On first entering Five Guys Burger and Fries I wasn’t expecting much – bright, fluorescent lights and red, white and black décor… it felt like a badly decorated school cafeteria. Walking up to the counter to order I noticed a small container of peanuts on every table – classy! My one tsk-tsk moment was that the sign warning about peanuts being eaten out in the open was not large enough, so those with nut allergies beware! Past the tables and right next to the ordering counter was a pallet of 25-pound bags of potatoes. Weird, but I can dig it since you know they are using fresh potatoes, not frozen. Right next to the potatoes, however, was a pallet of 25-gallon jugs of oil. Gross. I know my fries are fried, but I’d rather not see the frying oil in bulk. It works in Costco, not so much at a burger joint.
Finally I get to the counter and order my burger. I ordered the Little Hamburger ($4.75) with tomatoes, lettuce, onion and pickles, and skipped the fries on account of the lateness of the evening. Now don’t judge! I was heartbroken about my decision to forgo the fries after I saw they have vinegar in addition to the usual condiments. Big plus!
Now to the good stuff… the patty was indeed little but with all of the extras that you can add (for free!), my Little Hamburger wasn’t so little. The toppings were very fresh and perfectly complimented the hot, juicy burger. I am generally a big fan of smaller burger joints as opposed to full-service restaurants because I find my preferred burger quadrafecta: decent quality, flavorful meat, prices that won't break the bank, and a low-key ambiance. Indeed Five Guys was no different and the burger was cooked perfectly. The bun was sufficient – nothing special. An interesting tidbit: Five Guys does not spend money on marketing their goods; they rely on word of mouth from their devoted fans.
Special Note: A few weeks after the January NYBC gathering, I stopped in for a quick bite. While the burger itself warranted a repeat visit, I had to try those fries! The homemade fries ($3.19) were just what I expected – thick, greasy, bits of the skin included. And because I love vinegar on my fries, I drowned those suckers. This story would have ended with a ride off into the sunset, but while the vinegar smelled like it and looked like it, it did not taste like it. For shame Heinz, selling water and labeling it as malt vinegar… you’ll not fool me again!
Bottom line: Five Guys Burger and Fries is well worth a visit but bring your own vinegar!
--Contribution by Angel
