Privately owned one stop shop for ice cream, shakes and much more. The banana split is the size of Mount Everest! The only recommended change is to add a sign large enough to let patrons know that you're a CASH ONLY establishment. We watch customer after customer wait in the lengthy line only to find out after being waited on, CASH ONLY. We looked for a sign inside and out, no sign. read more

Shake Pit - Store front with menu selections! - Burgers Near Me - Bradenton, Florida

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My kid demanded I give them 4 stars. This is a fun spot to stop by and grab a shake or a quick bite to eat. The seating is outside on picnic tables although there is an awning that provides shade for most of the tables. Warning: they only accept cash! There is an ATM but the fee is around $3 to withdraw money. Not much available for gluten free options other than a burger without a bun or a bowl of chilli or a cup of fries. If you do get the fries, get them crispy! They are crinkle cut. They come out hot and crispy! They don't have sweet tea but they do have unsweetened tea. The staff is pleasant. :) read more

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What a gem of a place to find still making burgers and shakes the old fashioned way. Great food and service. read more

Shake Pit - Double Cheeseburger loaded - Burgers Near Me - Bradenton, Florida

Shakes and burgers! They have soft serve cones with sprinkles too Prices and toppings galore Open 11:30-10 most nights read more

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Always a treat! This has been a family favorite for many years. Whatever ice cream treat you desire, they make it great here!

Local favorite with wonderful milkshakes, ice cream sundaes, banana splits, onion rings, french fries, hamburgers, chili dogs, etc.

Stop and chow! Cash only so heads up. Chocolate shake was smooth, creamy and chocolateeee like a chocolate shake could be. The chicken blt with cheese simply say please...and thank you. Add a little extra Mayo and call the cardiologist. Heart stopping tasty. read more

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The reviewer who said the food tastes like bowling alley food hit the nail on the head. Cash only spot, no interior seating, your patio ambiance is Manatee Ave (so loud you can't hear the person across from you). Food took over twenty minutes with no line, threw half of it away. Cheesesteak has zero flavor and the fries were unseasoned and half raw. Ice cream has that same fake powdered flavor that is all too common these days. For a similar vibe you'll be much happier at Shake Station in Ellenton. Again don't get the 4/5 star reviews for a spot that's a 3 on its best day. read more

A retro style diner-esque deal, it caught my eye the second we drove past a few weeks ago and I'd been looking forward to going ever since. We ordered the grilled PB&J and a brownie sundae with hot fudge and sat down at the picnic tables inside. This was a sunny March evening so the temperature was very comfortable and we noticed they had plenty of fans for when it's warmer out. It's also enclosed so no worries about bugs. We waited around 10 minutes and they called our name for us to pick up our food at the window. The grilled PB&J was simply delicious, a nice twist on a classic and the blueberry jam was tasty. The brownie sundae was where my satisfaction waned. The hot fudge was good, the soft serve was fair, but I realized the warm brownie on the bottom was... a microwaved cosmic brownie. It was just not what I was expecting and felt a little low quality. For the hassle of being cash only and the other reviews mentioning the so-so burgers I don't think there's much draw for us to be back, but I do think this would be a fun place for kids and an easy stop after a day at the beach when you just want a full belly. read more

If you want greasy fattening food this is the place there super fast there and the servers are nice. I felt like I was back in time here. read more

Shake Pit - In the courtyard - Burgers Near Me - Bradenton, Florida

Burgers friend and shakes done right. Place has been here forever for a reason. Friendly and fast service as well.

One of my favorite local places in Bradenton. The burger was good but nothing to rave about. They have so many different ice cream flavors and I always love getting their banana split. As you can see, they give you a mountain of goodies for a great price! I used to love coming here after a full day at beach especially in the summer. read more

Shake Pit - Banana Split - Burgers Near Me - Bradenton, Florida

This little place is awesome. It's a taste of the great way things were in our past that we remember. It's a small old school take out place with quick friendly service where everything is made to order. Their ice cream and shakes, malts, etc. are the best in Bradenton. Their great burgers and sides, chicken strips, onion rings, etc are fresh and hot. They only accept cash but there's an atm console right there for convenience. It's been owned my the same great local woman for decades who strives for excellence. Worth the trip for sure. Try it out. read more

