I have only visited this place twice and both times I was treated very well by friendly staff. The seating is good and is usually crowded during lunch and super. I never use the drive-thru since I normally see a long line. I always walk-in and order. That way my food comes out really fast. On my first visit, the chicken strips where lightly breaded, nice and hot, and were not pricey. I really enjoyed those strips with the ranch sauce but I had a different result with the food on my second visit. On my second visit, I ordered a meal which included fried chicken and two servings of mashed potatoes with gravy. I ordered my meal to go and it came out fairly fast. I got home and oh my... I should have inspected my meal on the spot before I took it home. Have you ever had gravy that was watery, over-salted, with no beefy flavor? On top of sloshy instant mashed potatoes? It's something you would expect from an elderly home kitchen. Plus, the fried chicken was rock hard. Just imagine me gnawing on a large dry dog biscuit. Woof. It was horrid. I'm feeling iffy about going back. The chicken strips were so good but the fried chicken breasts and potatoes were disappointing. Shall I take a risk on ordering something else? I hope their ice cream is nothing like their mashed potatoes or their fried chicken!
(3)
Tracey F.
Best service ever!! Tyler made our visit very enjoyable. He joked with the grand kids and was very helpful finding menu items that were dairy free for grandson. My new favorite place to eat since not only was service outstanding, so was the food.
(5)
Corey D.
So you know how when you're having a rough day there is one food that you know will turn things around? For me in AZ it's been the turtle blizzard at DQ. Well, I was really excited to hear that Culver's was coming to town, because this little piece of home always put a smile on my face, so it was only natural that instead of a blizzard (which I had yesterday) I opted to try out Culver's for the first time. Boooooooooo! A concrete ought to be CONCRETE and the turtle concrete I had today was so soupy I could sip it through a straw. I asked someone about it and he said, yeah sometimes they have a hard time trackin' people down by their number and they melt, so I kindly asked if he would re-make it. Being a concrete connoisseur (my friend Cari and I always drove through Culver's at home when we needed a pick-us-up) I knew it was supposed to be more solid. Round 2? Sucked as much as the first. I decided not to press the issue, just to leave with my head hung low, sad that this taste of the midwest left a horrible taste in my mouth. (Extra points for Charlotte who told me that the turtle concrete is cheaper than adding nuts to chocolate custard).
(2)
Carrie B.
The home cooked items are like Wendy's, the Take Away Ice cream is like Baskin Robbins and the marketing style is like In n' Out or maybe White Castle. There are small pieces of the familiar at all stages of a Culver's experience. A little deja' vu-ey for me leaving me wondering "what does this remind me of?". You've seen it all before but, Culver's conquers yet another slice of the fast-food pie with McFlurryesque shakes, Burgers & soups. +Food: I've tried their fish sandwich. I found it very greasy and ended up ditching the bread , peeling the tempura covering off and eating a fairly generous piece of white fish alone. I also tried their Grilled Chicken & pecan salad. I found the greens fresh & the chicken chunks ample. I liked the Minestrone served with saltines for the baby. +Ambience: Quick casual style, carpeting & tvs in the tightly arranged dining area. A bell going off in the background (I assume to alert employees an order is up) sounds a lot like a fast-paced Wheel of Fortune game is on in the other room. +Best thing I've tried: Cheese curds. Addictive and unhealthy. If you eat one you may have to be careful not to eat 20. Share an order with a whole family to be on the safe side.
(3)
Brad H.
Been there twice now. First time was the better experience. the Deluxe Butterburgers were OK. Cheese curds are so-so. Frozen custard is good, but it's frozen custard. Nothing more special than Baskin Robbins, and just a little cheaper than Allegros. So I'd rather have BR and Allegros. The wait was about 7 minutes to order and 15 minutes to get our food when it was busy. Parking was crowded and only had two spots open when we came. Second visit (today) was worse than the first. Wait time was about 7 minutes to order and 30 minutes to get our food. Had the Cheddar Burger. Looked like it was thrown together. Lettuce on all the burgers are shredded, so the pictures are false advertising as they depict whole leaf lettuce. The burgers were OK, nothing outstanding. We decided that we like In-N-Out burgers better. They are cheaper than Culver's, too. Quicker, that's for sure and parking is not an issue. Once again, there were only about two parking spots open when we came. This time, in addition to the burgers, I tried the Atlantic Cod. Nothing spectacular. Rather bland tasting, actually. I've had better at cheapo Long John Silvers and at Jack In The Box. Batter was crispy, but a little on the thick side. The cod fillets themselves were real cod, not formed from parts, and good sized. But like I said, tasted bland. Cole slaw was good. Fries are OK. Root beer good. I must note that the first time they brought out the cod dinner to me, it was almost burnt. I took two bites and decided that if I spent $9 on this dinner, I was not going to eat dried-out, chewy fish that was over-cooked. I had them take it back and give me a new one, which they did cheerfully. But tack on the additional 7-10 minutes of waiting time. Of course, I ate my burger while I was waiting, to be fair. But still... My biggest complaint is that it took 30 minutes to get our order. We were not the only ones, either. How difficult is it to grill some burgers and throw a couple of cod in to the fryer? Will not be returning. ***UPDATE I sent an email on the Culver's corporate contact webpage which allows you to state the specific restaurant you went to. No one has contacted me back so this is another "ignore you" instead of "contact us" corporation.
(1)
Gabriel W.
I've been wanting to try this place ever since it opened with all that hype a few months back. Im going to keep this review as short as possible because it is, after all, just a fast food joint, and really there's not too much to say. The items I tried, I tried because there was a lot of hype, and the place relatively lived up to that hype. So...What i ordered was a breaded chicken sandwich, cheese curds, and a vanilla frozen custard. The chicken sandwich was really nothing special, but it at least looked like the picture which I thought put it above most fast food places already. The cheese curds were pretty delicious, but would have benefited I think by using a more exciting cheese like a cheddar or something. This seemed like mozzarella, which was tasty but yeah...and finally, the frozen custard was pretty awesome. This is definitely much more my type of frozen dessert than Ice cream or Froyo. Good flavor, and mine was nice and cold and not liquidy. The lady in the window recommended ranch for the curds, but the ranch here is terrible. Also, I really REALLY hate when fast food restaurants make you pay at the window then wait somewhere in the parking lot for somebody to bring you your order. Its just annoying, and its ESPECIALLY annoying when there's nobody behind you in line. "No, I dont want to pull up, Ill just wait right here while you make my food seeing as how there is absolutely no necessity for me to go anywhere. Tell you what, IF someone pulls up behind me AND their food is ready before mine is, THEN I will pull up, ok? Not before." I shoulda said that...next time Ill say that. Anyway, I liked it, didnt love it. Crappy ranch and a BS pickup window knocks 2 stars off for me.
(3)
Ana P.
Always worth the trip even just for the cheese curds and the frozen custards.Cant give the five star rating since they are not exactly healthy. They count for guilty pleasures!
(4)
Barb G.
We are big fans of Culver's frozen custard. We are originally from Wisconsin and have been residents of Tucson for about 25 years, so we were very happy to see we finally have a Culver's here. We especially enjoy their cod fish fry's as fish fry's are a tradition in Wisconsin. I called tonight to see when they would start their Walleye fish fry's and a very nice person named E.J. gave me March 18th as the date. Then in a few minutes he called me back and said it was February 18th. I thought that was really nice of him, so we decided to go get the cod fish fry. As it turned out E.J. brought us our food and I told him I was the one who called and that we thought that was very considerate of him to call us back and give us the correct date. To me that shows what a conscientious employee he is to go the extra mile for his company and call us back. The food was very good tonight and although I wanted a custard I was too full. Will be there on Feb. 18th and hope E.J. is working again. This young man is management material.
(5)
Kate L.
I'm big on apples-to-apples comparisons... but Culver's has me flummoxed. Do I compare it to fast food? Or casual Americana diner that happens to have a drive through? Compared to McDonald's, it's 5 star. Compared to oh say Fuddruckers, it's 2 stars. So I'll strike a compromise and say 3 stars... Closer to 3.5. Based on burgers alone... if you are picking something up on the way home from work, for drive-thru it's pretty darn good. Burgers are decent... not the deliciousness level of 5 Guys in my humble opinion, not as fresh as In and Out, but it tastes like a *real* hamburger as opposed to Burger King and McDonalds. For a drive-thru burger, it's 4.5 stars. If butter = love, then there sure is a lot of LOVE on those buns! Other options were good to just ok... my cheese curds were good--tiny little fried pops of cheese. Perhaps if I was eating them in the restaurant instead of the slightly cooled off version when I got home, it would have been better. The chili cheese fries were just ok, again perhaps better in the restaurant. My son's chicken fingers seemed pretty standard... I appreciated that it was "real chicken" in there, not just some composite nugget thingamajig. And it included a free custard... which they declined to tell me in the drive through that you had to claim at the counter (so if you order a kids meal at the drive thru, make sure you request the frozen custard then too). I got a couple of the frozen custard flavor's of the day (mint), and it was good. Not amazing, but I'll definitely go back for more. So, if I'm too exhausted for anything but drive thru on my way home, I'll say this is a winner. But if I'm going to sit down, I'll probably pick Fuddruckers instead.
(3)
Scott M.
Very good for fast food. Unlike in and out, has a rather large selection. Cheese curds are awesome, so is the butter burgers, and the butter fat shakes. They use only Wisconsin cheese and you can taste it. Also unlike in-and-out they offer veterans a discount, 15%. The service is great and the place is clean.
(5)
Rick H.
I didn't know that this place had some sort of reputation as a Midwest great before I tried it. I just thought it was a custard place, only later discovering they had other things on the menu at a long red light. As we don't get a lot of new places in Tucson, I was excited to give a new place a spin, so I spun in on the way to Mt. Lemmon one day and decided to try a light lunch. I ordered a crispy chicken sandwich, with no pickles. After a very long wait, despite few cars in the parking lot, no cars ahead of me, and none behind me, I got an unseasoned grilled chicken sandwich on a stale, dry bun, with nothing on it but pickles. Fine, I figured maybe I was the asshole for having a special order, so I got rid of the pickles and choked the bad sandwich down. Later, I looked up the place on the internet to see what the hell their deal was. They were calling themselves the In-N-Out of the Midwest. Ok. Maybe I'm the jerk who ordered a chicken sandwich at a place that just does burgers. My bad. I go back today, determined to give the place a fair shake. I order an ultimate bacon burger and "cheese curds" that everyone raves about. The cheese curds were good, as difficult as it was to put something in my mouth called "curd." They had a weird aftertaste. I went home, ate the burger, and found that it was not that good (it kind of tastes like a gross version of Del Taco's burger), and, also, had a very strange, sludgy aftertaste. An aftertaste that is still in my mouth now. I feel sick. This place disgusts me. I just can't believe that lots of people in the Midwest apparently love the hell out of this garbage. What is wrong with people? What is wrong with the world? It is now my dream to win some sort of lifetime supply of Culvers, so I can drive to Culvers and fill up garbage bags full of their food and drive it right to the dump, where it belongs. Or maybe I will drive it to a native burial ground, causing unrest to dead, ushering in the zombie apocalypse to wipe Culvers from the map, along with the rest of the cold cruel world that has allowed them to be successful. In short: not very good.
(1)
Melisa R.
Finally tried Culver's! I would give 3.5 stars if possible, but since I can't, I'll give 4. First, the service was fantastic. Very friendly and courteous employees. Amy, the young lady who brought our food, was one of the nicest employees I've ever seen at a fast food place. As for the food, I would put the burgers on par with Whataburger. Much better than McDonald's, but not in the same league as Smashburger. I would have liked some seasoning on the patties and leaf lettuce not shredded, but the meat was well cooked and the bun delicious. Husband enjoyed the mushroom/Swiss burger and my daughters loved the basic Butterburgers with cheese. One definite plus were the onion rings. We loved the batter and they were fresh from the fryer. The fries were basic fries and the cheese curds were probably better hot. By the time we got home they had cooled and reminded me of cold mozzarella sticks. Last, but not least, we got a quart of chocolate custard. It's very good, reminded us of creamy frozen yogurt, but I think we prefer regular old ice cream. All in all a good experience, but for the price, I think we'd rather go to Smashburger. Culver's is a little pricey for basic burgers, onion rings and fries.
