I notice a lot of people complaining about the wait time. I don't think they realize that every burger is hand pressed and cooked to order! I thoroughly enjoyed my visit, the staff was friendly and as quick as they could be. That burger may well have been the best burger I've ever had! And you could tell that it's a vintage, family owned drive in, how cute! You're doing just fine, Charcoal Burger. Just fine. :)
(5)
Jason J.
This would have been 5 stars if it weren't for the 30 minute wait to get our food. I absolutely loved the burger and fries here. Everything was cooked exactly how I like with a nice charcoal taste to it. I haven't been to a classic drive in since I was a kid so this definitely took me back. A nice walk up window and a huge covered area with picnic tables to eat at. I have no idea what was going on in the car line, but I didn't see it move for at least 30 minutes. Then once the car in front left the rest of them went right thru. I can definitely see why you'd wait tho!
(4)
Theresa B.
have heard nothing but good things about this place for years. Finally had the time to stop while driving through to check it out. not worth it, keep driving. After waiting in line 20 minutes behind just 2 people, we finally ordered 2 burgers, 2 fries, 2 malts & an ice cream cone. It came to a bit over $27. it took 45 mins before we got the food- and NO FRIES!!! we questioned it & were told we didn't order any, even though he repeated it back to us, sure enough it wasn't on our receipt, so $27 didn't even include fries. The kid asked if we wanted to place another order for fries & my husband said no he didn't want to wait another 45 mins. We took our food & sat down at the outdoor seating area, which apparently hadn't been wiped down for awhile- it was food covered & sticky. Took a drink of my malt and it was sloshy & warm, obviously made right away & left sitting on the counter while our food cooked. The hamburgers were ok, nothing special- definitely not $27 good. The teenage boys working were rude, incompetent & didn't pay attention to anyone's orders. There were 3 other wrong orders in the hour and a half that we were there and lots of people complaining about the wait. You shouldn't have to wait 45 mins for a hamburger anywhere, let alone warm shakes & with bad service. Can say I will keep driving by next time- right to Burger King or Dairy Queen!
(1)
Collina W.
Best burger joint on the Western Slope...and that's no lie. Your order is prepared fresh so there's a bit of a wait, but it's well worth it. The burgers are juicy and cooked just right. You have your choice of beef, turkey or elk with your choice of condiments and cheese. The onion rings are crispy and fried to perfection. There are lots of other choices on the menu, though - something for everyone.
(5)
Eric N.
YUMMY!! #1- Tasty burgers. Onion rings a bit on'N the greasy side. The burgers made up for this minor shortcoming. #2- Love that it's off the 'beaten path' and not stuck in the middle of the tourist dstrict. #3-Really enjoyed the 50's Diner motif. One of the burgers I've had in a long time. Fresh and tasty. 3 thumbs up!
(5)
Michelle B.
This place is a little gem! We even went back out of our way because we liked it so much! Burgers are awesome and they customize it for you the way you like. After a long day of kayaking, I got a chili cheese burger and added onions and pickles, it reminded me of tommy's (but better)! My sister got a bacon cheese burger (also delish)! Service is great and everyone there is local and chill. We came back and the girl who worked their wrote a "Nice to see you again" on our burger wrapper! I thought that was a really awesome gesture! Will definately be back when we are in Colorado! Thanks to the awesome staff for a yummy time!
(5)
Josh S.
The staff is absolutely terrible! The food average at best! Dirty, dirty, dirty! They gave us the wrong order and when I went to return it and get the right order the woman working completely ignored me and finally demanded a receipt as proof of purchase - it had been like a minute since we pulled through, REALLY A RECEIPT! I'm giving you the wrong order back!!! She ended up giving me whatever was available in the end a burnt burger! This place is a joke steer clear you've been warned!
(1)
Chris F.
I was driving thru town, wanted a burger & fry and wanted to see what this place is about. I have been here 2 times and regret to say that there is absolutely nothing special about this place except the drive thru facade. The burgers are frozen patties put on a flat grill and the fries are just as mediocre.
(2)
Allison S.
Mom n Pop stop! The ordering is awkward at first but I like it. You will wait for awhile but it's worth it! Tons of options and ice cream/shake options are great too. Friendly and great prices. Next time I'm in Glenwood I will for sure stop in!!!
(4)
Daniel R.
It's a neat looking burger joint (old school style) in the middle of the rocky mountains. Their vanilla milkshake was pretty good too. The rating is high for its aesthetics, not so much the food.
(4)
Donna M.
I stopped here hoping that my burger would really taste like it had been grilled on charcoal. It does! My burger tastes like the kind I make at home. I ordered a single with mayo, mustard, ketchup, pickle, tomato and bacon, no cheese, and a small order of fries. The fries have ridges and are fantastic. Perfectly cooked and salted. They also have shakes and malts. Now I'm sorry I didn't try one.
(5)
Abraham L.
I would have to agree with Paul on this one. I'll add that not only did we wait over a half an hour for a few shakes I ordered a cup of just plain ice cream. The kid that just handled money with out washing his hands made a cone for me. When I mentioned that it was wrong and I prefer he wash his hands prior to handling food he put the cone in a cup and said here you go. When I asked for a manager no one was available. Rude and no customer service in the horizon. If you're looking for a decent burger joint check out the GRIND.
(1)
Paul C.
I hate giving bad reviews, even when well deserved, but after waiting for 45 minutes to get shakes and the employees not knowing how to count their own ticket numbers in order (someone who showed up 20 minutes after us got their shakes before our group, and another right behind us got their before as well), I would not recommend anyone go here ever. 25 minutes in, they told me the ice cream machine was making "soggy" ice cream. Yes, they used that word. I can get a steak quicker! I would give it a zero star, but that is not an option on Yelp. Save your time and money and go elsewhere, anywhere else!
(1)
Hannah W.
This is a drive-in burger place in Glenwood Springs... If you don't have huge expectations - it's is a OK place to dine at. It's pretty cheap, my sister and I both got a burger and it was huge. Seems like there were some new staff so ordering/getting the food was a bit slow. The burger is kind of soaked in sauce, good thing if you like the flavor. I personally would ask them to put less sauce on it if I ever return.
(3)
Allen C.
SUCH POTENTIAL!!!! This place food is ok. Problem is you will wait, wait, wait and then wait. Food is good but not worth 30-45min. Just a bunch of kids who don't care much, real management stepped in it would be a goldmine
(3)
Ron U.
This is the second time I've visited this place. First time was over 30 mins in the drive thru, second time was about 20. I realize it's cook to order, but I'm writing this review after the second chance I gave them. The most over-priced and underwhelming 'drive-in' I've ever visited. Their Charcoal Cheesesteak was $8, and they serve it on a bun!! The staff could care less about expediency, seemingly they were all barely legal to work, and one person spoke English. Money better spent elsewhere.
(2)
Balie Z.
my burger was juicy as shit couldn't help but spill some of that shit on my lap. onion rings: 10. Zach K. your wet dog comment is just unnecessary right now, go take a lap. ps - bubble gum swirl cone tastes like strawberry, I'd recommend the black cherry. have a good one, yelpers.
(5)
David R.
I used to eat here in the late 70s when we lived in the area. We made special trips to Glenwood Springs to go here and to the drive-in theater that used to be nearby. I was driving through Glenwood Springs and decided to stop here. The burger and onion rings were great. We stopped at lunch rush hour on a Tuesday and they were still reasonbly fast at getting the food to us.
(4)
Andrew D.
This place is a throwback to the old days of drive-ups and the food is okay. You can order many different burger sizes and customize all the toppings you want. You can walk up or sit in your car to order. Average burgers, good onion rings, and good malts. It's not fine dining but they don't pretend to be, burgers is what they do best and that's what you should go here for!
(1)
Adam K.
Very good, HUGE burgers. They certainly take their time making them though. We waited a while for our food but it was great. We both had a milkshake and it was tasty as well. I would go back again. Prices were very reasonable too.
(4)
Tim B.
Go climb hanging lake and then stop here to refuel. The patty melt is the bomb, ask for a triple.
(4)
Becca P.
Silly me going to a burger joint on a diet! The boys all seemed happy enough with their burgers and fries, but not blown away. I was pleasantly surprised they knew what a lettuce wrapped burger was, but then I made the mistake of ordering a garden salad. Lettuce, onion, tomato and.... pickles? And no dressing..lol. Guess they don't sell many salads! Chili was also just so so. Didn't get ice cream so can't comment on that, but over all, I thought this place over priced for the quality. There are better places to eat in Glenwood.
(3)
Mary M.
We stopped here on a Sunday night at about 4:15 and waited only about 10 minutes. The burgers are large and fresh. The French fries are the crinkle cut type and are cooked until crispy. The drive thru window is a little slower than other fast food places but the food is so much better that it's worth the wait. They also have thick shakes and soft serve ice cream.
(4)
Steve N Rebecca S.
Last time I ate here was almost 4-5 years ago and it was the best burger ever. Went through town and remembered how awesome the last burger was and stopped. What a huge disappointment! The burger was cooked so well done, it had no flavor at all! Threw most of it away. Ordered a vanilla shake and that didn't even have any flavor! Now I know why they haven't been voted best burger since 2010!
(1)
Julie K.
I don't usually leave reviews, but this little gem deserves it. Great chargrilled burgers, fried mushrooms and onion rings! The shakes are wonderful. Don't be in a hurry when you go though. It's VERY popular for it's small size, but COMPLETELY worth the wait.
(5)
Gabriel C.
Ordered a #1 with blue cheese, cheese sticks, and an oreo shake that were amazing. The batter of the cheese sticks was almost sweet and had a ton of flavor. One of the creamiest shakes I've had which was a + because I don't like thick shakes that won't go through a straw. I would eat here again and try the elk or buffalo burger patty.
(4)
Emily S.
We liked it, but wish they gave more fries!
(3)
Sara G.
Vicco's has been around a long time, and I know why - the burgers, fries, onion rings, shakes and probably everything is awesome! Everyone was super happy with their food, and their green chili cheese fries made my smile for days. I liked eating outside and the old drive-in atmosphere.
(3)
Brig A.
I am surprised that the reviews of this place were this high. The burgers tasted ironically like charcoal. We ordered and expected the food to come in about five minutes, but it turned out to take nearly 1/2 an hour. This is a drive up place. I felt really bad for the people in the drive thru window. Unfortunately for me I ordered the triple burger and brought friends since it was highly rated on yelp. Well, three burgers just meant that I got to eat that much more burnt meat. The shake was pretty good, which raised them from one star to two stars.
(2)
Troy M.
I was expecting more when we waited 25 minutes in the drive up line and we were the second car. Staff had no sense of urgency. Playing around with each other instead of focusing on getting a good meal delivered fast. Probably won't come back...
(1)
Amy D.
Some friends and I were headed to Grand Junction and stopped by Vicco's on our way. We weren't interested in the other fast food options and weren't in the mood for a real "sit down" experience. This place seemed like a happy medium. The service was a little slow and the prices a little high (over $38 for three burgers, a large fry, small onion rings and three drinks), but everything was still really tasty. The onion rings rocked and the fries were all right - the burgers were HUGE with a variety of toppings. I'd recommend this place if you're passing through and find yourself hungry. Probably not something to go out of your way for, but worth it if you're in the area.
(3)
Velma T.
Great burger made with fresh ground beef. Very REAL. You can get a good burger lots of places, even at a huge chain, but often it's the "secret sauce" etc. that makes it delicious. At Charcoalburger the meat is what makes their burgers great, and isn't that the point? I also ordered chili cheese fries. They are made with good chili and real cheese but this is an ENORMOUS portion, do NOT order these as a side unless you plan to share them. However, they serve crinkle cut fries, fun to look at but disappointing to eat - maybe just skip the fries, the burgers are pretty big anyway. Or get a double, or order a milkshake. Or resign yourself to frozen fries, whatever. Charcoalburger will prepare your food ahead if you call them, and if you do, park and go to the walk-up window to get it, because that car in front of you will probably be waiting a while. The wait here is no joke. p.s. "smoke sauce" = bbq sauce.
(4)
Heather V.
I've been here once, and was convinced to never give it a second chance. My friend and I, and two of her kids went here one night. $40 to feed four people, two of them kids, at a fast food establishment is a little expensive to me. It took FOREVER to get our food. Now I know why...when we got home, we found that every single thing that we ordered was BURNT. It was disgusting. Our $40 in food went directly in the garbage can. Don't bother complaining, they give you a run around about calling here and calling there, and you never get anywhere.
(1)
John M.
We were passing through and my wife begged me to take her here for a burger and malt. Need I say more?
(5)
Jack H.
From the Bow Tie King comes this dy-no-mite drive in. Now this is change we can believe in. Voted 'Best In America' by critics, can see why. I'm happier than a chef with a new knife. Make this a visit on your way to Little Nell's or The St. Regis, as one can't groceries this good there.
(5)
heather t.
Who knew I would find one of my favorite burger places ever in Glenwood? I was up here for an event and looking for a quick place to get lunch. I thought Yelp would be dead in this small town, but it did not let me down with Charcoalburger Drive-In. This is a drive-thru or order at the window type of place. Burgers are made to order and can be made in stacks from single to triple (and up, I would imagine). Beef, Buffalo and Elk are all available. I hear the Elk is fabulous, but since I was feeding a family of 4 and was trying to stay money-conscious, we all went with beef. Fantastic! I had mine with cheese, mayo, lettuce, tomato and smoke house sauce (a smokey bbq spread). Other upgrades were available like bacon, blue cheese, green chile and the like. Just delicious through and through! Onion rings were also pretty good. I almost stopped here a second time before leaving town, but figured I'd wait for another trip. Next time I'll be sure to try one of the milkshakes all you other yelpers were raving about.
(4)
Marianne V.
Locals say Jimmy Buffet wrote "Cheeseburger in Paradise" after he visited from his nearby home in Aspen. The burgers and fries are as good as "In and Out Burger," and the scenery is just a bonus. For the adveturous, try Buffalo burgers.
(5)
Troy W.
I now live in Southern California, but grew-up in Carbondale. 35 years ago, it was a treat for my parents to take my brother Shawn and I to the drive-in movies out in Glenwood. We would always stop at Charcoal Burger and load up on food just before pulling into the drive-in. Recently, I got to take my own kids to Colorado to show them where I spent my childhood. Many things had changed ...the drive-in movie theater was gone, but to my surprise the Charcoal Burger was still standing! My burger had the same amazing charcoal taste as it did 35 years ago. I loved it and so did my kids. This place has stood the test of time! It was beyond cool to share this place with my family.
