John's Drive-In

I stopped by for ice cream two days in a row, and it was worth it! A fun little spot in Montauk with friendly staff who recommended the Oreo Mint, which was spot on. They offer several creative homemade flavors, and each one is tempting. Easily my go-to place for ice cream in Montauk.

No frills burger spot in Montauk - quite possibly the most budget friendly eatery as well. Everything was pretty good. The burger was tasty and pretty decently sized. Fries were tasty but a little over done, The Fish and Chips were good, and the Buffalo Chicken Wrap was flavorful. Jalapeño Poppers were cheddar cheese - so know before you order. The Mozzarella Sticks were not bad either. Solid meal. Only quam was the bathroom - only one and the lock apparently isn't the greatest. Anyway, I'd visit again. If you're not a fan of kids or dislike loud... this is not your place, or at least not your place to eat in. It's loud, really loud. That being said, it is recommended.

Amazing icecream but the ordering system is a little unorganized. People would come in from two doors and would mess up the line of first come first serve. They should close the middle door and tell people to come in from the left. On the other hand the icecream was very good.

Me and my coworkers came in eyeing this place for weeks on our way to a job site not far away. Had high hopes. The cashier called my Puerto Rican coworker “amigo” right off the bat and it threw us off as awkward, especially since she clearly wasn’t Hispanic or Latino….she took our whole order and THEN informed us it was cash only. So we had to leave. She never mentioned the online ordering option or that there’s an atm inside. We came back today (a week later) with cash, and the we had the same cashier who sort lacked energy or happiness? Didn’t seem happy to be there, no energy, wasn’t rude but wasn’t polite. But we ordered food and were not disappointed at all. The burgers were relatively cheap, absolutely delicious and filling, and we saw John the owner there and he was so polite, and happy, and treated everyone (customer or staff) with respect. We may have just had a so-so cashier which would explain a lot, because this place has great food, short wait time, and honestly, that’s why I’d gladly go back. But the biggest and only REAL flaw: cash only, or order online. But, not the end of the world.

Amazing ice cream flavors, i got the strawberry oreo it was soo good! I also had their burger and it was delicious. Would definitely recommend and come back. It’s probably one of the most affordable foods in the area and it’s still great quality. The place had a retro vibe it was so nice. They have indoor and outdoor seating.

Traditional american greatness … Awesome spot blast from the past not to many places left like this !

Mmmmm the weenies served here are served best down my throat. Excellent service and wieners in my mouth. Yum.

Friendly and warm welcome service and great burgers and ice cream. Never had such good French fries. Our family is coming back soon. Thank you!

Love John's ice cream. Usually don't visit in the fall so was excited to see the pumpkin flavors. I got a large with pumpkin Oreo and raspberry chocolate truffle, which is what I usually order. The pumpkin Oreo was so good I wish I just got that since it's not a flavor you can usually get.

John's Drive-In is such a consistent burger spot. There has never been a time that I've visited that the food wasn't freshly made, hot, and satisfying. The workers are always trying to complete the orders as quickly as possible. They were polite and well organized. Yes during the summer months, it gets extremely crowded which makes it a bit difficult to eat inside, but there's nothing like driving down to any of their many overlook parking lots and viewing the beach. If you're looking for a quick bite to eat, I recommend giving them a try.

This place has very good food. Very authentic fried chicken, burgers, and milk shakes. We tried to get a reservation at harvest on fort pond but they were very busy so me and my wife went here to grab a bite before we went back to grab dinner later that night. I ordered a bacon cheese burgers, onion rings, and a vanilla shake that home made and the milk shake was amazing. John's makes there ice cream in house and it's out of this world. My wife got a chocolate shake which was amazing as well and an order of French fries. The food was made fresh to order and was one the best burger/ chicken spots I been to in a while. Very authentic fried chicken and burgers. You could smell the goodness brewing from down the block coming from John's. Definitely a great spot to check out if you're staying in Montouk. I ruined my appetite later on that night and didn't get to enjoy dinner cause I ate like a fat boy here and it was totally worth it. This place is a staple in Montouk. The staff are all family and black owned and very nice people. Def give these folks a try!

