Fast-food restaurants are so commonplace nowadays that we often forget their humble roots. Do you remember visiting a drive in when you were a kid? You would pull up into a parking spot and a car hop would come right to the window. Dad would place the family’s order for burgers, fries, and frosty root beer floats, and then you’d enjoy your burger right there in the back seat. Most of those old-fashioned drive ins are long gone, but there’s still one in Greenville, and it will remind you of the good old days.
Local mill worker Joe Fanning built this A&W Drive In with his own two hands back in 1959. Today, it’s the longest-running drive in with car hop service in the state, and you’re going to want to pay it a visit.
Jesse/Google You’ll find the A&W at 460 Putnam Pike, Greenville, RI 02828.
Hop out of your car and walk up to the window to place your order…or simply turn on your lights and a car hop will be right out to take your order.
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In no time at all, your burgers, fries, and root beer will be served right to your car window on a special tray.
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The tray attaches right to the top of your rolled-down window, so you can dine 1950s-style.
A&W Root Beer 460 putnam pike smithfield ri/Facebook
You’ll enjoy all your A&W favorites here, and it’s all fresh and delicious.
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Nothing beats an A&W burger - except maybe a double burger.
A&W/Facebook
It goes without saying that you’ll definitely want a tall, frosty glass of that A&W root beer. It’s made in small batches right at the restaurant, and more than 40,000 gallons of this sweet nectar has used for root beer floats here since 1995.
Marek C/Google
If you’d rather sit at a table to dine, enjoy your burger, onion rings and root beer float on the covered patio.
nevin Stevens/Google
Don’t miss the Tuesday Cruise. A long-running tradition, it’s hosted by local radio personality Cruisin Bruce Palmer, and it draws as many as 100 classic cars and so many car enthusiasts that sometimes the local police has to be called in to direct traffic. .
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The Greenville A&W opens for the season every year on the second weekend in March. Visit from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with extended hours to 11 p.m. during the summer months.
Alexander Allen/Google
Visit Smithfield A&W’s website for more information, and tag the friends you want to join you at this retro drive in.
Jesse/Google
You’ll find the A&W at 460 Putnam Pike, Greenville, RI 02828.
Matthew Lucchetti/Google
Will Yungk/Google
A&W Root Beer 460 putnam pike smithfield ri/Facebook
A&W/Facebook
Marek C/Google
nevin Stevens/Google
Chris Carrington/Google
Alexander Allen/Google
If you’re looking for more tasty burgers and shakes, you’ll want to visit this restaurant that makes milkshakes that are almost too wonderful to be real.
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