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    Swensons Drive-In

    3.8 (262 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 1:30 AM (Next day)

    Order Swensons Drive-In Takeout or Delivery

    Swensons Drive-In Photos

    Business Info

    SWENSONS DRIVE-IN ATMOSPHERE

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

    Recommended Reviews - Swensons Drive-In

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    Reviews With Photos

    Cordelia Pimento Burger
    Sami X.

    Second time ordering at this location, but first time ordering through DoorDash for delivery - definitely would recommend driving yourself there and getting the burger at Swenson's as it was fresher and more pimento cheese on burger when we went to order ourselves (not sure if DoorDash has their down window/process at Swenson's compared to the regular process - which is driving into the parking lot and the staff will run to you to get your order, pay, and bring you food directly to your car). Came for the Cordelia/Swenson collab for month of June - highly recommend trying the Swenson Pimento Burger, Amazing value for getting Cordelia's homemade pimento cheese on a Swenson's similar-to-galley-boy-style burger with tartar sauce and kool-aid pickles. It should be juicy, and the perfect balance of savory, cheesy and acidic, but this delivery order seemed lackluster on that. I would say the pimento cheese and saltine crackers are not as worth the value because the pimento cheese cup is so small (like a cup for condiments) and the saltine crackers are literally the same crackers you get for free at the hospital. Definitely worth trying the burger before June is over!

    Olga N.

    Swensons X Cordelia collab is all over IG. Menu items launched on June 1 and the menu goes through June! The pair is serving items inspired by each other - food and drinks! I'll review the collab and overall experience. My order the following (all seasonal/collab items): - Peach Cobbler Milkshake - SO GOOD! Out of this world delicious! This is vanilla shake blended with peach pie filling and streusel. Whipped cream and streusel crumble sit atop this milkshake. The milkshake is less dense than most. That's if you compare it to Swensons milkshakes or milkshakes from other establishments. It contains chunks of a fruit as well, maybe orange or some other citrus. It tastes like summer vacation in a cup and the crumble seriously tastes delicious. I ordered a regular milkshake and drank it all in 5 minutes. Peach Whip Lemonade is another option but Swensons employee highly recommended the milkshake. It's $4.59 for a regular size. Try it! - Cordelia Pimento Burger - A new spin on the galley boy that comes with two meat patties, house-made Pimento Cheese, tartar sauce, raw onion, Kool-Aid pickles, and Kool-Aid Olive on top. I got so excited that I ordered 2! The default price was $7.99, one could customize the burger (add or remove ingredients). I like Swensons burgers but this was not a hit for me. It didn't taste as innovative as the marketing made it sound. There are a few clashing spices of pimento and Kool-Aid pickles going on. The pickles have so much dye that they dyed the meat patty! Olive didn't taste the freshest. The pickle somehow made the burger a big watery. It just wasn't "wow." - Pimento & Saltines - Lance Saltines with Cordelia's house-made Pimento Cheese. For $5.99 it really wasn't a good value. Pimento cheese seems to contain some cheese curds or something similar inside. It's the same cheese that you can taste in the specialty burger. The flavor is too cheesy combining the too (and I looove cheese). First you taste all the cheese, then all the spice, which is interesting. It was too spicy for my taste. I would have loved it maybe if it was paired with mini pitas or something more house-made. Paying the original price felt like I'm paying too much for cheese dip. I won't order this snack again. Aside from the specialty items, I like Swensons burgers and milkshakes. You can't go wrong with any items! It's CLE classic! In terms of experiences, here are some highlights: - QR codes with the menu are located at drive-in. They aren't consistently displayed by each corner/vehicle, so it's best to initiate the order online. - Receipt was not sent to my email despite selecting this option. It wasn't a big deal for me, nothing if it is for you. - This is a drive-in only, very easy to get in and out. No seating is available. Despite being located on the busy Cedar Rd, it's fairly easy to get in and out. Can't talk much about ambiance. Last but not least, service today was absolutely great! It's not always the case but today I was very impressed! Swensons employees came out to greet customers instantaneously. An employee came out even before I stopped and was just pulling in to park. They were super courteous, had suggestions, and just provided top notch service! I was amazed! The order was up very quickly despite several customers in line. Not your average fast food experience! I recommend that you try Swensons burgers and experience. I hope more exciting collabs are in the works. I'll be back for those amazing milkshakes!

