Love a diner. Today's order -…read more Chicken BLT w skinny fried Hamburger with GF bun Peppermint chip ice cream Clam chowder Cornbeef Sandwich Everybody enjoyed their meal. It was extremely quiet on a Wednesday night. Some days it's packed. I do like to be able to sit at the table and play Pokémon because there's three stops and one gym. lol.

We went for the ice cream and it was pretty good but dang was it expensive- $10 per milkshake!…read moreService was quick. We did not try the food. They have a nice little patio to sit outside, it it somewhat small inside. Would still go back to try other flavors or a sundae but if you're looking for a cheaper sweet treat may try elsewhere.

Going to Shady Glen is a bit like stepping back in time. It's that 'old timey' ice cream parlor,…read morefrom the decor to the servers (outfits), to the food. Nostalgia. Memories. A stop on the way back to UCONN when I was a student there. The "go to" place after our kids' school events. Shortly after we moved to Manchester, over 38 years ago, the restaurant was closed for renovations. We were looking forward to seeing the revamped restaurant. Well, we were even more surprised when we stepped in the door - nothing had changed! Cleaner, perhaps new Naugahyde on the seats, but that mural on the wall was the same - those elves were timeless. When you sit down, you get a small paper cup of water. The menus are on the the wall - soups, sandwiches & ice cream. I'd always heard they had a patent on the way their cheeseburgers were made - a burger topped with crispy cheese. A must have. Prior to Covid, the condiments tray had ketchup, mustard & chopped onions. Now, there are packets of the condiments. No onions though. We shared an order of fries - crispy & good. I was too full to have ice cream after our meal, so we brought a half gallon (yes - a real half gallon) of our favorite flavor home - chocolate almond joy. Yum! Note - you need cash. No cards. There is an ATM in the restaurant.

Every once in a while, I don't connect with a place that many people love. Shady Glen was one of…read morethose spots. But I'm always open to the idea that maybe I didn't get it right, and I eventually return. I recently visited the original Shady Glen, and I'm now a fan. This was my first visit to the original location, and perhaps that makes a difference. My other two or so visits were to the now closed other Manchester location. The atmosphere is a 50's style ice cream restaurant that also serves food. There are some tables. Some counter seats. Workers in old timey outfits. Definitely an old school vibe that they pull off. Service was friendly. I visited with two goals. Try a hot dog. And eat an Original Bernice Winged Cheeseburger. Probably the most famous burger in CT. SG uses CT's Grote & Weigel hot dogs. They split and grill them. They served mine sort of sandwich style on a long bun with a toothpick in the middle. Definitely an original presentation. They have no specialty dogs beyond the crispy cheese they also serve on the burgers. They do give you quality packets of relish, mustard and ketchup and a small container of chopped onions. I added all these ingredients. And it was a tasty dog. The Original Bernice Winged Cheeseburger arrived, looking like a monarch, sitting on a throne of crinkle cut French Fries. The crispy cheese design, with all those angles extending from the bun, is an engineering marvel. There is melty cheese too. The burger looked about like a quarter pound. Tasted good. I added lettuce and tomato. Both fresh. A one of a kind burger that has thrilled people for Decades. The fries were fine. The Cole Slaw, however, was top tier. There was more than just thin chopped cabbage. Kale maybe. Some other stuff. The dressing was tasty, and the slaw wasn't overly dressed. Shady Glen is a CT classic. Indeed, an American Classic according to James Beard. Who can argue with that? 4.25 Stars

Best Burger I've Had in New England!…read more I don't leave reviews very often, but Smash & Shake absolutely deserves one. Hands down, this was the best burger I've ever had in New England. The burger was cooked perfectly with an incredible crust on the beef, piled high with flavorful toppings, caramelized onions, mushrooms, pickles, and an amazing sauce. Every bite was juicy, fresh, and packed with flavor. I also have to give a shout-out to the lady working the front. She was incredibly welcoming, friendly, and made me feel appreciated from the moment I walked in. Great customer service can make all the difference, and they definitely helped make the experience even better. You can tell this place genuinely cares about quality. The portions were generous, everything tasted fresh, and it was worth every penny. Between the incredible food and the warm hospitality, it's easy to see why I'll keep coming back. If you're even thinking about trying Smash & Shake, do yourself a favor and go. They've earned a lifelong customer, and I already can't wait to come back. 10/10--without a doubt the best burger I've had in New England!

06/26 My 2nd visit. Ordered the double classic and a large…read morestrawberry shortcake sundae, Like last rime order took about 12 minutes. The place is pretty clean and pretty well thought out and comfortable. Lots of outlets to charge your devices. The burger was nice and hot, juicy and flavorful, possibly better tasting than last time. Had to force myself to eat it slowly. The Strawberry Shortcake Sundae was good. Lots of strawberry syrup snd a fair amount of "shortcake." A tad overpriced. IMHO. This place is worth s visit.

