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The neon sign near the entrance to the restaurant reads, "Sorry We're Open," Outside doors have two door knobs. There are toilets on the patio that are used as planters, and there's even a toilet in an old telephone booth. Welcome to Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-In, a Route 66 fixture, located in Seligman, AZ since 1953. As with all of reviews that I publish, I have no affiliation with the restaurant reviewed, and there is no monetary gain on my part, as I am simply a person who likes to eat, and I love to write-up, and publish my dining experiences.
Photo: It's just a little past noon on Wednesday, September 05, 2018, and I've arrived at Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-In, located on historic Route 66 in Seligman, AZ. The restaurant was started back in 1953 by Juan Delgadillo, and has been Seligman landmark every since. Mr. Delgadillo passed away in 2004, but the restaurant is owned and operated by family and carries on the traditions that Mr. Delgadillo started.
Photo: The founder of this fine restaurant Juan Delgadillo, definitely had a sense of humor, and must have been quite a character, as the decor of the restaurant reflects. Note the "street" painted on the concrete leading to the door, and the "Sorry We're Open" neon sign, and the "Sorry..." printed sign. Speaking of the door, note that it has two door knobs; you use the one on the right to open the door. This door, and a nearly identical door on the patio side of the restaurant lead to the order counter, which itself is an experience, as the next few photos show.
Photo: You walk in the door, and you enter a sort of "tunnel" that leads to the order counter in the center of the room. The walls and ceilings are completely covered by business cards from around the worked, autographed dollar bills, police patches, small poster, drawings and anything else you can, or maybe can't imagine. The four ladies in front of me were speaking in German, and the two gentlemen the rear of the photo were speaking Korean. I noted there were a couple of tour busses parked down the street, so I assume these folks were part of a couple tour groups visiting the restaurant. Snow Cap attracts tourists from all over the world, who are interest in good food, lots of history, and a truly "funky" atmosphere.
Photo: The window facing the street is plastered with business cards and dollar bills, and the sunlight shining through and in between the cards makes for cozy lighting.
Photo: The wall on the kitchen side is plastered with police and military badges, more business cards, more dollar bills and more whatever...
Photo: Because the restaurant was VERY busy - thanks in part to the tour busses - I waited about 10 minutes, behind the German tourists, before being able to place my order. This is the menu, and it's posted in the kitchen behind the order counter. The menu is definitely compact, but everything on it looks good. There is no printed menu; this menu serves everybody. Due to the difficulty of the tourists in front of me attempting to read the menu, and place their order in English, I had ample time to study the menu, and I settled on a Chorizo Burger and fries. I felt bad for them, but I don't know a word of German, so I wasn't any help. Note there are funny signs posted everywhere!
Photo: The owner of the restaurant, Mr. Delgadillo, writes down the order of these German girls, as they struggle to order in English. Like his dad, Mr. Delgadillo has a true sense of humor, and loves to crack jokes, and joke with his customers.
Photo: When it was my turn to order, I'd already made up my mind, so it was simple the gal to write it down. The restaurant is very "old school," as there no computers, and everything is written down on a vintage note pad and presented to the kitchen, using that antique format. Note the many crazy signs and the Route 66 decor...
Photo: Mr. Delgadillo and the order gal check my order, and then she took it to the kitchen, which is just behind a partition, out of view from my camera. The format is you place and pay for your order at the counter, they take your name, and when your order is ready, it will be brought to a window at the counter, your name will be called, and you can pick up your order. I was told my order would take around 15 minutes - not bad considering how busy this place was - which gave me ample time to explore, and take photos.
Photo: Tour bus visitors take photos of each other, with the antique auto, which is always parked in the parking lot, as a backdrop.
Photo: Out in back of the restaurant, before you enter he patio, are the restrooms, which are actually outhouses. Note the faux pelican perched on the roof, the toilet that's being used as a planted, and the signal light assembly, which most likely came from the nearby, mainline railroad.
Photo: Just on the other side of the outhouse is the entrance to the large, outside patio, located in back of the restaurant, and a tribute to the founder of the restaurant, Juan Delgadillo.
Photo: The outside patio was nearly deserted, as most diners were seated on the patio on the side of the restaurant, where you pick up your order. Note the rusted 1968 Chevy Impala, and the vintage truck used to clean cesspools. Charming patio ornaments...
Photo: There are two doors that lead to the order counter, and this door - the door that leads to the attached patio - had many tour bus customers waiting in line to get inside, and order. My timing wasn't too bad, as I placed my order just as the tour bus people were descending on the restaurant. Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-In is world famous, and it's a destination of choice for people all over the world, who appreciate good food, "funk," and the colorful history of Route 66.
Photo: On this early Wednesday afternoon, the patio is a very busy place. Today, it would have been very useful to be able to speak German or Korean.
Photo: I waited near the order window for around 5 minutes before my name was called. I believe this gal who is the one that cooked my order, but she was very busy, so I didn't even get the chance to catch her name. Photo gives a good idea of the kitchen; the order counter is to the right and out of sight.
Photo: Thanks to a friendly gal sitting next to me, I got my grinning photo taken, as I hold my Chorizo Burger and fries. You can see in the photo the patio is very crowded.
Photo: My Chorizo Burger and fries. Since the menu offered chorizo, and since I was in Arizona, a Chorizo Burger seemed like a good choice, as I rarely pass on chorizo, as I love it. The burger was a 1/3 pound patty of chorizo, fried on the griddle, and the burger was dressed with onion, pickle and a little mayonnaise. The burger was place on a large, fresh bun, which was soft and chewy. I was a bit disappointed there weren't more garnishes on my burger, but I didn't specify anything when I placed my order, as the restaurant was super busy, and the friendly staff seemed super rushed. I certainly loved my burger! The fries were perfectly cooked to a golden brown on the outside, and moist and chewy on the inside, just the way I like them. They weren't salty or greasy, and the fries were so good that I didn't even use any catsup. Not only is Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-In a "must visit" restaurant when you're on a Route 66 Road trip, but it's a local icon, and a world-famous tourist destination. The food is pure 1950's Arizona drive-in cuisine, the staff is friendly, the restaurant is crowded with bus loads of foreign tourists, and the atmosphere is price. No road trip on Route 66, or visit to Seligman, is complete without enjoying a burger and fries at Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-In. Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-In Copyright(c) 2018 eRench Productions. All rights reserved. We've been on the web since December 22, 2002.
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