THE SUMMIT DRIVE-IN
A True Burger Joint
Dave Cagnacci, a/k/a Private Chef Dave, was trained at the Scottsdale
Culinary Institute and for twenty plus years, give or take a year or two,
worked in restaurants and catered parties, large and small. But, like screenwriters who really want to
direct… it was Chef Dave’s long-held desire to own a burger joint.
Before McDonald’s, et al, over-populated the planet, burger diners, dives,
drive-ins, shacks and stands a/k/a “burger joints” dotted the American
landscape. I was seven when I first fell
in love with such a joint. Vacationing
in Massachusetts, my father drove our family to a popular outdoor burger stand
for dinner. We all loved burgers, so I was shocked when I heard him order
cheeseburgers. “What’s a cheeseburger?”
I asked my mom (remember, this was before the McDonald’s blitzkrieg). Cheese on
ground beef? But, when I took that first
glorious bite of that burger stuffed into a white bread bun, smothered with
American cheese melting over its edges, a chorus of cheese-elujahs sang in my
head. That moment was only enhanced as the sun set over the burger shack, as
lightning bugs lit up the sky.
Over the years, I’ve often wondered what genius first melted a slice of
cheese on a burger. He or she should be
in the culinary history books! I even
went to the big public libraries in Boston and New York, but was never able to
find that answer. Finally, Google came
to my rescue… to paraphrase:
As the legend goes, in 1926, sixteen-year-old Lionel Sternberger (Really!
What better name!) was flipping burgers at his father’s restaurant, the Rite
Spot in Pasadena, California. Bored,
Lionel decided to slap a slice of American cheese onto a sizzling burger frying
on the grill. After a bite, his dad most
likely heard the same heavenly chorus I did, as the “cheese hamburger” was soon
on the menu. Others have laid claim to
discovering this food phenom, but it was a bored sixteen-year-old boy (aren’t
all teenagers bored?!) who deserves the honor. To paraphrase a famous quote
from the classic movie western, “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance”… “if you have
to choose between fact or legend, print the legend.”
Dave Cagnacci was probably not thinking of history at all in 2016, when he,
along with his wife Rachel, finally realized his dream and became the proud
owners of The Summit Drive-In, one of the last standing burger stands in
Southern California. Over the years, I’ve
recreated my seven-year-old summer experience when I could, but mom and pop
outdoor burger joints have been slowly dying, so when I was introduced to Ojai’s
iconic burger drive-in (which was never actually a drive-in, more a drive-up),
I would become that seven-year-old every time I ate there, devouring one of The
Summit’s beef or veggie cheeseburger choices.
Feeling patriotic? Bite into the
Red, White & Blue burger with grilled onions, blue cheese, lettuce, tomato
& secret sauce. Or go “white meat” with one of its chicken sandwiches, such
as the crispy western chicken sandwich with onion rings, cheddar cheese, bacon
and the Summit’s homemade BBQ sauce. Rachel,
The Summit’s general manager, oversees it all.
Some other favorites on the “of the era” menu: tuna and burger melts, BLTs,
and a pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw and pepper cheese. Naturally, French
fries and onion rings are among the sides, but check out the mac&cheese
bites. Of course, all of its seasonings,
rubs and secret sauces are made “in house.” Kids even have their own special
menu, including corn dogs and chicken tenders, and drinks range from shakes and
floats to sodas. Top off your meal with the stand’s ice cream sundae. For early birds, try a breakfast burrito or sandwich
with your coffee. The restaurant also
offers corn burritos, rated at the top of the charts by the “I Love Corn
Burritos Group” which critiques corn burritos around the area on its Facebook
page. And, give The Summit a call to
find out when its famous summer and fall weekend offering of special BBQ tri-tip
is happening… that alone is worth the drive-up.
But Private Chef Dave, now via The Summit Drive-In, hasn’t stopped
catering. In the valley, his food has
graced wedding receptions, local Air BnBs, bed & breakfast inns, even private
poker games, and special events at places around town, such as Boccali’s,
Thacher School, and Monica Ros School. Recently,
he catered the Rotary Club of Ojai’s 75th Anniversary party for 150
people.
The Summit, originally known as Fay’s Place, was built on the crest of the
dividing line of Upper Ojai and Santa Paula in 1961, and has ever since been a
burger stand and watering hole for Ojai residents, hikers and bikers, tourists,
or travelers just out to enjoy the scenery.
A bit of Summit lore: Family and
friends’ happy moments and memories are nurtured there. One story Dave likes to tell is, back in the
day when The Summit was Fay’s Place, a reform school was across the
street. One dedicated teacher would
often take one of her students to Fay’s Place for lunch where they would bond
over burgers and fries. The reform
school has since closed and Fay’s Place became The Summit Drive-In, but over
those years, the teacher and her student stayed connected, and not long ago
recreated their lunch experience at The Summit, sharing moments and memories.
The Cagnacci family are 4th generation residents of Ojai and
Ventura with roots in the food business going back to the early 1900s. The Summit Drive-In, run by “a team of family and friends who love to run
a restaurant and cater to folks who like to entertain,” has survived the
Thomas Fire that started nearby and which devastated the neighboring landscape.
Firetrucks parked in the restaurant’s lot allowed firefighters to keep an eye
on its survival. Then the pandemic hit. But this iconic burger joint was kept alive
with the help of a steady stream of longtime customers.
On a personal note, The Summit Drive-In brings back so many joyful memories of
my first burger shack/stand experience with its outdoor picnic-esque
atmosphere. I love trying this joint’s
new cheeseburgers and crispy chicken sandwiches… so much so, I’ve been known to
order one of each when I’m there (a dietary habit that keeps me going to the
gym). Drive out and drive up to the
drive-in with family or friends. No
doubt, you will create your own memorable moments and joyful memories.
Summit Drive-In is available
for private parties and catering: (805) 798-7742
Located at 12689 Santa Paula
Ojai Road (Hwy150) Santa Paula, California 93060
www.summitdrivein.com
www.facebook.comSummitDriveIn/
The Summit Drive-In is also on
Instagram