"A really good hamburger is one of life's simplest pleasures." Since 1986 Five Guys have been providing pleasure to the American people and beyond. And the secret to their success is found in these two simple words: quality and consistency.
After being awarded the NC Triad Yelp Squad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last year, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, celebrating their contributions and accomplishments throughout the year, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and businesses, and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Five Guys in Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example.
Previously I'd heard a lot about Five Guys and their wonderful hamburgers and fries. And today I finally decided to go to Tanglewood Mall, where we have our Five Guys here in Roanoke, Virginia, and give them a try. I went in with high expectations and I came out in love with the place after they far exceeded my highest of expectations!
A family-business born from the answer to a simple question a couple of parents decided to ask their sons: "Do you want to go to college or start a business?" And thriving from the "Yes" answer to the question, onwards.
When I arrived at Five Guys today I wasn't aware of their history or background. All I knew through word of mouth was that they made good burgers and fries, and that they were expensive. From the time I walked in the door, I was impressed with the restaurant's cleanliness and simplicity of design with the colors white and red standing out as well as their solid wood tables and chairs. The music being played set the tone to the beginning of the dining experience. There were boxes of peanuts with little paper bowls so you can take some peanuts to your table and munch while your food was being prepared. On the wall there was a sign saying where the potatoes used to make your fries today came from. What also stood out were enlarged quotes from different sources all around the restaurant along with articles pinned to the wall about Five Guys and the reason for its success.
When it was my turn to order, a friendly African-American lady, Mashenka, greeted me with a smile and warm welcome. She mentioned the Classic Combo that they had, and I ordered that but upgraded it to a Bacon Cheeseburger, with fries and a drink. And of course, I asked for lots of free toppings. Besides this I also ordered a Bacon Cheese Dog. I had seen a picture of it and was attracted by how they serve it cut in half inside a hot dog bun. While I waited I went to the very innovative drink machine and made myself a Cherry Dr Pepper. Then I went to watch how the cheerful employees cooked and prepared the burgers, dogs, and fries. Later while doing my research I found out that their burger meat is fresh and never frozen and their special burger buns are freshly made daily from their recipe in a local bakery and brought in.
After picking up my order, I brought the bag to the table and opened it up. The burger and hot dog were wrapped in aluminum foil to keep them warm. The fries came in a bag of its own that was overloaded and there was a whole lot more fries spilled inside the large bag where everything came in. What a relief that besides the fries being so good, cut fresh in-house daily, I also got more than what I expected. Later I found out in my research that they do this intentionally as part of their Core Business Philosophy. The company believes that providing an overwhelming portion of fries is essential to their success and key to customer satisfaction. The feeling of getting more than what you paid for is intended to win over repeat customers.
The burger was so fresh and juicy, cooked to perfection, with lots of fresh toppings on top. The bun was fresh and soft with a special taste to it that reminded me of the buns I used to eat with my hot dog after winning a Little League game. And the all beef hot dogs were also quality dogs. Wow, what an extraordinary dining experience having this All-American meal in a friendly environment. I highly recommend this restaurant and look forward to returning many times. Some say it's pricey, I say it's priceless! read more