FINE PRINT MESSAGE:
BE WEARY AND ON TOP OF YOUR GAME WHEN GOING IN THERE WITH ANY KIND OF "buy one sandwich, get one of equal or lesser value with the purchase of a large drink and fries":
The large drink: Â $3.47 before tax
The fries: Â $3.99 before tax
** (So before your choice of sandwich, you are already at over $8.00 for these alone after tax...)
I got the polish sandwich (and no doubt - it is excellent. No complaints there). Â That was 6.99.
Following so far?
So according to the coupon, I assume I can get another Polish (it is of equal or lesser value). Â THIS IS TRUE - IF YOU DO NOT ORDER ANYTHING ELSE.
Say you order another sandwich, or other food for your family. Â You can still use the coupon, yes. But rather than give you that POLISH FREE, they will give you 'the least expensive of the other sandwiches' free.
So if you got all of the above, and then tell them "but I need a hot dog (2.29ish) or a beef ($4.99) SEPERATE, they will count one of those sandwiches as the freebie. Â So instead of getting that second free Polish of 6.99 off of your bill, instead you NOW PAY FOR THAT POLISH (the 2nd Polish that is..), but they will give you the hotdog (2.29) or the beef (4.99) off your bill..
Understand? Â It is quite conniving.
Know your prices and know the fine print. Â If you question anybody at the register too, they will become hostile with you and tell you YOU are wrong. Â See my review below how last summer, one of the cashiers tried to overcharge me when I bought 2 Â hotdogs...
What I described above with the coupons borders on being dishonest, and IT IS VERY MISLEADING.
My advice. Â If you truly want to use the free sandwich coupon, get the most expensive of the sandwiches and order nothing else. Â Of course, you still have to pay over $8.00 alone for the fries and large drink... Â
(There is also a way one main way around this - by ordering your food using two people - either two in line, or one in line and one in drive-thru. Â It can be an inconvienence, but their coupon policy is bogus, and most of their food IS overpriced to begin with).
BE PREPARED.
Alright so I got hooked on Scooby's fries back in high school. My friend and I would chip in to get a large fry which basically equally a brown bag stuffed full of em. In all my visits to Scoobys in general I can only remember how good the fries are. They are made from real potatoes. The shakes are another item that i have a fond memory of. The only reason I didn't give this place a 5 star rating is because of the price. I don't really ever go here anymore unless I have a coupon or to get they $1.99 shakes. So in short come here for their fries and shakes!! The burgers and hot dogs are just filler.
Review Source:Some time ago I reviewed Scooby's Red Hots in West Chicago. As time has gone by I've had the opportunity to return to Scooby's and as a result am writing an updated review of this eatery.
Before even touching on the food itself I want to go over the decor. The particular Scooby's is loaded with neon lights, mirrors, pictures all over the wall and color everywhere. At night from a distance without eyeglasses on it might be easily mistaken for a house with an extreme Christmas light display on all year round. While the inside and outside of this place probably qualifies as a bit tacky, and an eye sore. It's an eye catching eye sour (in the way you can't look away from a car accident, even if it's unpleasant) Â and draws a lot of attention to itself.
Inside there are a few tables set up along with picnic tables towards the front for eating outside during the warmer seasons. There is a drive thru window on the side of the building where you just drive up to a window (no PA system here), and can place an order to go.
As far as the food itself let's go over the hot dog. On my previous experience here I had a hot dog that tasted something like bologna. It was a slight  flavor that isn't usually found in Chicago style hot dogs. In my most recent visit in trying the hot dog I am pleased to say that the bologna flavor is gone. This was a longer than normal skinless hot dog served on a regular Chicago style poppy seed bun. The pickle was a bit thicker than I prefer, though not long enough to get pickle flavor in every bite. The tomato's were a bit soggy, but the overall combination was pretty good with the mustard, relish and onions being well applied. The sport peppers were good, and there wasn't any noticeable celery salt on the dog.
The other thing I tried here was the char grilled chicken sandwich. This was a juicy piece of white meat chicken on a sesame seed bun with mayo, lettuce and tomato. There was a lot of meat on the sandwich, the overall flavor was good. But if I recall correctly it was 6.99. This was a good sandwich but not for the price.
Overall my experience at this Scooby's was more positive than my previous visit. I'm going to upgrade their rating a whole star to four stars. It's a good place to go for a hot dog, they don't have the best prices but the aesthetic of the place is a draw in and of itself.
