ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — Looking for some tasty chicken wings? How about a good grilled cheese sandwich? If you are really adventurous, how about a “Big Bopper” or a “Big Daddy Bopper” deep-fried cheeseburger?

Yes. You read right. A Deep Fried Cheeseburger.

As one person said after hearing about it, “I can feel my arteries hardening now.”

Debra Lloyd of Elsanor, one of the owners of DJ’s diner, a friendly family-style restaurant on Highway 59 in Robertsdale says the two cheeseburgers (never mind the calorie count) have become a couple of the most popular items on the menu.

“It’s a cheeseburger that has been dipped into beer batter and deep-fried,” said Lloyd. She added that the burgers come from a family recipe developed after seeing the delicacies prepared on a TV cooking show.

It’s finding familiar goodies and food with a twist that has made DJ’s diner a popular stop for families and people looking for a little adventure on their plate. The restaurant opened in June of last year.

Lloyd says she and her family didn’t have any restaurant experience.

“We wanted to do something together, something different, but family-friendly,” she said.

Of course, not everything is deep-fried at DJ’s. Lloyd’s personal favorite is the “Slammer,” a burger with lettuce, tomato, pickles, sautéed onions, mushrooms, mayonnaise, ketchup, cheddar cheese sauce on a sesame seed bun.

“That’s a burger you can’t pick up to eat,” said Lloyd. “You go through quite a few napkins.”

There are salads and other good-for-you items on the menu, and the prices won’t break the family budget — the most expensive item on the menu is a snack platter that goes for $8.95.

There is also a well-equipped soda fountain, which can prepare any number of ice-cream goodies. The soda fountain played a role in one of DJ Diner’s give-a-ways.

“We occasionally do drawings,’ said Lloyd. “One young lady, Aspen Godwin, won the banana split contest and she got to go behind the counter and make splits for herself and three friends.”

DJ’s Diner decor is right out of the 1950s. There are pictures of the fast cars of the day, the floor is black and white tile, the booths are vintage in style, and old-fashioned 45s are a neat addition to the walls.

“I went with 50s decor, because I started doing research about things that happened in the 50s,” said Lloyd. “We have customers come in and donate stuff. The records were donated by a record store in Daphne.”

Another reason for the 50s theme was “I grew up listening to this music,” said Lloyd.

Debra’s daughter, Kathleen Mathis is a culinary arts student at Faulkner Community College and, she says, “I go to school 15 hours a week, and I’m here 43 (hours a week).”

Mathis has developed the recipe for the restaurant’s wings, and is working hard to bring tasty and healthful foods to the menu. One of the things Mathis insists on is quality ingredients.

“We get our hamburger and make them up right here,” said Lloyd. “The meat is always fresh, never frozen.”

Mary Robinson, the restaurant’s full-time waitress enjoys meeting the customers and seeing what they are going to order.

“We have a nice group of people who come in,” she said.

The restaurant will be starting a “family night” soon, playing G-rated movies out on the restaurant’s deck.

In February, DJ’s Diner will offer a special on Saturday nights.

“From 6 p.m. to closing, we will rotate steak and seafood nights,” said Lloyd, explaining that one Saturday night will feature seafood and the next will have steak.

“In March on Saturday nights, we will have local groups playing live music,” said Lloyd.

And DJ’s Diner like to celebrate birthdays right along with its customers.

“All people have to do is call us at 945-5019 and we will reserve and decorate a table,” said Lloyd.