Five Guys Burgers and Fries
Five Guys Burgers and Fries on Argyll Street is a great place for burger enthusiasts. Providing a diverse range of burgers, hot dogs, fries, sandwiches (including vegetarian options), as well as an endless array of burger toppings and milkshake add-ins such as bacon, it can be overwhelming to choose which meal to indulge in.
On a recent visit with members of The Scroll staff, editors experienced great burgers and shakes, as well as a buzzing atmosphere. Good staff and a nice decor added to the enjoyable ambiance. Also, the restaurant provides free peanuts that customers can help themselves to.
After orders were placed, the Five Guys employees worked quickly and efficiently to provide customers with their meal as soon as possible, all with a kind and respectful manner, providing this restaurant with a reputation of great customer service. The food was placed in the customers’ hands in less than five minutes which contributed to the positive experience.
Resembling a 1950s diner, Five Guys plays “booming” music and was a “lovely place all around,” said eighth grader Ethan Snizek. According to Snizek, the fries were “perfectly salted,” the “milkshake was the perfect thickness,” and the “burger had perfect proportions” of meat to toppings. Overall the burgers were scrumptious and made for a great meal, said eighth grader Michael Flaherty. Providing substantial food and an enjoyable atmosphere, Five Guys gives customers a reason to return.
Shake Shack
Shake Shack, located in Covent Garden, provides a happy medium between both a fast food chain and a sit down meal. Offering a variety of burger and menu options such as the Shack Burger, hot dogs, crinkle cut fries, milkshakes, and Concretes, which is frozen custard blended in-house, there is a never ending list of meals to choose from.
Upon a recent visit with members of The Scroll staff, editors and company experienced a good meal but a rather dull ambience. Sitting outside in mid-January is not the most enjoyable especially when there are a lack of large functioning heating lamps distributed throughout the restaurant. Although Shake Shack does have some indoor seating, the facilities at the Covent Garden restaurant are limited especially for a large group. Due to this, larger groups tend to find the most convenient seating outside in the cold.
Being quite popular amongst burger lovers, Shake Shack is almost always busy, although some may argue it was worth the wait. By far, the most satisfactory part of the meal appeared to be the fries. “They were really crispy and had a nice crunch,” said eighth grader Eva Merlino.
The service was very good and the staff was speedy and willing to conform to dietary needs when asked.
Overall, “Shake Shack is a nice place to get a quick bite to eat,” said eighth grader Jonathan Novak. Despite the uncomfortable seating arrangements and occasional long waits with buzzers in hand, Shake Shack is a sufficient and enjoyable burger establishment.
The Winner
In the end, The Scroll staff preferred the buzzing atmosphere, burgers, and shakes of Five Guys. Although the fries at Shake Shack appeared to be superior, the overall experience at Five Guys was more enjoyable when atmosphere, food quality, and services were taken into account.
