Sycamore Drive-In

Strangely wonderful burger… Very flat with crispy edges. Delicious root beer. So creamy and full bodied. Authentic Americana.

I was here about a week ago and I had the chicken tenders and fries, and they were really good. I also had a chocolate milkshake and that was good too. I’ve heard good things about the root beer but I didn’t try that. I would most likely go back again if I was in the area.

A cool-​looking local landmark with nice waitresses. The food is, unfortunately, just not very good. We’d really like to like this place more, because it’s close to home and has a cool retro style and atmosphere, but… we don’t.

Love it here. Cruise nights are great! Curly fries and shakes yum!

I’ve been coming to the Sycamore Diner for over 14 years and once considered it a fun family diner. Several years ago I stopped coming because the food is nothing special and overpriced for what it is. My business started going to the Redding Ridge Market where you can get an exceptional lunch for a few dollars less.
OK, so my daughter is on Thanksgiving break from college and we decide to go to the Sycamore. Here’s what we found:
* The menu has not changed except that the prices have increased
* There is not one healthy item on the menu where the definition of a salad is iceberg lettuce and a slice of tomato
* The burger I ordered was dry and disappointing despite all of the stuff they put on it
* As usual my daughter’s french fries were soggy
I wonder what the health inspection ratings for this diner are. They have a shelf of memorabilia over the counter which does not look like it’s been dusted since before I stated coming.
The only good thing I can say is that the homemade root beer is exceptional.
Sorry Sycamore, I am done here.

Nothing has changed since 1948. The definition of a classic. The root beer is incomparable. The next closest Steakburger with everything is 1200 miles west in Kansas City.

I cringe to write this, but I have to. I moved to Bethel a little over a year ago and the people here have done NOTHING but tell me how I MUST come eat here. So I gave it a shot on 9÷26÷15. Had lunch with my husband and father in law before going out to enjoy the day and a nice hike in a local park. WHAT A HUGE MISTAKE.
First the food. Nothing special, my husband got a burger that was nothing more than an obscene amount of onions and lettuce and a thin hard slab of meat. I ordered a grilled chicken wrap with spinach, bacon and mustard. I ate less than half. Please remember this fact for later.
At that time I remember feeling underwhelmed after all the fuss the townies had made about this place. The food was meh at best, it was over crowded, the menu was nothing special and the atmosphere was not enough to make up for it.
An hour later we were all walking through the park when I realized that this diner had one more surprise in store for me. I got violently ill. In the middle of the woods. With no bathroom for miles. In front of my father in law, who had made the special trip up from Florida just to visit us. I will spare you the finer details of this particular part of the story. Suffice it to say that it was not only physically, but mentally horrific as well (when a man on his bike decided to rough it through where I was hiding he got himself QUITE THE VIEW). I wish I was embellishing this story, or that I didn’t put it online. But I think you should know what happened to me from the food I was served here.
This diner made me shit the woods in front of my father in law. I WILL NEVER EAT HERE AGAIN. And I suggest that you don’t either.

The Dagwood burger is the best and get an old fashioned cherry coke. It’s a great casual family friendly spot for a bite and love tjhe old soda shop nostalgic décor.

True to form 50’s drive in… lots of memorabilia on the walls, period furniture, petite booths (well petite for my 6 – 4 frame)…the food is good, although a little greasy for today’s health conscious… but then you don’t come here for a salad… I have the burgers every time I’m here and never am disappointed… usually defaulting to the Dagwood… the chicken basket is good too… and one day I’m going to order the clam roll just to satisfy my curiosity… it looks so enticing on the menu… the staff is a fun loving bunch of teens, and are always pleasant and efficient. I’ve been coming here for a while and I’m going to continue for a long time.

good old solid diner.

Classic spot for a good old fashioned milk shake! Takes you back in time to think how long this place has been a Bethel establishment.

