Thoughts on Five Guys (the hamburger place)
#242
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S+, Choice Platinum
Posts: 23,317
#243



Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 2,978
Tried a Five Guys cheeseburger when I was in Silver Spring MD a couple of weeks ago. Had absolutely no clue going in about this place whatsoever - I thought it was a local burger joint and it didn't dawn on me until I got in there that it was a chain. The reviews plastered all over the walls raved about the burgers so I figured it had to be good.
On the plus side the crew was friendly and I liked the ability to custom order a wide variety of toppings for the burger. The free peanuts were another nice touch while you are waiting for your food.
To be honest I didn't care for my cheeseburger very much and I did not finish it. The meat itself was somewhat lacking in flavor which surprised me given the high grease factor. And I like my fries crispy, which these were not.
Granted I'm a fan of In-And-Out (there is one only 10 minutes from the house). I think what separates the two, at least for me, is the flavor of the meat. And I think In-And-Out fries are also too limp most of the time, so the fry factor isn't a differentiating factor for me.
Next time I'm back east I'll give Five Guys another try, perhaps the hot dogs are better.
On the plus side the crew was friendly and I liked the ability to custom order a wide variety of toppings for the burger. The free peanuts were another nice touch while you are waiting for your food.
To be honest I didn't care for my cheeseburger very much and I did not finish it. The meat itself was somewhat lacking in flavor which surprised me given the high grease factor. And I like my fries crispy, which these were not.
Granted I'm a fan of In-And-Out (there is one only 10 minutes from the house). I think what separates the two, at least for me, is the flavor of the meat. And I think In-And-Out fries are also too limp most of the time, so the fry factor isn't a differentiating factor for me.
Next time I'm back east I'll give Five Guys another try, perhaps the hot dogs are better.
#244
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: AA, CO, EVA, UA, Hyatt PLT, SPG
Posts: 402
#245
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: SNA
Programs: DL PM, UA, AA, Priority Club, Marriott Rewards
Posts: 378
You can order your fries more crispy at In-N-Out if you so desire. "Well Done" is the term, but I think there may also be something between their normal cooking time and "Well Done"
#247
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S+, Choice Platinum
Posts: 23,317
* Fries "Light" - Decreased cooking time for a softer product.
* Fries "Well" - Increased cooking time for a crispier product.
* Fries "Extra-Well" - Further increased cooking time for a very crispy product.
* "Animal Fries" - Melted cheese, spread, and grilled onions.
* Cheese fries - called fries with cheese
* Fries "Well" - Increased cooking time for a crispier product.
* Fries "Extra-Well" - Further increased cooking time for a very crispy product.
* "Animal Fries" - Melted cheese, spread, and grilled onions.
* Cheese fries - called fries with cheese
Custom Fries
*Fries well-done are extra crispy fries.
*Fries light well are a little more done than regular fries, but not as crispy or greasy as the well-done fries.
*Fries lite are fries that have been cooked less than normal.
*Fries animal style include two slices of melted cheese, grilled onions, and spread as toppings. You'll need a fork to eat them.
*Cheese Fries are fries with one or two slices of melted cheese.
*Fries no-salt have no salt added to them.
*Lemon fries you can make your own lemon friesjust grab a lemon slice from next to the ice tea machine, and squeeze it on your fries. It really livens things up.
*Fries well-done are extra crispy fries.
*Fries light well are a little more done than regular fries, but not as crispy or greasy as the well-done fries.
*Fries lite are fries that have been cooked less than normal.
*Fries animal style include two slices of melted cheese, grilled onions, and spread as toppings. You'll need a fork to eat them.
*Cheese Fries are fries with one or two slices of melted cheese.
*Fries no-salt have no salt added to them.
*Lemon fries you can make your own lemon friesjust grab a lemon slice from next to the ice tea machine, and squeeze it on your fries. It really livens things up.
#248



Join Date: Oct 2006
Programs: UA, bmi, AA, CO, DL, B6, AMEX, Hertz, Most Hotels
Posts: 3,042
I've only been to Five Guys a few times while at IAD & each time the bacon cheeseburger was great.
I think a large part of what it is that I appreciate about FG is that the burgers are hot, juicy & most of all, the bacon is served crispy.
All too often bacon is served up luke warm & reheated into a rubber/jerky type consistency.
Finally,my first visit to the new Five Guys at LGA was disappointing 'cause they screwed up my order. Since I didn't open the bag til I was airside & couldn't return it & had my twitter page open, I happened to tweet about it.
I soon heard back from the owner of the LGA Five Guys who apologized & offered me a $20 GC as an apology. ^
I think a large part of what it is that I appreciate about FG is that the burgers are hot, juicy & most of all, the bacon is served crispy.
All too often bacon is served up luke warm & reheated into a rubber/jerky type consistency.
Finally,my first visit to the new Five Guys at LGA was disappointing 'cause they screwed up my order. Since I didn't open the bag til I was airside & couldn't return it & had my twitter page open, I happened to tweet about it.
I soon heard back from the owner of the LGA Five Guys who apologized & offered me a $20 GC as an apology. ^
#249
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: PDX
Posts: 204
I finally had my first Five Guys meal last night during a brief layover at Dulles. The greasy bacon cheeseburger and greasy under-cooked fries really hit the spot after a couple of drinks on my short inbound flight.
I kind of felt like I needed a shower afterward, however.
I kind of felt like I needed a shower afterward, however.
#250
In Memoriam




Join Date: Jun 2000
Programs: Honors Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle, National Exec Elite
Posts: 36,111
Had my first Five Guys today.
Hamburger was good, but the fries were extremely mediocre to nasty. (Limp and cool -- and this was at a busy time). The restaurant also ran out of salt. How do you run out of salt?
Unless this was a one-off experience, I would still very, very much prefer an In-N-Out burger with an order of well-done fries.
Hamburger was good, but the fries were extremely mediocre to nasty. (Limp and cool -- and this was at a busy time). The restaurant also ran out of salt. How do you run out of salt?
Unless this was a one-off experience, I would still very, very much prefer an In-N-Out burger with an order of well-done fries.
#251
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,856
The new part of RDU's Terminal 2 (set to open January 23, 2011) will feature a Five Guys. Sadly, I doubt there will be free peanuts as the mall locations don't have them.
#252
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,809
I have eaten one sack of Five Guys in my life. In DC, last fall. Took it back to my hotel room and ate it watching NFL. It was delicious, but I felt like I was sweating gravy afterwards. I thought I might die and it would serve me right. I fell asleep feeling spherical and did not regain energy for hours.


