Not to be missed next time you’re in Lafayette is a stop at Triple XXX Family Restaurant. Opening in 1929, Triple XXX was the state’s first as well as its oldest drive-in.
Their root beer dates back even further to 1895 when the Galveston Brewing Company first started making beer and then later added soft drinks to the list of products.
The popularity of their root beer led to an expansion of Triple XXX root beer stands in the U.S. but with the acquisition and merging of brands in the U.S. to the point that only three major brands – Coca Cola, Pepsi and Dr. Pepper/Seven-Up control the market, Triple XXX is difficult to find. But well worth the search.
Besides the great root beer, the family owned restaurant grinds their own sirloin daily for all their burgers including The Duane Purvis All-American, a 1/4 pounder topped with melted cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle, Spanish onion and peanut butter (yes, peanut butter).
2 N. Salisbury St. West Lafayette. 765-743-5373; triplexxxfamilyrestaurant.com
Jane Simon Ammeson is a freelance writer who specializes in travel, food and personalities. She writes frequently for The Times of Northwest Indiana, Kentucky Living magazine, Edible Michiana, Lakeland Boating, Experience Michigan magazine, Indiana Monthly, Cleveland Magazine, Long Weekends Magazine, Food, Wine, Travel magazine and the Herald Palladium where she has a weekly food column. Her Bindu travel apps include Michigan Road Trips, Experience Curacao and Indiana Journeys. She also writes the weekly book review column Shelf Life for The Times of Northwest Indiana, has authored 14 books including Lincoln Road Trip: The Back-road Guide to America's Favorite President is Finalist for the 2019 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards in the Travel category. Her other books include How to Murder Your Wealthy Lovers and Get Away with It, A Jazz Age Murder in Northwest Indiana and Murders That Made Headlines: Crimes of Indiana, all historic true crime as well Hauntings of the Underground Railroad: Ghosts of the Midwest, Brown County, Indiana and East Chicago. Jane’s base camp is Stevensville, Michigan on the shores of Lake Michigan. Follow Jane at facebook.com/janesimonammeson; twitter.com/hpammeson; https://twitter.com/janeammeson1; twitter.com/travelfoodin, instagram.com/janeammeson/ and on her travel and food blog janeammesion.blog and book blog: shelflife.blog/
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