The East Side Drive-In’s like an outdoor food court, with atmosphere times 11. On certain nights, the bonfire’s crackling and the colorful lights make it feel like a gypsy encampment, and trailers encircle you with their zany colors and shapes, some playing this kind of music, others playing that. Best of all, if your friends have conflicting food moods, you can order from different menus and still hang out together.

Whether you’re considering giving up meat, have food allergies, or are a dyed-in-the-wool vegan, you’ll be delighted by the delicious flavors coming out of the plucky Vegan Yacht. A “Freeto Pie” combines corn, soy cheese, avocado, creamless sour cream, and tempeh chili that’s so well spiced that you won’t even miss the meat. At $4 for a fully loaded little serving, it makes a great side; or get it in a burrito, where the crunch and softness is textural sex, and it beats the hell out of that horrid-looking Taco Bell beast we keep being accosted by on TV. Meat-substitute sandwiches like a “Mock Chick’n” salad and a smoked-tempeh “T.L.T.” are fine, but less enchanting. Beware the rampant Bragg’s liquid aminos—debate still rages in the health-food community as to its safety. Vegan Yacht as an overall dietary improvement? Now that we can get behind.