Fry fanatics and burger lovers couldn't wait a minute longer to chow down
The long-awaited Five Guys Burgers and Fries opened today at 4302 Ambassador Caffery Parkway and by the looks of the parking lot, you'd think you can't get a good burger elsewhere in this town.
At 10 a.m., IND Eats spotted two guys sitting on their tailgate anxiously awaiting the doors to open at 11 a.m. - these fry fanatics were determined to be the first in line. By 10:55 a.m. the line had passed Five Guy's neighbor, The Joint, and was wrapping around the entrance of Saladworks, the create-your-own salad concept eatery that opened earlier this week. We can only wonder if all the hype is over the on-again off-again news of the burger chain's slated arrival to the Hub City in late 2012 or if it's because Five Guys burgers continue to earn top ratings among its competitors. Nearly a year after the projected opening, you can now try it for yourself.
Here's IND Eat's five reasons you should try Five Guys:
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The handmade 80/20 ground chuck beef patties are never frozen and cooked to order. Unlike other fast food restaurants, you can see your burger cooking on the grill - it might not be the fastest burger in town, but Five Guys is OK with that and known to say: "If you're in a hurry, there are a lot of really good hamburger places within a short distance from here."
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There are 250,000 ways to order your burger. It's hard to believe you could come up with this many ways to order your burger, but Five Guys lets the customer choose as many toppings as they like free of charge. No outrageous condiments here - the usual suspects of mustard, mayo and pickles exist along with a few flavor boosts like jalapeños, grilled onions and barbecue sauce.
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The portions are huge for a fast food burger - don't be surprised if you order the "hamburger" wishing you would have picked the "little burger" instead. Prices start at $3.99. The fries are sized for sharing, so bring a lunch date unless you want to move the old belt over a notch on your way back to work. You will not leave hungry - this is a promise.
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The dining room is filled with sacks of potatoes ready to be cut fresh and fried crispy in peanut oil. Notice the board posted with where today's spuds are from - usually the potatoes hail from Idaho or Washington. In addition to frying in peanut oil, Five Guys has a self-service box of peanuts ready for cracking and snacking while your burger is grilling.
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And finally, you can order online and pick up. IND Eats is confident this new burger joint will be jumping for a few weeks while the word spreads around town. Get your grub tout suite by logging onto the Five Guys site for to go orders.
Overall, the menu is simple - burgers, fries, dogs and a few sandwiches, but the taste and the portions are good. Locals may not love the so-called "Cajun style" fries, but it's hard to pass the South Louisiana taste test on a recipe that started in the Washington, D.C. area.
Our pick is a little burger dressed "all the way" with a side of little fries.
Hungry customers ready for the long-awaited opening of Five Guys Burgers and Fries.