Tomasso Conigilio's hot dog stand is open weekdays at the corner of Delaware and Huron in Buffalo.

(photo: Rose Mattrey)

One of the best parts of summer is the simple, casual cuisine that somehow becomes more enjoyable after Memorial Day. We’re talking ice cream sundaes and hot dogs. Perhaps one of the reasons everyone enjoys these foods more once the weather breaks is because of the cool summer hangouts that serve them.

For the perfect hot dog stand, with fantastic milkshakes and casual outdoor seating, George’s Hot Dog Stand in Boston is the place to go. Although somewhat out of the way, George’s hot dogs are worth the drive. If you’re looking for a hot fudge sundae, a healthy (well, relatively…) frozen yogurt or some delectable lemon ice, Hanna’s Frosty Treats on the corner of Taunton and Colvin is tried and true. Complete with picnic tables and an awning, Hanna’s is the perfect summer hangout.

Although good food in the city is nice, good food on the beach is even better. Surfer’s Bar and Grille, located right on the beach in Sunset Bay, has a fun, lively atmosphere, sometimes features live music and always features great food. The outdoor seating includes a great view of the sunset the bay is named for. Crab nights on Tuesdays are a favorite. A few bays down from Sunset sits Mickey Rats, a staple of the Angola beach scene.

There are too many to list here—and they are best discovered by accident anyway, on wayward summer road trips. But if you happen to pass any of the joints listed below, be sure to swing in. Just hurry up—most of these warm-weather treasures close by October:

George’s Hot Dogs

5808 Herman Hill Road, Boston

Hanna’s Frosty Treats

140 Taunton Place, Buffalo

The Hatch

Foot of Erie Street, Buffalo

Surfer’s Bar and Grille

1028 S. Shore Drive, Irving

Old Man River

375 Niagara Street, Tonawanda

Mickey Rats

8934 Lake Shore Road, Angola

Mississippi Mudd’s

313 Niagara Street, Tonawanda

Frosty Treat

1016 Main Road, Irving