Skyway Drive-In Restaurant

This place is awesome love coming here. I usually go here once a month and they nvr disappoint.

Excellent burger spot, classic place to grab lunch in Akron! Be sure to grab a California, a great drink to wash down your burger and onion rings with!

The burgers here are absolutely incredible!!! However if you’re vegetarian or avoiding eating beef, there isn’t a huge array of choices unfortunately. But the burgers, oh my god, sweet Jesus they’re delicious.

I have been going to Skyway for a couple of years. I absolutely love it. I recently went on a diet and allowed myself one bad meal a month and this was this month’s choice. I was craving it so bad, I read all of these reviews in excitement. I noticed all of the Skyway/Swenson’s comparisons. I myself have had Swenson’s some time ago and forgot what that tasted like, so I went today and tried both.
I went to Skyway first. It was amazing as usual. I ordered the ultimate burger combo and had half of a Sky-​hi burger. The ultimate burger comes with a ¾ lb burger with a lot of cheese, bacon, lettuce tomato and mayo, fries and a 32 oz drink for a very good price. I got a Florida drink and my girl friend got the California. Both amazing. I always get the ultimate burger. It is the best burger I have ever had for the price. It is loaded with cheese, bacon and has the sweet brown sugar taste that Skyway burgers have. I LOVE IT. I also got their hot dog. It is very good as well. They use the Nathan’s type of hot dog. The snappy casing dog. Those are much better than a cheep hot dog.
At Swenson’s I got the galley boy, fries and the tator teasers. I got these items because I saw the many complaints about Skyway’s fries in this and I wanted to compare the tator teasers.
Now, to everyone who is comparing Skyway to Swenson’s for the Sky-​hi and Galley Boy sandwiches. Both are fair comparisons. They are VERY similar. To be honest though, both are not very good. They are loaded with thousand island and it is all you can taste. I had half of each burger and I could barely eat that. It completely takes away the brown sugar, buttery bun, and cheese taste. I give those burgers a 2 out of 10. If I had to pick one it would be Skyway’s. There sandwich was larger and had a little less thousand island dressing, allowing me to taste everything a bit more.
For the fries. Both restaurants have the exact same fries or at least they looked and tasted like it. Swenson’s fries came out without any salt at all on them, but salt packets. Skyway’s came with salt on them. Both were crispy and fresh/​hot. This one is a tie. They both suck and need some type of seasoning or different fry.
I have had the tator tweasers (or whatever they are called) from Skyway many times and really like them. That is why I tried them from Swensons. Swensons came with less than Skyway, but Swenson’s tator tweasers were over-​all better. They had a bit more of a kick to them and had a better texture.
Now the main point behind this review. From looking at Swenson’s menu, the Galley Boy is there top burger. That is not the case with Skyway. Their top dog is what I always get. The ultimate burger. It is amazing and huge. It really fills you up.
I always have very fast service and short waits for food at Skyway and the food always comes out fresh, even too hot for me to eat sometimes until it cools down.

I’m from out of town and have no wish to enter the Skyway versus Swenson’s debate… really, I like both. Indeed, my Skyway chili dog was excellent. This was big (for the price, I expected one of those thin jobs that’s barely a mouthful) but instead I got a robustly sized, tasty, slightly spicy dog covered in just the right amount of chili. The milkshake rocked as well and the server was a pro.
Can’t wait to come back.

The onion rings are some of the best I’ve ever had. Always frsh, never frozen. Try a 52 combo for the ultimate experience. This is a REAL DRIVE-​IN restaurant. Similar experience at Swenson’s, but no onion rings. Menu has expanded some since I first started coming, but I stick with the Sky-​high burger (a slightly sweet yummy bun), onion rings, and hot fudge milk shake (extra on the combo).

Well been here a few times after my bad experience and they rock !! Their burgs are way fresher than Swensons… And the Orings are clearly real and not frozen. No comparison in my book. I think maybe I
Hit them at a slow time… Gotta go when the lot is full :)). Yummmmmm

If you’re visiting Akron, you must try a burger from Skyway! Very similar to Swenson’s, but the single burger is a bit larger. Also, their fried chicken is surprisingly good!