(5)
Ana M.
Stopped here on a whim while driving down I70. Got a plain burger with Smoke Sauce, fries and a chocolate shake. Everything hit the spot. The burger was excellent, really juicy and despite not being topped with a ton of ingredients, it was super flavorful. The fries were nice and crispy and the shake was nice and thick. I would totally recommend this place to anyone road tripping in the area. Skip the regular fast food. This is an adorable place to stop in for a quick bite.
(5)
Ramon G.
Easy review. Delicious burgers and shakes. Sooo hard to choose. Beef, Buffalo or Elk burgers. Single or double.... It's all good. Wash it down with a shake and share an order of onion rings. Thick Juicy burgers right off of I-70. Before I make my way back to Denver this is a must stop. Drive-thru or sit down. Prices are a little high but worth it.
(4)
Britany W.
I absolutely love this place... as long as it's cold outside. I understand it's a drive in kind of deal, however I will not eat here if it's warm enough for bugs. Not the kind of toppings I'm looking for on a burger and the flies swarm the place in the summer.
(3)
Julia B.
The place is super cool looking modern dive drive in burger joint. The burgers were good. Def. Chargrilled. Crispy and dark with fresh veggies on top. Everyone liked their burgers a lot. I would say they are way better than a typical fast food place but right on perfect for a place like this. The service is pretty slow. I think they only have a couple people in there. The fries were yummy crispy and warm but crinkle cut fried so a little odd and mushy inside. I liked the fries but it seems they should be not krinkle. Fresh cut would be perrrfect. A fun excursion for the FAM after a day at the hot springs.
(3)
Phoebe T.
The wait is a little long, sure, but that's what makes this a drive thru restaurant and not a fast food joint. The burgers are wonderful, not a single complaint. The fries are crispy and not overly salted, and I actually like the crinkle cut a lot. The customer service wasn't remarkable, but it didn't bring down the overall experience. I would highly recommend this place!
(5)
B M.
The food was average, the wait long, and service terrible. We had to tell the person taking our order, a couple of times that we wanted milkshakes. They gave us sodas the first time, then forgot the milkshakes the second time we reminded them. It was also very expensive for a burger joint.
(2)
Sam S.
It is true that the wait here is a bit long, but it is totally worth it. The burgers are cooked to order and all the sides (onion rings, cheese curds, fries) are piping hot when you get your order. I have stopped in here on several occasions and have never been disappointed.
(4)
Mariah E.
We love this place, it's our Saturday night date dinner! Only problem for me is that it takes SSSSOOOO long to get food! It's all teenagers working here, and I bet the burgers arent even all that good, but we love it! Take a chance, you might be there on a really good day...or.....maybe not!!! If you are a stickler for high quality food, it would probably be best to go elsewhere!!
(3)
Zach K.
The food was soooo bad...the grill was dirty or tasted like the burger was rolled on a wet dog.. the fries and onion rings were cooked in old oil and for too long...the bright spot was the cheap ice cream shakes...hope you have a toilet.
(1)
Jessica J.
Every single place we ate at in Glenwood has a long wait, but this is one place I actually think it was worth the wait! Charcoalburger sits off highway 6. You can actually see it from 70W. It is your basic old time drive through/walk up window burger joint. The menu is pretty basic and has all the usual suspects (burgers, fries, onion rings, soft serve). We did the walk up window and sat on picnic tables in front. It took a good 20 minutes or more to get the order and while we sat, their drive through backed up to the street. Burgers have that great charred taste. Onion rings are big and taste fresh. The french fries are a little plain and crinkle cut. All in all I loved it. It had a throw back feel and the food was great. If you can handle a wait, I would say it is a must stop in Glenwood!
(4)
Sharon T.
I don't even know where to begin with this one. Well, we were vacationing in Glenwood and got in later in the evening. Found this cute little place and I was stoked (I love a good burger and fries). As we waited for the young men to cook our food it occurred to me that I was watching my frozen solid bison burger patty get fried on a flat grill, at a "charcoal" restaurant. We took our food back to our room and the disappointment did not end with the lack of charcoal cooking. My husband ordered the elk burger, which I was against to begin with because I knew there was no way possible it was even remotely fresh (we were definitely not in season to have fresh elk). Just, ew. You could taste the freezer burn and that was all you could taste, no salt, no pepper, no elk - for the natural flavor had been leeched out from being frozen for so long. The tomatoes had no flavor either, adding to our unexpected disappointment of what looked like a promising dinner as it has been around for many years. The fries were decent, then again, it's a freakin fried potato, if you can screw that up you need to quit while you're ahead. The shakes were not bad either, but again, this is ice cream that you mix up with a shake machine. I would love for the owners to take responsibility for their ineptness a running a restaurant that is a historic site, make it worth it! Even better, bring in someone who can point out these VERY obvious flaws and fix it! Until then, I suggest people pay a lot less money and eat at Burger King (yeah it was THAT bad). Or, if you have the time and want a mean burger from an authentic 50's style establishment, pop on down to Milts in Moab, UT. They have AMAZING burgers and still use their original cash register!!
(1)
Tres B.
EXCELLENT burgers from an old mom and popper. with, hand formed ptties and fire grilled. Juicy, smoky, scary good. The wait, however is SOOOOOOOO LOOOOOOONG. One reason is one lame speaker right near the window. If they' d put anoher further back they would cut the rediculous wait times in half. Still and all its truly is worth the wait. Charbroiled burger, I love thee.
(4)
Devin S.
Hello fellow Yelpers. We're passing thru West Glenwood and checked out your reviews of this place. Our order is in, 2 burgers, large fries and drinks, for only $20.80! We'll see how it tastes.
(3)
Shaw S.
Very tasty burgers. Made to order fresh. Good ole timey drive in style hangout. Will definitely come back.
(5)
Nick Z.
I want to give Charcoalburger a good review, but the service was awful. There were only two cars in line when we drove up, and it still took over 25 minutes to get our food. Ordered a buffalo cheese burger, fries and a malt, and the total came to $17. Overpriced for what I expect from a drive in. Burger and malt was good and the fries were soggy. We sat at the window for about 10 minutes, watching the group of high school guys try and get an order ready, only to see them fumble around and "forget" that the malt machine was on until it was spilling all over the floor. Hilarious for me to watch, but still frustrating as we were trying to get out on the road. Overall, next time I'm in Glenwood Springs I'll be looking for a different burger place.
(2)
Bill O.
My wife's fav burger joint in CO, so we HAD to stop in and check it out. Man, talk about a blast back into the '50's mindset. Drive through or walk-up only. The menu consists of "single, double, triple", and allows adding cheese, bacon, and other misc "stuff". FOOLISHLY, I ordered a double cheeseburger w/bacon, while the wife and pops had a single. We ordered a large bag o'fries, with (sigh) diet cokes (apparently, pepsi didn't exist in the '50's in this part of the world, judging from the MASSIVE coke signage). The burgers, were, in a word, excellent. And, in another word(s), FRIGGING HUUUUUUUUGE! My double coulda fed a family of eight. I literally ate about 1/3 of it, and, as excellent as it was, had to leave the rest. Just tooooo much excellence. The large bag o'fries? REALLY large. Think safeway shopping bag. We left at least half of those. So truly, an excellent burger joint. And truly, think small. REALLY small. Otherwise, you're gonna waste a lot of food.
(4)
K.K. L.
Several locals recommended this place for burgers. We were looking forward to a great burger. Instead we had some of the worst burgers we've ever had. My beef burger was extremely dry and burnt! My friend had an elk burger that was the same. The fries were average. All of this after a 20 minute wait! Not fresh. Not fast. And extremely overpriced ($18 for two burgers, one small fry and no drinks).
(1)
Thomas A.
Food is awesome, huge downside though is that i'm pretty sure they slaughter and butcher the cows on-site. 25 minutes from order to food...IN THE DRIVE THROUGH!!!
(3)
Amy K.
Great drive-in style burgers, fries, and rings.
(4)
Megan L.
eh. that's allll i have to say. i was disappointed. my best friend told me to go here when i told her my family and i were going to glenwood springs. she raved about their onion rings and fries. well, i am hoping they were out of their "amazing" fries because what we got after the ridiculous wait were crinkle cut, stale, saltless fries. my brother got an elk burger, so did my dad and mom. they said they were pretty great. i got chicken strips which were mcdonalds esque. i mean they werent horrid, but not great. if i'm back in the area again, i wont be going back unless its for a shake, which i didnt get the chance to try.
(2)
Fallon V.
I have been eating here ever since I can remember. Charcoalburger truly is a rare gem. Even though it's seen a few owners, it stays the same. If you drive by and see a line, keep in mind that it isn't going to go as fast as McD's or some other chain. Everything is made when you order it so it takes a minute. That's okay because when you get it, it is piping hot and oh so delicious! Make sure you get a malt (or a shake if that's your preference), they have lots o' flavors including black cherry and pineapple which are my personal faves. Have fun in your mini time warp back to how fast food was meant to be!
(5)
Bill Y.
I think the mixed reviews indicate spotty service. We called in an order for a kids burger, double #4 and small fries and cheese curds. The kids burger was cooked nicely but both patties on the double were overcooked. They had great flavor but I hate a well done burger. The fries and curds were good and I was amazed at the size of the small fries. I'd definitely eat here again but I wouldn't go out of my way to do so.
(3)
Matt L.
It's just what road food should be. You can drive right up, order a delicious burger, fries and shake and eat it right there in your car. And none of it tastes like chain-food. The elk burger here is one of the best burgers I've had. Pineapple shake was awesome. Great view, too.
(5)
Shawn R.
best elk burger ive had but to be fair i havent had alot of them because its rarely an option....they also have buffalo....you get a thick piece of meat but the rest of the burger is pretty standard....they are a little slow but its worth it....3.5 stars
(3)
Daniel d.
This is a must do! There is something real good about this dive.
(5)
John M.
Was in glenwood springs on vacation. We ate here twice. The first time we had milkshakes and malts which were both really good. The next day we came for hamburgers. The hamburgers were great. One of my party members even got a buffalo burger that was pretty good. Would definately eat here again the next time I'm in town.
(5)
Callie M.
Wait is WAY too long for what you get. The burgers are good, but not spectacular, and I wish the people taking the orders could speak English a bit better. Having said that, I go here when I'm in town and want a takeout lunch. Love the old retro feel.
(3)
Rod S.
Inexpensive but solid drive in food. Family of four and the bill was about 30 bucks. We had time to spare until we went whitewater rafting so tried it out. I had the chili burger which was very filling and messy, which was a good thing. No complaints at all except the interstate traffic noise but that isn't a big deal.
(3)
Josh B.
I walked over to Charcoalburger Drive In from my hotel after not eating all day, and I proceeded to order a double elk burger, large fries and a chocolate shake. Service is SLOW, but I lucked out by getting there just before the crowd. Then the bill arrived; $18.95? OUCH. How do the locals eat here? My elk burger was very very well done, on the verge of being dried out. The fries were barely cooked and the chocolate shake was excellent. All in all, my meal was slightly better than average. I wouldn't go back, even if I found myself in Glenwood Springs again. You're paying NYC prices for mediocre food. The place was also a pig sty. I spent more time chasing flies and bees away from my food than eating. Not an appetizing environment, to say the least.
(2)
Bo H.
It's a really decent burger/fries joint. Lots of stuff on the menu. And the locals seem to love it. I was here on a Wed and there was a wait. So, don't be in a hurry. Everything is cooked to order- I waited in the drive thru for 10 min before placing an order, then another 10 waiting for food. If it was quicker, I'd give 'em more stars.
(3)
Patrick A.
Cool burger stop. Says its been here since 1953. I love spots that have stayed in business that long. I went with the #5 with double meet you can choose turkey, beef, buffalo or Elk. The burger was huge! The onion rings were delicious and the milk shake was good definetly worth a stop.
(4)
Hailey G.
I would return I loved the burger it hit the spot and fries simple but delicious. I wouldn't get a large again tho!
(4)
Peter T.
People seem to be love or hate on this joint, but I am just a solid 'good'. This is how it broke down for my family of six. $37.50 for cost. Three single burgers (one traditional, one mushroom/swiss, and one with ketchup, mustard and pickles), one hot dog, large order of fries, large order of rings, two small shakes and a large coke. We like to share when we go out as a family because most restaurants serve huge portions. Charcoal is definitely generous. Service was good. Nothing special, just friendly and quick. We only had to wait 15 minutes for freshly cooked food. I never eat fast food...ever. Shakes were top notch and I highly recommend. Burgers were cooked medium, 'hot dog' was actually unique and cut into thirds and served on a hamburger bun. I could see us going again when back in GS, but won't be raving or anything to my friends.
(3)
Chelsea A.
A-MAZ-ING. This stand has literally been around since the 50's (if the old school truck and caddy didn't tip you off in the front), and there just as good as what they were back in the day. (Not that I was alive to know what they were like back in the day, but you get the idea.) They do spectacular burgers and hot dogs. Not a New Yorker style dog, not a broiled kosher dog, but a straight off the grill makes you want to have BBQ dog. So good, so so good.
(5)
Chelsea A.
A-MAZ-ING. This stand has literally been around since the 50's (if the old school truck and caddy didn't tip you off in the front), and there just as good as what they were back in the day. (Not that I was alive to know what they were like back in the day, but you get the idea.) They do spectacular burgers and hot dogs. Not a New Yorker style dog, not a broiled kosher dog, but a straight off the grill makes you want to have BBQ dog. So good, so so good.
(5)
heather t.
Who knew I would find one of my favorite burger places ever in Glenwood? I was up here for an event and looking for a quick place to get lunch. I thought Yelp would be dead in this small town, but it did not let me down with Charcoalburger Drive-In. This is a drive-thru or order at the window type of place. Burgers are made to order and can be made in stacks from single to triple (and up, I would imagine). Beef, Buffalo and Elk are all available. I hear the Elk is fabulous, but since I was feeding a family of 4 and was trying to stay money-conscious, we all went with beef. Fantastic! I had mine with cheese, mayo, lettuce, tomato and smoke house sauce (a smokey bbq spread). Other upgrades were available like bacon, blue cheese, green chile and the like. Just delicious through and through! Onion rings were also pretty good. I almost stopped here a second time before leaving town, but figured I'd wait for another trip. Next time I'll be sure to try one of the milkshakes all you other yelpers were raving about.
