Peters' Drive-In Calgary
• 219 - 16 Ave NE | Calgary, AB | T2E 1J9
Average User Rating:
7.22/10
7.22/10
Recommended by:
66%
66%
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"Best Milk Shakes"
Carlee
September 2011 — "Peter's drive in has been a Calgary favorite for many years.
The line ups sometimes can be a bit too much if going on a spring or hot summer day.
It is walk up only, but there are many places to sit outside on picnic tables, or you can always park and eat in your car.
Peter's drive in is famous for their hot off the grill burgers with their famous BBQ sauce. And their mouth watering Milk Shakes.
They have over 40 flavors to choose from and you also have the choice to combine flavors!
Sometimes when you order a burger you may get an extra patty or two.
I love their big onion rings with dip, and their fries.
My favorite milk shake is the chocolate banana. All milkshakes made with natural and real ingredients is a plus because I know its all good stuff.
All food made hot and ready to go. Fresh and delicious!"
User Rating
8.33/10
8.33/10
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"Classic burgers and shakes"Henry
August 2011 — "Peters Drive In is probably one of the most well known restaurants in Calgary even though it is only a drive thru burger joint. (There is a dining area but it is outside and consists of a few benches.) It is popular in the summer time for people to hang out and enjoy an old fashioned hamburger or one of their signature milkshakes. Personally I have never been a big fan of their burgers. In the summer time it is easy enough to grill up a hamburger at home and the quality of their burgers is nothing special. Peters Drive In does have big burgers but they are more flat than anything else without much taste or extra ingredients besides a pickle and some ketchup. The real treat at Peters is their milkshakes and onion rings. There are amount flavours of milkshakes than I can count and they are made thick almost the texture of melted ice cream. The onion rings are gigantic and could probably fit around my wrist. Skip the burger and order just onion rings and milkshake it will fill you right up."
User Rating
8/10
8/10
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"Yummy milkshakes!"
Dolly
August 2011 — "After dinner we went for dessert at the very well known must-go-to Peter's Drive In. I have been a regular patron of Peter's and love their burgers and thick, greasy fries and especially their milkshakes! Usually there are long line-ups if you choose to go up to their windows rather than go through the drive through. However, today, on a week night, there was hardly any line and we quickly ordered and quickly got our order. Their assortment of flavours for milkshakes range from oreo to maple walnut to lime to orange. I decided to mix lemon and raspberry as that sounded like a familiar type of tart or specialty dessert. It was delicious and was still delicious hours later! The smoothness and thickness of the milkshake has always been consistent throughout the years. The lemon and raspberry mixed very well and both are bursting with the fruitiness! I love Peter's Drive in and the old school feel is always a delight to come back to! "
User Rating
8.33/10
8.33/10
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"Amazing Place!"
Elaine
June 2011 — "I love Peter’s Drive In! When people from all around Canada come to Calgary, I always have to tell them to try Peter’s. The milkshakes, what they are famous for, are always such an amazing treat and still the best I’ve had compared to anywhere else. Sure, their food is more than a little greasy and their burgers are a little squished when you get them but this is a drive in so I don’t care too much for the appearance or health when I’m licking the salt off my fingers! This is definitely my comfort food place where I treat myself! I almost always take my friends here when they come visit. Their portions are also very large so be sure to share with your friends. It’s so nice that this place hasn’t become a large chain and I hope that it continues to hold up it’s good reputation. "
User Rating
8.33/10
8.33/10
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"Amazing place!"
