Five Guys is coming to London!

Five Guys is coming to London!

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craigjm

Original Poster:

18,414 posts

206 months

Friday 23rd January 2015
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Smelly Sox said:
McDs chips are better.

I feel mugged having paid eight quid for a cheese burger. At least I didn't queue...
McDonalds "frozen fries" are better than 5 guys fresh chips?

craigjm

Original Poster:

18,414 posts

206 months

Tuesday 25th October 2016
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Byron is no more expensive than GBK and they are both a step up restaurant wise than 5 guys.

craigjm

Original Poster:

18,414 posts

206 months

Tuesday 25th October 2016
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
exactly, thats what I meant. You cant compare 5 guys and Byron

craigjm

Original Poster:

18,414 posts

206 months

Tuesday 25th October 2016
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The hot dogs are absolutely rank

craigjm

Original Poster:

18,414 posts

206 months

Wednesday 26th October 2016
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cheeseburger, cajun fries and a drink is £15.55 in the UK including tax. Same meal in California is $15.52 which with the current crap exchange rate is only 19% cheaper BUT when you equalise the sales tax the Californian meal with 20% on it costs $17.12 which at todays rate is £14.02 so only 10% cheaper.

craigjm

Original Poster:

18,414 posts

206 months

Thursday 27th October 2016
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I think it depends, outside of London, where they are located. If they are located in the usual McD or BK type places then yes they will eventually fail. If they are located on places like entertainment parks with cinemas and bowling alleys etc so they become part of a night out rather than an end in themselves then maybe not.

I just wish they would stop wrapping them in foil because a sweaty burger is on a downward spiral before it starts

craigjm

Original Poster:

18,414 posts

206 months

Thursday 27th October 2016
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I think there is one thing and one thing only this thread has managed to confirm and that is that people like different things when it comes to burger and chips and with that wide variety of views no one vendor is ever going to be seen as the overall best in the arena.


craigjm

Original Poster:

18,414 posts

206 months

Thursday 27th October 2016
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Type R Tom said:
For me value for money is the key factor, don't mind paying if the whole package is worth it. For example, Bleecker Street burgers are amazing but £15 for a meal to eat standing / on a park bench is expensive.

Same applies to 5 Guys, it's a lot for fast food.
Agree totally. I adore 5 guys Cajun fries and could eat them by the bucket load but I can see why people wouldn't if they like a crispier fry. Its the buns that get me in 5 guys soggy and horrible and there isn't enough variety with only one cheese etc.

Key point, you are right though, £15 for a McDonalds type environment is steep. For that price I expect to be seated in a proper restaurant and be served my food Byron / GBK style.

Don't get me started on the hipster "we don't do reservations and only have 5 tables" queue down the road crap!

craigjm

Original Poster:

18,414 posts

206 months

Thursday 27th October 2016
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Burwood said:
But you can order on line in 5 min intervals and walk to the front of the queue to pick up.
Sorry I wasnt referring to 5 guys with the hipster comment I was referring to the many a burger joint in London where you just have to wait in line outside and you will eventually be let in.

craigjm

Original Poster:

18,414 posts

206 months

Thursday 27th October 2016
quotequote all
okgo said:
craigjm said:
Sorry I wasnt referring to 5 guys with the hipster comment I was referring to the many a burger joint in London where you just have to wait in line outside and you will eventually be let in.
It was started by Barrafina, which I can assure you is not hipster.
Anchor and Hope was doing it long before Barafina was launched in 2006. I just refuse to queue and wait for tables on a night out. One of the worst restaurants for a queue is Tayaabs and even if you book you just end up in a priority queue!

craigjm

Original Poster:

18,414 posts

206 months

Friday 28th October 2016
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In my eyes nowhere sells such fantastic food that its worth queuing for an hour outside waiting for your short slot at a table. When the first five guys opened at leicester Sq thats exactly what happened there too

craigjm

Original Poster:

18,414 posts

206 months

Friday 28th October 2016
quotequote all
C70R said:
Why all the hate for Tayyabs? I absolutely love the place, and frequent it equally with Lahore's. Sometimes the queuing can be an utter pain at both, but I've always found them worth the wait (have probably been going 6-7 years).
Tayyabs is fine if you like eating in surroundings that feel like a nightclub, so dark you can barely see, cramped tables with the next table about 2 inches from you, so loud you have to shout at the person opposite etc. The food is good though but personally when I go out to eat I want to relax not waste my time queuing for a table even on a Tuesday night and then sitting in that kind of environment. Lamb chops and dry curry are excellent though.

craigjm

Original Poster:

18,414 posts

206 months

Monday 9th January 2017
quotequote all
The fact they chuck the chips in the bag is annoying but the portions are huge and they are by far the best chips of all of the burger joints

I also hate that the wrap them up in foil because they just get all sweaty even in the short time they are in there, spoils the bun I think.

The hotdogs are rank, even in the USA

craigjm

Original Poster:

18,414 posts

206 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
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Frik said:
And therein lies the problem. If it was at a similar price point to Five Guys is in the states we'd all be hailing it as the best thing since sliced bread.
Really? there isnt much in it......

In the UK..... cheesburger, regular fries and a refillable drink = £14.90
In California..... cheeseburger, regular fries and a refillable drink = $16.06 which today is £13.22

Im not sure £1.68 would make a lot of difference

craigjm

Original Poster:

18,414 posts

206 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
quotequote all
GT03ROB said:
craigjm said:
In the UK..... cheesburger, regular fries and a refillable drink = £14.90
How frikkin much eek for a takeaway burger/chips & soft drink, the world has gone mad.
Its a large double patty (fresh made) burger and enough chips for two (again fresh made) and as much as you would like to drink. Its not a McDonalds portion but it isn't a sit down and be served restaurant either so falls between two stools

craigjm

Original Poster:

18,414 posts

206 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
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Melman Giraffe said:
You forgot to mention the toppings, as many as you want.....

Personalise your burger, dog or sandwich with up to 15 fresh, free toppings.
its a shame they don't do different types of cheese and different sauces (similar to subway for instance) because once you've been a few times pretty much any combination of their ingredients taste the same

craigjm

Original Poster:

18,414 posts

206 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
quotequote all
Yeah its all down to competition really and I can see 5 guys doing alright in London because £15 isnt a huge amount for such a meal but in a provincial city im not so sure when you can have nearly 3 McD's for the same price. Will be interesting to see which of the branches is the first to close in the UK

craigjm

Original Poster:

18,414 posts

206 months

Tuesday 10th January 2017
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miniman said:
Ed's Diner is utter carp.

I love Five Guys. I'm staying 2-3 nights a week at Angel at the moment and there's one right by the hotel. Lovely stuff.
There are much better options on Upper Street. The world is your oyster for eating round there

craigjm

Original Poster:

18,414 posts

206 months

Wednesday 11th January 2017
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John D. said:
Patty & Bun rips 5 Guys for the same money in London.
Agreed

craigjm

Original Poster:

18,414 posts

206 months

Thursday 12th January 2017
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
There is life outside the M25? eek