Culver's is a casual American restaurant franchise known for signature menu items such as "Butterburgers," frozen custard, and cheese curds. The chain primarily operates in the Midwest and has nearly 700 locations, almost all of which are franchised. Culver's strongly emphasizes its premium custard and specialty butter-seared burgers, menu items that are unique to the food chain.
After working with his parents in their restaurants, Craig Culver decided it was time to open one for himself. In 1984 Culver, with the help of his wife Lea and parents George and Ruth, transformed the A&W his parents owned since the sixties into Culver's Frozen Custard. Its founder's family inspired the menu for the initial Sauk City, Wisconsin, restaurant. When Culver's mother made hamburgers, she would put a dab of butter on the crown of the hamburger buns before toasting them; something her children felt made them taste better. Today, employees at each Culver's location use the same technique when making their ButterBurgers.