Burger nation

On December 17, the Oceanside City Council approved a second In-N-Out Burger location for the city.

A council well known for their divisive three-two vote splits on most issues, its members voted unanimously for the project. (Note: city hall is five blocks south of the new location.)

To be located at the town’s northern entrance on I-5, perched high above the south bank of the San Luis Rey River, the site is currently occupied by a Carrows restaurant at 936 North Coast Highway.

On December 29, I spoke with customers of Carrows as they were leaving the restaurant. Cheri from Oceanside said, “Its obvious they’re on their last leg. The booth upholstery is ripped; the music playing is all crankily like the speakers are blown. It was really wasn’t pleasant.”

Vickie from San Juan Capistrano said she meets a friend from Escondido about four times a month. Of Carrows’ menu, she said, “Their breakfasts are good, but the rest of their menu sucks.”

A family of three visiting from Iowa said they knew all about In-N-Out Burger and would have enjoyed it more than this Carrows visit.

The manager inside the Carrows said she was prohibited from talking to anyone about the alleged impending closure of her restaurant.

An In-N-Out Burger spokesperson said the city’s approval is relatively new, and the restaurant might not be completed in 2015. When opened, it will be the chain’s eighth North County location, and the county’s 19th.