# Are there any restaurants that actually serve "generic" cola? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [February 20, 2022, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-restaurants-that-actually-serve-generic-cola/959838 "2022-02-20T20:50:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2022, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-restaurants-that-actually-serve-generic-cola/959838/21 "2022-02-21T02:29:53Z")
Many, if not most, of the restaurants that aren’t nationwide chains in Austin TX sell [Maine Root](https://www.maineroot.com/) sodas, either bottle or draft. Including several quite large, if local chains. Not exactly “generic soda” - more of an upscale if anything, but it’s even in chains that would otherwise be defined as ‘fast food’. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2022, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-restaurants-that-actually-serve-generic-cola/959838/22 "2022-02-21T02:33:31Z")
We’ve got a pizzeria here in Olympia that serves a brand of soda called Puck’s. > [@WildaBeast](#): > > There was a brief period when Alaska Airlines served Seattle made Jones Soda on all their flights. I don’t know of any restaurants that serve it, but it wouldn’t surprise me if there were some in Seattle that did. It was also the only brand of soda available at the Seahawks’ stadium for a few years until Coke bought back the rights. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2022, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-restaurants-that-actually-serve-generic-cola/959838/23 "2022-02-21T09:26:09Z")
Is Double Cola still around? ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2022, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-restaurants-that-actually-serve-generic-cola/959838/24 "2022-02-21T15:02:44Z")
Yep. I always liked it as well as I could any non-Coke cola. Definitely better than Pepsi! > **[Beverage Company | Double Cola Company | United States](https://www.doublecolacompany.com/)** > > The Double Cola, home to SKI Citrus Soda, DOUBLE COLA, JUMBO, and BREWSKI, creates delicious and refreshing recipes that have been perfected over 100 years to satisfy your cravings, no matter what the occasion. We make sure you get the best flavor in... ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2022, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-restaurants-that-actually-serve-generic-cola/959838/25 "2022-02-21T16:06:50Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > Not exactly “generic soda” - more of an upscale if anything, but it’s even in chains that would otherwise be defined as ‘fast food’. That’s just it though; Maine Root is upscale, not “generic”. And Jarritos isn’t a bargain brand in Mexico either. Neither are specific local/regional soda brands like RC. I can’t think of having ever visited a restaurant that serves some janky downmarket “generic” soda line of any kind. I kind of get the impression that the OP is asking about a restaurant serving the equivalent of Wal-Mart brand sodas like Dr. Thunder instead of Dr. Pepper, Mountain Lightning instead of Mountain Dew, and so on… ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2022, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-restaurants-that-actually-serve-generic-cola/959838/26 "2022-02-21T16:31:27Z")
I think the OP is asking about generic fountain soda. Are there even any generic or off-brand sodas available that way? ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2022, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-restaurants-that-actually-serve-generic-cola/959838/27 "2022-02-21T16:53:59Z")
Make your own: > **[Open-source cola](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-source_cola)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > Open-source cola is any cola soft drink produced according to a published and shareable recipe. Unlike the secretive Coca-Cola formula, the recipes are openly published and their re-use is encouraged. The texts of OpenCola and Cube-Cola recipes are published under the GNU General Public License (GPL). > The colas are produced as a flavour concentrate or syrup that is then mixed with bulk ingredients to produce the drink. Completed flavour concentra... Anybody can do it (or make and sell large volumes of concentrate). Question is if it works out cheaper than Coca-Cola for the diner or restaurant. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2022, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-restaurants-that-actually-serve-generic-cola/959838/28 "2022-02-21T16:54:27Z")
Is RC considered off brand enough or not? That is available on the gun/soda dispenser. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2022, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-restaurants-that-actually-serve-generic-cola/959838/29 "2022-02-21T17:04:29Z")
It’s not cola (I’m not sure exactly _what_ it is\*), but Ale-8-1 (“A Late One”) is served at a number of restaurants in Kentucky, where it is bottled and sold in supermarkets. \*seems to be a hybrid of lemon-lime with distinct ginger overtones. It and its permutations are pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2022, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-restaurants-that-actually-serve-generic-cola/959838/30 "2022-02-21T17:10:37Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > Which brings me to a wider question, are there any restaurants or fast food places in the United States that serve generic cola, outside of Coke or Pepsi? I stopped in a little health-centered restaurant for breakfast once. When I asked for a Coke the waitress looked at me in horror. “Sir, this is (name of restaurant). We don’t don’t serve Coke.” But they did serve me some generic brand. I didn’t bother to ask them why no Coke brand. I felt kind of like this: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLNOTJFJOfg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLNOTJFJOfg) ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2022, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-restaurants-that-actually-serve-generic-cola/959838/31 "2022-02-21T18:03:26Z")
I’m straying away from beverages here, but I visited Cuba back in 2015, on one of those “educational” tours for Americans. One of the restaurants we ate at had all Kirkland (Costco store brand) condiments on the tables. When we asked the owner about it, he explained that his cousin in Miami has a Costco membership and brings him supplies every month. > [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > I stopped in a little health-centered restaurant for breakfast once. When I asked for a Coke the waitress looked at me in horror. “Sir, this is (name of restaurant). We don’t don’t serve Coke.” But they did serve me some generic brand. I didn’t bother to ask them why no Coke brand. Given the “health” focus of the place, my guess is that they probably served some “natural” cola, no preservatives, sweetened with cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup, that sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2022, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-restaurants-that-actually-serve-generic-cola/959838/32 "2022-02-21T20:22:25Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > Given the “health” focus of the place, my guess is that they probably served some “natural” cola, no preservatives, sweetened with cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup, that sort of thing. Yep. One place where I used to eat would only serve Hansen’s sodas for that reason. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2022, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-restaurants-that-actually-serve-generic-cola/959838/33 "2022-02-21T21:02:25Z")
While it’s not _quite_ a restaurant, the last couple to times I went to the annual air show here in Sacramento, all the refreshment vendors were selling RC Cola and Diet Rite. Apparently RC’s parent company managed to get the exclusive beverage contract for the air show. I kind of wonder if they got the contract for just that local show, or the entire national air show circuit. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-restaurants-that-actually-serve-generic-cola/959838/34 "2022-02-22T13:22:01Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > If you’re old enough to remember when Howard Johnson’s restaurants was a thing, you’re probably old enough to remember their very own HoJo Cola. Even people who swore they couldn’t tell the difference between Coke and Pepsi could definitely tell that HoJo Cola was neither Coke or Pepsi. Nor was it very good and it disappeared from the menu in due course. I came in to mention this. They had Hojo Cola on the Howard Johnson’s menus, back when they were the only game in town at the interstate rest stops. (I don’t think I ever saw a can of it, as your picture shows). Certainly back when I was a kid the local bottlers made their own colas. We had one right in town that made colas\* . There were a lot of local eateries back then that weren’t part of big chains, and it wouldn’t surprise me if many of them sold such small-brand colas instead of Coke, Pepsi, or RC. But I can’t say for certain. - (the basic cola recipe isn’t all that much of a secret. as William Poundstone pointed out in **Big Secrets** , it’s listed in industry handbooks of flavor recipes. It’s basically a _fantasia_ blend of citrus oil, cinnamon or cassia, and vanilla. The "secret’ part of Coke and Pepsi formulas is in the proportionss and the others ingredients, and the source of the citrus oils.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-restaurants-that-actually-serve-generic-cola/959838.md?page=1)