(4)
Marty S.
Good burgers and good service, even if their menu system is convoluted. Their frozen custard could use some improvement.
(4)
Caleb T.
Every single thing you make is absolutely delicious!! The Custard is some of the best I have ever had!! Good chicken sandwiches, burgers, oh yea did I mention CHEESE CURDS!? Go here you wont regret it.
(5)
Erin C.
Pretty good for fast food. I got the pot roast sandwich with onion rings and the hubby got a double bacon butter burger with cheese curds. He loved his and I thought mine was very good. Service was great and was very clean. Wish I had saved room to try the custard.....maybe next time :)
(4)
Dan J.
Culver's is so close to being really good - they are nearly perfect on paper - but their burgers - in my opinion - just don't have a lot of flavor. I don't get it, honestly. The buns are soft, the meat tastes fresh and is cooked well, the veggies seem fresh, but... the burgers just seem so-so. The fries are to-die for. One of my sons likes their hotdog (sometimes) and another likes their chicken strips (sometimes) and they're delicious. But the burgers... I just can't put my finger on it. They even have the "butter burgers" which you'd think would be soooo greezy but yummy - but they're still just ok. The kids meals are a deal - they even include a small ice cream with a topping (lots of candy, nuts, etc. to choose from). Now it's not ice cream but a frozen yogurt (I believe) - but it's smooth and creamy and cold and so my simple brain says "ice cream" in much the same way I call any bandage a bandaid. So... kids meals = good. Fries = good. Burgers = meh. Overall, this *is* a place known for their burgers and so... *points to the three stars*. Sorry Culver's - sadly I can't even put my finger on *what's* not great so it'd be hard to name an area of improvement. I've been three or four times now since the kids like the ice cream "bonus" but I don't think I'll be giving Culver's any more tries. It's just consistently mediocre in flavor.
(3)
Edwin C.
This is the one directly next to the Hilton. My first time at a Culver's. Saw the "custard" sign outside and wanted an after dinner dessert. Got the create-your-own. My two mix ins were "Mint" and "Brownie chunks". It tasted good, but watching them make it was a bit gross. The mint was this toxic green looking liquid. But if you didn't see it, it tasted pretty good (albeit obviously not the healthiest thing for somebody to eat, artificial coloring). Brownies were pretty good. Found out later that they have cheese curds. Pretty good. A bit pricey for them tho, as a side alone.
(3)
Debbi W.
I've been hearing about this place as if it's the second coming of the Messiah. Upscale fast food is still fast food. I'd pay a little extra for a maitre d, waitron and a bus-person . I don't mind ordering at the counter I think it was the large lighted menu over the back of the order-taker's head that made me feel like a clown or a king was going to come at me any second. I had the prime-rib sandwich. It was flavorful, tender and juicy. Most importantly the bread was very good and held-up nicely. I washed it down with a chocolate shake and it was no king or queen. Messiah? No, maybe John his cousin.
(3)
Stephanie H.
Well, I thought this was pretty darn yummy! I mean, it's fast food, not gourmet. But I was pretty impressed that their beef is grass-fed and never frozen. Tasted good to me, as good as In-N-Out. The custard was delicious too. Manager was a super nice guy. I'd go back.
(4)
Maria L.
So begins our family's quest to find the best burger in Tucson among the 12 most popular burger joints. Our first stop is Culver's on east broadway. Our criteria is based on ten categories (of which I will reiterate every time): entree/dessert, drinks, sides, variety, service/made to order, value, friendliness, cleanliness, accessibility, and family friendly. First and foremost the food. The burgers were very greasy and somewhat messy, my son had trouble holding it all together. The number of sides they have is great but the fries were so so - I recommend cheese curds. The drinks were non-alcoholic standard fare. Their custard was good but not amazing. Where they scored major points was their extremely friendly atmosphere. The place was clean and tidy, even the bathroom smelled good - according to my son. The staff was very friendly, save a few absent smiles. And we were fortunate enough to go on princess and superhero Tuesday where kids get a $2 meal if they dress up. Definitely family friendly. Though it can be a bit pricy per person and there are only a few in town, their variety and atmosphere warrant a 4 star rating. We'll return when my daughter is old enough to decide who her favorite superhero is!
(4)
Lauren K.
In terms of fast food, Culver's ranks amongst the best for us. it is fresher, cleaner, and tastier that most. The burgers aren't too thick or too thin, and they taste good. I don't normally like fast food burgers, but these are edible for me. The meat is better quality, and you can taste the difference from some of the other places. The crispy chicken is fried very well, and is seasoned nicely. The veggies they put on the sandwiches always look and taste crispy and fresh. The cheese curds are unique and very good, and definitely worth trying. They're the best side dish out of the ones we've tried. The mashed potatoes were bland, and the cheese fries were just ordinary. The custard is thick and creamy and what will bring me back to Culver's over and over. The texture is so much better than the "ice cream" (aka powder) that some places use for their desserts. Culver's also isn't stingy with toppings, and they have plenty to choose from. It is just really good. It can take a little bit too long to get the food sometimes. The last time I went through the drive-thru to bring the food home, once I got home, I found that both meals were wrong somehow. However, everyone is friendly, and they walk around the dining room to assist you and clean up. The prices are a little bit high, but when you consider you're getting much higher quality and fresher food, it doesn't matter so much. I'd gladly pay more to get better food. Overall, I would recommend Culver's to those who like fast food and/or custard. it is worth a try!
(4)
Nali M.
yum! culver's burgers are like grandma's homemade burgers from when I was a kid. I really like that they have the option of different sides rather than just fries. the onion rings are deliciously crisp. I've yet to try anything but their famous butter burger, but I'm sure I'll get around to that eventually. the interior isn't your average fast food restaurant feel. it's a little more home-y, warm and welcoming. try this culver's out if you're on the east side.
(4)
Willanne W.
Missed lunch but needed to eat something as not to faint! Went through the drive thru and ordered a small special shake (mint oreo was the special flavor). Now, let me "break down" the shake! The shake was too thick to drink. Had to eat it with a spoon which is inconvenient and dangerous while driving. They did give me a spoon and said sorry it is so thick. After a few spoonfuls, it was leaving a gnarly aftertaste of spoiled milk in my mouth. Totally unacceptable and quite appalling. I tossed that baby in the trash and proceeded to brush my teeth and use mouthwash when I finally got home. I had tried the Culver's in Casa Grande not long after it opened (probably 6 months ago or so) and found the food utterly inedible. The grease from the fish sandwich was soaking through the bag before I could even exit the parking lot. Took it back in and got my money back. Thought I'd give the Tucson Broadway Culver's a shot... but .. well, Culver's is "Never bother again" on my fuel list!
(1)
Sitha I.
When this place first open, everyone raved so much about it. "Butter bread burgers and custard shakes...its amazing!" So my sis, bf and I happened to drive by the place one night and decided to try it... to keep it short, it was less than what we expected. My bf's sandwich was small and my sis's burger was plain. The only exception is the shakes, which was a REAL shake and was delicious! My first experience wasn't so well, so I didn't rate it and waited til I visit a second time....which I did. This time we tried different sandwiches/burgers and the concrete mixer/custard thinking it would be different and it wasn't :( CULVER'S YOU FAILED ME.... and I was really hoping to love it. My mushroom and swiss burger was cold like it was pre-made and sitting under a heat lamp. Plus the burgers are too small for the price you pay. On a good note, the concrete mixer is amazing. Probably the only thing I would return for. They have many flavors and candies to choose from so it makes it really hard to decide but the are pretty good.
(2)
Heather M.
I don't eat fast food burgers often as my waistline just can't afford it; however, every now and then I find myself craving these burgers. I don't have that reaction to any other fast food burger in town. That earns them Yay! I'm a fan. One of my favorite things about Culver's is that I can choose my cheese. I absolutely despise American Cheese. Of all the possible contributions to the cheese world, this one had to be tagged "American". No wonder the French dislike us. I have 2 go-to burgers: the Wisconsin Swiss Melt and the French Onion Butterburger. Both are great. For obvious reasons you want to eat the melt on site. I'll give you a quick tip - as soon as it hits your table, flip it over. That helps to keep the "down" side from getting too soft. Since the "up" side has already cooled it can handle becoming the down side. The French Onion is stacked with awesome grilled onions and Swiss cheese. The sides are okay. Cheese curds, while novel, do nothing for me. The fries are average. The onion rings are okay. The interior is a step above the typical fast-food restaurant interior which I appreciate. I do love to sit within view of the drink counter so I can watch people struggle with the lid dispenser. Hilarious. Some people just never figure it out.
(4)
Trevor C.
OMG... It wasn't but a month ago I was at work, bartending, and talking to some guests about how much I miss Culver's, how I wish Tucson had one, and how well it would do if someone opened one here. Fast forward to yestereday, I'm driving to emmissions testing and what do my wonderful eyes see, but a big, new shiny Culver's building. I had no idea it was the grand opening. I gathered my family and returned. I waited in line for about 35 minutes and was not disappointed. My mushroom and swiss ButterBurger was perfect. Super flavorful, dripping with butter and very fresh tasting. Deep fried cheese curds, amazing. Hot, gooey, crunchy just like back home in Wisco. And top it all off... A cup of custard with butterscotch. It is like eating silk. SOOOO creamy, so rich, so flavorful. The staff was so nice for as busy as they were and it being the first day. Everyone was happy and they went out of their way. They even gave me two free orders of cheese curds! I love this place and I highly reccommend anyone who likes burgers to go here. You will not be disappointed. Way better than In and Out or Five Guys, and it is WAYYY less expensive than five guys! Culver's, thank you for finally making your way to Tucson!
(4)
david b.
I am a little shocked at all the positive reviews of the food I am seeing. I ate there for the first time last night and my body is still trying to purge the last of that meal. I had a swiss mushroom burger which is Culver-ese for a brown sodium burger. I literally drank a half gallon of water after that burger to quench my seemingly insatiable thirst. It was ridiculously salty. My wife had the version of patty melt and could only eat half as it too was insanely salty. Here's the problem, I can drive a block up the street and drive in and out and get a nice crisp bun, with crunchy fresh lettuce and tomatoes on it, a side of fresh cut potatoes and not feel like I am Lawrence of Arabia suffering through the center of the damn Sahara desert or I can go to Culver's and get a soft oil laden bun smashed onto 2 thin hard pieces of meat covered in a brown salt based sauce. The mushrooms were meager and the swiss flavor was hidden behind the overbearing oily saltiness. The fires are a standard Ore Ida looking frozen variety, the same as you can get at your local Eegees. Only saltier. Culver's now occupies a space right next to McDonalds in my hierarchy of eating out establishments which I will eat at only if there is absolutely no other option, which would include gas stations fare. Thanks for giving my a new location to avoid at all costs Culver's, now if you excuse me I need to get another huge glass of water and make an appointment with my cardiologist to get my blood pressure checked.
(1)
K M.
Two & 1/2 to three stars. Tasty beef burgers but truly, buttery just translates to greasy, and not in the usual greasy way. Not really making sense here, am I -- I think that the buttery taste on the bun detracts from the taste of the burger. The beef is decent for fast-food. Fries and onion rings are a bit above average. The shakes are strong, and that is in my opinion what saves this place. Wide variety of shakes - choose your own ingredients and proportions and the staff seems to actually listen. Crowded, crowded - remember, Tucson is a burger town.
(3)
Kristi B.
