The hubby and I went out to dinner last night... And for a real change, we pick the Simonton Lake drive-in! It was everything we wanted to be... We got to order on the speaker, they brought our food out and hung it on the window, the root beer was icy cold the chili dogs were excellent, and my husband gobbled down all of his onion rings. My mozzarella sticks were delicious. I ate half there and took the other half home. The staff is very friendly and it was fun watching a young family next to us eating and drinking root beer in the bed of the pick up truck. Very reminiscent of simpler times, lots of fun, and good food! The overall atmosphere was just perfect for a late summer evening. We did not find Toasty the Turtle though...sad. LOL! But the staff there had a fun conversation with us about where where Toasty could be! read more

Great little drive in, the service was amazing and I think if you have kids or a date it's a fun inexpensive way to travel back 60 years.

We love taking the family to have sandwiches and root beer floats for a special treat! Food has always been delivered promptly, at the appropriate temperature. The largest size root beer float is the size to get! We feel good supporting a local business and the industrious young people serving! A fun summer tradition which we recommend! read more

Not sure about some of the negative reviews. We always enjoy Simington Lake food. The root-beer burger is great and the chili dog kicks. Fries and onion rings are always great. Food made to order. I bring along plates because it helps. Recommended. read more

Half their equipment did not work and it was super busy so we had to go somewhere else. The order machines were on the passenger side which was odd as well :( read more

I wanted to try this place for 3 reasons 1. It's locally owned, 2. Elkhart natives seem to love it. And 3. Root beer floats! My food was soooo disgusting that I left hungry. I mentioned to the waitress when she picked up my basket that the food was NOT edible, it was also clear to see that only one bite was taken out of each item. I was still charged full price. The root beer float was decent. Overall, 1 star would not revisit. read more

I love going to a drive in during the summer! This is such a classic retro vibe. I enjoyed sitting outside at the picnic tables. The root beer in the frosted glass is a classic and so good. The hot dog was good too. They also have a good pizza burger, which is a childhood memory unlocked that I completely forgot about. If you've never been to a drive-in or you just want some good root beer and a hot dog, it's a must try! read more

Simonton Lake Drive-In - Menu - Burgers Near Me - Elkhart, Indiana

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A staple if you live in the area, and a must visit if you don't. Best frosty cold root beer EVER! Friendly and quick service, and great food. read more

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Well we did it again! Got the hankering for some drive in food served by car hops. My wife had their cheese and coney hot dog with an order of mushrooms with Ranch dressing for the dipping sauce. I indulged in their supreme pizza burger and duplicated my wife's cheesy coney dog. With a large Root Beer. Our order was out in less than 5 min. Everything was Excellent! But we've come to expect that from Simonton Lake Drive-in. This place doesn't disappoint. So if you're in the neighborhood you better stop in before they close for the season!!! read more

Too small didn't think the food was something to remember. The service was ok but not extraordinary

Dropped in for a quick burger. I ordered their biggest burger and it was quite tasty. No fries, but I did order a drink. I'd go there again for sure. read more

Best cheeseburgers and root beer in the state!! Food brought by car hops! I think I have tried everything on the menu and loved it all!! read more

Even on a rainy day it's a great place. We could pull up under eves. Love the homemade root beer. We had burgers & root beer floats. Bought a 4 pack of root beer to enjoy at home. read more

Simonton Lake Drive-In - Burgers Near Me - Elkhart, Indiana

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Food is ok , service is slow, pushed button four times in 15 minutes still didn't get my order taken not sure if they are having issues with system but place isn't that busy. read more

Simonton Lake Drive-In - Burgers Near Me - Elkhart, Indiana

My chicken strips had some nasty brown tendons in it, the fries lacked flavor, and one of our burger orders was messed up. They scraped the stuff off and brought it back out. We could have done that. The root beer was good and the malt read more

Yummy root beer! It was my first drive-in experience and the entire staff was sweet. I want to go back to try the burgers and fries!

