Charcoal Corral

Always great food and lots to do! The drive in is very cheap and everything is very well maintained. The owner is so nice and is always there saying hi to all the customers.

Turn off your car at the drive in movies. It’s rude not to. If you read a bad review on here that was due to someone being asked to turn off their car… Consider that person the biggest idiot who figured out how to Unilocal.You can trust me. I’m a restaurant critic.

So impressed! Kid friendly atmopshere! Family oriented place that has just about everything you can ask for. The place was VERY clean, had a person just on the dining room too. Décor was cool, specials running on certain nights. It’s almost out of season now, but worth the trip in summer! Food was fresh, well cooked, tasted amazing! Dressing is made there, burgers are fresh, fries were aweosme, not overly greasy either. Then we finished there and went to ice cream parlor. –not just ice cream and sundaes either! Sat outside next to the concert stage, where we could see mini golf course and drive in entrance to their 2 movie screens!

Pizza was better than it had any reason to be. The mini golf was a lot of fun but fairly plain with no real hazards or gimmicks. The arcade was meh. And the ice cream stand and free entertainment (a bunch of middle aged ladies line dancing while folks are their BBQ) was a nice touch.

Have been going to the Charcoal Corral for nearly 15 years, but after tonight, I & my family will never return.
Rick Stephanon should be ashamed of himself.
Between the first and second feature, an employee knocked on our window and asked that we turn off our car; that it was against the rules to have the car running the whole time and that the people next to us were complaining. I asked to see the rule or information backing up that claim, and I asked to talk to his manager. A short time later his manager knocked on my window, asked that I turn off my car, to which I replied I would not, and was then told if I did not I would be asked to leave. I responded by asking for an explanation and asked that he direct me to the policy I could read… his response «It’s an unwritten rule». I asked for a refund as I was being asked to leave, to which he called for Rick Stephanon to come over. Rick arrived (he owns the Charcoal Corral). Rick also explained that unless I cooperated and turned off the car I would be asked to leave, and by requesting a refund was told I could never return to the drive-​in. While waiting for my return, I made sure to let Rick know I would be publishing a review for this ridiculous action.
We have been coming to the Charcoal Corral for years, and have, during every movie ALWAYS ran the car the whole time. It keeps the inside window from fogging up, and allows us to run the air-​conditioning. I also don’t like leaving my window down as I don’t care to deal with mosquito’s. (Rick actually said he had not «seen» a single mosquito this year), and that my concern for such was unfounded (Apparently mosquito’s stay away from the Corral).
I’m appalled at his and his staffs lack of respect. My car was running at idle only, without any lights, and with my windows up so we could enjoy the movie. I have researched if etiquette demands I turn off the car, and throughout the country, it is common practice to leave the car running to condition the auto when desired.
We have long supported our local businesses, and this is unfortunate. We have never cared for their greasy fried foods or over priced ice cream, but we have loved coming to their immaculate drive-​in for the better part of 15 years, but after tonight, will NEVER return.
Great job Rick Staphanon!

This place is a gem. Always clean and well run. Big cruise nights on Thursdays. Great food of all kinds. Prices are reasonable. Two screens to the drive-​in theater and first run movies. Full service ice cream parlor. Separate pizza operation. And a full-​service burger and hotdog place. Their Wednesday night Italian feast is incredible although a little bit pricey.

First time here and very impressed.
Huge friday fish turnout and every plate was impressive. Facility operated like a well oiled machine. Every employee was on task and doing their job as required.
I personally had a large a Alaskan haddock with crab meat. WOW
Restrooms could only be compared to Disneyland. Every restroom was absolutely spotless. Great experience, and I will definitely will be here again. I live over 50 miles away and will definitely drive 50 miles just to go to this restaurant. The expense on the gas is well worth every penny. The only sad part is that they do close Columbus Day and reopen sometime in March.
I will be here with bells on in next spring’s 2014 opening.

I had the pesto pizza on multigrain dough, and it was incredible. The chicken tender sandwich was also awesome. We ate outside while we watched the hula hoop and twist dancing contests. Everything was amazing. Between the atmosphere and the food, I highly recommend it.

If you were born after 1982, you’ve probably never heard of Broasted Chicken. Fortunately for you, youngsta, the Charcoal Corral hasn’t had any renovations since the 80s.
And that includes the menu.
For the uninitiated, Broasted Chicken is marinated, lightly breaded chicken cooked using a pressure-​fryer. Yes, it’s a fricken pressure cooker combined with a deep fat fryer! The result is an impossibly crispy piece of chicken that’s more swollen with hot juice than Dale DaBone, and will burn your genitals just as badly, if you’re not careful.
One of the benefits of Broasted Chicken is that there’s very little grease, which often leads people to believe it’s healthier than regular fried chicken, but alas, it’s not. If you plan on ordering this dish, call ahead, or else you’ll have to wait 15 – 20 minutes for it to be prepared; however, considering the wide array of activities including arcade games, miniature golf, line dancing, «Cruise Night,» and impromptu arm wrestling competitions with Perry meatheads, it’s pretty easy to kill time while you’re waiting for your meal. There’s a reason my friends and I all had our birthday parties here when we were young.
I haven’t had many menu items besides the Broasted Chicken, but I can attest that the «Corral-​style» (breaded) wings are greasy and crunchy and fantastic. The Beef on Weck is piled high with roast beef and a spoonful of prepared horseradish from the trough at the condiments bar is the perfect accoutrement for this Western New York staple. The sweet potato fries are good, but not mind-​blowing, and my mother really likes the taco salad. Additionally, they have fish frys on Fridays and a Garbage Plate knockoff called the Dumpster Platter. The pizza shop, where sizes range from a slice (cheese — $ 1.99) to the 24-​slice party sheet ($ 20.90) is located in the back.
At $ 3.15 for two pieces of dark meat, the Broasted Chicken is a steal. To make the night complete, get some ice cream at the ice cream shop (behind the pizzeria) and catch a double-​feature next door at one of the few drive-​in movie theaters left in America.
If I ever have a family, I’m gonna come here ALL THE TIME.

very nice place to eat. very clean and the food was great!

Maybe, for some reason or another, you’ll find yourself in the wilds of Western New York someday, hankering for a place where you can play mini-​golf, eat pizza and frozen custard, jump around in a bouncy castle, and perhaps crash an 8-year-old’s birthday party. This is the place.

The chicken wings at this place should be on Food Network. I moved 500 miles away and still SOMEHOW manage to make it to this place every year to scarf down a huge bucket of wings. And in front of a giant movie screen nonetheless. Chicken wing fans should not pass this place up!

Oh my Lord! I have been going to this place since I was a kid! It is by far the best family owned fun business in the United States! Everyone is friendly and the food is fantastic at a great price! The ice cream parlor is just wonderful in between intermission at the Drive in movie theater. With cruise night and karaōke night and putt putt golf there is something for everyone. Visit wonderful Silver Lake just minutes down the road for a great day of fishing, water skiing, or just relaxing on the water. Try the best Friday night fish fry or the wings! If pizza is your thing then this is the place too! My kids love the Charcoal Corral. My 70+ year old parents love the Corral. If you are in the area you have to do yourself a favor and visit this place. Plan an evening and park your car first at the drive in and then come in for an evening of good food, ice cream, and the latest movie. You will be writing your own review in no time. Have a great time and bring your camera! Scott Cunius & Family. Son of Bill and Carol Cunius. Cousins of Susan Bristow of Silver Lake.