Happy Days at George's Surf N Turf Drive-In in Mendon, Mass.

Article and photo by Eric H.

Put a little Brylcreem in your hair, get in your pink Cadillac, and head down to George's Surf N Turf drive-in in Mendon, Mass.

The first two suggestions, when combined, might land you in some kind of observation facility, but the last suggestion -- George's Surf N Turf Drive-In -- remains wildly popular and surprisingly wholesome and refreshing in an increasingly boxy, assembly-line, vanilla restaurant world.

A classic drive-in with car hops, 50s music blaring out of tinny speakers, picnic tables and groves, burgers, fries, fried chicken, milkshakes and ice cream, George's brings back the "Happy Days" of dining -- a place where "Fonzie" and Richie Cunningham from "Happy Days" would not look out of place. A novelty dining spot like this could have easily turned into a tourist trap by serving up high-priced, anemic portions of average food, but, happily, the focus is on high quality comfort food, most notably the thick, creamy New England clam chowder, tasty toasted lobster roll, and fried clams.

The waitresses don't roller-skate, but walk to and from your car with a friendliness and efficiency that make the overall experience terrific. If you prefer ordering at the walk-up window, the service is just as good. Whatever service mode you choose, George's is sure to please as a nice lunch and dinner spot with a touch of authentic nostalgia -- and the only locally-owned drive-in we know of in the area. We recommend giving George's a try!

George's Surf N Turf
116 Uxbridge Rd
Mendon, MA 01756
Tel. (508) 473-2125


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Good Eeeevening!: A Perspective on New Hampshire Meteorologist Al Kaprielian

Article by Eric H., at VisitingNewEngland.com Somewhere in the 1980s, my esteemed Arlington High School journalism teacher Len Tammaro tipped me off about a New Hampshire television weatherman that he called "Crazy Al Kaprielian." That night, I couldn't believe what I saw: this nerdy-looking guy with a high-pitched voice flailing his arms all over the weather map, contorting his face in every direction, and squealing, "Good Eeeevening!" and "HIGH PRESSURE!" (his future trademark phrases)." All that boundless energy and the myriad antics left the viewer laughing, yet enervated at the same time. In this world of slick, Ken and Barbie television meteorologists, Al Kaprielian has been the antidote to the standard, unctuous television personality. Twenty-five years later, Al is still going strong on MyTV New England with his unique style --perhaps validation that he really loves his job. No doubt, Al has always been an unconventional, unique-looking a
Read more

Remembering the Smiling Blue Whale Neon Sign at Yoken's Restaurant

Image
Article by Eric H. Sometimes, we affectionately remember restaurants that weren't all that great. Not that Yoken's "Thar She Blows" restaurant in Danvers, MA, was bad, but if it were in business today, we'd regard it as a New England tourist trap with too much fried food and dining rooms that looked like any other restaurant dining room. It was basically Howard Johnson's with a sea captain's hat. Yoken's was hugely popular at its Danvers and Portsmouth, NH, locations for its affordable and decent seafood dishes, friendly service and family-friendly environment. Perhaps it was most popular, however, for its attention-getting smiling blue whale neon sign. Yokens' perfectly tapped into a pathetic, universally acknowledged human weakness: who doesn't love a smiling, blue whale? Perhaps Yoken's greatest appeal was its innocence. You just don't see signs like the smiling blue whale in our society anymore. Today, we see signs with fancy fon
Read more

Visiting My Grandmother Had That Antiques in Wrentham, Mass.

Image
My Grandmother Had That...Antiques  in Wrentham, Mass., is one of those "hidden gem" antique stores that is jam-packed with antiques, collectibles and other items from the past. Located in a charming, two-story old red barn at 446 South St. (Route 1A), My Grandmother Had That...Antiques certainly lives up to its name. You'll find furniture, lamps, desks, chairs, plant holders, fine China sets and just about everything your grandma had, and also didn't have -- like a web address, Facebook fan page or any hint on the Internet that this place exists! Unless you're a Wrentham native, one familiar with the antiques industry, have driven by the red barn on South St., or somebody that just reads maps of Wrentham all day, My Grandmother Had That...Antiques is as hard to find as the rarest antique. You won't even find the name, "My Grandmother Had That," on the building, just a sign that states "Antiques." The My Grandmother Had That name is on
Read more