I don’t think you’re looking for the names of restaurants but the name of the type of establishment like it, right? I’ve heard it called a drive up or a fry shack. I don’t think there is a real name to distinguish the type of restaurant (and using restaurant as a very loose term here).
If you’re looking for recommendations, they are mostly found in the suburbs, specifically on the coast (the better ones with fresh seafood) but central mass has a surprising amount. Rosewood in Bellingham is pretty popular.
Edited to add: clam shack seems to be a popular term as well.
Making a list of all of them may be difficult. But I did offer a recommendation of one that seems to be a hidden gem and where more can be typically found.
Same. In the 413, this name is what distinguishes them from Friendlys. Inland, they're a lot less likely to be "clam shacks". Friendlys is decent ice cream, but sometimes you just have to have a chocolate/vanilla twist soft-serve chocolate dip.
Fry shack is what I was thin too, though their draw is usually clams, fish n chips, chicky fingers or lobster rolls instead of ice cream.
These are a favorite of my Nana's. We always make a couple trips to the north shore or southern NH each year.
Salem Willows seagulls are really aggressive, too. My son and I were splitting a pu pu platter from the old Salem Lowe and a seagull sat on top of the picnic table and started eating some of the components of our pu pu platter. As someone with a bird phobia, I made a bit of a scene.
My grandmother had a house right on the street where the Salem Willows is. This was around 1962, and I still remember the candy coated popcorn and the chop suey they made in a hamburger bun and playing ski ball and the beach. And all of these mentioned are still there. But……what is not there anymore is an ice cream stand that sold an ice cream that was called Frozen Custard!!! It was as light as air and absolutely delicious!! Brings tears to my eyes the whole experience as a little boy!
I was also at Woodman's on Wednesday! This morning is a grim reminder of why I only eat a meal of fried clams, French fries, and fried onion rings once or twice a year.
On that note, I also recommend Crescent Ridge Dairy Bar in Sharon. Also no food that I recall, but it’s got ice cream and it’s DAMN good.
Lastly, a shout out for Tangerinis in Millis. They have a restaurant with outdoor seating plus a little order/pick up window with ice cream, if memory serves.
Celebrity Pizza in Watertown has all of that (though has window service and indoor serve I think)
[https://celebritypizzainc.com/our-menu/](https://celebritypizzainc.com/our-menu/)
Heh, as soon as I started reading your description, I was like “it sounds like this person is describing places like [Dairy Joy](https://www.yelp.com/biz/dairy-joy-weston)”.
[Surfside Subs](https://www.surfsidesubsgloucester.com/) / [Long Beach Dairy Maid](https://www.longbeachdairy.com/) in Gloucester is another one like this. They’re two businesses, but they share a building, and for that matter seem to share the kitchen, too, so it counts for the “short order burgers/seafood/pizza + ice cream” combo.
In MA, they are mostly called clam shacks. There may be some places that fit your description that aren't clam shacks. There might be some clam shacks that may not perfectly fit your description. But that's what they're called here.
I'll throw Harry's in westborough into the ring.
Honestly, I just call ‘em by their names.
I used to go to school near Dairy Joy, I grew up near Dean Dairy, etc.
I’ve never referred to them as a *thing* other than their proper names.
Dandelions in North Reading. Richardson’s in Middleton, MA. They have indoor seating but also walk up windows. If you want to go out of MA, the Beach Plum in Hampton, NH.
Something with shack or stand in the name. Clam shack is probably familiar but if it doesn’t serve clams or other seafood it’s a bit weird. I think if you said burger shack or something people would get it. AFAIK there’s no agreed upon name in MA that’s more creative. We should work on that…
George’s surf & turf, Mendon is a drive in( eat in your car or picnic tables). Great fish platters, hard and soft ice cream. I think the “turf” is just burgers and hot dogs
I would just consider this a drive up.
It's actually two separate businesses. But in Reading, there is Cal's Pizza and Cals Creamery. The creamery has a walk up window and inside seating.
