EDITOR’S NOTE: Culver’s is now in business at 1211 W. 800 North in Orem as well.

Culver’s takes the idea of a down-home country diner to a whole new level.

When traveling, we often enjoy stopping to eat at smaller, roadside restaurants that serve straight-from-the-kitchen fare as opposed to the big national chains that assembly line the same exact offerings in every establishment across the country.

Culver’s actually combines the best of both those dining experiences. While Culver’s is a national chain, currently in 19 states, it has that hearty small-town feel and taste that we typically find so enjoyable.

We visited the Culver’s in Lehi, which opened in January as the chain’s first foray into Utah, on an extremely busy Saturday afternoon. Things were hopping when we arrived, but they were really bustling before we finished eating — as newcomers were having a hard time finding seats anywhere in the large dining area.

The Culver’s franchise started with a single store nearly 30 years in Sauk City, Wisc. Despite its subsequent growth, it’s obvious the franchise has never lost track of those initial small-town roots.

Orders are placed at the counter, just like any other fast-food restaurant, but then everything is cooked fresh and brought to your table. One thing we really liked about the dining area was the lighting. Another was a fireplace in the middle dining area, which gave off a home-y vibe. There were three flat-screen TVs throughout the dining room, and they were showing March Madness basketball games during our visit.

One of Culver’s signature items is the Wisconsin Cheese Curds. These would be similar to mozzarella sticks except that they are not sticks and they do not have mozzarella. The cheese curds are actually smaller, bite-size delicacies, shaped similar to, say, a tater tot. The crunchy, deep-fried curds contain either yellow or white cheddar cheese inside — and you never know what color to expect until you bit into one. Naturally, these were delicious.

Other sides that we tried included Crinkle Cut Fries, Chili Cheddar Fries and a Homestyle Soup choice of Chicken and Dumplings. The Chili Cheddar Fries were so gooey we had to eat them with a fork. The soup was hearty and warm, and very thick. We loved it.

Our party of five shared a variety of different main meal options. Our favorites were the Shaved Prime Rib Sandwich, the North Atlantic Cod Filet and the Chicken Cashew Salad. The Shaved Prime Rib featured melted Swiss cheese, onions and a pickle with a choice of sauce (steak or horseradish). The cod was flaky and moist, and further enhanced when dipped in the specialty tartar sauce that came with the meal. The Chicken Cashew Salad was a delicious combo of mixed greens, cheddar cheese, cashews, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and grilled chicken, topped with raspberry vinaigrette (or another topping of your choice).

Other items on the menu were extremely tempting — there is a whole line of specialty Butterburgers and Melts, for example — but we were trying to save room for some of Culver’s much ballyhooed fresh frozen custard. You can experience the delicacy in shakes, malts, cones, sundaes and a variety of mixers. Whatever your pleasure — and ours was a malt with caramel and bits of Heath bar mixed in — it will certainly not disappoint.

Culver’s

Where: 1374 E. Main St., Lehi

Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Prices: $2.69-$10.99

Info: (801) 341-8399, www.culvers.com