Been occasionally visiting Scooby's for years, and have not been disappointed on the quality of food ever. The dogs are good, the fries are great and the beef is not too bad either. The only thing that is a drawback for me is the price. Seems a little high but not terrible.
I know I am smuggling contraband in to Cascade but it's a great option to stop at for when you go for a movie.
Truthfully, I could make this either a 3 or 4 star review, it just depends on what I order. On my last visit, I ordered the Italian beef and I liked the extra heavy portion of meat, it was probably the most beef I have ever seen in an Italian beef sandwich. But I asked for hot peppers and they came in a plastic cup, so I had to apply them myself. And the ironic part was there was so much beef that I barely tasted there were any peppers at all. And I also felt the sandwich tasted a little too dry. I probably should have asked for a little extra gravy, but that's on me...
Indeed the fries are fresh cut and crispy, the way french fries should prepared and served. This is the biggest advantage I would give Scooby's over a Portillo's or most other hot dog joints. The 7 inch hot dogs taste like a pretty standard Chicago dog, but what I really like is that they were willing to char grill the dogs for me instead of just steaming them. I like my frank with a nice crunch and the char option gives me that extra bit of snap. And I appreciate the option of ordering Green River to drink as well. Definitely a unique feature!
All in all, I still prefer Portillo's overall menu, but yeah, those fries are pretty close to addictive. They are really what keeps me coming back every so often.
A long, long time ago, in a town not so far away, Scooby's was probably just a hot dog stand at the corner of two streets. Now it looks a wee bit out of place next to a 6-lane thoroughfare.
In any event, I've lived in Carol Stream for 7 years now, and this is the first time I've been there. The place is all right.
I ordered a hot dog for me and the wife, cheese fries and a Green River with a diet coke. The Green River is quite strong, according to my wife, the designated expert of Green Rivers. I thought it was good. :-D
The hot dogs were good... on a relative scale, I like a couple of other places better, but they're not something to be ashamed of either. The fact that celery salt is an option helps.
The fries are top notch. Order the fries, and eat them immediately. The little bits are crispy, the fries are amply salted, and the texture and freshness is perfect. The cheese sauce is pretty good, too.
Oh yeah, I like this place, but I've had better. Â The dogs are damn messy, and that's a good thing! Â Chili dog with everything on it, big fries, and large coke. Â Love that it's so bad for me. Â The only time I drive this far out to get fast food is if I am in motion about to enter the Cascade Drive In. Â But for some reason (by instinct) we either hid the food or it was in a bag on the floorboard, because there was some discussion from the drive in about not bringing in food from Scoobys. Â We thought about it for a while and decide this could be because they wanted you to purchase stuff from the concession stand. Â But whatever.
Review Source:I don't like writing bad reviews. I know business owners are working hard to pay their bills. However, there needs to be some balance between paying the bills and satisfying customers. Scooby's prices are very high for the food they offer. I could live with that if the food quality matched the price. It does not, unless, for instance, you like your French fries cooked until they are overdone, brown, and dry. I do not. I also do not like paying 18 dollars for 3 hot dogs, 1 fry and 2 drinks. Again, if the food was excellent, I would accept it. But it's average, or below, at best.
Review Source:Yum Yum Yum
Green Rivers all the way! Â Also the absolute very best cheesburgers and fries around! I always get sweet peppers on it and it is amazing. Â Not your everyday food, but if you are looking to break the diet streak, this it it. Â Also if you bring your cup back, they refill for free.
More than $9 for a foot-long Polish sausage, fries, and an ice water? Come on.
One of my pet peeves is when a restaurant offers a foot-long anything and doesn't have a long enough bun to fit it in. This was the case at Scooby's.
The atmosphere is cute, kitschy, retro, whatever. We stopped by there on our way out west to the Kane County Flea Market, only because we thought it would be a cheap option. Seeing the prices when I walked in, I nearly fainted and even told the guy behind the register how shocked I was. I've been on a Polish sausage kick since August and haven't seen prices anywhere close to these. We almost walked back out but decided that, since we were already here, we may as well just eat.
The fries were so over-salted I couldn't eat them. The Polish had that snap in the casing, but that doesn't do it for me; tenderness does, and this felt overcooked. I hate paying a lot of money for bad food. I know there's not a lot of hot dog places around here, but don't make a special trip. This is definitely the worst Polish I've had to date.
Went for the very first time today expecting a great hot dog. I was pretty disappointed. When you bite into this dog it has no snap at all. I'm a fan of steamed buns but these were just kinda soggy. I dunno, I kinda prefer a poppy seed bun too. The fries are pretty good though, salted well.
