JD’s Drive-In

JD’s was great! I had a double cheeseburger, a small order of cheese curds (which actually turned out to be quite a lot of cheese curds), and a vanilla shake. Everything was delicious, the food was prepared quickly, and it was super affordable. The burgers are not fancy by any means, but they get the job done. If I’m ever in the Appleton area again, I’ll definitely be going back.

First off let me say that this review is based off of one visit. I will update this review later if I ever go back.
I ordered the Double JD Delux, Small Cheese Curds, Medium Lemonade and a Medium Chocolate Malt. Total came to about $ 14.50. Not too expensive, but for what you get it’s certainly just a tad bit more than I think you should have to pay. $ 11 would be about right. Firstly, the lemonade was cold and refreshing, but it was very lacking in any significant taste. Yeah, it was lemony but it wasn’t very sweet and was just ok. If I ordered this at a more traditional restaurant I wouldn’t have ordered a refill. Secondly, the cheese curds were frighteningly bland. Hardly any seasoning at all, the cheese wasn’t very melty, and the fried crust on the outside wasn’t crunchy. Thirdly, the chocolate malt was decent. Nothing to write home about, it was pretty average. Something close to or perhaps slightly above what you could order at BK or another fast food place. I went through the drive through and when they handed me my bag of food and told me to have a nice day I nearly drove off before realizing they had forgotten to make my chocolate malt! I just pulled into a parking space, went inside to show them my receipt and they got it for me quickly. So not a problem. Fourthly, the most disappointing thing about JD’s is their terrible burger patties! They have absolutely no flavor. None at all. I broke a piece off my burger and ate it alone and all I could tell was that I was chewing something vaguely meat textured. I would put the patties below what you can order at McDonald’s. The toppings and condiments are really the only thing that saved this burger from the trash can. All the veggies tasted crisp and fresh and made the burger patties palatable. Lastly, the employees were nice, and helpful and the inside of the the restaurant was clean and better well lit than most dive-​looking places. If you’re looking for a good burger, look somewhere else.

I kept hearing everyone’s childhood stories about JD’s and needing their fix, so I finally caved. I got chicken sandwiches, hotdogs and a few others things. I went home and I ate it all, about $ 18 worth. I couldn’t help it: P

Love this place! Got I introduced to it by a friend in Appleton since I’m from Green Bay and this place is so much better and more affordable than any big fast food chain.

Amazing food — sandwiches, cheese curds, chicken tenders and of course slushies and ice cream treats, too. Great food, great service. All yummy!

Service as good as you’ll get in a fast food place. Good prices and a great neighbor.

So I finally had to check out JDs after hearing so many people rave about it. The locals acclaim it to be a must and some of Appleton’s best comfort food burger diners. All I can say is utter disappointment. Perhaps I went assuming the food would be bursting with flavor. Nope. There are a number of fast food chains that are a better deal and taste far better. We tried 3 different burgers including their signature burger, tried the fries, cheese curds and onion rings. The $ 1 large soda was the best deal on the menu. Burgers taste like they have been warming in water for quite some time. There really was no flavor. The condiments were all fresh and delicious. I was told that I need to try the chicken strips, not sure if chicken strips are worth more than the 2 stars I’m giving it.

There isn’t another «Hamburger Joint» anyplace that can top JD’s! My family has been all over the States due to my husband’s many years in the Navy so we’ve been to lots of «Burger Joints» But JD not only has his Burgers perfected, he also has his teen-​aged, high-​school kid’s working there just as perfected, even counting your money back to you the right way!!! GREAT JOB JD!

Iv’e been living in Wisconsin for over 16 years now, and up till about a month ago, I had never heard of Jd’s. Deciding to give it a try based of a friends recommendation, I found this to be an amazing place, with equally amazing food.
Although many would consider this place to be fast food join, and in retrospect it is, Jd’s holds onto the old school 1950,60 style dinner. I have found Jd’s to be a very pleasant place to eat at. All of the staff are extremely friendly, and well versed in the true meaning of customer service. I have found that everyone at JD’s goes above and beyond to make you feel as if you are a part of the family. They make you feel as if you have know each and every one of them your whole life.
I don’t thin there are many dinners like Jd’s left in the world. This is a place that groups of young ppl and older ppl can gather with friends for a nice time out on the town. This dinner captures and en body’s the essence of what a good burger joint used to be to many Americans. I believe that anyone who gives Jd’s a try will be a customer for life… I know that I am. Unfortunately fast food these days has become just that, fast and lacking in any substantial quality when it comes to their food. Everything has become so over priced in the fast food world, and generally you walk away feeling as if your money could have been better spent. At jd’s, you will get good quality food at a price that will blow your mind. You will leave this place satisfied not only in the fresh made to order food, but in the money you spent to enjoy it.

Great place, service is fast and courteous. Great prices for the type of food and independently owned. Burgers, chick and fish sandwiches. cheese curds, onion rings, popcorn to malts, sundaes and cones.

