It would be nearly impossible to not admire Five Guys Burgers & Fries, a 30-year-old international chain that I'll confess went under my radar for a while until it started popping up all over Indy and I realized it wasn't just a local joint seemingly doing really, really well.
I mean, they pay their employees well. They only use fresh beef (never frozen). They only use peanut oil. They are a family owned chain and, for the most part, employees are treated like family.
So, you can imagine my disappointment when I first tried a Five Guys a couple years ago at the suggestion of a friend and immediately thought "I don't like it." It seemed overpriced and incredibly greasy. Sure, you got a lot of food for the money but if your restaurant space looks like a fast food joint it still gives me second thoughts about paying fast casual prices.
So, I kind of let go of the place. After all, there's lots of other places in a city like Indy.
However, after a long day at work I was really in the mood for something new today and decided I'd finally give the chain, though a different location, another try. I ventured over to the Eastside location close to Washington Square. It's in a strip center with ample accessible parking, a nice curb cut and two glass doors to get in. You go up to the counter to order, then they call your number when it's ready.
The menu is pretty simple - burgers, a handful of hot dogs, a BLT, a grilled cheese, a veggie sandwich and a cheese veggie sandwich. They offer both traditional fries and cajun fries and serve up peanuts. They've recently added milkshakes to the menus.
The pluses menu wise? You can get any topping for your sandwich that they have at no extra cost. With milkshakes, they have mix-ins that you can also add at no cost - the milkshakes run about $3.99 and are one size. They serve Coke products in a freestyle machine and also offer Gold Peak Iced Tea - I was completely enchanted by an accessible dispenser for the iced tea that worked by simply pushing a button. It was cool, clearly marked as accessible and quite thoughtful. They serve meals in a sack rather than on a tray - while that may turn some off, it's better for accessibility and makes pretty good sense.
It's rare that you go into a restaurant, fast or fast casual, where everyone seems to be getting along and actually working. That happened here. They were friendly, though I'm not sure I'd say they crossed that line into actual hospitality. Still, they did the job.
Food is fairly abundant if you don't know their servings. For example, a "hamburger" is actually a double burger. A "small hamburger" is a single. I ordered a hamburger expecting, well, a hamburger. I probably would have been happy with a small one. French fries come in 3 sizes, but even the small is pretty generous. They do serve everything a la carte, so don't plan on a combo meal and you can definitely plan on spending more than fast food - my meal of a "hamburger," small fries and large drink ran about $11.
The food was considerably better than my last visit. While i still wouldn't call it a favorite burger, I definitely enjoyed it and would order it again. It was considerably less greasy than my last Five Guys trip - it's still decadent, but I didn't feel like I was wrapping myself in a fat suit.
Be aware - fresh doesn't necessarily mean less fatty. If Five Guys has a weakness, it's that decadence level. These are burgers and fries - while peanut oil may make it healthier, it's still a burger and fries.
The decor is simple - sort of on the edge of a 50's diner, but not quite and with contemporary music in the background that's not the ambience they're aiming for - it's not Johnny Rocket's. It was clean and comfortable, though not necessarily a "relax and hang out" kind of place.
So, if you want to splurge on a burger and support a chain known for treating its employees well then Five Guys is a definite option and this Eastside location was a pleasant surprise I wouldn't hesitate to visit again.