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    Buster's Drive In

    3.1 (59 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
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Buster's Drive In

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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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    1 month ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 months ago

    Who can afford $8 for a hot dog in this still hyperinflationary Obiden economy? The quality of these expensive hot dogs has declined.

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    3 years ago

    Good food. Great outdoor eating space. Generous servings of fries. I would definitely go back.

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    10 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Well done and dry burger, mozzarella sticks so over cooked there was barley cheese still in them ...def down hill this year!

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Nice little place to eat outside. Double cheeseburger was bangin. Will definitely be back here again

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    16 years ago

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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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    17 years ago

    Great place for hamburgers and dogs. Outside picnic tables. I go there frequently. It is a seasonal place.

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    Hungry Bull Burger - Mac and cheese

    Hungry Bull Burger

    4.8(147 reviews)
    6.5 mi
    $$

    After reading the great reviews about this place my wife and I had to try it for our "Hot Dog…read moreTuesday" lunch. I don't give out 5 stars easily. This little unassuming place deserves every one of them! As soon as we walked in we were greeted by a very friendly man at the counter who seated us and brought menus. He turned out to be very helpful finding out this was our first time here. The store was well lit and clean. The tables were well spaced and not crowded in. My wife stuck to our tradition and ordered the RT 10 Dog with the spicy relish on the side. (Which was great for me) I couldn't resist The Hungry Bull burger. We'll just have to come back again for me to try their hotdogs. The 10' hot dog is a Martin Rosol's so the foundation of this hot dog is super strong. The sauerkraut was tasty and full flavored and just the right amount of mustard. My wife tried the spicy relish, that our server cheerfully supplied on the side, and it was a little too hot for her liking. Bonus for me. I got to put it on my burger. My burger came out stacked on a sturdy Brioche Roll with American cheese, onion straws and some very tasty horseradish crema. My burger was juicy and full of flavor. The onion straws brought the right amount of crunch. Halfway through I began to add in the spicy relish. Amazing. We got fries and onion rings and shared. The fries were big, crisp on the outside and creamy on the inside. Just the way I like them. The onion rings were amazing. I like when you bite into an onion ring and the whole onion doesn't come sliding out. These were perfect. Very good crunch and flavor. We have already decided that we will be back. I can't wait to try the hot dogs and the chicken sandwiches that were also calling my name.

    Do not judge a book by its cover! It's easy to pass this place, tucked next to a package store, but…read moremake sure you double back and go in. What an excellent lunch we had. I had a meatball sub, and my goodness, it was the best I've had in years; a perfect balance of sauce so that the meatballs didn't get overwhelmed. My husband had a chili dog and was gobsmacked at how they managed to elevate a seemingly straightforward dish. They used toasted bread, and the chili was the perfect amount. My son got one of their burgers and absolutely devoured it. Finally, their fries and onion rings are some of the best I've had in a while. I'm bummed that we are only in CT to visit family once a year, because this would definitely be added to our regular treat rotation.

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    Frankie's - 1/4lb cheeseburger

    Frankie's

    3.2(57 reviews)
    6.0 mi

    The food was AMAZING. Hot dog, curly fries, cheeseburgers and waffles fries were awesome. The…read morecustomer service was superb. The place was very clean and neat.. Everyone was pleasant and friendly. I would recommend anyone to go and enjoy .

