as part of my current project involving fresh ground burgers and fresh cut fries, i drove into the city to try 5 guys this evening. i went at an off-peak hour (8:45 or so) and i think that worked to my benefit.

no line. no burgers on the griddle when i ordered. very quick turnaround time. i ordered a plain double so i could really taste the meat, which i thought was very good. burgers were cooked through, but only just, and were quite juicy with a really good fresh beef flavor. they do a "smashed" griddled burger, but it's not smashed as thin as some, so it lacks the crispy lacy edge, but the inside remains pretty juicy. i spoke to the manager and he explained that while they're not ground on the premises, they've contracted through a local distributor that ships beef that's ground fresh for 5 guys from chuck. i was watching the guy put the meat on the griddle and it was vividly bright red. looked very fresh.

i watched the guy cutting fries in the kitchen and soaking them in running water. fries were good, but not outstanding. fry guy told me they blanch and cook in the same temp oil--350--which i find strange. as some others mentioned, i found them a bit overcooked. kind of hollow inside, as opposed to the full potato-y creaminess that you get with a really outstanding fresh double-fried fry.

also, i'll echo others in mentioning that the prices seemed very high. i paid $11.24 for a very basic amount of food. their burger patties are 3.3 ounces, so a regular (double) burger is only 6.6 oz. not huge. they were fairly generous with the fries (probably because i was chatting with the fry dude) but i'd have preferred a smaller option for a buck and a half. $1.99 for a self-serve fountain cup is just highway robbery.

it was good. the burger was actually very good, i thought. but not worth what i paid for it, i thought. if that meal cost me seven bucks, i'd be raving about it.

incidentally, they were busy at around 9:00 pm (saturday night) and the guy told me that they went through 1400 lbs of potatoes and cooked 2000 burgers today.

G Wiv wrote:

Ghazi wrote:5 Guys is not my favorite burger. Not even on my top 5. But when i give it the Ghazi treatment, its a fine burger and satisfies my craving.

Followed the 5 Guys Ghazi Method* to the letter and had a very satisfying burger.

This is like Daniel-san teaching Mr. Miyagi a life lesson. I am humbled.

Five Guys is coming to Libertyville too, according to the Daily Herald. Breaking ground in August with an opening by March.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=278925

elakin wrote:




also, i'll echo others in mentioning that the prices seemed very high. i paid $11.24 for a very basic amount of food. their burger patties are 3.3 ounces, so a regular (double) burger is only 6.6 oz. not huge. they were fairly generous with the fries (probably because i was chatting with the fry dude) but i'd have preferred a smaller option for a buck and a half. $1.99 for a self-serve fountain cup is just highway robbery.

it was good. the burger was actually very good, i thought. but not worth what i paid for it, i thought. if that meal cost me seven bucks, i'd be raving about it.

Ok, here is my take. I am normally very critical of overpriced food. But i went in to 5 Guys with a gameplan and the results exceeded my expectations.

1. Get the smaller burger. It is enough. Get 2 if you disagree. Skip the 60 cents American cheese. The meat is outstanding and will remind you of the legendary steakburgers of your past.

2. Do it Marco-steak style: smaller burger, mushrooms, grilled onion and green peppers, A1.

3. Get the regular order of fries but expect, like you would at many dinner establishments, you will taking some home with you. Though the serving is the drink cup size you might get at a mall Boardwalk Fries, at least that much extra was in the bag. I ate 1/3 of these and took 2/3 home. Guess what? They even microwave well. I've never known a fry to do so. And I got 2 entire paper plates of leftover fries out of a $2.60 order---not counting the normal portion I ate w/the burger.

4. Small burger and fries was $6.50 out the door including tax. Obviously skip the drink or get a "water" cup. At this price point, it is well worth it. Compared to Epic Burger, where the meat is far less interesting and the smaller burger is nearly 40% more expensive [$5]. The Counter does not even deserve mention here but its cheapest burger is nearly twice as expensive [$7].

5. My friend snuck her bag of excessive fries into the very nearby Webster Place Theatre and consumed most of it in lui of overpriced popcorn.

They're apparently coming to downtown Naperville, too, as they have a storefront sign up in the same mini-mall as Timpanos, (Chicago Ave. & Washington).