(4)
Marianne V.
Locals say Jimmy Buffet wrote "Cheeseburger in Paradise" after he visited from his nearby home in Aspen. The burgers and fries are as good as "In and Out Burger," and the scenery is just a bonus. For the adveturous, try Buffalo burgers.
(5)
Paul C.
I hate giving bad reviews, even when well deserved, but after waiting for 45 minutes to get shakes and the employees not knowing how to count their own ticket numbers in order (someone who showed up 20 minutes after us got their shakes before our group, and another right behind us got their before as well), I would not recommend anyone go here ever. 25 minutes in, they told me the ice cream machine was making "soggy" ice cream. Yes, they used that word. I can get a steak quicker! I would give it a zero star, but that is not an option on Yelp. Save your time and money and go elsewhere, anywhere else!
(1)
Hannah W.
This is a drive-in burger place in Glenwood Springs... If you don't have huge expectations - it's is a OK place to dine at. It's pretty cheap, my sister and I both got a burger and it was huge. Seems like there were some new staff so ordering/getting the food was a bit slow. The burger is kind of soaked in sauce, good thing if you like the flavor. I personally would ask them to put less sauce on it if I ever return.
(3)
Allen C.
SUCH POTENTIAL!!!! This place food is ok. Problem is you will wait, wait, wait and then wait. Food is good but not worth 30-45min. Just a bunch of kids who don't care much, real management stepped in it would be a goldmine
(3)
Ron U.
This is the second time I've visited this place. First time was over 30 mins in the drive thru, second time was about 20. I realize it's cook to order, but I'm writing this review after the second chance I gave them. The most over-priced and underwhelming 'drive-in' I've ever visited. Their Charcoal Cheesesteak was $8, and they serve it on a bun!! The staff could care less about expediency, seemingly they were all barely legal to work, and one person spoke English. Money better spent elsewhere.
(2)
Balie Z.
my burger was juicy as shit couldn't help but spill some of that shit on my lap. onion rings: 10. Zach K. your wet dog comment is just unnecessary right now, go take a lap. ps - bubble gum swirl cone tastes like strawberry, I'd recommend the black cherry. have a good one, yelpers.
(5)
Tim B.
Go climb hanging lake and then stop here to refuel. The patty melt is the bomb, ask for a triple.
(4)
Becca P.
Silly me going to a burger joint on a diet! The boys all seemed happy enough with their burgers and fries, but not blown away. I was pleasantly surprised they knew what a lettuce wrapped burger was, but then I made the mistake of ordering a garden salad. Lettuce, onion, tomato and.... pickles? And no dressing..lol. Guess they don't sell many salads! Chili was also just so so. Didn't get ice cream so can't comment on that, but over all, I thought this place over priced for the quality. There are better places to eat in Glenwood.
(3)
Donna M.
I stopped here hoping that my burger would really taste like it had been grilled on charcoal. It does! My burger tastes like the kind I make at home. I ordered a single with mayo, mustard, ketchup, pickle, tomato and bacon, no cheese, and a small order of fries. The fries have ridges and are fantastic. Perfectly cooked and salted. They also have shakes and malts. Now I'm sorry I didn't try one.
(5)
Abraham L.
I would have to agree with Paul on this one. I'll add that not only did we wait over a half an hour for a few shakes I ordered a cup of just plain ice cream. The kid that just handled money with out washing his hands made a cone for me. When I mentioned that it was wrong and I prefer he wash his hands prior to handling food he put the cone in a cup and said here you go. When I asked for a manager no one was available. Rude and no customer service in the horizon. If you're looking for a decent burger joint check out the GRIND.
(1)
Mary M.
We stopped here on a Sunday night at about 4:15 and waited only about 10 minutes. The burgers are large and fresh. The French fries are the crinkle cut type and are cooked until crispy. The drive thru window is a little slower than other fast food places but the food is so much better that it's worth the wait. They also have thick shakes and soft serve ice cream.
(4)
Julie K.
I don't usually leave reviews, but this little gem deserves it. Great chargrilled burgers, fried mushrooms and onion rings! The shakes are wonderful. Don't be in a hurry when you go though. It's VERY popular for it's small size, but COMPLETELY worth the wait.
(5)
Steve N Rebecca S.
Last time I ate here was almost 4-5 years ago and it was the best burger ever. Went through town and remembered how awesome the last burger was and stopped. What a huge disappointment! The burger was cooked so well done, it had no flavor at all! Threw most of it away. Ordered a vanilla shake and that didn't even have any flavor! Now I know why they haven't been voted best burger since 2010!
(1)
Collina W.
Best burger joint on the Western Slope...and that's no lie. Your order is prepared fresh so there's a bit of a wait, but it's well worth it. The burgers are juicy and cooked just right. You have your choice of beef, turkey or elk with your choice of condiments and cheese. The onion rings are crispy and fried to perfection. There are lots of other choices on the menu, though - something for everyone.
(5)
Eric N.
YUMMY!! #1- Tasty burgers. Onion rings a bit on'N the greasy side. The burgers made up for this minor shortcoming. #2- Love that it's off the 'beaten path' and not stuck in the middle of the tourist dstrict. #3-Really enjoyed the 50's Diner motif. One of the burgers I've had in a long time. Fresh and tasty. 3 thumbs up!
(5)
B M.
The food was average, the wait long, and service terrible. We had to tell the person taking our order, a couple of times that we wanted milkshakes. They gave us sodas the first time, then forgot the milkshakes the second time we reminded them. It was also very expensive for a burger joint.
(2)
Julia B.
The place is super cool looking modern dive drive in burger joint. The burgers were good. Def. Chargrilled. Crispy and dark with fresh veggies on top. Everyone liked their burgers a lot. I would say they are way better than a typical fast food place but right on perfect for a place like this. The service is pretty slow. I think they only have a couple people in there. The fries were yummy crispy and warm but crinkle cut fried so a little odd and mushy inside. I liked the fries but it seems they should be not krinkle. Fresh cut would be perrrfect. A fun excursion for the FAM after a day at the hot springs.
(3)
Phoebe T.
The wait is a little long, sure, but that's what makes this a drive thru restaurant and not a fast food joint. The burgers are wonderful, not a single complaint. The fries are crispy and not overly salted, and I actually like the crinkle cut a lot. The customer service wasn't remarkable, but it didn't bring down the overall experience. I would highly recommend this place!
(5)
Kayda H.
I notice a lot of people complaining about the wait time. I don't think they realize that every burger is hand pressed and cooked to order! I thoroughly enjoyed my visit, the staff was friendly and as quick as they could be. That burger may well have been the best burger I've ever had! And you could tell that it's a vintage, family owned drive in, how cute! You're doing just fine, Charcoal Burger. Just fine. :)
(5)
Sam S.
It is true that the wait here is a bit long, but it is totally worth it. The burgers are cooked to order and all the sides (onion rings, cheese curds, fries) are piping hot when you get your order. I have stopped in here on several occasions and have never been disappointed.
(4)
Mariah E.
We love this place, it's our Saturday night date dinner! Only problem for me is that it takes SSSSOOOO long to get food! It's all teenagers working here, and I bet the burgers arent even all that good, but we love it! Take a chance, you might be there on a really good day...or.....maybe not!!! If you are a stickler for high quality food, it would probably be best to go elsewhere!!
(3)
Zach K.
The food was soooo bad...the grill was dirty or tasted like the burger was rolled on a wet dog.. the fries and onion rings were cooked in old oil and for too long...the bright spot was the cheap ice cream shakes...hope you have a toilet.
(1)
Jessica J.
Every single place we ate at in Glenwood has a long wait, but this is one place I actually think it was worth the wait! Charcoalburger sits off highway 6. You can actually see it from 70W. It is your basic old time drive through/walk up window burger joint. The menu is pretty basic and has all the usual suspects (burgers, fries, onion rings, soft serve). We did the walk up window and sat on picnic tables in front. It took a good 20 minutes or more to get the order and while we sat, their drive through backed up to the street. Burgers have that great charred taste. Onion rings are big and taste fresh. The french fries are a little plain and crinkle cut. All in all I loved it. It had a throw back feel and the food was great. If you can handle a wait, I would say it is a must stop in Glenwood!
(4)
Theresa B.
have heard nothing but good things about this place for years. Finally had the time to stop while driving through to check it out. not worth it, keep driving. After waiting in line 20 minutes behind just 2 people, we finally ordered 2 burgers, 2 fries, 2 malts & an ice cream cone. It came to a bit over $27. it took 45 mins before we got the food- and NO FRIES!!! we questioned it & were told we didn't order any, even though he repeated it back to us, sure enough it wasn't on our receipt, so $27 didn't even include fries. The kid asked if we wanted to place another order for fries & my husband said no he didn't want to wait another 45 mins. We took our food & sat down at the outdoor seating area, which apparently hadn't been wiped down for awhile- it was food covered & sticky. Took a drink of my malt and it was sloshy & warm, obviously made right away & left sitting on the counter while our food cooked. The hamburgers were ok, nothing special- definitely not $27 good. The teenage boys working were rude, incompetent & didn't pay attention to anyone's orders. There were 3 other wrong orders in the hour and a half that we were there and lots of people complaining about the wait. You shouldn't have to wait 45 mins for a hamburger anywhere, let alone warm shakes & with bad service. Can say I will keep driving by next time- right to Burger King or Dairy Queen!
(1)
Gabriel C.
Ordered a #1 with blue cheese, cheese sticks, and an oreo shake that were amazing. The batter of the cheese sticks was almost sweet and had a ton of flavor. One of the creamiest shakes I've had which was a + because I don't like thick shakes that won't go through a straw. I would eat here again and try the elk or buffalo burger patty.
(4)
Tim S.
This place was a total let down. An over priced sloppy mess! Way to expensive for the poor quality. We ordered green chili burgers and thought they messed up our order because the green chili ended up being a small blob in the center. Orders take a very long time and are just sort of thrown together. Likely because it's mostly staffed with high school kids. I don't recall having much concern for quality or sanitation when I was in high school which makes ya' wonder. I don't think I'd return. Which is too bad because this place used to be amazing before it was taken over by new owners.
(1)
Jason J.
This would have been 5 stars if it weren't for the 30 minute wait to get our food. I absolutely loved the burger and fries here. Everything was cooked exactly how I like with a nice charcoal taste to it. I haven't been to a classic drive in since I was a kid so this definitely took me back. A nice walk up window and a huge covered area with picnic tables to eat at. I have no idea what was going on in the car line, but I didn't see it move for at least 30 minutes. Then once the car in front left the rest of them went right thru. I can definitely see why you'd wait tho!
(4)
Michelle B.
This place is a little gem! We even went back out of our way because we liked it so much! Burgers are awesome and they customize it for you the way you like. After a long day of kayaking, I got a chili cheese burger and added onions and pickles, it reminded me of tommy's (but better)! My sister got a bacon cheese burger (also delish)! Service is great and everyone there is local and chill. We came back and the girl who worked their wrote a "Nice to see you again" on our burger wrapper! I thought that was a really awesome gesture! Will definately be back when we are in Colorado! Thanks to the awesome staff for a yummy time!
(5)
Josh S.
The staff is absolutely terrible! The food average at best! Dirty, dirty, dirty! They gave us the wrong order and when I went to return it and get the right order the woman working completely ignored me and finally demanded a receipt as proof of purchase - it had been like a minute since we pulled through, REALLY A RECEIPT! I'm giving you the wrong order back!!! She ended up giving me whatever was available in the end a burnt burger! This place is a joke steer clear you've been warned!
(1)
Sara G.
Vicco's has been around a long time, and I know why - the burgers, fries, onion rings, shakes and probably everything is awesome! Everyone was super happy with their food, and their green chili cheese fries made my smile for days. I liked eating outside and the old drive-in atmosphere.
(3)
Brig A.
I am surprised that the reviews of this place were this high. The burgers tasted ironically like charcoal. We ordered and expected the food to come in about five minutes, but it turned out to take nearly 1/2 an hour. This is a drive up place. I felt really bad for the people in the drive thru window. Unfortunately for me I ordered the triple burger and brought friends since it was highly rated on yelp. Well, three burgers just meant that I got to eat that much more burnt meat. The shake was pretty good, which raised them from one star to two stars.
(2)
Troy M.
I was expecting more when we waited 25 minutes in the drive up line and we were the second car. Staff had no sense of urgency. Playing around with each other instead of focusing on getting a good meal delivered fast. Probably won't come back...
(1)
Amy D.
Some friends and I were headed to Grand Junction and stopped by Vicco's on our way. We weren't interested in the other fast food options and weren't in the mood for a real "sit down" experience. This place seemed like a happy medium. The service was a little slow and the prices a little high (over $38 for three burgers, a large fry, small onion rings and three drinks), but everything was still really tasty. The onion rings rocked and the fries were all right - the burgers were HUGE with a variety of toppings. I'd recommend this place if you're passing through and find yourself hungry. Probably not something to go out of your way for, but worth it if you're in the area.
(3)
Troy W.
I now live in Southern California, but grew-up in Carbondale. 35 years ago, it was a treat for my parents to take my brother Shawn and I to the drive-in movies out in Glenwood. We would always stop at Charcoal Burger and load up on food just before pulling into the drive-in. Recently, I got to take my own kids to Colorado to show them where I spent my childhood. Many things had changed ...the drive-in movie theater was gone, but to my surprise the Charcoal Burger was still standing! My burger had the same amazing charcoal taste as it did 35 years ago. I loved it and so did my kids. This place has stood the test of time! It was beyond cool to share this place with my family.
(5)
Ana M.
Stopped here on a whim while driving down I70. Got a plain burger with Smoke Sauce, fries and a chocolate shake. Everything hit the spot. The burger was excellent, really juicy and despite not being topped with a ton of ingredients, it was super flavorful. The fries were nice and crispy and the shake was nice and thick. I would totally recommend this place to anyone road tripping in the area. Skip the regular fast food. This is an adorable place to stop in for a quick bite.
(5)
Chris F.
I was driving thru town, wanted a burger & fry and wanted to see what this place is about. I have been here 2 times and regret to say that there is absolutely nothing special about this place except the drive thru facade. The burgers are frozen patties put on a flat grill and the fries are just as mediocre.
