Cook Out

"As we journeyed north, a pang of hunger led us to the bustling streets of Marietta, Georgia. In pursuit of a delightful milkshake, we stumbled upon Cookout, a choice made despite its unflattering Yelp reputation. What awaited us was an experience that starkly contrasted the unity and standard one would expect from a brand with over 250 locations. The scene inside was disheartening: a tableau of neglect with French fries crushed underfoot, walls smeared with grime, and napkins and straw wrappers littering the floor like fallen leaves. Amidst this chaos, the staff, albeit friendly and smiling, were evidently overburdened and poorly directed, a clear sign of understaffing. The culinary encounter was a mixed bag. On one hand, Cookout boasted commendable pricing and generous portions. Yet, the food’s preparation and presentation were sorely lacking, bereft of the care and attention one anticipates. Our main quest, the milkshakes, turned out to be an ironic twist. Instead of the anticipated creamy thickness, we found ourselves grappling with a concoction more akin to overly thick soft serve ice cream. The futile attempt with a straw soon gave way to the necessity of a spoon, a far cry from the quintessential milkshake experience. To encapsulate, our visit was a stark disappointment, a surprising revelation from a company that has clearly flourished with its extensive chain of locations. It’s often said that to allow a tree to flourish, pruning the dead branches is essential. This location, regrettably, represented just that – a withered branch on an otherwise flourishing tree, in dire need of rejuvenation."

"My husband had his burger plain and said it tastes just like a cook out. It tops his list as a fast food burger. Mine was tasty, too. Loved the Cajun fries. Nice big cup for ice water, too. We will be back. It was busy."

"It’s a pretty good spot, with very affordable prices. The menu variety is astounding and the food was enjoyable. As a man who eats a lot, I left completely full (I also had a milkshake lol). My only complaint is that they are severely understaffed and it took forever for my group to get our food. When it’s really busy, be prepared to have a couple order slip ups and an extended wait time. I don’t blame the employees though."

"Great food, great value, and open late too! The Tray meals come with 2 sides and a drink. For $1 you can sub a milkshake for the drink. Less than $10 per person. I got the Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich Tray with fries & hush puppies. I added bacon & cheese to sandwich and upgraded my drink to a chocolate shake, and only paid $9.32 At 2:30am (30 minutes before closing) service was perfect, fast, and food was fresh!"