Wandering Fork

If you are on your way to the San Juan Islands and are leaving out of the Anacortes, WA Ferry, you may want to stop in at what must have been an old A&W Rootbeer park-and-eat and what is currently the Fidalgo Drive-In. 

 

The menu is classic Americana: burgers and hot dogs with choices of fries (regular, curly, or waffle-cut), sweet potato fries, onion rings, tater tots, fried mushrooms, and cheddar cheese curds. It also boasts a Northwest flavor with halibut, prawns, oysters, and clam strips and both crab bisque and smoked salmon chowder.

 

Burgers come dressed and the Meal entitles you to your choice of fries, onion rings, or tater tots as well as a medium soda or rootbeer float.  I selected with the Cheeseburger Meal with onion rings and Mister chose the Crab Sandwich Meal with tater tots. 

 

 

Cheeseburger and Onion Rings

 

The sandwiches were good sized and the sides were plentiful.  My hamburger was average, cooked well done with mayo, lettuce, tomato, and pickle. I wouldn’t drive out of my way for it, but the sides hit all of the right fatty-fried notes of junk food that my taste buds were craving. Both the tater tots and onion rings were hot, crispy and definitely winners.  Also in the plus column were the rootbeer floats presented in old, glass mugs and foaming over with frosty goodness.  The “medium” is huge, and the “large” is gargantuan.  (I would suggest sharing or ordering a small.)

 

 

Rootbeer Float (Medium…I kid you not!)

 

While I stuck with a classic hamburger, there are also specialty burger options including mushroom and Swiss cheese, bacon and cheddar cheese, bleu cheese, Gardenburgers, turkey chipotle burgers, and chicken sandwiches. The pricing is very reasonable, especially if you are out with the family. Adult meals range from $6.69 - $9.79. Kid’s meals include a side and a drink and are priced between $5.69 - $5.99. 

 

 

Fidalgo Drive-In

2908 Commercial Ave.

Anacortes, WA 98221

360.293.3442

no website

 

June 25, 2010

Cheeseburger Meal                    $ 6.89

Crab Sandwich Meal                  $ 9.79

Total                                        $16.68

 

No Comments | In: Dessert, Dinner, Washington | tags: Anacortes, Fries, Hamburger, Ice Cream, Sandwich, Washington. | #

Driving down State Line Road (between Kansas and Missouri), Mister spotted Culver’s, home of Butter Burgers and Frozen Custard.  I recall my first frozen custard in the early 1980s at a place on Niemen Road in Shawnee, KS in what used to be a fried chicken joint. Keeping with my walk (or drive) down memory lane, Mister pulled in so I could get a taste. 

 

The first Culver’s opened in July 1984 in an old A&W Root Beer location in Sauk Prairie, WI.  As bagels have spread from New York to the rest of the country, frozen custard seems to have originated in the Great Lakes Area and spread down the Mississippi River as franchises in most major cities.  This franchise location was clean with the traditional fast-food set up of counter and indoor and outdoor seating.  The service was a little unorganized.  There appeared to be lots of staff, but only one register was being used which left patrons waiting.

 

Looking over the menu, you can order basic frozen custard in vanilla, chocolate, or flavor of the day, add mix-ins, build your own sundae, or create a malt, shake, or root beer float.  Prices ranged from $1.99 to $4.59 and there is a neat widget on their website where you can find out the flavor of the day. In an attempt not to ruin my pending lunch, I ordered one scoop, vanilla. It was a generous portion which rapidly began to melt as soon as I sat down at an outside table.  Smooth, creamy, and with the full mouth egg-custard flavor I remembered, Mister and I finished it off while discussing the thunderstorms expected later that afternoon. 

 

Although we didn’t sample the Butter Burger, Mister inquired what made a burger a Butter Burger.  The gentleman behind the counter explained that the buns are grilled and they proudly serve a Wisconsin Swiss Melt, a nod to their roots.

 

I don’t know if I would seek Culver’s out if I was looking for a sweet frozen treat. More likely, I would stop by during a road trip for a quick sugar fix and clean bathrooms. 

 

 

One Scoop, Vanilla

 

Culver’s

7953 State Line Rd.

Kansas City, MO 64114

816.444.4700

www.culvers.com

 

May 15, 2009

One Scoop Frozen Custard        $ 1.99

Total                                        $ 1.99

No Comments | In: Dessert, Kansas, Missouri, Snacks | tags: Culver's, Custard, Ice Cream, Kansas, Kansas City, Missouri. | #