Randomly in the area and saw this place had a good rating on Unilocal.It did not disappoint! Quaint, old timey place with friendly staff. I had the grilled cheese and fries. Delicious!

Well here we are up in the wilds of Connecticut at Sycamore’s, stepping back in time to the 1950’s. It’s a Saturday at 1PM and all the townsfolk are pigging out on the place’s famous burgers. We started off with creamy thick shakes.
My nephew had the Dagwood sandwich, which is another big time favorite.
The staff and particularly our waiter, are friendly and attentive
This place is a keeper!

This place is everything if you grew up in Bethel! If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Just please take cards from now on!

Great food. Great prices. Great overall feel. I can’t believe I waited so long to check this place out!

Great place good service a flash from the past oh food is good also. Cash only service I did not realize that my check came to 10.16 I had 10 even… waitress was great I gave her ran to my car and got change cause it was a great treat will come back again.

I had high expectations based on the reviews but I was disappointed.
I had the dagwood burger and it wasn’t great, the meat tasted kind of old, the onion rings were subpar and the strawberry milkshake was too thin and the flavor didn’t knock my socks off. The curly fries were great!
Perhaps breakfast is better but I don’t think I’ll be back to try it.
It is CASH ONLY but they do have an ATM in the restaurant.

The Sycamore Drive-​In is a throwback to the ages where teeny boppers listened to the Big Bopper and Elvis was too risqué. As you pull into the lot, don’t be surprised if you see a real T-​Bird, a Vet or another souped-​up car from the 50’s or 60’s sitting next to a hand built roadster.
Go inside and sit on a red vinyl covered seat, grab a menu and view what a diner meant fifty years ago. Eggs, pancakes, burgers, dogs, salads and specials. You almost expect to see a «Blue Plate Special» scribbled on a chalkboard to one side, but that would interfere with the life-​sized cut-​out of «the King.» And you would also expect a gum-​smackin’ red-​headed waitress in a poodle skirt sashaying up to the table for your order.
There is nothing special about the menu. I ordered a cheeseburger with lettuce and tomato, some fries and a root beer. The root beer was really good, but the rest was basic diner grub. The fries were frozen crinkles and the burger contained more iceberg lettuce than meat and cheese. As much as this is a relic and fun to visit the burgers are not that good. Go for the buzz not the burger.

A Bethel institution and a must-​visit for all. Menu is varied, but fairly focused around classic 50’s «griddle n fryer» fare. Service is generally complete, but never enough napkins with overflowing shakes and dripping frosted rootbeer mugs. Serving sizes are just right. Burgers are very greasy, but in that «because that’s the way you like them» vein. Great fries and rings. Fresh spun shakes. Root Beer is made in-​house and deliciously served in an ice frosted mug. Décor is 50−60s Kitchy. Summer Saturday nights are classic car cruise nights, sometimes including live bands, but always a DJ with period music at the very least. So it’s all good and a cultural experience beyond the simple meal.
As a day to day restaurant though, it has its weakness too. Prices are just a bit out of alignment for the menu. DON’T look under the tables at the end of a rush wave. Booths are incredibly uncomfortable and cramped. Awkward battles for tables when the restaurant is busy as two lines contend for empty seats from two different entrances. They tout carhop service, but I’ve never actually seen it in action. Closes up awfully early, but I’d have to guess that’s driven by market demand.
Nice breakfast, good lunch and dinner. It’s classic and somewhat unique in the area now. Cash only, so no way to flash your plastic around. Overall, it’s a fun spot to meet up with friends and introduce kids to great american drive-​in culture. Enjoy.

hi,
i’ll take a root beer,
a tomato burger,
a basket of curly fries,
a basket of onion rings,
and throw in a chocolate shake for good luck.
i love the interior,
i like the attitudes of the people that work there,
i love the car shows in the parking lot over the summer,
i love the paper thin cheeseburgers,
i love the retro feel,
I LOVE THE SYCAMORE!