, is not the same person who had the Burger Shack in front of CVS some time ago. She just purchased the equipment from there and opened this place in February. She says she gets this question all the time, including from me. So, there, now you know.
I sat down at the counter and picked up a copy of the to-go menu. I asked Tackett if it was up to date and she said, “No, we have a new one coming out next week.” Then she proceeded to write all over mine, adding things like her new big sellers, stuffed burgers, to the two page list of nearly 20 burgers, a dozen other sandwiches, half a dozen hot dogs, 35 flavors of shakes and a number side orders, including beer-battered fries, already on the menu. “There are other things like blizzards and freezes,” added Tackett, while continuing to add to my menu, “and if we have the ingredients, we will make anything you want.”
The double bacon cheese burger was the favorite, but the stuffed burgers are taking over first place. “They are made with a half pound of fresh hamburger,” said Tackett, “then stuffed with jalapeños and cream cheese, bacon and blue cheese or mushrooms and Swiss cheese, and, like all our burgers, grilled to your order. People love them,” Tackett said.
Before you say, “A half pound?,” they also have a one-sixth pound junior and one-third pound regular burger. All burgers are available in a combo meal with fries and a drink.
Tackett has been involved in the restaurant business since she was 14 and working at the former Pizza Hut off Missouri Flat Road. The next generation, her daughter Gabrielle, helps her at the Burger Barn. Gabrielle has been nominated for Best Customer Service in Pollock Pines, an award event held annually by the Community Economic Development Association of Pollock Pines, in conjunction with other local groups.
The Burger Barn has a sign that says, “Fresh Home Style Cooking and Atmosphere,” and it lives up to that by being very friendly and serving good food. Just ask the customers. There is inside and outside seating, weather permitting, and free Wi-Fi. The hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m., Sunday 1 until 5 p.m. and closed on Monday. For more information call 530-344-7167.
By the way, be sure to check out the large Norwegian weather rock near the entrance. If it is warm, the weather is sunny; if it is wet, it is raining; if it is white, it is snowing and if it moves, it is windy. I haven’t seen one of those since I was a kid.