Eating a Meal at the Drive-In

Long gone are the days when drive-in restaurants only held nostalgic value in the hearts of people. Following the bans on indoor dining due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this trend is back and it is here to stay (at least for now). In fact, just like many others, this trend will probably stay as the world slowly becomes normal again. To do the drive-in dining thing right, you need to know everything about the essentials you’ll need when eating in your car. So, to help you with that here is our complete 101 to eating a meal at the drive-in.

Things You’ll Need When Eating a Meal at the Drive-In

These nifty gadgets will help you up your car dining experience and ensure your car stays all clean:

Car food tray

The biggest dilemma when eating in your car is trying to find a spot to place your food on. What you need is an easily accessible spot that properly organizes the food so you can correctly enjoy it. Enter, a car food tray. While most drive-in restaurants will provide you this tray, it wouldn’t hurt to have a spare one in your car. 

Trays like these offer superior convenience, adjustability, and versatility. Speaking of versatility, you can also use this tray to place your laptop. Just a few clicks and snaps, and in no time, you’ll be watching your favorite show while eating a meal at the drive-in. 

Mess management 

By investing in a good quality apron or picnic blanket, you can prevent a mess in your car. From crumbs to sauce spills, these bad boys will handle it all like a champ and keep your ride spot-free. Just make sure they’re waterproof and can easily be spot cleaned.

We also recommend getting a car gap filler like this one. These gap fillers will ensure your device or, god forbid, any food doesn’t slip through the gap between your car seat and the center console and create a mess underneath.

Car air freshener 

A mess isn’t the only threat when you’re going car-dining. Munching on food in such a constricted space can stink up your ride real bad and real fast. It is here that a car air freshener comes into play. It doesn’t only neutralize the bad odor from the drive-in meal but will also leave a pleasant aroma in its wake. 

Car trash can

Once you’re all done with the food, you’ll need to take care of the trash situation. While some drive-ins have garbage cans in their parking lots, it’s wise to stay ahead of the problem and invest in a decent car trash can. 

Take this one from EPAuto, for example. It has a stylish waterproof design with a massive 2-gallon capacity. It is also extremely easy to clean out and comes in eight color options to match most car interiors.

Tips & Tricks

Now that you know all about the things you’ll need when eating a meal at your local drive-in, here are some additional tips and tricks to help you get a better and safer car dining experience:

Protect the electricals

Trust us when we say, the last thing you want is your drink spilling into your car’s electricals and ruining your ride. So, it’s best if you keep your liquids as far away from the charging port and gear buttons as possible. 

Lounge and relax

Who says eating in your car has to be uncomfortable? We recommend clearing out all the junk from your back seat and reclining your chair a bit before digging into the meal. You can also play some light music in your car’s multimedia to create a relaxing vibe. 

Final Thoughts

With that set, we would like to roll the curtains on this article. It took you through some tips and tricks to get the most out of your car-dining experience. We hope it proved to be an interesting and insightful read. Happy dining!