CASH ONLY! We stopped in for a quick lunch. I had the burger and it was meh. The meat to bread ratio was good but I didn't like the texture of the meat. I tried a French fry from the other person's order and it was good. I was watching my carbs so I stopped at just one.

On the way back from Montauk this past Saturday night, stopped in John's Drive-In for some late night grub. I grabbed a chicken caesar salad and a coffee ice cream... both were sooo good. They have both handmade and soft serve ice cream, which was cool to see both options available. My homemade coffee ice cream, in a large sugar cone, was absolutely divine. Parking was super easy. The only annoying part was drunk patrons (even older adults.. woof!) but that's on them, not the restaurants fault. While they were causing a scene, the staff were patient with them, so major kudos to the hardworking John's Drive-In employees!

Had a very nice burger and fries for lunch during a winter weekend in Montauk. Burger was very tasty and pretty good. Too cold to have ice cream.

$35 cash only for 2 non generous one scoop cups with toppings. A 2 scoop cup ice cream cup with toppings and a $9.19 shake (Yowzers). Help me understand how 5 scoops of ice cream and 6 ounces of milk cost me $35? Getting that bill was colder than a rocky road sundae

I love the small town, beachy, nostalgic feel of John's Drive-In. I stopped here with a friend after climbing the lighthouse, strolling the beach, and shopping the town. The food hit the spot! It was a sunny winter afternoon, so we ate at one of the tables outside as the day began to wind down. It's now my go-to Montauk restaurant for a casual bite to eat. Highly recommend for the food and the feels.

John's Drive In is quintessential Montauk- the former Montauk that is. Back when Montauk was a fishing village at the end of the island and not so chichi. It offered fried food, burgers and a multitude of ice cream flavors and options. Fast forward to Summer of 2024 and nothing much has changed- it is the same as it ever was. While I don't have the inspiration for the food options at John's, the ice cream is frequently an end of night destination for the sweet tooth. Service is fine as the seasonal workers muddle through another busy Summer night. Ice cream options include Soft serve, hard ice cream and everything in between including some downright wacky flavors. A good value proposition is getting really tough to find in Montauk (see my review of Ralph's) so it's comforting to find it in the best example of comfort foods- Ice cream!. The 46 cent sprinkle option is a good example of an eye for value. One day I may be tempted to try the Jalapeño cheese poppers.... Maybe. Sometimes the lines are into the street so it proves that John's just may be around for another 30 years.

The Ice Cream is the best I've ever had in my life. The service was amazing. The ambience is amazing

Is this the worst burger in Montauk? Enjoy 3 slices of unmelted Sysco-brand American cheese, a bursting mouthful of raw white onion, and a sticky squirt of mayo, ketchup, and relish. The classic cheap road-side burger, with the quality, flavor, and texture to match. If you're craving the familiarity of a hospital cafeteria cheeseburger, then John's is your spot. Your stomach will be rumbling and roiling from the experience as you drive away. Service was polite and excellent. Ambiance was akin to a prison's visitor lobby (note the faded, neglected decor and faint smell of disinfectant and grease).

The workers are very nice and helpful. I enjoy the food as they have a wide selection and the price is good for the area it's in. The only downside id say is they only take cash but if you can get over that this is definitely a good option. They also have homemade ice cream which is a plus! I got the flounder and chips and substituted the fries for onion rings which they did with no issue! :) will go again

Great experience at John's Drive-In this year. I ordered chicken fingers and fries and my husband ordered a burger. Everything is made fresh so you might have a short wait, but trust me, it's worth it! Our meal was delicious. A little on the pricier side, but that's to be expected in Montauk. This is a classic restaurant that I highly recommend dining at!

