RD’s Drive-In Day 6/20

Many years ago there was a little drive-in restaurant in Fairbury on the corner of First Street and Route 24 that was called RD’s Drive-In. Run by Ted and Ruth Doran it had an extensive menu, for the time, but it wasn’t a specialty menu – you know, just the sandwiches and deep fried foods that were popular then along with an assortment of other things that fit the venue.

It wasn’t a “special menu” until the eatery joined the ranks of the past and was no longer part of the present – then, those meals and treats that so many of us had come to love were gone and that is when they were recognized for just how special they had really been (isn’t that always the way though).

Well, guess what – RD’s Drive-In has resurfaced, at least in part, with the ingenuity of one of it’s former workers and the applied skills of her staff and they have created a re-enactment of the RD’s menu at her restaurant, Lost in Time. Located on Fairbury’s Main Street (at the corner of Fourth Street and Locust Street) Lost in Time will be having its third annual observance of that now famous RD’s menu on Friday, June 20th from 7:30am to 8:30pm.

Obviously the first two were a great success and for those of us who took advantage of them, we were certainly well enough impressed to be looking forward to this year’s rerun. If you didn’t make the previous ones we highly recommend giving it a taste test this time around – it’s an old time drive-in food fest, but it is good stuff, just like it used to be made when the Doran’s were working the grills and fryers and making things happen in a memorable way.

Sally Goembel, owner of Lost in Time, worked for the Doran’s for several years, and she has brought back those delightful things that a lot of us remember and cherish and trust us when we say, even if you weren’t familiar with the RD’s home-style palate pleasers you are very likely to truly enjoy the sandwiches, baskets, and condiments that are prepared by Lost in Time’s expertise and proudly represent the legend.

For a lot of us it is a nostalgic return to the past, for the newbies it’s a unique dining experience, and for all who give the experience its due it’s going to be good food in a unique atmosphere and done with a flair of authenticity. Come one, come all and see what we’re talking about – we’re guessing you’ll be glad you did – it really is a “Lost in Time” adventure!