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    Buster's Drive In

    3.1 (60 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Buster's Drive In Photos

    BUSTER'S DRIVE IN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Very Disappointed! For over 40 years, we would often stop at Busters when we went to Terryville. It was usually a highlight of the drive. We enjoyed the good food that was always served and the outdoor seating. We've noticed over the past couple of years, the quality go down. Today, it appears they may have bottomed out. We ordered 2 Clam Rolls and Onion Rings only to be told they don't have Clam Rolls, just Lobster Rolls at $18 each. We questioned the cashier because the huge menu board beside us clearly said "Clam Strip Rolls $8.50" She first offered boxed clams then finally asked someone in back who informed her they do have Clam Rolls. We got our food & hurried home because it was so hot outside. Upon opening the rolls, we found over-cooked, dried-out, chocolate brown "clam strips" in barely toasted rolls. One of the rolls wasn't even full size. The Onion Rings were so oily, you could practically wring them out. Most of them were thrown away. If you remember the Buster's of years gone by, just keep going right by this one. It's nothing like you remember.

    The worst onion rigs I've ever experienced
    Janet D.

    Well, I was craving onion rings and what I got was basically raw onions, with a bit of fried batter. I've ordered onion rings from here before and they were delicious, I don't know what happened but please do better. These are the worst onion rings I've ever tasted.

    Solid meal on the go!
    Steven M.

    Buster's Drive In was a staple in my childhood and my grandfathers favourite place to grab a quick bite to eat. I happen to drive by this place by chance while taking the back roads back to Buffalo and figured it's been long enough and it's time to return to this place. Buster's is the type of place that you approach a window, order some food, and then get to eat it outside. The menu here is pretty typical for a hot dog/hamburger style place with plenty of different options for both as well as a bunch of side dishes like onion rings and French fries. I settled on ordering a plain long dog (this man doesn't need toppings on his hot dogs), with some French fries and a chocolate milk shake. Don't get me wrong, none of this food was out of this world, mouth watering, or incredible, but what Buster's does is give you the classics at good prices and good quality. My hot dog was very good, the French fries were tasty, and the milkshake was as classic as it could be. Overall, I really enjoyed having Buster's for the first time in probably a decade and I'm super stoked that they are still open. If you live in the Bristol/Terryville area and want a fast quality bite to eat, come give Buster's a try!

    Cheeseburger w/ Sweet Potato FF, at Buster's Drive In in Bristol, CT.
    Tom D.

    Went to Buster's Drive In tonight w/ the wife. We both ordered cheeseburgers and shared a large Sweet Potato FF. My wife also got a coffee flavored milkshake. Burgers were pathetic -- gristly, burnt and dry. Bland and flavorless. Awful. Fries were OK. Wife's milkshake did not taste like coffee, more like a chocolate-vanilla mix. Total bill was $23.76, way too expensive for what we received. We were still hungry after our meal also. Should've went to Burger King instead.

    Tasty toppings.  Dog looks fine until first chewy bite

    I was in the area and thought a dog and fries for lunch would hit the spot. This roadside restaurant reminded me of a place I used to go as a kid. With high hopes I ordered the "Chicago Dog" and a large order of well-done fries. After a reasonable wait time the food and I went back to the AC of the car. I tackle the fries first so they wouldn't get soggy. What I was greeted with was a collection of fairly pale steak fries. They were not greasy and were fully cooked and tender but lacked crunch and any remarkable flavor. I have to mention that I indicated twice to the order taker that I wanted them well cooked. Bummer. Moving on to the "Chicago Dog". The bun was nicely toasted and the toppings were fresh and tasty. What puzzled me was the desiccated hotdog that was inside. Contrary to the tempting pictures on the website the dog was over cooked and chewy, not plump and lightly grilled. (see pictures). Bummer again. Finished the dog but not the fries, then back on the road feeling ungratified.

    Brigit C.

