Location: 493 N.E. Third St., Prineville

Hours: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily

Price Range: $2 to $6

Kids Menu: Yes

Alcoholic Beverages: None

Credit Cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express

Contact: 447-4165

Theres something deep down, Andy Griffith, American Graffiti, comfort food satisfying about a good burger joint.

The kind where it feels right to sip a frosty cold Coke, scarf a messy hamburger and a mess of fries and hang out with your friends.

Thats been going on for the past 50 years at the Tastee Treet in Prineville. From grade school on, folks congregate at the Third Street landmark, built in 1953.

They still do.

Their hair may be a tad more gray and coffee has become their beverage of choice, but the regulars still gather around the rock counter on a regular basis and talk about the latest. Or about cars. Or to needle the waitresses.

The way they always have.

Tastee Treet is that kind of place.

The business was purchased by Jana Rhoden last year. Before that, Duane Reynvaan and Roger Hudspeth owned the place. They have been among the counter crowd for decades.

And they like those burgers.

Take the mountain burger. The patty itself is three-quarters of a pound. And its piled high with lettuce, pickle, tomatoes and onions (grilled on request) and topped off with relish, mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup if you so desire. The buffalo burger was also added to the menu for a variety from the traditional flavors.

Tastee Treet burgers are 100 percent beef and the fries are handcrafted and old-fashioned potatoey.

Tastee Treet is also big on burritos, hot dogs, and fish and chips. All the soups and chili are homemade.

Breakfast items include the ham and cheese omelet, the ham, bacon or sausage breakfast (served with two eggs, hash browns and toast) and hash browns and country gravy.

And then theres dessert.

Tastee Treet serves 15 flavors of Eberhards and Umpqua ice cream along with the perennially popular soft serve. They also recently added smoothies that are growing more popular now that summer has arrived.

Just because the 1950s are long gone doesnt mean the kids dont keep flocking to this old standby.

Its a kids lunch rush at lunchtime, said longtime employee Penny Scarborough.

The noon special, a student burger served with fries and a drink, is $4.49.