(2)
Allison S.
Mom n Pop stop! The ordering is awkward at first but I like it. You will wait for awhile but it's worth it! Tons of options and ice cream/shake options are great too. Friendly and great prices. Next time I'm in Glenwood I will for sure stop in!!!
(4)
Daniel R.
It's a neat looking burger joint (old school style) in the middle of the rocky mountains. Their vanilla milkshake was pretty good too. The rating is high for its aesthetics, not so much the food.
(4)
Sharon T.
I don't even know where to begin with this one. Well, we were vacationing in Glenwood and got in later in the evening. Found this cute little place and I was stoked (I love a good burger and fries). As we waited for the young men to cook our food it occurred to me that I was watching my frozen solid bison burger patty get fried on a flat grill, at a "charcoal" restaurant. We took our food back to our room and the disappointment did not end with the lack of charcoal cooking. My husband ordered the elk burger, which I was against to begin with because I knew there was no way possible it was even remotely fresh (we were definitely not in season to have fresh elk). Just, ew. You could taste the freezer burn and that was all you could taste, no salt, no pepper, no elk - for the natural flavor had been leeched out from being frozen for so long. The tomatoes had no flavor either, adding to our unexpected disappointment of what looked like a promising dinner as it has been around for many years. The fries were decent, then again, it's a freakin fried potato, if you can screw that up you need to quit while you're ahead. The shakes were not bad either, but again, this is ice cream that you mix up with a shake machine. I would love for the owners to take responsibility for their ineptness a running a restaurant that is a historic site, make it worth it! Even better, bring in someone who can point out these VERY obvious flaws and fix it! Until then, I suggest people pay a lot less money and eat at Burger King (yeah it was THAT bad). Or, if you have the time and want a mean burger from an authentic 50's style establishment, pop on down to Milts in Moab, UT. They have AMAZING burgers and still use their original cash register!!
(1)
Tres B.
EXCELLENT burgers from an old mom and popper. with, hand formed ptties and fire grilled. Juicy, smoky, scary good. The wait, however is SOOOOOOOO LOOOOOOONG. One reason is one lame speaker right near the window. If they' d put anoher further back they would cut the rediculous wait times in half. Still and all its truly is worth the wait. Charbroiled burger, I love thee.
(4)
Devin S.
Hello fellow Yelpers. We're passing thru West Glenwood and checked out your reviews of this place. Our order is in, 2 burgers, large fries and drinks, for only $20.80! We'll see how it tastes.
(3)
Shaw S.
Very tasty burgers. Made to order fresh. Good ole timey drive in style hangout. Will definitely come back.
(5)
Nick S.
This place has decent burgers and good prices. However there's nothing really special about it, except that you feel a bit better going here over McDonalds because it feels "local". You definitely don't walk away with that deeply satisfied feeling you get after having a truly amazing burger; you're kind of just happy that you're not hungry anymore.
(3)
David M.
Burgers were really good! Had onion rings on the side, vey tasty. Other posts said wait time was long but only had to wait about 10-12 min.... We were there around 1-1:30. Overall great place for a fresh made burger!
(4)
Nick Z.
I want to give Charcoalburger a good review, but the service was awful. There were only two cars in line when we drove up, and it still took over 25 minutes to get our food. Ordered a buffalo cheese burger, fries and a malt, and the total came to $17. Overpriced for what I expect from a drive in. Burger and malt was good and the fries were soggy. We sat at the window for about 10 minutes, watching the group of high school guys try and get an order ready, only to see them fumble around and "forget" that the malt machine was on until it was spilling all over the floor. Hilarious for me to watch, but still frustrating as we were trying to get out on the road. Overall, next time I'm in Glenwood Springs I'll be looking for a different burger place.
(2)
Adam K.
Very good, HUGE burgers. They certainly take their time making them though. We waited a while for our food but it was great. We both had a milkshake and it was tasty as well. I would go back again. Prices were very reasonable too.
(4)
Thomas A.
Food is awesome, huge downside though is that i'm pretty sure they slaughter and butcher the cows on-site. 25 minutes from order to food...IN THE DRIVE THROUGH!!!
(3)
Amy K.
Great drive-in style burgers, fries, and rings.
(4)
Bill O.
My wife's fav burger joint in CO, so we HAD to stop in and check it out. Man, talk about a blast back into the '50's mindset. Drive through or walk-up only. The menu consists of "single, double, triple", and allows adding cheese, bacon, and other misc "stuff". FOOLISHLY, I ordered a double cheeseburger w/bacon, while the wife and pops had a single. We ordered a large bag o'fries, with (sigh) diet cokes (apparently, pepsi didn't exist in the '50's in this part of the world, judging from the MASSIVE coke signage). The burgers, were, in a word, excellent. And, in another word(s), FRIGGING HUUUUUUUUGE! My double coulda fed a family of eight. I literally ate about 1/3 of it, and, as excellent as it was, had to leave the rest. Just tooooo much excellence. The large bag o'fries? REALLY large. Think safeway shopping bag. We left at least half of those. So truly, an excellent burger joint. And truly, think small. REALLY small. Otherwise, you're gonna waste a lot of food.
(4)
K.K. L.
Several locals recommended this place for burgers. We were looking forward to a great burger. Instead we had some of the worst burgers we've ever had. My beef burger was extremely dry and burnt! My friend had an elk burger that was the same. The fries were average. All of this after a 20 minute wait! Not fresh. Not fast. And extremely overpriced ($18 for two burgers, one small fry and no drinks).
(1)
Ramon G.
Easy review. Delicious burgers and shakes. Sooo hard to choose. Beef, Buffalo or Elk burgers. Single or double.... It's all good. Wash it down with a shake and share an order of onion rings. Thick Juicy burgers right off of I-70. Before I make my way back to Denver this is a must stop. Drive-thru or sit down. Prices are a little high but worth it.
(4)
Britany W.
I absolutely love this place... as long as it's cold outside. I understand it's a drive in kind of deal, however I will not eat here if it's warm enough for bugs. Not the kind of toppings I'm looking for on a burger and the flies swarm the place in the summer.
(3)
Daniel d.
This is a must do! There is something real good about this dive.
(5)
Rod S.
Inexpensive but solid drive in food. Family of four and the bill was about 30 bucks. We had time to spare until we went whitewater rafting so tried it out. I had the chili burger which was very filling and messy, which was a good thing. No complaints at all except the interstate traffic noise but that isn't a big deal.
(3)
Josh B.
I walked over to Charcoalburger Drive In from my hotel after not eating all day, and I proceeded to order a double elk burger, large fries and a chocolate shake. Service is SLOW, but I lucked out by getting there just before the crowd. Then the bill arrived; $18.95? OUCH. How do the locals eat here? My elk burger was very very well done, on the verge of being dried out. The fries were barely cooked and the chocolate shake was excellent. All in all, my meal was slightly better than average. I wouldn't go back, even if I found myself in Glenwood Springs again. You're paying NYC prices for mediocre food. The place was also a pig sty. I spent more time chasing flies and bees away from my food than eating. Not an appetizing environment, to say the least.
(2)
Bo H.
It's a really decent burger/fries joint. Lots of stuff on the menu. And the locals seem to love it. I was here on a Wed and there was a wait. So, don't be in a hurry. Everything is cooked to order- I waited in the drive thru for 10 min before placing an order, then another 10 waiting for food. If it was quicker, I'd give 'em more stars.
(3)
Patrick A.
Cool burger stop. Says its been here since 1953. I love spots that have stayed in business that long. I went with the #5 with double meet you can choose turkey, beef, buffalo or Elk. The burger was huge! The onion rings were delicious and the milk shake was good definetly worth a stop.
(4)
John M.
Was in glenwood springs on vacation. We ate here twice. The first time we had milkshakes and malts which were both really good. The next day we came for hamburgers. The hamburgers were great. One of my party members even got a buffalo burger that was pretty good. Would definately eat here again the next time I'm in town.
(5)
Callie M.
Wait is WAY too long for what you get. The burgers are good, but not spectacular, and I wish the people taking the orders could speak English a bit better. Having said that, I go here when I'm in town and want a takeout lunch. Love the old retro feel.
(3)
Hailey G.
I would return I loved the burger it hit the spot and fries simple but delicious. I wouldn't get a large again tho!
(4)
Peter T.
People seem to be love or hate on this joint, but I am just a solid 'good'. This is how it broke down for my family of six. $37.50 for cost. Three single burgers (one traditional, one mushroom/swiss, and one with ketchup, mustard and pickles), one hot dog, large order of fries, large order of rings, two small shakes and a large coke. We like to share when we go out as a family because most restaurants serve huge portions. Charcoal is definitely generous. Service was good. Nothing special, just friendly and quick. We only had to wait 15 minutes for freshly cooked food. I never eat fast food...ever. Shakes were top notch and I highly recommend. Burgers were cooked medium, 'hot dog' was actually unique and cut into thirds and served on a hamburger bun. I could see us going again when back in GS, but won't be raving or anything to my friends.
(3)
Velma T.
Great burger made with fresh ground beef. Very REAL. You can get a good burger lots of places, even at a huge chain, but often it's the "secret sauce" etc. that makes it delicious. At Charcoalburger the meat is what makes their burgers great, and isn't that the point? I also ordered chili cheese fries. They are made with good chili and real cheese but this is an ENORMOUS portion, do NOT order these as a side unless you plan to share them. However, they serve crinkle cut fries, fun to look at but disappointing to eat - maybe just skip the fries, the burgers are pretty big anyway. Or get a double, or order a milkshake. Or resign yourself to frozen fries, whatever. Charcoalburger will prepare your food ahead if you call them, and if you do, park and go to the walk-up window to get it, because that car in front of you will probably be waiting a while. The wait here is no joke. p.s. "smoke sauce" = bbq sauce.
(4)
Heather V.
I've been here once, and was convinced to never give it a second chance. My friend and I, and two of her kids went here one night. $40 to feed four people, two of them kids, at a fast food establishment is a little expensive to me. It took FOREVER to get our food. Now I know why...when we got home, we found that every single thing that we ordered was BURNT. It was disgusting. Our $40 in food went directly in the garbage can. Don't bother complaining, they give you a run around about calling here and calling there, and you never get anywhere.
(1)
John M.
We were passing through and my wife begged me to take her here for a burger and malt. Need I say more?
(5)
Jack H.
From the Bow Tie King comes this dy-no-mite drive in. Now this is change we can believe in. Voted 'Best In America' by critics, can see why. I'm happier than a chef with a new knife. Make this a visit on your way to Little Nell's or The St. Regis, as one can't groceries this good there.
(5)
Emily S.
We liked it, but wish they gave more fries!
(3)
David R.
I used to eat here in the late 70s when we lived in the area. We made special trips to Glenwood Springs to go here and to the drive-in theater that used to be nearby. I was driving through Glenwood Springs and decided to stop here. The burger and onion rings were great. We stopped at lunch rush hour on a Tuesday and they were still reasonbly fast at getting the food to us.
(4)
Andrew D.
This place is a throwback to the old days of drive-ups and the food is okay. You can order many different burger sizes and customize all the toppings you want. You can walk up or sit in your car to order. Average burgers, good onion rings, and good malts. It's not fine dining but they don't pretend to be, burgers is what they do best and that's what you should go here for!
(1)
Megan L.
eh. that's allll i have to say. i was disappointed. my best friend told me to go here when i told her my family and i were going to glenwood springs. she raved about their onion rings and fries. well, i am hoping they were out of their "amazing" fries because what we got after the ridiculous wait were crinkle cut, stale, saltless fries. my brother got an elk burger, so did my dad and mom. they said they were pretty great. i got chicken strips which were mcdonalds esque. i mean they werent horrid, but not great. if i'm back in the area again, i wont be going back unless its for a shake, which i didnt get the chance to try.
(2)
Fallon V.
I have been eating here ever since I can remember. Charcoalburger truly is a rare gem. Even though it's seen a few owners, it stays the same. If you drive by and see a line, keep in mind that it isn't going to go as fast as McD's or some other chain. Everything is made when you order it so it takes a minute. That's okay because when you get it, it is piping hot and oh so delicious! Make sure you get a malt (or a shake if that's your preference), they have lots o' flavors including black cherry and pineapple which are my personal faves. Have fun in your mini time warp back to how fast food was meant to be!
(5)
Bill Y.
I think the mixed reviews indicate spotty service. We called in an order for a kids burger, double #4 and small fries and cheese curds. The kids burger was cooked nicely but both patties on the double were overcooked. They had great flavor but I hate a well done burger. The fries and curds were good and I was amazed at the size of the small fries. I'd definitely eat here again but I wouldn't go out of my way to do so.
(3)
Matt L.
It's just what road food should be. You can drive right up, order a delicious burger, fries and shake and eat it right there in your car. And none of it tastes like chain-food. The elk burger here is one of the best burgers I've had. Pineapple shake was awesome. Great view, too.
(5)
Shawn R.
best elk burger ive had but to be fair i havent had alot of them because its rarely an option....they also have buffalo....you get a thick piece of meat but the rest of the burger is pretty standard....they are a little slow but its worth it....3.5 stars
(3)
Tim S.
This place was a total let down. An over priced sloppy mess! Way to expensive for the poor quality. We ordered green chili burgers and thought they messed up our order because the green chili ended up being a small blob in the center. Orders take a very long time and are just sort of thrown together. Likely because it's mostly staffed with high school kids. I don't recall having much concern for quality or sanitation when I was in high school which makes ya' wonder. I don't think I'd return. Which is too bad because this place used to be amazing before it was taken over by new owners.
(1)
Nick S.
This place has decent burgers and good prices. However there's nothing really special about it, except that you feel a bit better going here over McDonalds because it feels "local". You definitely don't walk away with that deeply satisfied feeling you get after having a truly amazing burger; you're kind of just happy that you're not hungry anymore.
(3)
David M.
Burgers were really good! Had onion rings on the side, vey tasty. Other posts said wait time was long but only had to wait about 10-12 min.... We were there around 1-1:30. Overall great place for a fresh made burger!
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Divey Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Drive-Thru : Yes Caters : No
Burger or Hamburger is savored as the most desired fast food meal in the United States. A hamburger is basically a sandwich prepared by stuffing ground meat patty, generally beef, between two slices of a bun cut in half. Hamburger is also famous for its seasoning. Most popular condiments used in hamburgers in the United States are mustard, mayonnaise, and ketchup. Besides ground meat patty, hamburgers are also stuffed with lettuce, onions, tomato slices, pickles, and cheese.