Marco wrote:[
Ok, here is my take. I am normally very critical of overpriced food. But i went in to 5 Guys with a gameplan and the results exceeded my expectations.

1. Get the smaller burger. It is enough. Get 2 if you disagree. Skip the 60 cents American cheese. The meat is outstanding and will remind you of the legendary steakburgers of your past.

2. Do it Marco-steak style: smaller burger, mushrooms, grilled onion and green peppers, A1.

3. Get the regular order of fries but expect, like you would at many dinner establishments, you will taking some home with you. Though the serving is the drink cup size you might get at a mall Boardwalk Fries, at least that much extra was in the bag. I ate 1/3 of these and took 2/3 home. Guess what? They even microwave well. I've never known a fry to do so. And I got 2 entire paper plates of leftover fries out of a $2.60 order---not counting the normal portion I ate w/the burger.

4. Small burger and fries was $6.50 out the door including tax. Obviously skip the drink or get a "water" cup. At this price point, it is well worth it. Compared to Epic Burger, where the meat is far less interesting and the smaller burger is nearly 40% more expensive [$5]. The Counter does not even deserve mention here but its cheapest burger is nearly twice as expensive [$7].

Havent been to Five Guys in a while, but when Ive gone Ive hit (by chance) on a very similar method, and didnt find it very overpriced as a result.

I go with the cheeseburger, not just a normal burger - but its not way overpriced, and a decent size.The toppings are free... Iam not a big topping guy usually, but grilled onions, mushrooms - those work pretty well. Always go with the small fries at Five Guys - even a small fry is *huge* because of how much they put in the bag, its hard to finish a small fry, I doubt you get any more by paying more for a large fry.

With this combination, you do end up no more than 7 bucks for cheeseburger-and-fries. Not a "best-deal-in-city" like WASC's 5-bucks-great-cheeseburger-and-fries deal, but really quite comparable to most other places around Chicagoland, price-point wise. And its a good cheeseburger and very good fries IMHO, a nice option to have.

c8w

Marco - thanks for the ordering tip. I tried Five Guys for the first time last night (Clybourn location) and used your advice. I ordered a little cheeseburger (with ketchup, pickles and grilled onions) and a regular size fries. This was plenty of food for me, in fact I didn't finish all the fries. My total bill (without drink as I was taking it home) came to $7.76.

I find it fascinating that a fast food chain has garnered 7 pages of posts on LTHForum after being open in Chicago just a few months. I mean only a little offense when I say to those posting multiple times about the intricacies of how to order a piece of meat on a bun at this place: WHO CARES? I ask this realizing, of course, that the answer is apparently "everyone but you".

The "new fast food chain is coming" post is a low common denominator. It has its place, like the bunny hill.

Kennyz wrote:I find it fascinating that a fast food chain has garnered 7 pages of posts on LTHForum after being open in Chicago just a few months. I mean only a little offense when I say to those posting multiple times about the intricacies of how to order a piece of meat on a bun at this place: WHO CARES? I ask this realizing, of course, that the answer is apparently "everyone but you".

If it makes you feel any better, I don't get it either.

Kennyz wrote:I find it fascinating that a fast food chain has garnered 7 pages of posts on LTHForum after being open in Chicago just a few months. I mean only a little offense when I say to those posting multiple times about the intricacies of how to order a piece of meat on a bun at this place: WHO CARES? I ask this realizing, of course, that the answer is apparently "everyone but you".

I don't get it either. Does the same theory apply to the current cupcake phenomenon?

Kennyz wrote:I find it fascinating that a fast food chain has garnered 7 pages of posts on LTHForum after being open in Chicago just a few months. I mean only a little offense when I say to those posting multiple times about the intricacies of how to order a piece of meat on a bun at this place: WHO CARES? I ask this realizing, of course, that the answer is apparently "everyone but you".

JeffB wrote:The "new fast food chain is coming" post is a low common denominator. It has its place, like the bunny hill.

Did I miss the memo that this was "alienate new members and restauranteurs week?"

Exactly Santander.....what POSSIBLY could be objectionable about this?....jeez, if you aren't interested, don't read or participate in the topic.....plenty here for everyone....