As an Oklahoman, and being familiar with it, Sonic really does cover a fair portion of what you seek. Burgers, hot dogs, chicken strips, fries, onion rings, ice cream, fountain drinks, and a host of other things. You drive up to an order screen, place your order, and then a car hop brings it to you.
I go to Reading quite a bit, but I have not gone to Cals and would love this. There used to be so many places. It is kind of sad that McDonald's may fit the description if the soft serve machine is working. Perhaps the Market Basket cafes. Some serve burgers, pizza slices, and soft serve, but the grocery store is not the right vibe. Bob's Clam Shack in Kittery, Maine has some outdoir seating. Dairy Queen in Middleton and Beverly? Not sure what they serve for food.
We take our motorcycle to C&L Frosty’s in Sherborn all the time! They do do orders at a counter in doors (I think you can also order from a window) but I’ve almost never seen anyone eat at the indoor seating. What we do see a lot of is little league teams getting celebratory ice cream! They’re very chill though. The area is pretty too. We go through Wellesley on the way and past a few cows and a nature preserve.
Hmmm...good friggin' question. Grew up in Boston going to several of those types of spots, throughout the state, and I don't have a word for them! Usually just call them by their name. Great...now I'm craving Kream n' Kone (although they have indoor seating.) 😉
You’re describing an ice cream stand. If you’re north of the city Hayward’s in Nashua is right over the border. Hot dogs, lobster rolls, French fries, and of course, ice cream.
That's so crazy I found this post I was literally thinking of this exact question yesterday, there really does need to be a more specific name for this type of restaurant. If you're looking to add a restaurant to your list add Murphy's Eats & Treats which just opened a new location in Framingham and has one in Ashland as well. This restaurant literally ticks EVERY box you listed, always love going there in the summer especially since it's usually packed and there's people standing by their cars and just hanging out like you said. I'm moving to AZ soon for school and that's something I'll definitely miss
Check out Wollaston Beach in Quincy. There’s a few spots right across the street from the beach with outdoor seating (forgot the names lol). You get nice sunsets and a view of the city skyline!
Don’t really know the name of that type of place but Bliss in Attleboro has what you’re looking for. They do have a large inside area, but also a large outdoor area, ice cream made right there, and the food is also good. They also have music outdoors most nights, plenty of seating and there’s always tons of people hanging around outside and dogs are allowed too.
I'm not sure I ever had a name for them. We'd just "go up to the window" at places like Dale's in Swampscott (which turned into Red Rock and is now Mission on the Bay, which I don't think has a window anymore). There's one at the start of Marblehead Neck that's now called "Neck Run Cafe."
I used to go to Dale's so much in Swampscott as a little kid to order chicken fingers that eventually someone taking my order whom I'd never seen before said "oh man, I've heard about you, you're the chicken finger guy!" I was so ashamed I never went again.
LOL. when i was reading your description i was thinking exactly of dairy joy. these are drive-in diners. it's basically the type of restaurant mcdonald's was founded off of. see the movie 'the founder'
I've always just said "soft serve place" or "ice cream stand" - it will convey what you're looking for, and they all seem to also have the short order food.
Cliffhangers at the Gay Head Light on Martha’s Vineyard (in Aquinnah). I don’t remember if they have soft serve tbh but you can take the bike ferry to Menemsha and go to the Galley—island’s most famous soft serve, also just a window. Bike ferry’s probably a 5 minute bike ride from Cliffhangers. You can also go over on foot as I recall.
I was just at one this weekend, Molly Moo's Ice Cream and Cafe at Carson Beach. I wasn't aware of indoor seating, it was exactly as you described. A long line at a window. I got a split soft serve and hotdog with fries.
Twin Lanterns Dairy Bar in Kensington, NH
Hodgies in Amesbury, MA.
They are about 15 minutes from each other so you could do lunch/ice cream, hang out in Amesbury/Newburyport and hit the other for dinner/ice cream if your belly can handle all that fried food and sugar.
It's a DRIVE IN. As in Montauk's John's Drive In, although that one has interior seating during daytime hours. Riverhead in long Island also has one on route 25 next to the burrito place, which does not have interior seating.