For weeks I'm driving by the new Culver's building on Broadway...several people I know can hardly wait for it to open, so I'm thinking it's got to be good. We checked it out today, arrived at 2:30P. Was impressed with the crowd at that time, and didn't even mind the 15+ minutes it took to get our burger and side salad order. They're new, it takes time to work out the bugs, so we were fine with the time thing. The fact that fries showed up, which we didn't order - and the coffee didn't appear at all until I went back to the counter were also okay. They're new and the staff seem young and a bit overwhelmed. But I don't think it's too much to ask for your food to be HOT when it's served to you - I would have settled for warm! Alas, such was not the case, both burgers were cold and so were the fries. And the side salad was full of old brown lettuce. Enough said. We couldn't have been more UNimpressed. When one of the kids clearing the tables asked how things were, I told her we were unimpressed because the entire order was cold. She didn't seem to know how to respond. In case the manager of Culver's is reading this, I'd like to suggest that you have a chat with your new staff and let them know this is the kind of thing that you don't want your new customers writing about...it's the kind of thing they should be coming to you about while the customer is still in your establishment. Sadly disappointing experience. Good luck future diners. In N Out Burger...you have nothing to worry about!
(2)
Lorie A.
Fried cheese curds: everything that is right and wrong about America, right in a little parchment sac. Dark cheese or light, small curds or large, they're breaded and fried in golden brown unity. Just wish there was a little more crunch and they were served just a tad bit warmer (besides the nutritional danger of fast food, I like some tactile challenges as well). Culver's Deluxe Burger Basket seems to be the way to go. Two beef patties, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, mayo...am i missing something? Oh, the bun! I didn't much notice a difference with the mighty swipe of butter, but I did appreciate the consistency of the bun and how it was soft with a bit of elasticity that kept it from tearing under the Midwest pressure to put in a solid day's work of holding that burger together. Culver's crinkle cut French fries could almost give Eeggee's a run for their money, if only they were served as dangerously hot as our hometown fry masters. Other sides looked good, and we'll probably try others once I can dive into their nutritional info and see if I can make an allergy friendly meal so the whole family can return. A single scoop of chocolate frozen custard set me back $1.99, and it was good, but I don't see the value for the money over a DQ. (If I'm going to spend more than $1 on ice cream, I'm going to hit up Frost). The rest of the menu was in line with value for product. Bonus for having Pepsi and the yummy Pepsi Max on fountain.
(3)
Elyse P.
I'm a midwestern girl and have had the pleasure of being special friends with Culver's for many years. In fact, when I go in to the locations in Tucson, it's like a little midwesterner reunion. The burgers are a little greasy for me and the menu is a little too large, but the custard was just as incredible as I remembered.
(3)
Cindy N.
I'm on a quest once again to find the "best" in a particular category. I've pretty much done it with the Mexican thing as well as the Pizza thing. I do consider myself a "foodie" and a bit of a food snob. So therefore I believe my taste buds are very sensitive and right on the mark. So here goes. From what I remember about Mc Donald's and Burger King (haven't eaten in them since the 70's since I am also a bit of a health nut) Culver's tastes just like them. Pretty average. . I had the one with bacon, wisconsin cheese, lettuce, etc. The fries were OK. Loaded with sodium. Albeit, the custard was thick and creamy and quite good. Not worth going again. Sorry guys, but it was not one of my winners. I guess other folks like it because it was noisy and mobbed. We went to the one on Thornydale.
(2)
Elsa L.
The dryest burgers I have ever had. The crinkle fries we so soggy, it was just plain ridiculous. Their oh so famous custard taste like a Wendy's frosty. Go to In N Out down the street for a much better burger.
(1)
Victoria L.
If you want good hot food....clean atmosphere, sports on the televisions around you, darn good "Culver's only root beer" and just want to sit and enjoy a nice meal...this place is for you! Make sure you get some custard to go cause it's soo worth it after a hot meal! Our meals have always been hot and fresh, the sides ( YUMMY KICK BUTT CHEESE CURDS AND ONION RINGS) are always over flowing and fresh and hot and the custard is worth the extra workout!!!!!
(5)
Ming-Min L.
walleye is delicious, but for $9.99 it sure looked soggy on the plates i saw coming out! i was thoroughly confuzzled by the menu, which even made ordering a shake (or is it a custard) difficult. the manager was ringing us up and he was bored and distracted as i asked him q's about the menu (although i did have quite a few--still...). i ended up with the butter burger which wasn't bad, but didn't give me the mouthgasm that in-n-out burger does. the patties had a decent charbroiled flavor but the crinkle cut fries didn't have enough crisp to them. lastly, my shake was good but i think i like DQ blizzards better. as far as ambiance goes, it's clean with a total midwest atmosphere complete with lotsa retirees. all in all not bad, but i think i'll stay up the road for a double-double.
(3)
Nessa P.
The burger was average. The cheese curds were crispy, hot, and just the right amount of melty. The chocolate custard was thick and creamy. Had it mixed with some Oreo cookies, very tasty. The girls who served me were polite and fast. A good treat once in awhile.
(4)
Ron R.
Their burgers are not too shabby. I have to come back and try there famous custard.
(3)
John H.
Culvers was a favorite of mine in Springfield, Mo. However, I didn't find the same quality in this newly established restaurant. The layout is not condusive to ease of moving around, especially when its busy. The food was pretty typical with the Concrete I used to enjoy often being runny, not well mixed, and very sweet. This will not deter me or my friends from returning soon to see what improvements are made. The butter burger is still one of my favs and I won't live long without curing my craving. Enjoy.
(3)
Y H.
Not a fan... had to go and try it based on recommendations of friends and others here on Yelp*... I was not too impressed. It was a fast food place dressed up like a regular restaurant. My party of 3 tried the various burgers, one had fries... Of the three, only one person finished and the other two didn't. Perhaps it was a bad day to go. Doesn't matter, will not be going back..
(1)
Robert N.
This place is packing them in, but why? Thought I would have time to dine in especially since I was second in line. The gent taking the orders was very slow and seemed half asleep. There was a lot of workers standing around with confused looks on their faces. After 25 minutes of waiting for m food, I may just have to walk out.....as I was leaving my food was delivered and I made it a to-go. The fries were pretty good, the classic burger not. The burger edges where 'frayed', dry, and burnt. First and last time at Culver's.
(1)
Nicholas S.
Tonight was our first time to try Culver's out, and we will not be going back. My partner picked up 2 double bacon deluxes, 2 fries and 2 of the chocolate custard/ice cream cups with crushed cookies in them. For one, the burgers were average, kinda like the burgers at a Chili's. The fries were crinkle cut and cold. The ice cream was also just okay... The cookies in them were not oreos...they tasted like cheap cookies you'd buy at a dollar store. I do not understand all the hype about this place. In and Out is and always will be better.
(1)
Tommy S.
This is going to be a 2 part review once now and a revisit review once this place is ridiculously crowded! First off parking was horrid, the lines for drive through, were almost out to the street, and the line inside was even worse. It seemed there were people standing around everywhere confused about where to go and how to get there! It was utter chaos! Once I finally made it to the register the poor girl that took my order sounded as if she was discovered in the desert nearly dead from thirst! Her voice was almost nonexistent. Her and I joked as she told me it was because she lost it working the counter almost non stop since the place opened. Yikes. So anyhow I knew this place was churning and burning at full throttle so that is why I didn't give it the worst review I could. I mean its not everyday that Tucsonans and tourists alike can order Wisconsin based fast food! Which brings me to the order. I ordered the Shaved Prime Rib, and the onion rings. My friend ordered the Culvers Deluxe Bacon Burger and the cheese curds that we were soo excited to try. Once we got our food I was super bummed to bite into my shaved prime rib sandwich and find that it was cold! Seriously! That ruins a sandwich like this!. The burger on the other hand was amazingly good. Which is why I hold out hope that a second review and second visit might do this justice. But alas the cheese curds...... more like breaded poppers! I have never had cheese curds anywhere else and in my mind I imagined a sweet desert like cheese similar in consistency to cottage cheese. Boy was I wrong. The cheese curds tasted like they had been frozen and then flash fried, which is almost completely off of what the restaurant stands for. Better not come thirsty because to get a refill of a beverage took almost as long as it did to order, and since the lines were so long it was awkward standing next to a table in a line when someone is trying to enjoy their food. So Culvers.... we will see you again.
(3)
Tricia K.
I kept driving by this place wondering what it was. One day driving by my husband and I thought it was open so we stopped well it wasn't but they gave us a coupon for a free frozen custard so today we went. OMG what can I say. This was the best burger I have had in a long time. Look out Five Guys and In n Out. You get to pick what you want on your burger and the bun OMG. I was not at all disappointed in the wait. After lunch got my free frozen custard and man was it good. I know where I will be going to get me a good burger.
(5)
Ivette O.
Deep fried and battered cheese with a butter burger are a heart attack on a tray, but damn it tastes good. They always have great sweet tea (just needs to be a bit sweeter for me). Sundaes and custards are next to try.
(5)
Liz G.
Eh. I had heard so much about Culver's that maybe my expectations were too high. Yes, the burger was good, but not great. The fries and cheese curds were also good, but not great. I had never tried frozen custard before, and I will admit that it has a smoother, creamier texture than regular soft serve. If I go back to Culver's, it will be for the custard, not the food.
(3)
IndustryPerson X.
I had never heard of Culvers so I didn't know what to expect when I went there. First off it was very busy maybe 12 - 15 people in line and a completely full dining room. The wait was short and the service staff was friendly knowledgable and well trained. We were given a numbered table marker along with our cups for some pretty tasty Culvers brand rootbeer. After two trips around the very cozy dining room we found a spot to sit. The service staff had it bussed and cleaned immediatly. The food arrived shortly after we found our table. Like others have said before, the cheese curds are spectacular! But.... The burgers and melts were average at best and def not memorible. Beware of the parking lot, it took us a while to get out because of the drive thu. Oh and the custard was good and bad, it was vanilla w peaches. The peaches were frozen solid and ruined the custard for me.
(4)
Carol Hite S.
Have to say will never go there again. Nothing special about the butter bun burger, except the price of meat was triangle shape and about as thick a nacho chip! Very disappointed frys were soggy and cold. But the onion rings were great. I'll go down the street to in and out or five guys for a great burger.
(1)
chelsie j.
Such good shakes!! Burgers are yummy :) I def come back
(4)
Mary Ann S.
My favorite at Culver's is the pork tenderloin sandwich, which I have ordered often and it has always been perfectly cooked. Love the custard, but it is often inconsistent .....too soft and concrete mixers soupy. Often take out is missing items after we get it home...have learned to check things over before driving away. We need more restaurants on the east side of town...we hope Culver's will be successful once they work out new opening bugs. We enjoy the nice interior, which is an upgrade from the usual. Update....I have wanted to wait to post giving time for the bugs to be worked out. Drive thru continues to be very bad...orders are wrong and unless the order is very simple it will be wrong!! The order has to be repeated several times for them to understand.....maybe staff this position differently ?
(4)
Emily H.
all i can say is that this place has the best burgers and best onion rings ever. makes me hungry just writing this post. the first time i came was super crowded because it was new and its tucson so what else is there to do but go to the new restraut that opened. but the last time i went it was later at night and the middle of the week not a weekend and it was pretty slow which i liked better.
(5)
Scott D.
I cannot for the life of me understand what anyone would like about these tasteless excuses for burgers...I had seen show on TV on the Midwest "butter burger" and on the show, they actually looked tasty... I decided to try one of these burgers one night and I have to say, I certainly hope that the way culver's makes these burgers is not how they are made elsewhere because the "butter burger" that I ordered was the most tasteless, bland, pitiful burger I think I've ever tried to eat...I say tried because I never could finish it. I chucked it and went right down the road and got an In and Out burger, double meat/cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion for basically the same price. Delicious!!!
(1)
Pete C.
I'd give this place more points for friendliness, a very inviting dining/sitting atmosphere, and offering military discount than for food. The burger I ate was okay. Not something I'll crave later, but it hit the spot. There are lots of dessert items on the menu, so you definitely have more choices if you come here. Pepsi product is served here. It also has wi-fi, so if you're looking for a nice place to sit and use your computer or tablet, this fits the bill nicely.
(2)
Leah R.
Delicious butterburgers, gorgeous pot roast sandwiches (pot roast tastes just like my Mom used to make at home), yummy fish dinners with big, flavorful pieces of white, flakey cod. Cheese curds and ice-cream to-die for ! I come here once a week, maybe, and always find something different to try on the menu - never leave disappointed. Great menu options for kids, they even have some soups if you don't want your typical burger. Slightly more expensive, than In-N-Out or Freddy's, though. You can buy some ice-cream in bigger packages to take home with you, too.
