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Anyone eaten at one of these places? What was it like what is the cost?
Decent upper level burgers. Decent fries
GBK is better, Byron is worse
Their system works
Kids like their multi flavor drink machines.
Cost to match. More than MacDs, less than Byron as far as I recall.
Après-ski food, in Bozeman, MT.
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Great fast food. Nicely cooked burgers, excellent chips, great service. I'm a fan.
Not impressed with the Covent Garden one about a year ago. Sweaty, greasy, pretty flavourless. And charged £15 inc fries (which weren't bad, to be fair) and a drink.
Byron is actually a bit cheaper, their food much better and someone brings it to you on a proper plate to your table. Not stuffed into a bit of foil and make you shuffle off to an awkwardly high shelf to eat it.
I can understand if you're in some Northern market town they've aggressively expanded into that it's a better offering than McDonalds (although frankly I'd rather eat there at a third of the price) but in London at least there are at least a dozen better options.
£15? FFS!
That's silly! When in the US, I use them as they're cheap, good quality, fast food. £15 is batshitmental pricing, and clearly playing on reputation to make a few quid. Not impressed at all with that!
Have been once, thought the food was nice. It's expensive though - bacon cheeseburger and fries is nearly £13. We shared fries but when you add a couple of Brooklyns into the mix then it was best part of £30 for what is essentially the same kind of dining experience as BK or McDs (albeit with much better grub!).
I really like it. I'm fairly sure two burgers, chips and 2 drinks is about £25 here, which isn't so mental. Better than GBK and Byron IMO.
THIS
batshitmental
THIS
batshitmental
Where can you find these fine dining outlets so I can avoid like the plague.
I have honestly never heard of any of these places, with the exception of McDonalds. In Edinburgh £11 gets you a sit down burger with chips in a beer bar. What a weird place it must be down south
Five Guys? Never heard of it, sounds like a sausage(fest) place!
What a weird place it must be down south
Not as weird a place as [url= http://www.fortkinnaird.com/shops/five-guys ]Fort Kinnaird[/url] 😀
£12 for burger and chips in the Glasgow one last week. Chips were good. I prefer GBK
Five Guys is good but in Glasgow I'd always go to Bread Meats Bread across the street.
Shite IMHO. HUGELY overpriced, bland and the chips were a soggy mess. Been to Covent Garden and latterly Kingston as the kids were keen despite my protests. It's amazing really, stick a bit of cooked mince in a brioche, don't bother to peel the chip spuds, put some pesto on it £15 pounds to you sir for the Italia speciale and they are queueing round the block. Five guys is similar in concept to that but they have monkey nuts.
Been once, won't be back. Far more expensive than McD's, for slightly better fare. Handmade Burger Co better quality for not much more.
Mmm, all the way with relish.
I really like their chips.....altough i think its something like 1600 calories for a large portion. Which i insist on eating all myself 😀
Only been to them in Canada where they are a little more expensive than MacDonald but not much but you get more food and better. I really like them but if they are 15 quid over here in the uk that is crazy.
I had five guys once, and I still feel violated...
There's always a queue round the block at Covent Garden while GBK down the street is empty. People are weird.
Where are you?
If it's Manchester just go to Solita.
There are better but for fast food I think it's pretty good. I personally would rather pay the extra for Five Guys than Mcds/BK etc. I haven't been to GBK in a long time as it was pretty poor when I last went, so it surprises me to see it compared.
If you're in London/Manchester there are much better place to grab a burger, but they won't be as quick. Don't go to the Covent Garden one as it is permanently busy - Shake Shack is in the market which is also similar to Five Guys, and also priced similarly.
Burger tip for London is either Honest Burgers or Bleecker burger. Both cheaper and better than Five Guys.
What a weird place it must be down south
There is one in Edinburgh and 3 in Glasgow (and one about to open in Dundee) - it's not a north, south thing. More of a metropolis thing. Still don't get it though, can't envisage spending that much on a 'snack'. But I wouldn't go to McDs/BK either.
