I think I understand the point of Five Guys now.
On Tuesday evening I was walking down Broad Street after an event with plenty of cocktails but not much food. I was considering popping into one of the various cheap takeaways down there but then I remembered: there is now a Five Guys on Broad Street.
It's at the top of the road, near the cinema, which is a bit of a genius move. It's quick and easy to eat before watching your film. Note before. Please do not take your burger into the cinema. It's very white and bright in there. It's basically a burger fast food joint, but the aesthetic is maybe a little cleaner. The ones in Solihull and the Bullring are always full of teens but this was more relaxed, with about ten people in there. Despite it being around 10pm, it felt quite comfortable and relaxed. Saying that though, I took my food away as the bright white lights didn't make me want to eat.
So, you order at the tills. You can have a burger, cheeseburger, bacon cheeseburger or smaller versions of all three. There are a variety of toppings you can choose from, all included in the price. Chips are brought separately. If you're on your own you do not need a large, just have the small. Drinks are also priced separately. You may have heard about the FREESTYLE coke machine. It is quite fun.
Once you've ordered, you are given an order number and then you wait at a different counter. I liked being able to watch the burgers get cooked fresh. My order was bagged up and the random extra scoop of chips thrown in and I headed off. Service was very friendly but not overly friendly throughout. It was pretty fun being able to eat it on my sofa.
Pros: The burger was still hot, as it had been wrapped up well in foil. The burger was thicker and better than other fast food chains. The cheese melted perfectly. The BBQ sauce was serviceable. The pickle cut through the meat and cheese. The chips are really good- skin on fries.
Cons: The bun is not very good. I've been spoilt with buttermilk and brioche and sourdough. I don't understand the extra scoop of chips. My small burger and small chips was £9.80. It's not a place I actually want to sit and eat, ever. OPM is cheaper and better.
So while there are plenty of pros, so there SHOULD be for nearly £10. I feel I would have loved it when I was 14 but that's when I wouldn't have been able to afford it. I can't help feeling that all these people raving about Five Guys have never had a proper street food burger. I appreciated mine at 10pm when I was hungry and a bit drunk and I think that's what will take me back there. read more