Glenwood Drive-In

2538 Whitney Ave., Hamden, CT - (203) 281-0604

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Posted By Michael Stern on 7/3/2002 2:38:00 AM

While it calls itself a drive-in, there are no car hops at the Glenwood. You exit your vehicle and walk in the door where – if it’s mealtime – you will see a line of people who, you assume, are waiting to place their order. Wrong, they are waiting to receive their order. As you get into line, you must quickly decide what you want by studying the wall menu and convey this information to a gent whose job it is to call it back to the open kitchen. By the time the line reaches the counter, your order will be ready to pay for and carry to a table.

When the people dishing out the food asked us exactly what it was we were getting, we ourselves forgot, but the guy calling orders has an amazing capacity to remember everything. Despite our hemming and hawing and mind-changing, he easily remembered what we and a friend had said we wanted – a big meal for three – and he had bellowed it out as fast as a seasoned auctioneer. If you dine inside the Glenwood Drive-In at one of the Formica booths or a short window counter, you will be serenaded by this man’s continuous cries to the kitchen. It’s great background music for eating hot dogs and hamburgers.

There is more to the menu than dogs and burgers, although these dogs and burgers are what we recommend. They are cooked on a grate over a charcoal fire and imbibe a smoky flavor that makes them a joy to eat. Apply your own condiments near the pick-up counter; among them is a superb hot sauce that gives the long, crusty wieners an extra sparkle. With a side order of excellent onion rings, this can be a summertime meal to remember. We also tried the hot lobster roll, which was loaded with meat although not as sweet and buttery as Connecticut’s best; and for our next visit, we’re definitely going to get clam platters. The whole bellied clams coming from the kitchen’s fry baskets look delicious.

Scorecard

Overall: One of the Best - Worth a Trip

hot dog	Whole Bellied Clams
onion rings	Chili cheese dog
Lobster Roll	French fries
Burger

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"This charcoal grill fills the dining room with the irresistible aroma of fire-cooked meats."
Michael Stern

"Glenwood's hot dogs are served the traditional New England way, inside lightly toasted split buns. Add your own condiments."
Michael Stern

"A hot lobster roll is almost nothing like a cold lobster salad roll. It has no mayo, no lettuce, nothing but lobster meat and butter in the bun."
Michael Stern

"The Glenwood Drive-In is at least as famous for its onion rings as for its hamburgers and hot dogs. When you stand in line waiting for your order, you can see them battered and fried."
Michael Stern

"Our kind of menu!"
Michael Stern

"There is plenty of room in the Glenwood Drive-In lot, but it's almost always crowded. At the far right of the photo is the family's ice cream annex, which some consider among the state's finest parlors."
Michael Stern