This e a Elkhart staple. One of the only family Root beer drive ins left in the Michiana area. They still make the root beer homemade here. The food is made to order and wonderful. We got the Drive in special, the big burger, the pizza burger, the mushroom burger and chicken strips. Everything came out super hot and fresh. The fries come with salt packets so you can add it to your own preference. The burgers are so fresh the cheese is molten goodness. The root beer floats are so creamy and cold. They still serve the root beer in frozen mugs. Ok to the food. The drive in burger is gargantuan. 3/4 of a pound of burger between awesome toppings dripping with juicy goodness. The big burger is 1/2 pound and checks every category of a fresh burger. The mushroom and Swiss burger is creamy and mushroomy overflowing with flavor. read more

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Fantastic drive-in! Happy to find places like this still open for business. The table-side machines still work, and they bring out your food. If I lived closer, we'd come often. Clean, friendly, well kept. The food and service was great! And they sell their root beer in kegs. Party anyone?! read more

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Stopped in while passing thru from a vacation in NY back home to Iowa. Delicious food, very prompt and order was delivered perfectly! My son said the Oreo Bliz deserves an award! read more

Simonton Lake Drive-In - Spencer (age 8) from Dubuque Iowa! - Burgers Near Me - Elkhart, Indiana

Love Love Love this drive-in. The girls are so friendly and sweet. They are busy but they get your food to you so quickly. The kids love the root beer floats. I will say it's nice to show my kids the uniqueness of the whole drive in experience since there aren't many around these days! read more

Accidentally got off the toll highway to find food during a road trip and came across this nostalgic drive-in diner, the kind that they attach the food tray to your window. Service was great and there were alot of people there in their cars or bicycles. This seemed like the Happing place to go hang out. We ordered the Mushroom and Swiss burger, Chicken Fritters (aka Chicken strips), fries and onion rings. I thought my burger was a little dry, but the mushrooms were good. The Chicken Fritters were amazing and I would highly recommend them. We got chili and ranch dipping sauce. When I ordered the chili dipping sauce, I thought I was ordering a sweet chili sauce, nope this is actual chili, you know the kind with beef in it. It wasn't what I was expecting, but it was awesome!! I have never been served chili as a dipping sauce. The fries were good and fresh but not salted, they provide salt packets so you can salt to taste. Next time I would pass on the onion rings, they remind of of the frozen onion rings rather than fresh made ones. Only thing that would have made the experience better, is if the waitresses were wearing roller skates :-) read more

Simonton Lake Drive-In - Burgers Near Me - Elkhart, Indiana

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Great hamburger and cheese burger, great fries, great banana shake which tasted like laggy taffy!!! Service was fast and the staff was extremely nice!!! read more

So yummy and such a fun experience!! Quick service and everyone is so polite. Been coming here since I was a little girl. I love the olive burger, mozzarella sticks, and of course the frosted mug of root beer. The Bliz or a malt milkshake to top it all off!! I hope they stay open long enough to bring my grandkids here in 25 years or so ;) read more

Simonton Lake Drive-In - Olive burger - Burgers Near Me - Elkhart, Indiana

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Great place to get that nostalgic feeling during this pandemic event. Very well in sanitation policy and cleanliness. Awesome place which we go every season. read more

Simonton Lake Drive-In - Menu - Burgers Near Me - Elkhart, Indiana

Food is great service is excellent and a little walk down memory lane. My Moms is 99 and has loved the olive burgers FOREVER...

Overpriced and slow service. Charges for sauce for chickenstrios. Service is all ran by teenagers. Will never be back.

Very good food service and the root beer is awesome. It gets very busy in the summer but the cheeseburgers are a must. read more

Remember the old Dog 'n Suds? That's what you got here. Root beer in frosty mugs and ok burgers. Order at the speaker at alternating posts. Hit the switch when you're done. They bring the food on a tray and hook it to your partially opened window. I forgot how awkward it was to put the mug back on the tray after drinking. I found a spot on the center console. Servers were friendly but really busy. Roller skates were probably required. Blast from the past! read more

Omg! I love this place! Not very many rootbeer stands left and this one is epic! Great food, best rootbeer and very reasonable on your wallet. Love how friendly and speedy the staff is! read more

Simonton Lake Drive-In - Stopping in for the best rootbeer in the world! - Burgers Near Me - Elkhart, Indiana

