I grew up going to Kopp's in Wisconsin. The Milwaukee-based chain has three locations in the area (Glendale, Brookfield and Greenfield).
It was a special treat to go with my family, especially in the summer. We piled into our truck on a Sunday afternoon as if it were a family outing.
I recently brought my brother to the Glendale location to relive our favorite family tradition and try some of our favorite menu items.
The small chain is known for its “flavor of the day.”
Before any visit to Kopp's, checking out the ice cream flavor of the day is a must. Most days there are two special flavors to choose from, as well as a sundae and a shake of the month.
You can download an app where you can get flavor alerts for your favorite flavor of the day. It's the perfect way to plan your visit based on the cream you want to try.
I also like that you can see the two-day Taste Forecast at the restaurant.
There are designated lines based on your order.
For efficiency, Kopp's has multiple lines based on what you're trying to order.
For burgers, sandwiches, etc. you would go to the baking line. Then there is a separate line for customers who just want to order ice cream and soft drinks.
There are also designated pickup spots if you call or order ahead.
Once my food was ordered, I waited to hear my number.
I placed my orders for a burger and fries and two types of ice cream.
It's important to keep your receipt after ordering because that's where you'll find your number. Each line has a microphone so you can hear when your number is being called.
If you just order frozen custard, it tends to be faster than non-bake. So don't be surprised if you hear numbers out of sequence.
There is indoor and outdoor seating.
I love that Kopp's offers a variety of seating options. Since it was winter (and cold) we ate inside on this trip.
But if you visit in the summer, the outdoor patio is usually full of customers.
The seating area consists of circular cement steps and cement balls where you can enjoy your burger, fries and ice cream.
My burger was jumbo and juicy.
Kopp's has some of the the biggest burgers in town. Seriously, they can be the size of my face and are easy to split between two people. Is jumbo, juicy, filling and delicious.
The buns are soft and the meat is not too fatty.
My brother and I ordered his favorite – a bacon cheeseburger and the works (ketchup, mustard, relish and fried onions) – which costs about $10.
Although most people go to Kopp's for the burgers, the chain offers other non-grill foods, such as chicken sandwiches. But my favorite non-burger item is the fish sandwich — I recommend ordering it with the works.
The sandwiches are jumbo, as are the burgers, and I always leave full and satisfied.
The fries were well seasoned but not that memorable.
Before my city follows me, I want to say that Kopp's fries ($3.50) aren't bad. They are delicious and complement the other food options well.
But for me, the quality of the burgers and ice cream overshadows the fries.
Kopp's ice cream is iconic.
The main attraction at Kopp's is always the ice cream. Different regular ice creamfrozen custard is richer due to the addition of egg yolks.
If you are lactose intolerant or sensitive to dairy, this is not for you.
For dairy lovers, I suggest trying a scoop of vanilla first. It's creamy and comes with a wafer, which has always been my favorite. I like to use it to scoop the custard off the plate.
Kopp's is one of the only places I order plain cream because I think the sweetness speaks for itself. But you can also get the flavor of the day or a Sauté with garnishes.
My brother's favorite is the Oreo sundae ($3.15), so we ordered one of those along with a vanilla bean cup ($3.15).
Kopp's is a must visit on a trip to the Midwest.
Kopp's is the perfect place to visit on a summer road trip or vacation in the Midwest — there's nothing better after a long day out lounging around Lake Michigan.
I can't speak highly enough of the ice cream. But the small chain has delicious food if you need a full lunch or dinner.