    Robert B.

    Great burger but you have to have the shake. Service is very fast and friendly. Ambiance is good

    Shake menu
    Sharaun F.

    It had been such a long time since I visited this location. The service was quick and the employees were helpful. I forgot that I was supposed to turn my lights off until I was ready. The employee came so fast then she helped me hurry up and pick a meal. I apologized and told her since I wasn't ready just to tell me what's most popular right now. Hence the classic galley boy. I got a galley boy and tried the side that was like a jalapeño popper. I didn't get a milkshake this time, but definitely will next time.

    Spilled drink
    brandy

    We got our drinks quickly, and my friend ordered a root beer float, the drink when past the rim of the cup and when my friend had picked up the drink it spilled all over her car

    Dave W.

    How can you not love an old school drive in! We were starving and looking for someplace to grab a quick bite near our hotel and stumbled across this place. Apparently they are famous for the Galley Boy burger, so I gave it a try. It was good, but nothing exceptional. My wife had a burger too and felt the same way. Our waitress was very nice and said that the onion rings were "to die for" - I'll give her credit for that...they were quite good. My wife also tried a shake and said it was good.

    a view from inside a car
    B J.

    It was a cold snowy day but I parked my car here hopefully and still got great service and the food I was craving. Thanks got bring a reliable option and letting me sit comfortable in my car. The potato teezers are my favorite menu item.

    Chicken fingers, an onion ring and some teezers with a super happy kiddo!

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    26 days ago

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    10 months ago

    Straightforward tasty food in a charming atmosphere with great waitstaff. Charming and fairly priced. Definitely recommended.

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    1 year ago

    Service was good. Hamburgers were just 2 stars. Not good enough to go back. Milkshakes were 3-1/2 stars. Disappointed that it wasn't better.

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    6 months ago

    Fantastic drive in experience. Car hops galley boy burger, onion rings, and a California. Hard to beat. A local legend.

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    2 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Be prepared to wait 25 minutes for barely warm food. Food was good but unfortunately not worth the wait.

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Love the breaded mushrooms!! The servers are friendly and the service is fast. Def recommend

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    2 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Food is always consistently great. The people who work there are always so nice. It's very convenient. It's fun place to go.

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    4 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Set in my car for literally over an hour!! definitely will be avoiding this cedar location in the future

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    Ask the Community - Swensons Drive-In

    When will the North Olmsted location open?

    Hi Dorothy, Our North Olmsted location has been opened since July 2018. If you want to find more… Read more

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Black Box Fix

    Black Box Fix

    4.2
    (346 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    This was our first time eating here, and it definitely won't be our last! The owner was incredibly…read morekind, welcoming, and helpful, which made the experience even better. The young lady who took our order was so friendly and made ordering easy by answering all of our questions and helping us choose. We ordered the catfish and shrimp pasta along with the Big Back Combo, and everything was amazing! The food was fresh, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. The sauce was absolutely delicious and tied everything together. Between the outstanding food, excellent customer service, and warm atmosphere, this place exceeded our expectations. We will definitely be back and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great meal!

    The food was great! It came out hot and looked delicious. The menu varied and had something for…read moreeveryone. (On my visit, they were out of grilled and fried chicken filets. Very sad.) As we waited for our food, we saw many people coming in to pick up their carry out orders. Ours was for dine in, and we waited quite a while, but I think these orders were being completed before ours began. There was definitely more foot traffic for carry out than to dine in on this chilly Sunday afternoon in Legacy Village. I wouldn't consider this a fast food restaurant as we waited over 25 minutes to receive our food and we were in there for almost an hour. The food quality and ingredients were worth the time and money though! They did not appear to have fountain drinks. There was a cooler with bottled beverages, including bottled water, so I don't think they even do cups of free water (but I didn't ask so I'm not totally sure.) The service was friendly and the employees were approachable and knowledgeable.

