One of the most divisive items on any fast food menu is seafood. I know this firsthand because people have a lot of opinions when any type of seafood lands on a menu among burgers and fries. Whenever I am criticized for eating fish from a fast food joint I think to myself “what’s the difference between a burger patty or a piece of fish hitting the assembly line behind the counter?” As such, when I had the chance to visit my local Culver’s to sample all of its seafood delights, I was ready for the assignment. It was my first time ever setting foot into a Culver’s, but I can tell you it will not be my last.
Culver’s is a Wisconsin born chain that differentiates itself from other fast food joints with its ButterBurgers and hospitality. While I did not try the handcrafted burgers, I can confirm that Culver’s hospitality is very real and the best I have ever seen in a casual fast food restaurant. Josephine, at the Boynton Beach location, took me under her wing immediately and gave me tips to navigate my Culver’s order and select sides and accouterments to make my meals drool-worthy. Every Culver’s employee displayed the hometown vibe the restaurant is known for and it was a breath of fresh air. My seafood feast exceeded my expectations and until you actually try them for yourself, don’t write them off. These meals were fresh, delicious, and might just change your mind about fast food fish.
North Atlantic Cod Sandwich
I have a long term relationship with McDonald’s filet-o-fish and I’m not shy about it. Fast food fish doesn’t always align with the highest quality, but Culver’s North Atlantic Cod Sandwich is made with superior quality Cod, and it shows.There’s no mystery fish here, just generous, perfectly fried, hand-cut fillet on a lightly buttered and toasted hoagie roll with lettuce, shredded Wisconsin cheddar, and Culver’s own tartar sauce, which is a family recipe. Perhaps it’s the fact that Culvers is family owned that makes it different in the best way. The cod fillet is a sizable and fried to a golden crisp. When you bite into it, you can tell immediately that it’s fresh, is flaky, and is not greasy.
From the soft hoagie, shredded cheese, crispy lettuce, and creamy tartar sauce, it’s a textural masterpiece. I’m not exaggerating when I say that if you put that sandwich on a place without any Culver’s branding whatsoever, you could easily pass it off as a sammie from a legit fish joint perched on the water. I always get my tartar sauce on the side because I don’t want anything on my sandwich to get prematurely soggy. The Culver’s tartar was also mild like the fish and was much more pleasant than others. You can order it à la carte, which was $8.29 or make it a value basket with a drink and fries for an additional $4.49 at the Boynton Beach, Florida location.
North Atlantic Cod Dinner
If you have a hankering for fish, but prefer a dinner plate instead of a sandwich, Culver’s also offers a North Atlantic Cod Dinner. There’s the two-piece, priced at $15.79, or, if you are really hungry, the three-piece, which costs $19.59. The prices might sound steep for a fast food restaurant, but the high quality of the cod warrants the cost. Just like the sandwich, the cod on the dinner plate is crispy on the outside and flaky on the inside. It’s cooked very well without a single sign of dryness. The cod fillets are the farthest thing from fishy tasting and it really does eat like it was cooked with care…