Well, I struggled to give the shake pit even 2 stars but the cheeseburger was delicious. The girls seems miserable and hating their job or maybe even life. They couldn't have been more unpleasant and pouty. They work at an ice cream shop where customers show up with glee!! The rest was so disappointing having driven 35 minutes to experience their hot fudge shake. I use to have them regularly 25 years ago In Chicago and was beyond excited to hear about Shake Pit. Of course you can order one anywhere after you explain how to make it, where you heard about them, etc. I can honestly say it tasted like a horrible vanilla shake with a drip of light tan food coloring. I went back in 2x from our car to see if they could make one so it at least looks like a chocolate shake and we can taste the flavor. ( I considering asking for strawberry) They took my son's and my shakes back that we had sipped and out them back in the blender and that would be gross even pre COVID. The shake never tasted like anything but a flavorless shake. I won't go back unless the management jotted new People. read more

Lines were long everywhere else on a Friday evening. Stopped by and had some great burgers and fries. Nothing special about an all American burger, but the patty's were thick, buns were soft, and fixings seemed fresh. Great mom & pop or dinner type burger! Guests beware: they only take cash. Not a drawback but something to consider. Banana split was insane and good!! Lots of toppings and great flavors. read more

Got two milkshakes, a caramel one and a butterscotch one. Both were very tasty and thick. The service was great and the shakes were out quickly. Would recommend! read more

Way over priced for a 1959 established greasy spoon. They only take cash and it's 2024. They have a cash machine for 3.00 dollars more

By moonlight miles, my favorite grub-out spot in Bradenton. After the beach, who doesn't crave a righteous burger, side of crispy o-rings and a milkshake so thick spoons are the weapon of choice? With a throwback diner-esque sign prevalent from the road, Shake Pit's atmosphere brings back the Happy Days ambiance of yesteryear. As expected, the line was to the road, so we walked 'round back and sat at the counter. Not only did we get a chance to witness our food being made on the grill, but also the opportunity to converse with the line cook and what seemed to be a manager from our seats. The milkshakes were thick and creamy. The mocha packed a nice punch and the peanut butter was rich and forced your lips to pucker with each spoonful. The cheeseburger was cooked to order, topped with the works and served on a soft bun. The only word that comes to mind to describe the burger is classic. It's an old-fashioned burger with perfectly melted cheese. Mmmm. The onion rings were giant, crisp and full of flavor. It doesn't get much better than this. To me, five stars means the combination of excellent food served properly, a cool/fun atmosphere that invites you back, and friendly service. Shake Pit delivered on all of these fronts. I'm counting down the days until my return. read more

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This is a cute early evening spot for the family or a date. Very laid back and casual. No gluten free buns, but you can still get a good burger on a bed of lettuce. read more

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Fabulous ice cream with unusual flavors. I had trash can, full of m&m's, oreos, chunks of chocolate. quick service, clean tables. Great outdoor seating. read more

This is a cool retro 1950s / 1960s.era ice cream / soft serve / burger shack. There is an outside patio area with picnic tables and a small interior diner area with counter seats and a couole tabkes overlooking the grill. They do an oinkster and pecker two bacon cheeseburgers with a BLT inbetween sandwich. Only $11.50. Malted shakes. Coffee shakes. Other flsvor shakes. Ice creams. Vanilla, chocolate and swirl soft serve. Mozz sticks. Onion rings. Fries. What more could you ask for? I have no idea. The stand itself has cool architecture and signage. Friendly young peeps working . Part of community with photographs and notices, news clippings of local happenings and teams etc. read more

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If in the Bradenton area, definitely check out Shake Pit! Shake Pit is a little 1950s drive-in vibe burger and ice cream joint. I stopped by with my boyfriend and his dad for a quick lunch & ice cream treat. People are going to think I'm crazy, but the burger reminded me of the famous In-N-Out Burger. The fries are perfectly crispy crinkle fries and the onion rings are coated in a nice thick batter (not the flakey ones). My boyfriend also tried the chili cheese dog, and he said it wasn't as good as the burger, but it was satisfying. Shake Pit has a trademarked ice cream, the "Spooner". I would say it's like a mix between soft serve ice cream and a milkshake with a bunch of toppings manually "spooned" in (I watched them make it). Definitely give it a try. Keep in mind Shake Pit is cash only (there is an ATM by the counter) and it's closed on Wednesday's (random day, but what can you do). read more

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Well usually I go here coming back from the beach asked for chocolate ice cream with chopped cherries got a fudge sundae with vanilla ice cream was disappointed but it was good had a spoonful of chopped cherries. The pit split which is basically a banana split was mostly whipped cream but it was pretty good. Will I go back yeah but next time before I get going I will check what I get. read more

Shake Pit - Pit split so huge - Burgers Near Me - Bradenton, Florida

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We loved this place!!! The burgers were awesome and the banana split was so big we all shared it!

