When you go to Mac's Drive-In, you're going for an experience. Set in a stage back in time, you can eat inside, outside at picnic tables, or pull up to the back and eat in your car. Servers come up to your car and set up a tray off your window. Today we opted to eat outside at one of the picnic tables, which was a great date spot. Not only is the vibe retro, but the prices were too. We were shocked at how good the price was for my fantastic which came with three sides. Don't skip on the honey buns or the rootbeer. The pizza was also huge and a great price. read more

Mac's Drive-In - A large pizza, and fish fry with honeybuns, coleslaw and fries. - American Near Me - Waterloo, New York

Great little place to have your basic comforts when you were younger. 4 of us ordered minus desserts and we had leftovers and the bill was $48 lol . Definitely worth the visit ! We will be back ! read more

2 stars is being generous. We try to find the good to share about places and it was a challenge to find it here. The service was a bit snappy, not very pleasant, rolled her eyes at us. We ordered 2 large root beers with our food and instead were brought and charged for 2 large floats. They were ok, the ice cream didn't have much flavor, overall the root beer itself was nothing to write home about. The fish sandwhich was mediocre, the cabbage salad (aka cole slaw) was way overpriced at .75! It had no flavor at all. The onion rings were so greasy I couldn't eat them. The red hot with chili was very small compared to others we have had in this area this week. The chili was bland. The fries were the worst part - not only were they unseasoned, they were cold, and shriveled looking. We saw the good reviews here and were excited to try it. Instead we wish we had stopped at one of the other little local spots. read more

Loved it! Huge Kick Back in time. An original Drive-In and open summer air burger, dog, sandwich joint. We tripped upon Mac's while cruising through Town. No roller skates serving cars, but window tray service is still available. We chose to park and walk. Grabbed a covered table just outside the open doors. People sitting at the raised bar while others stood snarfing down a burger and/or a dog or two. Our order consisted of a few Hot Dogs seared off the grill, couple cheese bacon burgers, and yup a couple grilled cheese too irresistible to pass up. This was for 3 of us, plus a few nibbles for the pups. Beverages, a cold one (water) for the pup. Must have fountain root beer, root beer float, and a cold local brew. This was a major highlight to our trip - thanks MAC & Richardson Root Beer! Oh, did I mention three cones and a pup cup to go? read more

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This place isn't fancy, but it doesn't need to be. It's a throwback, it's nostalgia, it's memories. My family and I try to get here a couple of times each summer to relax with a simple meal and the world's best milkshake (or root beer in a frosted mug....or both). I love the drive in service where your food is delivered directly to your vehicle. So fun! You can also eat inside or there are picnic tables if you prefer. Standouts - honey buns (don't skip these! It's a Mac's staple), malted shakes, frosted mug root beer, fries. Seriously some of the best fries out there. Only thing I've had here that I probably wouldn't get again are the onion rings, texture was a bit off for me, but maybe I just had a bad batch. The prices are extremely reasonable. You can bring the whole family and everybody's friends and still not break the bank. If you're looking for something to do in the summer with your loved ones, especially if you have younger kids who might be a little choosy about what they eat, this is really a no brainer. read more

A must stop for anyone traveling through the north end of the Finger Lakes region. Mac's is such a cool spot in my hometown. In my travels, there are not a lot of places that remind me of Mac's. The root beer is killer. The food is solid, but it's also quite cheap even for 2026. The only negative opinion I have about Mac's is that the fries are not the best fries ever. very similar to In-n-Out fries if you've been to California. read more

One of the last remaining restaurant and car hop in the upstate New York. Very fun to go to car hop and be waited on for your food. Menu is various fast food served quickly and very inexpensive. I ordered the sausage sandwich and a side of onion rings. The sausage was a nice thick patty with peppers and onions on a roll. Onion rings were a large helping of hot and tasty onion rings. No matter how busy the place seemed, the staff was able to take care of all the customers in a timely fashion. Food came out quickly and hot. Nice place for good and inexpensive food. And don't forget to order their famous Root Beer! read more

Mac's Drive-In - Very inexpensive and varied menu - American Near Me - Waterloo, New York

Gritty, old-school ambiance! "The root beer barrel on the counter still pours Richardson's root beer, just as it has since 1961" read more

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Food is soooo good and at such great prices. I have been going every summer since before I can remember. The potato salad, submarine sub, turkey club, and philly cheesesteak have always been my family's go tos. Great service, wonderful environment. Made so many memories there. The honey buns are also wonderful. You can't go wrong there. read more