Santander wrote:

Kennyz wrote:I find it fascinating that a fast food chain has garnered 7 pages of posts on LTHForum after being open in Chicago just a few months. I mean only a little offense when I say to those posting multiple times about the intricacies of how to order a piece of meat on a bun at this place: WHO CARES? I ask this realizing, of course, that the answer is apparently "everyone but you".

JeffB wrote:The "new fast food chain is coming" post is a low common denominator. It has its place, like the bunny hill.

Did I miss the memo that this was "alienate new members and restauranteurs week?"

No such memo or intent. The feeling I expressed is one I've had for awhile, but I purposefully held it back until plenty of long-time LTHers participated more constructively in this thread's discussion about Five Guys. When the esteemed likes of David Hammond, G Wiv and Santander have already participated actively in the discussion, anyone who is alienated by one poster who wishes the thread would just disappear is just too thin-skinned.

I object to the objection that this subject is not objectionable. I find it very alienating.

Don Santander,

Low common denominators are not inherently bad, and I made no such suggestion. I have no idea how my comment (or Kenny's) would alienate anyone not itching for alienation. I participate in discussions regarding hamburger chains, and I eat food from hamburger chains. I take my monocle and tophat off first. Discussion about the relative merits of various cheeseburger concepts is low stress, fun and easy. It's a gateway into the more obscure and perhaps rewarding knowledge available to LTHers.

Also, I care not about irritating restauranteurs, unicorns or other mythical critters.

PS, please do not confuse "low common denominator" with "lowest form of LTH discourse." I stand by my prior assertion that the species of post beginning "My prior city of residence has better ___" holds that very different distinction.

Finally had a burger here.. quite good. The insane amount of fries (and size of burger) are obviously part of the charm. However, after eating here I can safely say that In-N-Out is still the best fast food burger in USA.

JeffB wrote:
PS, please do not confuse "low common denominator" with "lowest form of LTH discourse." I stand by my prior assertion that the species of post beginning "My prior city of residence has better ___" holds that very different distinction.

Totally concur there.

I was very entertained by both your and Kenny's posts which I quoted above and didn't mean to suggest otherwise - it just seems like this is "extra bite" week in many other threads as well. Must be the equinox. Good snark is at least always preferable to apathy.

We coincidentally had Five Guys takeout from the Oak Park location yesterday. Ordering the fries well-done does the trick for me. Has anyone noticed the unusual (to me) iced tea machine, which allows you to control the mix of sweetener into the flow of the brewed tea? Pretty good tea, and plenty of fresh lemons around. With the peanuts, it makes for some mildly diverting activity while you wait for the main part of the order to come up.

Kennyz wrote:I find it fascinating that a fast food chain has garnered 7 pages of posts on LTHForum after being open in Chicago just a few months. I mean only a little offense when I say to those posting multiple times about the intricacies of how to order a piece of meat on a bun at this place: WHO CARES? I ask this realizing, of course, that the answer is apparently "everyone but you".

It's the economy.

Dave148 wrote:

Kennyz wrote:I find it fascinating that a fast food chain has garnered 7 pages of posts on LTHForum after being open in Chicago just a few months. I mean only a little offense when I say to those posting multiple times about the intricacies of how to order a piece of meat on a bun at this place: WHO CARES? I ask this realizing, of course, that the answer is apparently "everyone but you".

This is, after all, why the internet was invented. To discuss the intricacies of what pieces of meat enter your willing mouth, with complete strangers.

Freud called it the "narcissism of minor differences". And before Freud, ancient Greek culture was quite obsessed with the concepts of ratio and proportion: this is at the very essence of how much meat should go into how much bun at 5 Guys.

My brother called me from Wisconsin as he tried his first Five Guys double (with bacon of couse! ) and he gave it two thumbs up along with the fries. I am always ordering my fries well done everywhere these days. I've been doing that for a year or so now, and it's bliss. I always get crisp, hot fries the way I like it (not hoping I get "lucky" that a batch just came out).

Nice to hear about Libertyville. That would be the closest location to Highland Park so far (or at least easiest to get to). Though I noticed that I could simply take the Metra to the Clybourn station and walk or bike to that location. I'd probably do that on a weekend when the train is $5 roundtrip.

I tried Five Guys for the first time when I was in Dallas last week. After that visit, I really look forward to the opening of the Libertyville location.

