Shake Station
1950s Diner · 4219 US-301, Ellenton, Florida 34222
★★★★★ 1 review(941) 722-7866
Menu Items
Reviews
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1950's Diner Style Food. Good Mushroom Swiss, Onion Rings & Fried Green Tomatoes.
**Shake Station (9.5) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
4219 US-301, Ellenton, FL 34222
Mushroom Swiss Burger & Onion Rings
**
During my stay in the Ellington area, I visited Shake Station, conveniently located on Hwy 301 just off I-75. The building's exterior features a checkered design and a 1950s-style fry cook statue perched on the roof. Inside, the decor is a retro throwback to the 1950s, with neon signs, checkered walls, vinyl seats, and classic bar-top stools.
We were promptly seated, and our orders were taken quickly. We were also informed that we could customize our fountain drinks with syrups and toppings from the ice cream bar, so we opted for cherry juice in our drinks. The food menu is extensive, offering a wide range of choices, including grilled Reubens, Cuban sandwiches, various hamburgers, fish tacos, hot dogs, and more.
The restaurant also features a patio area for outdoor dining, equipped with umbrellas for pleasant weather, which doubles as a pickup window for food and ice cream orders. Inside, an impressive ice cream bar awaits, offering everything from banana splits and floats to sundaes and hand-scooped cones. The variety of flavors is remarkable, ranging from classic vanilla to unique options like Heavenly Hash and Smurf.
I ordered the mushroom swiss hamburger with a side of onion rings for my entree, and the fried green tomatos as an appetizer.
For my meal, I ordered a mushroom Swiss burger with a side of onion rings and started with the fried green tomatoes as an appetizer. The appetizer arrived quickly and was a generous portion with excellent flavor. The light, crunchy batter on the fried green tomatoes gave them a nice texture while allowing a lot of the flavor of the tomato itself to still come thru. These were some of the better fried green tomatos I've had.
The Mushroom Swiss burger was decently sized, with plenty of cheese and mushrooms on a juicy patty. While it had no other toppings on it, the flavor from just these items was fantastic. The mushrooms had a rich, savory flavor, as if they'd been marinated, and then grilled on the flat iron before having the cheese melted over them. The onion rings were large, thick, and delightfully crisp, featuring a panko-style crust that gave them a nice crunch, and as a side dish, the portion was more than generous due to their size and thickness.
While some menu items were priced slightly higher than expected, the quality of the food, service, and portion sizes made it worthwhile. Our waitress was friendly and attentive, and we enjoyed chatting with her before and after our meal. Overall, Shake Station is a delightful spot with nostalgic charm, great food, and warm service. I would gladly return to try some more items from their menu.
Shake Station - Menu Page 1
Onion Rings side order.
Mushroom Swiss Burger
Fried Green Tomatoes Appetizer
Bar top dining area.
Shake Station - Menu Page 2
Shake Station - Ice Cream Parlor Menu
Fried Green Tomatoes
Mushroom Swiss Burger with Onion Rings
Cheese Burger with Onion Rings
Shake Station Signage
Shake Station Building
— Paul