Our endeavor to track down the best hamburgers in Charlottesville takes us to a relatively new restaurant in town – Cook Out. They opened in 2012 in Charlottesville at the site of the old Long John Silver’s on Emmett Street and the long lines in their drive through lanes is a testament to their excellent food.
Cook Out was founded in 1989 by Morris Reaves in Greensboro, NC. The fast-food chain opened an additional 50 restaurants in North Carolina before expanding to other states. Today, Cook Out has nearly 300 locations.
Cook Out has something of a cult-like following. Our dear friends, Charlotte and Dick Forrester, were Cook Out Fanatics. They would pass by all other restaurants in their extensive travels for the opportunity to eat a Cook Out hamburger and order one of their 40 different flavored milkshakes. In December, Cook Out has Eggnog Milkshakes on the menu.
Cookout offers Hot Dogs, Chicken Sandwiches, Carolina BBQ, and even Quesadillas, but it’s the burgers that draw in the crowds.
Cook Out uses only fresh ground beef, never frozen, and they charcoal their nicely sized burgers to perfection. They have an excellent product at an affordable price and one of the best burgers in town. I’m glad they came to Virginia.