All American Hamburger Drive In

"At All American, burgers start at $2, and the only way to stay cool on the roadside patio is to nurse a milkshake that’s thicker than soft serve. This Massapequa burger stand, open since the 1960s, is a place stuck in time. Order a quarter-pound burger, fries, and a hot dog, and you’ll wind up paying a little less than $10. So go ahead and line up at the counter and get a big paper bag stuffed with items fresh off the grill. For the perfectly curated day, head to Jones Beach before or after." - bryan kim, molly fitzpatrick, willa moore, will hartman

"You can smell the beef from the strip mall parking lot across the street. A breeze off South Oyster Bay carries the scent north until it reaches your nostrils, and before you know it you’re crossing Merrick Road to line up at the counter at All American Hamburger Drive-In. This Massapequa institution opened in 1963, and its prices haven’t changed much since. For $2, you can get a patty the size of a silver dollar on a griddled bun smeared with ketchup and diced onion. If you need something more substantial, there’s also the quarter pounder served in a custom foil envelope. Add a hot dog and a packet of wilted, salty, golden-brown fries, and you’re still looking at a meal that’ll run you roughly $10. photo credit: Alex Staniloff photo credit: Alex Staniloff photo credit: Alex Staniloff You get what you pay for. So don’t expect Minetta Tavern. All American’s thin beef patties, cooked to medium, are not the stuff of legend, but they are the stuff of great summer afternoons. Grab a table on the roadside patio, then melt in the Long Island sun while you strain your cheek muscles trying to coax a pomade-thick shake through a straw. Food Rundown photo credit: Alex Staniloff Double Cheeseburger With a single cheeseburger, the ratio is all wrong. Too much bun, not enough patty. So either go for a double, or get the quarter pounder. photo credit: Alex Staniloff All-Beef Frank Not very snappy, but a perfectly fine hot dog. Eat one. It’s the polite thing to do. photo credit: Alex Staniloff Fries These may not be the crispiest fries around, but they still deserve your affection. photo credit: Alex Staniloff Hot Knish Crispy, bouncy, and fluffy inside. A solid yes to the deep-fried knish. photo credit: Alex Staniloff Shake A meal here is incomplete without a shake. Order two. They cost less than $3." - Bryan Kim