The Drive In Restaurant — Restaurant in Taylors Falls

While I could really get into why my rating isn't higher with a play by play of our visit, I'll summarize by highlighting what makes this a 3 star rating. Our waitress was very kind, and as attentive as one would expect. You seat yourself after being given a menu at the front, and it took us a very long time to be greeted. They were relatively busy, but it's not like they were totally packed. The food didn't take all that long to be served, but it was still about 45 minutes after we took our seats. If this was a date night with just my wife and I, this wouldn't be a huge deal. Unfortunately we had our hungry and anxious 2 year old with us. The food was good. I had a cheeseburger with jalapenos, I can't complain about it. To call it just okay would be a little inaccurate, but it certainly wasn't amazing. My wife had a chicken sandwich with some sort of barbeque sauce on it, she said it was fine. My daughter got chicken tenders and grapes. The grapes were pretty mushy, but the chicken tenders were actually very well done. I stole a bite when she filled her mouth with soggy grapes. The chicken was the best food on the table. The fries were very underwhelming. I've had crinkle cut fries that knocked my socks off, but these were flavorless and mushy. I think I read in the menu that they are cooked in beef tallow which was very surprising due to the lack of flavor. They were unsalted. The root beer was incredible, and quite expensive. I think it was $2 with the purchase of a basket meal, and $4 for a refill. So yeah, probably won't be doing that again. I'll have to settle for a trip to Culver's for a great root beer with free refills in the future. We didn't try a malt, but discussed dining elsewhere next time we're in town for the Interstate Park and maybe swinging back around for dessert after filling up. Did not try the mini golf, maybe we will when our kid is a little older. Overall we spent about $60, and while that's not horrible it certainly...

Really wanted to give 5 stars. Always room for improvement. May go back for second review.

Everyone moves this place. I ate there at 6-7p. Parking was full. Had maybe 30 spots for in car eating and maybe 10 spots for outdoor seating. Suspect ppl parked in street mostly. If real busy, expect neeing to park away down street and walk.

Atmosphere was good for outdoor. Did not check out commodes. Heavy stone tables were amazingly clean. No residue from soap. Here is where they could improve. Played music maybe 25% of time. And its a drive-in meaning 50's vibe. All waitresses wore poodle like skirts, that's 50's. All music should be in 50s.

Service was outstanding. There was an issue with order and it was comped without question.

Now for food. Burger was well done. They do not cook ground beef to order. Most places don't. Had american cheeze so that made it salty but not as bad as other places. No toppings except for ketchup. Lettuce/mayo comes with specific burger. sadness for that. All burgers should come with lettuce/mayo. Bread was soft/nice.

Cheeze curds were with yellow cheeze and not white as other places. It was also breaded where other places don't bread them. Also fried so much so they were harder, tough.

Another had fried chicken sandwich and that was also tough, hard to bite into. It was comped. Maybe don't fry things as long?

Standard fries were lightly brown, not heavily fried but cold.

Drinks were root beer which was sweet and very good. Lemonade was...

Awesome old fashioned drive in with great food, malts and home made root beer! You will spend more money here than most fast food restaurants, but the food is better and the atmosphere is A+, including oldie rock & roll on the outdoor speakers.

This is the only restaurant we have eaten at since the Pandemic. They have outdoor seating, or you can eat in your car, and the staff wear masks. Everything we've tried here is delicious, from big burgers and sides. I especially love the opportunity to have a real MALT vs a shake, and home made root beer.

Everyone should go here at least once per Spring, Summer, early Fall. They close for Winter. Bonus, you might get to see an informal car show when customers show up in their pride & joy restored vehicles; nostalgia at it's best!

Sometimes we play on the mini golf course after eating, right next to The Drive In. It's a great date night or family night out, making fun memories. I think it's the same owner, not sure, but workers go back & forth between the two, so I assume so. It's not cheap mini golf, but it's a very nicely designed one, with shade on most of the course. You'll appreciate that on a hot day.

Anyways, make it a point to stop here if you are in Taylors Falls, or driving thru on Hwy 8, or Hwy 95 coming from North Branch. Have a great meal and make your own memories, and support a great business and essential workers while you are at it! Thank you...