Best Thing I Ate This Week: Jeanne Muchnick chooses 'Wild' milkshakes at Rockland diner
Sometimes, all you want is a diner where there's a comfy vibe, a bottomless cup of coffee and an everything for everyone menu.
Orangetown Classic Diner in Orangeburg offers all of that and more, taking it up a notch with its over-the-top "Wild Shakes" — think Oreo, carrot cake, and rainbow. Those were the ones I tried — and were the "Best Thing I Ate This Week" — but they also have Funfetti, Cookie Monster, S'mores and Cinnamon Bun. They also do "wild hot chocolates" like Salted Caramel, Peppermint, Oreo and Nutella in addition to adult spiked milkshakes.
The pancakes and waffles can also get pretty creative, though rest assured they also have ones that are more tame and "healthy." That includes fruit-laden gluten free waffles and French Toast.
For me, the whole place is Instagram catnip, as you'll see captured in my video. I also loved the vodka fries that aren't on the menu but that you can request (Disco fries and Texas chili fries are also available if you ask).
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The "wow" factor, however, remains the over-the-top milkshakes. The "Crazy Oreo" features a vanilla frosted glass with Oreo cookies, topped with a giant Oreo cookie ice cream sandwich and whipped cream, while the Rainbow Shake comes with a rainbow sprinkles rim, rainbow layer cake, lollipop, cereal marshmallows, sour belts, and plenty of whipped cream. The Carrot Cake is a sugar high unto itself: a vanilla icing frosted glass with sprinkles, a carrot cake flavored milkshake, a whole slice of carrot cake and a caramel drizzle.
Owner Michael Kontolios opened the diner in July 2017 and started the shakes the following February. He's the one to thank for the food ideas and shake recipes and said he draws inspiration from current food trends. As for the cakes that sit on top, he partners with a bakery in Clifton, New Jersey.
All I can say is: Yum! And I'll be back!
If you go
Address: 512 NY-303, Orangeburg, 845-359-3592, orangetownclassicdiner.com
Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @lohud_food or via the lohudfood newsletter
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Orangeburg NY diner milkshakes Jeanne Muchnick's 'best thing I ate'