I first tried Five Guys several weeks ago in Covent Garden after hearing some positive things about them on social media. I had also noticed last year that a branch was coming to Cambridge, and because I often find myself in Cambridge I figured I'd try this branch to see how it compared to London.
Boy was I not disappointed...
Initially when walking in you are greeted with an American diner style decor, featuring little booths and wooden tables and chairs. The walls are covered with quotes from other reviews and framed articles from newspapers singing their praises.
Boy was I not disappointed...
Initially when walking in you are greeted with an American diner style decor, featuring little booths and wooden tables and chairs. The walls are covered with quotes from other reviews and framed articles from newspapers singing their praises.
The menu is simple but offers almost everything you could ask for from a burger joint. Essentially, the 'little' burgers are what you'd expect a normal burger to be: just one patty. The standard burgers come with two. The wide range of toppings allows you to completely customise your burger at no extra cost. Also on offer are hot dogs, a few sandwiches and two types of fries. A regular drink will buy you free refills of a fancy Coca-Cola machine with a selection of over 100 types of soft drinks including Diet Coke Cherry Vanilla, which I tried and loved. The price point may seem high for a fast food restaurant, but I'll go into my opinions on that a little later.
When you order your meal, you approach the counter, pay, then wait to be handed it at the other end. You will have to wait a little longer than at McDonalds for example, but the wait is worth it for the peace of mind that your whole meal hasn't been sat under a heater for the majority of the day. Additionally, they have crates of peanuts to snack on for free if you feel so inclined.
Your meal arrives in a brown paper bag with the receipt attached. Burgers are wrapped in foil and fries come in polystyrene cups. If you order more than one burger, each will have a numbered sticker that corresponds with the receipt so there's no confusion as to which belongs to who. This fuss-free packaging feels authentic to me. Yes, it is slightly messy but these are burgers to get stuck into - not to be eaten with a knife and fork. By the drinks machines you can also find pumps of ketchup to fill up little pots with. It would be nice to have a mayonnaise and barbecue sauce option also, considering you can have those as toppings, but that's only a minor quibble.
Your meal arrives in a brown paper bag with the receipt attached. Burgers are wrapped in foil and fries come in polystyrene cups. If you order more than one burger, each will have a numbered sticker that corresponds with the receipt so there's no confusion as to which belongs to who. This fuss-free packaging feels authentic to me. Yes, it is slightly messy but these are burgers to get stuck into - not to be eaten with a knife and fork. By the drinks machines you can also find pumps of ketchup to fill up little pots with. It would be nice to have a mayonnaise and barbecue sauce option also, considering you can have those as toppings, but that's only a minor quibble.
Now, a burger isn't a burger in my opinion if it doesn't have cheese and bacon. Five Guys crisp their bacon to perfection and the American-style cheese melts everywhere, in the right sort of way. The bun and patty are pretty standard, but the whole combination of the burger gives you a melt in the mouth experience that gets better with each bite. They remind me of proper burgers you'd cook on the barbecue yourself - not artificial at all. Yes, toppings will fall out. Yes, your hands will get kind of messy. But yes, it is so so worth it.
Me and Edward ordered a regular portion of cajun fries and let's just say if you like your fries salty and spicy you will really enjoy these. I think we were both a little sad that we had to leave a lot of them behind after filling up on our burgers. They are actually cooked in peanut oil, which is a healthier alternative to fattier oils and keeps in with the peanut theme from earlier.
All in all, both of my experiences at Five Guys were positive and this is a place I have no doubt about returning to again and again. I have seen complaints about the higher price point compared to other fast food restaurants, but the food at Five Guys genuinely fills you up, unlike at McDonalds and Burger King where a few hours later you're hungry again, with a little food guilt thanks to all the additives. The prices are closer to sit-down restaurants, but you are also paying for convenience. Sometimes you just don't want to wait at a table for your dining experience. Five Guys sits in this niche well, with branches opening up all over the UK.
Some final notes:
1. The inclusion of onion rings on the menu would make me the happiest customer,
2. Milkshakes are coming however!
3. You can order online to pick up in-store to eliminate the waiting time.
Five Guys can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and their website.
Will you be paying Five Guys a visit?
Some final notes:
1. The inclusion of onion rings on the menu would make me the happiest customer,
2. Milkshakes are coming however!
3. You can order online to pick up in-store to eliminate the waiting time.
Five Guys can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and their website.
Will you be paying Five Guys a visit?
No comments:
Post a Comment