Route 66 Malt Shop

Route 66 Malt Shop Restaurant Review:

Nostalgia for the heyday of the roadside diner reigns supreme at this malt shop on old Route 66. The bright yellow interior is every inch kitsch, from the black-and-white checkerboard floor and chrome stools lining the soda fountain to the red-vinyl booths and the pièce de résistance: a neon jukebox. But it's famed above all for its homemade root beer, shakes, malts, floats, and black cows doled out in dozens of flavors---along with sundaes and banana splits. Decent burgers, hot dogs and other sandwich classics round out the rest of the menu---and though this is hardly the be-all-end-all for New Mexican grub, the kitchen makes a mean Frito pie, as well. Still, it’s the sippers that take the cake---so long as you’re not looking for a buzz; this is strictly a teetotaler’s joint. Late-nighters take note: the shop closes at 9 p.m. much of the week (and as early as 6 p.m. on some days).