**MY EXPERIENCE:** Upon approaching Jumpin' Jack's Drive-In, we were greeted by a sizable crowd, confirming its status as a must-visit destination for both locals and tourists alike. My wife ordered fried fish planks, while I opted for a cheeseburger with barbecue. For her, onion rings followed, and I chose french fries. Post-meal, we indulged in their exceptional ice cream, a highlight of the experience. This establishment is a cornerstone near New York, offering a quintessential dining experience. **HISTORY & CONTEXT:** Jumpin' Jack's Drive-In boasts a storied past, serving as a beloved staple in the New York area since its inception. The drive-in's enduring popularity is a testament to its commitment to quality and community engagement. Known for its iconic menu and vibrant atmosphere, it attracts visitors year-round, providing a nostalgic escape into American diner culture. RATINGS & LOGISTICS: - Atmosphere: 10/10 - Food Quality: 9/10 - Service/Flow: 8/10 - Value: 7/10 - Would Return: Yes read more

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Nice day to enjoy a great fish fry and onion rings from Jumpin Jacks. Customer service always pleasant and quick with placing orders. Plenty of parking available with a nice view of the lake or park. Before leaving don't forget a banana split sundae. Definitely be back. read more

Jumpin' Jack's Drive-In - Fish Fry Onion Rings - Burgers Near Me - Scotia, New York

Adorable, old-school, and somehow still cheap in this America an actual unicorn. The food was simple American food but actually delicious. If you drive past without stopping, that's a personal failure and that's on you. read more

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We love Jumpin Jacks and spend so much time here in the summer- jack burger and onion rings or cheeseburgers with grilled onions and some flame always hit the spot read more

Great food great service! My grandma lied the pistachio icxream! Yum! Great out door atmosphere! Even got water for do GiGi!

- nice greasy oniony cheesy hamburger - didn't like the fried shrimp - sausage was alright - good sweet potato fries - ice cream! - milkshakes! - pleasant service read more

Come for the scene, stay for the dessert. Can't say I loved much of the food I ate here (it was fine) but sitting outside at the picnic tables with friends while watching the water skiers go off the jump was fun and the desert line up is pretty impressive. In the slushie, flurry (although they have their own name here for this, ice cream, sundae, milkshake, and fro yo categories they kind of have it all. Prices are all pretty affordable and what you'd expect at a place like this. It's a perfect place to hang out with friends or for families with kids that can't sit still at a normal restaurant. We shared the fried clams, cheeseburger, sausage, chicken dinner, and steak sandwich. The fries (both regular and sweet) were pretty good but everything else was just ok. Not a ton of flavor, but again I don't think this food is the main draw of the Jumpin Jack drive-in. Instead kick back and go back in time to a restaurant type that's a rarer breed these days and enjoy the experience as a whole. read more

Great consistent food at a fair price, prepared by friendly, dedicated, efficient wonderful people that care!

I live outside of town but have been coming here since I was little. I visited years after and I STILL love it. This place is great and the ambiance is laid back and relaxing. You wait in line, order, and sit yourself on any number of outdoor picnic tables (very smooth, good quality tables). All seating is outdoors but there pavilions to protect from rain. I highly recommend the jack burger, it really is the best. The employees here work so hard and are good at servicing their customers. Next door, there is an ice cream shop where you can get soft serve (along with different types). After, take a walk in the beautiful park right next to door. This is a great restaurant. A+ There's a river off to the side where they sometimes do water ski shows (ramp in water) btw read more

Jumpin' Jack's Drive-In - Jackburger & French Fries - Burgers Near Me - Scotia, New York

This spot was recommended by my friend who I was visiting for the weekend. The place gets super packed with a nice line through the parking lot at times. I guess it's just that good or a real hit in this town. If you've ever been to the flagship Shake Shack location in Madison Square Park, it's essentially that kind of style where you wait to order from an outdoor window and they'll give you everything on a tray once finished to be brought down to the cashier, where you can order drinks and pay up. I tried two different things. First thing I consumed was the Clam Fry ($5.00), which was basically fried clams put on a toasted hot dog bun. There was too much fried clam (not complaining) to be eaten all at once on a hot dog bun, but after picking at it and adding tartar sauce, it was a great way to start the meal. The other item I got was a Jackburger ($6.75), which is a double with cheese, served with three buns, and cole slaw on top. Simple yet filling. All of this with a drink for under $20 is not bad at all. read more

Jumpin' Jack's Drive-In - Left: Clam Fry; Right: Jackburger - Burgers Near Me - Scotia, New York