I wish I could like Mac's. I think the nostalgia is blinding because the experience was not good by any means. Dirty rags on the counters, a very questionable process of bare hands that collect money that also add fries to the fryer. Soda was flat and overall a chaotic atmosphere. Sadly nothing good to say food wise either. read more

Best French fries ever. Hadn't been In the area in a number of years. Still the same drive in vibe. Excellent pricing and family friendly. So I just had to make a quick stop. Fries to go. read more

I love this place so much. So cute and simple. Food is decent, well priced. That's not why I come though, best Diet Coke of my life. I'm from California and visit Buffalo yearly. I go out of my way to get this Diet Coke. In a chilled beer glass comes this kiss from heaven. Fries are fresh, burger not bad. Mac's come to Los Angeles, you can charge twice as much please. I will have to wait another year before I can once again enjoy this Diet Coke I fear. read more

Mac's Drive-In - Strawberry and Cherry milkshake - American Near Me - Waterloo, New York

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What a nice Road stop. Old fashioned Prices in a real drive in with car window service. Rock n roll music. Shakes n Malts & a Philly Steak Sandwich and a red hot. (That's a Hot Dog in New York Lingo) At the back of the property there was a vintage custom car auto show. Great stop. read more

Mac's Drive-In - American Near Me - Waterloo, New York

Amazing food ice cold root beer Amazing service amazing place you can actually watch them cook the food read more

Fun throwback experience. Food was delicious and inexpensive. We ordered a hamburger, bbq pulled pork, fries and a milkshake. Everything was great! read more

Amazing root beer Wait time 5 minutes Cash only not the best Ambiance not the best To windy read more

I've driven by here many times but did not stop. Decided to stop with my sister. Inside they had seating but I found it to be too hot and greasy smelling from the open grills so thankfully it was a nice day and we sat outside. Our server greeted us fairly quickly and were given menus but we could also see menus that were listed inside. The prices are very reasonable. I decided on a hot dog and potato salad and hot fudge sundae for desert. The hot dog could have been cooked a little longer for my taste (should have requested that). The potato salad was very good and tasted homemade. The sundae was good but I prefer hard ice cream and they only have soft. If your looking for a quick and reasonable meal that is good give this a try. It's like picnic food. read more

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Absolutely wonderful diner. The fish and chip dinner was delicious. The fish was nice and crispy and it came with shoestring french fries. The tartar sauce was nice. The poutine fries were wonderful. The onion rings were great. The honey buns were nice and chewy. read more

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What a fun stop. We wanted some Hoffman's Red Hots and this was the place! So glad we came. Food was perfect, atmosphere was like stepping back in time 60 years. And the service was fast and friendly. The drive up spots were closed, but they offered plenty of tables as well as the counter. Check out the root beer barrel too! Been in service since day 1 - 61 years ago. If you're not close, it's still worth the drive. read more

Very good food and looking forward to trying other items. Amazing service! Loved the old style ambiance. We just moved to area and will be back!!! read more

This is my favorite restaurant ever and I feel like there are very few places that are like this place anymore and amen it still stands today as they serve the best burgers and fries read more

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Stopped to try out this local drive- in favorite. The sign said "beep for service" so the servers know you're ready to order or pay your bill! Hubby and I split the Mac Special with burger (not hot dog). It was a layered dish of 2 burgers, french fries and Mac salad (macaroni salad) covered with chili. It was good but not the chili flavor or macaroni salad flavor I prefer (still good). Hubby had a milkshake that he said was just ok. (Syrup too sweet and artificial tasting). Meal was served on tray which hung from window - total retro. We loved the experience and would return for a good ole cheeseburger! Cash only. read more

Mac's Drive-In - Mac's sign - May, 2024 - American Near Me - Waterloo, New York

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Went one Saturday night with my daughter and grandson, not fancy but worth going for their root beer floats! Also had cheeseburger baskets that came with fries and coleslaw. Very reasonable and the service was great. Tables inside and outside and there was car service also if that's your preference. Floats are messy as they are overfilled with soft serve ice cream so I would recommend a table if that is what you order. read more