(4)
Bryce R.
I usually love Culvers. Their custard is always delicious. I especially like the cheese curds. They are like little mozzarella sticks. However one night I was trying to buy my family some treats for after dinner. I decided to stop at this Culvers. There was only one car in front of me on the drive thru. I place my order for 3 mixers. I pull around and I wait for what seems like 15 minutes waiting for the ice cream. As I am waiting I can see the drive thru girl running around and then there are 3 other employees just standing around not helping her. This is particularly frustrating because I was in a bit of a rush. My experience that night was very unpleasant.
(2)
Samantha B.
Had the shrimp, fries, and a thick chocolate frozen yogurt. Boyfriend had an overdone butter burger and a vanilla frozen custard, which was ok. Would return as a side thought during travel or busy days.
(2)
Zac S.
Never been here before, let alone heard of Culver's prior to my stop in Tucson from LA. I must say: quite a delicious "butterburger" and onion rings combo. The only downside was the onion rings being a little too overcooked.
(4)
Dianne D.
I walked in and immediately saw the dessert menu which looked like a sonic's dessert menu and I was excited to try everything! I got a burger which looked super small and honestly didn't taste all that special. Got the frozen custard with snickers and brownies and it tasted like a mcflurry. The girl who took our order was super sweet and friendly which is why I'm giving 3 stars! Also the place is spacious and clean. I'll definitely come back and try other combinations of the frozen custard but maybe not so much for the food.
(3)
caroline R.
It was our first time eating here. EJ was very helpful and made our visit very pleasant. We ordered the double deluxe cheeseburger with fries and shake. It was SO GOOD!
(5)
Michael S.
This a good alternative to typical fast food. The cheese curds are also a nice change from fries. The ice cream and shakes, though, are really what makes this place good. They have an awesome chocolate raspberry shake and the concretes are like a Blizzard from Dairy Queen.
(4)
Jason N.
For the life of me, I can't fathom why Culver's only has an overall rating of three stars at this location. Every single visit here has been exceptional. Maybe I am just easy to please (I'd like to believe I am not), but the beef they use on their burgers is seasoned in a way that matches my taste buds with sheer perfection. Three simple words: Bacon Butter Burger. It's up there with one of the best burgers I have ever had and it's from a chain restaurant that specializes in frozen custard. Perhaps I am luckier than most, but I have never had a burger from this Culver's that was anything short of marvelous. It's a bit on the greasy side, but the fat kid that lives inside me (and tries to emerge every winter) appreciates the dripping grossness that trickles off the freshly cooked patties. If you get the burger with cheddar, it's even better -- and I am not much of a cheese person on sandwiches or burgers. The fries they serve are similar to what they provide at Eegee's, which is a positive aspect in my book. Crinkle cut fried have fallen by the wayside over the years, but Culver's doesn't conform to the modernization of the french fry culture. No, sir, Culver's is not bound by imaginary rules determined by the direction of society. The item they specialize in -- frozen custard -- is pretty damn good too. My step-daughter loves Culver's, if only for the frozen custard. A variety of flavors and choices makes the frozen custard the perfect desert after your Bacon Butter Burger. The service is generally swift and they bring your food to your tables. The seating arrangement includes TV's, which play news, sports and other programs throughout the day. The experience at Culver's is neat little for simple fast food burger chain. The Bacon Butter Burger is what attracts me there, but the little things (the quality custard, the TV's, the superior atmosphere, the service) are what puts Culver's over the top for me.
(5)
Nancy M.
We got the best service at this Culver's! The young man that took our order was soooo friendly and personable! I was very impressed. The person that delivered our food to our table was equally nice and as we were leaving the original young man acknowledged us again and asked us to come again. We've not experienced this level of pleasantness at other Culver's so it was a delightful surprise! Oh...and the food is pretty good too!
(5)
Mirian P.
Most fun on Tuesdays with the dress up children's special! Love the specialty burgers and fries. We go often to treat the grandkids.
(5)
Timothy X.
I go to Culver's once a week since it opened and it is pretty good... if you like the taste of rotting garbage. I have had burgers, chicken sandwich, grilled chicken, fried chicken, chicken strips, fries, mashed potatoes, sundaes, concrete mixers, shakes and it is all flavorless sludge. Their custard is all the same flavor, basically, with only the toppings to differentiate the menu items. Welcome to Delicious? I think not.
(1)
Ed A.
I was ready to give Culver's 5 stars, just based on the frozen custard I've had at another one of their locations. But this time I took a family of hungry friends & kids along and we got a few of their Butter Burgers, too! I found their customer service guy to be an excellent salesman as he started selling me bigger and better versions of the Butter Burger until it was now a basket with sides and a drink. He was witty and making clever hand gestures, he could have been a voice-over actor. I stood there hypnotized and said "why, Yes!" The food came and my burger wasn't nearly as juicy as I thought it would be, even though the double had morphed into a triple. Lady said, "Ed, did you realize you ate a triple?" It didn't seem substantial enough to be a triple, and may have been a trifle overdone; the bun was dark enough to be rye or whole wheat, and my side of onion rings was dark brown and sedimentary rock hard. So I took the fries back. They cheerfully brought over replacement fries that were yummy golden brown, not pumpernikle. The custard was fabulous, I chose vanilla with blueberries and raspberries (I took a photo), but man cannot live by custard alone, though the kids were not complaining at all! Later I had the most anazing dreams all night! Let me go up there to the top and see if I can make this 4 stars instead, it was a good experience!
(4)
Mark S.
They seem to take pride in service as evidenced by us entering at the same time as the owner (unless he printed and self-titled his own name tag) and him holding the door for us and saying, "You guys go ahead. You are more important than I am." This followed by a chorus of "Welcome to Culver's" from the staff behind the counter. Maybe they were talking to the owner. The food, while solid, is slightly pricey as fast food goes. A double-meat burger (think two kids meal sized patties) combo, with fries and a drink, will set you back just over 8 bucks. Now that said, the food is always hot and seems fresh. I still have not tried the custard as one scoop is nearly three bucks. I am just cheap enough and not enough of a dessert fan to shell that out. Culver's is a step above normal fast food but now that it's been around these parts a while it's just not as exciting as it used to be. I think I rated it too high in the beginning because I was excited about a new place. Now the luster of newness is gone. Despite that, I am likely to return. Maybe even just to try the custard.
(3)
Brian C.
Took them 19 minutes for a burger and fries. They served people's food that were in line behind me.
(1)
Peg P.
Oh, boy. I've been waiting for this place to open and it was as good as I thought it would be. It was packed on this grand opening day. We enjoyed the cod fish sandwhich on their famous butter bun. Great taste! The onion rings and fries were done to perfection. I'd never tried their famous cheese balls before and they were quite tasty. I had a small shake for the finishing touch and it was rich and creamy. I see this place as being a favorite fast food haunt and a place to get my frozen custard fix. Welcome to Tucson, Culver's. I'm glad you're here!
(5)
Melinda C.
Have you ever had an order-taker who was more interested in her friends than taking orders? We did twice. The same order taker. Once when we ordered a couple burgers and drinks. Then when we went back up to get a couple sundaes. She talked to the order-taker to the right of her the first time and we had to repeat everything at least twice. Then we had to drag her away from her co-worker friends to even have her take our sundae order and again had to repeat things. And this time, she didn't get my sundae order correct. It's a good thing Culver's offers different food than other places or we wouldn't be going back. I hate bad customer service and this young woman was a prime example of bad customer service. She's lucky I didn't catch her name or I'd have posted it here.
(2)
Bud M.
This review is for Culver's on kino parkway,Tucson After having heard good things about Culver's in general,thought we would give it a try. In our opinion, the hamburger sandwich was a disappointment. The meat was incredibly thin, burnt around the edges and generally unattractive. The french fries were no better I.e., thick and greasy. It maybe that Culver's is better known for it's ice cream which we did not try. Premises were clean and attractive
(2)
Susan B.
Hubby went through the drive thru and ordered two Culver basket meals. He mentioned the coupons while ordering but he was not credited the $2. This is just aggravating to me because I'm not going to go back for $2. It's the principle of the thing. The burgers were just average. The cheese curds were AWFUL. I mean really bad, and we paid extra for them!?! Cold, not melted inside and so greasy. Yuck. I'm sticking with Whataburger or In-n-Out.
(2)
Roberta H.
I was in tucson and wanted to give this place a try. I'm trying to be healthy and ordered the grilled chicken burger with a side salad. First I'll rate the good part, which was the salad with raspberry vinaigrette dressing. The dressing was so good and the salad was nice and fresh, that I can't wait to have another. Now the bad part was the "grilled" chicken burger. This piece of chicken was NOT grilled. The meat was so white it was very odd. It had pan fry marks on it and a weird taste. I'm willing to give this place one more time and hope that this first visit was just a fluke.
(2)
Liz W.
I would have to rate Culver's so-so, the food honestly isn't anything special. The employees are efficient on the dining floor always offering to take your tray when finished. The cheese curds remind me of bite size mozzarella sticks only with cheddar cheese replaced. It's worth the try but will soon blend in with all the other fast-food joints around town. Parking does need to expand. The best day's to go are on weekdays when everyone is working. Heads up don't park next to the drive thru or you will be blocked in due to long lines.
(2)
Christian M.
Diverse menu for a fast food place, crinkle cut fries, and good ice cream! AMBIENCE: 4 stars (for a fast food place). Clean, bright, TV's in the dining area. The setup is a bit awkward--especially where the drink station is it is VERY tight, and there is often a line of people waiting to use the machine, get napkins, etc. FOOD: 3 stars. Listen, I love burgers--and this place has decent burgers, BUT their cardinal sin, which I cannot fathom--is if you order a cheeseburger the cheese is not melted--just a slice of cheese on top of the burger! What is the point of that!? The point of a cheeseburger is melty-deliciousness working its way into the nooks and crannies of the burger (and, if you are very good and kind to old people and puppies, a few slices of bacon!). The fries are good, the ice cream and cement mixers (their Blizzard-type dessert) are really good. SERVICE: 5 stars--great service every time. OVERALL 3.5 stars--but I can't do this on Yelp--so we will go with 3.
(3)
Tom B.
I fell in love this chain back when we lived in the Midwest. They are every bit as good here. Customer service goes way beyond what you find in "fast food" places. And what's not to love about a turtle sundae, perfect fish and chips, a butter burger, or a really fresh, tasty salad? Last time I was at this location my friend accidentally spilled a full soda all over the booth, bench, and floor, and they cleaned it up immediately and cheerfully. I hesitate to give any quick self-serve restaurant 5 stars, and no, it's not a Michelin-star menu -- but for a quick meal with friendly people and great quality, this really is "as good as it gets."
(5)
Mike M.
The only thing that could improve these burgers is if Culver's stepped up their meaningless "farm fresh" concept to a hormone free grass fed beef status. Otherwise, these burgers are near perfection. The buns are melt-in-your-mouth fresh and delicious. All the veggie toppings are crisp and cool even on the hottest desert day. The cheddar is Wisconsin-made (very tough to beat) and it actually melts on your burger (no plastic perma-congealed effect). Outstanding burger! The sides are just as good as the main attraction with their cheese curds being a unique item. Their fries are crinkle-cut and on the thicker side; crispy on the outside and warm fluffy potato pillows on the inside. They also offer chicken sandwiches, fried fish meals, hot beef sandwiches and custard (aka ice cream). Their version of the DQ Blizzard is tagged the Concrete. Choose your favorite add-ins, blend and enjoy. Culver's definitely has more of a fast food joint feel to it. Their main competitor (Freddy's Steakburger) has a creamier custard and a more developed restaurant concept going for them. The burgers are nearly identical. Personally, I give the 1st prize burger trophy to Culver's though.
(4)
Mike M.
Well I could be biased because I was so hungry or the very nice gal in the front that gave us a couple bucks off even though I forgot my coupons at home, but man my burger was so good. The food is always fresh when we come. The onion rings and fry's were great at well. Great food, great service, and a pretty clean dining room is always a great combo. Give them a try.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : No Drive-Thru : Yes Caters : No
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Erika D.