    Photos
    Options
    Options
    Fries
    Fries
    Surf n Turf melt

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    Surf n Turf melt
    Doinks Burger Joint

    Doinks Burger Joint

    4.5
    (65 reviews)
    5.6 mi

    I heard about this place a long time ago, and then I forgot about it. Recently, I went looking for…read morea new burger to try, saw the name Doinks, and said, "OH, YEAHHHHH!" Off we went. When we opened the door, I immediately knew I'd love the fries. You could smell the delicious fry smell right away, and I wasn't wrong. Some of the best french fries I've ever had. The burger was great too! My wife got onion rings as a side, and I was like, "Are you nuts?! These fries are going to be so good!" The rings were fantastic though. Solid snap on the onion, which didn't slide out of the breading when I bit down. The service was friendly and quick, and the restaurant itself was clean as a whistle in the very cool Waterloo Arts District, just down the street from Beachland Ballroom. While walking to the car, we agreed that Doinks needed to be a regular date night stop. Killer burger spot.

    We braved the cold to sit in Doinks Burger Joint and we had a great time! We arrived during happy…read morehour, so I decided to try the burger and bacon cheddar fries offered on the happy hour menu. The burger was a single smashed patty that tasted fresh and was not greasy at all. The fries paired really well with the burger. They were topped with cheese, bacon, sour cream, and green onions. Soooo good! We also tried the side of spicy pickles which were a great side dish. They tasted very fresh and were not too strong with vinegar or sweetness, if that's your preference. The margarita was simple but refreshing. Shout out to the bartender for his craft! My only critique was on the ube cheesecake. The flavor was delicious! Had a subtle vanilla flavor and the texture was great. It just tasted like it had been sitting uncovered in the fridge maybe? Other than that we had a great time and loved the atmosphere. The neighborhood is so nice and it's great to see local spots like this adding some charm. I'll be back!

    Photos
    Doinks Burger Joint
    Doinks Burger Joint
    Doink-ed.
    Doink-ed.
    Mulled Cider Daisy

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    Mulled Cider Daisy
    Voodoo Brewery Cleveland

    Voodoo Brewery Cleveland

    4.1
    (39 reviews)
    2.5 mi

    My friend invited me to her running club, which meets right next door, and I learned you can bring…read morefood/drinks over from Voodoo with just a $1 "outdoor cup." While I went on the run, my husband and kids enjoyed Voodoo's music bingo, they had a blast! The brewery had a great family-friendly vibe, lively atmosphere, and solid beer lineup. I joined them afterward, and decided to stay for a bit before going back next door...my daughter won bingo, earning us a $10 gift card (huge excitement for her). I tried a few of the IPAs and rated them 4/5 stars--good flavor, and they stood out compared to other Ohio beers I sampled during the week. Overall, top-notch place. I also loved their book ticket method for drinks--it kept things easy and fun--and the dive-bar vibe paired with the local ambiance made it feel like a true community spot. If I were local, this would absolutely be a go-to spot, especially paired with a post-run visit.

    Voodoo Love Child was my favorite brew in the flight of four I had. Deliciously well balanced yeast…read moreand red fruit flavors with moderate sweetness and very smooth. The pork belly and Brussels app would be so much better with a creamy sauce but still was good with the tart balsamic. The Brussels were perfectly crispy even though there were only 5 total pieces of small pork belly in the whole app. It was $10. It is very dark in the place on its own. Order at counter and pick up your food to sit where you want. Trivia on Wednesdays. The pulled pork meal was decent for $12. Fries were incredibly salty but perfectly sized to grab multiple at a time with a fork for easy mouth shoving. Pulled pork was kinda tough. The jalapeño slaw below the pork was peppery perfection! No dessert options.

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    Voodoo Brewery Cleveland
    Voodoo Brewery Cleveland
    Voodoo Brewery Cleveland

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    Chicken Ranch

    Chicken Ranch

    4.5
    (136 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    At first, when I saw that the Korean fried chicken sandwich was $17, I was slightly outraged,…read moreespecially since it didn't even come with fries or any kind of side. Then I got the sandwich, and I was like, actually, $17 is a more than fair price, LOL. For a second, I attempted to eat it with my hands, but its size made it an unwieldy experience. So I ate it with a knife and fork. And it was DELICIOUS. The sandwich came with a big piece of crispy fried chicken that the bun could barely contain. The chicken was fried fresh, so it was hot and juicy. In addition to being hot in temperature, it was hot spice-wise. It came with candied jalapeños, soy chili jam, pickles, and Sriracha. The spice was balanced well with some nice sweetness and a tasty kale slaw that added some brightness to the sandwich. Even the bun itself was delicious. The place is mainly a takeout spot, but there are a few tables if you want to dine in. The water is self-serve. There are cups and a sport cooler in front of the counter.

