By Kristine Andrews
At the car hop, that is. This little drive-in is nestled on the corner of 19th street and Uintah cattycorner from King Soopers and adjacent to Rick’s Flowers. This little white building with red and yellow trim is full of nostalgia. The outside has picnic tables if the Colorado weather decides to let us eat in the sunshine. The inside is a cramped area filled with tables for the heavy bustle of the restaurant. While inside dining, one may enjoy the 45’s on the walls and the posters of James Dean. Then after a while start wondering where the juke box is because you’re in the mood for some Elvis.
Cy started this burger joint back in 1953. Cy has since past on, but the burgers are still flying off the grill. They offer different varieties of specialty burgers such as: Guacamole Burger ($3.45, combo $5.25), Chili Burger ($3.65), Swiss Mushroom Burger ($3.60), and a Jalapeno Burger ($3.95) and of course a regular Cheese Burger for $2.85 (combo $4.65). These burgers boast that they are better than any other fast food restaurant’s because they are made from real beef. Cy’s uses what is called Ranch Food Beef, which is advertised as we serve all natural, hormone & antibiotic-free burgers. Along with knowing that the burgers are better for you the meat tastes juicer. Add fresh tomato (you have to ask) and lettuce and viola a burger that second best to a backyard bar-b-que.
Along with these juicy tasty burger combos you’ll get fries and a pickle. The fries are fried in vegetable oil and they offer House Recipe brand ketchup to douse them in. Even the ketchup is better at Cy’s! It has more tomato to sugar ratio than Heinz ketchup.
Hot Dogs ($1.50) are also offered, for those who cannot live without a Dog for lunch or supper. They have Chili Dogs ($2.50), Corn Dogs ($1.50), and Kraut Dogs ($1.75). Or a Pork Tenderloin Sandwich ($3.95), this is a breaded pork fritter served with mayo, lettuce, and tomato. For an old timer’s special they offer Fish & Chips ($4.45) and on Fridays it is served as a combo meal dubbed “The Dean” ($5.95). The breaded redfish fillets come with tartar sauce and are served in a nice little red basket that you do not throw in the trash. This restaurant summarizes how things use to be in “the good old days.”
Also back in time fifty years, every diner had thick shakes. Cy’s is most likely the last place standing to get a nice thick shake or malt. The shakes/malts are made with vanilla soft serve with your choice of chocolate, strawberry, cherry, blueberry, banana, butterscotch, pineapple, raspberry, peanut butter, or marshmallow. Mix and match strawberry and marshmallow for a silky smooth taste. Or try a butterscotch malt for absolute sweetness, go ahead spoil yourself, then run around the block later.
The least expensive frozen treat is the soft served ice cream cone for kiddies for $1.00 to the most expensive at $4.50 for a 32oz. freeze. A freeze is just like a shake but it’s made with soda instead of milk.
Soft drinks, pops, sodas, or even soda pops, depending on what part of the country you’re from, are offered from Coca-Cola fountain drinks choices to Stewart’s bottles beverages. They carry Stewart’s Cream Soda, Key Lime, Orange & Cream, Grape, Diet Orange & Cream, Root Beer, and Diet Root Beer. I recommend the Stewart’s Orange & Cream, this tastes just like a dream sickle. With the tangy refreshment of an orange soda tickling the taste buds and the creamy soft vanilla flavor exuberating into the throat.
The winter hours are 10:30 a.m. to 7p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6:30p.m. on Sunday. It is a walk-in restaurant as well as a car hop restaurant. Orders can be for eat there or to go. To get the car hops attention, just pull into a parking spot and leave the lights on.
Now that your stomach is full and your taste buds are fully satisfied it’s time to start up your car, or walk back to your car thinking of the combinations you’ll come up with for the next visit. As you pull away, you start thinking they had blueberry, maybe I’ll try that next time, yum, blueberry. The very last thing you see before you head out into traffic is the sign that reads, “Lights on for car hop.”
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