This place is more about the nostalgia than anything else. The food is pretty much deep fried or grilled if you want to be slightly healthier. Often like luke warm, and I would give everything on the menu a "just okay" rating of 2/5. For example, I ordered the Jack Burger and was excited because it sounded like their version of a Big Mac. Instead what I got was a small cheeseburger, with an extra layer of bread in the middle, a regular hamburger on top of it, topped with normal coleslaw. No ketchup, no pickles, no Russian dressing or special sauce, not even lettuce and tomato. And it's a shame because it was more expensive than a Big Mac. Seriously though, they could have made this something very special simply by adding an additional slice of cheese, a little bit of Russian dressing, and a pineapple coleslaw - none of which would have taken additional time to prepare. The ice cream however is always a treat for any age, they have some pretty fun flavors, and I would give it a 4/5, bringing the overall rating to 3/5. I also have to mention that during the summer, when there isn't a pandemic going on, Jumpin Jack's will put on a water ski show for the guests, followed by a fireworks display on Friday nights. It's a great place to bring kids, build new memories, and then walk it off in the park across the street. Overall, I think a 3/5 is a fair rating for the restaurant, even considering the pandemic. If they put just a little bit more effort into making their food a cut above stay-at-home BBQ, I think they would be able to bring in new guests who want to build new memories with their families for generations to come. read more

Jumpin' Jack's Drive-In - Jackburger with curly fries - Burgers Near Me - Scotia, New York

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Thais place is a great throwback Food was great Values was great Ans the ice cream was amazing read more

Always wanted to try this place since I moved into the area, and decided to go on the last day of this season. Person taking the order seemed annoyed, (called my order out wrong as well), rest of the staff was great. Food was fresh, and tasty. read more

Food cooked fresh to order and always delicious. Reasonably priced food and ice cream. Flavors of ice cream are always good and vanilla and chocolate always available! Yum! read more

Fun place for drive in fare& ice cream. Lots of outdoor seating& a park. Relaxed and not crowded during the week(at least when we were there). read more

Great place, staple to the area! Foods good and it's a family friendly environment. Must stop! read more

Solid, reliable all-American food stand. Clam fry and onion rings is my go to. Fried dough as a treat! Prices are super reasonable. Food isn't anything gourmet, but that doesn't make it less delicious. Fun atmosphere and perfect for a nice summer night. Go on Tuesdays for the water ski show at 7pm! read more

Jumpin' Jack's Drive-In - Clam fry, onion rings, coleslaw, fried dough - Burgers Near Me - Scotia, New York

I love this spot! This always give me the old town vibe. You can get popcorn, cotton candy, shakes, dole whip, ice cream, junk and trash food that just hits home! read more

Jumpin' Jack's Drive-In - July 4th ice cream! - Burgers Near Me - Scotia, New York

stopped here with my family on the night before my sisters graduation. it was 15 minutes to close and the staff was smiling and helpful, which to me, having worked in the industry for years, is always a plus. the service was quick, friendly and easy. our ice creams were amazing. LOVE that they have different flavors for dips that you don't typically see elsewhere like peanut butter dip, or cotton candy or birthday cake. my stepdad got the chocolate soft serve with chocolate dip and peanuts, my sister got swirl with rainbow sprinkles, my boyfriend got vanilla with chocolate dip, I got swirl with chocolate dip and peanuts and my mom got chocolate with peanut butter dip and peanuts. the chocolate soft serve with peanut butter dip and peanuts was an unbeatable combo! wish i lived closer to this cute little joint because i know i'd be a regular. if you haven't been yet, it's worth stopping!! read more

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I don't get the hype. It's a very cute idea, great location, and the good is okay. But the wait time is insane. If the food was phenomenal, whatever. But it's merely OK, and portion sizes for fries are lacking. Clearly I'm the minority opinion, but this just isn't it for me. read more

