I’ve figured out a way to avoid the lines at Shake Shack, don’t go. I’m not a food critic, nor a foodie in the least bit, but sometimes I buy into the hype of a casual dining restaurant that I have to go and see what the fuss is all about. After pressure from my children, seeing massive amounts of people waiting in line (some for over an hour), reading reviews and getting opinions I trekked on down to the Shake Shack on E. 86th St. Early.
We got there about 10 minutes before they opened and we were 3rd in line, hmmm. Within five minutes the line was ½ way down the block. If there is one thing that I hate more than anything else in the world it’s waiting in line. I go to Disney in February and will freeze my ass off just to avoid the lines.
I perused the menu in the window and ask the kids what they would like to have, as suspected a cheeseburger and a shake. My son who’s 8 and built like a toothpick says he wants the double and a strawberry shake. My daughter decides on the single with a strawberry shake, me I want the Shack Burger (Cheese, Tomato, Lettuce and Shack Sauce, of which I have no idea what that is, but when in Rome), fries and a Black & White Shake.
“How’s it shakin’?” asks the smiling happy twentysomething behind the counter. It takes all of my might not to dole out a snide/sarcastic remark, so I respond, “It’s shakin’”. What the hell does that even mean? I’m not epileptic and do not dance. I place my order and give them my name and in return I get a vibrating pager. We find a table and sit down to wait, the kids are giddy with anticipation, and I’m looking at the line grow and grow, “this better be a great burger” is the mantra going through my head. Still waiting…..
The pager is finally shaking and I go the the shack, pick up a giant heavy duty aluminum tray, 3 shakes, 3 burgers and an order of fries, the tray looks practically empty. The burgers are wrapped up ½ way with wax paper and the shakes are in short, wide paper cups with lids and the fries lay in a paper basket (I seriously hope they do some heavy recycling here). I peel back some of the wax paper and take my 1st bite of my Shack Burger……..trying to find the ooh la la that has people gaga over this simple concoction. Nothing. To be fair, the meat is fresh, the bun is doughy and acts as a sponge for the greasy patty. The cheese is melted and the tomato is not too thick. But is it the best burger I’ve ever had, no. Would I wait in line for more than 5 minutes for this burger, no.
The black and white shake was good. The texture was smooth, it wasn’t overly ice-creamy though, not too sweet and lacked that old time hand dipped taste, it was more like a smoothie. I like my shakes thick enough to take my breath away. This didn’t make me gasp for air or even make me do a reverse Louis Armstrong. Did it warrant the $5.25 price, what do you think?
The French Fries were a thick crinkle cut and a bit too crispy for my taste. I like fresh hand cut fried to perfection potatoes. I like to taste the potato not the crunchy wrinkle. In my opinion they tasted frozen and the ketchup didn’t help the taste. $2.75 down the drain.
Shake Shack is much better than most fast food chains (insert the usual suspects here) but by no means does it warrant the wait. Don’t believe the hype.
Brain Vomit 