    Buster's Drive In is without a doubt a major and classic eatery in Bristol!! For fresh hot dogs, made to your liking, go to Buster's. You will NOT be disappointed!! My family and I have been eating at Buster's for over twenty years. The food, particularly the Michigan hot dog, is as spectacular and fresh and delicious as it always has been. Buster's offers hot dogs, burgers, soft serve ice cream and milkshakes, as well as regular fries and curly fries. (The curly fries are so good!!) Everything is made fresh to your style and liking, immediately after you order. You order at one window, and pick up your deliciousness at a second window just down the side of the stand. Once you pick up your order, you have the choice of eating in your car--which can be fun with kids (putting down the windows, sitting in the trunk of a van or SUV and munching on your food with cool air on your back if it's a hot day, something my family and I did frequently)--or you can sit in the wonderfully kept and comfortable outdoor sitting area right next to the stand, which has several picnic tables (some with umbrellas, some without), complete with light poles for when it gets dark. Not only is the food at Buster's fantastic, but also the service. Each staff member works hard to make the orders that steadily stream in through their window. They are extremely efficient and kind, and make it look effortless to run this stand. An important piece of advice: get the Michigan hot dog. It. Is. Outstanding. The staff at Buster's grills it perfectly, creating a pop that occurs when bitten, one that hot dog aficionados will very much appreciate. Another crucial piece of advice: be sure to time your visit right, as it can get reasonably crowded, with a line forming all the way back to the street!! Buster's Drive In is, hands down, THE place to get a hot dog, with grilled perfection, great service, and wide variety of styles to choose from. You will definitely enjoy and crave the fantastic food that Buster's has. Buster's is an institution, one that everyone should try!!

    Poor lighting, but this is a regular dog is pickles and onions topped with their deli mustard.

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    9 years ago

    Been going there since I was a kid. Great Bristol staple.... food is overall very good; onion rings great!!

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    15 years ago

    They have friendly staff, a bit slow service but great food, had the foot-long hot dog and wow, awesome, great place to eat & relax

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    11 years ago

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    13 years ago

    Great food. Outdoor seating only, but its kinda cool. A traditional hot dog, hamburger drive in :) I enjoy myself every time.

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    14 years ago

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    12 years ago

    Another Bristol dive not worth visiting. It is a town icon/summer tradition but the prices were hefty for the poor quality...teeny burgers.

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    11 years ago

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    11 years ago

    Very good food, great summer spot. Kinda pricey but well worth it for the great food! Definitely will be going more again.

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    Page 2 of 2

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    Hungry Bull Burger - Mac and cheese

    Hungry Bull Burger

    4.8(161 reviews)
    6.5 mi
    $$

    This has become my preferred stop whenever I go to the Plainville AMC. With things getting so…read moreexpensive, it's very refreshing to see a place that can give a lot of value for a reasonable price. The restaurant is fairly small, but the portions are big! I got the disco fries as an appetizer and they were a delicious combo of gravy cheese and seasoning. You could also tell by the bite and the shape that they were made fresh which is also a big plus. I got the hungry bull burger and they were accommodating with substituting the horseradish crema for the house sauce. You would think double meat might be a bit much but it works well and the onion straws really make it shine. Finally I got the strawberry milkshake which was probably better than any shake shack milkshake I've had! The restaurant itself is also very eco-conscious by participating in newport biodiesel, so its great to know that not only are you getting a good meal but the restaurant you are supporting is also helping the people of the connecticut.

    Mostly good burgers and dogs, great fries, nice but small location…read more Came here on the way to an event, so we opted for some lunch beforehand. This place was well reviewed, so we decided to make this the spot this time around. Ordering was done up front, but there were tables to sit at. Missus ordered while I took photos, and the food came out relatively quickly. Took pics and dug in. Sweet potato fries were the highlight. Hand cut, fried and seasoned. With ranch, they were really good. The burger and hot god were good in terms of quality and quantity. The condiments were a little overpowering though, ended up taking over a lot of the dish and really muddled the meat. The meat itself was lightly seasoned, relying on the condiments to bring the flavor. Not bad, but all elements should bring their own identity and add to a meal. The burger felt absent, and although flavorful was lacking that extra bit of salt or fat to make it truly shine. It's not bad at all, just lacking. Everything else was good, the price easily reasonable for the quality. It was just missing those finishing touches to be truly great

    Photos
    Hungry Bull Burger
    Hungry Bull Burger - New England clam chowder

    New England clam chowder

    Hungry Bull Burger - The Hungry Bull

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    The Hungry Bull

    Frankie's - Hotdogs and fries

    Frankie's

    3.2(62 reviews)
    6.0 mi

    My friend use to frequent Frankies often and told me I had to give it a try. Frankies is like an…read moreAll American food joint so you can get things like burgers, hotdogs, fries, etc.. It has a cool diner vibe and the staff were friendly. I got the qrt pd Burger and fries. The burger was huge lol and tasty. I would stop by again to try something else. Overall, its a cool spot.