    Geez, this had to be the worst visit ever at Frankie's…read more Here the place was hopping, people were happy, was it me? Met a friend here for a quick bite to eat. My friend ordered a cheeseburger, the small one, with lettuce and tomato on it, along with I think a lemonade I took a chance on the special which was loaded french fries. Steak fries with cheese whiz, bacon bits, sour cream and a little bit of chives. I also ordered a Pepsi. The bill came to $22 and change for the two of us. Keep that in mind as I further write. The cheeseburger, the quarter pound one, included one little little slice of lettuce and a very thin slice of tomato. The beef on the cheeseburger looked gray, and pink inside like it wasn't even cooked up to temperature. This was absolutely gross, served on a non toasted Sesame seed roll. He thought it was awful. He ate half of it. Now for my loaded french fries.... The french fries were so soggy , that if they didn't look like french fries they could be mistaken for mashed potatoes, loaded with an extremely salty cheese whiz, and what looked like bacon bits instead of natural bacon on top, chives, and sour cream. It would've been nice if there was chili on this instead, but nope. For $7.99, the serving was extremely small, probably good for a six-year-old. Barely edible, I ate about a quarter of it and just pushed it aside saying I'm done. I can't even imagine the salt content that was in this. I know one thing for sure it was extremely high! This had to be one of the worst things I have ever been served in any restaurant. Stick to the hotdogs as they are safe For the money spent, we would've been better off going to Chili's.

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    Frankie's - Main dining room

    Main dining room

    Frankie's - Hotdogs and fries

    Hotdogs and fries

    Frankie's - Chili dog

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    Carol's Lunchbox - 2 dogs and a side relish

    Carol's Lunchbox

    4.5(50 reviews)
    5.1 mi
    $

    Pulled in for dinner on this Thursday night to a full parking lot. Then I realized half the parking…read morelot was getting paved and was blocked off. Greeted warmly by the server-cashier and possibly one of the owners. This place has counter service where you order there, pay for it, leave the tip, and then the server brings the food out to your table. I ordered the special fish sandwich and french fries. $16.95 And a can of Coca-Cola. My accountant ordered the cheeseburger, with ketchup and onion, and french fries. $15.95 He also ordered the lemonade iced tea. Within 10 minutes, the food arrived at our table. The fish sandwich was deep fried perfectly on a really nice soft roll with lettuce and tartar sauce. Unfortunately, the fish wasn't seasoned fully to my liking nor salted. Also, no lemon was on the side to squirt on the fish sandwich. The fish was lacking any flavor other than the tartar sauce. This was a big disappointment. The french fries were very good, but it was like a kid size portion for like a three-year-old. Come on now I'm paying $17, give me at least a handful of french fries. Not eight! My accountant who ordered the cheeseburger picked the winner. It was a thick well seasoned piece of beef cooked, medium rare, and he said it was delicious. He also received a ration portion of french fries. I paid a lot of money for two sandwiches, a little bit of french fries, and two drinks. I bet it was close to $43 with 20% tip. This was no bargain. The seating at the restaurant was OK. Our table top was loose and a little bit sticky. The restrooms were marginal. There flies flying around. So overall cleanliness was a little bit disappointing....come on now! I'm glad I got to try Carol's new place. If I come again, it's gonna be for the hotdog special and eat it outside.

    I recently learned that Taste of Home recognized Carol's Lunch Box for the best hot dog in CT…read more That's pretty much an instant visit situation for me. Carol's has a small structure where they prepare the food, and there are some nearby picnic tables. Carol's uses bun length Martin Rosol's dogs, and I'm on record as a fan of Rosol's denser than typical hot dogs. Carol's fully steams the dogs, which distinguishes them from other top CT places. I can't say this way my favorite way to prepare a Rosol dog. I think at least partial grilling brings something extra to a dense dog like a Rosol. Carol's has some specialty dogs and build your own options. They're probably about average in terms of the number of topping options. I ordered a Reuben dog and a Chili Dog with mustard and onions. The kraut and chili are both above average for CT. I like that Carol's has the Thousand Island dressing to go with the kraut. That's pretty unique for hot dog spots. But Carol's super power may be the house spicy pepper relish. I didn't order this on my dog, but I met Carol. After hearing it was my first time, Carol offered me a sample of the House Relish. For me, the flavors are more well balanced than one of CT's famous pepper relishes. I was a big fan and I would probably get a dog with just the relish next time I visit. If you like to sample all the best CT hot dog contenders, add Carol's to your list. 4.25 Stars

    Photos
    Carol's Lunchbox - The digs

    The digs

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    Chili dog with mustard and onions

    Carol's Lunchbox - Outside view

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    Outside view

    Buster's Drive In - burgers - Updated May 2026

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