But my favorite part was the green river shake. I read about it so much and I had to try it. Wow. It was great. It honestly made the trip worth while. Think I'll give scooby's another chance, maybe their beef is better.
This is a really cute old fashioned hot dog joint. It is a throw back to decades gone by (as am I). The food was ok ... we tried the hot dog, their Polish sausage and Italian Beef and of course fries. The hot dog seemed a tad over cooked. The Polish was fine and the beef was ok. The meat itself was kind of tasteless, but the hot jardiniere was seriously hot!!! The fries were average, which was fine.
What is really cool about this place is the kitchy, retro feel. I rarely get out to West Chicago, but I would stop here again, at least for a Green River.
The polish dog is absolutely amazing! It was cooked to perfection with a nice crunch to the casing. Fresh toppings, great bread too. Don't try to tackle the foot long unless you are hungry. I had to tap out.
I'm not local, so I can't say how they stack up against other Chicago places, but I definitely enjoyed my meal. Next time I'm in town, I'm headed here!
Seeing that I went to high school just down the road from this awesome place and graduated nearly 6 years ago, I had to review it. Best fries and shakes ever. I love their orange shake the most, yum! The other shakes are great too, like the Green River. No other place has that as an option.
Review Source:GREEN. Â RIVER. Â MILKSHAKE.
One of the best things I've ever ingested. Â Automatically gets this place 5 stars.
But they have other things, too! Â It's a little pricey for the burgers and other non-shake foods, but it's gooooooood. Â It's especially worth it if you eat in-- this place is an insane riot of blaring neon and oldies. Â I knew this place was awesome when the second I stepped in, "Young Girl" by Gary Puckett & The Union Gap started playing as if on cue. Â AND THEN IT GOT BETTER.
It's a bit of a haul out of the city, but if you're going to the Cascade Drive-In next door, I'd strongly suggest you stop in here for a Green River Milkshake before the show.
Good food, but a bit pricey for what it is.....
This was my first experience at a Scoobys. Â My wife and I decided to stop in for a quick bite prior to going to the Cascade Drive-In movie theater. Â
The Italian beef was good, but most certainly not best I have had in the Chicago area. Â The footlong sausage was delicious, juicy, and is most likely still clinging to my arteries. Â The deal of the trip was the special - $1.99 XL Shake. Â It was delicious but probably more dairy than anyone should consume at one time. Â
Overall a solid experience, but not my first choice for a hotdog stand in Chicagoland.
Note: Â Cascade has apparently felt the financial impact of people trying to bring in Scooby's food to the drive-in (as opposed to the pricey concession stand). Â Thus, there are signs at the entrance banning any food bought from the restaurant. Â I got through with my shake, so I am not sure how they enforce the rule.
While there is just something nostalgic about the way you feel when you enter scoobys the food here is just average. The prices are also a bit on the high side for a traditional hot dog stand. Still a great place for lunch when you just need a change. My favorite thing about scoobys is that you can bring your cup back and get free drink refills with your food purchase. The staff here is also very friendly. Would get a better review if the prices were lower also while the food here is good it isn't anything special.
Review Source:I know you have read some of the other reviews, so I won't say a whole lot, EXCEPT:::::::::::::the fries....yum, a little greasy, but hand cut, yes I said greasy, need a couple of napkins sometimes, but not gross greasy. They are hand cut and awesome! Get a large and eat til you fall over..ha. Italian beef!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great, large and dipped(wet for you rookies). Very tasty. The combo, beware! Have a friend or spouse drive you home. If that doesn't top you off nothing will and wash it down with a Green River!
Get the big cup, keep comming back! Every once in a while, get a Chicago dog too, just to keep your Mother in Law at bay....shhh who said that?
Seen my cup..hhmm wonder where I left it?
I have lived literally 5 minutes away from Scooby's for the past 10 years and I finally stopped in for the first time this summer. Â I was very impressed that such a small stand had such great quality food! Â They handcut their fries on site! Â The dogs had a perfect bite to them without being dried out. Â If you opt for a meal you get this huge cup (60 oz I think?!) that you can bring back for a lifetime of free refills!
Cascade Drive In is directly behind Scooby's so it's a great place to grab a bite either before or after a double feature.
Long time customer of Scooby's. I started going here in 2003 when pregnant with my first child.
First, like others have mentioned, the place has Green River. Not bottled Green River. Real, old school, Green River. Love that!