Skyway Drive-​In is comparable to its rival, Swenson’s. The SkyHi sandwich is similar to the Galley Boy, but has a different sauce. I’d say 7 out of 10 times I’d pick the Galley Boy over the SkyHi sandwich, but it is still a good sandwich. The coleslaw was underwhelming, and the fries weren’t spectacular. Overall it is a good drive-​in burger joint.

It’s obvious with skyway stores closing that things are deteriorating, but we still ate there tonight. Called at 8:30, no answer on the phone. When we arrived we said we had tried to call ahead, the curb runner said «we’re getting ready to close in an hour so we don’t take phone orders.» Quality of the burger meat or how they cook it has gone south. I will say the chocolate shake was decent (at least enough for a two year old).

Living and working in Fairlawn made SkyWay the place to be every Fri. or Sat. night. Swensons was not open in Montrose in those days, so we were loyal to the neighborhood and didn’t venture to Wallhaven to eat at Swensons. We use to circle the building in our cars to see who was there before parking. Having those fond memories, I was so disappointed that the employees now park in our spots. Seeing empty cars there is like seeing abandoned homes in a neighborhood. The burger was still good and onion rings as remembered. I don’t complain that the prices were higher since I live in So. California where we have paid $ 16 for a burger, that I enjoyed less. I hope it continues and that the management bring it back to the standards of 1969.

Skyway has very good burgers and fries. The only bad part is it’s a little pricier than Swenson’s and I wasn’t very happy about the service at this location. The guy that took our order wasn’t friendly and was in a hurry to get us out of there. Overall the food is delicious, but I prefer Swenson’s service an food over Skyway’s.

There are two kinds of people in Akron:
1) Those who claim «Swenson’s is better».
2) Those who have actually had Skyway and KNOW it’s better.
Don’t be a fool and don’t be a sheep… just get a Sky-​Hi.

There are two competing hometown drive-​in burger chains that vie for «top bun» in this town. This is one of them. They have always turned out a great burger, a secret sauce type double burger, killer onion rings adequate fries that don’t taste fresh cut, uniquely enough sauerkraut balls, a fresh veggies snack pak and the rest of standard drive-​in fare. A word of caution, if you like totally flavorless fried chicken that is only marginally identifyable as coming from a domestic bird, order some here, otherwise stay away from that pick, but the rest of the menu holds no major flaws. Recently they added a line of «Gourmet» burgers one of which has several onion rings on top of a huge half pound burger. That burger will actually call out to one once one has partaken and beckon one from afar like a siren of Greek lore. Car-​hops jog to your car and bring fresh hot food and a bill. Happilly they tend to publish coupons in the local newspapers that offer BOGO offers and such regularly, so keep an eye out and save a buck! Actually featured on Food Feuds with Michael Symon for you foodies. I have never had any of the service issues other reviewers have noted and often call ahead and the food is waiting for me when I arrive. The preferred burger treatment is «everything» which is just pickle onion and mustard, but that’s how a burger should be served.

My grandparents lived in Fairlawn, and my mother told tales of going to Skyway with her sister when they were in high school. It was a good place to meet boys and have a burger and a Coke. I was introduced to their onion rings and cheeseburgers when i was a wee lass. We always balanced our visits between Skyway and Swenson’s, and I was happy with either. I mean, when I was a kid, going out to dinner was something we didn’t do often. I preferred Sky Way, simply because Barnhill’s was close, and we’d go there for ice cream. I still miss that place. Anyways…
When my grandfather passed away and my grandmother left Fairlawn (which coincided with me getting a drivers license), I became a full-​fledged Swenson’s fanatic. I’d check in with Skyway on occasion, for nostalgia or whatnot, but Swenson’s was always the go-​to for a burger and fries.
I hadn’t been to Skyway in years, so mom and I decided to stop by there this past weekend. Wow, wow, wow. First of all, the place is falling apart. The driveway could use repaving. The signs are all faded and could use some paint (i do love that they use the old signs still, though). The service was slow. Once we got the menu, I was shocked by how high the prices are – most of their items are higher than Swenson’s! I was tempted to drive down to the Swenson’s on Hawkins, but decided nah, i’ll give this place a shot.
I wish I had left and gone to Swenson’s.
My Sky-​Hi was terrible. The quality of the burger is BAD. The patties were dry and thin, and not very sweet. The cheese they use is gross – those slices of Processed American Cheese that don’t melt very well. And i’m fairly sure the Sky-​Hi sauce was just a huge blob of mayo.
My fries were great, perfectly crispy and not too greasy. Mom’s onion rings were awesome… but the grease! Holy crap! There was a good inch of grease at the bottom of the bag!
The only reason that they’re getting two stars is because they make real Cherry Coke with Grenadine. I remember thinking I was fancy as hell when I was young and i’d get to drink that. One sip took me back almost instantly.
I wish I could give them ½ a star, because I was so sick the next day after all the grease I ingested. I wish I could say that I’d go back, but honestly? The only time i’d go there is if i have the munchies (ahem), and i want some sauerkraut balls and a real cherry coke. otherwise, i’ll be at Swenson’s, where even the veggie burgers are the bomb.

