Culver's

Teenage life cannot be complete until one has visited Culver's, so on my last day as a teenager, my dear Papa took me to Culver's in Marshalltown on our way home from chess camp where I was an instructor (more about that in another post).   

We each ordered a single-patty Cheddar Butter-Burger ($2.69).  The burger was very flavorful, and I loved the fresh tomato slice; it was a lot better than many other fast-food burgers.  And, did I say fast?  Culver's service is lightning speed!  I got our drinks and no sooner had I sat down when a waitress brought us our dinner.  

While the burgers were top-notch, the onion-rings were just okay.  Their taste was very delicate, but the good part was they weren't too greasy (i.e. they have very little taste, but the good part is they are not going to kill you).  Our drinks (water) were just as good as any water I've tasted.

The restaurant was very clean and had the feeling of a nice place.  The staff was friendly, efficient, and helpful.  We finished our meals with a root-beer float for Papa and a concrete mixer for me.  Culver's ice cream is distinctive.  It is actually frozen custard, which tastes a lot like my sister's homemade ice cream.  

Concrete mixers are customizable ice cream dishes where the customer can choose two flavors to start with and pay 25 cents more for every additional flavor added to the ice cream.  My concrete-mixer had mint flavor, Andes chocolate, and Reeses peanut butter cups.  Mint-chip ice cream is my all-time favorite, and everything is better with peanut butter; so although it was an unusual combination, to me it was delicious!  

I thoroughly enjoyed dinner at Culver's (thanks Papa--it was a delicious finish to a happy 7 years as a teenager!), and it is a restaurant I would recommend.

Burgers: 4.5 stars

Onion Rings: 2 stars

Ice Cream: 4 stars

Cleanliness: 5 stars

Service:  5 stars

Affordability: 5 stars