They have good outdoor seating that allows for people/car watching...though it is right on North Avenue so it's not exactly quiet. You may once and awhile, have to yell.
Foodwise, I think the best thing about this place is that they have a huge variety. Their beef is just ok to me. Not really memorable.
Hot Dogs are good, though they do not have a jumbo dog, which I prefer to a double dog. Fries are handcut and the amount you get is insane. One large fry is enough for an entire family of four.
Their shakes -- not  a big fan. They have the consistency of a McDonald's type shake, not a real milkshake.
Their prices are reasonable! The reason I keep going back is because they are always consistent with everything.
This is by far the best place to get your typical chicago fare.
The highlights of this awesomeness include:
1. Green River - the greatest drink known to man
2. Awesome Beefs
3. Awesome Hot Dogs
4. Good, but not great, hamburgers
If you are driving down north avenue through west chicago and you see Scooby's you have to stop here. If you don't  - "they win".
This place makes a pretty decent hot dog. Nothing spectacular but i am partial to S Rosen buns and this is the only place near work that has them. They have Green River which is a pretty rare thing, so if your into the "Sugar Water Green" thing with your dog this place is for you. I would give them 4 stars but i really like onion rings with my dog and alas, they are not on the menu here.
Review Source:This is a fun place to visit - it will take you back in time. The walls are filled with old Chicago sports paraphernalia, which I can definitely get lost in while waiting for food, made fresh to order. The fare is your standard hot dog / hamburger / beef, all solidly delicious. They do have fresh cut fries, despite the apparent debate about it. They always have good deals on shakes and such. For the month before Easter, I was diggin the pepper and egg sandwich deal for $2.99 with free fries. Man, that sucker is large! I've never seen a pepper and egg so big!
This place is open 24-hours Thurs.-Sat. I always wonder if that's a good idea, as this place is kind of in the middle of nowhere. Do drunk people take cabs to Scooby's after hours?
Regardless, Scooby's would be delicious at any time of the day or night. And I get the feeling that a lot of heart goes into this business. The people that work here really do care about serving you well. How's that for some of the best bits of Americana to be found in the Western suburbs?
Okay, I thought I was a die-hard drive-in-er (or whatever) and that since the Cascade Drive-In has issues with Scooby's, I have issues with Scooby's.
But, that 44 oz milkshake for $1.99 was totally taunting me when I went to the drive-in last night, so, I broke down and checked it out.
It smells totally yummy when you first go in. Â Scooby's is decorated how someplace like Applebee's wants to come off, but not manufactured. Â It's kitschy, but not nauseating.
I got the 44 oz milkshake, and was pleasantly surprised that you could taste real ice cream and not some soft-serve crap. Â I also got the french-fries which were fresh cut potatoes (or so they say). Â They were totally great, and I scarfed it all down on the way over to the Cascade.
I'll definitely be back, and I'm going to try really hard not to sneak their food into the drive-in.
So, of the three reviews preceding my own, one person hasn't ever eaten there and has an issue with light pollution and another works for a nearby competitor and has an issue with allegedly frozen fries based on unsubstantiated third party reports.
Whew. Now that we have that out of the way, I'll have to say that I have eaten here, and I have had the fries, and I have enjoyed the food. I haven't a clue if they're frozen fries or not, but given that nearly everyone in foodservice is repping Sysco-delivered bulk goods (and yes dearheart, even Hot Spot, though admittedly not the fries), I'll judge them on taste and not on storage technique.
My only issue with Scooby's is that occasionally I've had to wait quite a while to get my order when there wasn't anyone else around. Perhaps they had to defrost the fries?
Scooby's Red Hots has the BEST italian beef. The beef is juicy and well seasoned. I have yet to taste an italian beef that lived up to theirs. The manager is a sweet and playful guy. I used to go there when I worked for FedEx and had a route in West Chicago and Scooby's was my go to place for lunch. Â They offer your everyday american fast food fare like foot long polishes and hot dogs but just do it better than anywhere else I know.
They have drive through service and have had their catering service called on at the Chicago Blues Festival. The fries are awesome and fresh cut everyday with the peel left on. I don't know if they put magic dust in their shakes or what but they're so delicious they're addictive and actually made with real ice cream.
They have indoor and outdoor seating with retro decor and a jumbo gum-ball machine. Located right on North Ave in front of the only drive-in I know of around Chicagoland, they're open from 7-9 and in the summer open even later, 'til midnight.
The prices are reasonable and the food is a step above your standard fast food joint.
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