Unique experience of 50's style trays on the window service. Very good root beer and the Cajun chicken was quite good. Service is always pleasant. It's not knock-your-socks off food, but it beats the chain fast food burger joints. read more

I've been visiting this establishment since I was a child and started the same tradition with my son who is now 21. I've never had root beer that comes close to the wonderful taste they offer. We even ordered a root beer keg for my son's graduation open house. I made sure to visit when I came in town last weekend, after having moved to Arizona last summer. It was definitely as good as I remembered. My favorite order is a chili dog with cole slaw and breaded mushrooms. The pizza burger and tenderloin are also good options. My son loves the floats and elephant ears, too. I've always had prompt, pleasant service. It's always a great time of year when they reopen and most people from Elkhart love this place. read more

Foods, service are okay. Love the ole drive in ambiance. Food could be better quality. And I'm sure the service issues are the same as they are for everyone during these times and no fault of their own. read more

Root beer is amazing you can buy it by the gallon Bruce ins are so fun and you don't see em around that much anymore fun experience and good food read more

The root beer will make you wish you bought a keg of it for the off season. The food is priced really well, and the quality is always 10/10. The waitresses are always so sweet. And I love the authenticity they've been able to keep all these years. read more

I've always liked root beer. After visiting Simonton Lake Drive-In, I love it. My first visit was on a Wednesday night, when the Drive-In costs a collection of classic cars. I rode in with Motion Left mopeds, and we easily found outdoor seats to enjoy the warm spring night. Each table had a vintage Order-Matic menu and speakerbox, and our server quickly popped out with hot burgers, fresh onion rings and ice-cold frosty root beer in giant mugs. You can even order by the half-gallon, which comes in a handy plastic jug for transport home. The root beer was so good my friend drank his entire half gallon at the drive-in. Meals come on elevated trays, so your root beer overflow won't soggy up your burger. Genius! read more

What a fun place! Thanks, Yelp, for making a long road trip more enjoyable by telling us about this cool and unique drive-in restaurant! We were tired of sitting in our car so chose to sit at their tables outside but there were people being served in their cars. They have cool ordering screens with their whole menu on it- very easy to read and convenient. Their food is really tasty and the prices are reasonable. The burgers are delicious, fries are thin and crispy, their fried pickles are spears (not slices/chips) and really, really good. Their homemade root beer is delicious too. The server was super friendly and positive and we liked that. Fun place! read more

I read AMAZING reviews for this so i searched it out as I was driving across the US. Umm. it's a big overrated. What I liked: The Rootbeer floats. So damn good. The set up was cool. They put the plates on your window and you order like you have flashback into the 50's - which is a cool experience. What I didn't like: Pork Tenderloin sandwich. Are you kidding me? The damn name has TENDER in it, this dried out peice of crap, ew. looked more like an old fish patty. I was expecting a real pork tenderloin sandwich. not a deep fried mess. Fries were good. Everyone else liked the dogs, I didn't have any. The neighborhood is a bit sketchy, be glad you are in your car. lol Final Thoughts: Grab some fries and a rootbeer float and get dinner later, somewhere else. read more

Simonton Lake Drive-In is as good as road food gets! Open since '65, this place still has you choose between a carhop bringing your food to the car window on a tray or dining al fresco at a picnic table. We chose the latter. I got a meaty, delicious bacon burger, thin cut French fries and a rich vanilla shake, that hit the umami, sweet and salty spots I was craving. My friend Josh loved the root beer, served in the classic style, in a frosty mug. read more

Simonton Lake Drive-In - Burgers Near Me - Elkhart, Indiana

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I love authentic drive-ins. This is a gem, less than a mile off of turnpike, great chili dog, onion rings, fries and of course root beer in a mug. Turn on the oldies in your car and live it up! read more

Simonton Lake Drive-In - Menu. True drive-in - Burgers Near Me - Elkhart, Indiana

Amazing fries, great burgers, and maybe the best root beer I've ever tasted. I'm so glad the Steak 'N' Shake ignored us so long that we walked out and found this place instead. Our family will always stop when passing though again. read more