I started going to Skyway about 15 years ago. I love the sweet butter that they use on the buns so much that I order my burger plain so that nothing takes away from that great taste. I have tried Swensons and have not been nearly as impressed. When we were in Wisconsin a few years ago, I was so excited to try butter burgers thinking they would be a better version of Skyway. I was so disappointed, they were good, but not Skyway good. It’s on that bun!
I can’t comment on other sandwiches because in the dozens of times I’ve been there, I’ve never been able to order anything other than a plain burger! My mom did try the baked ham sandwich this time around and really liked it, especially since the buns have the same secret sweetness.
I have started ordering the fries well done as I used to be very disappointed in them, they seemed limp and undercooked. Ever since I ask for them to be well done, they have been hot and crisp and yummy.
Go Skyway!

Who needs sugar in the ketchup? Yuck!

Part of my Cleveland NCAA experience. We came to Akron to stay a couple nights and because I was already a fan; we made our way to Skyway. Some people will debate Swenson’s is the one, but this is it for me. You sit in your car and they come to you to take your order; so have the tunes in your car ready or the game du jour. You can also go in to order for take out I’m sure, but sitting in your car is the way to go. They have their way of doing things and it’s worked for quite a few decades now. Some people don’t care for the ketchup, it is much thicker and sweeter than most, but for me it does the trick. Hamburgs are really good and VG quality. The general menu is typical burger fare. Treat yourself and make your way to Skyway!

You really have to take a stand when it comes to Rubber City Drive-​In Dining. Do you worship at the fryer altar of Skyway, or do you spin on the malt machine of Swenson’s? For nearly my entire life, from cradle to about two years ago, I only attended burger church services at Skyway. I had friends deliver greasy sacks of burgers by plane to California, where I deep-​froze them, ready for a quick re-​heated Sky-​High fix whenever I couldn’t hide from the urge for one more minute.
Then, it happened. A friend from Columbus took me to Swenson’s, and ordered me up a Galley Boy. Uh-​oh. It was a conversion. The Swenson’s was better, and not just a little bit better. It was about a third again as good as Skyway, and by that I mean: Fresher. Fuller flavor. Better bun. Better overall presentation. Come on, a pimento-​stuffed olive, on a toothpick skewer, outside the foil wrapper? That’s drive-​in genius, right there.
Now, for the onion rings, Skyway is still better, by a country mile. No comparison. I’m not that much of a french fry guy, or a milkshaking man, or a fish sammy guy, so I don’t want to sully this review on that front, but my dream date would be to snag a Galley Boy from Swenson’s, shag on down to Skyway for some o-​rings, then waltz over to Barnhill’s for a sundae. Oh, sorry. Barnhills’s closed during the Nixon administration. Why? WHY?
Service is WAY better at Swenson’s. Cleanliness is better at Swenson’s. If not for the O — O — O — rings, I may never return to Skyway.
My two stars are not to convey that this is so awful a dining experience, but with a Swenson’s so close, just a peel-​out down the straza, why on earth even THINK about Skyway? So, Mr. Skyway? If you’re listening, and you want to win me back? I’m afraid you’re just mailing it in, riding on the dogged, unflinching faithfulness of the Ohio burger hound. Have your carhops smile. Scamper out to my truck, if you can’t run, which the good folks at Swenson’s do, approximately EVERY TIME. And keep that lot clean, will you? Sheesh. It isn’t that tough. See you at Swenson’s! Turn on your headlights for service!

One of the two, eight hundred pound gorillas of hamburger glory in Akron, OH. A delicious time capsule of beef goodness with a big olé side of FRIED splendor.
Worth a visit by all visitors, worth being a regular for all locals.