burger joints

Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: FIVE GUYS Experience

Location: 56 West 14th Street (between 5th and 6th ave)

Five Guys 1

Several years ago I had my first FIVE GUYS burger during a road trip in VA. Back then Five Guys was a must have at least once a week. Having sworn off the likes of McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy’s prior to the documentary “Super Size Me”.

I wanted fresh high quality beef not that whatever mix I’d get from fastfood chains along with the runs. FIVE GUYS burgers are made from fresh 100% ground beef no preservatives or fillers per their advertising.

Their fries were hand cut as I recall and you’re given a heaping serving if you ever order one. Peanut oil is used to cooked the fries and they offered baskets of raw peanuts as an appetizer as you waited for your order to be made. 14th street happened to get a new location of this cool franchise and passing by I decided I hadn’t eaten yet why not see if their quality is still what I remembered it to be.

And so… Five Guys 3

Strangely enough even though the name is Five Guys there were only 3 on duty when I arrived at the counter to order. Oh well so much for a name. It didn’t take long before one of the 3 guys came to take my order.

Five Guys 2

I took quick stock of the interior after placing my order to go. Five Guys 4

I opted to forego french fries on this visit. From what I remember they’re good but still a bit too greasy for my liking.

Five Guys 5

Once I arrived home glory and satiation would be mine. I introduced my burger to the toaster oven for a few minutes as I wanted to bite into it piping hot…

Five Guys 5

The Burger is what I remember it to be great juicy fresh tasting beef and gooey gobs of American cheese melted all throughout this double cheeseburger they simply call a “Cheeseburger”. I said to myself at $7.19 a piece there had better be two patties of beef on them there buns.

Overall I have to say while I really like Five Guys Burgers. I think Five Guys is just a hair behind Blue 9 burgers and Jackson Hole as far as taste. Texture and thickness are spot on and the beef really only gets a hint of saltiness to it from the cheese its smothered in.

Either way it’s no big deal as you can always add salt and ketchup or whatever condiments you like on a burger. Five Guys tailor makes your burger to whatever specs you like. 😀 Well done please. 4 1/2 Dinner Plates out of 5 here folks. OOOO[ Five Napkin Burger could learn a lesson from Five Guys on how to make a burger if you ask me.

Definitely recommend having a burger from this place if you love fresh quality burgers that let you know where your money went after you’ve taken your first bite.

Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: BURGER BATTLE I: Jackson Hole Burgers V Shake Shack Burgers

Ok having been in a “Burger Hunter” mood the past week or two I decided I needed a side by side comparison taste testing of both a Jackson Hole cheeseburger and a Shake Shack burger.

Having tasted each on separate occasions now was the time to truly find out side by side which burger I liked best. And so ladies and gentlemen, without further ado I give you Burger Battle I.

Shake Shack burger & Fries.

Behold the Jackson Hole Bacon Cheeseburger

Now what you have to realize is Shake Shack burgers aren’t huge. They are a good slightly above average sized burger bout the same size as Blue 9 burgers. In stark contrast, Jackson Hole burgers are almost a half pound burger.

Thick or thin, almost every width and thickness in the burger patty spectrum is all good in my book. What makes the difference is taste, texture, and presentation. How well were my instructions followed as far as how I like my burger cooked? Did my mouth enjoy the burger, and was I satisfied? All important questions needing answers.

The Shake Shack burger I had first.

Shake Shack burger & Fries.

It was perfectly cooked and seasoned and not too salty the way some burger joints over season their meat. Shake Shack makes a great burger no doubt about it. I found the double cheeseburger decently juicy, and overall very satisfying to the palate.

Their fries were pretty good as well. The bun was soft and the lettuce, tomato & mayo just made the perfect harmony with the well done burger patties. There is definitely a distinct taste to Shake Shack burgers that makes people stand in long lines to get them.

I devoured my Shake Shack double cheeseburger in between bites of crunchy golden fries. Answers forth coming were as follows. Shake Shack scored 5 dinner plates out of 5 for following my instructions as far as cooking my burger well done. Taste and texture were both very good and scored 4.5 dinner plates out of 5. OOOO.5

Presentation was good considering it came wrapped in paper half way up the burger so one can hold it comfortably and eat. Overall presentation scores a 4.5 dinner plates. OOOO.5

Shake Shack gets an overall score of 4.7 dinner plates out of 5. OOOO.7

I didn’t include a photo of it wrapped due to my haste to get started eating it. 😉 Now turning my attention to the Jackson Hole Bacon Cheeseburger pictured below. There was a bit of time between picking up the two burgers before heading home. So not wanting to eat my very thick Jackson Hole Bacon Cheeseburger luke warm or cold I put it to heat up in the toaster oven.

Toasted burger. Mmmm!!

I could hardly wait to take the first bite into that amazing looking burger. I have to admit it bacon cooked right and put on anything including burgers instantly makes them taste better. Notice of course the obvious difference between Shake Shack and Jackson Hole is the size disparity in burgers.

If you’re looking for a “big man-sized” burger Jackson Hole Burgers are where it’s at (Big Nick’s is in that class as well I might add). I decided to skip the lettuce, tomato, pickles and all other condiments with this burger and kept it simple between the bun, meat and cheese.

Presentation of this burger I think speaks for itself. I gave it 5 out of 5 dinner plates for a simple yet impressive arrangement and bounty of ingredients. That cheese oozing all over the burger is what dreams are made of people!

Once I toasted it, it was like that just took the burger to the next level. Taste and Texture both received perfect 5 out of 5 dinner plate scores. OOOOO. I bit into the thickness yokum of that burger and found even toasted, my burger was well done yet still juicy inside. With each bite I took into it I found juice rushed into my mouth. 😀

The cheese slathered and rippling down my plate spoke of the attention to detail and heavy-handedness paid to a deserving near half pound beast. The bacon was perfectly crispy and the salty good bacon flavor just took things to the next level.

The bun of my Bacon Cheeseburger was well toasted as it had been already been lightly toasted when it was first picked up but now it was a nice almost crustini texture to it except for the parts of then bun that were in immediate contact with the meat and cheese.

The contrasting textures of the crunchy bun and crispy bacon combined with the melted and slightly burned cheese and juicy beef just made my mouth yearn for more and more with each passing bite.

Jackson Hole huh? They sure do make a tasty burger. Mmmm!

There would be no room left in my belly for more fries. As far as being satisfied. Jackson Hole’s Bacon Cheeseburger gets 5 out of 5 dinner plates OOOOO for Presentation and Satisfaction. I was beyond satiated for several hours following burger battle I.

Overall score for Jackson Hole’s Bacon Cheeseburger is a perfect 5 out of 5 dinner plates. OOOOO

The winner here in Burger Battle I is Jackson Hole. Shake Shack came up just short in the end but is still definitely a great burger. Some may disagree with my findings but that’s the beauty of variety. Everything is subject to interpretation and preference. What’s your take? Have you had either one of these Burger Joints offerings? If so, who do you think makes the better burger?

Till next Food Travel Log this has been Burger Battle I: Jackson Hole VS Shake Shack by THEJNSREPORT.