Hamburgers are also categorized into two types in the United States. Fast food hamburger and individual hamburgers served at restaurants are two basic types of burgers served in the United States. The individual hamburgers served at restaurants are prepared using everything including lettuce, onion, tomato, and sliced pickles as well as melted cheese on the patty or crumbled on top. American restaurants also serve veggie burgers for those who don't relish meat. Cheeseburgers are also hot favorite in the United States.
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Kayda H.
I notice a lot of people complaining about the wait time. I don't think they realize that every burger is hand pressed and cooked to order! I thoroughly enjoyed my visit, the staff was friendly and as quick as they could be. That burger may well have been the best burger I've ever had! And you could tell that it's a vintage, family owned drive in, how cute! You're doing just fine, Charcoal Burger. Just fine. :)
(5)Jason J.
This would have been 5 stars if it weren't for the 30 minute wait to get our food. I absolutely loved the burger and fries here. Everything was cooked exactly how I like with a nice charcoal taste to it. I haven't been to a classic drive in since I was a kid so this definitely took me back. A nice walk up window and a huge covered area with picnic tables to eat at. I have no idea what was going on in the car line, but I didn't see it move for at least 30 minutes. Then once the car in front left the rest of them went right thru. I can definitely see why you'd wait tho!
(4)Theresa B.
have heard nothing but good things about this place for years. Finally had the time to stop while driving through to check it out. not worth it, keep driving. After waiting in line 20 minutes behind just 2 people, we finally ordered 2 burgers, 2 fries, 2 malts & an ice cream cone. It came to a bit over $27. it took 45 mins before we got the food- and NO FRIES!!! we questioned it & were told we didn't order any, even though he repeated it back to us, sure enough it wasn't on our receipt, so $27 didn't even include fries. The kid asked if we wanted to place another order for fries & my husband said no he didn't want to wait another 45 mins. We took our food & sat down at the outdoor seating area, which apparently hadn't been wiped down for awhile- it was food covered & sticky. Took a drink of my malt and it was sloshy & warm, obviously made right away & left sitting on the counter while our food cooked. The hamburgers were ok, nothing special- definitely not $27 good. The teenage boys working were rude, incompetent & didn't pay attention to anyone's orders. There were 3 other wrong orders in the hour and a half that we were there and lots of people complaining about the wait. You shouldn't have to wait 45 mins for a hamburger anywhere, let alone warm shakes & with bad service. Can say I will keep driving by next time- right to Burger King or Dairy Queen!
(1)Collina W.
Best burger joint on the Western Slope...and that's no lie. Your order is prepared fresh so there's a bit of a wait, but it's well worth it. The burgers are juicy and cooked just right. You have your choice of beef, turkey or elk with your choice of condiments and cheese. The onion rings are crispy and fried to perfection. There are lots of other choices on the menu, though - something for everyone.
(5)Eric N.
YUMMY!! #1- Tasty burgers. Onion rings a bit on'N the greasy side. The burgers made up for this minor shortcoming. #2- Love that it's off the 'beaten path' and not stuck in the middle of the tourist dstrict. #3-Really enjoyed the 50's Diner motif. One of the burgers I've had in a long time. Fresh and tasty. 3 thumbs up!
(5)Michelle B.
This place is a little gem! We even went back out of our way because we liked it so much! Burgers are awesome and they customize it for you the way you like. After a long day of kayaking, I got a chili cheese burger and added onions and pickles, it reminded me of tommy's (but better)! My sister got a bacon cheese burger (also delish)! Service is great and everyone there is local and chill. We came back and the girl who worked their wrote a "Nice to see you again" on our burger wrapper! I thought that was a really awesome gesture! Will definately be back when we are in Colorado! Thanks to the awesome staff for a yummy time!
(5)Josh S.
The staff is absolutely terrible! The food average at best! Dirty, dirty, dirty! They gave us the wrong order and when I went to return it and get the right order the woman working completely ignored me and finally demanded a receipt as proof of purchase - it had been like a minute since we pulled through, REALLY A RECEIPT! I'm giving you the wrong order back!!! She ended up giving me whatever was available in the end a burnt burger! This place is a joke steer clear you've been warned!
(1)Chris F.
I was driving thru town, wanted a burger & fry and wanted to see what this place is about. I have been here 2 times and regret to say that there is absolutely nothing special about this place except the drive thru facade. The burgers are frozen patties put on a flat grill and the fries are just as mediocre.
(2)Allison S.
Mom n Pop stop! The ordering is awkward at first but I like it. You will wait for awhile but it's worth it! Tons of options and ice cream/shake options are great too. Friendly and great prices. Next time I'm in Glenwood I will for sure stop in!!!
(4)Daniel R.
It's a neat looking burger joint (old school style) in the middle of the rocky mountains. Their vanilla milkshake was pretty good too. The rating is high for its aesthetics, not so much the food.
(4)Donna M.
I stopped here hoping that my burger would really taste like it had been grilled on charcoal. It does! My burger tastes like the kind I make at home. I ordered a single with mayo, mustard, ketchup, pickle, tomato and bacon, no cheese, and a small order of fries. The fries have ridges and are fantastic. Perfectly cooked and salted. They also have shakes and malts. Now I'm sorry I didn't try one.
(5)Abraham L.
I would have to agree with Paul on this one. I'll add that not only did we wait over a half an hour for a few shakes I ordered a cup of just plain ice cream. The kid that just handled money with out washing his hands made a cone for me. When I mentioned that it was wrong and I prefer he wash his hands prior to handling food he put the cone in a cup and said here you go. When I asked for a manager no one was available. Rude and no customer service in the horizon. If you're looking for a decent burger joint check out the GRIND.
(1)Paul C.
I hate giving bad reviews, even when well deserved, but after waiting for 45 minutes to get shakes and the employees not knowing how to count their own ticket numbers in order (someone who showed up 20 minutes after us got their shakes before our group, and another right behind us got their before as well), I would not recommend anyone go here ever. 25 minutes in, they told me the ice cream machine was making "soggy" ice cream. Yes, they used that word. I can get a steak quicker! I would give it a zero star, but that is not an option on Yelp. Save your time and money and go elsewhere, anywhere else!
(1)Hannah W.
This is a drive-in burger place in Glenwood Springs... If you don't have huge expectations - it's is a OK place to dine at. It's pretty cheap, my sister and I both got a burger and it was huge. Seems like there were some new staff so ordering/getting the food was a bit slow. The burger is kind of soaked in sauce, good thing if you like the flavor. I personally would ask them to put less sauce on it if I ever return.
(3)Allen C.
SUCH POTENTIAL!!!! This place food is ok. Problem is you will wait, wait, wait and then wait. Food is good but not worth 30-45min. Just a bunch of kids who don't care much, real management stepped in it would be a goldmine
(3)Ron U.
This is the second time I've visited this place. First time was over 30 mins in the drive thru, second time was about 20. I realize it's cook to order, but I'm writing this review after the second chance I gave them. The most over-priced and underwhelming 'drive-in' I've ever visited. Their Charcoal Cheesesteak was $8, and they serve it on a bun!! The staff could care less about expediency, seemingly they were all barely legal to work, and one person spoke English. Money better spent elsewhere.
(2)Balie Z.
my burger was juicy as shit couldn't help but spill some of that shit on my lap. onion rings: 10. Zach K. your wet dog comment is just unnecessary right now, go take a lap. ps - bubble gum swirl cone tastes like strawberry, I'd recommend the black cherry. have a good one, yelpers.
(5)David R.
I used to eat here in the late 70s when we lived in the area. We made special trips to Glenwood Springs to go here and to the drive-in theater that used to be nearby. I was driving through Glenwood Springs and decided to stop here. The burger and onion rings were great. We stopped at lunch rush hour on a Tuesday and they were still reasonbly fast at getting the food to us.
(4)Andrew D.
This place is a throwback to the old days of drive-ups and the food is okay. You can order many different burger sizes and customize all the toppings you want. You can walk up or sit in your car to order. Average burgers, good onion rings, and good malts. It's not fine dining but they don't pretend to be, burgers is what they do best and that's what you should go here for!
(1)Adam K.
Very good, HUGE burgers. They certainly take their time making them though. We waited a while for our food but it was great. We both had a milkshake and it was tasty as well. I would go back again. Prices were very reasonable too.
(4)Tim B.
Go climb hanging lake and then stop here to refuel. The patty melt is the bomb, ask for a triple.
(4)Becca P.
Silly me going to a burger joint on a diet! The boys all seemed happy enough with their burgers and fries, but not blown away. I was pleasantly surprised they knew what a lettuce wrapped burger was, but then I made the mistake of ordering a garden salad. Lettuce, onion, tomato and.... pickles? And no dressing..lol. Guess they don't sell many salads! Chili was also just so so. Didn't get ice cream so can't comment on that, but over all, I thought this place over priced for the quality. There are better places to eat in Glenwood.
(3)Mary M.
We stopped here on a Sunday night at about 4:15 and waited only about 10 minutes. The burgers are large and fresh. The French fries are the crinkle cut type and are cooked until crispy. The drive thru window is a little slower than other fast food places but the food is so much better that it's worth the wait. They also have thick shakes and soft serve ice cream.
(4)Steve N Rebecca S.
Last time I ate here was almost 4-5 years ago and it was the best burger ever. Went through town and remembered how awesome the last burger was and stopped. What a huge disappointment! The burger was cooked so well done, it had no flavor at all! Threw most of it away. Ordered a vanilla shake and that didn't even have any flavor! Now I know why they haven't been voted best burger since 2010!
(1)Julie K.
I don't usually leave reviews, but this little gem deserves it. Great chargrilled burgers, fried mushrooms and onion rings! The shakes are wonderful. Don't be in a hurry when you go though. It's VERY popular for it's small size, but COMPLETELY worth the wait.
(5)Gabriel C.
Ordered a #1 with blue cheese, cheese sticks, and an oreo shake that were amazing. The batter of the cheese sticks was almost sweet and had a ton of flavor. One of the creamiest shakes I've had which was a + because I don't like thick shakes that won't go through a straw. I would eat here again and try the elk or buffalo burger patty.
(4)Emily S.
We liked it, but wish they gave more fries!
(3)Sara G.
Vicco's has been around a long time, and I know why - the burgers, fries, onion rings, shakes and probably everything is awesome! Everyone was super happy with their food, and their green chili cheese fries made my smile for days. I liked eating outside and the old drive-in atmosphere.
(3)Brig A.
I am surprised that the reviews of this place were this high. The burgers tasted ironically like charcoal. We ordered and expected the food to come in about five minutes, but it turned out to take nearly 1/2 an hour. This is a drive up place. I felt really bad for the people in the drive thru window. Unfortunately for me I ordered the triple burger and brought friends since it was highly rated on yelp. Well, three burgers just meant that I got to eat that much more burnt meat. The shake was pretty good, which raised them from one star to two stars.
(2)Troy M.
I was expecting more when we waited 25 minutes in the drive up line and we were the second car. Staff had no sense of urgency. Playing around with each other instead of focusing on getting a good meal delivered fast. Probably won't come back...
(1)Amy D.
Some friends and I were headed to Grand Junction and stopped by Vicco's on our way. We weren't interested in the other fast food options and weren't in the mood for a real "sit down" experience. This place seemed like a happy medium. The service was a little slow and the prices a little high (over $38 for three burgers, a large fry, small onion rings and three drinks), but everything was still really tasty. The onion rings rocked and the fries were all right - the burgers were HUGE with a variety of toppings. I'd recommend this place if you're passing through and find yourself hungry. Probably not something to go out of your way for, but worth it if you're in the area.
(3)Velma T.
Great burger made with fresh ground beef. Very REAL. You can get a good burger lots of places, even at a huge chain, but often it's the "secret sauce" etc. that makes it delicious. At Charcoalburger the meat is what makes their burgers great, and isn't that the point? I also ordered chili cheese fries. They are made with good chili and real cheese but this is an ENORMOUS portion, do NOT order these as a side unless you plan to share them. However, they serve crinkle cut fries, fun to look at but disappointing to eat - maybe just skip the fries, the burgers are pretty big anyway. Or get a double, or order a milkshake. Or resign yourself to frozen fries, whatever. Charcoalburger will prepare your food ahead if you call them, and if you do, park and go to the walk-up window to get it, because that car in front of you will probably be waiting a while. The wait here is no joke. p.s. "smoke sauce" = bbq sauce.
(4)Heather V.
I've been here once, and was convinced to never give it a second chance. My friend and I, and two of her kids went here one night. $40 to feed four people, two of them kids, at a fast food establishment is a little expensive to me. It took FOREVER to get our food. Now I know why...when we got home, we found that every single thing that we ordered was BURNT. It was disgusting. Our $40 in food went directly in the garbage can. Don't bother complaining, they give you a run around about calling here and calling there, and you never get anywhere.
(1)John M.
We were passing through and my wife begged me to take her here for a burger and malt. Need I say more?
(5)Jack H.
From the Bow Tie King comes this dy-no-mite drive in. Now this is change we can believe in. Voted 'Best In America' by critics, can see why. I'm happier than a chef with a new knife. Make this a visit on your way to Little Nell's or The St. Regis, as one can't groceries this good there.
(5)heather t.
Who knew I would find one of my favorite burger places ever in Glenwood? I was up here for an event and looking for a quick place to get lunch. I thought Yelp would be dead in this small town, but it did not let me down with Charcoalburger Drive-In. This is a drive-thru or order at the window type of place. Burgers are made to order and can be made in stacks from single to triple (and up, I would imagine). Beef, Buffalo and Elk are all available. I hear the Elk is fabulous, but since I was feeding a family of 4 and was trying to stay money-conscious, we all went with beef. Fantastic! I had mine with cheese, mayo, lettuce, tomato and smoke house sauce (a smokey bbq spread). Other upgrades were available like bacon, blue cheese, green chile and the like. Just delicious through and through! Onion rings were also pretty good. I almost stopped here a second time before leaving town, but figured I'd wait for another trip. Next time I'll be sure to try one of the milkshakes all you other yelpers were raving about.
(4)Marianne V.
