Has anyone tried Five Guys?

Normally I avoid chain restaurants and especially burger chain restaurants, but Five Guys has received some very favorable press locally and this is a tough town in which to please burger lovers. I liked what I heard about the place. For one thing, everything is fresh and not frozen. Also, it does not try to be everything to everyone but sticks to just hamburgers, hot dogs and fries. And speaking of the fries, they serve malt vinegar.

Have any of you been to Five Guys? If so, what did you think?

Dave-

Never 'hoid of 'em nor do I ever recall seeing them in my travels. Where are you located?

BP

Bill,

Here is a link that shows their locations:

http://www.fiveguys.com/locations.aspx

Looks like they have one in Cinci if you are close to there.

hope you can get them without all that crap on them as in the photo.

Thanks for the link. There are a couple in the Indy area. Depending upon feedback, I may give them a try although burgers and dogs are seldom my food of choice when fressen away from home.

BP

Yes, I eat there. IMO, much better than the normal fast food places. Flavorful hot dog and moist burgers. I think the fries are the best thing on the menu. They cut their own potatoes fresh (they always have a sign up which says where the potatoes they are using come from for that days fries, always somewhere in Idaho) and fry them in peanut oil.

Now if they only made milk shakes...

hope you can get them without all that crap on them as in the photo.

LOL! If I am going to have a salad, I'll have that on the side not on my burger.

They have something like 15 different toppings available.

'winger - I haven't heard "fressen" in a long time. Did you grow up in an Amish/Mennonite neighborhood?

Yes, I eat there. IMO, much better than the normal fast food places. Flavorful hot dog and moist burgers. I think the fries are the best thing on the menu. They cut their own potatoes fresh (they always have a sign up which says where the potatoes they are using come from for that days fries, always somewhere in Idaho) and fry them in peanut oil.

Now if they only made milk shakes...

Thanks for the details, Greg. I'm glad to hear that the burgers are moist. One of the things mentioned in the local review was that they insist upon cooking all of their burgers well-done. No exceptions. That's a strike against them, IMO, but I'm sure they do it for safety reasons.

I was worried about the burgers being dry as well. I should add that I am not sure I would make a detour to eat at one, but if I were hungry and passing one, it is probably worth a try. I have one about a mile from my house, so it is convenient.

I've been to two of them. One in a mall in Fayetteville and one just outside of Charlotte. They have really good burgers and fries. I'd definitely go back.

Not surprisingly the nearest to us is in Swampscott, MA; seventy miles away! Well, if we're ever in Swampscott.

My first reaction to the subject line was, "No, but I've tried three girls!"




(OK, I've not been that lucky but it was still my first reaction.)

anyone ever tried 'two guys from harrison'?

'winger - I haven't heard "fressen" in a long time. Did you grow up in an Amish/Mennonite neighborhood?

Alan-

No Amish or Mennonite here, but did grow up in a 3 generational household where the "elders" spoke German. In this context, the fressen was used frequently to chide us youngsters on bad table manners.

Wilhelm

anyone ever tried 'two guys from harrison'?

Not for many years. Are they still around?

'winger - I haven't heard "fressen" in a long time. Did you grow up in an Amish/Mennonite neighborhood?

Alan-

No Amish or Mennonite here, but did grow up in a 3 generational household where the "elders" spoke German. In this context, the fressen was used frequently to chide us youngsters on bad table manners.

Wilhelm

Yes, someone here did notice that you used "fressen" as opposed to "essen".

Ireally like Five Guys buy only go once or twice a year - heart attacks waiting to happen. They make burgers the way I make them, crudely formed and greasy with soft buns, but they should blend 40 mg of Lipitor into each burger. The best thing is that you get to eat peanuts while you are waiting.

Heart Attack on a bun w/ angina fries on the side. Which makes it pretty decent eating. But I don't there go much because of that. As far as toppings go, I like the use of fresh sliced jalapenos instead of the pickled. Makes for a spicy crunch instead of adding another soggy topping.

Richard

Thanks for all of the replies. Tried it this afternoon for the first time. Timing must be key, because when we got there it was a veritable mosh pit of soccer moms and kids. Loud, crazy and peanut shells everywhere.

My girlfriend ordered a hamburger with nothing on it. When the girl behind the counter rattled off the 15 different toppings she could have on her hamburger, my girlfriend said tersely, “nothing, I just want a plain hamburger.” I took a step back and scanned the place for exits.

The other couple we were with ordered cheese burgers. One with ketchup and mustard along with fries and another with “everything”. I ordered a cheese burger cooked medium with fried onions and fries on the side. The girl behind the counter told me that they only cook their hamburgers “fully cooked”. When I politely asked if my hamburger could be cooked medium, I was told that was not an option.

We received our food and the four of us dug in. My girlfriend seemed to like her plain hamburger and even raved about the fries of mine that she consumed. The few I managed to salvage were actually very good.

The other couple was quite satisfied with their burgers and also had positive comments about the fries. My burger was just so so, but the fries (with malt vinegar) were very good.

Not terrible burgers in a suburban mosh pit, but I doubt I would return.

So...as good as In 'n' Out Burgers, Dave?

At risk of life and limb, I'll go ahead and ask this question:

What is it with women and fries? I have a wife who when given a choice at a burger joint, will always say no to fries. Then the dread words, "I'll just have a couple of your fries. You will share, won't you?"

Why doesn't she just go ahead and order her own goddamned fries? I'm not one to bogart, but I do get protective when I see my bag-o-fries being seriously depleted and I end up with more burger to eat after the fries are gone. (Balance is crucial to the art and science of eating a good burger, after all; you have to have timing and pacing in these things.)

I know its psychological on her part---they're not her fries, she's just having a couple, it's not like she's eating a whole order all to herself, doesn't really count on the calorie chart, blah, blah, blah. She's snarfing my fries! And there's nothing I can do about. What, I'm gonna be mean and say "NO! Get your own."??? Yeah, right. Then endure the hours of cold silence, slammed doors and petty little acts of revenge and retribution that will ensue. Sure.

Next time I'll rant about the 'bring an extra spoon with his dessert' maneuver.

Why doesn't she just go ahead and order her own goddamned fries? I'm not one to bogart, but I do get protective when I see my bag-o-fries being seriously depleted and I end up with more burger to eat after the fries are gone. (Balance is crucial to the art and science of eating a good burger, after all; you have to have timing and pacing in these things.)

I know its psychological on her part---they're not her fries, she's just having a couple, it's not like she's eating a whole order all to herself, doesn't really count on the calorie chart, blah, blah, blah. She's snarfing my fries! And there's nothing I can do about. What, I'm gonna be mean and say "NO! Get your own."??? Yeah, right. Then endure the hours of cold silence, slammed doors and petty little acts of revenge and retribution that will ensue. Sure.

4 seconds left in the game, ball is thrown in bounds to Hoke...Oregon down by two. Hoke waits, looks to pass off, no he's pulling back and hits a 3 pointer to win the game with no time left on the clock!!!

You have made a number of good points over the years, Hoke, but that one was a classic!

4 seconds left in the game, ball is thrown in bounds to Hoke...Oregon down by two. Hoke waits, looks to pass off, no he's pulling back and hits a 3 pointer to win the game with no time left on the clock!!!

You have made a number of good points over the years, Hoke, but that one was a classic!

Were you watching the game tonight? (Wish I'd had a chance to see it!)

OH NO!!! I just agreed with everything in a Hoke post! (High temp today in Phoenix is -10, colder in the netherworld)