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Buster's Drive In

3.1 (59 reviews)
Open 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

Buster's Drive In Photos

BUSTER'S DRIVE IN ATMOSPHERE

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

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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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9 years ago

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15 years ago

Nice big juicy hamburger, and fries. A bit of a wait but worth it. Didnt try the ice cream yet.

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15 years ago

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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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9 years ago

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10 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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10 years ago

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12 years ago

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16 years ago

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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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12 years ago

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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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10 years ago

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14 years ago

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Hungry Bull Burger - Mac and cheese

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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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Prime Burgers

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4.2(62 reviews)
11.9 mi

I have to say when this place first opened up it was fabulous. The food was great. The burgers were…read morethe best burgers that you could get the beef they used was perfect. The onion rings were the onion rings that you would expect when you go to a restaurant large golden crispy. I have gone there a few times within the last year and half. I have to say I do believe the quality of the food has gone downhill. The hamburger in meat it's a poor combination with more fat than beef. The onion rings are the greatest disappointment they are the exact same onion rings that you get if you go to Burger King, I wish that I could say that it was better and that I would continue to go back, but I just don't think it's cutting it any longer.

Greeted by the friendliest host, sat down right away. I'll be honest was a little nervous because…read moreit was pretty empty for a Friday night, however after ordering and receiving our meal we couldnt understand why it was so empty!! Ordered: Smoked BBQ wings 10/10 crispy, saucy & juicy! Prime YG Burger 10/10 that caramelized bacon mixed with the onions straws and OMG that pickled sauce! Delicious!! Latin Sweet Plaintain Burger 12/10 the sweetness from the sweet plaintain mixed with the savory bacon and again that pickled sauce! Perfect combination! The fries .... Real cut homemade freshly made fries! 10/10!!! Perfectly salted, crispy delicious! Drinks: Guava Margarita w/reposado tequila salted rim... perfection! Good tequila AND more importantly Guava flavor! Michelob Ultra - Cold & Crisp Pepsi w/lime: something about this mix WORKS! Absolutely cant wait to come and try more from their menu & to tell everyone about them!

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Riley's Hot Dog & Burger Gourmet - jalapeno popper dog

Riley's Hot Dog & Burger Gourmet

4.6(294 reviews)
10.2 mi
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My husband isn't exactly a hot dog guy. So I got a sideways look when I suggested that we try this…read moreplace out for lunch....but after our meal, he said that he'd never had a specialty hot dog before and really enjoyed this! How could you not like this place?! Great atmosphere, friendly staff and an awesome menu. We tried the reuben dog, taco dog and guilty pleasure dog with the Cajun fries. Dogs are messy but fun.... loved the taco dog! Cajun fries were too salty but appreciate that they are made in house! (Wish they had sweet potato fries with a fun dipping sauce though!) Can't wait to go back and try more creations!

Riley's is much nicer inside than you'd ever expect from a hot dog place. There's a lot of space,…read moreeverything is clean, and the whole setup has a trendy industrial feel that works really well. Even the bathrooms were noticeably nice, particularly for such a fast-paced lunch spot. I had the Chicago Dog and the House Dog. We've been on the hunt for a good Chicago dog that's, you know... closer than Chicago, so I was glad to see one on the menu. It was quite good, but not what I expected based on the ones I remember from Chicago. This version leaned heavier on the relish and toppings, didn't have the bright green relish, and ended up a little messier overall. It did match exactly what the menu described, though, so that part's on me for not reading it more closely. All that micro-complaining aside, I'd get it again--though I may first try to work through the extensive menu a bit. There are some great options, and you should expect to struggle deciding (maybe check the menu in advance). The House Dog was delicious, but also pretty messy--definitely grab some napkins. Prices were a tiny bit higher than I'd expect for hot dogs, but the quality, presentation, and overall vibe seemed aligned with that. Overall, Riley's is a great option if you want a nicer sit-down hot dog experience with lots of choices and a comfortable atmosphere. I'd go back, especially to try more of the specialty dogs.

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Riley's Hot Dog & Burger Gourmet - Very cute interior

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Menu

Buster's Drive In - burgers - Updated May 2026

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