Locals say Jimmy Buffet wrote "Cheeseburger in Paradise" after he visited from his nearby home in Aspen. The burgers and fries are as good as "In and Out Burger," and the scenery is just a bonus. For the adveturous, try Buffalo burgers.
(5)Troy W.
I now live in Southern California, but grew-up in Carbondale. 35 years ago, it was a treat for my parents to take my brother Shawn and I to the drive-in movies out in Glenwood. We would always stop at Charcoal Burger and load up on food just before pulling into the drive-in. Recently, I got to take my own kids to Colorado to show them where I spent my childhood. Many things had changed ...the drive-in movie theater was gone, but to my surprise the Charcoal Burger was still standing! My burger had the same amazing charcoal taste as it did 35 years ago. I loved it and so did my kids. This place has stood the test of time! It was beyond cool to share this place with my family.
(5)Ana M.
Stopped here on a whim while driving down I70. Got a plain burger with Smoke Sauce, fries and a chocolate shake. Everything hit the spot. The burger was excellent, really juicy and despite not being topped with a ton of ingredients, it was super flavorful. The fries were nice and crispy and the shake was nice and thick. I would totally recommend this place to anyone road tripping in the area. Skip the regular fast food. This is an adorable place to stop in for a quick bite.
(5)Ramon G.
Easy review. Delicious burgers and shakes. Sooo hard to choose. Beef, Buffalo or Elk burgers. Single or double.... It's all good. Wash it down with a shake and share an order of onion rings. Thick Juicy burgers right off of I-70. Before I make my way back to Denver this is a must stop. Drive-thru or sit down. Prices are a little high but worth it.
(4)Britany W.
I absolutely love this place... as long as it's cold outside. I understand it's a drive in kind of deal, however I will not eat here if it's warm enough for bugs. Not the kind of toppings I'm looking for on a burger and the flies swarm the place in the summer.
(3)Julia B.
The place is super cool looking modern dive drive in burger joint. The burgers were good. Def. Chargrilled. Crispy and dark with fresh veggies on top. Everyone liked their burgers a lot. I would say they are way better than a typical fast food place but right on perfect for a place like this. The service is pretty slow. I think they only have a couple people in there. The fries were yummy crispy and warm but crinkle cut fried so a little odd and mushy inside. I liked the fries but it seems they should be not krinkle. Fresh cut would be perrrfect. A fun excursion for the FAM after a day at the hot springs.
(3)Phoebe T.
The wait is a little long, sure, but that's what makes this a drive thru restaurant and not a fast food joint. The burgers are wonderful, not a single complaint. The fries are crispy and not overly salted, and I actually like the crinkle cut a lot. The customer service wasn't remarkable, but it didn't bring down the overall experience. I would highly recommend this place!
(5)B M.
The food was average, the wait long, and service terrible. We had to tell the person taking our order, a couple of times that we wanted milkshakes. They gave us sodas the first time, then forgot the milkshakes the second time we reminded them. It was also very expensive for a burger joint.
(2)Sam S.
It is true that the wait here is a bit long, but it is totally worth it. The burgers are cooked to order and all the sides (onion rings, cheese curds, fries) are piping hot when you get your order. I have stopped in here on several occasions and have never been disappointed.
(4)Mariah E.
We love this place, it's our Saturday night date dinner! Only problem for me is that it takes SSSSOOOO long to get food! It's all teenagers working here, and I bet the burgers arent even all that good, but we love it! Take a chance, you might be there on a really good day...or.....maybe not!!! If you are a stickler for high quality food, it would probably be best to go elsewhere!!
(3)Zach K.
The food was soooo bad...the grill was dirty or tasted like the burger was rolled on a wet dog.. the fries and onion rings were cooked in old oil and for too long...the bright spot was the cheap ice cream shakes...hope you have a toilet.
(1)Jessica J.
Every single place we ate at in Glenwood has a long wait, but this is one place I actually think it was worth the wait! Charcoalburger sits off highway 6. You can actually see it from 70W. It is your basic old time drive through/walk up window burger joint. The menu is pretty basic and has all the usual suspects (burgers, fries, onion rings, soft serve). We did the walk up window and sat on picnic tables in front. It took a good 20 minutes or more to get the order and while we sat, their drive through backed up to the street. Burgers have that great charred taste. Onion rings are big and taste fresh. The french fries are a little plain and crinkle cut. All in all I loved it. It had a throw back feel and the food was great. If you can handle a wait, I would say it is a must stop in Glenwood!
(4)Sharon T.
I don't even know where to begin with this one. Well, we were vacationing in Glenwood and got in later in the evening. Found this cute little place and I was stoked (I love a good burger and fries). As we waited for the young men to cook our food it occurred to me that I was watching my frozen solid bison burger patty get fried on a flat grill, at a "charcoal" restaurant. We took our food back to our room and the disappointment did not end with the lack of charcoal cooking. My husband ordered the elk burger, which I was against to begin with because I knew there was no way possible it was even remotely fresh (we were definitely not in season to have fresh elk). Just, ew. You could taste the freezer burn and that was all you could taste, no salt, no pepper, no elk - for the natural flavor had been leeched out from being frozen for so long. The tomatoes had no flavor either, adding to our unexpected disappointment of what looked like a promising dinner as it has been around for many years. The fries were decent, then again, it's a freakin fried potato, if you can screw that up you need to quit while you're ahead. The shakes were not bad either, but again, this is ice cream that you mix up with a shake machine. I would love for the owners to take responsibility for their ineptness a running a restaurant that is a historic site, make it worth it! Even better, bring in someone who can point out these VERY obvious flaws and fix it! Until then, I suggest people pay a lot less money and eat at Burger King (yeah it was THAT bad). Or, if you have the time and want a mean burger from an authentic 50's style establishment, pop on down to Milts in Moab, UT. They have AMAZING burgers and still use their original cash register!!
(1)Tres B.
EXCELLENT burgers from an old mom and popper. with, hand formed ptties and fire grilled. Juicy, smoky, scary good. The wait, however is SOOOOOOOO LOOOOOOONG. One reason is one lame speaker right near the window. If they' d put anoher further back they would cut the rediculous wait times in half. Still and all its truly is worth the wait. Charbroiled burger, I love thee.
(4)Devin S.
Hello fellow Yelpers. We're passing thru West Glenwood and checked out your reviews of this place. Our order is in, 2 burgers, large fries and drinks, for only $20.80! We'll see how it tastes.
(3)Shaw S.
Very tasty burgers. Made to order fresh. Good ole timey drive in style hangout. Will definitely come back.
(5)Nick Z.
I want to give Charcoalburger a good review, but the service was awful. There were only two cars in line when we drove up, and it still took over 25 minutes to get our food. Ordered a buffalo cheese burger, fries and a malt, and the total came to $17. Overpriced for what I expect from a drive in. Burger and malt was good and the fries were soggy. We sat at the window for about 10 minutes, watching the group of high school guys try and get an order ready, only to see them fumble around and "forget" that the malt machine was on until it was spilling all over the floor. Hilarious for me to watch, but still frustrating as we were trying to get out on the road. Overall, next time I'm in Glenwood Springs I'll be looking for a different burger place.
(2)Bill O.
My wife's fav burger joint in CO, so we HAD to stop in and check it out. Man, talk about a blast back into the '50's mindset. Drive through or walk-up only. The menu consists of "single, double, triple", and allows adding cheese, bacon, and other misc "stuff". FOOLISHLY, I ordered a double cheeseburger w/bacon, while the wife and pops had a single. We ordered a large bag o'fries, with (sigh) diet cokes (apparently, pepsi didn't exist in the '50's in this part of the world, judging from the MASSIVE coke signage). The burgers, were, in a word, excellent. And, in another word(s), FRIGGING HUUUUUUUUGE! My double coulda fed a family of eight. I literally ate about 1/3 of it, and, as excellent as it was, had to leave the rest. Just tooooo much excellence. The large bag o'fries? REALLY large. Think safeway shopping bag. We left at least half of those. So truly, an excellent burger joint. And truly, think small. REALLY small. Otherwise, you're gonna waste a lot of food.
(4)K.K. L.
Several locals recommended this place for burgers. We were looking forward to a great burger. Instead we had some of the worst burgers we've ever had. My beef burger was extremely dry and burnt! My friend had an elk burger that was the same. The fries were average. All of this after a 20 minute wait! Not fresh. Not fast. And extremely overpriced ($18 for two burgers, one small fry and no drinks).
(1)Thomas A.
Food is awesome, huge downside though is that i'm pretty sure they slaughter and butcher the cows on-site. 25 minutes from order to food...IN THE DRIVE THROUGH!!!
(3)Amy K.
Great drive-in style burgers, fries, and rings.
(4)Megan L.
eh. that's allll i have to say. i was disappointed. my best friend told me to go here when i told her my family and i were going to glenwood springs. she raved about their onion rings and fries. well, i am hoping they were out of their "amazing" fries because what we got after the ridiculous wait were crinkle cut, stale, saltless fries. my brother got an elk burger, so did my dad and mom. they said they were pretty great. i got chicken strips which were mcdonalds esque. i mean they werent horrid, but not great. if i'm back in the area again, i wont be going back unless its for a shake, which i didnt get the chance to try.
(2)Fallon V.
I have been eating here ever since I can remember. Charcoalburger truly is a rare gem. Even though it's seen a few owners, it stays the same. If you drive by and see a line, keep in mind that it isn't going to go as fast as McD's or some other chain. Everything is made when you order it so it takes a minute. That's okay because when you get it, it is piping hot and oh so delicious! Make sure you get a malt (or a shake if that's your preference), they have lots o' flavors including black cherry and pineapple which are my personal faves. Have fun in your mini time warp back to how fast food was meant to be!
(5)Bill Y.
I think the mixed reviews indicate spotty service. We called in an order for a kids burger, double #4 and small fries and cheese curds. The kids burger was cooked nicely but both patties on the double were overcooked. They had great flavor but I hate a well done burger. The fries and curds were good and I was amazed at the size of the small fries. I'd definitely eat here again but I wouldn't go out of my way to do so.
(3)Matt L.
It's just what road food should be. You can drive right up, order a delicious burger, fries and shake and eat it right there in your car. And none of it tastes like chain-food. The elk burger here is one of the best burgers I've had. Pineapple shake was awesome. Great view, too.
(5)Shawn R.
best elk burger ive had but to be fair i havent had alot of them because its rarely an option....they also have buffalo....you get a thick piece of meat but the rest of the burger is pretty standard....they are a little slow but its worth it....3.5 stars
(3)Daniel d.
This is a must do! There is something real good about this dive.
(5)John M.
Was in glenwood springs on vacation. We ate here twice. The first time we had milkshakes and malts which were both really good. The next day we came for hamburgers. The hamburgers were great. One of my party members even got a buffalo burger that was pretty good. Would definately eat here again the next time I'm in town.
(5)Callie M.
Wait is WAY too long for what you get. The burgers are good, but not spectacular, and I wish the people taking the orders could speak English a bit better. Having said that, I go here when I'm in town and want a takeout lunch. Love the old retro feel.
(3)Rod S.
Inexpensive but solid drive in food. Family of four and the bill was about 30 bucks. We had time to spare until we went whitewater rafting so tried it out. I had the chili burger which was very filling and messy, which was a good thing. No complaints at all except the interstate traffic noise but that isn't a big deal.
(3)Josh B.
I walked over to Charcoalburger Drive In from my hotel after not eating all day, and I proceeded to order a double elk burger, large fries and a chocolate shake. Service is SLOW, but I lucked out by getting there just before the crowd. Then the bill arrived; $18.95? OUCH. How do the locals eat here? My elk burger was very very well done, on the verge of being dried out. The fries were barely cooked and the chocolate shake was excellent. All in all, my meal was slightly better than average. I wouldn't go back, even if I found myself in Glenwood Springs again. You're paying NYC prices for mediocre food. The place was also a pig sty. I spent more time chasing flies and bees away from my food than eating. Not an appetizing environment, to say the least.
(2)Bo H.
It's a really decent burger/fries joint. Lots of stuff on the menu. And the locals seem to love it. I was here on a Wed and there was a wait. So, don't be in a hurry. Everything is cooked to order- I waited in the drive thru for 10 min before placing an order, then another 10 waiting for food. If it was quicker, I'd give 'em more stars.
(3)Patrick A.
Cool burger stop. Says its been here since 1953. I love spots that have stayed in business that long. I went with the #5 with double meet you can choose turkey, beef, buffalo or Elk. The burger was huge! The onion rings were delicious and the milk shake was good definetly worth a stop.
(4)Hailey G.
I would return I loved the burger it hit the spot and fries simple but delicious. I wouldn't get a large again tho!
(4)Peter T.
People seem to be love or hate on this joint, but I am just a solid 'good'. This is how it broke down for my family of six. $37.50 for cost. Three single burgers (one traditional, one mushroom/swiss, and one with ketchup, mustard and pickles), one hot dog, large order of fries, large order of rings, two small shakes and a large coke. We like to share when we go out as a family because most restaurants serve huge portions. Charcoal is definitely generous. Service was good. Nothing special, just friendly and quick. We only had to wait 15 minutes for freshly cooked food. I never eat fast food...ever. Shakes were top notch and I highly recommend. Burgers were cooked medium, 'hot dog' was actually unique and cut into thirds and served on a hamburger bun. I could see us going again when back in GS, but won't be raving or anything to my friends.
(3)Chelsea A.
A-MAZ-ING. This stand has literally been around since the 50's (if the old school truck and caddy didn't tip you off in the front), and there just as good as what they were back in the day. (Not that I was alive to know what they were like back in the day, but you get the idea.) They do spectacular burgers and hot dogs. Not a New Yorker style dog, not a broiled kosher dog, but a straight off the grill makes you want to have BBQ dog. So good, so so good.
(5)Chelsea A.
A-MAZ-ING. This stand has literally been around since the 50's (if the old school truck and caddy didn't tip you off in the front), and there just as good as what they were back in the day. (Not that I was alive to know what they were like back in the day, but you get the idea.) They do spectacular burgers and hot dogs. Not a New Yorker style dog, not a broiled kosher dog, but a straight off the grill makes you want to have BBQ dog. So good, so so good.
(5)heather t.
