I grew up in Newton, Massachusetts, a town with not one, but two old fashioned soda shoppes, so when I arrived to Jackson Hole, Wyoming and learned the town square had a soda shoppe of its own, I knew I had to experience it.
Jackson Drug is right on the town green in the heart of downtown Jackson. They have a shaded outdoor patio where seats are highly coveted.
We went for lunch on a Saturday and the place was hopping. The outdoor patio was full, so we opted to eat inside.
As any classic soda shoppe would, they have the option to sit at the counter (the full experience) where you can watch the drinks being made.
From the moment I saw the menu, I knew we were in for a treat. They have all the staples - burgers, club sandwiches, copious amount of French fries - as well as some more modern dishes.
Make sure you flip that menu over! On the back side is the list of ice cream sundaes, floats and milkshakes, including the option to spike your drink with booze.
We had just spent over an hour in heavy costumes at an old timey photo studio so we were quite hungry. We started with two appetizers: a basket of fries and the cauliflower "wings."
The fries came on a plate, not in a basket, but it was a huge portion and they were crisped and salted perfectly.
The cauliflower "wings" were A+. They were lightly battered and served with generous sides of ranch and buffalo sauce. I was going hard on the ranch at first, and then I switched to the buffalo and couldn't stop dunking. So good!
For the main course, three of the gals opted for salads. The first to arrive was the Green Goddess, which was a bed of spring mix and arugula topped with quinoa, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, cabbage and grilled chicken, tossed in a green goddess dressing.
After a few bites, the friend enjoying this commented, "This salad is great. The dressing is awesome, it has a pesto-like flavor to it."
Next to her, a friend ordered the Southwest salad, which was spring mix, corn, tomatoes, onions, feta cheese and grilled chicken, topped with tortilla strips and finished with a lime vinaigrette dressing.
"I know this seems like a small detail to point out, but the lettuce is really fresh," she said. "This salad was packed with goodies. I loved the crunch from the tortilla strips and the dressing is perfect. This was truly excellent."
Across from me, a friend went with the Mediterranean salad, which was spring mix, red onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, carrots, feta, fried chickpeas, fresh mint and parsley, all coated in a grilled lemon vingaigrette. She chose to add grilled chicken.
For her, it was a mixed bag. She explained, "The combination of flavors was yummy and I really loved the fried chickpeas. That said, it was over dressed and it cost $11 dollars to add the grilled chicken, and they only gave me a few pieces."
The Jackson Drug menu has a "build your own grilled cheese" option, and you know I could not resist that. Two of us designed our own cheese masterpieces.
My bestie ordered hers on a gluten-free bun with American cheese, Brie and tomato. She chose tater tots for her side. After the first bite, she exclaimed, "I am never having a grilled cheese sandwich with just one kind of cheese again!"
I went with with Texas toast (the best!), cheddar cheese, tomato and avocado. I ordered French fries with a side of honey mustard for dipping.
Will you look at this sandwich? This is what grilled cheese dreams are made of.
We wound up being too full for milkshakes (blasphemy, I know), but two of the girls tried the Huckleberry lemonade with vodka. Huckleberries are native to the Jackson area and you see tons of restaurants utilizing them for drinks and desserts.
The girls described the drink as, "very berry-forward, but you couldn't taste the alcohol."
Before we left, I popped over to the merch area. I love the classic milkshake design of the Jackson Drug logo, so wanted to try on a few things. I wound up leaving with a purple sweatshirt and a pink t-shirt.
Jackson Drug is fun for the whole family. Everyone, from tiny toddlers to picky grandparents, can find something they are excited about on this menu.
Jackson Drug is located at 15 E. Deloney Avenue, Jackson, WY 83001.
