Milkshakes are the new sundaes, with crazy flavors, smashed cookie dough, booze, whipped cream and enormous straws. Here are New York City’s best – both old and new. – Valerie Stivers

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Pre-burger shop explosion, people got their shakes at a drugstore with a soda fountain, or a luncheonette, and the Lexington Candy Shop has been operating as both of them since 1925. The terminology is a little wonky—a milkshake is a ‘frosted’—but nonetheless, this one is a classic.

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Another thing to love about milkshakes? Some restaurants add alcohol to them. Laurent Tourendel’s BLT Burger doesn’t stop at Kobe hot dogs and onion rings the size of 45s. His menu extras include vanilla milkshakes spiked with caramel and Makers Mark, or a coffee milkshake enhanced with a jig of Kahlua and espresso.

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If you order a shake and sit at the bar at the Upper West side location, the bartender may serve you the extra on the side. The shakes are thick, made from Haagen Dazs and go for a reasonably low $6.

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Danny Meyer’s Shake Shack is the most mobbed burger and milkshake spot of them all—just see all those Midtown suits lined up for hours in Bryant Park. In these hand-spun concoctions Shake Shack combines soft serve with premium ice cream, then whips it with syrups and crazy ingredients like hot fudge and truffle cookie dough. Many fans prefer the traditional black and white or malted milk shake, but specialties include slated caramel, honey roasted peanut and thin mint.

A student-attracting Village burger joint tops the list in production of addictive, obsession-producing shakes. Perhaps it’s the plug of whipped cream on top, or the Lincoln-tunnel sized straw, or the wide range of flavors from classic entries like the black and tan, to exotic ones like toasted marshmallow or honey lavender.

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A serene, white-paneled shop on tenth street serves some of the city’s most sophisticated and unusual ice creams. The malted milkshake, however, is minimalist perfection, and not too thick to drink with a straw.

Steak ‘n Shake, a classic burger chain with locations in 23 states across the country, sits right next to the Ed Sullivan Theater. The Theater District welcomed the new burger joint in early 2012. Here at CBSNewYork.com, we’re big fans of the specialty Nutter Butter Shake, but you’ll find classic flavors like banana, strawberry, and of course – good old vanilla and chocolate.

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A ’50’s retro diner selling burgers, shakes and tater tots has a very credible milkshake for $3 in a few flavors such as the “Cookie Monster” with oreos, and the “Lucy in the Blue Sky” with bananas and strawberries. We love this Cotton Candy shake – topped with the stuff that will make you feel like a kid again. Weekdays beginning at 3 p.m., “happy hour” means half off all milkshakes.