Who knew I would find one of my favorite burger places ever in Glenwood? I was up here for an event and looking for a quick place to get lunch. I thought Yelp would be dead in this small town, but it did not let me down with Charcoalburger Drive-In. This is a drive-thru or order at the window type of place. Burgers are made to order and can be made in stacks from single to triple (and up, I would imagine). Beef, Buffalo and Elk are all available. I hear the Elk is fabulous, but since I was feeding a family of 4 and was trying to stay money-conscious, we all went with beef. Fantastic! I had mine with cheese, mayo, lettuce, tomato and smoke house sauce (a smokey bbq spread). Other upgrades were available like bacon, blue cheese, green chile and the like. Just delicious through and through! Onion rings were also pretty good. I almost stopped here a second time before leaving town, but figured I'd wait for another trip. Next time I'll be sure to try one of the milkshakes all you other yelpers were raving about.
(4)Marianne V.
Locals say Jimmy Buffet wrote "Cheeseburger in Paradise" after he visited from his nearby home in Aspen. The burgers and fries are as good as "In and Out Burger," and the scenery is just a bonus. For the adveturous, try Buffalo burgers.
(5)Paul C.
I hate giving bad reviews, even when well deserved, but after waiting for 45 minutes to get shakes and the employees not knowing how to count their own ticket numbers in order (someone who showed up 20 minutes after us got their shakes before our group, and another right behind us got their before as well), I would not recommend anyone go here ever. 25 minutes in, they told me the ice cream machine was making "soggy" ice cream. Yes, they used that word. I can get a steak quicker! I would give it a zero star, but that is not an option on Yelp. Save your time and money and go elsewhere, anywhere else!
(1)Hannah W.
This is a drive-in burger place in Glenwood Springs... If you don't have huge expectations - it's is a OK place to dine at. It's pretty cheap, my sister and I both got a burger and it was huge. Seems like there were some new staff so ordering/getting the food was a bit slow. The burger is kind of soaked in sauce, good thing if you like the flavor. I personally would ask them to put less sauce on it if I ever return.
(3)Allen C.
SUCH POTENTIAL!!!! This place food is ok. Problem is you will wait, wait, wait and then wait. Food is good but not worth 30-45min. Just a bunch of kids who don't care much, real management stepped in it would be a goldmine
(3)Ron U.
This is the second time I've visited this place. First time was over 30 mins in the drive thru, second time was about 20. I realize it's cook to order, but I'm writing this review after the second chance I gave them. The most over-priced and underwhelming 'drive-in' I've ever visited. Their Charcoal Cheesesteak was $8, and they serve it on a bun!! The staff could care less about expediency, seemingly they were all barely legal to work, and one person spoke English. Money better spent elsewhere.
(2)Balie Z.
my burger was juicy as shit couldn't help but spill some of that shit on my lap. onion rings: 10. Zach K. your wet dog comment is just unnecessary right now, go take a lap. ps - bubble gum swirl cone tastes like strawberry, I'd recommend the black cherry. have a good one, yelpers.
(5)Tim B.
Go climb hanging lake and then stop here to refuel. The patty melt is the bomb, ask for a triple.
(4)Becca P.
Silly me going to a burger joint on a diet! The boys all seemed happy enough with their burgers and fries, but not blown away. I was pleasantly surprised they knew what a lettuce wrapped burger was, but then I made the mistake of ordering a garden salad. Lettuce, onion, tomato and.... pickles? And no dressing..lol. Guess they don't sell many salads! Chili was also just so so. Didn't get ice cream so can't comment on that, but over all, I thought this place over priced for the quality. There are better places to eat in Glenwood.
(3)Donna M.
I stopped here hoping that my burger would really taste like it had been grilled on charcoal. It does! My burger tastes like the kind I make at home. I ordered a single with mayo, mustard, ketchup, pickle, tomato and bacon, no cheese, and a small order of fries. The fries have ridges and are fantastic. Perfectly cooked and salted. They also have shakes and malts. Now I'm sorry I didn't try one.
(5)Abraham L.
I would have to agree with Paul on this one. I'll add that not only did we wait over a half an hour for a few shakes I ordered a cup of just plain ice cream. The kid that just handled money with out washing his hands made a cone for me. When I mentioned that it was wrong and I prefer he wash his hands prior to handling food he put the cone in a cup and said here you go. When I asked for a manager no one was available. Rude and no customer service in the horizon. If you're looking for a decent burger joint check out the GRIND.
(1)Mary M.
We stopped here on a Sunday night at about 4:15 and waited only about 10 minutes. The burgers are large and fresh. The French fries are the crinkle cut type and are cooked until crispy. The drive thru window is a little slower than other fast food places but the food is so much better that it's worth the wait. They also have thick shakes and soft serve ice cream.
(4)Julie K.
I don't usually leave reviews, but this little gem deserves it. Great chargrilled burgers, fried mushrooms and onion rings! The shakes are wonderful. Don't be in a hurry when you go though. It's VERY popular for it's small size, but COMPLETELY worth the wait.
(5)Steve N Rebecca S.
Last time I ate here was almost 4-5 years ago and it was the best burger ever. Went through town and remembered how awesome the last burger was and stopped. What a huge disappointment! The burger was cooked so well done, it had no flavor at all! Threw most of it away. Ordered a vanilla shake and that didn't even have any flavor! Now I know why they haven't been voted best burger since 2010!
(1)Collina W.
Best burger joint on the Western Slope...and that's no lie. Your order is prepared fresh so there's a bit of a wait, but it's well worth it. The burgers are juicy and cooked just right. You have your choice of beef, turkey or elk with your choice of condiments and cheese. The onion rings are crispy and fried to perfection. There are lots of other choices on the menu, though - something for everyone.
(5)Eric N.
YUMMY!! #1- Tasty burgers. Onion rings a bit on'N the greasy side. The burgers made up for this minor shortcoming. #2- Love that it's off the 'beaten path' and not stuck in the middle of the tourist dstrict. #3-Really enjoyed the 50's Diner motif. One of the burgers I've had in a long time. Fresh and tasty. 3 thumbs up!
(5)B M.
The food was average, the wait long, and service terrible. We had to tell the person taking our order, a couple of times that we wanted milkshakes. They gave us sodas the first time, then forgot the milkshakes the second time we reminded them. It was also very expensive for a burger joint.
(2)Julia B.
The place is super cool looking modern dive drive in burger joint. The burgers were good. Def. Chargrilled. Crispy and dark with fresh veggies on top. Everyone liked their burgers a lot. I would say they are way better than a typical fast food place but right on perfect for a place like this. The service is pretty slow. I think they only have a couple people in there. The fries were yummy crispy and warm but crinkle cut fried so a little odd and mushy inside. I liked the fries but it seems they should be not krinkle. Fresh cut would be perrrfect. A fun excursion for the FAM after a day at the hot springs.
(3)Phoebe T.
The wait is a little long, sure, but that's what makes this a drive thru restaurant and not a fast food joint. The burgers are wonderful, not a single complaint. The fries are crispy and not overly salted, and I actually like the crinkle cut a lot. The customer service wasn't remarkable, but it didn't bring down the overall experience. I would highly recommend this place!
(5)Kayda H.
I notice a lot of people complaining about the wait time. I don't think they realize that every burger is hand pressed and cooked to order! I thoroughly enjoyed my visit, the staff was friendly and as quick as they could be. That burger may well have been the best burger I've ever had! And you could tell that it's a vintage, family owned drive in, how cute! You're doing just fine, Charcoal Burger. Just fine. :)
(5)Sam S.
It is true that the wait here is a bit long, but it is totally worth it. The burgers are cooked to order and all the sides (onion rings, cheese curds, fries) are piping hot when you get your order. I have stopped in here on several occasions and have never been disappointed.
(4)Mariah E.
We love this place, it's our Saturday night date dinner! Only problem for me is that it takes SSSSOOOO long to get food! It's all teenagers working here, and I bet the burgers arent even all that good, but we love it! Take a chance, you might be there on a really good day...or.....maybe not!!! If you are a stickler for high quality food, it would probably be best to go elsewhere!!
(3)Zach K.
The food was soooo bad...the grill was dirty or tasted like the burger was rolled on a wet dog.. the fries and onion rings were cooked in old oil and for too long...the bright spot was the cheap ice cream shakes...hope you have a toilet.
(1)Jessica J.
Every single place we ate at in Glenwood has a long wait, but this is one place I actually think it was worth the wait! Charcoalburger sits off highway 6. You can actually see it from 70W. It is your basic old time drive through/walk up window burger joint. The menu is pretty basic and has all the usual suspects (burgers, fries, onion rings, soft serve). We did the walk up window and sat on picnic tables in front. It took a good 20 minutes or more to get the order and while we sat, their drive through backed up to the street. Burgers have that great charred taste. Onion rings are big and taste fresh. The french fries are a little plain and crinkle cut. All in all I loved it. It had a throw back feel and the food was great. If you can handle a wait, I would say it is a must stop in Glenwood!
(4)Theresa B.
have heard nothing but good things about this place for years. Finally had the time to stop while driving through to check it out. not worth it, keep driving. After waiting in line 20 minutes behind just 2 people, we finally ordered 2 burgers, 2 fries, 2 malts & an ice cream cone. It came to a bit over $27. it took 45 mins before we got the food- and NO FRIES!!! we questioned it & were told we didn't order any, even though he repeated it back to us, sure enough it wasn't on our receipt, so $27 didn't even include fries. The kid asked if we wanted to place another order for fries & my husband said no he didn't want to wait another 45 mins. We took our food & sat down at the outdoor seating area, which apparently hadn't been wiped down for awhile- it was food covered & sticky. Took a drink of my malt and it was sloshy & warm, obviously made right away & left sitting on the counter while our food cooked. The hamburgers were ok, nothing special- definitely not $27 good. The teenage boys working were rude, incompetent & didn't pay attention to anyone's orders. There were 3 other wrong orders in the hour and a half that we were there and lots of people complaining about the wait. You shouldn't have to wait 45 mins for a hamburger anywhere, let alone warm shakes & with bad service. Can say I will keep driving by next time- right to Burger King or Dairy Queen!
(1)Gabriel C.
Ordered a #1 with blue cheese, cheese sticks, and an oreo shake that were amazing. The batter of the cheese sticks was almost sweet and had a ton of flavor. One of the creamiest shakes I've had which was a + because I don't like thick shakes that won't go through a straw. I would eat here again and try the elk or buffalo burger patty.
(4)Tim S.
This place was a total let down. An over priced sloppy mess! Way to expensive for the poor quality. We ordered green chili burgers and thought they messed up our order because the green chili ended up being a small blob in the center. Orders take a very long time and are just sort of thrown together. Likely because it's mostly staffed with high school kids. I don't recall having much concern for quality or sanitation when I was in high school which makes ya' wonder. I don't think I'd return. Which is too bad because this place used to be amazing before it was taken over by new owners.
(1)Jason J.
This would have been 5 stars if it weren't for the 30 minute wait to get our food. I absolutely loved the burger and fries here. Everything was cooked exactly how I like with a nice charcoal taste to it. I haven't been to a classic drive in since I was a kid so this definitely took me back. A nice walk up window and a huge covered area with picnic tables to eat at. I have no idea what was going on in the car line, but I didn't see it move for at least 30 minutes. Then once the car in front left the rest of them went right thru. I can definitely see why you'd wait tho!
(4)Michelle B.
This place is a little gem! We even went back out of our way because we liked it so much! Burgers are awesome and they customize it for you the way you like. After a long day of kayaking, I got a chili cheese burger and added onions and pickles, it reminded me of tommy's (but better)! My sister got a bacon cheese burger (also delish)! Service is great and everyone there is local and chill. We came back and the girl who worked their wrote a "Nice to see you again" on our burger wrapper! I thought that was a really awesome gesture! Will definately be back when we are in Colorado! Thanks to the awesome staff for a yummy time!
(5)Josh S.
The staff is absolutely terrible! The food average at best! Dirty, dirty, dirty! They gave us the wrong order and when I went to return it and get the right order the woman working completely ignored me and finally demanded a receipt as proof of purchase - it had been like a minute since we pulled through, REALLY A RECEIPT! I'm giving you the wrong order back!!! She ended up giving me whatever was available in the end a burnt burger! This place is a joke steer clear you've been warned!
(1)Sara G.
Vicco's has been around a long time, and I know why - the burgers, fries, onion rings, shakes and probably everything is awesome! Everyone was super happy with their food, and their green chili cheese fries made my smile for days. I liked eating outside and the old drive-in atmosphere.
(3)Brig A.
I am surprised that the reviews of this place were this high. The burgers tasted ironically like charcoal. We ordered and expected the food to come in about five minutes, but it turned out to take nearly 1/2 an hour. This is a drive up place. I felt really bad for the people in the drive thru window. Unfortunately for me I ordered the triple burger and brought friends since it was highly rated on yelp. Well, three burgers just meant that I got to eat that much more burnt meat. The shake was pretty good, which raised them from one star to two stars.
(2)Troy M.
I was expecting more when we waited 25 minutes in the drive up line and we were the second car. Staff had no sense of urgency. Playing around with each other instead of focusing on getting a good meal delivered fast. Probably won't come back...
(1)Amy D.
Some friends and I were headed to Grand Junction and stopped by Vicco's on our way. We weren't interested in the other fast food options and weren't in the mood for a real "sit down" experience. This place seemed like a happy medium. The service was a little slow and the prices a little high (over $38 for three burgers, a large fry, small onion rings and three drinks), but everything was still really tasty. The onion rings rocked and the fries were all right - the burgers were HUGE with a variety of toppings. I'd recommend this place if you're passing through and find yourself hungry. Probably not something to go out of your way for, but worth it if you're in the area.
(3)Troy W.
I now live in Southern California, but grew-up in Carbondale. 35 years ago, it was a treat for my parents to take my brother Shawn and I to the drive-in movies out in Glenwood. We would always stop at Charcoal Burger and load up on food just before pulling into the drive-in. Recently, I got to take my own kids to Colorado to show them where I spent my childhood. Many things had changed ...the drive-in movie theater was gone, but to my surprise the Charcoal Burger was still standing! My burger had the same amazing charcoal taste as it did 35 years ago. I loved it and so did my kids. This place has stood the test of time! It was beyond cool to share this place with my family.
(5)Ana M.
Stopped here on a whim while driving down I70. Got a plain burger with Smoke Sauce, fries and a chocolate shake. Everything hit the spot. The burger was excellent, really juicy and despite not being topped with a ton of ingredients, it was super flavorful. The fries were nice and crispy and the shake was nice and thick. I would totally recommend this place to anyone road tripping in the area. Skip the regular fast food. This is an adorable place to stop in for a quick bite.
