OMG, White Castle makes one of these?
Please tell me they’re part of their frozen line …
Maid-Rites. I loooooove me some Maid-Rites. When I was a teenager living in Rolla, I ate there at least once a week. Two Cheese-Rites w/ketchup, hot crispy fries, and a banana shake. Mmmmmmmmm. [sub]I think I’m going to have to make a trip south soon.[/sub]
Peoria had one too, I think, but like everything else in Peoria except Avanti’s it sucked donkey dong.
When I traveled to Wisconsin to go to the House on the Rock, I remember stopping at a place called Culver’s (part of a chain) that had really good “butter-burgers” and frozen custard. Anyone else like them? Of course we don’t have Culver’s anywhere in the South.
My favorite burger joint from my youth was Rudy’s, which had a few Miami locations in the late '80s. They were 1950s diner-themed, sort of like a slicker, “big city” version of Johnny Rockets. They had huge sirloin burgers along the lines of my beloved Fuddrucker’s, a fresh toppings bar, and plenty of sides like mozzarella cheese sticks, beyond just fries and rings. Like Fudd’s, Rudy’s was a sit-down place, and definitely priced more than a typical fast food establishment, but damn were they good. I still love the Fudd’s, but I miss Rudy’s. Are they still around anywhere else?
(I won’t go off-topic, but don’t even get me started on how much I miss Taco Viva.)
Yup - they’re based out of Wisconsin, and have spread into Illinois and Minnesota. They have a website - http://www.culvers.com/Welcome.aspx that explains them. They just built one near my house (NW suburbs of Chicago) and while I haven’t been there, my son has and while he likes the food itself, he thinks it’s too expensive and restaurant like - he and his buddies won’t go there when they’re hanging out - they’ll go to Burger King or McDonald’s or Taco Hell. It’s more of a family restaurant like Denny’s or something - in other words, they think it’s just like what MissGypsy was saying about Steak N Shake.
Culver’s is delicious, but it’s expensive. By the time you get a burger, fries, drink, and shake, it’s $10. I guess that’s not too bad, but I have a hard time justifying it for fast food.
But, I do think it’s better quality than Steak and Shake.
Can I go on about how I miss Taco Bell, I mean the Taco Bell that existed before the 1990s makeover? Before Taco Bell went Hollywood with all the slick commercials and the stylistic facelift, the food was much tastier. Among other things, their tortillas were more like real tortillas and not so moist and stretchy.
Plus, the decor, with its traditional southwestern browns and reds, was much more tolerable than all the pinks and purples they use these days.
It’s definitely comparable to Steak ‘n’ Shake price-wise and quality-wise, but for the same money, I’d rather go to Fuddrucker’s than either.
I remember when you could walk into Taco Bell with something like $6 or $8, and order one of everything on their menu and get change. This was during their earliest ad campaign push, back when the commercials featured Little Richard and Willie Nelson singing about the Bell’s 59, 79, and 99-cent menus. Don’t get me wrong, I have an unhealthy love for Taco Bell (no pun intended), but they’ve definitely been the victims of inflation over the last 15 years or so.
Mmmmm, Mexican Pizza… 
Nah, Culvers is definitely a walk-up-to-the-counter-and-order-type burger joint, but the burgers are much, much, much better than anything from McDonald’s, Burger King, Carl’s Jr, et cetera. (I can’t say much for their fries, though.) They have good frozen custard, too (though not as good at Kopps or Pizza Shuttle), with vanilla, chocolate, and one or two other flavors of the day. Every time I go to Milwaukee I usually pick up a quart to share with friends.
It (and gelato) will ruin you for plain ice cream, though. 
Stranger
I’m going even further back, to the days when the whole menu was so small that there was room in the wall space above the register to feature a large photograph and description of each item (including pronunciation assistance).
What could you get?
Taco
Burrito, Bean Burrito, Combo Burrito
Tostada (I dearly miss the tostada and the beefy tostada)
Enchirito (I dearly miss this too – the recently reintroduced enchirito just isn’t the same)
Frijoles (now called pintos ‘n’ cheese)
Bellbeefer (basically taco fillings on a hamburger bun)
(Those are the ones I remember; there might have been one or two more.)
And you ordered the items “spicy” or “mild” and the cashier noted your order on a wipe board with a grease pencil.
Me too, every word of this paragraph. I was right at the base of the Thumb, outside of Detroit (Warren, to be precise.) You?
Kopps is a “MUST” stop when going through Milwaukee. I grew up near the 76th & Layton location. Awesome burgers and awesome custard. Did they open any other locations besides North side, South side, and Brookfield?
I’m going even further back, to the days when the whole menu was so small that there was room in the wall space above the register to feature a large photograph and description of each item (including pronunciation assistance).
What could you get?
Taco
Burrito, Bean Burrito, Combo Burrito
Tostada (I dearly miss the tostada and the beefy tostada)
Enchirito (I dearly miss this too – the recently reintroduced enchirito just isn’t the same)
Frijoles (now called pintos ‘n’ cheese)
Bellbeefer (basically taco fillings on a hamburger bun)
(Those are the ones I remember; there might have been one or two more.)
None of this “chalupa” or “gordita” nonsense. Feh.
And you ordered the items “spicy” or “mild” and the cashier noted your order on a wipe board with a grease pencil.
Back in the late '80’s and very early '90’s my high school band used to have a ritual Taco Bell feeding in the afternoons before reporting for the football games. The tacos were 49 cents at the time, so everyone would get a dozen. Mmm.
(Good times – I remember when I was a junior, desparately hitting on this freshman flute named Eileen at the Taco Bell and her not giving me the time of day.)
–Cliffy
Flute girls were always snobs at my high school, too.
I’m not as well-traveled as I’d like. Thus, my opinion is limited to my experience. In my opinion, though, Fuddruckers on Reserve Street in Missoula, Montana,makes the best hamburgers imaginable.
What say you, Lindy Hopper ?
Was the Chilito on that early menu? I loved the Chilito.
I could have sworn they used to put heroin in the Mexican Pizza. If I went for a week without having one I’d get the shakes. :eek:
Warning to Americans: if you travel to Australia, be sure to ask them to hold the beetroot. Ick. And expect bewildered stares instead of pickles.
Wow, I grew up literally 5 minutes from the 8 Mile and Gratiot White Castle, Ring. I didn’t like them as a kid, but my more mature and robust gastrointestinal system loves them now. I get them everytime I go home and I have a box of frozen ones in my freezer right now.
I’ve lived in DC for over three years now, but I haven’t been to a Five Guys yet. I think they just did a lot of expanding though, so they’re easier to get to now. Perhaps I can persuade my friends to go there this weekend.
Go! Go now!
No, she was nice. I was just a loser.
–Cliffy