The venerable old Bedford eatery known as Chickenburger has been around a long, long time. In fact these guys are so confident they don’t even bother to list their phone number in the telephone directory, which makes it hard to ask them why their shakes are so damn good. Chickenburger was neck and neck this year with My Other Brother Darryl's, which does, in fact, have a telephone. Though pipped at the post, Darryl’s crew reports that it’s the fact that they use real ice cream and serve it in a big old fashioned glass that sets theirs apart from the rest.

Runner-up: My Other Brother Darrell’s, 5576 Fenwick, 492-2344