Ate here on the suggestion of my bro-in-law after a day on the lack pantooning off near by Canadaigua City Peir with family. He said the place was super cheap, fast and decently good for food options. I always like a old school dining experience and what is not more old school then a 50's style drive up diner!? We both pulled up to an almost empty drive in. In old school fashion we also read that they only take cash....oops! Off to the ATMA went and back we came. Hornes honked and out comes the servers. True to his word this place is cheap! $9 is the most expensive item on the menu! You can order meals with sides or get items al a carte as you wish. I being a health nut and not wanting to feel like crap the rest of the day went pretty clean yet. I got a triple decker club and chicken sando and a grilled chicken sando with mustard over mayo with LTO. Also got a side of coleslaw as well. Just $8 and change for both my items! Not too shabby! We sat off the parking lot and had our items for all 8 of us brought out within 10 minutes or so. My items were simple but tasty, nothing amazing or earthshattering but again, its a drive up diner! Was not expecting anything crazy either. Service was good, food was good, price is good. The only reason I give a 3 star is the menu is very small and limited. Only a few really healthy items to opt for. Very traditional menu. Maybe its me and maybe its too many past trips to Sonic and A&W drive-ins when I lived in west MO, but something was lacking here in vibe and in menu selection. Perhaps a big chain like sonic is a bad benchmark to compare to as well? I would come back and order the same thing again yes. I can't say I would go out of my way to pick this place over others, however. read more

Mac's Drive-In - old school drive in! - American Near Me - Waterloo, New York

This place was great! It was a step back in time, complete with oldies music and a "honk for service" sign. Very reasonable prices! M got the pulled pork sandwich and a chocolate milkshake and enjoyed both. I ordered a root beer float and it really hit the spot. Excellent find, I definitely recommend! read more

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The teenage girls running food wear teeny tiny skirts. The boys wear khaki shorts. The girls run food. The boys cook. Not only does it feel like the 50's, whoever is running the staff is clearly stuck there too. I can get a hot dog anyplace, I don't need to participate in the sexualization of teen age servers. Do better read more

The good part about this place that it has a lot of parking, it's fairly inexpensive and the service is great. Otherwise this place was just a bit meh for us. I ordered the soft serve ice cream - orange flavored - but it just tasted a bit odd. The orange flavor tasted too fake, like if you put too much faux sweetener into the food. My husband ordered a burger with fries. The fries were terrible - rubbery and tasteless. The burger had a strange white cheese on top and the burger was served without any vegetables (no lettuce, tomato or onions). Also, if you order the full basket, the tiny bit of coleslaw is a .75c up-charge which I think is a rather much. Later, another couple sat at a table next to us and the guy asked for veggies on his burger, so be aware that you have to ask for a full burger here. All in all, the food was mediocre at best but they serve their drink in iced mugs which is pretty awesome, especially on a hot day. read more

Mac's Drive-In - Ice tea in iced mugs - American Near Me - Waterloo, New York

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Stopped by for a quick bite and it was the first time here. What a throwback you the past! Simple food, affordable prices, and friendly service. You can even get carhop service - how cool is that. The fish sandwich was good and fries are shoestring style though I wish they were a tad crispier. The bbq pulled pork smelled amazing (next table lol!) and the fried chicken looked good too. I would totally stop by here again. FYI - This place is cash only so bring the green. read more

Family friendly and great simple food. We saw someone having a Mac plate and it looked good. We had a burger and a hotdog fries and onion rings and we needed an extra dog since the portions are just regular normal portions nothing extra - which I love. Also. The. Best. Root. Beer. Foal. I. Ever. Has. Ever. Period. read more

If you're looking for a nostalgic time with all the fried food you can eat, plus poutine, then look no further than Mac's. I happened to be in Geneva for a triathlon and as everyone knows, after you do a lot of exercise (aka triathlon) you get to eat a big fatty meal. Mac's hit that out of the ball park. I had chicken fingers and poutine. The poutine was incredible - fries, gravy, and lots of cheese! The service was also reminiscent of the 50's with high school aged staff. We sat at the tables they have but I bet the drive thru part would be fun. read more

Perfect weather for a drive across NY thruway, we decided to drive a short distance off the highway for an old fashioned drive-in experience. We did opt out of the car to sit at a picnic table. We both had fish fry. Fresh, perfectly fried. Fries and onion rings great too. Cheap, cash only, fast and good service. We were worried because there were like 50+ cars, but speed of service was better than expected. Clean washrooms too. read more

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This place has good food and a fun nostalgic feel. We loved pulling in and getting the food brought to the car with one of those trays that attached by the window. The staff were all as nice as could be and the food was very good. The burgers were a good plain classic burger and the fries were delicious. The root beer float was also good. read more

Fast, fresh and really tasty! Stopped by after shopping at the outlets and had everything from the fish, to the burger to the chicken fingers and are were great! read more

Mac's Drive-In - Fish dinner - American Near Me - Waterloo, New York

Lots of good comfort food very reasonably priced. A blast from the past! Curb service available, but never on roller skates.