I have only visited this place twice and both times I was treated very well by friendly staff. The seating is good and is usually crowded during lunch and super. I never use the drive-thru since I normally see a long line. I always walk-in and order. That way my food comes out really fast. On my first visit, the chicken strips where lightly breaded, nice and hot, and were not pricey. I really enjoyed those strips with the ranch sauce but I had a different result with the food on my second visit. On my second visit, I ordered a meal which included fried chicken and two servings of mashed potatoes with gravy. I ordered my meal to go and it came out fairly fast. I got home and oh my... I should have inspected my meal on the spot before I took it home. Have you ever had gravy that was watery, over-salted, with no beefy flavor? On top of sloshy instant mashed potatoes? It's something you would expect from an elderly home kitchen. Plus, the fried chicken was rock hard. Just imagine me gnawing on a large dry dog biscuit. Woof. It was horrid. I'm feeling iffy about going back. The chicken strips were so good but the fried chicken breasts and potatoes were disappointing. Shall I take a risk on ordering something else? I hope their ice cream is nothing like their mashed potatoes or their fried chicken!
(3)Tracey F.
Best service ever!! Tyler made our visit very enjoyable. He joked with the grand kids and was very helpful finding menu items that were dairy free for grandson. My new favorite place to eat since not only was service outstanding, so was the food.
(5)Corey D.
So you know how when you're having a rough day there is one food that you know will turn things around? For me in AZ it's been the turtle blizzard at DQ. Well, I was really excited to hear that Culver's was coming to town, because this little piece of home always put a smile on my face, so it was only natural that instead of a blizzard (which I had yesterday) I opted to try out Culver's for the first time. Boooooooooo! A concrete ought to be CONCRETE and the turtle concrete I had today was so soupy I could sip it through a straw. I asked someone about it and he said, yeah sometimes they have a hard time trackin' people down by their number and they melt, so I kindly asked if he would re-make it. Being a concrete connoisseur (my friend Cari and I always drove through Culver's at home when we needed a pick-us-up) I knew it was supposed to be more solid. Round 2? Sucked as much as the first. I decided not to press the issue, just to leave with my head hung low, sad that this taste of the midwest left a horrible taste in my mouth. (Extra points for Charlotte who told me that the turtle concrete is cheaper than adding nuts to chocolate custard).
(2)Carrie B.
The home cooked items are like Wendy's, the Take Away Ice cream is like Baskin Robbins and the marketing style is like In n' Out or maybe White Castle. There are small pieces of the familiar at all stages of a Culver's experience. A little deja' vu-ey for me leaving me wondering "what does this remind me of?". You've seen it all before but, Culver's conquers yet another slice of the fast-food pie with McFlurryesque shakes, Burgers & soups. +Food: I've tried their fish sandwich. I found it very greasy and ended up ditching the bread , peeling the tempura covering off and eating a fairly generous piece of white fish alone. I also tried their Grilled Chicken & pecan salad. I found the greens fresh & the chicken chunks ample. I liked the Minestrone served with saltines for the baby. +Ambience: Quick casual style, carpeting & tvs in the tightly arranged dining area. A bell going off in the background (I assume to alert employees an order is up) sounds a lot like a fast-paced Wheel of Fortune game is on in the other room. +Best thing I've tried: Cheese curds. Addictive and unhealthy. If you eat one you may have to be careful not to eat 20. Share an order with a whole family to be on the safe side.
(3)Brad H.
Been there twice now. First time was the better experience. the Deluxe Butterburgers were OK. Cheese curds are so-so. Frozen custard is good, but it's frozen custard. Nothing more special than Baskin Robbins, and just a little cheaper than Allegros. So I'd rather have BR and Allegros. The wait was about 7 minutes to order and 15 minutes to get our food when it was busy. Parking was crowded and only had two spots open when we came. Second visit (today) was worse than the first. Wait time was about 7 minutes to order and 30 minutes to get our food. Had the Cheddar Burger. Looked like it was thrown together. Lettuce on all the burgers are shredded, so the pictures are false advertising as they depict whole leaf lettuce. The burgers were OK, nothing outstanding. We decided that we like In-N-Out burgers better. They are cheaper than Culver's, too. Quicker, that's for sure and parking is not an issue. Once again, there were only about two parking spots open when we came. This time, in addition to the burgers, I tried the Atlantic Cod. Nothing spectacular. Rather bland tasting, actually. I've had better at cheapo Long John Silvers and at Jack In The Box. Batter was crispy, but a little on the thick side. The cod fillets themselves were real cod, not formed from parts, and good sized. But like I said, tasted bland. Cole slaw was good. Fries are OK. Root beer good. I must note that the first time they brought out the cod dinner to me, it was almost burnt. I took two bites and decided that if I spent $9 on this dinner, I was not going to eat dried-out, chewy fish that was over-cooked. I had them take it back and give me a new one, which they did cheerfully. But tack on the additional 7-10 minutes of waiting time. Of course, I ate my burger while I was waiting, to be fair. But still... My biggest complaint is that it took 30 minutes to get our order. We were not the only ones, either. How difficult is it to grill some burgers and throw a couple of cod in to the fryer? Will not be returning. ***UPDATE I sent an email on the Culver's corporate contact webpage which allows you to state the specific restaurant you went to. No one has contacted me back so this is another "ignore you" instead of "contact us" corporation.
(1)Gabriel W.
I've been wanting to try this place ever since it opened with all that hype a few months back. Im going to keep this review as short as possible because it is, after all, just a fast food joint, and really there's not too much to say. The items I tried, I tried because there was a lot of hype, and the place relatively lived up to that hype. So...What i ordered was a breaded chicken sandwich, cheese curds, and a vanilla frozen custard. The chicken sandwich was really nothing special, but it at least looked like the picture which I thought put it above most fast food places already. The cheese curds were pretty delicious, but would have benefited I think by using a more exciting cheese like a cheddar or something. This seemed like mozzarella, which was tasty but yeah...and finally, the frozen custard was pretty awesome. This is definitely much more my type of frozen dessert than Ice cream or Froyo. Good flavor, and mine was nice and cold and not liquidy. The lady in the window recommended ranch for the curds, but the ranch here is terrible. Also, I really REALLY hate when fast food restaurants make you pay at the window then wait somewhere in the parking lot for somebody to bring you your order. Its just annoying, and its ESPECIALLY annoying when there's nobody behind you in line. "No, I dont want to pull up, Ill just wait right here while you make my food seeing as how there is absolutely no necessity for me to go anywhere. Tell you what, IF someone pulls up behind me AND their food is ready before mine is, THEN I will pull up, ok? Not before." I shoulda said that...next time Ill say that. Anyway, I liked it, didnt love it. Crappy ranch and a BS pickup window knocks 2 stars off for me.
(3)Ana P.
Always worth the trip even just for the cheese curds and the frozen custards.Cant give the five star rating since they are not exactly healthy. They count for guilty pleasures!
(4)Barb G.
We are big fans of Culver's frozen custard. We are originally from Wisconsin and have been residents of Tucson for about 25 years, so we were very happy to see we finally have a Culver's here. We especially enjoy their cod fish fry's as fish fry's are a tradition in Wisconsin. I called tonight to see when they would start their Walleye fish fry's and a very nice person named E.J. gave me March 18th as the date. Then in a few minutes he called me back and said it was February 18th. I thought that was really nice of him, so we decided to go get the cod fish fry. As it turned out E.J. brought us our food and I told him I was the one who called and that we thought that was very considerate of him to call us back and give us the correct date. To me that shows what a conscientious employee he is to go the extra mile for his company and call us back. The food was very good tonight and although I wanted a custard I was too full. Will be there on Feb. 18th and hope E.J. is working again. This young man is management material.
(5)Kate L.
I'm big on apples-to-apples comparisons... but Culver's has me flummoxed. Do I compare it to fast food? Or casual Americana diner that happens to have a drive through? Compared to McDonald's, it's 5 star. Compared to oh say Fuddruckers, it's 2 stars. So I'll strike a compromise and say 3 stars... Closer to 3.5. Based on burgers alone... if you are picking something up on the way home from work, for drive-thru it's pretty darn good. Burgers are decent... not the deliciousness level of 5 Guys in my humble opinion, not as fresh as In and Out, but it tastes like a *real* hamburger as opposed to Burger King and McDonalds. For a drive-thru burger, it's 4.5 stars. If butter = love, then there sure is a lot of LOVE on those buns! Other options were good to just ok... my cheese curds were good--tiny little fried pops of cheese. Perhaps if I was eating them in the restaurant instead of the slightly cooled off version when I got home, it would have been better. The chili cheese fries were just ok, again perhaps better in the restaurant. My son's chicken fingers seemed pretty standard... I appreciated that it was "real chicken" in there, not just some composite nugget thingamajig. And it included a free custard... which they declined to tell me in the drive through that you had to claim at the counter (so if you order a kids meal at the drive thru, make sure you request the frozen custard then too). I got a couple of the frozen custard flavor's of the day (mint), and it was good. Not amazing, but I'll definitely go back for more. So, if I'm too exhausted for anything but drive thru on my way home, I'll say this is a winner. But if I'm going to sit down, I'll probably pick Fuddruckers instead.
(3)Scott M.
Very good for fast food. Unlike in and out, has a rather large selection. Cheese curds are awesome, so is the butter burgers, and the butter fat shakes. They use only Wisconsin cheese and you can taste it. Also unlike in-and-out they offer veterans a discount, 15%. The service is great and the place is clean.
(5)Rick H.
I didn't know that this place had some sort of reputation as a Midwest great before I tried it. I just thought it was a custard place, only later discovering they had other things on the menu at a long red light. As we don't get a lot of new places in Tucson, I was excited to give a new place a spin, so I spun in on the way to Mt. Lemmon one day and decided to try a light lunch. I ordered a crispy chicken sandwich, with no pickles. After a very long wait, despite few cars in the parking lot, no cars ahead of me, and none behind me, I got an unseasoned grilled chicken sandwich on a stale, dry bun, with nothing on it but pickles. Fine, I figured maybe I was the asshole for having a special order, so I got rid of the pickles and choked the bad sandwich down. Later, I looked up the place on the internet to see what the hell their deal was. They were calling themselves the In-N-Out of the Midwest. Ok. Maybe I'm the jerk who ordered a chicken sandwich at a place that just does burgers. My bad. I go back today, determined to give the place a fair shake. I order an ultimate bacon burger and "cheese curds" that everyone raves about. The cheese curds were good, as difficult as it was to put something in my mouth called "curd." They had a weird aftertaste. I went home, ate the burger, and found that it was not that good (it kind of tastes like a gross version of Del Taco's burger), and, also, had a very strange, sludgy aftertaste. An aftertaste that is still in my mouth now. I feel sick. This place disgusts me. I just can't believe that lots of people in the Midwest apparently love the hell out of this garbage. What is wrong with people? What is wrong with the world? It is now my dream to win some sort of lifetime supply of Culvers, so I can drive to Culvers and fill up garbage bags full of their food and drive it right to the dump, where it belongs. Or maybe I will drive it to a native burial ground, causing unrest to dead, ushering in the zombie apocalypse to wipe Culvers from the map, along with the rest of the cold cruel world that has allowed them to be successful. In short: not very good.
(1)Melisa R.
Finally tried Culver's! I would give 3.5 stars if possible, but since I can't, I'll give 4. First, the service was fantastic. Very friendly and courteous employees. Amy, the young lady who brought our food, was one of the nicest employees I've ever seen at a fast food place. As for the food, I would put the burgers on par with Whataburger. Much better than McDonald's, but not in the same league as Smashburger. I would have liked some seasoning on the patties and leaf lettuce not shredded, but the meat was well cooked and the bun delicious. Husband enjoyed the mushroom/Swiss burger and my daughters loved the basic Butterburgers with cheese. One definite plus were the onion rings. We loved the batter and they were fresh from the fryer. The fries were basic fries and the cheese curds were probably better hot. By the time we got home they had cooled and reminded me of cold mozzarella sticks. Last, but not least, we got a quart of chocolate custard. It's very good, reminded us of creamy frozen yogurt, but I think we prefer regular old ice cream. All in all a good experience, but for the price, I think we'd rather go to Smashburger. Culver's is a little pricey for basic burgers, onion rings and fries.