    First time here! I was greeted immediately with a smile and a hello…read more There are so many eateries in this area. Today I decided to try food I hadn't had before. I pulled up the Chicken Ranch menu online and decided I would try them. It is a small establishment. Tables were clean. There is seating inside and two small tables outside for diners. The manager was explaining they make everything fresh and offered to answer any questions I had. I took a look at the specials then decided on a two piece crispy tenders meal. It came with a jalapeño corn muffin. It was 10 dollars and I chose a chocolate chip cookie with caramel and pecans in it because, why not. My chicken was delicious. I chose hot honey sauce because I was curious. It was so spicy and cleaned my sinuses right up. The sauce came on the side, thank goodness for that. The muffin was OK. It would have been better warmed. The cookie: sooooo good. Because I was being nice, I gave my kid a piece, but next time I will eat it in the car before I get home, like the pros do.

    Photos
    Chicken Ranch
    Hot honey sauce
    Hot honey sauce
    Other side of seating area

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    Other side of seating area
    The Fairmount

    The Fairmount

    4.2
    (439 reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$

    My friend and I sat outdoors, Nate was our server and was amazing! Everything I got from the…read moremussels, to the fries to this bread pudding pictured here was better than I expected.

    Eight (!) years ago my friend recommended her favorite place - The Fairmount. She emphasized that…read morethe ambiance and cocktails are something to experience. Eight years worth of Fairmount moments later, this review is well overdue. AMBIANCE: The ambiance allows you to slow down and enjoy your company. The restaurant is dim lit, has fireplaces, and loungey atmosphere. It somehow feels warm and I heard a lot of people refer to it as a second home (people are always so friendly here!). There is ample space - three bars, main dining space, and huge outdoor oasis bar. Nestled in Cedar Fairmount neighborhood, you'll also be able to enjoy historic neighborhood. There are seating arrangements if you're craving company or want to enjoy your date. Seating options include couches by the fireplace, tables, and high tops. Fairmount is delightful during every season. During the summer you can enjoy the bar and patio. In the winter you can dine at the igloos. I prefer all seasons here. FOOD/DRINKS: The menu at Fairmount is impressive and has exciting seasonal/weekly additions. You'll never get bored. The cocktails here are refined, very boozy, and very well crafted. The food is seriously delicious, and consistent every single time. I've been impressed with every dish. The dishes and drinks frequently follow the seasons. During my latest visit I enjoyed Butter Pecan Warm Cider with bourbon ($12, so bold and boozy, tastes like fall). I also ordered Fig Trouble Little China ($15, a more rich version of Old Fashioned, so delicious). I also tasted Short Rib & Risotto for the very first time ($28, such a delicious dish, every bite was just amazing). My favorites? Ah, so hard! I'll go with the Fairmount Burger! It's angus beef burger with bacon-fig chutney. It's so delicious! I can't even be serious about meat at the other burger places, this is easily the best burger in the city. My seasonal favorite? Kevin McCallister seasonal drink that resembles coquito or eggnog. The drink is topped with rice paper that includes the design of Kevin from Home Alone. It's such a fun tradition! I look forward to this drink all year and always tell the world about it! SERVICE: The service is excellent. I haven't been anywhere where service is right on point every single time. Everyone is nice - the owner, hosts, and waitstaff. You truly feel seen and like the most important guest. I've visited previously while on dates and frequently dine here solo, always had the most pleasant service. EVENTS: Many people book events here for their non-profits or companies. As far as individual events, Fairmount hosts a fun NYE party every year! PARKING: Onsite parking lot is available at the back of the building. You can enter through the front doors on Cedar or right through the parking lot door. There are numerous reasons why I love the Fairmount. I consider it to be the best dining experience in the Cedar Fairmount neighborhood of Cleveland Heights. I also love how the owner Jake is very engaged in the community and is incredibly friendly with the surrounding business owners. I'll choose this place again and again for calming ambiance, crafted cocktails, and delicious food. To many more years of Fairmount and at Fairmount!

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Fried chicken sandwich and truffle fries with sauce
    Fried chicken sandwich and truffle fries with sauce
    Prosecco

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    Prosecco

    Swensons Drive-In - burgers - Updated July 2026

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