I am a big fan of In-N-Out and am a sucker for the whole In-N-Out experience, culture, etc., but I must painfully admit that I like the burger at Five Guys even better. The meet was done perfectly, and the bun was the best hamburger bun I've ever tasted. Everything just mixed together perfectly. It's my favorite fast-food type burger I have tried.

I'm with the other people who wish that Five Guys would have a smaller version of fries. Why is their smallest choice something that feeds 2-3 people? That obscene amount of fries reminds me of The Hat (lots of southern California locations), who makes my favorite pastrami sandwich anywhere, but has a small order of fries that would feed an army. The Five Guys fries were pretty good, but I am with the others who find them too needlessly crispy on the outside.

On my deathbed, if I was relegated to fast food, I would still probably choose an In-N-Out double double with an order of fries animal style, but the burger at Five Guys is surprisingly in the same team photo with In-N-Out.

Why is their smallest choice something that feeds 2-3 people?

it drives revenue. everyone wants fries and is going to order them. if they offered a smaller order for a buck fifty, everyone would order that. by eliminating that option, they almost guarantee upping their per check average by a buck or more.

As one who doesn't eat red meat, and doesn't enjoy Veggie Burgers, my preferred burger option is a Turkey Burger.

I was disappointed to learn when I visited Five Guys a few weeks ago, that they do not go the Turkey Burger route, so won't be stopping in there again.

To my pleasure though, during a trip West this weekend, I stopped in Fatburger and was happy to see that Turkey Burger was an option. The one-third pound patty is fresh, not frozen, takes about 12 minutes to cook, was well-seasoned and the added condiments (lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, mayo, ketchup and mustard) on the everything were each modest and blended well with the in-store baked wheat bun. The 'fat fries', steak fries elsewhere, hit the spot.

I'll definitely be back as I encounter Fatburger in my travels.

elakin wrote:

Why is their smallest choice something that feeds 2-3 people?

it drives revenue. everyone wants fries and is going to order them. if they offered a smaller order for a buck fifty, everyone would order that. by eliminating that option, they almost guarantee upping their per check average by a buck or more.

Not me! When I am by myself with no one to share I always opt out of the Fries because of both the price and the quantity. I would end up throwing most of them away. If they had a smaller order I would probably have them.

I saw on the Five Guys site that a few more locations are coming soon:

- 6500 N. Sheridan (The Morgan at Loyola Station)
- Clark and Fullerton
- The Shops of Orland Park

I also read that they will be opening one in Libertyville next year, and a Schaumburg location should be coming later this year.

I stopped by for a bite on Friday at Oak Park, and had a very good burger. I stand by my theory that a single is the way to go, with minimal toppings. Mayo,mustard,onion, pickles, jalapeno. Perfection. The meat has consistently been better every time I go, meaning they're hitting their groove. It was a little shaky when they first opened.

While i prefer my burgers rarer than 5 Guys prepares them, its still serving a tasty and quality burger, that is better than any other in the Oak Park area that I can recall.

Marshall K wrote:

elakin wrote:

Why is their smallest choice something that feeds 2-3 people?

it drives revenue. everyone wants fries and is going to order them. if they offered a smaller order for a buck fifty, everyone would order that. by eliminating that option, they almost guarantee upping their per check average by a buck or more.

Not me! When I am by myself with no one to share I always opt out of the Fries because of both the price and the quantity. I would end up throwing most of them away. If they had a smaller order I would probably have them.

Then you should call me when you go because I love those fries! But I gotta have them well done or crispy!

I've eaten at the Five Guys in Naperville twice now and I must say, the food was much better than the Oak Park location. Naperville really has their stuff together, the food was just as good as the NY location I ate at a couple of years ago. The burger was fantastic, juicy with a little pink and the cheese was very well melted (very important to me!). My only complaint was the price. I ordered a cheeseburger, an order of large fries (to share with a friend) and a drink, the total was around $12. A bit much perhaps, but at the same time, the food was fantastic. Perhaps the price wasn't that big of a deal, as I was back there two days later for the same thing .

dak125 wrote:The burger was fantastic, juicy with a little pink

In the PROP store, I believe a sign proclaims (or threatens) that meat is cooked all the way through. Like you, I'd prefer some pink.