This place is awesome. It's a nice spot to have a dessert. There are tables under a roof and somewhat near the street. It's good for a nice day. The service was fast and the workers were nice. But the best part was the ice cream. I got a brownie sundae and it was a big proportion with great taste and a warm brownie to cap it off. Overall, this place is very good. read more

Great food! Made fresh and the ice cream and shakes and malts are out of this world! Bring the family or call ahead for pick up!

Big vaca trip with kids and everyone loved the food staff is friendly and again food is great the chicken cheese blt and cheese burger is a must do Will return read more

Shake Pit - Awesome - Burgers Near Me - Bradenton, Florida

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Best shakes and ice cream! We first discovered the Shake Pit when trying to find food after a disastrous restaurant pick/family dinner one night on vacation. Shake Pit saved us! Now, four years later, half of my family has moved to our vacation destination, and Shake Pit is still a family favorite! Our recommendations are: the s'mores concrete mixer, the chocolate peanut butter malt, and the banana fudge shake. read more

We live Shake Pit! They are the "Extra" of Ice Cream options! They give you the full experience of an outdoor walk-up with several creative flavors and options. I had some sugar free butter pecan and it was delicious. My husband has had their banana split and it was huge! Their portions are very generous. read more

The choice of milkshake/ice cream options is unmatched. I had a peanut butter shake and it was the perfect consistency & delicious!

I've only ever eaten here once. The experience was amazing. I didn't notice a sign saying "cash only" but they had an ATM so everything was ok. The staff was so nice and my milkshake was ready in about 2 minutes. Then the food came out. The burger, while a little greasy, was so full of flavor. Perfectly cooked. I will definitely be coming back (with cash this time) 10/10 read more

Burger Stand/Drive-In food was delicious!!! Onion rings, chili cheese fries, hamburger, fried chicken BLT. all tasted amazing!!! Will definitely be back again!! read more

The workers were 100% helpful, we ordered a sundae, a trash can spoonie, and a banana split. Let's just say we couldn't finish everything, the banana split was MASSIVE and it was wonderful in every way! read more

Best burgers in town!! Onion rings and fries were yummy too the staff are amazing and friendly

Best burger around! I'm glad to see that there are places striving to be a good "burger joint" but Shake Pit is a place that other newer places will have a tough time matching. I would consider Shake Pit a "no frills" type of place, but as many Yelpers can attest, these are often the places with the best food. I think it is all about their equipment. They have an old school griddle top and fryer that has been there as long as I can remember. As the saying goes, this is where the magic happens and if you sit at their barstools inside you can watch. I think that adds to the overall experience and is a bit of a "throwback" to the days of drive in burger spots. One of the best parts to the burger revolves around the aforementioned griddle. They squirt some liquified butter on the griddle and put the bun on the butter to put a light brown crisp on it. When you bite into the burger you get the usual juiciness you should get, but an added bonus is the faint, but audible crunch you hear when you take a bite. If you don't think this is a big deal, you probably like burgers on potato rolls or worse yet a sesame brioche roll with some type of aoli or worse yet zesty mayonnaise. If you're saying to yourself, "hey I like aoli on my brioche rolled burger" stop reading now because from here on out everything I say will sound like lies. When you order the double cheese burger they also double down on the cheese which is a nice bonus especially the fact that they make sure and melt it. When you order the burger and fries the basket will come with basic crinkle cut fries, but again something magical happens in their fryer and their fries are turned into the pride of Idaho and/or any other red blooded American locale that spuds are sourced. Not to be outdone by the cheeseburgers and fries, is their Coke mix. It is good. Chick-fil-A and McDonald's who both have renowned Coke recipes have nothing on Shake Pit. It is fantastic. Pepsi or "the P word" as I call it, wouldn't even make it past the parking lot at Shake Pit. Lastly the "shake" part. They have delicious soft serve ice cream that they use for shakes, sundaes, cones, floats, etc. They even offer a butterscotch sundae and it is amazing and a great way to wrap up an amazing lunch. Or just get a Coke to go! As a heads up - not negatives in my mind - the inside seating is limited, they are closed Wednesdays and they are cash only. Before you complain about cash only know that before Capital One, if Jennifer Garner asked Samuel Jackson "what's in your wallet", he would have shouted back "cash" followed by bunch of expletives. Enjoy Shake Pit! ******* My Standardized Yelp Ratings 5 stars - This is for a place that I see as one of the best at what they do (steaks, sandwiches, BBQ, seafood, etc). 5s are for places I've been several times (typically) at least and never had an "off" experience. The food quality, service, price and atmosphere are all going to meet or exceed expectations. 4 stars - This is for a place that is good, I would drive a little out of the way to go, and the food and service is good, but maybe not amazing. Also for me, this could also be a great place that serves Pepsi products - automatic 1 star loss - bad management decision. 3 stars - This is for a place that I view as standard. Nothing special, nothing lousy, not a place you'd avoid like the plague, but a place that is not one you really look forward to either. 2 stars - This is for a place that had something go wrong or something perpetually wrong. The food and or service is likely consistently suspect here (they probably serve Pepsi too). 1 star - I can't see wasting time writing a review on a place that gets a 1 star. This is for a place that should consider closing. read more

