Swensons Drive-In and Cordelia Team Up to Create Limited-Edition Menu Items

Fine dining collides with the classic drive-in experience this summer thanks to a collaboration between Swensons Drive-In and chef Vinnie Cimino of Cleveland’s Cordelia. From June 1 to June 30, both Swensons and Cordelia will feature limited-time menu items inspired by Ohio’s culinary culture.

Though it might seem like an odd combination at first, the two restaurants share a lot at their cores. Cimino, an Akron native and a James Beard Award finalist, brings an old-school approach to service at Cordelia, elevating quintessential Midwestern fare with local ingredients. Who, then, would be a better culinary partner than a classic burger joint founded in Akron with over 90 years of experience in the food-service game?

“Growing up in Akron, Swensons wasn’t just a restaurant. It was woven into the fabric of my childhood memories,” Cimino said in a May 20, 2025, press release. “To now partner with an iconic brand that shaped so many of my formative experiences feels surreal.”

As part of the collaboration, Swensons will offer a pimento cheese dip served with saltines and a burger topped with Kool-Aid pickles, two special concoctions crafted by Cimino. On the Cordelia side, explore a menu of dishes inspired by Swensons, including oysters with California granita and lemon zest, a California slush float, and a Galley Boy tartare that pays homage to the iconic Swensons burger by combining piquillo pepper, romesco, barbecue sauce and olive mayo. For those who can’t resist a milkshake-and-fries combo, check out the banana ice cream with peanut butter swirl and French fried potato.

“This partnership isn’t just exciting — it’s a true celebration of Ohio's rich heritage and Swensons’ storied history, while delivering fun new flavors that push culinary boundaries,” Dan Mesches, CEO of Swensons, said in the same May 20, 2025, press release.

On June 1, Cimino and his team will play the role of Swensons’ curb servers at the West Akron Swensons location. Those who visit and order one of the limited-time drinks will receive free pint glasses displaying the logos of both Swensons and Cordelia. Also on June 1, at all Swensons locations, the first 100 customers will receive limited-time temporary tattoos themed around the collaboration.

For more information, visit swensonsdriveins.com and cordeliacle.com.

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