John's Drive in is great. The food is so good, flavorful with decent portions. The staff understands customer service. They're welcoming, polite and helpful. The place is old school with the booth/bench style seating. As well as outdoor seating under an awning. There is ample parking for plenty of patrons. We ordered the cheeseburger, fries , onion rings and a drink. The burger was cooked perfect and juicy. Crispy fries and the onion rings were really good. All in all I would definitely return. A1 service

Big fan of the convenience of John's Drive-In. The large diner-like menu and quick orders are a winner if you're not in the mood for a more typical sit-down restaurants.

This place is the cutest! Not actually a drive in but a little burger shop. They have fries, chicken fingers, and homemade ice cream. My son loves chicken fingers and was so excited about the ones here in particular. Loved the beach vibes of the place and friendliness of everyone working. Service was quick too! One thing to mention is that they only take cash but they do have an ATM inside but prices are reasonable as well.

Terrible service late night. Place closed early and told us to get out after we paid for food that we didn't get. Brutal don't go here

Let's start with the pluses: Conveniently located, the place has a very casual, retro vibe. The menu is large. The prices are great. The staff is super nice, providing very good service, and it is open off-season with terrific hours. The homemade ice cream is absolutely fabulous!!! Some of the very best ice cream of our lives!! So, kudos to John's for those things!!! However, the real food is bad. The French fries are some of the worst ever, though the portion size is fine. The fried cod fish is terrible: imagine the world's thinnest fish over-fried and hard - that's it. The bathroom is very inconveniently located in the outside, rear......so we were happy that it was not snowing. (Was this a former gas station?) Oddly was no mirror in the bathroom, as in some jails. Anyway, the vibe is good, and the ice cream is amazing - so go for those!!

A 4 star option for what it is: fast food (burgers, chicken, fries) and ice cream that's open late in the town of Montauk. Most of the negative reviews are for service (I'd describe it as indifferent but it's essentially a fast food restaurant so I don't expect white glove treatment), food quality (it's not fine dining nor is it intended to be), that it only accepts cash (it has an atm) and that it's often busy (if it wasn'tit would be out of business). But if you need an inexpensive bite late at night or want to make the kids happy with some ice cream, this is a good choice.

It was amazing. The ice cream was so yummy. It was melting really fast, but it was so delicious. The onion rings are awesome they were so good. The mozzarella sticks were really good not as good as the ice cream or onion rings though.

3.5 / 5.0 - There aren't many places open late in Montauk, so John's gets pretty busy at night. We came here 2 nights in a row, because there wasn't anything else open where we could get a bite to eat at 10pm. The service is not fast or great (or even good), but the prices were very reasonable--especially for Montauk, where everything is pricier than the city. The first night, I had: - Chicken Nuggets ($4.83 for 5 pieces) - Homemade Ice Cream ($4.14 for a Small cup) They have a wide selection of homemade ice cream flavors and the Mint Chip was great. It came out right away at the cashier. The Chicken Nuggets took a while longer, but they were good. The second night, I had: - Cheeseburger ($3.96) - French Fries ($3.08 for Small) This took even longer, but both were good, especially considering the price. They have tables inside and some picnic tables and benches outside as well. I would recommend eating outside if possible, to avoid having to encounter or engage with their aggressive staff. When my bf tried to use their ATM to get cash (because this place is cash only), they kicked him out. And while we were eating outside, the staff started fighting with a group of girls. As long as you're prepared to wait (in line to order and afterwards for your food) and don't encounter their aggressive staff, this would be a good option for late-night burgers or ice cream.

Great for people watching and the line moves quickly. Ice cream was creamy and delicious! It was the best chocolate almond joy ever!! Classic all American ice cream joint! Waffle cone is enough for two!!

