Soap Lake's B&B Drive-In open for the season

SOAP LAKE - Thursday's special brought Karen Dillon and Sheryl Parrott to B&B Drive-In to enjoy a hot plate of spaghetti and garlic bread.

The Soap Lake women have lived in the town since 1958.

They consider themselves longtime customers and have dined at the business even before it was B&B.

Thursday's spaghetti lunch special is their favorite, they agree.

"That's good for me," Parrott said.

The longtime Soap Lake business recently re-opened for the season, giving the community and travelers another dining option.

The business is a longtime favorite for some.

"I've gone there forever, since I was in high school," commented Anita Richardson. She works in Soap Lake and lives in Ephrata.

"They have really good food here," she said. "That was back in the seventies, when I used to go there for coney dogs. We really like it."

She plans to head over to the restaurant since it's re-opened.

"It's a good place to have lunch when you work in Soap Lake," Richardson said.

B&B Manager Shannon Whitmore explained the business closes seasonally from November until February.

Her father, Woody Whitmore, has owned the business for more than 30 years.

She's worked at the drive-in off and on since she was 13. She's now in her forties.

"I like to cook, so I enjoy that," she said. "I enjoy cooking and I like my co-workers a lot. We have some really good co-workers."

Summers are the restaurant's busiest time because school is out and people are traveling.

It's warm enough for customers to order outside from their cars through a speaker system.

In the colder months, customers have to order from the front counter or their tables, which have phones.

The interior features wood paneled walls with photographs of customers and friends on successful fishing trips.

The menu offers dinners and daily specials like barbecued ribs and chicken fried steaks.

There are some upcoming changes on the menu, with a different burger and offering certain dinners on certain days.

As a mainstay in the community, the business gives young people an opportunity to work. She explains students are hired when they turn 16, with many staying until they graduate. Some student employees attending Big Bend Community College have stayed working at the restaurant.

For more information, call 509-246-1231. B&B Drive-In is located at 115 N. Daisy St., Soap Lake.

B&B is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. The business is closed Monday and Tuesday until April 1.