Our route to and from Sunset Beach takes us through Laurel Hill, North Carolina, right outside Laurenburg on US 74. If you blink twice you will miss one of the best old-fashioned hamburger joints I've ever frequented. The road is a four-lane divided highway, and Pate's Village Food Mart is across the street. As you can see from the picture, Mamie's is a small brick building tucked under an old oak tree, with picnic tables outside and a small seating area inside so you can get out of the car and stretch a little.
As we walked up to the counter window to order lunch, we were greeted by Shelia Smith, the cheerful owner of Mamie's. The menu reminded me of other drive-ins decades ago: direct, simple, and mouth-watering. My husband Beau and I ordered cheeseburgers with fries and onion rings while our daughter Meg asked for the grilled chicken sandwich and chips.
At 11:15 on a Saturday the place was already beginning to get busy. We went to the back and waited for our food to be prepared. Mamie's makes their hamburgers by hand and cooks them fresh to order. Fries and onion rings don't sit under a heat lamp waiting all day to be served - they are fried up when requested. 
I didn't realize how hungry I was until I watched Lauren and Kesha prepare our food through the plate glass windows. In the kitchen area they had food prep down to a science. Everything was super organized and clean as a whistle. Today's fast-food joints have nothing on this good old drive-in. With a grill, steamer, and fryer, they produce some of the best sandwiches!
Our burgers were tasty and juicy, with the cheese still warm and the lettuce and tomato crisp. The two cooks, Lauren and Kesha, are proud of their kitchen and rightfully so! The restaurant was originally opened by Mr. and Mrs. Carl Sampson in the 1960's as Carl's Drive-In. Mamie Hyatt worked for the Sampsons until 1980 when she purchased the business and changed the name to Mamie's Drive-In. Mamie employed a lot of young girls over the years, and continued to work full time until she sold the business in the late 1990's. In October, 2009, Mamie passed away after a short battle with cancer. The business was purchased by Shelia Smith in October, 2009 and restored to its original state with lower prices, fresh vegetables, and burgers made by hand. A picture of Mamie Hyatt hangs on the wall for all to see and read the history of the drive-in.
If you are ever in the Laurenburg area of the state, take a detour to visit Mamie's Drive-In in Laurel Hill and try a cheeseburger. You will agree with us - it's a taste of yesteryear. The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday. The directions on Mapquest were perfect, but unnecessary, since the drive-in sits right on US 74.
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