(4)Marty S.
Good burgers and good service, even if their menu system is convoluted. Their frozen custard could use some improvement.
(4)Caleb T.
Every single thing you make is absolutely delicious!! The Custard is some of the best I have ever had!! Good chicken sandwiches, burgers, oh yea did I mention CHEESE CURDS!? Go here you wont regret it.
(5)Erin C.
Pretty good for fast food. I got the pot roast sandwich with onion rings and the hubby got a double bacon butter burger with cheese curds. He loved his and I thought mine was very good. Service was great and was very clean. Wish I had saved room to try the custard.....maybe next time :)
(4)Dan J.
Culver's is so close to being really good - they are nearly perfect on paper - but their burgers - in my opinion - just don't have a lot of flavor. I don't get it, honestly. The buns are soft, the meat tastes fresh and is cooked well, the veggies seem fresh, but... the burgers just seem so-so. The fries are to-die for. One of my sons likes their hotdog (sometimes) and another likes their chicken strips (sometimes) and they're delicious. But the burgers... I just can't put my finger on it. They even have the "butter burgers" which you'd think would be soooo greezy but yummy - but they're still just ok. The kids meals are a deal - they even include a small ice cream with a topping (lots of candy, nuts, etc. to choose from). Now it's not ice cream but a frozen yogurt (I believe) - but it's smooth and creamy and cold and so my simple brain says "ice cream" in much the same way I call any bandage a bandaid. So... kids meals = good. Fries = good. Burgers = meh. Overall, this *is* a place known for their burgers and so... *points to the three stars*. Sorry Culver's - sadly I can't even put my finger on *what's* not great so it'd be hard to name an area of improvement. I've been three or four times now since the kids like the ice cream "bonus" but I don't think I'll be giving Culver's any more tries. It's just consistently mediocre in flavor.
(3)Edwin C.
This is the one directly next to the Hilton. My first time at a Culver's. Saw the "custard" sign outside and wanted an after dinner dessert. Got the create-your-own. My two mix ins were "Mint" and "Brownie chunks". It tasted good, but watching them make it was a bit gross. The mint was this toxic green looking liquid. But if you didn't see it, it tasted pretty good (albeit obviously not the healthiest thing for somebody to eat, artificial coloring). Brownies were pretty good. Found out later that they have cheese curds. Pretty good. A bit pricey for them tho, as a side alone.
(3)Debbi W.
I've been hearing about this place as if it's the second coming of the Messiah. Upscale fast food is still fast food. I'd pay a little extra for a maitre d, waitron and a bus-person . I don't mind ordering at the counter I think it was the large lighted menu over the back of the order-taker's head that made me feel like a clown or a king was going to come at me any second. I had the prime-rib sandwich. It was flavorful, tender and juicy. Most importantly the bread was very good and held-up nicely. I washed it down with a chocolate shake and it was no king or queen. Messiah? No, maybe John his cousin.
(3)Stephanie H.
Well, I thought this was pretty darn yummy! I mean, it's fast food, not gourmet. But I was pretty impressed that their beef is grass-fed and never frozen. Tasted good to me, as good as In-N-Out. The custard was delicious too. Manager was a super nice guy. I'd go back.
(4)Maria L.
So begins our family's quest to find the best burger in Tucson among the 12 most popular burger joints. Our first stop is Culver's on east broadway. Our criteria is based on ten categories (of which I will reiterate every time): entree/dessert, drinks, sides, variety, service/made to order, value, friendliness, cleanliness, accessibility, and family friendly. First and foremost the food. The burgers were very greasy and somewhat messy, my son had trouble holding it all together. The number of sides they have is great but the fries were so so - I recommend cheese curds. The drinks were non-alcoholic standard fare. Their custard was good but not amazing. Where they scored major points was their extremely friendly atmosphere. The place was clean and tidy, even the bathroom smelled good - according to my son. The staff was very friendly, save a few absent smiles. And we were fortunate enough to go on princess and superhero Tuesday where kids get a $2 meal if they dress up. Definitely family friendly. Though it can be a bit pricy per person and there are only a few in town, their variety and atmosphere warrant a 4 star rating. We'll return when my daughter is old enough to decide who her favorite superhero is!
(4)Lauren K.
In terms of fast food, Culver's ranks amongst the best for us. it is fresher, cleaner, and tastier that most. The burgers aren't too thick or too thin, and they taste good. I don't normally like fast food burgers, but these are edible for me. The meat is better quality, and you can taste the difference from some of the other places. The crispy chicken is fried very well, and is seasoned nicely. The veggies they put on the sandwiches always look and taste crispy and fresh. The cheese curds are unique and very good, and definitely worth trying. They're the best side dish out of the ones we've tried. The mashed potatoes were bland, and the cheese fries were just ordinary. The custard is thick and creamy and what will bring me back to Culver's over and over. The texture is so much better than the "ice cream" (aka powder) that some places use for their desserts. Culver's also isn't stingy with toppings, and they have plenty to choose from. It is just really good. It can take a little bit too long to get the food sometimes. The last time I went through the drive-thru to bring the food home, once I got home, I found that both meals were wrong somehow. However, everyone is friendly, and they walk around the dining room to assist you and clean up. The prices are a little bit high, but when you consider you're getting much higher quality and fresher food, it doesn't matter so much. I'd gladly pay more to get better food. Overall, I would recommend Culver's to those who like fast food and/or custard. it is worth a try!
(4)Nali M.
yum! culver's burgers are like grandma's homemade burgers from when I was a kid. I really like that they have the option of different sides rather than just fries. the onion rings are deliciously crisp. I've yet to try anything but their famous butter burger, but I'm sure I'll get around to that eventually. the interior isn't your average fast food restaurant feel. it's a little more home-y, warm and welcoming. try this culver's out if you're on the east side.
(4)Willanne W.
Missed lunch but needed to eat something as not to faint! Went through the drive thru and ordered a small special shake (mint oreo was the special flavor). Now, let me "break down" the shake! The shake was too thick to drink. Had to eat it with a spoon which is inconvenient and dangerous while driving. They did give me a spoon and said sorry it is so thick. After a few spoonfuls, it was leaving a gnarly aftertaste of spoiled milk in my mouth. Totally unacceptable and quite appalling. I tossed that baby in the trash and proceeded to brush my teeth and use mouthwash when I finally got home. I had tried the Culver's in Casa Grande not long after it opened (probably 6 months ago or so) and found the food utterly inedible. The grease from the fish sandwich was soaking through the bag before I could even exit the parking lot. Took it back in and got my money back. Thought I'd give the Tucson Broadway Culver's a shot... but .. well, Culver's is "Never bother again" on my fuel list!
(1)Sitha I.
When this place first open, everyone raved so much about it. "Butter bread burgers and custard shakes...its amazing!" So my sis, bf and I happened to drive by the place one night and decided to try it... to keep it short, it was less than what we expected. My bf's sandwich was small and my sis's burger was plain. The only exception is the shakes, which was a REAL shake and was delicious! My first experience wasn't so well, so I didn't rate it and waited til I visit a second time....which I did. This time we tried different sandwiches/burgers and the concrete mixer/custard thinking it would be different and it wasn't :( CULVER'S YOU FAILED ME.... and I was really hoping to love it. My mushroom and swiss burger was cold like it was pre-made and sitting under a heat lamp. Plus the burgers are too small for the price you pay. On a good note, the concrete mixer is amazing. Probably the only thing I would return for. They have many flavors and candies to choose from so it makes it really hard to decide but the are pretty good.
(2)Heather M.
I don't eat fast food burgers often as my waistline just can't afford it; however, every now and then I find myself craving these burgers. I don't have that reaction to any other fast food burger in town. That earns them Yay! I'm a fan. One of my favorite things about Culver's is that I can choose my cheese. I absolutely despise American Cheese. Of all the possible contributions to the cheese world, this one had to be tagged "American". No wonder the French dislike us. I have 2 go-to burgers: the Wisconsin Swiss Melt and the French Onion Butterburger. Both are great. For obvious reasons you want to eat the melt on site. I'll give you a quick tip - as soon as it hits your table, flip it over. That helps to keep the "down" side from getting too soft. Since the "up" side has already cooled it can handle becoming the down side. The French Onion is stacked with awesome grilled onions and Swiss cheese. The sides are okay. Cheese curds, while novel, do nothing for me. The fries are average. The onion rings are okay. The interior is a step above the typical fast-food restaurant interior which I appreciate. I do love to sit within view of the drink counter so I can watch people struggle with the lid dispenser. Hilarious. Some people just never figure it out.
(4)Trevor C.
OMG... It wasn't but a month ago I was at work, bartending, and talking to some guests about how much I miss Culver's, how I wish Tucson had one, and how well it would do if someone opened one here. Fast forward to yestereday, I'm driving to emmissions testing and what do my wonderful eyes see, but a big, new shiny Culver's building. I had no idea it was the grand opening. I gathered my family and returned. I waited in line for about 35 minutes and was not disappointed. My mushroom and swiss ButterBurger was perfect. Super flavorful, dripping with butter and very fresh tasting. Deep fried cheese curds, amazing. Hot, gooey, crunchy just like back home in Wisco. And top it all off... A cup of custard with butterscotch. It is like eating silk. SOOOO creamy, so rich, so flavorful. The staff was so nice for as busy as they were and it being the first day. Everyone was happy and they went out of their way. They even gave me two free orders of cheese curds! I love this place and I highly reccommend anyone who likes burgers to go here. You will not be disappointed. Way better than In and Out or Five Guys, and it is WAYYY less expensive than five guys! Culver's, thank you for finally making your way to Tucson!
(4)david b.
I am a little shocked at all the positive reviews of the food I am seeing. I ate there for the first time last night and my body is still trying to purge the last of that meal. I had a swiss mushroom burger which is Culver-ese for a brown sodium burger. I literally drank a half gallon of water after that burger to quench my seemingly insatiable thirst. It was ridiculously salty. My wife had the version of patty melt and could only eat half as it too was insanely salty. Here's the problem, I can drive a block up the street and drive in and out and get a nice crisp bun, with crunchy fresh lettuce and tomatoes on it, a side of fresh cut potatoes and not feel like I am Lawrence of Arabia suffering through the center of the damn Sahara desert or I can go to Culver's and get a soft oil laden bun smashed onto 2 thin hard pieces of meat covered in a brown salt based sauce. The mushrooms were meager and the swiss flavor was hidden behind the overbearing oily saltiness. The fires are a standard Ore Ida looking frozen variety, the same as you can get at your local Eegees. Only saltier. Culver's now occupies a space right next to McDonalds in my hierarchy of eating out establishments which I will eat at only if there is absolutely no other option, which would include gas stations fare. Thanks for giving my a new location to avoid at all costs Culver's, now if you excuse me I need to get another huge glass of water and make an appointment with my cardiologist to get my blood pressure checked.
(1)K M.
Two & 1/2 to three stars. Tasty beef burgers but truly, buttery just translates to greasy, and not in the usual greasy way. Not really making sense here, am I -- I think that the buttery taste on the bun detracts from the taste of the burger. The beef is decent for fast-food. Fries and onion rings are a bit above average. The shakes are strong, and that is in my opinion what saves this place. Wide variety of shakes - choose your own ingredients and proportions and the staff seems to actually listen. Crowded, crowded - remember, Tucson is a burger town.
(3)Kristi B.