    I used to go to the Bristol location all the time when I was little, but it's been over a decade,…read moreand what a mistake it was to wait that long. Amazing!!!! Friendly staff, well staffed (which is not something you see too often nowadays). I love the more modern feel, and of course the faint Frankie statue. The food was amazing, restaurant was clean, plenty of seating. My boyfriend got a hot dog with peppers and onions with steak fries. I got a grilled cheese and curly fries(same as I used to get a child lol, I was feeling nostalgic) He also got a soda and I got a water, all of this for around $22-23 About the same price (maybe a few dollars more) if we had gone to a regular fast food chain, but def worth the extra money. Plus I always love supporting a local business. It was also great to see they even had some of the old arcade games to play for free, I wanted to play but didn't, because all I'm thinking of is people eating with their hands and then touching the controls with unclean hands, maybe it's just the post covid era Only recommendation I have would be to have a hand sanitizer near the game. Such an amazing place!

    Photos
    Frankie's - Main dining room

    Main dining room

    Frankie's - Hot dog with peppers and onion, steak fries, grilled cheese and curly fries.

    Hot dog with peppers and onion, steak fries, grilled cheese and curly fries.

    Frankie's - The restaurant

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    The restaurant

    Carol's Lunchbox

    Carol's Lunchbox

    4.5(55 reviews)
    5.1 mi
    $

    "Oh Carol, don't let him steal your heart away I'm gonna…read morelearn to dance If it takes me all night and day" (Chuck Berry) The various "best" in Connecticut lists of this and that are about as common as the weeds on my lawn. I mean, every website every other week seems to post one. Anyway, in a 2024 Taste of Home feature titled "The Best Hot Dogs in Every State", guess who was rated as having the best hot dogs in all of Connecticut? Yup, it was Carol's Lunchbox. And when I checked out their Yelp page, I saw their high 4.5 rating, read the rave reviews, and when combined with their 2024 "Best in the State", I knew I'd make it over to Carol's one of these days. Well today was the day. We found it on the Westwoods Golf Course in Farmington. Just follow the main road in and you'll see it on the left in a long tannish stand-alone building. There's an ordering counter inside, a dining room with plenty of seating, and a lovely outdoor patio with more tables and chairs for nice weather. Their menu is a lot more than those famous hot dogs. It's really comfort food heaven with quesadillas, fries, tenders, burgers, grilled cheese, burgers, wraps, salads, and more. But let's be real.......we were there for the dogs! They offer a Traditional Dog, a Polish Dog, a Hot Diggity Dog, a Chili Dog, a Southern Dog (with Pulled Pork), a Reuben Dog, and the adorably named Beanie Weenie Dog with Baked Beans. None of those dogs will cost you more than $6. You can also go with a two-dog special with chips and a drink for $12-$15. What's that? You were wondering about toppings? No worries, friend, because Carol offers up free ketchup, two mustards, sauerkraut, onions, mayo, green pickle relish, and Carol's homemade hot pepper relish. If you're a big spender, you can add between fifty cents and a buck to your order for chili meat sauce, two types of melted cheese, caramelized onions, or sauteed onions and peppers. They also have side orders (potato salad, fries, rings, and daily specials. Today's specials were chicken wings, a lobster roll, and a tempting short rib grilled cheese. We ordered a two-dog special with yellow mustard, sauerkraut, a soda and chips for the rock-bottom price of $12, and a Hot Diggity Dog (spicy) with chopped onions and some of Carol's homemade hot pepper relish ($6). How wonderful was it to sit outside overlooking the golf course to enjoy such a simple, fun, and totally delicious lunch. My spicy dog was definitely spicy, and Carol's famous hot pepper relish was a great addition to my lunch. I have to say a word about Carol herself. We had the pleasure of chit-chatting with her after lunch, and she puts out such friendly, welcoming customer service vibes, its hard not to become an instant fan of hers. When you visit, I hope you have the pleasure of seeing her smiling face. I promise you, it will be the perfect complement to your terrific lunch.

    Good basic bites on the range…read more Came here looking for some summertime burgers and dogs. Inside is sparse, but plenty of seating. Outside was slightly dirty, but the view of the course was pretty. Opted for a smattering of dogs (kielbasa, spicy dog, and plain dog), a bacon jam blue cheese burger, and a brownie for dessert. Food came out after a wait, but we got ketchup and took turns taking bites. The burger was the best bite. good quality beef, strong blue cheese and sweet n salty bacon jam was quite nice. The blue cheese was a bit strong, but I like punchy flavors. The fries were not bad, pretty good bagged fries. The dogs, well they were alright. Not great buns, dogs were of a decent quality, but the kielbasa was too sweet and the spicy dog was only lightly hot. As a lunch place, it does well enough. The burger and fries were worth the price of admission. The dogs were kind of weak, and there dogs need to be of a better quality. But they are still not bad, just not great.