(5)Chris F.
I was driving thru town, wanted a burger & fry and wanted to see what this place is about. I have been here 2 times and regret to say that there is absolutely nothing special about this place except the drive thru facade. The burgers are frozen patties put on a flat grill and the fries are just as mediocre.
(2)Allison S.
Mom n Pop stop! The ordering is awkward at first but I like it. You will wait for awhile but it's worth it! Tons of options and ice cream/shake options are great too. Friendly and great prices. Next time I'm in Glenwood I will for sure stop in!!!
(4)Daniel R.
It's a neat looking burger joint (old school style) in the middle of the rocky mountains. Their vanilla milkshake was pretty good too. The rating is high for its aesthetics, not so much the food.
(4)Sharon T.
I don't even know where to begin with this one. Well, we were vacationing in Glenwood and got in later in the evening. Found this cute little place and I was stoked (I love a good burger and fries). As we waited for the young men to cook our food it occurred to me that I was watching my frozen solid bison burger patty get fried on a flat grill, at a "charcoal" restaurant. We took our food back to our room and the disappointment did not end with the lack of charcoal cooking. My husband ordered the elk burger, which I was against to begin with because I knew there was no way possible it was even remotely fresh (we were definitely not in season to have fresh elk). Just, ew. You could taste the freezer burn and that was all you could taste, no salt, no pepper, no elk - for the natural flavor had been leeched out from being frozen for so long. The tomatoes had no flavor either, adding to our unexpected disappointment of what looked like a promising dinner as it has been around for many years. The fries were decent, then again, it's a freakin fried potato, if you can screw that up you need to quit while you're ahead. The shakes were not bad either, but again, this is ice cream that you mix up with a shake machine. I would love for the owners to take responsibility for their ineptness a running a restaurant that is a historic site, make it worth it! Even better, bring in someone who can point out these VERY obvious flaws and fix it! Until then, I suggest people pay a lot less money and eat at Burger King (yeah it was THAT bad). Or, if you have the time and want a mean burger from an authentic 50's style establishment, pop on down to Milts in Moab, UT. They have AMAZING burgers and still use their original cash register!!
(1)Tres B.
EXCELLENT burgers from an old mom and popper. with, hand formed ptties and fire grilled. Juicy, smoky, scary good. The wait, however is SOOOOOOOO LOOOOOOONG. One reason is one lame speaker right near the window. If they' d put anoher further back they would cut the rediculous wait times in half. Still and all its truly is worth the wait. Charbroiled burger, I love thee.
(4)Devin S.
Hello fellow Yelpers. We're passing thru West Glenwood and checked out your reviews of this place. Our order is in, 2 burgers, large fries and drinks, for only $20.80! We'll see how it tastes.
(3)Shaw S.
Very tasty burgers. Made to order fresh. Good ole timey drive in style hangout. Will definitely come back.
(5)Nick S.
This place has decent burgers and good prices. However there's nothing really special about it, except that you feel a bit better going here over McDonalds because it feels "local". You definitely don't walk away with that deeply satisfied feeling you get after having a truly amazing burger; you're kind of just happy that you're not hungry anymore.
(3)David M.
Burgers were really good! Had onion rings on the side, vey tasty. Other posts said wait time was long but only had to wait about 10-12 min.... We were there around 1-1:30. Overall great place for a fresh made burger!
(4)Nick Z.
I want to give Charcoalburger a good review, but the service was awful. There were only two cars in line when we drove up, and it still took over 25 minutes to get our food. Ordered a buffalo cheese burger, fries and a malt, and the total came to $17. Overpriced for what I expect from a drive in. Burger and malt was good and the fries were soggy. We sat at the window for about 10 minutes, watching the group of high school guys try and get an order ready, only to see them fumble around and "forget" that the malt machine was on until it was spilling all over the floor. Hilarious for me to watch, but still frustrating as we were trying to get out on the road. Overall, next time I'm in Glenwood Springs I'll be looking for a different burger place.
(2)Adam K.
Very good, HUGE burgers. They certainly take their time making them though. We waited a while for our food but it was great. We both had a milkshake and it was tasty as well. I would go back again. Prices were very reasonable too.
(4)Thomas A.
Food is awesome, huge downside though is that i'm pretty sure they slaughter and butcher the cows on-site. 25 minutes from order to food...IN THE DRIVE THROUGH!!!
(3)Amy K.
Great drive-in style burgers, fries, and rings.
(4)Bill O.
My wife's fav burger joint in CO, so we HAD to stop in and check it out. Man, talk about a blast back into the '50's mindset. Drive through or walk-up only. The menu consists of "single, double, triple", and allows adding cheese, bacon, and other misc "stuff". FOOLISHLY, I ordered a double cheeseburger w/bacon, while the wife and pops had a single. We ordered a large bag o'fries, with (sigh) diet cokes (apparently, pepsi didn't exist in the '50's in this part of the world, judging from the MASSIVE coke signage). The burgers, were, in a word, excellent. And, in another word(s), FRIGGING HUUUUUUUUGE! My double coulda fed a family of eight. I literally ate about 1/3 of it, and, as excellent as it was, had to leave the rest. Just tooooo much excellence. The large bag o'fries? REALLY large. Think safeway shopping bag. We left at least half of those. So truly, an excellent burger joint. And truly, think small. REALLY small. Otherwise, you're gonna waste a lot of food.
(4)K.K. L.
Several locals recommended this place for burgers. We were looking forward to a great burger. Instead we had some of the worst burgers we've ever had. My beef burger was extremely dry and burnt! My friend had an elk burger that was the same. The fries were average. All of this after a 20 minute wait! Not fresh. Not fast. And extremely overpriced ($18 for two burgers, one small fry and no drinks).
(1)Ramon G.
Easy review. Delicious burgers and shakes. Sooo hard to choose. Beef, Buffalo or Elk burgers. Single or double.... It's all good. Wash it down with a shake and share an order of onion rings. Thick Juicy burgers right off of I-70. Before I make my way back to Denver this is a must stop. Drive-thru or sit down. Prices are a little high but worth it.
(4)Britany W.
I absolutely love this place... as long as it's cold outside. I understand it's a drive in kind of deal, however I will not eat here if it's warm enough for bugs. Not the kind of toppings I'm looking for on a burger and the flies swarm the place in the summer.
(3)Daniel d.
This is a must do! There is something real good about this dive.
(5)Rod S.
Inexpensive but solid drive in food. Family of four and the bill was about 30 bucks. We had time to spare until we went whitewater rafting so tried it out. I had the chili burger which was very filling and messy, which was a good thing. No complaints at all except the interstate traffic noise but that isn't a big deal.
(3)Josh B.
I walked over to Charcoalburger Drive In from my hotel after not eating all day, and I proceeded to order a double elk burger, large fries and a chocolate shake. Service is SLOW, but I lucked out by getting there just before the crowd. Then the bill arrived; $18.95? OUCH. How do the locals eat here? My elk burger was very very well done, on the verge of being dried out. The fries were barely cooked and the chocolate shake was excellent. All in all, my meal was slightly better than average. I wouldn't go back, even if I found myself in Glenwood Springs again. You're paying NYC prices for mediocre food. The place was also a pig sty. I spent more time chasing flies and bees away from my food than eating. Not an appetizing environment, to say the least.
(2)Bo H.
It's a really decent burger/fries joint. Lots of stuff on the menu. And the locals seem to love it. I was here on a Wed and there was a wait. So, don't be in a hurry. Everything is cooked to order- I waited in the drive thru for 10 min before placing an order, then another 10 waiting for food. If it was quicker, I'd give 'em more stars.
(3)Patrick A.
Cool burger stop. Says its been here since 1953. I love spots that have stayed in business that long. I went with the #5 with double meet you can choose turkey, beef, buffalo or Elk. The burger was huge! The onion rings were delicious and the milk shake was good definetly worth a stop.
(4)John M.
Was in glenwood springs on vacation. We ate here twice. The first time we had milkshakes and malts which were both really good. The next day we came for hamburgers. The hamburgers were great. One of my party members even got a buffalo burger that was pretty good. Would definately eat here again the next time I'm in town.
(5)Callie M.
Wait is WAY too long for what you get. The burgers are good, but not spectacular, and I wish the people taking the orders could speak English a bit better. Having said that, I go here when I'm in town and want a takeout lunch. Love the old retro feel.
(3)Hailey G.
I would return I loved the burger it hit the spot and fries simple but delicious. I wouldn't get a large again tho!
(4)Peter T.
People seem to be love or hate on this joint, but I am just a solid 'good'. This is how it broke down for my family of six. $37.50 for cost. Three single burgers (one traditional, one mushroom/swiss, and one with ketchup, mustard and pickles), one hot dog, large order of fries, large order of rings, two small shakes and a large coke. We like to share when we go out as a family because most restaurants serve huge portions. Charcoal is definitely generous. Service was good. Nothing special, just friendly and quick. We only had to wait 15 minutes for freshly cooked food. I never eat fast food...ever. Shakes were top notch and I highly recommend. Burgers were cooked medium, 'hot dog' was actually unique and cut into thirds and served on a hamburger bun. I could see us going again when back in GS, but won't be raving or anything to my friends.
(3)Velma T.
Great burger made with fresh ground beef. Very REAL. You can get a good burger lots of places, even at a huge chain, but often it's the "secret sauce" etc. that makes it delicious. At Charcoalburger the meat is what makes their burgers great, and isn't that the point? I also ordered chili cheese fries. They are made with good chili and real cheese but this is an ENORMOUS portion, do NOT order these as a side unless you plan to share them. However, they serve crinkle cut fries, fun to look at but disappointing to eat - maybe just skip the fries, the burgers are pretty big anyway. Or get a double, or order a milkshake. Or resign yourself to frozen fries, whatever. Charcoalburger will prepare your food ahead if you call them, and if you do, park and go to the walk-up window to get it, because that car in front of you will probably be waiting a while. The wait here is no joke. p.s. "smoke sauce" = bbq sauce.
(4)Heather V.
I've been here once, and was convinced to never give it a second chance. My friend and I, and two of her kids went here one night. $40 to feed four people, two of them kids, at a fast food establishment is a little expensive to me. It took FOREVER to get our food. Now I know why...when we got home, we found that every single thing that we ordered was BURNT. It was disgusting. Our $40 in food went directly in the garbage can. Don't bother complaining, they give you a run around about calling here and calling there, and you never get anywhere.
(1)John M.
We were passing through and my wife begged me to take her here for a burger and malt. Need I say more?
(5)Jack H.
From the Bow Tie King comes this dy-no-mite drive in. Now this is change we can believe in. Voted 'Best In America' by critics, can see why. I'm happier than a chef with a new knife. Make this a visit on your way to Little Nell's or The St. Regis, as one can't groceries this good there.
(5)Emily S.
We liked it, but wish they gave more fries!
(3)David R.
I used to eat here in the late 70s when we lived in the area. We made special trips to Glenwood Springs to go here and to the drive-in theater that used to be nearby. I was driving through Glenwood Springs and decided to stop here. The burger and onion rings were great. We stopped at lunch rush hour on a Tuesday and they were still reasonbly fast at getting the food to us.
(4)Andrew D.
This place is a throwback to the old days of drive-ups and the food is okay. You can order many different burger sizes and customize all the toppings you want. You can walk up or sit in your car to order. Average burgers, good onion rings, and good malts. It's not fine dining but they don't pretend to be, burgers is what they do best and that's what you should go here for!
(1)Megan L.
eh. that's allll i have to say. i was disappointed. my best friend told me to go here when i told her my family and i were going to glenwood springs. she raved about their onion rings and fries. well, i am hoping they were out of their "amazing" fries because what we got after the ridiculous wait were crinkle cut, stale, saltless fries. my brother got an elk burger, so did my dad and mom. they said they were pretty great. i got chicken strips which were mcdonalds esque. i mean they werent horrid, but not great. if i'm back in the area again, i wont be going back unless its for a shake, which i didnt get the chance to try.
(2)Fallon V.
I have been eating here ever since I can remember. Charcoalburger truly is a rare gem. Even though it's seen a few owners, it stays the same. If you drive by and see a line, keep in mind that it isn't going to go as fast as McD's or some other chain. Everything is made when you order it so it takes a minute. That's okay because when you get it, it is piping hot and oh so delicious! Make sure you get a malt (or a shake if that's your preference), they have lots o' flavors including black cherry and pineapple which are my personal faves. Have fun in your mini time warp back to how fast food was meant to be!
(5)Bill Y.
I think the mixed reviews indicate spotty service. We called in an order for a kids burger, double #4 and small fries and cheese curds. The kids burger was cooked nicely but both patties on the double were overcooked. They had great flavor but I hate a well done burger. The fries and curds were good and I was amazed at the size of the small fries. I'd definitely eat here again but I wouldn't go out of my way to do so.
(3)Matt L.
It's just what road food should be. You can drive right up, order a delicious burger, fries and shake and eat it right there in your car. And none of it tastes like chain-food. The elk burger here is one of the best burgers I've had. Pineapple shake was awesome. Great view, too.
(5)Shawn R.
best elk burger ive had but to be fair i havent had alot of them because its rarely an option....they also have buffalo....you get a thick piece of meat but the rest of the burger is pretty standard....they are a little slow but its worth it....3.5 stars
(3)Tim S.
This place was a total let down. An over priced sloppy mess! Way to expensive for the poor quality. We ordered green chili burgers and thought they messed up our order because the green chili ended up being a small blob in the center. Orders take a very long time and are just sort of thrown together. Likely because it's mostly staffed with high school kids. I don't recall having much concern for quality or sanitation when I was in high school which makes ya' wonder. I don't think I'd return. Which is too bad because this place used to be amazing before it was taken over by new owners.
(1)Nick S.
This place has decent burgers and good prices. However there's nothing really special about it, except that you feel a bit better going here over McDonalds because it feels "local". You definitely don't walk away with that deeply satisfied feeling you get after having a truly amazing burger; you're kind of just happy that you're not hungry anymore.
(3)David M.
Burgers were really good! Had onion rings on the side, vey tasty. Other posts said wait time was long but only had to wait about 10-12 min.... We were there around 1-1:30. Overall great place for a fresh made burger!
(4)