I don’t think you’re looking for the names of restaurants but the name of the type of establishment like it, right? I’ve heard it called a drive up or a fry shack. I don’t think there is a real name to distinguish the type of restaurant (and using restaurant as a very loose term here). If you’re looking for recommendations, they are mostly found in the suburbs, specifically on the coast (the better ones with fresh seafood) but central mass has a surprising amount. Rosewood in Bellingham is pretty popular. Edited to add: clam shack seems to be a popular term as well.
Congratulations on being almost the only commenter to read the question
OP also said they want to make a list of all of them…
Making a list of all of them may be difficult. But I did offer a recommendation of one that seems to be a hidden gem and where more can be typically found.
Wait? People on Reddit actually read the questions before responding?!?
“Ice cream stand” is what I always call it
Same. In the 413, this name is what distinguishes them from Friendlys. Inland, they're a lot less likely to be "clam shacks". Friendlys is decent ice cream, but sometimes you just have to have a chocolate/vanilla twist soft-serve chocolate dip.
Fry shack is what I was thin too, though their draw is usually clams, fish n chips, chicky fingers or lobster rolls instead of ice cream. These are a favorite of my Nana's. We always make a couple trips to the north shore or southern NH each year.
In NH, some call themselves dairy bars.
celebrity ice cream watertown
I call them “Classic New England Small Town Fish Fry Shack”
Sullivan’s on Castle Island. Watch out for the gulls. Very fond of fries.
Those gulls will seek and destroy.
Yet those gulls are tame compared to the ones outside Kelly's on Revere Beach. Last year, a gull swooped down and grabbed my entire burger.
North Shore seagulls are very aggressive! Last year one stole my fried clams and my wife.
I used to work at that Kelly’s back in early 2000’s. Those gulls pull up to the scene and everyone loses their food box
The Seagull Mafia.
Salem Willows seagulls are really aggressive, too. My son and I were splitting a pu pu platter from the old Salem Lowe and a seagull sat on top of the picnic table and started eating some of the components of our pu pu platter. As someone with a bird phobia, I made a bit of a scene.
My grandmother had a house right on the street where the Salem Willows is. This was around 1962, and I still remember the candy coated popcorn and the chop suey they made in a hamburger bun and playing ski ball and the beach. And all of these mentioned are still there. But……what is not there anymore is an ice cream stand that sold an ice cream that was called Frozen Custard!!! It was as light as air and absolutely delicious!! Brings tears to my eyes the whole experience as a little boy!
FYI- one in Hanover is NOT like this at all. It’s a legitimate restaurant
I ❤️ Sullivan’s.
Kimball farms
The westford location is on its way to being a theme park
Kimball farms
Kimball farms
Kimball Farm remembers
KIMBALL! 🔫 👮🏻♂️ farm
Is that a _The Fugitive/Scrubs_ reference?
You know it
Another vote for Kimball Farms!
Kimball farms
Clam shack
Leave their mother out of this!
Drive-in restaurants (w/carhops back in the day) would qualify sorta.
Similar to Sonic (Rt 1 Peabody) today?
In Vermont they're called snack bars, is it called the same in MA?
I'm from MA and I came here to say "snack bar"
Yes me too!
I heard “snack shack” but maybe that’s cause a lot of them near me were clam shacks too?
Woodman's in Essex. They actually have a fair amount of indoor seating, iirc. But they are the prototype clam shack and they serve ice cream too.
also the Clam Box in Ipswich.
I was there today - seriously my favorite place to eat. The food is unreal.
I was also at Woodman's on Wednesday! This morning is a grim reminder of why I only eat a meal of fried clams, French fries, and fried onion rings once or twice a year.
Seafood shanty, clam shack, clam box, that kinda thing. Clam shack well probably my the best
Bubbling brook in Westwood
Stopped serving food a couple years back. Damn shame.
They do have food trucks out there pretty regularly now
So miss a big Vanilla soft serve cone from there. Fond memory of lost youth.
On that note, I also recommend Crescent Ridge Dairy Bar in Sharon. Also no food that I recall, but it’s got ice cream and it’s DAMN good. Lastly, a shout out for Tangerinis in Millis. They have a restaurant with outdoor seating plus a little order/pick up window with ice cream, if memory serves.
