However, the Upper Midwestern state has gifted the country another beloved gem in the form ofCulver’s restaurants.
Born in Sauk City, Wis., Culver’s has been serving up fast-food grub since 1984.
But, the chain’s real moneymaker is undeniably its ButterBurgers.
Photo: Culver’s. Design: Eat This, Not That!
I recently gave them all a take a stab at find out which is the buttery best.
Here’s how each one ranked in descending order from my least favorite to the overall best.
ButterBurger
The ButterBurger is what made Culver’s famous.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
Culver’s has nine different garnishes to choose from, including veggies and condiments.
This option includes pickles, mustard, ketchup, and raw onions.
Remember: the standard ButterBurger is served sans cheese.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
The look:Almost comically flat with just the one razor-thin patty carrying the burger on its back.
Without it, this option comes off as drab and mediocre, especially without a slice of melty American.
At the end of the day, though, it’s not necessarily a bad burger.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
I could still tell the smashed meat and bread offered quality.
It just needs some extra zhuzh.
Two of these handhelds appear on the menu board, one of which is the Midwest-inspired Wisconsin Swiss Melt.
Photo: Megan Hageman/Eat This, Not That!
The taste:I see the vision here and I really wanted to like it.
However, the flavor all around is muted as the rye bread takes over the entire experience.
It’s hard to enjoy the juiciness of the burger and onion combo in between overdoses of earthy grains.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
With the cheese, the single Butterburger costs 30 cents more for a total of $4.49.
The look:A minimal-effort cheeseburger.
The pickles are the only addition that brightened up the burger in my eyes.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
It sounds rather fancy but it’s fundamentally just a ButterBurger Cheese.
The real difference and magic of the sandwich lies in its list of curated toppings.
Of course, you might always modify this lineup to your own preference.
Photo: Megan Hageman/Eat This, Not That!
However, I trusted Culver’s expertise and asked for a $4.89 single order as it comes.
The look:A more adult-looking burger with its colorful veggies and fluffy bun.
The taste:It’s amazing what a difference a more A-list grouping of garnishes can make.
The look:Upon opening up this sandwich, I was impressed by how many mushrooms were piled on.
The Swiss cheese is a good complimentary choice, albeit not overly influential.
It doesn’t matter though because the rest offers more than enough flavor without it.
Unsurprisingly, it comes on sourdough bread, which is buttered and toasted similar to the chain’s buns.
The look:Incredibly tasty!
The sheeny onions, seared beef, and cheddar cheese all come oozing out from the centervery promising indeed.
Then, the caramelization and richness of the onions give the juicy beef an added boost of flavor.
I think the addition of just one more ingredient would really help this selection to shine.
Perhaps a few pickle slices?
Or, even a dash of mayonnaise or aioli?
These include Wisconsin cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onion, and Culver’s signature mayonnaise.
The look: Messy yet mouthwatering.
The taste: Pure burger poetry.
It’s just a staple American-style delicacy and truly the ButterBurger in its peak form.
