Swensons Drive-In — Restaurant in Cincinnati

I am giving it the 5 star review because I think they did a lot of things exceptionally, but at the end of the day, it was a strange experience.

I feel like there should be a drive through, I wasn't all that interested in the banter with the employees. I just wanted to get food and leave. They were nice employees (extremely friendly), but all of the running they did made me feel guilty for making them run back and forth. I felt like if I had to ask for ketchup or something, they would have to run, and I don't really want them to. It gets me nervous thinking they might fall on their face.

The other thing, is that the main burger, which I have forgotten the name, has 2 secret sauces. One of those sauces is almost too sweet. It was a good burger, but I kinda wish it had tomato and lettuce on it and it wasn't so sloppy (it wasn't messy or anything), but none of the food items on the menu had descriptions or prices, which made it difficult for me to order. And don't get me wrong, it was a good burger still. But the poor guys had to run it out to me.

The shakes are good. But have that oldschool shake aftertaste. So I applaud for keeping it Americana. It is nostalgic. I was worried the shake might come out the top, but it was really thick, which I like personally, but the running had me nervous again.

But the part that impressed me the most was the fried foods. The fried mushrooms and fried potato teezers were great. They were the perfect crispness and they were hot and fresh. But the part that impressed me, was that it wasn't greasy, which is what I expected. And it didn't make a lot of loose crumbs in the bag, which I would of figured because of all the running. But that was pretty impressive.

They packed their food tight in the bag, which is cool. I didn't think they gave me the right order but they are just that good at packing and stacking. Might be necessary with the running.

I also thought they would take my money before giving me my food, but they have more faith in me than most places.

I can't hate on the place because they did such a good job, but the whole structure of it is jarring. I think if this place had a drive thru and a proper menu board, I would...

This was my first time at a Swenson's and I honestly just wasn't impressed. The food was acceptable, but not amazing.

I ordered the Galley Boy (burger with two special sauces! They aren't that special), fries and a chocolate milkshake. First, the "special sauces" are tarter sauce and bbq sauce. Second, the bbq sauce is sweet, like really sweet. It basically overpowered any other flavor the burger may have had to offer. If you want that, great, but I didn't and with no description of what the "special sauces" were on the menu, I couldn't have known. Meh.

The fries weren't bad, but they bring them out with a single small cup of ketchup. Do you have to order more up front? Ask the server?

The shake was a pretty standard chocolate shake, close to a Wendy's frosty but a bit pricier. Hard pass on any future visits.

Overall the service was slow. I don't blame the staff that were there, but the owner/manager. There were only 2 servers and they were swamped. One of them was a trainee, so not sure what's going on that a place that just opened months ago is already so short staffed. The server was polite and seemed to be handling it well, but it sucks for guests. I don't know how long most people spend eating at a drive in, but all told our group of 3 was there for an hour, seemed too long for what is fastfood quality food.

The cost is a bit higher than typical fast food. My order (Galley Boy, fries, shake) rang up at just over $12, then you have to toss on the tip. So basically $15. Now if you go with a soda instead of a shake that will be closer to other fastfood joints, but for that price you are looking at double quarter pounders instead of the small burger I had.

As for atmosphere, I guess you bring that yourself. You are eating in your car and there isn't much else going on, just a brick building, the parking lot, and traffic on Madison road. Though it is kind of fun watching people trying to back into spots, some bad...

URGENT...Update an employee said her tablet did not work took card inside to run it and gave herself a $5 tip...

Service rating changed to 1 star

Excellent experience The Galley Boy is tasty The onion rings are Crispy and not overly sweet. Double Hamburg hits the spot and their hamburger buns are soft but not dense. Wash it all down with a large California Grape... and your gonna want a large cause it's soooo good! Fried mushrooms Yes Please Looks like they are on summer hours right now so open late. Perfect I can get snack after work! 4th visit 8-17-23 got the wrong order they took cate of it! 5th visit 8-23-23 don't really care for a ton of cheese so ordered a triple Hamburg as I was very hungry... order slip reflected my order however it was covered in cheese! "Pic with receipt attached" If this keeps up I might just get the onion rings and a drink. Because truthfully... 1st visit my wife's burger was wrong 3rd 4th and 5th visit burger wrong... but the 5th visit it was just the whole order wrong soooo... Foods still good but I don't wanna come home and scrape cheese off my burger. 12-8-23 update Emphasized no cheese and finally got our burgers no cheese... Onion rings are on point as usual The double hamburgers where super sweet though... almost tasted like a burger on a donut. Something in the burger seasoning must be sweet and boy did they use too much... the burgers have always had a sweetness but this time it was like they dipped the burger in corn syrup. So In the future I'm going to ask about why they are sooooo sweet and try to Omit whatever it is.

12-11-23 DANGEROUS PROBLEM!!!!!!! So it's now Monday and my credit card company was like did you give a 32%tip here.. $5 on 12-8-23 The girl when trying to pay Said her tablet wasn't working and said she had to run it inside.... what she actually did was gave herself a $5 tip...