Author: Connie

Unbelievable Customer Service at My Local Culver’s

Connie Food & Drink, Illinois , , 1 Comment
Unbelievable Customer Service at My Local Culver’s

Culvers in BourbonnaisI have never before written about a national chain fast food restaurant.* Culver’s, a mostly Midwest chain but popping up in pockets across the nation, falls into that category. However, after our latest visit to our local Culver’s, I can’t keep quiet any longer. I have to tell you about the most exemplary customer service I have ever had in any restaurant of any type, anywhere, and I’ve eaten in some high-end restaurants. I’m not talking about great customer service on one occasion; I mean wow treatment on every visit, from every staff member, at the Bourbonnais, Illinois, Culver’s.

If they aren’t swamped with customers, a staff member opens the door for you and greets you with a, “Welcome to Culver’s.” Behind the counter, no matter how busy, you get another “Welcome to Culver’s.” Service is always with a smile. Tell them thank you, and they don’t mumble “No problem” or even say “You’re welcome.” They reply with, “My pleasure.”

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Culver’s is one of those fast-food restaurants where you place your order at the counter, and if you’re dining in, they give you a numbered table tent to take to your seat. They bring your food to you. On our visit this week, the young woman who delivered our food not only confirmed which sandwiches we ordered, but read the entire list of condiments to ensure it was correct.

Staff members walk table to table asking if everything is okay and clearing trays if you’re finished eating, a rare occurrence in a fast food restaurant. I’ve even had them offer to refill a soft drink cup. They sometimes offer a sample of Culver’s flavor of the day frozen custard.

I’ve eaten at the Bourbonnais Culver’s approximately once a month over the few years they’ve been open. In all that time, there was only one error in my order. I had ordered grilled onions on my Butterburger, but the onions were raw instead. They not only fixed the error, but they insisted on giving me a pint of frozen custard to take home. I felt guilty accepting it for such a trivial error, but I appreciated it.

When you’re leaving Culver’s, more often than not, someone opens the door for you once again and thanks you for visiting. Even if there is no one at the door, someone yells “Thank you” and wishes you a nice day.

I applaud every staff member at the Bourbonnais, Illinois, Culver’s location, as well as whoever trains them. The consistent extraordinary customer service, a rarity in most fast food restaurants, doesn’t go unnoticed, and it is my pleasure to spread the word.

Culver’s Bourbonnais location is 983 Convent Street. Culver’s is known for their Butterburgers and Fresh Frozen Custard, but offers many more menu options, as well.

Do you have a local restaurant that consistently delivers wow customer service? Share your experience in the Comments below.

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*As part of my Wise Choices series, I will occasionally highlight lighter menu options in various regional or national chains, since most of us dine at them now and then while traveling.

Cable Natural History Museum: Be a Superhero

Connie Attractions & Events, Wisconsin , , , , 0 Comment
Cable Natural History Museum: Be a Superhero

Imagine being so strong you could pull a dinosaur. When I stepped on a scale at the Cable Natural History Museum in Cable, Wisconsin, I found out that if I was a dung beetle, I’d be strong enough to do just that, as dung beetles can pull up to 1,411 time their body weight. I’m glad I’m not a dung beetle, though. What a poopy life that would be! The dung beetle is one of several insects and flowers highlighted in the museum’s Nature’s Superheroes exhibit.

Dung_Beetle_ScaleEveryone who visits the museum gets a chance to be a superhero, too. As you enter the museum you are asked to don a superhero cape. This goes for adults as well as children. If you’d like, you can enter the phone booth an ordinary person and emerge as a superhero.

Mini superheroesSkip and I chose to evolve into our superhero personae in the wide open museum lobby. I was a tree frog and skip was a dragonfly.

Connie the Gray Tree FrogSkip the dragonflyWhat superpowers do a tree frog and a dragonfly have? Superpowers in nature are actually adaptations given to the species for survival. The tree frog can become nearly invisible, or at least blend in with the tree so well that predators don’t see it. The dragonfly flies fast, really fast, at speeds up to 30 miles per hour. Its four wings, which can each flap separately, allow them to fly in all directions. They can even do aerial stunts.

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Among plant life, the bunchberry’s superpower is also speed, whose pollination mechanism takes less than half a millisecond, making it the fastest flower on earth.

The force behind the Nature’s Superheroes exhibit was conservation sidekick Naturalist Educator, Emily Stone. She put the exhibit together with help from staff and volunteers, creating hands-on and interactive activities that make learning fun, like the opportunity to appear on screen flying along a nature path in your superhero cape.

Flying superheroElsewhere in the museum are exhibits of species native to the area, as well as a large room used for education purposes. On the day we visited, children were making owl puppets from paper bags.

Taxidermied ducksKids owl projectThe museum offers over a hundred public programs throughout the year. The night before our museum visit, Skip and I participated in the museum-sponsored Owl Prowl with host naturalist Susan Thurn, where we learned to call barred owls.

The Cable Natural History Museum will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2017. However, its building is only five years old and very impressive. If you’re in the area, it’s a fun small museum to visit, especially if you have children.

Cable Museum exteriorAfterwards, visit the museum’s property down the street, the home site of the museum’s first naturalist. The big attraction there for kids is the huge fallen limb from the oldest and largest tree on the property. Kids have enjoyed climbing on the limb for some time, so steps are now being built into the limb, and a small “fort” is being added at the base of the tree. What a fun way to adapt to nature’s occurrences.

tree with stair stepsThe Cable Natural History Museum, located at 13470 County Highway M in Cable, Wisconsin, is open year round. Check the web site for exact hours and admission rates.