Sliders synonymous with summer in Schenectady. Sorry, couldn't resist the alliteration. And whether or not you see the burgers at Jumpin' Jack's as sliders may depend upon how old you are. I've been told that sliders once got their name because the fatty burgers were cooked on tilted grills, and they would literally slide down the grill by the time they were fully cooked. The story sounds apocryphal, but I like it anyway. One thing that is clear is that Jumpin' Jack's serves some good, greasy, flame grilled burgers. And they don't sully them up with all kinds of toppings. Cheese, grilled onions, and coleslaw. Those are the choices. And they are served on a basic steamed bun. No lettuce. No tomato. No bacon. Yes, you could go for the jackburger, which is a sesame seed bun, very much like the one served with the signature burger at the place with the golden arches. But after my recent visit, I realized that I would much rather have a double cheeseburger and opt out of that middle piece of bread. My favorite part of a double cheeseburger is the layer of cheese that gets sandwiched in the middle of two hot and fatty ground beef patties. And you lose that in a jackburger. Will this be the best burger you ever had? Nope. Will the ground shake beneath your feed when you try it? Wrong coast for that. But, no. What you will do, when queuing up in line at this classic Scotia drive-in, is participate in an ancient Capital Region tradition enjoyed by hundreds of thousands (if not millions) over the past several decades. You'll eat out doors, with your community, where the kids can be kids, and the dogs can wait in the car. It's a classic bit of Americana that continues to persist in Schenectady, while similar places around the country have shut down for one reason or another. Jumpin' Jack's probably won't be around forever. And it closes at the end of every fall. Don't miss out. This is the kind of place that's special, not just because of the food it serves, but for the role it's played in the community for generations. Experience it for what it is, and soak in the local culture, while basking in the summertime sun on the banks of the Mohawk. read more

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When we drive up from Virginia to go to upstate NY, this is our first stop. The cheeseburger with fried onions is a must. Always save room for ice cream. Most butterfat in there ice cream of any place I know. read more

For a burger, steak sandwich, sausage and all the other summer eats, it's worth a detour to Schenectady/Scotia off the thruway! Jumpin' Jacks has been in existence for 50 years+ and I'm sure has gone through a few renovations. It's a seasonal drive-in, located right on the Mohawk in Scotia, just across the river from downtown Schenectady. They don't skimp on quality and everything is made to order. You eat at picnic tables on the lot or get the food to go. There's a separate building for ice cream and shakes. Hint: No pets allowed in the eating area but there are park benches just across a side street where you can bring your food and canine friends. read more

Whether you will like Jumpin' Jack's or not will depend on what you're looking for. The best burger in town? No. BUT, surely they boast one of the best atmospheres. Be prepared to shout your order rapid fire style from pretty far back in the line. Someone will then repeat your order back to the kitchen in some sort of secret code, usually involving interesting terms like whale, and homeless. Don't worry though, in 28 years of going to jump in jacks they've never messed up my order. Additionally, they now have gluten free buns and brownies, as well as vegan options. Their staff seemed very knowledgeable about food allergies and communicated with the kitchen well to alert everyone to our daughter's allergies. My daughter was able to eat with no reaction! They did a great job. read more

There are giant NO SMOKING OR PETS signs everywhere, so we were perplexed as to why four people outside were puffing away. We're guessing rampant illiteracy, but maybe there's lead in the food here or something. Certainly the employee who was smoking right on top of the giant propane tanks with their NO SMOKING warnings was a likely candidate for a Darwin award (see picture we posted). But I digress. So, Jumpin' Jacks, we can definitely see why this is a local institution, with short order food next to the river and across from the baseball fields and handy to the bridge crossing. That said, the food here was pretty mundane. We suspect a lot of it sits around waiting orders, since while they were peppy with the orders, our hot dogs, hamburger, fries, and clams all came out ice cold while the fish (nicely battered in corn meal, btw) came out fryer-hot. The ice cream is all soft-serv, which is good enough if that's what you're hankering for. The drinks were absurdly overpriced at refill-large prices for 8 ounce cups stuffed with ice. The locale is a little disappointing: no tables on the river or other way to take it in, and while the river walk is pleasant enough, there aren't really places to sit down. The other point of confusion is calling this a "Drive-In"; whence we come, a "Drive In" is a place where they bring the food to you at your car, not a 'drive up' where you pull in and get out of the car and eat outside, which we would call "take out" or perhaps "al fresco dining" if you want to get fancy pants about it. Here I am talking trash about another local institution (see also our review of Mike's) but call it the unblinking and un-nostalgic view of the transplant. Jack's will be a fun treat for the kids in future years, I can tell, but I doubt the older members or our party are going to feel the love as much, at least not until they can get at least 50% of the orders served hot. I certainly am not understanding why people were lined up at 5 AM for the opening day. That, and if it survives the smoking around explosive flammable gas tanks. Just sayin'. read more

Jumpin' Jack's Drive-In - If Jacks ever explodes it is likely because of employees smoking next to propane tanks clearly marked NO SMOKING. - Burgers Near Me - Scotia, New York