There was a good bottom line on the burger business at the beginning of July. The UK head of 5 guys was on - worth a listen to the podcast.
tenacious_doug - Member
What a weird place it must be down southNot as weird a place as [b]Fort Kinnaird[/b]
Was expecting a link to vintage Melinda Messenger content - I is disappoint 😳
It's good where I am, but where (I think) it's a franchise business, although there are corporate standards then quality can be different across branches so that doesn't necessarily mean others will be.
It's more expensive so somewhere between a snack and run like MCD and a 'proper' meal for me and the family. We share chips etc so a meal for me, the wife and 2 kids is around 30-35 depending what we have.
In contrast, we went to BK yesterday (in defence - we got back from holiday at 4am yesterday morning, no food in, I gave the kids free choice for lunch) and 3 of us cost £20. Add the wife in to that would be 25 or so, so another fiver gets you FiveGuys, and quality to me is worth the extra.
Never heard of five guys, but I did go to a Byron once. It was pretty shite to be honest. There's a place in Exeter called ruby's modern diner or something, not sure if that's a chain but the food was pretty nice. Personally my favourite is the hub, a small south west based chain.
The chain that's meant to be really good is [url= http://www.in-n-out.com/ ]In-N-Out[/url] but they seem to only be in the SW US.
My wife likes them but I can't eat there as they cook their chips in peanut oil, This is a shame as it always smells good.
In'n'Out Burger is phenomenal, brilliant burgers there, not in the UK though sadly.
In n Out are brilliant. Animal style 😛
5 guys is for people who who think noting of standing in a queue for Breakfast Club for an hour or so in Soho is worth it (mainly out of towners/tourists), it isn’t.
far better burgers at Meat liquor, Spuntino, Patty and Bun, Bleeker etc etc.
Much like the pulled-pork craze of 3 years ago, the last 2 year's rise of "gormet" burgers is essentially a license to print money. Cheap ingredients, cooked well, charged at a premium. That said, some places do get it very right; If you're ever in Bristol, Chomp (round the back of St Nick's market) is the place to go.
Mexican is where its at now...
far better burgers at Meat liquor, Spuntino, Patty and Bun, Bleeker etc etc.
+1 (apparently).
I'll admit I've never bothered with 5 guys, as several folk I know and trust on their food choices pretty much say exactly as above. I'm rarely in the big smoke (or Fort Kinnaird) so when I am in London I'd rather try somewhere that I know is excellent, of which all of the above are, than spend my money on a slightly posher version of Burger King.
5 guys is for people who who think noting of standing in a queue for Breakfast Club for an hour or so in Soho is worth it (mainly out of towners/tourists), it isn’t.
How could it POSSIBLY be worth waiting for Breakfast Club? I know I'm not the most patient person in the world but I just don't understand how people can do that.
When other options aren't to hand Five Guys is fine, the burgers are good in my experience and you may get carried away with over ordering on fries that puts the price up.
There are of course better places to eat, but we are talking burgers here so not exactly haute cuisine.
Some people need to relax and just enjoy a bacon cheese burger from time to time.
Decent upper level burgers. Decent fries
GBK is better, Byron is worse
Interesting I find:
Byron>Shake Shack>5 Guys>GBK
But cant agree more:
with the addition of Dirty Burger and Burger Bear.Meat liquor, Spuntino, Patty and Bun, Bleeker
anyways I am a fan of 5, makes for a good post beer burger and you can order on the app and collect while passing (got one 5 mins walk from my house). I don't see the point of the double burger, single hits the spot, dogs are ok.
Yeah, its okay but to be honest I had a BK in Brazil that was just as good. Jonv - £25 would be for two folk, dread to think what a family of five would be!
Not sure about Five Guys but I do remember this from my youth:
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how does this country make such a mess out of a burger joint.
fuddruckers is hardly the pinicle of burgers in the us - yet surpasses any of the mass chain burger joints ive had the pleasure of in the uk.
