Tom McKiver/The Mirror
The Shake Shack of Westport is the newest incarnation of Union Square Hospitality Group’s ever growing posh burger chain. Shake Shack, a staple of the New York scene since it opened its doors in 2004 on Madison Square Park, cruised into Westport and set up camp this July. The Shack serves up classic American burger stand items in an upscale environment that will make you feel like you’re in a trendy New York restaurant, but at a price that might make some reconsider.
The entrance to the Shack blends seamlessly with the outside as you walk right up the patio steps and get in line to order at the stand. While in line you are treated with a view of the kitchen and can see your meal being prepared in the different stations. Once you’ve ordered you can sit at one of the stainless steel tables or grab a booth, all of this constructed with recycled and sustainable material.
The Shake Shack has an exhaustive menu comprised of classics like simple burgers, fries and hot dogs; old school items with a twist, such as the “Purple Cow,” a float made with grape soda and vanilla ice cream, and even dog treats. What you’ll notice next after the breadth and scope of the menu is that this isn’t exactly a cheap place to eat.
Single burgers start at $4.75 by itself. If you choose to compliment your burger with a fountain drink at $1.95, and fries at $2.75, you’re looking at a meal that will cost a hair under $10. The food, however, does make a case for itself.
A self-proclaimed burger connoisseur, I did like the Shack burger; it can definitely hold its own against competitors like Five Guys, and blows away the likes of McDonalds and Burger King.
But it isn’t good enough to rave about.
The beauty of Shake Shack, however, lies in its unconventional menu items like the “Shroom Burger”, a fried portobello filled with cheese and slapped between a bun, and the “Banana Post Rd” a frozen custard dish with chocolate custard, caramelized cocoa and banana chunks.
The crowd was mostly families and younger working professionals grabbing a bite to eat after work. There weren’t many people between 17 to 24, as reflected by the price of the menu.
The service I received was fairly decent. The line wasn’t too long, the cashier was friendly and my order was up in a timely manner.
I only had two problems: the first being that it seemed my float had been made right when I ordered because the ice cream had almost completely melted by the time it came to me, and the second being that the bun of the hot dog I ordered was soggy. Two small complaints, which I’ll chalk up to the inexperience of the relatively new restaurant.
All in all, the Shake Shack is a decent restaurant. It’s got solid food, a diverse menu and great decor. The price of the place restrains itself from becoming a regular spot, but it’s still a nice place to grab some burgers with friends, sample the desserts or have a casual date. I see myself coming back to Shake Shack, not just for the burger, but the whole experience.
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