Five Guys Burgers and Fries

We just had a Five Guys Burgers and Fries open here in Huntsville, AL, and they are soon to open another one. I went the other day and it was OK.

Their menu offers only 2 sizes of hamburgers or cheeseburgers, two sizes of fries, a hotdog, veggie burger or grilled cheese. Plus, two sizes of drinks.

You walk up to a counter and order and are given a number and pick your order up when your number is called. Your order is placed in a brown paper sack.

I ordered the smaller burger and reg. size fries with a regular drink and it was about $8.00. The burger was OK and the fries were good. I use vinegar on my fries and it was offered. They are cooked in peanut oil and were warm and crispy.

I will go back but not frequently. I give it thumbs up but not my fav. place to eat.

One just opened up in Midtown Miami, too.

On a scale of 1-5 grease stains, how would you rate the burger?

The burger was not greasy but the fries were. Guess I would give it a 3.

This chain is growing like wild fire and the outlets around here seem to be employing typical FF restaurant help. So, I am not surprised that Sassy reported greasy fries. If you are using fresh potatoes and frying them in peanut oil, you have to be a bit more careful than frying frozen coated fries in the exxon/mobil oil most FF places use.

The first time you walk into a Five Guys, you notice the shtick, such as the free peanuts-in-the-shell, the sacks of fresh potatoes stored in the dining area, the five gallon jugs of peanut oil, and the sign indicating where the potatoes came from. But since the potatoes are now private labeled with the Five Guys brand on the bags, I would like the information on that sign accompanied by an affadavit.

Since the meal is going to cost me about $8 for a small burger, small fires, and drink, I do the following:
1. I don't go unless I am hungry.
2. Remember the small order of fries is huge, so I try not to waste food by not finishing them.
3. Only purchase the small burger.
4. Since many toppings come free with the burger, I order plenty of toppings for the burger.
5. Since drink refills are free, I refill the cup on the way out with plenty of ice and top off the cup with soda. This will provide a free beverage later on.

Even at $8 for a meal, I would go more often if they used something other than a flat grill to cook the burgers, such as a charcoal broiler. Their present burger offering is a meal than you can make at home.

I agree with you, SassyGrits, it is "just okay"..

and I feel the same as you do, David NYC, that their flat grill burger preparation is not that special.
That's how I felt when I ate my burger there, too. "hey , even I can make a burger that tastes like this!!"

charcoal still gets me excited, as our condo assn does not allow charcoal grills ..

David, I agree with you on your points. I have learned that when a fast food places offers two or three sizes of drinks and you have to serve your self and I'm eating in I always order the smaller drink.

Definitely if you are eating by your self at FGBF order the small fries. I took my two grandaughters the other day and ordered the large fries and between the three of us we didn't eat them all.

There burgers are great-they have that 50's drive in taste(that is the big difference-they taste good(fresh)-there fries are to die for-can't find anything like that around-they have really good hotdogs-hard to find a hotdog in Jersey that is not deep fried

They're really still good over there in Alexandria, VA where Five Guys started. Their location is out of the way over there but it is still done with pride and without the franchise feel I've seen at some of their new places.

My experience with Five Guys has been very positive. I only hope they can keep it up. Fries are way to large for one person.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

My older son was down to visit us for a long weekend. His brother took him to a "Five Guys"............he had never heard of it in Central New York. He declared it one of best burgers ever! He and his wife also loved the French fries. I would have never thought of going there before but if I am near one at lunch time I will try it for sure.

A no rare hamburger policy is a deal breaker for me. If I wanted well-done I would get a McDonald's double cheeseburger for a buck.

quote:

Originally posted by Stephen Rushmore Jr.

A no rare hamburger policy is a deal breaker for me. If I wanted well-done I would get a McDonald's double cheeseburger for a buck.

I guess the quality and freshness of the meat is of no importance to you.

quote:

Originally posted by Scorereader

quote:

Originally posted by Stephen Rushmore Jr.

A no rare hamburger policy is a deal breaker for me. If I wanted well-done I would get a McDonald's double cheeseburger for a buck.

I guess the quality and freshness of the meat is of no importance to you.

It wouldnt be to me if I couldn't get a burger cooked, at the most, to medium rare.