elaine
June 2011 — "I love Peter’s! When people from around Canada come to Calgary, I always tell them to try Peter’s. The milkshakes, what they are famous for, is always such a treat and still the best I’ve had compared to anywhere else. Sure, their food is a little greasy and their burgers are a little squished when you get them but this is a drive-in so I don’t care too much for the appearance or health when I’m licking the salt off my fingers! This is definitely my comfort food place where I treat myself! I almost always take my friends here when they come visit from out of town. Their portions are also very large so be sure to share with your friends. It’s so nice that this place hasn’t become a large chain and I hope that it continues to hold up it’s good reputation. "
User Rating
8.67/10
8.67/10
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"best shakes in town"
Ken
April 2011 — "This place is as traditional as it is delightful,Peters Drive-in is your best bet to summer fun and eats.This place is like a shrine in Calgary,everyone is familiar with its classic drive thru style,busy line ups and oversized food.But hey,its worth the wait,just be warned,so plan for it thinkin almost like its a little vacation.The reason why this place is so good is because the food tastes so savory and the burgers are huge.When you order a box of fries even their small size is bigger than most extra large sizes.Great family joint.We as a family plan for it as a special treat.I always order their onion rings.I think they are the best in town.Same with their shakes.Dozens of flavours you can mix them and make weird combos.The place is just fantastic and gives off a real positive vibe especially in the summer.People of all ages come its a shame they couldn't open a second location to feed all the hungry herds of people,but I guess that would take away from its unique nostalgia.Plan for it and see what all the fuss is really all about."
User Rating
9.83/10
9.83/10
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"Always a classic! "
Lindsay
October 2010 — "We stopped by Peter's on a Sunday afternoon to grab some food. We went through the drive thru as it was pretty chilly outside. Our order was taken very efficiently and was repeated back clearly. I ordered a double cheese burger, onion rings and a chocolate banana shake. I was very pleased to find that the shake had REAL banana in it, not artificial syrup. It was extremely thick and more than enough for one person. What a great milkshake! The burger was huge, very flavorful and smothered in sauce. The onion rings were crisp and served generously in a paper bag. Nothing about the meal was disappointing. I do find Peter's to be a bit pricey though. For a burger, onion rings and a shake, it was almost $13!!! The quality is undeniable though and we were moved through the drive thru quickly. Our food was hot and fresh and upon looking in through the window, the kitchen looked very clean and organized. Peter's is a classic in Calgary and although a bit on the expensive side, it's always worth it! The food is GREAT! "
User Rating
8.17/10
8.17/10
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"Good Burgers"
Jason
November 2009 — "
What can I say about Peter’s Drive In that Calgary doesn’t already know? Its been a long fixture in this City for as long as I can remember. Conveniently, located and highly visible on 16th Avenue NE, they do a great job of just luring you in when you are driving home from work. Every time I have family or friends visiting from out of town, Peter’s Drive In is always on the list of places to show them. The burgers, milk shakes, fries and onion rings have not changed since I started eating here a decade ago. The single cheese burger I ordered, as always comes with 1.5 patties, which to this day, I never figured out why. But hey, its like a bonus half burger. On the side, I ordered a butterscotch milk shake and onion rings. A warning from those who are indecisive, as you can spend hours in front of the milk shake menu trying to decide which combination you want. The prices are more expensive than your typical fast food joint, but offers a unique experience if you have never come before. You can park your car, walk up to the outdoor windows, place your order than eat your food at a nearby picnic table (If its not winter!)
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User Rating
8.67/10
8.67/10
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"Sloppy burgers, great milk shakes"Susan
September 2009 — "Peters Drive-In is quite overrated, but this doesn't mean they serve bad burgers. Their burgers are actually OK and highly edible. I don't get that sick feeling I usually get from eating burgers at actual fast food chains, so that's a big plus side for going to Peters Drive-In. The burgers are always very sloppy and messy looking but they aren't bad. I usually get a cheese burger that comes with 1 and a half patties (kind of strange). I think the best thing about Peters Drive-In is the milk shakes! They are super thick, fresh and good. They also offer buckets of fries, and good onion rings. The cost is not so bad and comparable to other fast food chains. I would recommend Peters Drive-In if you're in the area and need a fast food fix. However, if you think you're going to find the best burger ever, Peters Drive-In ain't it. "
User Rating
6.80/10
6.80/10
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"Great Burgers"
Mary
August 2009 — "My boyfriend and I drove here after I had a sudden craving for a big burger. The burgers here are huge! Actually, everything they serve is big at Peter's Drive In. This joint is a classic in Calgary, one of its kind to get fries, burgers, and in particular milkshakes. These are the one thing worth talking about. They're just over $4 and they are so thick that you really have to put effort to get anything out of the straw. There's a lot of variety and selection for their milkshakes and they're great if you want something really thick and filling. You'd think for a meal it wouldn't be that expensive but it really adds up just because everything is really big. There's either a regular or a large which is seriously huge. It feeds a family of five is what they tell you. The ladies are really efficient and fast so that's great, although be prepared to wait just because line ups are long. Overall, I will definitely be going there again when the urge strikes me for a milk shake or I just want fries to share. Give it a try if you haven't already!"