Old school, in a nostalgic kind of way.
My neighborhood burger joint growing up and everytime I come home to visit.
Good burgers, good fries, good desserts, CHEESE CURDS.
I love it.

I’ve been going to JD“s for around 45 years, still the best fast food burgers in town. Excellent service, a neighborhood gem!

I really didn’t find it to be anything special.

This is a popular hangout place for teens who go to school in the area, especially for the upperclassmen who are allowed to have off campus lunch. I was never a teen while living in Appleton, but I did come here a few times for a dipped soft serve cone.
For super cheap, you can get a big cone of ice cream dipped in a bunch of different flavors. I have gotten both the chocolate and the cherry, both of which were pretty decent. The soft serve ice cream really isn’t anything special, but I like the satisfying crunch of the hardened dipped chocolate or cherry flavoring. That puts JD’s a step up above the soft serve cones you might get at McDonald’s.
I’m not a cheese curds fan, so I’ve never ordered those (or any form of fried cheese) from JD’s, but I know people who go nuts for that stuff. Overall, this place is nothing special. Just your typical run-​of-​the-​mill drive through type of place that sells fried, greasy American food for cheap. I’m sure it has some nostalgic or sentimental value to many, but for me, it was just average.
Fun fact: Once I was lost biking somewhere, so I walked into JD’s with my helmet in hand and asked the person at the counter for directions. An elderly gentleman working there was very friendly and actually took a minute to walk outside to better explain which direction I should go. Talk about Appleton hospitality!

I found nothing special here. It took forever to get my food, and my burger was no better than most other fast food joints. It’s kind of in the middle of neighborhoods, so I get the sense that local kids work here. Maybe that’s the draw, it’s a community thing? If your passing by and want something to eat, you probably won’t be disappointed. I wouldn’t make a cross-​town trip to go though…

The heart of JD’s is great food and superb customer service. As far as the food goes, you will find the same menu items that are ubiquitous in the world of fast food (burgers, fries, etc.). But, at JD’s you will be reminded of how those things SHOULD taste. Sure, it’s cheap food, but it sure doesn’t taste cheap.
Regarding customer service: when I walk in, I am greeted and addressed as «Sir». When you leave, chances are someone behind the counter will wave and say «Goodbye! Thanks!». I’ve known several JD’s employees over the years, and they all say that JD is fanatical about treating customers right and instills these values in his staff. It shows.
A special shout out to the fried cheese curds: they are pure Wisconsin. Cheese curds weren’t unhealthy enough on their own. No, we had to take it to the next level by deep frying them. A heavenly way to spend your last moments before that triple bypass.
You’re staying for dessert, right? JD’s scrumptious soft-​serve will make a certain chain’s ice cream seem awfully bland. Get the cherry dip on your cone and marvel at the space-​age liquid, obviously developed in a lab somewhere, that hardens into a flavor-​tastic solid shell within moments of being immersed.
All in all, JD’s does it right.

Great deals, great service, a perfect place to bring your kids, or to come and eat greasy food if you’re a high school student. I don’t know if I’ve ever eaten there and JD hasn’t been there. Like Culvers, they bring the food to your table after you order. If there is an food that isn’t on the menu, I don’t believe that it exists at all. I recommend the mozzarella sticks, 1000 calories or so of greasy delight. Ice cream, popcorn, burgers, fish, they have it all– and I’ve loved everything I’ve ever had there.

The shake was ok for softserve ice cream but the burger tasted like manure. It was so bad I threw it out and went to wendys

JD’s has sentimental value for me. I grew up two blocks away and spent much of my childhood rollerblading through the drive thru for cheese curds or a box of fries. (we’re obviously healthy in Wisconsin!) Seriously though — this is the best example of a locally run business done right. JD knows kids are going to frequent his place and accepts anyone and everyone that’s at the door. We use to rollerblade inside, buy one large coke and a box of fries and spend hours giggling in the corner. If you didn’t know better… you’d think you had been transplanted in the 1950’s when you step inside.
The food is diner food… don’t expect fine cuisine but it’s great value for what you’re paying. I miss living in Appleton for many reasons and my memories of JD’s is one of them!

My boyfriend grew up going here in high school for burgers and cheese curds and the what not. So after flying in here after our red eye flight, this was our first stop after the airport so that he could introduce me to the state of Wisconsin’s unofficial food: fried cheese curds.
It’s exactly what the name says it is. To me, it’s the equivalent to a mini fried mozzarella stick but with a different kind of cheese. And it was great! I already love mozzarella sticks, so these, were also quite tasty to for my palette.
The cheeseburger was okay for me it was actually really dry, but then again, I am spoiled when it comes to burgers… but the main attraction to this place for me were the cheese curds. They also serve hot dogs, shakes, smoothies and some other items. If we have time in the next week while we are visiting, I may have to come back and check out some other stuff.
Staff was helpful and the restaurant though in original old décor was amazingly clean. The kids working were always helping people, or cleaning the already clean windows and tables.