I tried the new one in Delafield last week. I thought it was really good, and I'm not a big fan of hamburgers. Fortunately I had saw this thread before and knew enough to only order 2 small fries for the 3 of us. I gave the men the cups and told them I would eat the fries out of the bag. They said that wasn't really fair, until I dumped the bag out and they saw that I got more than they did! Next time I want to eat there, so I can have some of the peanuts while I wait. Very good experience!

I think they make a pretty decent burger and fries. Not as good as I might find in a sit down place for a custom burger and pomme frites but, it's better than most. For the life of me I don't understand people who think they should be able to order a burger here done to their liking. Can you do that at McD's, Burger King, Wendy's, etc? This is a fast food place so why should the expectation be any different?

quote:

Originally posted by RC51Mike

I think they make a pretty decent burger and fries. Not as good as I might find in a sit down place for a custom burger and pomme frites but, it's better than most. For the life of me I don't understand people who think they should be able to order a burger here done to their liking. Can you do that at McD's, Burger King, Wendy's, etc? This is a fast food place so why should the expectation be any different?

I think the expectations are greater because they cook each burger when it's ordered. That and the fact that it costs a whole lot more than at McD's, BK, etc. pb

quote:

Originally posted by porkbeaks

quote:

Originally posted by RC51Mike

I think they make a pretty decent burger and fries. Not as good as I might find in a sit down place for a custom burger and pomme frites but, it's better than most. For the life of me I don't understand people who think they should be able to order a burger here done to their liking. Can you do that at McD's, Burger King, Wendy's, etc? This is a fast food place so why should the expectation be any different?

I think the expectations are greater because they cook each burger when it's ordered. That and the fact that it costs a whole lot more than at McD's, BK, etc. pb

at it tastes 20 times better than McD's, BK, etc.

quote:

Originally posted by RC51Mike

I think they make a pretty decent burger and fries. Not as good as I might find in a sit down place for a custom burger and pomme frites but, it's better than most. For the life of me I don't understand people who think they should be able to order a burger here done to their liking. Can you do that at McD's, Burger King, Wendy's, etc? This is a fast food place so why should the expectation be any different?

It's a good point. BK burgers by me are no deal

Divefl,

I tryed them over their by the freeway. There fry's were pretty good, but I didn't like there burger's.

They beat the pants off the Big 3, I definetely prefer to go there.

Five Guys have opened two locations here in Athens, one on Broad St. right across from the Arch, in the building that in the old days housed the original Varsity.

THe line on them here is:

1) they are better than your typical Wendy's/Burger King/McDonald's burger.

2) but they're more expensive than the Big Three.

3) and the amount of fries they give you is way too much for the average burger and fries consumer and I tend not to go by myself because I hate throwing away over half of the fries they give me.

Do they really need to dump all those extra fries into the bag, when they've already filled the cup of fries already?

I can't understand why they dump all those extra fries into the bag, either. At this point, I think it is all part of their shtick. It is probably not going to change anytime soon because even if someone wants just 15 fries, they are going to get a few bucks out of you for those 15 fries.

You guys are complaining of having too many french fries?

quote:

Originally posted by divefl

You guys are complaining of having too many french fries?

There is a finite amount I can stuff into my face. Sad, but true. I hate to see the rest of them go to waste (and waist).

We have three or four here in Connecticut but I havent tried them yet. I was wondering if they have any signs posted about thier fires being cooked in peanut oil? Thankfully I went onto thier site and read about it before taking my daughter who is allergic to peanuts.

Then again I just re-read the posts and noticed the free peanuts in the shell thing...think Im gonna have to try this place on my own...

Yep, peanuts everywhere keep the daughter away.

I've eaten at a couple of the early stores in DC. Will have to get to the Alexandria store some day.

quote:

Originally posted by divefl

You guys are complaining of having too many french fries?

I've noticed that this seems to be an area where people complain. I don't get it. Order a small fry. Maybe it's tough, because people are in the habit of buying large fries elsewhere. But at Five Guys, the small fries is more than enough. If it's too much, then share an order. It's hardly a reason to skip the place. (although, I have only ever been to the first two locations)

I simply can't stand to waste food, so there is such a thing as too much. Many portions touted as "small" these days are too much for me. My Depression era parents made me this way. Cain't git abuv yer rasin.

you don't have to waste it. My parents never wasted anything. We took left overs home. Reheated them. Don't see the problem.

I can't do left over fries. Just like pizza, it's one of those food items that (to me) has to be enjoyed hot and fresh and not too long after it was cooked. Leftovers get tossed.