Hob Nob Drive-in
Sarasota, FL Photo courtesy Steve/Back on Tack
The Hob Nob Drive-in on Route 301 is a Sarasota institution. It
has been around for over 50 years and is rumored to have the best burgers
in town. What is most unique about this diner is that is an open-air eatery.
You can smell those onion rings at soon as you pull into the parking lot.
It is also a melting pot where all walks of life mingle from bikers to
well to do boomers. The name fits perfectly. Many thanks to Steve/Back on Tack for info.
The Hob Nob opened in 1957 and quickly became a Sarasota favorite. Cars could park around the building while customers grabbed a bite after work, on the way to the beach, or before heading home for the evening. It wasn't fancy, and that was part of its charm. Good food, friendly service, and the familiar roadside sign kept people coming back year after year.
For decades, the restaurant remained one of Sarasota's best-known local landmarks. Even as new chain restaurants appeared along the highway, the Hob Nob kept its neighborhood feel. It became the kind of place where several generations of the same family could say they had eaten there.
In 2024, the restaurant closed when longtime owner Cary Spicuzza retired, leaving many locals wondering if the Hob Nob had served its last burger. Fortunately, the story didn't end there. New owners stepped in, carefully renovated the property, freshened up the famous roadside sign, and reopened the drive-in on its 69th anniversary in 2026. While the ordering system has been modernized, the look and spirit of the old Hob Nob remain very much intact.
UPDATE: The Original Hob Nob Drive-In reopened in 2026 after an extensive restoration. Its vintage roadside sign once again welcomes diners to one of Sarasota's longtime roadside favorites. 07-26
Goody Goody (Demolished)
Tampa, FL Photo courtesy Andy Callahan
What a good vintage place to chow down while in Florida? Why it's the
Goody Goody Drive-in. Still open after many years.
The bright neon sign and low-slung building made Goody Goody Drive-In one of Tampa's classic roadside stops. Pull into a parking space, place your order, and before long a tray of burgers, fries, and a thick milkshake would appear at your car. For generations of Tampa residents, it was simply part of growing up.
Goody Goody first opened in 1925 and eventually found its longtime home along North Florida Avenue, where it became one of the city's best-known drive-ins. The famous P.O.X. Burger, topped with pickles, onions, and a secret sauce, kept customers coming back for decades. A slice of butterscotch pie finished off the meal for many loyal regulars.
The Drive-in area(Demolished)
Tampa, FL Photo courtesy Andy Callahan
The restaurant welcomed everyone from families out for dinner to late-night crowds looking for one last bite before heading home. Over the years, the familiar neon sign became just as memorable as the food, making Goody Goody one of Tampa's favorite roadside landmarks.
After nearly eighty years, the original drive-in closed in 2005 and was demolished the following year. The Goody Goody name and recipes later returned at a new restaurant in Hyde Park, giving longtime fans another chance to enjoy an old favorite, although that location also closed in 2024.'
UPDATE: The Goody Goody Drive-in eatery in Tampa, FL was torn down in 2006 after closing its doors on November 30, 2005. Open since 1925, the Goody Goody was well known for it burgers and butterscotch pie. Today, the site is just vacant land. Many thanks to Mark Sevigny for update. 03-07
UPDATE: The Goody Goody was located on Florida Avenue in Tampa. I ate there many times, they also made great milkshakes. The Good Goody was a drugstore too. Walking through the doors was like stepping back in time, as they had merchandise from the 60's and 70's still for sale. Many thanks to Dusty Miller for update. 12-08
UPDATE: The original Goody Goody Drive-In closed in 2005 and was demolished in 2006. The later Hyde Park revival operated from 2016 until 2024. 07-26
Andy's Restaurant
Winter Haven, FL Photo courtesy Steve/Back on Tack
Andy's opened in 1951 in Winter Haven, FL. This sign was featured
in a 2002 Retro Roadside calendar produced by the Orange County Historical
Society. Most visitors to Winter Haven are there to see Cypress Gardens.
The lakeside attraction has led to the town becoming "The Water Skiing
Capital of the World." Many thanks to Steve/Back on Tack for info.
That colorful roadside marquee is hard to miss as you drive through Winter Haven. With its cheerful slogan, "It Makes Cents To Eat At Andy's," Andy's Drive-in Restaurant still looks like the kind of place where burgers, fries, and milkshakes have never gone out of style. 06-06
Andy's Drive-in Restaurant
Winter Haven, FL Photo courtesy Dan Percivall
The business began in 1951 as a small ice cream stand before growing into the drive-in restaurant that locals know today as Andy's Igloo. While the name has changed over the years, the vintage sign has stayed put, continuing to welcome hungry travelers along the old U.S. 17 corridor.
Step inside and you'll find a place that hasn't forgotten its roots. The counter stools, walk-up windows, and old-fashioned atmosphere make it feel like a trip back to the days when drive-ins were a regular stop on a family road trip. The menu still features classic burgers, crinkle-cut fries, thick milkshakes, and the oversized dessert known as "The Garbage Can." Even better, the restaurant remains cash only, adding one more touch of nostalgia to the experience.
Andy's Drive-in Restaurant
Winter Haven, FL Photo courtesy Dan Percivall
Places like Andy's have become increasingly rare, which makes this longtime roadside favorite well worth seeking out. It's the kind of spot that proves some of the best meals are still served beneath an old marquee that's been inviting travelers in for generations.
Many visitors pass through Winter Haven on their way to Cypress Gardens, the attraction that helped make the city famous as the "Water Skiing Capital of the World." For decades, Andy's has been just as much a part of that trip, giving hungry travelers one more reason to pull off the road before heading home. Whether it was an ice cream after a day in the Florida sun or a burger before getting back on U.S. 17, the familiar marquee has welcomed generations of locals and vacationers alike.
Andy's Restaurant
Winter Haven, FL Photo courtesy Robert Droz
UPDATE: Andy's Igloo remains open and continues serving customers beneath its vintage "Andy's Drive-In Restaurant" marquee. 07-26
Hob Nob Drive-in
Goody Goody (Demolished)
The Drive-in area (Demolished)
Andy's Restaurant
