Discover Triple XXX Restaurant: Indiana’s First & Oldest Drive-In – An Iconic Stop in West Lafayette
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I may be slightly obsessed with Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives on the Food Network. Well, particularly the first couple seasons when it was still new and the producers found great hole-in-the-wall restaurants around America. Visiting restaurants from the first couple seasons is always a treat. Luckily, on a Indiana Foodways Alliance road trip, I made a stop at the Triple XXX Family Restaurant in West Lafayette, Indiana; a season one episode seven favorite.
The Triple X Family Restaurant started serving Triple XXX root beer at a Thirst Station in West Lafayette back in 1932. During the height of popularity there were around 100 Thirst Stations in the U.S. and Canada. This Triple X Family Restaurant is the last remaining, original Thirst Station left and one of the few places that you can still buy the original, pure cane sugar Triple XXX root beer from 1895.
Thank goodness they are still serving up Triple XXX root beer because it is, hands down, fantastic. I’ve tried a lot of root beers and they are good, but Triple XXX somehow takes it up a notch. Of course, drinking it fresh out of the keg at the restaurant helped, but it was still good from the bottles I brought home.
The restaurant wasn’t added on to the thirst station until 2003, but they kept the vintage feel of an era gone by with decor reminiscent of vintage Route 66. Seating is around a U shaped counter as well as picnic tables outside.
Guy Fieri made an appearance at the Triple X Family Restaurant back in 2007 when he was brand new on the Food Network scene and tried a variety of menu items including the Duane Purvis burger.–“A burger for the more adventurous! A 1/4 lb. of 100% ground sirloin with thick, creamy peanut butter served on a toasted sesame seed bun with melted American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle, and onion. A very special treat!” Apparently, he is quite the character and the staff had a great time filming the episode.
I tried it and really liked it. I know, I know, you are probably wondering how peanut butter on a burger could be good, but you’ll just have to trust me. It’s a little different but no different than peanut sauce for Asian dishes. This is definitely a burger I would order again. Of course, if peanut butter on a burger isn’t your thing the menu has many other options.
As always be sure to save room for dessert because the Triple XXX Family Restaurant makes THE best root beer cake and serves it with ice cream!
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
When I visited Triple XXX Family Restaurant was cash only. I don’t know if that has changed, but go prepared with cash just in case.
Hours: Wed-Mon | 7am – 10pm
CLOSED ALL MAJOR HOLIDAYS
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The Union Club Hotel – An Autograph Collection Hotel <<–This is our top pick!
