Fuddrucker's is the very best place to get a hamburger. I have never gotten a hamburger here, mind you, but still I maintain my statement is true. Fuddrucker's is a family joint where you will feel absolutely comfortable bringing in your brood. They have something for everyone and though it is a bit more expensive than the standard burger joint, you are getting way more when you go here.

To place your order, you will have to stand in line at the front just like you would at any fast food restaurant. The similarity happily ends here. After ordering, the clerk will ask for your first name and you are free to sit down at the table or booth of your choice in the abundant dining room. After a moment, you will here the eagerly awaited announcement, "Suzanne, your world's greatest meal is ready!" Corny, but close!

The fun is just beginning, however. Fuddrucker's is home to the most impressive burger topping bar I've ever seen. You have all of the standard condiments like ketchup, mustard, mayo, pickles, lettuce and tomatoes. They also include sour cream, salsa, pico de gallo, barbecue sauce and nacho cheese sauce. But I digress! First you must choose on what to put all of these delicious toppings.

They have any type or size of hamburger you could ask for. The smallest burger you can get is 1/3 of a pound and the largest is a full pound. They have quite a few specialty burgers for you as well:

* Portobello Mushroom Burger: comes with Portobello Mushroom, Swiss Cheese & Horseradish Sauce.

* Swiss Melt: Comes with Mushrooms, Grilled Onions & Swiss Cheese.

* Southwest Burger: Comes with Guacamole, Bacon & Monterey Jack Cheese.

* The "Works" Burger: Comes with Bacon, Mushrooms & American Cheese.

* Triple Cheeseburger: Comes with Monterey Jack, Cheddar & Swiss Cheese.

* BBQ Hot Rocks Burger: Comes with Bacon, Chipotle BBQ Sauce & Cheddar Cheese.

If a burger is not what you are in the mood for, you still can get a good meal at Fuddrucker's! Here are a few other items they offer: Grilled Chicken Sandwiches, Fried Chicken Sandwiches, Ribeye Steak Sandwiches, Grilled or Fried Catfish Sandwiches, Hot Dogs and Garden Burgers for the vegetarian in your crew.

If you aren't in the mood for a sandwich, you can get a salad. Fudd's offers Grilled Chicken salad, Chicken Caesar and Taco Salads, all of which can be upgraded at the toppings bar! I usually get a Taco Salad and load it up with black olives, sour cream and salsa from the bar.

The side items at Fudd's are sure to please. They offer onion rings, skin-on fries, corn, baked beans and cole slaw. The corn is out of this world, but if you are on a diet you will want to skip it, as it swims in a lake of butter!

They also allow you to get your own drinks from the beverage bar. They have the standard sodas with root beer, sweet tea and lemonade. You can also choose to have a shake but these were just a little on the pricey side! They are large and very thick, however!

If you do bring the children, you will find a nice selection of kid's items on the menu. They have a choice of Grilled Cheese, Chicken Tenders, hamburgers and hot dogs. Each meal comes with French fries, a drink and a wooden token to be redeemed for a free cookie at the end of their meal. This is the highlight of our son's visit!

Fuddrucker's is readily available! They have a location, or several in nearly every state. I've seen one in every single state in the South that I've been in, including one in Birmingham, Alabama. I mention this because Alabama is not highlighted on their locator on the official website, but indeed there is one there!

If you are in need of a gift for someone, Fuddrucker's also offers gift certificates in denominations of $10 and $25. Those are perfect to stuff in a birthday card of a niece or nephew who live far away and you can go to their website at Fuddruckers.com to see if they have a location near your gift recipient! You can even buy them online, which makes them even more convenient!

What really makes this a family friendly establishment are the video games for the children to play while waiting for their food. The Fuddrucker's in Birmingham, Alabama also has a basketball game which even my husband found fun.

Give Fuddrucker's a try if you are a sucker for a good burger. Don't forget to take home a bagful of fresh baked cookies!


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