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I LOVE burgers and this place is INCREDIBLE. It is nearly impossible to find a little hole in the wall 'burger joint' and the Shake Pit is definitely that. Its a teency little diner style restaurant with a few bar stools around a counter where you can watch them cook for you. My burger was RIDICULOUS good. SUPER hot, very juicy and came out in just a few minutes. Even better, I GOT TO WATCH THEM MAKE IT! The fries are awesome too. There are no fries better than crinkle fries especially when theyre really crispy. YUM! I imagine their shakes are out of this world but even this fat girl has a limit. Its cheap, quick, easy and damn delicious. I cant wait to go back to visit the grandparents and eat here again. Holla! read more

Shake Pit - Burgers Near Me - Bradenton, Florida

I've been remiss. I have lived her for a bit more than 10 years and I never have been to the shake pit. But on a grey and cold saturday with nothing better to do but hungry for a burger I ventured to the Shake pit. There is a little 8 seat indoor area and a walk up window. all The seats were full and two people waiting, so I went with the take out window even though it was maybe 45 degrees out. Just got a cheese burger and fries, pretty cheap, under $7 and didn't wait too long. Although the cold made it seem that way. I run off to my car to have lunch and it was wonderful. I don't know if it was my state of mind, the cold outside, or the wackiness of eating in my car but I loved this cheese burger, nice fresh bun, slightly toasted (on the flat top?), cheese melting nicely, and a juicy burger cooked just right. The only thing that would have made this perfect is they need a bit more salt/pepper on the burger but otherwise I loved it. I may even say it is a bit better than the hob nob. Mainly because the bun was nicer than hob nob's. Fries were good, but nothing outrageous. fairly crispy, crinkle cut. I did not try the shakes (it was freaking 40 degrees out!), but I'll be back. I'm just crying that I didn't try this local institution earlier. read more

Best burgers and fries in Manatee County. Served in paper boats inside a brown paper bag. Always cooked to order. Now that's downhome goodness! Sunny high school students man the take out window, delivering service with a smile. Love this place. read more

Everyone loves the Shake Pit. It is very difficult to just drive by on Manatee Avenue and not stop here whenever you see it, and if they are open. I love their dipped soft serve cones, covered in chewey wax topping. Their malts are also excellent. My Mother-in-law always loved the Pinapple Malt from here. My husband went on and on about how great their burgers are, but I had one and it was nothing that special. The food counter gets really crowded during lunchtime, so you may have to sit on the benches in the heat. read more

Nothing to write home about and for being a cash only establishment their food is pricey. My husband and I went. Got a double cheese burger, chili cheese dog and onion rings. The burger itself had no seasoning but with bits of condiments, cheese and pickles it was decent. The onion rings were over cooked and according to my husband Sonic has better dogs. I've wanted to try this place for a while and once was enough for us. read more

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