A stellar milkshake can have you slurping with the urgent abandon of that Nesquik rabbit. Before you know it, the frosty, thick and sweet mass is little more than a tiny puddle at the bottom of an ice cream-stained glass. And we're not just talking about the premium "$5 shakes" like John Travolta discusses in "Pulp Fiction." From the drive-through window to the casually cool dining room, a good milkshake triggers a shivery smile.

NICK ARROYO (ENLARGE)
Butterfinger and Oreo milkshakes from the Loop Pizza Grill.
CHARLOTTE B. TEAGLE/AJC STAFF (ENLARGE)
The blackberry milkshake at Casa Vieja.
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TUCKER

The Loop Pizza Grill

The Loop is more than your corner pizzeria. In addition to both specialty and build-your-own pies, the menu calls for salads, wraps, burgers, sandwiches and the proverbial shake. The usual suspects are in attendance with a choice of chocolate, strawberry or vanilla, each topped with a nice swirl of whipped cream. But for a few extra cents, break out of the box with either a Butterfinger or Oreo-flavored concoction. The staff hand dips each of The Loop's made-to-order treats. And they use fresh ingredients like actual strawberries, real cookies and candy bars during preparation.

• 3537 Chamblee Tucker Road, Atlanta. 770-220-2666, and other locations. www.looppizzagrill.com.

DORAVILLE

Casa Vieja

A Colombian restaurant that serves frothy shakes? That's the ticket at Casa Vieja, where traditional dishes like chicharron and arepas share menu space with the chilly desserts. The brightness and cheeriness found in the decor seems to make its way into the milkshakes, too. And we're not talking garden variety flavors. Guests dip their straws into pink-colored guava shakes and creamy blackberry ones, the latter sporting a red hue.

• 3652 Shallowford Road, Doraville. 770-454-8557.

EAST POINT

Arby's

It's a given that most fast-food chains will have a shake or two on the menu. The roast beef sandwich-based Arby's is no exception. Chocolate, vanilla and strawberry make the cut. But the real star is the trademark jamocha. Arby's began blending the dessert at its flagship Boardman, Ohio, location in 1964. After all these years, this mix of chocolate and coffee flavors remains as thick and arctic as ever. That's thanks to the original idea had by founders Leroy and Forrest Raffel.

• 1359 Virginia Ave., Atlanta. 404-209-9209, and other locations. www.arbys.com.

DOWNTOWN

Johnny Rockets

This international chain keeps the theme of the '50s diner alive. Bow tie- and apron-wearing waiters and waitresses deliver sizable burgers, mounds of fries and more. But it wouldn't be complete without a killer shake. And at Johnny Rockets, the flavors come in abundance. In fact, the selection can be so wide that it's often a tough choice to make. Will it be one crafted with Hershey's chocolate syrup or the fruity strawberry-banana? Or maybe the chocolate peanut butter or an apple-flavored shake is the way to go. Whatever the preference, the restaurant likely has a flavor to suit discerning fans of the froth. Johnny Rockets will be opening another downtown location by mid-summer at 280 Luckie St. across from the Georgia Aquarium.

• 50 Upper Alabama St., Atlanta. 404-525-7117, and other locations. www.johnnyrockets.com.

DECATUR

Ted's Montana Grill

Although the idea of a bison burger may be foreign to some, Ted's has enough familiar American classics to make even the most skeptical customer feel at home. A good example lies in its selection of shakes and malts. The flavors are simple; nothing more than vanilla, strawberry or chocolate. But while this echoes the classic era of the soda fountain, Ted's throws in a contemporary twist by exclusively using Häagen-Dazs ice cream. The staff makes them by hand, and each shake takes approximately five minutes to prepare. Make sure and arrive before or after peak hours in order to score one of the handful of tables lining the sidewalk. Suck on a shake while people-watching the eclectic Decatur denizens buzz to and fro.

• 201 W. Ponce De Leon Ave., Decatur. 404-378-1123, and other locations. www.tedsmontanagrill.com.

— Jon Waterhouse