Handmade burger co was just a bland tasteless patty.
I tried Five Guys*. Wasn't all that. I had GBK last night. Wasn't all that (never has been IMO).
Best burger I ever had was at a Huey's in Memphis, right next to the Peabody Hotel.
*I work for the UK owners. Decided to see what they'd been up to.
Best London Burger for me is Honest Burger followed closely by Patty & Bun then Meat Liquer / Market.
Still yet to try Bleeker, Lucky Chip, Dirty Burger, Bread Street Kitchen and The Admiral Codrington (known for their limited edition burgers).
I try and go somewhere different on each visit I make during gigs. I don't think I'd even bother with Five Guys but that's not to say they're bad, just not as good as the others mentioned.
If it's Pizza though, Pizza Pilgrims every time but Homeslice is the next stop for me....
thanks for above posts - I was about to try 5 guys in Kingston when I am over for a rugby weekend later this month. I saw the queues at the Covent Gdn branch & would never q for a burger - or pay 15 gbp for 1 either.
In n out - I remember it well in LA 15 years ago, top burgers never made it over to UK.
Honest burger or Boston burger in Borough Mkt, the latter does a breakfast sausage & egg in a bap, 5 quid, best I've had.
"In n out - I remember it well in LA 15 years ago, top burgers never made it over to UK."
A californian institution. The guys at bakersfield raved about them. wasnt really taken by it - just a.n.Other burger.
Gotts in the ferry terminal in san francisco was excellent - as were most of the food outlets inthe ferry terminal.
I'm currently sat in the Worst building of the year (Fenchurch ST) and have drinks after work. On the basis that I'll be hank following two pints of warm weak beer from the Folly, where's the best place to grab a burger? Can't be far as I'm leaving Londres from Cannon St
Gotts in the ferry terminal in san francisco was excellent - as were most of the food outlets inthe ferry terminal.
Well, of course that's normal for ferry terminals (see also the oggy wagon on the Devonport side of the Torpoint ferry)
50 quid lighter for for a family meal of 4 !!
Was pretty good to be fair ...
But will not rush back
Can't believe The Cod got a mention in this thread!
#oldhaunt
My kids like to visit the Covent Garden one when we're in the smoke but last time I encountered a very long human hair running right through my burger, have a voucher for a free meal but not on a hurry to go back.
Just stupidly expensive is my view. The food is a step up from MuckyD/BK but it's served in an environment that's not much different. Wrap the burger in foil to make it look fancy but then is that any different from a gastropub serving your burger on a chopping board? At least the latter will get you a nicer environment and a beer for £15 vs the £15 it cost me for burger fries and sugary fizzy drink eating in a fast food style place.
Grillstock Lockjaw burger. £14.50.
Two 5oz burgers, pulled pork, beef brisket, burnt ends,
melted cheese, house pickles & fry sauce
No drink though.
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Need to get around to having a Grillstock. Got Beef in Cardiff are good for gourmet hipster burgers but the best burger I ever did have was at the Chuck Norris Grill in Reykjavik.
Overpriced and took forever to get the food in the one in Bullring, wouldn't go again. Could of got a better meal and a beer and less wait at Nando's!
Did find a place in Dublin Bobo's I think it was just outside the temple bar area, the burgers in there immense!! Man Vs Food quality burgers!
The sign of a proper BBQ place is the Brisket and grillstocks is very good. Reds in Leeds and Manchester is great too.
brisket .....
the raven smokehouse in glasgow is a favorite for the uk.
when in texas im a big rudys bbq truck stop fan !
Trailrat, hit a Rudy's last weekend as you say the brisket is fabulous. Proper rough and ready joint but grand BBQ food and interesting people watching (but not too closely...)
I've always avoided Five Guys because the only one I know of is in Covent Garden and there always seems to be a queue of tourists at the door waiting to go in.
I don't do queues.
Reds in Leeds and Manchester is great too.
