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try burger 'n que's 1/2 pound cheeseburger in orland park--it beats them all

@toad3000:
I completely agree about never writing off an establishment on opening day...that's why, if you read the rest of what I wrote, I went back again about 2 weeks later and had the EXACT SAME EXPERIENCE. Some of the things that I had a problem with really should have no bearing on when I went...the quality of the ingredients like buns and cheese are not going to change and should have been INCREDIBLY fresh on opening day. They should never be more fresh than when I went the first time. Those were two of the biggest problems for me. Gummy buns and cheese that tasted worse than what they use at McDonalds is not going to win any points. And they were the exact same the second time, which tells me that there's no reason to expect that they'll be any different in the future.

But the other things like getting an order wrong, possibly seasoning the meat wrong and cooking it poorly...I can understand that being done on opening day. So I went back and tried again...and it was all the same. Almost exactly. Should I try again and expect it to be different? Possibly, but why when there were so many other things that I didn't like about the place. There are too many good burger places in town, why waste time going back again and again that I've already been to twice and have not enjoyed?

And my biggest complaint was the price. So, if I have now waited a couple of months and go back again, do you think the price will have dropped by 1/3 to be more in line with the quality? I'm fairly sure it won't.

But thanks for the "rocket science" comment. I think I really gave them a fair shot. I didn't just go on opening day and then bash them. I went twice, had two OK experiences, but nothing that I feel that I need to have again. After all of the hype I've read about the place, I was quite disappointed. And I was blown away by the price! Thanks for trying.

I had my first 5 Guys burger at the DC airport a few week ago. It was mediocre. Neither the burger nor the fries compared to In-n-Out, not to mention the 10 other places in LA, SF, and Chicago that are better than In-n-Out. You all should travel more.

@hungryone, you're absolutely delusional. Just in 5 Guys' own native DC/NoVA region, the burger at RAY'S HELL-BURGER is utterly sublime, cooked to order rather than burnt, (even if not always perfectly accurately), deliciously-seasoned, juicy and 10 whole ounces of ground-on-premises top quality prime beef for a price of $7.

And they have REAL cheese, not that flavorless processed american cheese crap. You need to get out more.

Mmmm floor dropped oùt__ :P¨in lol

Robyn --

FYI, you (and anyone in the metro St. Louis area) should know that Five Guys has opened in scenic Chesterfield, Missouri (just west of St. Louis). I can verify that the LCB (little cheeseburger) is every bit as tasty as in Alexandria, VA, the toppings are as assorted and fresh, an extra handful of fries comes in the bag, and the box of peanuts is readily available while you wait. I advise going for the cajun fries over the regular, thought. My only complaint is that the root beer choice is caffeinated Mug (I prefer A&W, which is decaf, or local brand Fitz's in the bottle).

I know that Adam hails from K.C., MO and he keeps threatening to road trip to St. Louis when he is visiting the parental units to partake of assorted local burger joints on the east side of the state. (@lemons can confirm our wide selection of choices and high quality!) Please tell him that Five Guys needs to go on the list if he has not made it to one out there . . .

Robyn -

should have had the cajun fries dipped in malt vinegar!

I LOOOOOOVE 5 Guys!!! Best burger of my life there recently. Small cheeseburger with the works. Excellent fries too!

The burgers I've had in N.J. are very good. Well done, but juicy and flavorful. The fries are as good as any I've had. Maybe some franchises are better than others?

What is there to eat in Kingston, where i live? From Friendly's to McD to BK to Starbuck's to Taco Bell to Red Lobster to Texas Road House, there is very little "real" food here. So I love 5 Guys and consider it a special, above-average place. Of course, my daughter finds it boring in comparison to the other places, but I think the burger quality (2 patties with the works for me) is really good.

If I lived across the street from the Shake Shack, I'd never touch the stuff.

From Pang's article: "But what Five Guys has going for it are the remarkable french fries (regular size, $2.59—and, oh, named "Best '08 by Capital Region Living Magazine!")."

I can't believe they're using the rating from an Albany, NY (aka Smalbany) publication. It's not really saying that much. I don't know what other fries we would have voted for here...McDonald's?

I was never impressed by In n Out, but, oh, how I love Five Guys burgers - cheese and catsup only, for me.

I'm glad I've resisted walking into this place. I simply can't get past the prices here! $6.95 for a cheeseburger??? Come on.

I'd rather go to Shake Shack and get a Shake Burger there for $4.75.