A great classic drive-in located along the Mohawk River next to the Western Gateway Bridge and across from Collins Park, which is open during the warmer months (closed for the season after Labor Day). I visit this place each year! The large Jumpin' Jack's sign is the first visible sign in Scotia traveling from Schenectady, hard to miss! Jumpin' Jack's serves up burgers, hot dogs, fish frys, clam frys, shrimp frys, steak sandwiches, chicken broilers, fries, onion rings, dinner plates, Pepsi drinks, and ice cream treats (cones, sundaes, shakes, floats, and Dole whips). There are two separate buildings where you order and pay: the left enclosed building for ice cream treats and the right building with outside windows for hot food and cold drinks. The place is fairly busy, but the lines move quickly and the service is friendly. There's ample covered picnic table seating out front or relax out back on the grassy area along the banks of the Mohawk River where you can watch the US Water Ski Show Team perform. Pretty cool!! The Fish Fry ($3.50 tax included in 2007/$4.50 in 2016) a.k.a. lone shark here is one of the best I've had in the area, fried to perfection and not greasy. The ice cream is very good. I also enjoy a large Dole Whip Cone ($2.00 tax included in 2007/$3.25 in 2016), very refreshing on a hot day. Sooo good!! read more

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Typical drive in food. Burgers, dogs, fries...they have fresh breaded fish specials which we saw alot of people ordering. So I guess they are good. We had the touristy staples which were fine. Just a fun vibe and place to hang for a bit. Ice cream shop next door! All covid friendly. read more

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Classic Americana. Go on a Thursday in the summer and get a free performance of the US Waterski Team at the same time. For a simple burger and fries I love it. The fried clams are not Cape Cod good but my family loves them. Ice cream, milk shakes and slushes next door. The Jack burger - ok. For me, it misses the mark. I don't like cole slaw on the burger. What for me makes the burgers here delicious is the simplicity of it. Once you make it a double decker (see Golden Arches place) and add slaw.... nah. Please don't confuse the Jack Burger with a double cheese burger. A DCB is one roll, two patties of beef with delicious grill created melted cheese. I LOVE IT. It's a local landmark and easily could be on a TV show. read more

Jumpin' Jack's Drive-In - Burgers Near Me - Scotia, New York

So it's open for the summer only, I think that's the major appeal, that and the river that's behind it or maybe the park next door. Everytime we fly back east to visit her family, I make sure to stop by at least once. It's always busy and the food is always the same. I like that in a place. I mean the food is not INCREDIBLE, but it tastes pretty good and the selection is decent. Then when you tip 'em they all thank you. It'll never make the Food Network, but it's worth a stop to see what all the hub bub's 'bout. read more

Well it's that time of year again for outdoor roadside greasy spoons! And our little gem Jumping Jacks is open. This year is something much different than we've ever seen with the pandemic. We didn't eat off of the dinner menu we only had ice cream but it was just as I remembered! We had shakes, freezes, sprinkles, and dips. Everything was really good. Only issue was no cones but it wasn't the worst thing. They also need to work on there ordering style. I Hope they adopt a system with numbered spaces because their system now isn't very user friendly. But as always it was a pleasure. I forgot pictures and I apologize! Let summer begin! read more

I moved to Scotia in 1985 and found that there are two requirements. You always watch for turtles on Washington Ave. crossing over to the lake and you must attend opening day of Jumpin Jacks. This was the first year I missed opening day. I'm so ashamed. I did make it on day two and had my traditional mini Jack Burger, which is a regular cheese burger with coleslaw that I add to it. We can't all handle two all beef patties! ( That reminds me of some jingle I have heard before, but I can't place it. ) Anyway, the burger tasted good, the onion rings were crispy and the ice cream was very cold! If anyone knows me well I have a thing about very cold ice cream. More importantly it is the gateway to summer. It's a great tradition and the fire works for the Fourth of July, ( which are never held on the 4th) are a great treat! Tuesday's they have water ski shows and other nights there are outdoor concerts. It also happens to be located across from Collins Park. If you have never been to Jumpin Jacks, you are missing out on a great old fashion experience! read more

Jumpin' Jack's Drive-In - Burgers Near Me - Scotia, New York

An old school burger joint cute and a throwback to the 50's. The menu seems big and a lot but it's not and the staff is helpful if you've never been there before. Outdoor seating and get your ice cream fix at the other building. But you can order milkshake in the food building. read more

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Had a wonderful day with the kids and grandkids! Great burgers and onion rings and the kids loved the chicken fingers, fried shrimp and French fries, but the coleslaw was the overall favorite! The ice cream cones were a special treat. We then went across the street to the park and had a wonderful time! We grew up coming to Jumpin Jacks, and it was very special sharing it with family from Upstate and North Carolina!! read more