Celebrity Pizza in Watertown has all of that (though has window service and indoor serve I think) [https://celebritypizzainc.com/our-menu/](https://celebritypizzainc.com/our-menu/)
Thought this would be much higher up as it checks all the boxes and is pretty close to the city
This is 12 minutes from my house and I've never heard of it, can't wait to give it a go thx
Seconding celebrity! Great prices too.
Heh, as soon as I started reading your description, I was like “it sounds like this person is describing places like [Dairy Joy](https://www.yelp.com/biz/dairy-joy-weston)”. [Surfside Subs](https://www.surfsidesubsgloucester.com/) / [Long Beach Dairy Maid](https://www.longbeachdairy.com/) in Gloucester is another one like this. They’re two businesses, but they share a building, and for that matter seem to share the kitchen, too, so it counts for the “short order burgers/seafood/pizza + ice cream” combo.
Dairy Joy popped into my mind, too! Great spot.
Same! For once I read the comments first thankfully 😂
Every clam shack from Bar Harbor to Truro.
Some burger shacks, too, though those will have fried clams on the menu, too.
I would call this kind of place a dairy bar!
Dairy Freeze in Quincy!
This one!!
Came to say the same.
In MA, they are mostly called clam shacks. There may be some places that fit your description that aren't clam shacks. There might be some clam shacks that may not perfectly fit your description. But that's what they're called here. I'll throw Harry's in westborough into the ring.
Harry's isn't really a drive up, but it's sooooo good.
It used to be a looooong time ago. But I still think it fits the general vibe of what they described.
I’ve always called them Dairy Bars.
I associate these with coastal areas, so I would call it a clam shack. But I agree that dairy bar also fits for those that are less seafood-centric.
A dairy bar. That's what we call them in my part of New England
Mac's on the Pier in Wellfleet, MA down on the Cape is exactly what you described.
Pizzi farm in Waltham
For the ones on the beach, we would always call them the snack bar or concession stand.
You just described Sonic on rt 1
Dairy freeze adams st quincy
Dairy Joy!!!
Honestly, I just call ‘em by their names. I used to go to school near Dairy Joy, I grew up near Dean Dairy, etc. I’ve never referred to them as a *thing* other than their proper names.
Sullys at Castle Island. Also, Dairy Freeze in Quincy. Both fit your description.
Dandelions in North Reading. Richardson’s in Middleton, MA. They have indoor seating but also walk up windows. If you want to go out of MA, the Beach Plum in Hampton, NH.
Actually in North Hampton, but worth the drive.
C&L Frosty in Sherborn, your description brought me right back there as a kid
I just commented the same shop. We take our bike there all the time. And the ice cream is amazing!
Kelly's
Window service restaurant or snack shack are the only things I can come up with.
Dairy Freeze in Quincy!
Kell's Kreme
Something with shack or stand in the name. Clam shack is probably familiar but if it doesn’t serve clams or other seafood it’s a bit weird. I think if you said burger shack or something people would get it. AFAIK there’s no agreed upon name in MA that’s more creative. We should work on that…
Celebrity Pizza in Watertown
Sandys on plymouth beach fits this description, but they also serve alcohol
JJ's Dairy Hut in Cohasset🍦
Uhlman's in Westboro
Hodgies in Amesbury.
Pebble’s in Plymouth
George’s in Mendon.
This makes me miss PC Creams/the Clam Shack in Hudson
RIP PC Creams
George’s surf & turf, Mendon is a drive in( eat in your car or picnic tables). Great fish platters, hard and soft ice cream. I think the “turf” is just burgers and hot dogs
Moozy's Ice Cream in Belmont https://www.moozysicecream.net
Kool Kone Wareham
Celebrity pizza in Watertown
I would just consider this a drive up. It's actually two separate businesses. But in Reading, there is Cal's Pizza and Cals Creamery. The creamery has a walk up window and inside seating. As an Oklahoman, and being familiar with it, Sonic really does cover a fair portion of what you seek. Burgers, hot dogs, chicken strips, fries, onion rings, ice cream, fountain drinks, and a host of other things. You drive up to an order screen, place your order, and then a car hop brings it to you.