Disclosure: Our trip to northern Wisconsin was hosted by the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, but any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

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The Palms Grill Cafe, Atlanta IL: Route 66 Diner Restored to its 1934 Look

Connie Food & Drink, Illinois , , , , , , 6 Comments
The Palms Grill Cafe, Atlanta IL: Route 66 Diner Restored to its 1934 Look

People from all over the world come to the United States each year to drive Historic Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica. Although many sights once along the Mother Road no longer exist, including much of the pavement itself, several businesses are making a comeback, either in their original states or as museums. One such business is The Palms Grill Café in Atlanta, Illinois. The diner has been fully restored to look as it did when it opened in 1934. The diner, including home-style entrees and fresh-baked pies, creates an authentic Route 66 dining experience. Read more

Mammoth Site of Hot Springs: Prehistoric History Uncovered

Connie Attractions & Events, South Dakota , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 0 Comment
Mammoth Site of Hot Springs: Prehistoric History Uncovered

Here is the story of how the Mammoth Site of Hot Springs came to be. Once upon a time, in a prehistoric land not so far away, giant creatures roamed the earth. One day, over sixty male Columbian and wooly mammoths left home never to be seen again. Stories about the disappearance were passed down through generations of mammoths until the stories became legend. Males claimed females drove them away, to a mass suicide. Females claimed the males went on a hunting trip, got lost, and refused to ask for directions. The species eventually became extinct, and of course, the legend became extinct along with the mammoths. Read more

Travel and Adventure Show Coming to Chicago January 17-18, 2015

Connie Attractions & Events, Illinois , 0 Comment
Travel and Adventure Show Coming to Chicago January 17-18, 2015

With the holidays now behind us, it’s time to plan the new year, including vacations. If you’re looking for ideas on where to go this year, the Chicago Travel & Adventure Show in Rosemont, Illinois, coming up January 17-18, is a great place to do research. Get inspiration as you browse the exhibit floor, attend seminars and workshops featuring celebrity speakers, see demonstrations and taste samples of international cuisine cooking, and watch entertainers perform dances from distant lands.

The Exhibits
Whether you’re looking for a quick getaway to a Midwest destination or an adventure like an African safari or a trek in Nepal, you’ll find plenty of information among the show’s 300+ exhibitors. Gather brochures and chat with destination tourism bureaus, tour operators and resort representatives. Meet Alaskan sled dogs, ride a camel or try out deep-sea diving in the Dive Industry Association’s not-so-deep dive pool.

Alaskan sled dogDive poolDiscover new travel gadgets like Pick-Pocket Proof PantsTM and the NapAnywhere, which allows you to sleep sitting up. I’m anxious to see the Pocket Poppet Cardigan, a women’s sweater that stows in a small pouch when not in use.

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Seminars and Workshops Featuring Celebrities
Samantha BrownIn the Travel Channel Theater hear inspiring travel stories, learn invaluable tips, and have your picture taken with travel celebrities, including the Travel Channel’s Samantha Brown; “Travel Detective” Peter Greenberg; Pauline Frommer, Editorial Director of the Frommer’s Guides; and Patricia Schultz, author of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. Cheryl Strayed, New York Times best-selling author of Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail will discuss her 1,100-mile hike along the Pacific Coast Trail, a story recently adapted into a movie.

More Entertainment and Information
Grab a front-row seat at the Taste of Travel Stage where top chefs will hold live cooking demonstrations. You may even get to sample the dishes. Over 20 exotic cultural performances will take place on the Global Beats Stage throughout the weekend. At the Destination Theater get in-depth information on specific popular travel destinations, and at the Savvy Traveler Stage learn how-to tips on smart travel using the latest products and technology.

If you attend:

  • Do some research beforehand. Check the keynote speakers schedule to determine which you want to see and set an alarm on your cell phone as a reminder. Browse the list of exhibitors to be sure you don’t miss booths you may be interested in.
  • Seats for seminars featuring celebrities fill up quickly. If you want to sit up front, get there early.
  • Wear comfortable shoes. You’ll be walking a lot.
  • Dress in layers, as it can get rather warm in the convention center. Take advantage of the coat check.
  • Don’t carry a lot with you, as you’ll be picking up lots of brochures, which can get heavy.

The Chicago Travel & Adventure Show is held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, located at 5555 N River Road in Rosemont, Illinois, January 17-18, 2015. The show opens to the public on Saturday at 10 a.m. and runs to 5 p.m. Sunday hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit the web site to purchase tickets at a discounted rate of $11 for a single day or $17 for two days (use promo code CHPR). On-site the tickets are $16 (single day) $25 (two days). Children 16 and under enter free.

Other Posts that May Interest You:

Here ‘n There in the Midwest: A Look Ahead to 2015

Top 2014 Midwest Wanderer Travel Experiences

Thank you for reading Midwest Wanderer. Don’t miss a post. Enter your e-mail address below and click Subscribe to be notified whenever I publish another post. Subscription is FREE. After subscribing, be sure to click the link when you get the e-mail asking you to confirm.   – Connie


 

White Fence Farm, Romeoville IL: Popular Chicken Restaurant on Route 66

Connie Food & Drink, Illinois , , , , , 0 Comment
White Fence Farm, Romeoville IL: Popular Chicken Restaurant on Route 66

White Fence Farm has been serving diners since before Route 66 existed. Their famous chicken didn’t appear on the menu, however, until the mid-1950s, and over the past six decades, that’s what they’ve become known for: chicken that’s crispy on the outside, succulent on the inside. Not only has White Fence Farm grown in popularity, but the restaurant area itself has ballooned over the years, to twelve dining rooms and a seating capacity of over 1,000, plus a small museum. Read more