Better than McDonald's, but not quite In-N-Out. (Uh oh, burger holy wars!) The orders of fries are large. Great place to bring kids if you ask me.
One nice thing I can say about this location compared to the rest of the chain, they don't crank the music SO GODDAMN LOUD YOU CAN'T THINK STRAIGHT. Yes, that used to be part of their shtick... shitty old-timey "rock-n-roll" that just made you want to open a vein right there in the dining room. But hopefully that's all a thing of the past now.
Love. this. place. We have eaten here many times since we moved to this town about 4 months ago. The biggest problem with this place is--I think it can be addictive! The first time we ate here, we obsessed about it for a week after. Omg.
This place is NOT the "midwestern In N Out"--it is so much better. Especially when you get your burger with fantastic toppings like grilled mushrooms (a must). Super tasty.
The are just two reasons it gets less than 5 stars: lack of "ambiance" and ranch dressing. Yes, I'll explain--the ambiance is sorely lacking. While a lot of folks I'm sure love the music, we find it irritating, peculiarly loud and it certainly does not make for a welcoming environment. (The cold tables, metal chairs and bad lighting don't help either.) And ranch dressing? C'mon. There is only one thing that would make the fries here even yummier. And it's not dipping them in the malt vinegar they serve, although I fully support it if you like that stuff. Oh well, perhaps it's too much to ask. Anyway, these things have not kept us from going back...repeatedly.
Pretty tasty burgers. Â Ok choice of toppings. Â Their fries are quite tasty and I enjoy the free peanuts. Â A little overpriced (especially for the fries) though you certainly get a lot of everything. Â Amazingly they don't have milkshakes...seems like that would be a big seller. Â I think though I was just pining for some In-and-Out Burger but sadly they're only out west.
Review Source:I was really psyched to visit 5 Guys for the first time as I had read it as being favorably compared to In-n-Out Burger. The manager was engaging, upbeat and attentive. The place was fairly clean (although a few tables needed wiping down).
My first disappointment was that the burgers are only cooked well done. I prefer mine with an internal temp of 125F. The second is that the burgers are mashed down on the grill REPEATEDLY, squeezing out almost all the moisture and melted fat content. This resulted in a grainy burger with poor mouthfeel, and a dramatic attenuation of flavor after the 2nd bit. Moreover, the seasoning was very subpar--no hint of either salt or pepper. The manager also said that the juices would be "sealed in", a claim that has been debunked by Harold McGee in his scientific work. The Maillard reaction, responsible for the crustiness of protein, does NOT seal in the juices.
The fries. The first few from the top of the cup were hot and crispy. However, inside the cup the fries are steamed resulting in limp, flaccid and flavorless fries. They were also over salted--and I like salt!
Finally, the volume of the music in the dining area was so loud that one could not have a conversation with the person across from you, nor could customers hear their numbers being called.
All of these problems seem to stem from corporate guidelines and they are just so wrong on so many levels. I had a manager wanting to please me so badly but his hands were tied. This is in dramatic contrast to another burger joint in Bloomington, Bubs, whose meat is cooked to order and the ambiance is more relaxing. My experience at 5 Guys was so dismal, and this is not just failing to meet expectations, but failing to meet minimal standards of good food preparation.
I think my review is clouded by the fact that so many people told me how great the burgers were. Truth be told, it's a tastier burger with better free topping options (grilled onions and mushrooms, holla!) Â than you'd get at most fast food chains for only a buck or two more, but is that really saying much? It certainly wasn't the "great" burger I'd been craving. (Nearly any Bloomington sit-down restaurant that serves burgers--Upland, Uptown, FARM, Opie Taylor's, Runcible Spoon, etc.--does it better.) And the ambiance of the place was that of a frat/sorority cafeteria, replete with "Freebird" blasting through the speakers. No thanks. That said, the portions on the fries are huge and they are better than that of most fast food chains if you like real potato fries that are slightly burnt, which I do. If this place had a drive-thru so I could avoid hearing tired classic rock jams and not have to eat my food surrounded by the loud "insights" of 19-year-old bros, I might take it up a star.
Review Source:Average burgers. Fries are slightly above average. Only get the highly-touted cajun version if you love over-salted on top of spicy seasonings (and be sure to drink plenty of water!), otherwise the regular ones are actually better. Â On the whole, burgers were better at The Farm (bison burger), Nick's English Hut, and Opie Taylors. Fries were better at Finches Brasserie (try their home-made mayonnaise-aoli or mayo-vinegar with the fries), The Farm, Arby's (curly fries only), and Cheesburger in Paradise. Â Considering you wait in line to place your order and then pick it up, service was fine. My partner, Katie, said that the choice of five iced teas was above average. She preferred the non-sweetened one, saying it tasted just like hot tea, only colder.
Review Source:I don't see what all the hype is about. They were saying 5 guys was the "midwest In N out" and I've had plenty of burgers from In N Out so I was excited to taste a burger from five guys.
The burger was Bland I don't think it was that good, the only thing saving this review are the fries. The meal itself was pricey...$10.... I would probably pay $5. I wouldn't go back unless I was out numbered.
GREAT JAMS, FREE PEANUTS!
I don't eat beef too often -- not even fresh, never-frozen beef -- but the burgers look pretty damn good. What keeps me coming back are the fries (I'd rather have the plain fries and dunk 'em in some vinegar) and the vegetable sandwich WITH CHEESE, PLEASE. It's messy but delicious. Go all the way and throw some jalapenos on it, too.
The burgers are in the $5-6 range, the veggie sandwich is about $2.65 and a regular order of fries is around $3. A large order of fries is expensive because it's a fucking bucket of fries with about as many bagglers to boot.
Things to know...
1) Little burger doesn't mean little. Â It means one full size patty instead of two. Â
2) "All the way" includes all the basic toppings (grilled onions and mushrooms are awesome).
3) Get the Cajun fries, they're better. Â
Parking at this location is not that great...it's a very small lot.
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