09/29/06

1950s-style chain delivers outstanding burgers and shakes via car hop--no hotrod required.

by Contributor

The Scene
Convenience and nostalgia piled on a bun and, yes, smothered in secret sauce. Baby-boomers bring their kids (and grandkids) to experiece that car-service drive-in chain of yore that they've heard about but probably thought expired in the Jurassic era. Sure, this version lacks the roller skates, but the window-mounted trays fit as well on the door of an SUV as they did on grandpa's old Buick.

The Food
Burgers, fries and apple pies are all worth munching--and make sure to leave room for a berry shake so thick a spoon stands up in it with ease. Crispy fries and batter-dipped thick-cut onion rings make dandy sides to grilled burgers (don't forget that thick slice of gooey American cheese). The closest thing to a vegetarian option is a square slab of buttery apple pie; top it with ice cream after a ballgame and start singing about those amber waves of grain.