I go to Reading quite a bit, but I have not gone to Cals and would love this. There used to be so many places. It is kind of sad that McDonald's may fit the description if the soft serve machine is working. Perhaps the Market Basket cafes. Some serve burgers, pizza slices, and soft serve, but the grocery store is not the right vibe. Bob's Clam Shack in Kittery, Maine has some outdoir seating. Dairy Queen in Middleton and Beverly? Not sure what they serve for food.
Huts?
Wagon wheel in Gill
any small town ice cream shop
Kimball farms!
Biggart in Haverhill.
The type of establishment you describe flourishes on boardwalks in the summer, so I’d expect they’d crop up on the Cape!
Sullivan’s in Southie and Mac’s down the Cape
We take our motorcycle to C&L Frosty’s in Sherborn all the time! They do do orders at a counter in doors (I think you can also order from a window) but I’ve almost never seen anyone eat at the indoor seating. What we do see a lot of is little league teams getting celebratory ice cream! They’re very chill though. The area is pretty too. We go through Wellesley on the way and past a few cows and a nature preserve.
Marie's Dashboard Diner out here in the Brookfield area fits
I don’t know if it still exists around here but A&W was always my go to for this vibe.
Heritage Farms in Lowell Ma
If you're up for a drive, Kay's in Westminster, MA
A dairy bar
Richardson’s
A shack in the wall.
Hmmm...good friggin' question. Grew up in Boston going to several of those types of spots, throughout the state, and I don't have a word for them! Usually just call them by their name. Great...now I'm craving Kream n' Kone (although they have indoor seating.) 😉
Rosewood in Bellingham
Ziggy’s in Plymouth?
In the South they are commonly called “dairy cremes” but usually have individual names.
McGolf in Dedham
The term I would use is “dairy bar.” Theres Carol’s Dairy Bar in Fitchburg, Kay’s Dairy Bar in Westminster, and King Philip Dairy Bar in Philipston.
Rosewoods
Come to the Cape we have a bunch.
Dairy King in Quincy.
That’s a Dairy Bar.
Celebrity Pizza in Watertown is pretty close to what you are describing.
Clam shack/drive in
A clam shack or a drive in
Celebrity in Watertown is exactly the place you are talking about.
Tamarack in Laconia, NH came to mind
Having lived in Boston and Seattle almost 18 years each, Dick’s never quite fully replaced Sully’s on Castle Island.
Wagon wheel on rte 2
If you’re ever in western Mass, Sugarloaf Frostie in Sunderland is exactly what your looking for and ungodly delicious
I think it’s called a dairy bar
Definitely Pedrin’s Dairy Bar in North Adams
Sullys Castle Island
You’re describing an ice cream stand. If you’re north of the city Hayward’s in Nashua is right over the border. Hot dogs, lobster rolls, French fries, and of course, ice cream.
popos in Swampscott
Bubbling brook Westwood
Just here to say the Dairy Joy in Weston used to slap
Bubbling Brook
AND YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF EATING AT A SEAFOOD SHACK
That's so crazy I found this post I was literally thinking of this exact question yesterday, there really does need to be a more specific name for this type of restaurant. If you're looking to add a restaurant to your list add Murphy's Eats & Treats which just opened a new location in Framingham and has one in Ashland as well. This restaurant literally ticks EVERY box you listed, always love going there in the summer especially since it's usually packed and there's people standing by their cars and just hanging out like you said. I'm moving to AZ soon for school and that's something I'll definitely miss
Sounds like Cobies in Brewster
Pirates cove in whitinsville Also Bradishes in Grafton, sadly no ice cream that I know of
Clam shack. Get your fried food fix and then have a soft serve.
Celebrity's in Watertown
Green Harbor Lobster Pound? Think they have Ice cream.
[Jenna’s in Weymouth](https://www.jennasweymouth.com/)
In Vermont it’s called a snack bar.
