Rudy’s Lakeside Drive-in

Eatery remains a shoreside destination with seafood staples

By Julie McMahon

After a renovation this year, Rudy’s Lakeside Drive-in is still the same old shoreside destination, churning out hot fried seafood delights.

Take a moment to soak in the amazing view as you pull up to the joint, before diving into the hustle of Rudy’s. On a Thursday around 8 p.m., it seemed busy, but we waited in line less than five minutes before ordering and waited less than 10 minutes for our meal.

We ordered two drinks, the Yankee Plate — fried clams, French fries, side of macaroni salad — a lobster roll, jalapeno poppers and clams (we made the mistake of just ordering “clams” instead of the steamed clams we were hoping for — but we went back to get these because we had to try them!) At the counter, we were offered cocktail and tartar sauce.

The bill came to $72 with tax for everything. We spent another $19 for steamers and French fries. They don’t take tips, which our server graciously pointed out. We wish they’d allow us to throw a few dollars in a jar, though we were hopeful this means the staff is paid well without tips.

We waited in the designated area by the takeout counter for our meal. Rudy’s is conveniently designed to have a space to wait, so there aren’t people scattered all over the place. They also provide additional indoor dining space for those who don’t want to sit outside.

The lines flowed seamlessly and we watched as they churned out orders quickly.

The steamed clams were good and worth the wait. They tasted fresh and clean, not at all gritty. They tasted delicious dunked in the melted butter served on the side.

The drinks came out with our meals. It would have been nice if they came out earlier so we could enjoy them as we waited, but once they arrived we were pleased. We got a blackberry sangria wine slushie and an Adirondack Brewery Bear Naked amber ale. The beer was good, classic and served cold. The sangria was excellent: very sweet and vibrant, with a nice strong blackberry flavor.

Everything came out perfectly except the extra order of fried clams, which we should have specified as steamers, but it would have been nice if the server had clarified that with us too.

The clam strips were light and crispy, not at all dry or rubbery but very good. The cocktail sauce was nice and tangy, a good addition to each bite. These were easy to devour.

The fries were also good, light and crispy, seemed to be fresh cut before they were fried. The mac salad was also impressive. Though it was a very small side, it had a lot of flavor, light mayo and a crunch of relish.

The lobster roll was good, too. The lobster salad was dressed lightly with mayo and contained crunchy celery and large juicy chunks of lobster.

View of Lake Ontario from Rudy’s Lakeside Drive-in in Oswego.

The only downside was that we really missed having a toasted and buttered bun for this lobster roll. A plain hot dog roll sufficed but just didn’t add to the dish in the way a buttered or at least toasted roll would have. Still, the roll was really meaty. Rudy’s didn’t skimp on the lobster and overall the portion was quite large.

The jalapeno poppers were good but not amazing, made with cheddar cheese not cream cheese and a little different than what you’d expect from a classic popper. There were bits of jalapeno folded into a ball of cheddar, which was then battered and fried. They had just a slight kick to them, not too much spice. They were served with marinara sauce. We enjoyed these as they were light and not too greasy.

For a restaurant that serves predominantly fried food, the Rudy’s experience didn’t feel like we were eating a super greasy meal.

We went back for the steamed clams and an extra order of fries and waited maybe 10 minutes in line this time, but food came out even more quickly.

The steamers were good and worth the wait. They tasted fresh and clean, not at all gritty. They tasted delicious dunked in the melted butter served on the side.

The food was good — don’t get me wrong — but the highlight of our visit was the view. So go on a nice day if you can. There are dozens of picnic tables situated right on the shore of Lake Ontario for patrons’ enjoyment.

Be prepared to defend your food against seagulls, but enjoy the crash of the waves against the shore and endless view of the lake.

Overall, a great price for a nice fresh hot meal on the shore.