Fast Food Gets Healthy at Amy's Drive Thru in Rohnert Park

The terms "fast food" and "health food" have never really been synonymous—until Amy's Drive Thru opened last summer in the Sonoma County town of Rohnert Park! Created by the same people who run the Amy's Kitchen, famous for its vegetarian and vegan frozen pizzas, mac-and-cheese, burritos, and other prepared foods, Amy's Drive Thru is like a traditional fast food restaurant with, as the name implies, a drive through, but everything is either vegetarian or vegan, as well as made from sustainable, local, and organic ingredients. We've stopped by Amy's for lunch a few times when up in the area, and really enjoyed their unique healthy take on traditional fast food treats.

Amy's superficially resembles a more mainstream fast food restaurant, but with some really obvious differences: it has a "living roof" planted with drought-tolerant and native plants, and the interior is constructed with recycled materials. It's also really clean nice inside, too, with thoughtful and fun touches like juke boxes in the booths and a kids area with coloring sheets and colored pencils (and a pencil sharpener, too). Amy's has a large outdoor dining area which is a nice place to eat on warm sunny days, even in this bustling part of Rohnert Park. All packaging materials are compostable, and the drinking straws are even made of carboard.

As for food, Amy's offers their versions of tried-and-true fast food staples, only these are either vegetarian or vegan. Burgers, like "the Amy", are made with veggie burger patties and fresh locally-grown veggie garnishes. Other traditional offerings include crispy fries, shakes, and sodas (which are made especially for Amy's), and fresh organic lemonade.

Our big question is: "When are we getting an Amy's Drive Thru in Marin?" It's a great concept, the food is delicious, and you actually feel like you're eating something that's good for you?

Until they decide to open up another one down here (whenever that may be) Amy's Drive Thru is located in Rohnert Park at 58 Golf Course Drive West (at Redwood Drive) in Rohnert Park 94928. Learn more about them and check out their menu at www.amysdrivethru.com.