For weeks I'm driving by the new Culver's building on Broadway...several people I know can hardly wait for it to open, so I'm thinking it's got to be good. We checked it out today, arrived at 2:30P. Was impressed with the crowd at that time, and didn't even mind the 15+ minutes it took to get our burger and side salad order. They're new, it takes time to work out the bugs, so we were fine with the time thing. The fact that fries showed up, which we didn't order - and the coffee didn't appear at all until I went back to the counter were also okay. They're new and the staff seem young and a bit overwhelmed. But I don't think it's too much to ask for your food to be HOT when it's served to you - I would have settled for warm! Alas, such was not the case, both burgers were cold and so were the fries. And the side salad was full of old brown lettuce. Enough said. We couldn't have been more UNimpressed. When one of the kids clearing the tables asked how things were, I told her we were unimpressed because the entire order was cold. She didn't seem to know how to respond. In case the manager of Culver's is reading this, I'd like to suggest that you have a chat with your new staff and let them know this is the kind of thing that you don't want your new customers writing about...it's the kind of thing they should be coming to you about while the customer is still in your establishment. Sadly disappointing experience. Good luck future diners. In N Out Burger...you have nothing to worry about!
(2)Lorie A.
Fried cheese curds: everything that is right and wrong about America, right in a little parchment sac. Dark cheese or light, small curds or large, they're breaded and fried in golden brown unity. Just wish there was a little more crunch and they were served just a tad bit warmer (besides the nutritional danger of fast food, I like some tactile challenges as well). Culver's Deluxe Burger Basket seems to be the way to go. Two beef patties, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, mayo...am i missing something? Oh, the bun! I didn't much notice a difference with the mighty swipe of butter, but I did appreciate the consistency of the bun and how it was soft with a bit of elasticity that kept it from tearing under the Midwest pressure to put in a solid day's work of holding that burger together. Culver's crinkle cut French fries could almost give Eeggee's a run for their money, if only they were served as dangerously hot as our hometown fry masters. Other sides looked good, and we'll probably try others once I can dive into their nutritional info and see if I can make an allergy friendly meal so the whole family can return. A single scoop of chocolate frozen custard set me back $1.99, and it was good, but I don't see the value for the money over a DQ. (If I'm going to spend more than $1 on ice cream, I'm going to hit up Frost). The rest of the menu was in line with value for product. Bonus for having Pepsi and the yummy Pepsi Max on fountain.
(3)Elyse P.
I'm a midwestern girl and have had the pleasure of being special friends with Culver's for many years. In fact, when I go in to the locations in Tucson, it's like a little midwesterner reunion. The burgers are a little greasy for me and the menu is a little too large, but the custard was just as incredible as I remembered.
(3)Cindy N.
I'm on a quest once again to find the "best" in a particular category. I've pretty much done it with the Mexican thing as well as the Pizza thing. I do consider myself a "foodie" and a bit of a food snob. So therefore I believe my taste buds are very sensitive and right on the mark. So here goes. From what I remember about Mc Donald's and Burger King (haven't eaten in them since the 70's since I am also a bit of a health nut) Culver's tastes just like them. Pretty average. . I had the one with bacon, wisconsin cheese, lettuce, etc. The fries were OK. Loaded with sodium. Albeit, the custard was thick and creamy and quite good. Not worth going again. Sorry guys, but it was not one of my winners. I guess other folks like it because it was noisy and mobbed. We went to the one on Thornydale.
(2)Elsa L.
The dryest burgers I have ever had. The crinkle fries we so soggy, it was just plain ridiculous. Their oh so famous custard taste like a Wendy's frosty. Go to In N Out down the street for a much better burger.
(1)Victoria L.
If you want good hot food....clean atmosphere, sports on the televisions around you, darn good "Culver's only root beer" and just want to sit and enjoy a nice meal...this place is for you! Make sure you get some custard to go cause it's soo worth it after a hot meal! Our meals have always been hot and fresh, the sides ( YUMMY KICK BUTT CHEESE CURDS AND ONION RINGS) are always over flowing and fresh and hot and the custard is worth the extra workout!!!!!
(5)Ming-Min L.
walleye is delicious, but for $9.99 it sure looked soggy on the plates i saw coming out! i was thoroughly confuzzled by the menu, which even made ordering a shake (or is it a custard) difficult. the manager was ringing us up and he was bored and distracted as i asked him q's about the menu (although i did have quite a few--still...). i ended up with the butter burger which wasn't bad, but didn't give me the mouthgasm that in-n-out burger does. the patties had a decent charbroiled flavor but the crinkle cut fries didn't have enough crisp to them. lastly, my shake was good but i think i like DQ blizzards better. as far as ambiance goes, it's clean with a total midwest atmosphere complete with lotsa retirees. all in all not bad, but i think i'll stay up the road for a double-double.
(3)Nessa P.
The burger was average. The cheese curds were crispy, hot, and just the right amount of melty. The chocolate custard was thick and creamy. Had it mixed with some Oreo cookies, very tasty. The girls who served me were polite and fast. A good treat once in awhile.
(4)Ron R.
Their burgers are not too shabby. I have to come back and try there famous custard.
(3)John H.
Culvers was a favorite of mine in Springfield, Mo. However, I didn't find the same quality in this newly established restaurant. The layout is not condusive to ease of moving around, especially when its busy. The food was pretty typical with the Concrete I used to enjoy often being runny, not well mixed, and very sweet. This will not deter me or my friends from returning soon to see what improvements are made. The butter burger is still one of my favs and I won't live long without curing my craving. Enjoy.
(3)Y H.
Not a fan... had to go and try it based on recommendations of friends and others here on Yelp*... I was not too impressed. It was a fast food place dressed up like a regular restaurant. My party of 3 tried the various burgers, one had fries... Of the three, only one person finished and the other two didn't. Perhaps it was a bad day to go. Doesn't matter, will not be going back..
(1)Robert N.
This place is packing them in, but why? Thought I would have time to dine in especially since I was second in line. The gent taking the orders was very slow and seemed half asleep. There was a lot of workers standing around with confused looks on their faces. After 25 minutes of waiting for m food, I may just have to walk out.....as I was leaving my food was delivered and I made it a to-go. The fries were pretty good, the classic burger not. The burger edges where 'frayed', dry, and burnt. First and last time at Culver's.
(1)Nicholas S.
Tonight was our first time to try Culver's out, and we will not be going back. My partner picked up 2 double bacon deluxes, 2 fries and 2 of the chocolate custard/ice cream cups with crushed cookies in them. For one, the burgers were average, kinda like the burgers at a Chili's. The fries were crinkle cut and cold. The ice cream was also just okay... The cookies in them were not oreos...they tasted like cheap cookies you'd buy at a dollar store. I do not understand all the hype about this place. In and Out is and always will be better.
(1)Tommy S.
This is going to be a 2 part review once now and a revisit review once this place is ridiculously crowded! First off parking was horrid, the lines for drive through, were almost out to the street, and the line inside was even worse. It seemed there were people standing around everywhere confused about where to go and how to get there! It was utter chaos! Once I finally made it to the register the poor girl that took my order sounded as if she was discovered in the desert nearly dead from thirst! Her voice was almost nonexistent. Her and I joked as she told me it was because she lost it working the counter almost non stop since the place opened. Yikes. So anyhow I knew this place was churning and burning at full throttle so that is why I didn't give it the worst review I could. I mean its not everyday that Tucsonans and tourists alike can order Wisconsin based fast food! Which brings me to the order. I ordered the Shaved Prime Rib, and the onion rings. My friend ordered the Culvers Deluxe Bacon Burger and the cheese curds that we were soo excited to try. Once we got our food I was super bummed to bite into my shaved prime rib sandwich and find that it was cold! Seriously! That ruins a sandwich like this!. The burger on the other hand was amazingly good. Which is why I hold out hope that a second review and second visit might do this justice. But alas the cheese curds...... more like breaded poppers! I have never had cheese curds anywhere else and in my mind I imagined a sweet desert like cheese similar in consistency to cottage cheese. Boy was I wrong. The cheese curds tasted like they had been frozen and then flash fried, which is almost completely off of what the restaurant stands for. Better not come thirsty because to get a refill of a beverage took almost as long as it did to order, and since the lines were so long it was awkward standing next to a table in a line when someone is trying to enjoy their food. So Culvers.... we will see you again.
(3)Tricia K.
I kept driving by this place wondering what it was. One day driving by my husband and I thought it was open so we stopped well it wasn't but they gave us a coupon for a free frozen custard so today we went. OMG what can I say. This was the best burger I have had in a long time. Look out Five Guys and In n Out. You get to pick what you want on your burger and the bun OMG. I was not at all disappointed in the wait. After lunch got my free frozen custard and man was it good. I know where I will be going to get me a good burger.
(5)Ivette O.
Deep fried and battered cheese with a butter burger are a heart attack on a tray, but damn it tastes good. They always have great sweet tea (just needs to be a bit sweeter for me). Sundaes and custards are next to try.
(5)Liz G.
Eh. I had heard so much about Culver's that maybe my expectations were too high. Yes, the burger was good, but not great. The fries and cheese curds were also good, but not great. I had never tried frozen custard before, and I will admit that it has a smoother, creamier texture than regular soft serve. If I go back to Culver's, it will be for the custard, not the food.
(3)IndustryPerson X.
I had never heard of Culvers so I didn't know what to expect when I went there. First off it was very busy maybe 12 - 15 people in line and a completely full dining room. The wait was short and the service staff was friendly knowledgable and well trained. We were given a numbered table marker along with our cups for some pretty tasty Culvers brand rootbeer. After two trips around the very cozy dining room we found a spot to sit. The service staff had it bussed and cleaned immediatly. The food arrived shortly after we found our table. Like others have said before, the cheese curds are spectacular! But.... The burgers and melts were average at best and def not memorible. Beware of the parking lot, it took us a while to get out because of the drive thu. Oh and the custard was good and bad, it was vanilla w peaches. The peaches were frozen solid and ruined the custard for me.
(4)Carol Hite S.
Have to say will never go there again. Nothing special about the butter bun burger, except the price of meat was triangle shape and about as thick a nacho chip! Very disappointed frys were soggy and cold. But the onion rings were great. I'll go down the street to in and out or five guys for a great burger.
(1)chelsie j.
Such good shakes!! Burgers are yummy :) I def come back
(4)Mary Ann S.
My favorite at Culver's is the pork tenderloin sandwich, which I have ordered often and it has always been perfectly cooked. Love the custard, but it is often inconsistent .....too soft and concrete mixers soupy. Often take out is missing items after we get it home...have learned to check things over before driving away. We need more restaurants on the east side of town...we hope Culver's will be successful once they work out new opening bugs. We enjoy the nice interior, which is an upgrade from the usual. Update....I have wanted to wait to post giving time for the bugs to be worked out. Drive thru continues to be very bad...orders are wrong and unless the order is very simple it will be wrong!! The order has to be repeated several times for them to understand.....maybe staff this position differently ?
(4)Emily H.
all i can say is that this place has the best burgers and best onion rings ever. makes me hungry just writing this post. the first time i came was super crowded because it was new and its tucson so what else is there to do but go to the new restraut that opened. but the last time i went it was later at night and the middle of the week not a weekend and it was pretty slow which i liked better.
(5)Scott D.
I cannot for the life of me understand what anyone would like about these tasteless excuses for burgers...I had seen show on TV on the Midwest "butter burger" and on the show, they actually looked tasty... I decided to try one of these burgers one night and I have to say, I certainly hope that the way culver's makes these burgers is not how they are made elsewhere because the "butter burger" that I ordered was the most tasteless, bland, pitiful burger I think I've ever tried to eat...I say tried because I never could finish it. I chucked it and went right down the road and got an In and Out burger, double meat/cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion for basically the same price. Delicious!!!
(1)Pete C.
I'd give this place more points for friendliness, a very inviting dining/sitting atmosphere, and offering military discount than for food. The burger I ate was okay. Not something I'll crave later, but it hit the spot. There are lots of dessert items on the menu, so you definitely have more choices if you come here. Pepsi product is served here. It also has wi-fi, so if you're looking for a nice place to sit and use your computer or tablet, this fits the bill nicely.
(2)Leah R.
Delicious butterburgers, gorgeous pot roast sandwiches (pot roast tastes just like my Mom used to make at home), yummy fish dinners with big, flavorful pieces of white, flakey cod. Cheese curds and ice-cream to-die for ! I come here once a week, maybe, and always find something different to try on the menu - never leave disappointed. Great menu options for kids, they even have some soups if you don't want your typical burger. Slightly more expensive, than In-N-Out or Freddy's, though. You can buy some ice-cream in bigger packages to take home with you, too.