User Rating
8.50/10
8.50/10
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"A Calgary Original"Mary
July 2009 — "This is Calgary's very own burger joints that everyone raves about. Even University of Calgary offers a food culture course that takes students on field trips to try out various eateries and Peter's is on that list. When summer rolls around, it is always really busy and filled with people of all ages. When we went, it was just the same. We had to wait in line for our large fries, their renown shakes and burgers. It seems like it is a surprise more than half of the time. Even though you order a normal burger, don't be surprised if you come back with a double. We are no usuals, but when I go, the servers are usually very nice and pleasant. After you grab the order, there are picnic tables (very summery) and after observing, you will see that many people opt for the car to eat their burgers. It's a pretty good burger. Very big, but I think a lot of people like it because it is a Calgary original. "
User Rating
7/10
7/10
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"The Best Milkshakes!"Nicole
July 2009 — "If you have never been to Peter’s Drive In you do not know what you’re missing. Peter’s has been in business for over forty years and still runs things the old fashioned way. You can order though the drive thru of the walk up window, but there is no interior sitting, only picnic tables and of course, a parking lot! At my most recent visit to Peter’s I ordered their single cheese burger, onion rings and chocolate banana milk shake. Peter’s burgers are simple but delicious and much bigger than you expect when you order. A single burger always comes with two patties, ketchup, mustard, relish and bbq sauce. Their single serving of onion rings is huge and if you’ve never had a Peter’s milkshake before, you should know right now they are probably the best in the world, and come in any flavour combination you can think of. Their prices are very reasonable for the amount of food you receive, but bring cash. Peter’s doesn’t do that fancy Interac either.
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User Rating
9.17/10
9.17/10
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"Yum!"Tony
July 2009 — "After a crazy, busy hot weekend in Calgary we decided to forget about cooking and head on down to Peters for a burger and milk shake. This is a big treat for me, because although it is one of my all time favorites - my wife is not a big fan! That changed tonight for sure! We each had a burger, milk shake fries and onion rings - all very good! She even commented on how good her burger was! We mistakenly ordered a large fries to split between 5 of us...a word to the wise...a large fries could literally feed 10+ people. But thats cool....it was so yummy and I am always in the frame of mind of better too much than to little!
We had heard a lot of complaints about the new owners....how it wasn't the same! But our vote is better! Yummy burgers, fries, milkshakes, onion rings....fast great service - what more could you ask for on a hot Calgary summer night?!"
User Rating
8.50/10
8.50/10
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"Great Place"Zoey
April 2008 — "Every time I drive past Peters' Drive-In, there is always a line up. It's a popular spot! I've only been there a couple times, but I can see why it's a local fav. The burgers are tasty and fries are good. However, I do want to give a tip in regards to the fries. We ordered large fries and didn't think anything of it until we were handed a bag full of fries. The large fries are huge! They would work well for a family but for one or two people it's too much. A must-try at Peters' is their milkshakes. They have a large variety of interesting flavours. I'm not a huge milkshake fan, but even their flavours got me to buy one."