I have been going here since I was a kid. Originally, the burger stand itself was known as the Charcoal Pit and next door's ice cream parlor was named the Twin Freeze. The lines aren't around the block because the food is particularly outstanding, but because this is a local landmark, has been here since 1952 and is only open seasonally. The menu is relatively small, but it's been the same for years: fried fish, clams, hot dogs, burgers, chicken and sides like curly fries, onion rings and coleslaw with some tweaks here and there. The ordering process can be slightly intimidating if you're not used to it, so know what you want well before you reach the window. There's a condiment station to add as much ketchup, mustard, relish, mayo, and onions as you can fill your paper cups with. Then afterwards, you can get cotton candy, popcorn, ice cream, banana splits, sundaes or Dole Whips next door. The overall experience is the best - there's people watching, original lighting and seating between the river and park. It's a sweet experience day or night, something you can't get at just any diner or fast food spot. read more

Jumpin' Jack's Drive-In - Burgers Near Me - Scotia, New York

At least if you have a milk allergy you'll be okay because their soft serve "ice cream" is actually dole whip, a frozen non-dairy dessert. Whatever it actually is, just a little flavor would be nice. I had a twist and only could taste vanilla. Next time I'll opt for chocolate. You pay for what you get, it's a good deal if you're short on funds. read more

A MUST DO This place has been around for over 20 years. Lots of parking right near the river. Park your car and get in line. Absolutely great charcoal cooked Burgers, dogs, steak sandwich, fries, onion rings etc. Lines move fast and it's worth the experience. Counter people are very friendly. The place serves great burgers, it's clean and you can go sit at one of the picnic tables and let the kids run thru the park. Closed during the winter months. read more

Burger #76: What Do Locals Know? Out with the family, our darkest fears were realized when our first choice of lunch was closed down. So off to Jumpin' Jacks we went. When we arrived it was pretty packed. Really nice location right along the Mohawk river with lots of grass for the kiddies to graze on. We hopped on the fast moving line ride and got up to the menu pretty quick. I knew I had to eat light since a big family dinner was just hours away, so I ordered a Jack burger, clam fry and a strawberry shake. When I saw them cooking the patties I knew what I was in for, a big helping of sweet disappointment. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/HPdjz3CQ7sixCnjfThcqsA?select=UNa6AV2VlisyfvpKKb96Sw Once you pick up your food there is a condiment bar behind the line. I loaded up on some standards and headed over to the picnic area. The burger was what I feared, something that was straight from a high school lunch line. The beef had that strange texture and flavor that only grade D government beef can bring. Adding a third piece of bread between the two micro-patties only took away from the burger experience. And for over $4, I felt the fool. The clam fry was no better. Thin strips of over fried clams on a soft wonder roll tasted like old oil and nothing of the sea. By the time I finished them both off my jaw was sore from all the chewing. The liquidy shake was decent but should not have been 50% melted when it was first handed to me. But as we ate, there was a steady stream of people flooding in. The line only got longer and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. I guess when Fuddruckers and 5 Guys are your only burger options in upstate NY, you just grow up not knowing any better. read more

Jumpin' Jack's Drive-In - jack burger, clam fry and strawberry shake - Burgers Near Me - Scotia, New York

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If its summertime and you want a burger you either cook it at home on the grill or go to Jumpin Jacks. It doesn't matter how long the drive or how long the line is when you get there, it will be worth it. I don't think anyone else can compete with this cheeseburger and sauteed onions. The homemade onion rings are the best around too. read more

Jumpin' Jack's Drive-In - Burgers Near Me - Scotia, New York

It's a fun little outdoor place with food that's reminiscent of the types and quality you'd see at a fair. Burgers, fried fish, fried clams, onion rings, fries, fried dough, ice cream. There's an amphitheater and it's right on the water, so there are some sights to take in as you walk around. I imagine it's a popular date location for young teenagers, and that parents bring the kids here a lot, and the fast food / fried food and then ice cream is a fun little guilty pleasure for adults too. If I'm back in the area looking for an outdoor lunch (on a warm day), Jumpin' Jack's will likely see me again. read more

Jumpin' Jack's Drive-In - Burgers Near Me - Scotia, New York

My wife and I come here at least once a year, though usually on opening day. I am not sure why, as we aren't from the area originally and haven't grown up with that tradition. Perhaps it is because we wish we had a tradition like that for our own. Anyway, the food is good though it is the usually grilled/fried fare. Nearly every opening day it is cold, sometimes rainy, and at least 30 minutes in line to get your food. I don't blame J.J. for the weather or the line... in fact, it means that they must be doing something right! It is a fun little place to go, and apparently they have water shows though we have never seen one. And yes, I likely will be back next year for opening day... in the rain. read more