Frozen custard is amazing at Scottie's! They have a…read moredifferent flavor of the week, so it's fun to try something new every week. They serve great food too! It's become our new go to spot when near Colchester.

Stopped in after dinner in Colchester. Was around 630pm. Not too many folks were there so we were…read moreable to order right away. Wanted a couple milkshakes, got the small size for a strawberry one and chocolate one. Strawberry seemed more flavorful and chocolate one seemed to have a little too much cream/milk. But both were thick and good.

My son took me to Milkcraft while we were walking around West Hartford. Here are the things I said,…read morein order: "I'm not really hungry, but you can get something." "Oooh, it looks cool in here...smells yummy, too!" "These flavors! Okay, maybe I'll get something...but what?!" "Bourbon breakfast, please!" I had to end the quotes here because I'm sure some unholy sounds came out as I ate some of the best ice cream I've ever had. I say some of the best because I tried all of my family members' flavors and they were all winners. Also, we live in Connecticut, where there is a lot of great ice cream. Anyway, go to Milkcraft. Long lines? Probably. Expensive? Kind of, but you very much get what you pay for...a transcendent ice cream experience with flavors you won't find elsewhere.

What happened? We…read morecame to Milkcraft a few years ago. It was vibrant and lively inside, with lots of people trying an assortment of cool and unique flavors. The Vietnamese coffee ice cream was great. We came again today after a nice local lunch, looking for a small sweet treat to end the day. The inside was dirty. The ice cream freezer had years of ice and grime built up on the inside. It was half empty and the flavors remaining were fairly mundane. We tried the most interesting looking one - a milk and cereal creation. It tasted like warm vanilla ice cream with hints of crushed up salty, stale cracker. There are lot of other places in town that offer fun desserts, so we'll go other places next time.

Good but basic soft serve…read more Quick review for a quick service. Place is a little out of the way, served from the back of a gas station off the main road. The menu is very simple, and the price is okay. Quality of the soft serve is actually pretty good. The trouble is location. Its identity will always be tied to the gas station and the maintenance of the grounds is good for the lawn but not the building it occupies. So the lawn looks good and the quality of the ice cream was good but the building does give off a vibe. It's good and functional soft serve, but that's all.

Menu is very basic but the staff were great. Ice cream was delicious. We did the ice cream nachos…read morewhich was a great treat and a swirl in a cup with fudge. Basic ice creams, basic flavors but price was right. Place is attached to the gas station with its own dedicated window. Wouldn't go out my way for the ice cream but hey if I'm in the area and wanted a good treat. This would take my money.

I still think Harry's place is overrated…read more First of all, it's cash only, but don't forget there's atm right there at the counter, $2.50 per transaction The milkshakes were nine dollars a pop, and my friend and I each had a hotdog at 3.99 each The milkshakes were average of best typical of any place you get a chocolate milkshake The hotdog were small, toasted on a New England roll, which was buttery and pretty good They put the mustard and relish under the hotdog. This is kind of weird. I don't think this is a New England thing or a Connecticut thing. Had I known there was mustard and relish at a condiment counter around the corner, I would've just got a plain dog. The place gets busy for lunch and there's only one order taker. So the line can get out of that testy, especially if you're in a hurry. I know many say this is an institution and I shouldn't be speaking negatively about it, but it is what it is it's overrated. Yes it's been around for a long time, but it's super expensive for a hot dog and milkshake. I see no value here. I should've went up and around the corner to that bar that serves those really great lobster rolls. Colchester is a beautiful town, with many wonderful choices for a place to eat. I don't think this is one of them.

Epic double burger and fries - a true classic!…read more Had the double burger with fries and it was absolutely epic! The patties were thick, juicy, and packed with flavor - exactly what you'd hope for from a historic Connecticut drive-in like Harry's Place. The fries were perfectly crispy and seasoned, making the whole meal a standout. This place has been around for over 100 years for a reason. Great portions, no-frills deliciousness, and that old-school vibe. If you're craving a solid burger and fries (or their famous clams/hot dogs), this is the spot. Will definitely be back next time I'm in the area! Highly recommend - 10/10 on the burger front.

I was treated to Rita's for a mindful girls' day. I hadn't been here in a while, so I was excited…read moreto try their Pumpkin Magic flavors. I chose the Pumpkin Pie Concrete, and it was delicious and refreshing. The pumpkin flavor was not overwhelming. My only critique is that the custard melts really fast, so by the time you start eating, it feels more like drinking a milkshake than enjoying an ice cream treat. I still rated it five stars because the service was fast, even with a long line and busy traffic, and the staff were very nice!

Good for a quick chill on a hot day. A rainbow of icy sugar packed flavors and a few soft serves,…read moretoo. My favorite ice was, yes passed tense, was their Coffee Ice. The Coffee and Mocha were smooth, not too sweet, and geared to an adult taste bud. The other ice flavors, I really need to push my sweet tooth through the door. I would like to see them open further into the colder weather and make Spring happen earlier by un-locking the doors as soon as possible.