It's cute in a retro experience kind of way -- you drive up, beep your horn, and food is brought out to your car window. With 50's music playing on the speakers and menu prices from the 90's, it's worth a visit, but only if you're already out that way. Unfortunately, can't give more than 3.5 stars because our fries were cold, our server was lukewarm, my companions said the root beer floats were only so-so, and aside from fries & soda, salad was the only vegan thing on the menu. Bummer. read more

Summary: Mac's Drive-In is one of a dying breed of Drive-Ins. Quite honestly, the only drive-in I've ever been to. Price: Inexpensive! Sandwiches like burgers and fish are only a few bucks, and sides are a bit less. Their Burger Basket which has a burger, fries (hand cut!), and cabbage salad (basically a coleslaw), was $5. Drinks in a frozen mug are under a dollar. Taste: It's a Drive-In, not a 5 Star Restaurant. However, the burger was good and cooked to a delicious medium well, the fries are hand cut and super fresh, and the chilled mug lemonade I had was refreshing. Better than most fast food burger and fries I've had, and the price is actually probably cheaper than them(!). Atmosphere: Food alone probably deserves somewhere around 3 or 4 stars, but the atmosphere really brings my opinion on Mac's Drive-In to a 5. I wasn't around during the Drive-In era, but the place reminds me of retro scenes from classic movies. It was just fun. There is a really neat condiment tray, a functioning drive-in (really, you can park your car and be waited on), and a really cool atmosphere. Not to mention the place is packed with people, likely regulars and tourists alike, which gives it a friendly vibe. The wait staff was great too, and seemed to keep up with the crowd. Overall: While the food itself may not earn a 5, the whole experience was just awesome. I can't say how it compares to other Drive-Ins, but damn it, I had a good time here. If we have time before our move to Virginia, we'll be back. Definitely check it out. read more

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You can't beat the prices for the quality and quantity of food you're getting! Will always recommend the honey buns, my favorite menu item.

Food was blan and gross. Got a trash plate, "meat sauce" was literally spaghetti sauce. I live 2 miles from this place. I've been there 3 times. All 3 times i was disappointed. I really don't know why people go there. read more

Exactly one year ago there was a review posted about Mac's Drive-In that was obviously done in jest. I put visiting Mac's on my "to do" list. Mac's is a great place to take young people to see what preceded all the fast food chains. Back then, most of the places that served simple fare such as burgers, sodas, fries, hot dogs, ice cream, sandwiches and the like were locally owned with a single or small number of local locations. Much more of the food was prepared on site from scratch than is commonplace today. Mac's still fits that description. Unfortunately, because of Covid-19, it was only possible to obtain carry-out orders on the day I visited. But I did get to look into the windows of the restaurant before picking up my food. Seeing that big wooden Richardson root beer barrel brought back a lot of memories. Sixty years ago, many dime stores and lunch places had these because they generated a lot of sales. Many places served the root beer in chilled, heavy glass mugs either plain, or with ice cream for a float. Somehow, the root beer tasted better in cold mugs, even after the FDA made the syrup manufacturers reformulate the product because it used to contain a carcinogen. I ordered the same thing I always do at these now-dwindling summer time drive-ins in the northeast: cheeseburger, fries, coleslaw or cabbage salad, and a root beer. I ate it outside my car to keep safe and retain freshness. While it was not as great a meal as in a high-priced burger emporium, it was a much more enjoyable meal that what you get for the same price from a chain fast food joint that relies on frozen and factory-prepared items. The food all seemed to have been prepared on site from fresh ingredients. Many of the things written about in that review from a year ago are a fabrication. However, the part about using Richardson's root beer syrup is (mostly) true. It seems the now-named Baldwin Richardson Foods Company is still making Richardson root beer syrup in a plant 33 road miles from Mac's. While they make some retail products such as Mrs. Richardson's toppings, most of their business is now foodservice and custom ingredients. read more

To me this place is always fun and very nostalgic of the 50's. The service is always friendly and the place is always packed. The food is good just your standard American fare (a little pricy) the honey buns are the reason I come and their ice cream is delish too! read more

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