Both of Richmond's Cook-Outs feature drive-thru lanes on both sides of the building. hawes spencer

A drive-through franchise that speedily serves up grilled barbecue meats and more than 40 kinds of milkshakes is coming to Charlottesville. It's a fast-growing fastfoodery from North Carolina called Cook-Out, and it has won approval for a red roof, says a city official.

Public records show that Cook-Out Charlottesville Inc. paid $1.3 million in October for 1254 Emmet Street, what for many years was a Long John Silver's until it closed at the end of the year. Citing the roof approval, zoning administrator Read Brodhead sees no municipal obstacles to transforming the 1.3-acre site into a Cook-Out.

In Richmond, where the Greensboro-based company has recently established two locations, both in the West End, Cook-Out has created quite the sizzle, according to Style Weekly restaurant critic Robey Martin. What does it all mean?

"It means we like meat with our meat," laughs Martin, who notes that the side dishes aren't limited to hushpuppies and fries but also include corn dogs, chicken nuggets, and a bacon-cheese tortilla, something that Cook-Out is calling a "bacon wrap."

Speaking of calling, there's been a bit of controversy over the fact that the family that owns Cook-Out hasn't limited its evangelism to the food. However, on a reporter's recent visit in Richmond, the only Biblical mention arrived on the styrofoam cup holding our Cheerwine float: along with "God Bless America" were the tiny words "Psalms 118:24." That's the one that says, "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Glad indeed, as the cost for a plate– in our case a hamburger, slaw, chicken quesadilla, and the aforementioned float– is just $4.74 including tax.

Now, we're starting to understand why a company having, according to a fan site, over 75 locations doesn't return phone calls or put up a website of its own. It doesn't need to.