User Rating
8/10
8/10
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"Milkshakes are good"Claire
April 2008 — "I've been to Peter's a ton over the years. There is a lot of hype about Peter's in Calgary but most of it is just in the experience, as Peter's is such a local favorite. To be honest the burger's are nothing special, but the milkshakes are awesome and come in a huge variety of flavors. "
User Rating
7.17/10
7.17/10
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"Not as good as everyone says"john
March 2008 — "I have been a native Calgarian all my life. My first experience at Peter's was in junior high (back in early 2000's - This was BACK when Peter's was owned by Peter and operated ) . We had for a school lunch in my class..was it good? Yeah but my first impressions were (This was when I was a kid)
a) Large helpings of fries. OK big deal, fries are just fries. Honestly nothing special here.
And they are soggy..over or undersalted..and soaked with grease
b) The burgers are average. Think of someone making a burger from a 1950's BetterCrocker recipe. Generic, bland, and nothing special. Litterally a local baker's bun, a giant flat patty that is dry or unseasoned, ketchup, and some cheese.
c) Milkshakes are good.
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User Rating
3.17/10
3.17/10
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"Something's changed..."Justin
December 2007 — "Something has definitely changed at this Calgary landmark! I took my family over the Christmas holidays, as we all have enjoyed Peter's over the years. This time however, and our first time since the new ownership took over, we noticed some key differences. First thing I noticed was at 6:00, there was no line up in the lanes!!! This is unheard of normally. Secondly, the new owners have changed everything about the one thing that made Peter's famous - their burgers. The patties are now of the run-of-the-mill food service variety. The cheese is no longer the goopy stuff that gets all over your fingers, the sauce is close, but not quite the same. On the up side, you still get a pile of fries, the rings aren't bad, and the shakes haven't been screwed up...yet.
It just doesn't have the same flair nor have they retained that certain something for which I would wait in line 30 minutes or more. I hope they don't end up like Peter's brother Bob...anyone remember Bob's Burgers?"
User Rating
4.50/10
4.50/10
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"Best Burgers Period"Chris
December 2007 — "I've grown up with Peter's Drive Inn. I eat there every Chance I get. Never Anywhere have I found better. Some reviewers try to canpare it to a Fancy over priced Restaurant. You cannot help with all honesty to love Peter's becuase the Burgers there are best.
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User Rating
9.83/10
9.83/10
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"Great Shakes"Carrie
June 2007 — "Reading all of the previous reviews for Peters I thought I would add my 2 cents. In a nutshell; average food, great shakes and a Calgary institution. One additional note: come with cash in hand as they do not take debit. "
User Rating
6.83/10
6.83/10
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"Shakes are the Best"Patti
June 2007 — "A few years a go i came to visit Calgary for the first time. My brother said you have to try Peter's. So we did and boy was i blown away... I loved it so when i came back to visit the next summer with my boyfriend(now husband) i said we have to go to Peter's so we did. ...Well he loved it so much he couldnt wait to come visit Calgary again. Well as it happens we live here now and we make it a once a month thing just to get our fix...yes even in the winter. I thought my cheeks hurt when i smiled too much but when you are sucking up a peter's shake you know that you have quality in your mouth. I tell everyone when they come to visit Calgary. The burgers are great value and you get a load of fries which we always share. For the price of burgers, fries and wicked shakes we don't mind spending a few dollars more. "
User Rating
9.17/10
9.17/10
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"Food not the best...but shakes rock!"Michelle
May 2007 — "After hearing about how I just HAD to try Peter's (once I moved to Calgary) endless times from friends, I decided to try it out. At first I thought they were absolutely right about it being the legendary drive-in it's claimed to be. However, I had bought in to all the hype surrounding the "Peter's" name. I've been back a few times since and have finally decided that I would rather pick up a burger elsewhere. The burgers are soggy and the fries have no taste at all. It's like eating a soggy potato. I admit the milkshakes are nice and thick. Plus, the flavour combinations are endless. Just be careful that you don't pop an artery when trying to suck your shake through your straw."
