Along the I-84 freeway lies a little truck-stop of a town called Boardman. There’s not much going on here, but what it does have to offer is worth its weight in gold—the incomparable C & D Drive In.
Walking into the C & D Drive In is like taking a step back in time since it’s one of the oldest restaurants in Boardman. Back in 1965, the town had to be moved to make way for the soon-to-be-constructed John Day Dam, and the C & D was one of the first establishments to relocate up to higher ground, paving the way for other businesses to follow. Today, owners Gwen and Jack Triperinas have been running this iconic establishment since 2009, and before that it had been owned and operated by Jack Bozarth for the previous 31 years.
The C & D Drive In is more or less your typical burger and shake shop, and you’ll see billboards for it on the 84 claiming it’s “Home to the Famous Bozo Burger!” What’s a Bozo Burger you may ask? The answer is a little underwhelming, since it’s just a bacon cheeseburger (but a really good one!) named after the original owner’s last name, “Bozarth.” There’s also a big mural on the patio wall of the “famous” Bozo Burger that’s great for a photo op.
The menu offers burger and hot dogs options with almost any toppings you can imagine, like the “Rode Burger” that comes with thick sliced grilled ham and a fried egg, or the “Hot Jack” that’s got jalapenos and pepperjack cheese. Most of the burgers are all made in the classic drive-in style with American cheese, iceberg lettuce, and sesame seed buns and will come standard with a ¼ pound patty, but you can order anything “super” and upgrade to a ½ pound patty.
Everything is ordered a la carte so fries don’t come with the burger, but I kind of like that option because honestly the burger alone is enough for me. But if you want more, the onion rings and fries are cooked to perfection and served with a tasty fry sauce. They also have freshly baked donuts and pastries on the weekends, out-of-this-world milkshakes in a dozen different flavors, and soft serve ice cream for those hot summer days.
The restaurant is quite small with only a few inside tables to eat at and there’s some outdoor seating, but most people just take the food to go. For the most part this is a classic walk-up-and-order kind place, but there is an option to call in orders to-go (if they aren’t too busy in the lobby), or even place orders online.
To top off this classic American drive, they always have a super friendly staff who’ll explain what comes on all the burgers so you’re to get something you like. There’s always a good mix of patrons coming through the C & D with both travelers coming off the 84 and locals (especially teenagers on their lunch break since the local high school is right next door). I like to stop here every time I drive out to Boise because I prefer eating at a locally-owned restaurant over fast food, and yes—I get the Bozo burger every time!
Hours: Every day, 8:00am to 9:00pm
Address: 103 Main St, Boardman
Phone: (541) 481-4981