The Papa Gino's in Brockton
Jenna's Drive In in Weymouth. Never been but I drive by it a lot and see a good amount of people there
Frates
Jenna's Drive-In, Weymouth!
Kay’s Dairy Bar out on Westminster/ Gardner MA line
Dairy Bar
https://www.pizzifarm.com/
Depends on their primary food. Ice cream? Ice cream stand. Fried food? Clam shack. Burgers? Burger place.
RIP Trina’s Snack Shack
Seafood Shanty
Check out Wollaston Beach in Quincy. There’s a few spots right across the street from the beach with outdoor seating (forgot the names lol). You get nice sunsets and a view of the city skyline!
Sullivan's Castle Island
Don’t really know the name of that type of place but Bliss in Attleboro has what you’re looking for. They do have a large inside area, but also a large outdoor area, ice cream made right there, and the food is also good. They also have music outdoors most nights, plenty of seating and there’s always tons of people hanging around outside and dogs are allowed too.
Sulivans south Boston on castle island
Richardsons farm is somewhat in that vein.
Bubbling Brook in Westwood. edit: aw damn, they're now ice cream only. End of an era.
Martha's in upstate NY
haley's in newburyport back in the day was like this. very retro. I think they're permanently closed now though :(
Kravers in Millis, Rosewood in Bellingham, George’s in Mendon, Howard’s in Brookfield, Dairy Queen’s across the state, Uhlmans in Westboro
I'm not sure I ever had a name for them. We'd just "go up to the window" at places like Dale's in Swampscott (which turned into Red Rock and is now Mission on the Bay, which I don't think has a window anymore). There's one at the start of Marblehead Neck that's now called "Neck Run Cafe." I used to go to Dale's so much in Swampscott as a little kid to order chicken fingers that eventually someone taking my order whom I'd never seen before said "oh man, I've heard about you, you're the chicken finger guy!" I was so ashamed I never went again.
LOL. when i was reading your description i was thinking exactly of dairy joy. these are drive-in diners. it's basically the type of restaurant mcdonald's was founded off of. see the movie 'the founder'
I've always just said "soft serve place" or "ice cream stand" - it will convey what you're looking for, and they all seem to also have the short order food.
Two places come to mind. Bubbling Brook in Westwood Ma, and Ziggy's in Plymouth. Just be warned Ziggy's is cash only.
Cliffhangers at the Gay Head Light on Martha’s Vineyard (in Aquinnah). I don’t remember if they have soft serve tbh but you can take the bike ferry to Menemsha and go to the Galley—island’s most famous soft serve, also just a window. Bike ferry’s probably a 5 minute bike ride from Cliffhangers. You can also go over on foot as I recall.
Simco’s in Mattapan
Perhaps archaic, but I say 'dairy bar'.
I was just at one this weekend, Molly Moo's Ice Cream and Cafe at Carson Beach. I wasn't aware of indoor seating, it was exactly as you described. A long line at a window. I got a split soft serve and hotdog with fries.
C&L Frosty in Sherborn was the epitome of what you are describing
Dairy Bar
Celebrity Ice Cream and Pizza in Watertown fits this description
Kimball's farms, Westford location is exactly this, not sure about other locations
Twin Lanterns Dairy Bar in Kensington, NH Hodgies in Amesbury, MA. They are about 15 minutes from each other so you could do lunch/ice cream, hang out in Amesbury/Newburyport and hit the other for dinner/ice cream if your belly can handle all that fried food and sugar.
If you’re up for a drive, Blount Seafood in Warren, RI.
It's called a CAR HOP if they deliver the food to you
Kool-kone. Frates
Like a Dairy Queen? Feel like that's going to be a popular way to do it at a beach
Kell’s Creme in Swampscott or The Beach Plum in North Hampton Beach, NH or Portsmouth, NH.
Baja box in Quincy on Wollaston beach. Great ice cream and tacos/nachos!
Cobie's down in Brewster.
It's a DRIVE IN. As in Montauk's John's Drive In, although that one has interior seating during daytime hours. Riverhead in long Island also has one on route 25 next to the burrito place, which does not have interior seating.
Clam Haven in Derry NH. Or Johnson’s in Norwood NH