User Rating
5.17/10
5.17/10
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"no hairnets?"wendi
October 2006 — "Peter's is a classic. Everyone knows it's true. My husband and I never eat fast food except for Peter's. We've convinced ourselves that their burgers aren't as bad for you. I don't know if that is true but they are delish. And the servings are good value for money, the single burger actually having a patty and a half. The large fries is big enough for four people at $6, but a better deal than two $3 smalls: you do the math. There isn't a small milkshake on the menu, but you can order one if the large is too much for you. And you can mix your milkshake flavours so you could get a marshmellow rootbeer pineapple shake (but would you really want to?). Now Peter's has recently changed hands and I am happy to say that the food quality has not changed. However, the service seemed slower and staff weren't wearing hairnets. Isn't that a requirement? At least hats? Fortunately we didn't find hair in our food. It just seemed really weird to me. Even if it is not a requirement, it would make me feel better. And since you can see right into the work area, they should make a better effort to keep the floors and work areas clean. It didn't seem as clean as usual."
User Rating
7.20/10
7.20/10
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"Beware of the Large!"Mike
October 2006 — "On the plus side, Peters' Drive-In serves the biggest, greasiest box of fries I've ever seen -- one large could feed a small army. On the downside, the burgers are average tasting and the place looks tired and in need of a make-over."
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6/10
6/10
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"No idea why this is so popular"Annika
August 2006 — "My dad loves Peters and insists on going here every time he comes to visit Calgary. I am convinced it must be for the nostalgia because it sure can't be for the food. I, on the other hand, can't understand why anyone would want to. The fries are greasy and soggy, the hamburgers are so soggy they should be served in a bowl with a spoon AND they're tasteless. The shakes may come in many flavors, but they taste just like McDonald's - I agree with the "no natural ingredients" comment from an earlier reviewer. The service is slow, and the overall presentation of the place is dirty and old. there are so many better and less expensive places to go - Dairy Queen for one; it may be a fast food chain but the hamburgers are tasty and don't need a bowl. For anyone who is visiting Calgary and has heard they MUST go to Peters, skip it. "
User Rating
2/10
2/10
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"Most over-rated restaurant"Susan
July 2006 — "I took my daughter to Peters because she had come in from out of town and wanted to go back there. During that visit, I was reminded why my husband and I NEVER go there (we have gone in the past to see what the fuss was all about) and cannot understand why it gets the accolades that it does. The burgers and fries are definitely sub-standard - you can get better almost anywhere in town. And the milkshakes are thick because I think there are absolutely no natural ingredients in them. The chemicals must keep them thick. They sure taste as though you are consuming a pure petrochemical product.
However, Peters is an institution. Saying you don't like Peters is similar to saying you are not patriotic or something - it is unacceptable to say it in Calgary! "
User Rating
1.50/10
1.50/10
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"Legendary!"Jennifer
July 2006 — "Peter's is a Calgary landmark. Burgers, fries, milkshakes, sundaes. Ignore your diet, because this food is the real thing. Milkshakes so thick you can barely slurp them through the straw, with about 30 flavours to choose from. A "small" order of fries that feeds two people. Perfect food for a sunny summer's day. (It still tastes good in the winter, but there is no indoor seating, so its a bit cold!)"
User Rating
8.67/10
8.67/10
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"You Always Know What You're Gonna Get!"Sarah
April 2006 — "I am a native Calgarian and have been to Peters so many times over the years. I pretty much know that I will get a box of fries, a cheeseburger and a Chocolate Banana shake every single time I go there, and guess what? It always tastes exactly the same. The thing is, there are so many better burger joints out there, I'm not quite sure why people flock to Peters. Yes, the milkshakes and sundaes are delicious, but as far as a burger and fries go... really, you should be going somewhere else. I personally love Boogie's, just a short drive from Peters, but others rave about the Burger Inn. I know that Peters is a Calgary tradition, but I recommend trying some of the other places around town instead of going to Peters all the time, you'll notice a big difference. "
User Rating
6/10
6/10
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DescriptionFeaturing the same menu since it opened thirty years ago, it offers some of the best burgers, onion rings, milk shakes and sundaes. Large portions. Drive-thru and walk-up windows. Open daily from 9 am to midnight.
Location Information219 - 16 Ave NE
Calgary
AB
T2E 1J9
