Burger review: Five Guys

Scorecard:

Taste 2.5/5
Ambience 2/5
Extras (toppings, sides and drinks) 5/5
Value for money 2.5/5
Overall: 3/5

Fast food style at restaurant prices? The burger needs to be better to pull this off.

You’re in a rush and fancy a burger but a McDonalds isn’t going to cut it. Enter Five Guys. And to be fair, their offer isn’t a bad one. The service is quick, done with a smile and they serve ice cold beer. Like your burger stuffed with toppings? Five Guys is the place for you. The choice is epic and you can add as many as your belly desires. The only potential problem being that it’s easy to freeze under the pressure when faced with so much choice. Luckily this wasn’t our first rodeo and we were fully prepared to blurt out our orders to the friendly server.

The problems only really begin when you sit down. The decor is like a high school canteen that’s been created in a lab; you expect Zac Efron to dance on at any moment. And it’s clear that Five Guys really love themselves, like REALLY love themselves. Plastered all over the walls are newspaper and magazine articles highlighting their awards, positive reviews and any other endorsement that tries to give the view that burgers didn’t exist until this restaurant came along. It sticks in the throat a bit.

Unfortunately so does the burger. It isn’t bad, but it could be a lot better. The patty doesn’t have a huge amount of taste, is overcooked and came a bit cold, despite the quick service. The chips are more-ish and, thankfully, you get a massive portion to feast on, but it isn’t enough to save the tastiness of the meal. When paying the best part of £20 and not receiving table service you expect better.

In conclusion plenty of choice but the burger and atmosphere leave plenty to be improved on.

Dave C order: Double bacon cheeseburger with lettuce, grilled onion and BBQ sauce, small fries and a Budweiser.
Dave T order: Double bacon cheeseburger with mayo, pickle, mushroom, mustard and grilled peppers, small fries and a Brooklyn lager.

Price – £17.20 per head