Red's in Manchester was great, but why would you go there and have a burger (as opposed to pulled pork/ribs/other things that are a ball-ache to do at home)?
I just can't enjoy these fancy burger places knowing I could have got an edible burger and a nice pint of ale in Wetherspoons for half the price.
Had one in Edinburgh, it was at best average. Weirdly expensive fries.
However, turned veggie about 8 weeks ago and counting and really can't stomach the thought of eating a burger.
5 Guys in Florida is a real treat and not too expensive.
£8 is the most I could ever pay for a burger...maybe £10 if it had sides and needed 2 two whole sides of Kobe beef to make it.
Just done a little bit of sick in my mouth...
CFH's photo is vile..
This is the most American Psycho thread of the week
I just can't enjoy these fancy burger places knowing I could have got an edible burger and a nice pint of ale in Wetherspoons for half the price.
Mmmm zebu burger...
What the bloody hell spewed that up wrecker? Immediately thought of the alien in The Thing. 🙂
Had a 5 Guys earlier, I love it! £25.90 for 2 burgers, fries to share and 2 soft drinks. Still don't think that's that bad.
I just can't enjoy these fancy burger places knowing I could have got an edible burger and a nice pint of ale in Wetherspoons for half the price.
You get to people watch the ruddy faced alcoholic jock/paddy semi-retired builders spend their hard earned too. Double win 🙂
Aye, and the jock and paddy builders get to watch the poncy limp wristed southerners who don't have the balls to call them jock and paddy to their face.
Triple win 🙂
You get to people watch the ruddy faced alcoholic jock/paddy semi-retired builders spend their hard earned too. Double win
And the [s]muppets[/s] minesweepers, though that might just have been Wetherspoons in Halifax.
What's GBK?
Aye, and the jock and paddy builders get to watch the poncy limp wristed southerners who don't have the balls to call them jock and paddy to their face.
that's the art of people watching, you don't interact, you just observe, as a half 'n half paddyjock I like to see my fellow countrymen at leisure.
Gourmet Burger Kitchen BTW
I've always avoided Five Guys because the only one I know of is in Covent Garden and there always seems to be a queue of tourists at the door waiting to go in.
This +1
I don't do queues.
This +1000
What the bloody hell spewed that up wrecker? Immediately thought of the alien in The Thing.
It's bloody magnificent is what it is. A thing of beauty.
that's the art of people watching, you don't interact, you just observe, as a half 'n half paddyjock I like to see my fellow countrymen at leisure.
And be a prick about it on the Internet.
Social skills FTW.
Ah, Grillstock! Had one when I was in Bath last year, big fan 🙂
And seriously, Wetherspoons food is shite. Better than a few places granted but better than utter shite doth not good food make.
I don't do queues.
This +1000
That's a big queue
5 guys, feeding a family of four
2 hot dogs for the kids, mini burger for the lady, burger for me ( for the uninitiated a mini burger has one patty, a regular burger has two - don't ask me why), one large portion of fries and one drink
The fries come in a large cup in the bag - the cup is filled by putting the cup in the bag, and then blindly filling it. Most fries end up in the bag, missing the cup. Enough to feed four.
When their are five of us, two drinks, two portions of fries.
It is still bleeding tasty, and quick. Preferred to maccy d and their cardboard burgers (I do like a mcchicken sandwich type thing though...)
Had the one in Bristol and really liked it. Not cheap (about a fiver for the burger I think), but tastes really good. The meat seemed good quality and I liked all the options.
However, I think Fat Burger wipes the floor with it! Way better IMO.
I've been a fan of GBK for a while, but not been for a year or two. Judging by the comments on here they may have gone downhill.
I noticed a 5 Guys in MK the yesterday (wouldn't have seen it but seeing this thread on here drew my attention to it). I'll have to give it a go but will be expecting to be less than whelmed based on the STW collective reviews.
I think 5 guys is great, expensive, but as a treat now and again I can't fault it.
That said, I have a course in London next week and I'm genuinely excited about going to Honest Burgers before getting the train home