    Photos
    Carol's Lunchbox - Inside

    Inside

    Carol's Lunchbox - Spicy dog with onions and hot pepper relish

    Spicy dog with onions and hot pepper relish

    Carol's Lunchbox - 2 dogs and a side relish

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    2 dogs and a side relish

    Saint's Restaurant & Catering

    Saint's Restaurant & Catering

    3.5(122 reviews)
    6.0 mi
    $

    Screwing around in Southington today, I stopped at Saint's to fulfill my hotdog craving…read more Saints was busy with the lunch crowd this Saturday! I ordered the hotdog 10 inch, with mustard, onion, and sauce, in order of onion rings and a Pepsi. After a little bit of a wait because of the lunch rush, my order arrived, and I dug in! The hotdog so flavorful with a snap upon my first bite, and was brilliantly cooked on the flat top, stuffed inside a perfectly grilled New England style hotdog roll. The char on the outside of the roll was a masterpiece. The meat sauce was perfect, with a kind of gravy texture, just the right amount of flavor, one of the best hotdog sauces in my opinion for Connecticut. The white onions accompanied this masterpiece placed upon the hotdog and the yellow mustard. This has to be one of the most perfect hotdogs with toppings in Connecticut. I love coming here for their hotdog. This 10 inch was priced at I think $4.59 with the mustard onion and sauce. I think that's a pretty good deal. The onion rings were restaurant supply chain delivered type I think. They didn't look like they were homemade. They were crispy, but not seasoned. After a little bit of salt, I still didn't like the flavor that much so I added ketchup, which I never do. And the flavor came through. All washed down with a perfect Pepsi, I really enjoyed my lunch. Three different waitresses took care of me, which I didn't mind. They were all polite and attentive. See you soon Saint's, thanks for the great lunch!

    Local spot definitely worth a visit then back twice within a month coffee milkshake with chocolate…read moresyrup by special request.

    Photos
    Saint's Restaurant & Catering - The vibe inside nice clean restaurant, old school

    The vibe inside nice clean restaurant, old school

    Saint's Restaurant & Catering - These are the onion rings, which meh, but decent with ketchup

    These are the onion rings, which meh, but decent with ketchup

    Saint's Restaurant & Catering - 3.12.23

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    3.12.23

    Mulligans Grille & Tavern

    Mulligans Grille & Tavern

    4.4(26 reviews)
    13.5 mi

    Went for karaoke on a Thursday (they have trivia beforehand!). The karaoke with DJ Mikey is so much…read morefun! I ordered the bone-in wings which were amazing! Compliments to the chef! And they make their own Bleu Cheese dressing that has HUGE chunks of Bleu Cheese in it! Yum! The service is fantastic, too! Shout out to Jocelyn, Liz, Kristen, Grace, and the others whose names I don't know (yet, lol)! Alex (I'm unsure of his title) is superb as well! And I cannot forget the people who work back of house... the unsung heroes/backbone of the hospitality industry... Busmen, Superb Cleaners of Dishes and Silverware and Floors and Such, and anyone else who has a hand in making Mulligan's such a happy, satisfying, safe, welcoming place. The owner seems to be a presence there also, which is very nice, and I saw him taking photos of the crowd enjoying themselves. They also have a dining room and another, more intimate bar area. Don't miss out on trying this place... Stop in! You will not regret it!

    Had been hearing a lot of positive talk about Mulligans Grille here in New Hartford, so we had to…read morego check it out this afternoon. We live close by, it's only a half mile away from our house -- within walking distance ! The place had a "Rustic vibe", with an industrial look, we liked the atmosphere as soon as we had walked in. We ordered a calamari appetizer and a dozen Sweet & Spicy Wings to start off with. My wife also went with a Malibu Dream cocktail for her drink (it was outstanding). Calamari was excellent, marinara was spot on. Wings were meaty with a crispy outing coating, and the sauce was flavorful, but not overpowering. My wife's Steak sandwich was served on fresh grinder roll, the ribeye melted in her mouth (I sampled a bit of it, and plan to order the Steak sandwich on my next visit to Mulligans). My Caesar salad was also very fresh tasting. Service was stellar, Carolina was friendly & attentive. Mulligans is a Winner, an easy 5 Star rating. We plan to be back again very soon.

    Photos
    Mulligans Grille & Tavern
    Mulligans Grille & Tavern
    Mulligans Grille & Tavern

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    Buster's Drive In - burgers - Updated September 2026

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