Nifty Fifty’s
3.5 Stars
Nifty Fifty’s
1900 Mac Dade Boulevard
Folsom, PA 19033
610-583-1950
“Taste the Memories” is the tagline for this classic styled soda fountain and burger chain in the greater Philadelphia area. We visited the Folsom location with our guest critic, Hungry Grandma. The website for Nifty Fifty’s says, “…At Nifty Fifty’s, our timeless menu of traditional American favorites and hand-dipped milkshakes reminiscent of old-fashioned soda fountains will make that bygone era come alive again…”
Well, it comes close. The songs on the jukebox, the sounds and smells from the grill, the paper hats on the cooks, and the vintage style counter and stools all contribute to the illusion. Nifty Fifty’s is a bustling local hangout. People of all ages come from all over the area for the cheese fries and the milkshakes. Here about our visit below.
Big Baby says:
Atmosphere: 4.5 Cleanliness: 3 Food: 9 Service: 6
Overall Score: 5.5
The food was amazing. The hot dog was juicy with the right seasonings. The fries had just the right amount of salt and were crispy – just the way I like them. The milkshake was extremely thick, and it tasted extraordinary. It was a Death by Chocolate milkshake. It was a very thick, chocolate milkshake with chocolate chips in it. The only problem was that chocolate chips got stuck in the straw.
The service wasn’t bad. There was nothing wrong with it. The waitress was polite, but all business. We got our food within 20 minutes of ordering and they didn’t make any mistakes with my order.
Nifty Fifty’s was too loud for my taste. Everybody was talking. You couldn’t hear yourself talk, and you could hardly hear yourself think. It’s hard being a critic when it is too loud to think.
The bathroom was unclean, and kind of cramped. It smelled too much like soap, and the floor was dirty. The rest of the restaurant wasn’t bad. The corners had a little bit of dirt in them, but the rest of it was surprisingly clean, considering how many people go there and leave a mess.
I suggest dining in. If you are there, you have to get a milkshake. I especially recommend the death by chocolate shake. Their milkshakes are T-H-E B-E-S-T!
Mama Foodie says:
Atmosphere: 7 Cleanliness: 6 Food: 9 Service: 8
Overall Score: 7.5
I must admit, I have been going to Nifty Fifty’s for over two decades. There is just something about that place. Actually, it is two things. Thing number one, hands down is their milkshakes. They are absolutely the best. They have almost any flavor that you can imagine. If you are dining in, they bring them to you in the frosty stainless steel mixing cup with a frosty glass next to it. Be prepared to give them a few minutes to warm up. The shakes are often too thick to get through the straws.
The other thing that keeps me coming back is the wholesome burger joint flavor. I wasn’t alive in the fifties, but Nifty’s is pretty much what I picture when I am imagining a place to go after school to drink milkshakes and play music on the jukebox.
Now, on to today’s visit. I ordered the Spicy Chicken Ranch Salad. It is great with the crispy fried chicken, but I always go for the grilled chicken option. I am pretty sure the seasoning is Old Bay, but I don’t mind. I love what it does for the salad. The romaine was crispy and fresh. I ordered the cheese and dressing on the side, and my salad arrived exactly the way I wanted it. I noticed on this trip that Nifty Fifty’s is now offering cold brew coffee. I ordered one. Probably not the best choice with the salad, but it was a good cold brew. No complaints about the service. It was as to be expected at such a busy time, but extra points for remembering all of our special requests.
The restaurant was extremely busy. The tables turn over pretty quickly, though. The menu is limited, so the food never takes too long to come out. I love the black, white and red décor. It’s a very cheerful, busy environment, both literally and visually.
Could it have been cleaner? Yes, but we were there for the lunch rush. The bathroom floors weren’t too clean, but the rest of the bathroom was alright.
Hungry Grandma says:
Atmosphere: 7.5 Cleanliness: 5.5 Food: 9 Service: 8
Overall Score: 7.5
This
restaurant is a very popular place and fills up quickly. The noise level was
quite high, so much so that you could barely make out the oldies tunes that
were blaring. However, the noise was not unexpected considering that it was
lunch hour on a rainy Saturday.
We had to wait in line for a seat but the wait was under 10
minutes.
On the surface things looked okay, but the floors could have used more attention, particularly in the bathroom. Eye level looked good but the floor was disgusting. Also there was something sticking to the bathroom door at eye level and there was hair attached to it, yuck!
I had a Texas Tommy, a hotdog wrapped in bacon with cheese wiz. I had requested well done and it came out exactly as I had hoped. However, there was so much cheez wiz that the dog kept slipping out of the bun. I had to remove almost half of the wiz. I had treated myself to a strawberry ice cream soda. It was perfect!! Strawberry ice cream, whipped cream and a cherry. It was beautiful to look at, served with an under saucer to catch the drips and tasted exactly like you dreamed of….. I also tasted my dining partner’s French fries but found them to be only mediocre.
Our server came within five minutes after we were seated. She was pleasant enough and only made slight errors with our order. She stopped back a few times to inquire how we were doing.
To be fair, I have been to this old fashioned burger joint many times and will continue to go back. I try to time my visits to avoid busy times because it is so popular. The food is consistent and fresh and tasty and oh those ice cream sodas!! They are the best.