Culver’s

Culver's is a custard-and-burger chain out of the Midwest, and I rolled in skeptical and left with a tray full of evidence. The burgers come fresh and big, the fries are reliably crunchy and hot the way fries are supposed to be, and the cheese curds are the sleeper hit. Then there is the dessert side, the frozen custard and the Lemon Ice, which is the actual reason the place exists. Layla rang me up like she was glad I came in, and that goes a long way at a counter.

Not everything stuck the landing. The spicy chicken sandwich underwhelmed me, well-seasoned but not worth a return trip. Stay in the lane this place was built for, beef and dairy and fry oil, and it delivers. This is the rare chain I would actually steer a family toward.