Galley Boy
The chef who loves it | Ohio City Provisions' Adam Lambert
All-American | It's democratic, a burger for the everyman. The melty, oil-based cheese, two secret sauces and two well-done patties ($3.50) pairs perfectly with the rest of Lambert's order: fried mushrooms and a sweet drink such as a California or Florida. "It's almost like a rite of passage," says Lambert. "It's part ingredients, part how it's made and part legacy. You're kind of the odd man out if you haven't had one."
Late bloomer | The Cleveland native was that guy until he made a trip to Akron for a concert during his early 20s and stopped at the iconic restaurant. Now it's a treat once every few weeks during business trips. "I'll be driving a giant diesel truck loaded up with farm goods and pork, and I'll stop and get a Galley Boy," he says.
Nostalgic notions | Lambert loves that ordering a Galley Boy harkens back to before the drive-thru squawk box with real, actual human food runners. "It's about who gets there first, so the curb guys have to sprint to get to you," Lambert says. "That's always fun to watch."
Boss sauce | Although he isn't totally sure what goes into the Galley Boy's two secret sauces, Lambert has a hunch. "There's a ketchup or barbecue sauce that gives it a nice bite, and there's definitely a doctored up mayo-pickle-based sauce," he says.
Swensons Drive In, various locations, swensonsdriveins.com