THE best homemade ice cream on Long Island, if not Earth. I've never had any other food there, so can't comment on that. One caveat: I ordered a quart of ice cream to go. It appeared to be full before the lid went on. When I got it home 10 minutes later and dug into it, still frozen, I discovered an empty gap of air in the middle of the container. I was shorted about ¾ cup, by my guess. That's nearly a quarter of what was paid for, simply missing. I didn't take a photo because you can't "see" non-existent ice cream. We had other, smaller containers but I didn't personally open them. My advice: Don't miss this truly amazing ice cream! Just be sure to watch as your order is packed.

A tradition for me and my family for decades. The variety is astounding. Can't comment on the entrée items, but the ice creams and all manner of desserts always hit the spot.

Great ice cream. It's rare when you find coffee Heath bar hard ice cream and they've got it. It's delicious. Plus the super friendly staff and the prices are right.

Wow - phenomenal ice cream with so many choices. Also love the old school vibe. There was a long line out the door and understandably so - totally worth it!

After visiting the beach, this is the best casual place to find something to eat. The most recent time I went was in the late afternoon and there was no line. I ordered a small burger (yes! they do smaller burger sizes in case you don't want to eat too much but still want a burger) with fries and a milkshake. The other friend I was with ordered the 6 piece chicken nuggets. After waiting, we sat outside to eat. The food was fresh and was exactly the quick, tasty, and a little greasy food I was looking for. One of the best attributes of this place is that it has the feel of a stereotypical burger and fries outpost with the informality of a beach town. In my opinion, this place has some of the best milkshakes. In addition to having the classic flavors, they have homemade ice cream that they can use to make any flavor and they always seem to get the ratio of the shake right. What is especially rare for a place in the Hamptons is that this place is extremely reasonably priced. I always look forward to going back here after a long drive to Montauk or after a day on the beach. Just note that the business is cash only.

YES. YES. YES. you need to go here if you're in montauk!!! it's so cute, so old fashioned, AND the workers are so sweet and friendly. the ice cream is incredible i would go back again next time we're here :)

always have to stop great late night classic staple in montauk always friendly and reasonably priced

What a great place! While the term "Drive-in" doesn't really properly portray John's, the food was great and was served with a smile. Note: this place is CASH ONLY, but there is an ATM accessible if needed. Prices were also a little high, but within reason, I expected such prices in Montauk. For 3 scoops of ice cream (2 on cones and one in a cup) we paid $21.00! Great place, just keep pricing in mind, especially considering that only cash is accepted.

Awesome spot for a bite or something sweet. Very retro 50's style diner, people were super nice and attentive. Had the home made ice cream and it was amazing! Will def be back again

Had to try this place in Montauk and wasn't disappointed at all with the Food. We did a Ubber Eats which took forever but the order was still hot and hit the mark. Food: bacon cheeseburger was killer. What put it over the top was the sauce, the thick cut cheddar cheese and the brioche style bun. Not too sugary and the size of the bun fit the patty. Also I was expecting a grease induced burger and that wasn't the case at all. The bacon was crisp. The burger was cooked well and not too fatty. Overall just a really good burger and would eat it again... and again. Wings were good but too salty for my taste. Crispy fried goodness but would probably not order them again and go maybe for the onion rings.

Great ice cream was really yummy. I wasn't expecting chocolate since it says peanut butter but it was really good. On the other hand the worker who gave me the ice cream was rude, nasty attitude.

Classic diner -- would definitely recommend. The fries are fine but everything else is great. The service is not the most helpful or patient but you're not going for the top quality service. Great place to grab a cheap burger after a day at the beach. Clean bathrooms too, always a plus

Ice cream was excellent. There's really no other choice in Montauk, but this place is worth a visit. Line can be long but it moves well. Nice people behind the counter.

What a great place . Nothing beats a food ole burger joint. Super Friendly and food was everything and more ! So delicious I'll be dreaming about this for months . Burgers made fresh to order , fries hot AF and onion rings too. Had a Chocolate Peanutbutter shake that sent me into paradise . Scrumptious from Start to finish !!