(4)Bryce R.
I usually love Culvers. Their custard is always delicious. I especially like the cheese curds. They are like little mozzarella sticks. However one night I was trying to buy my family some treats for after dinner. I decided to stop at this Culvers. There was only one car in front of me on the drive thru. I place my order for 3 mixers. I pull around and I wait for what seems like 15 minutes waiting for the ice cream. As I am waiting I can see the drive thru girl running around and then there are 3 other employees just standing around not helping her. This is particularly frustrating because I was in a bit of a rush. My experience that night was very unpleasant.
(2)Samantha B.
Had the shrimp, fries, and a thick chocolate frozen yogurt. Boyfriend had an overdone butter burger and a vanilla frozen custard, which was ok. Would return as a side thought during travel or busy days.
(2)Zac S.
Never been here before, let alone heard of Culver's prior to my stop in Tucson from LA. I must say: quite a delicious "butterburger" and onion rings combo. The only downside was the onion rings being a little too overcooked.
(4)Dianne D.
I walked in and immediately saw the dessert menu which looked like a sonic's dessert menu and I was excited to try everything! I got a burger which looked super small and honestly didn't taste all that special. Got the frozen custard with snickers and brownies and it tasted like a mcflurry. The girl who took our order was super sweet and friendly which is why I'm giving 3 stars! Also the place is spacious and clean. I'll definitely come back and try other combinations of the frozen custard but maybe not so much for the food.
(3)caroline R.
It was our first time eating here. EJ was very helpful and made our visit very pleasant. We ordered the double deluxe cheeseburger with fries and shake. It was SO GOOD!
(5)Michael S.
This a good alternative to typical fast food. The cheese curds are also a nice change from fries. The ice cream and shakes, though, are really what makes this place good. They have an awesome chocolate raspberry shake and the concretes are like a Blizzard from Dairy Queen.
(4)Jason N.
For the life of me, I can't fathom why Culver's only has an overall rating of three stars at this location. Every single visit here has been exceptional. Maybe I am just easy to please (I'd like to believe I am not), but the beef they use on their burgers is seasoned in a way that matches my taste buds with sheer perfection. Three simple words: Bacon Butter Burger. It's up there with one of the best burgers I have ever had and it's from a chain restaurant that specializes in frozen custard. Perhaps I am luckier than most, but I have never had a burger from this Culver's that was anything short of marvelous. It's a bit on the greasy side, but the fat kid that lives inside me (and tries to emerge every winter) appreciates the dripping grossness that trickles off the freshly cooked patties. If you get the burger with cheddar, it's even better -- and I am not much of a cheese person on sandwiches or burgers. The fries they serve are similar to what they provide at Eegee's, which is a positive aspect in my book. Crinkle cut fried have fallen by the wayside over the years, but Culver's doesn't conform to the modernization of the french fry culture. No, sir, Culver's is not bound by imaginary rules determined by the direction of society. The item they specialize in -- frozen custard -- is pretty damn good too. My step-daughter loves Culver's, if only for the frozen custard. A variety of flavors and choices makes the frozen custard the perfect desert after your Bacon Butter Burger. The service is generally swift and they bring your food to your tables. The seating arrangement includes TV's, which play news, sports and other programs throughout the day. The experience at Culver's is neat little for simple fast food burger chain. The Bacon Butter Burger is what attracts me there, but the little things (the quality custard, the TV's, the superior atmosphere, the service) are what puts Culver's over the top for me.
(5)Nancy M.
We got the best service at this Culver's! The young man that took our order was soooo friendly and personable! I was very impressed. The person that delivered our food to our table was equally nice and as we were leaving the original young man acknowledged us again and asked us to come again. We've not experienced this level of pleasantness at other Culver's so it was a delightful surprise! Oh...and the food is pretty good too!
(5)Mirian P.
Most fun on Tuesdays with the dress up children's special! Love the specialty burgers and fries. We go often to treat the grandkids.
(5)Timothy X.
I go to Culver's once a week since it opened and it is pretty good... if you like the taste of rotting garbage. I have had burgers, chicken sandwich, grilled chicken, fried chicken, chicken strips, fries, mashed potatoes, sundaes, concrete mixers, shakes and it is all flavorless sludge. Their custard is all the same flavor, basically, with only the toppings to differentiate the menu items. Welcome to Delicious? I think not.
(1)Ed A.
I was ready to give Culver's 5 stars, just based on the frozen custard I've had at another one of their locations. But this time I took a family of hungry friends & kids along and we got a few of their Butter Burgers, too! I found their customer service guy to be an excellent salesman as he started selling me bigger and better versions of the Butter Burger until it was now a basket with sides and a drink. He was witty and making clever hand gestures, he could have been a voice-over actor. I stood there hypnotized and said "why, Yes!" The food came and my burger wasn't nearly as juicy as I thought it would be, even though the double had morphed into a triple. Lady said, "Ed, did you realize you ate a triple?" It didn't seem substantial enough to be a triple, and may have been a trifle overdone; the bun was dark enough to be rye or whole wheat, and my side of onion rings was dark brown and sedimentary rock hard. So I took the fries back. They cheerfully brought over replacement fries that were yummy golden brown, not pumpernikle. The custard was fabulous, I chose vanilla with blueberries and raspberries (I took a photo), but man cannot live by custard alone, though the kids were not complaining at all! Later I had the most anazing dreams all night! Let me go up there to the top and see if I can make this 4 stars instead, it was a good experience!
(4)Mark S.
They seem to take pride in service as evidenced by us entering at the same time as the owner (unless he printed and self-titled his own name tag) and him holding the door for us and saying, "You guys go ahead. You are more important than I am." This followed by a chorus of "Welcome to Culver's" from the staff behind the counter. Maybe they were talking to the owner. The food, while solid, is slightly pricey as fast food goes. A double-meat burger (think two kids meal sized patties) combo, with fries and a drink, will set you back just over 8 bucks. Now that said, the food is always hot and seems fresh. I still have not tried the custard as one scoop is nearly three bucks. I am just cheap enough and not enough of a dessert fan to shell that out. Culver's is a step above normal fast food but now that it's been around these parts a while it's just not as exciting as it used to be. I think I rated it too high in the beginning because I was excited about a new place. Now the luster of newness is gone. Despite that, I am likely to return. Maybe even just to try the custard.
(3)Brian C.
Took them 19 minutes for a burger and fries. They served people's food that were in line behind me.
(1)Peg P.
Oh, boy. I've been waiting for this place to open and it was as good as I thought it would be. It was packed on this grand opening day. We enjoyed the cod fish sandwhich on their famous butter bun. Great taste! The onion rings and fries were done to perfection. I'd never tried their famous cheese balls before and they were quite tasty. I had a small shake for the finishing touch and it was rich and creamy. I see this place as being a favorite fast food haunt and a place to get my frozen custard fix. Welcome to Tucson, Culver's. I'm glad you're here!
(5)Melinda C.
Have you ever had an order-taker who was more interested in her friends than taking orders? We did twice. The same order taker. Once when we ordered a couple burgers and drinks. Then when we went back up to get a couple sundaes. She talked to the order-taker to the right of her the first time and we had to repeat everything at least twice. Then we had to drag her away from her co-worker friends to even have her take our sundae order and again had to repeat things. And this time, she didn't get my sundae order correct. It's a good thing Culver's offers different food than other places or we wouldn't be going back. I hate bad customer service and this young woman was a prime example of bad customer service. She's lucky I didn't catch her name or I'd have posted it here.
(2)Bud M.
This review is for Culver's on kino parkway,Tucson After having heard good things about Culver's in general,thought we would give it a try. In our opinion, the hamburger sandwich was a disappointment. The meat was incredibly thin, burnt around the edges and generally unattractive. The french fries were no better I.e., thick and greasy. It maybe that Culver's is better known for it's ice cream which we did not try. Premises were clean and attractive
(2)Susan B.
Hubby went through the drive thru and ordered two Culver basket meals. He mentioned the coupons while ordering but he was not credited the $2. This is just aggravating to me because I'm not going to go back for $2. It's the principle of the thing. The burgers were just average. The cheese curds were AWFUL. I mean really bad, and we paid extra for them!?! Cold, not melted inside and so greasy. Yuck. I'm sticking with Whataburger or In-n-Out.
(2)Roberta H.
I was in tucson and wanted to give this place a try. I'm trying to be healthy and ordered the grilled chicken burger with a side salad. First I'll rate the good part, which was the salad with raspberry vinaigrette dressing. The dressing was so good and the salad was nice and fresh, that I can't wait to have another. Now the bad part was the "grilled" chicken burger. This piece of chicken was NOT grilled. The meat was so white it was very odd. It had pan fry marks on it and a weird taste. I'm willing to give this place one more time and hope that this first visit was just a fluke.
(2)Liz W.
I would have to rate Culver's so-so, the food honestly isn't anything special. The employees are efficient on the dining floor always offering to take your tray when finished. The cheese curds remind me of bite size mozzarella sticks only with cheddar cheese replaced. It's worth the try but will soon blend in with all the other fast-food joints around town. Parking does need to expand. The best day's to go are on weekdays when everyone is working. Heads up don't park next to the drive thru or you will be blocked in due to long lines.
(2)Christian M.
Diverse menu for a fast food place, crinkle cut fries, and good ice cream! AMBIENCE: 4 stars (for a fast food place). Clean, bright, TV's in the dining area. The setup is a bit awkward--especially where the drink station is it is VERY tight, and there is often a line of people waiting to use the machine, get napkins, etc. FOOD: 3 stars. Listen, I love burgers--and this place has decent burgers, BUT their cardinal sin, which I cannot fathom--is if you order a cheeseburger the cheese is not melted--just a slice of cheese on top of the burger! What is the point of that!? The point of a cheeseburger is melty-deliciousness working its way into the nooks and crannies of the burger (and, if you are very good and kind to old people and puppies, a few slices of bacon!). The fries are good, the ice cream and cement mixers (their Blizzard-type dessert) are really good. SERVICE: 5 stars--great service every time. OVERALL 3.5 stars--but I can't do this on Yelp--so we will go with 3.
(3)Tom B.
I fell in love this chain back when we lived in the Midwest. They are every bit as good here. Customer service goes way beyond what you find in "fast food" places. And what's not to love about a turtle sundae, perfect fish and chips, a butter burger, or a really fresh, tasty salad? Last time I was at this location my friend accidentally spilled a full soda all over the booth, bench, and floor, and they cleaned it up immediately and cheerfully. I hesitate to give any quick self-serve restaurant 5 stars, and no, it's not a Michelin-star menu -- but for a quick meal with friendly people and great quality, this really is "as good as it gets."
(5)Mike M.
The only thing that could improve these burgers is if Culver's stepped up their meaningless "farm fresh" concept to a hormone free grass fed beef status. Otherwise, these burgers are near perfection. The buns are melt-in-your-mouth fresh and delicious. All the veggie toppings are crisp and cool even on the hottest desert day. The cheddar is Wisconsin-made (very tough to beat) and it actually melts on your burger (no plastic perma-congealed effect). Outstanding burger! The sides are just as good as the main attraction with their cheese curds being a unique item. Their fries are crinkle-cut and on the thicker side; crispy on the outside and warm fluffy potato pillows on the inside. They also offer chicken sandwiches, fried fish meals, hot beef sandwiches and custard (aka ice cream). Their version of the DQ Blizzard is tagged the Concrete. Choose your favorite add-ins, blend and enjoy. Culver's definitely has more of a fast food joint feel to it. Their main competitor (Freddy's Steakburger) has a creamier custard and a more developed restaurant concept going for them. The burgers are nearly identical. Personally, I give the 1st prize burger trophy to Culver's though.
(4)Mike M.
Well I could be biased because I was so hungry or the very nice gal in the front that gave us a couple bucks off even though I forgot my coupons at home, but man my burger was so good. The food is always fresh when we come. The onion rings and fry's were great at well. Great food, great service, and a pretty clean dining room is always a great combo. Give them a try.
(4)