Restaurant review: Five Guys Burgers and Fries

Photo by Jake King

EMU students enjoy a tasty meal at Five Guys Burger and Fries.

Imagine a restaurant where you can eat peanuts, throw the shells on the floor, and then enjoy a delicious burger and fries. No need to imagine, just head to Five Guys Famous Burgers and Fries!

Five Guys is located on Burgess road, off of 33, near Wal-Mart and Panera Bread. Upon entering the store, one first notices the spacious dining area that the restaurant offers. Surprisingly, the open atmosphere is a little too much. Srijana Chhetri simply stated "Its big and empty. I don't like the atmosphere and there's not enough variety." White walls adorned with Five Guys-honoring quotes surround the open area. But there is a reason for the lack of cluttering objects in the room.

Ordering is simple and easy at Five Guys. One orders and pays at a counter up front. The menu consists of Famous Burgers, of which Five Guys takes pride in never freezing, Famous Fries, and a few Famous Dogs. The burgers come in a regular size and little size. With two patties and all of the condiments and toppings one could ever need, the regular burger is no small feat for $4.00. The little burger comes with a much less intimidating single patty, for $3.00, but maintains all of the condiments one could require. Besides cheese and bacon, the condiments, from lettuce and ketchup to mushrooms and jalapenos, are entirely free! Jon Wiens summed up Five Guys in a few simple words, "It's like the Wonka Factory of burgers!"

Five Guys prides themselves on their two main dishes, the burgers and their ever popular Famous Fries. In Five Guys Style or Cajun Style, these fries are a meal in themselves. A regular size, for $2.09, is an absolute steal for the amount of fries that are served. Almost an entire frying basket full of fries goes into a paper bag, right on top of the foil-wrapped burger, and is served up piping hot. Cajun style offers a totally different taste, salty and slightly spicy, but delicious.

One of the most unique and fun parts of the Five Guys dining experience occurs before the food is actually served. There are a large boxes of un-shelled peanuts around the restaurant. Patrons grab a handful and sit down, shelling and eating the peanuts as a hard-earned appetizer. But what about all of the dirty and crackly shells? Throw 'em on the floor! Five Guys encourages a laid back atmosphere by allowing customers to trash the floor with peanut shells. And if it wasn't encouraged, my panel of reviewers and I did it anyway without any scolding.

For roughly $7.00, one gets a delicious, filling meal at Five Guys and a fun evening with friends. Just don't go alone. The simple atmosphere isn't enough to keep a solo diner occupied for the duration of the meal. When asked about his dining experience, Tyler Grove replied "I personally like all the custom burger toppings, condiments, and the burgers taste fresh, never frozen. I like that in a burger."