Delicious homemade ice cream with many different flavors. When we walked into John's Drive-In, we saw a wall full of their flavors and I asked the server which flavors were the most popular. She said they all are. lol. She let us sample a few flavors and we went with pumpkin and chocolate oreo fudge. The ice cream was very creamy. Can't wait to stop in again the next time I am in Montauk.

Go for the homemade ice cream. It's amazing. I've been a fan of their many flavors since summers in the 80s. The quality has remained consistently good. Any of the Oreo varieties are hearty with more than enough cookie to cream ratio. Things you notice as an adult in the off season - like most good things in Montauk, John's only takes cash. There is an ATM on site however. Also, the John's burger is served on a seeded bun (which I cannot consume sadly). And they don't offer an alternative i.e. a non seeded bun. The guy behind the counter, in an effort to placate me, offered to fulfill my order sans bun to which I replied, "where's the fun in that?" I laughed, he did not. And I left with an order of mediocre clam strips.

Food is great - ice cream is great! But the girls working are just plain Rude! I will never go back there ever again. The guy felt so bad for the attitude they gave my wife- he didn't charge her for her ice cream! In a time when the customer is not always right- it's still 100% wrong for anyone in the Service Industry to talk to or treat a customer in the manner in which the 2 girls that work there did tonight! I wish the owner would be available for that discussion, Bc if I owned it - I would personally work the counter before I had someone treat customers they way they did tonight!

Been going here for over 10 years. The food is great and the staff is super friendly. Love the vibe. Homemade ice cream is good. 100% recommend this place

Overrated, overpriced ice cream. A small, is one scoop in a cup. $5 Homemade flavors nothing special. You get 2 stars because the staff hustle. Long line went fast. But tell the ice cream scoopers to wear gloves. It's a pandemic.

I only get ice cream from and it's pretty good. Service is ok and cash only. They have a load of flavors. They also have burgers ,wings and things for a lil snack.

I love the vibes this place gives off. The guy who took me and my girls order was nice i thought he had a great attitude. I got the Big John Bacon Cheeseburger and i thought it was absolutely dankski1000. Im a big fan of burger patties like this that are thin but also have really good flavor. The bacon was crispy and so was the bun. I love me a toasted bun xD. The seasoned fries were alright nothing special but i did think my girls regular fries were way better. Only downfall of this place is cash only but it wasnt a big deal i just rarely carry cash. Otherwise this place is gasssssss.

Cute little retro fast casual place in downtown montauk. Great for dessert or a quick burger. Tip: cash only but you can order online with your credit card.

The home-made ice cream is excellent, food is good for American fast food. Service was above expectations and it's very affordable by Hamptons standards. We will definitely be back the next time we're in Montauk! Cash only. There is an ATM on the premises.

Pretty bad really, not the cleanest environment, flies, dirty tables etc. Ice cream is average, the fried food is regrettable. I know it's supposed to be nostalgic beach town vibes but you can still do that with some care.

Iconic little diner in Montauk Village. Wish they had non dairy ice cream but the French vanilla was delicious!

This review is just for their ice cream which was amazing. Fresh and creamy. Stopped here on the way home from out east and had an awesome takeout milkshake. They are still open during the pandemic. Enjoy

Never got to try their burgers or ice cream. Lines have been so crazy that we went there at 11:30am for an early lunch today (scheduled open time). At 11:30 we saw a woman (in a nice shiny blue Mercedes Benz) walk in, buy a fountain soda, then leave. So we went in, door was open. The girl behind the counter looks at me and my family and says "we're not open". Maybe she was having a bad day, maybe she was judging, maybe they weren't ready for people yet? Maybe that woman being served was a special customer? I just said, with a smile, "oh ok, thank you, have a nice day". Wasn't sure how to process all of that. Sorry John's. Not cool to pick and choose who you decide to serve during your posted hours. Instead we went up the road to LUNCH, where we waited on a line with a welcoming hostess until the posted opening time at 11:45 with the rest of the patrons.