Lakeview Drive Inn is Winona’s oldest restaurant and definitely a crowd pleaser. Established in 1938, this family-owned restaurant is a mere 21 years away from its 100-year anniversary, is technically a landmark, and still has carhop service. What makes this restaurant so special? Well, not only the customer service, but also the food! Here are (in my opinion) Lakeview’s 10 best menu items.
It was hard to choose the 10 absolute BEST foods from this drive inn, but I think I definitely narrowed it down to some fan favorites.
Burgers
I couldn’t decide which burger to talk about, because they’re all very good. Lakeview has roughly 15 types of burgers ranging from the normal American cheeseburger to burgers that are a little more out there like their elk, bison, or pizza burgers.
Toasted Ham & Cheese Sandwich
This sandwich is so simple to make yet somehow Lakeview has managed to make it taste just so spectacular! And apparently – according to an inside source – it’s good dipped in Lakeview’s chili.
Spicy Chicken Sandwich
I recently just tried this classic sandwich and it’s so good! A spicy grilled chicken fillet, lettuce, and Lakeview’s special sauce; so simple yet so delicious! The chicken is coated in a spicy Cajun batter, which gives this sandwich a nice, but not too overwhelming, kick.
Chicago Dog
This hot dog was one of the first things I tried at the drive inn, and having been to Chicago I can attest that this hot dog is the real deal. Some places have Chicago dogs but forget some of the most important toppings. Lakeview Drive Inn has every topping needed for this staple food, including the celery salt.
Smiley Fries
A childhood classic. Not only are these “French fries” cute, but they take you back to your elementary school days. If you think these fries are just for kids, you would be wrong. There is just something about food that smiles at you that makes it taste so much better and fun to eat!
Home-brewed Root Beer
Served in an old-fashioned frosted mug, this fizzy drink is so amazing that I don’t know how to describe it. This root beer is made from the same recipe that was used back in 1938. I don’t drink pop, but this root beer is definitely worth it.
Fun Fact: Former First Lady Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson, while traveling through Winona in 1997 as a passenger on the American Queen, said Lakeview Drive Inn has the best root beer she has ever tasted.
Old Fashioned Root Beer Floats
Using their famous home-brewed root beer, this combination of vanilla ice cream and pop is simply a classic; you can’t go wrong with it. If for some reason you run out of root beer and still have some ice cream left, the servers at Lakeview will refill your glass with more fizzy goodness at no extra cost.
Malts
I am not a huge malt person because I’m not a fan of malt powder, but these malts are honestly some of the best I have ever tried. For the malts (and shakes) you are able to choose from 13 flavors, and if you want you are able to combine flavors too!
The Igloo
What is this contraption, you may ask? Well, it’s basically a make-your-own Blizzard: creamy soft serve topped with any of your favorite candy, cookies, or fruit. The options are endless when it comes to this dessert because you can literally add as many sugar-filled toppings as your heart desires!
Rainbow Crunch Cone
I get this “ice cream cone of wonders” every single time I go to the Drive Inn. Seriously. It’s a normal vanilla ice cream cone with colored flavor bursts swirled throughout the ice cream, then coated with a candy nut crunch mixture. Can you say amazing?!
Lakeview has everything from classic drive-in foods like corn dogs and chili fries to some more inventive and unusual foods like their walnut burger or clam strips. Either way, Lakeview has something for everyone and if you don’t believe me, then you’ll just have to check it out for yourself! :)