Five Guys is coming to London!
Discussion
bassett said:
I had been expecting amazing things from five guys as my colleagues raved about the one in wimbledon. Went down and tried it with my wife and wasn't expecting it to just be a fast food chain where you serve yourself. Then the prices for fast food seemed stupid paying £27 for only two small burgers, one fries, a drink and especially as you serve yourself. Thought the fries were good and the burger was pretty average really. Maybe its not a lot but compared mcdonalds id get away spending less than a tenner and I've definitely been back since trying 5 guys which says it all to me. For a better burger i much prefer dip and flip down the road where you pay about the same and it is awesome - jalapeño cheese burger, cheesy chips, milkshake of the month and a gravy dipping boat, there's just nothing else quite like it.
Agree with this, i live in Wimbledon and Dip N Flip is 10000000 times better for not really any more money! Have not been back to Five Guys since my first visit when it opened. People complaining about the prices of Five Guys, but I've yet to see a branch of theirs empty or short of customers!
At least they have great consistency about what you get; I've been to 5G a lot of times both here and in the US, and what you get is perfectly made every time. I went to Dirty Burger, which people rave about, and is similarly priced; but had a dreadful experience, cold lifeless burger, and really dull factory fries, nothing special at all.
I see that Shake Shack have a couple more branches now (but nothing like the proliferation of 5G). Think I saw that they are building a new one near Piccadilly Circus now, think it used to be KFC.
At least they have great consistency about what you get; I've been to 5G a lot of times both here and in the US, and what you get is perfectly made every time. I went to Dirty Burger, which people rave about, and is similarly priced; but had a dreadful experience, cold lifeless burger, and really dull factory fries, nothing special at all.
I see that Shake Shack have a couple more branches now (but nothing like the proliferation of 5G). Think I saw that they are building a new one near Piccadilly Circus now, think it used to be KFC.
kev1974 said:
People complaining about the prices of Five Guys, but I've yet to see a branch of theirs empty or short of customers!
At least they have great consistency about what you get; I've been to 5G a lot of times both here and in the US, and what you get is perfectly made every time. I went to Dirty Burger, which people rave about, and is similarly priced; but had a dreadful experience, cold lifeless burger, and really dull factory fries, nothing special at all.
I see that Shake Shack have a couple more branches now (but nothing like the proliferation of 5G). Think I saw that they are building a new one near Piccadilly Circus now, think it used to be KFC.
Because Sheep will follow sheep. A burger is a burger it not haute cuisine. Ok, meat quality is important so as long as you get that then who cares where you by it from. At least they have great consistency about what you get; I've been to 5G a lot of times both here and in the US, and what you get is perfectly made every time. I went to Dirty Burger, which people rave about, and is similarly priced; but had a dreadful experience, cold lifeless burger, and really dull factory fries, nothing special at all.
I see that Shake Shack have a couple more branches now (but nothing like the proliferation of 5G). Think I saw that they are building a new one near Piccadilly Circus now, think it used to be KFC.
Was pretty underwhelmed by the one in Bristol a while back.
They must be doing something right as the queue was out of the door, but it was just a big, noisy, untidy (tables not being cleared quickly etc) fast food joint.
Queue waiting to get in the door, it must be good it's busy!
Get to the front- It's so loud in here- girl behind the till is shouting at everyone and I have to yell my order to be heard,
Send the mrs off to find a table (she eventually had to someone else's rubbish off of one out of desperation- she's not happy, cleaning up after what must have been a table of monkeys attempting to smash through an entire sack of peanuts- there seems to be no staff actually out on the floor dealing with the mess, they all appear to be behind the massive counter)
Get robbed for over £25 for two burgers and fries with drinks,
Queue waiting for the one working drinks machine, which everybody seems to spend an age choosing a flavour on,
Queue waiting by the counter for someone to scream my order number at me at the top of their voice, decide to grab some peanuts- getting hungry now.
Fight through the crowds to the table.
Sit down, have a headache by this point, open the bag to find...
A mediocre burger and a couple of cups of OK chips. By now we just eat it reasonably quickly- we're a bit fed up just want to get back out into the relative tranquility of Cabot Circus.
It's not an experience I'll be rushing back to repeat. At half the price it may be worth enduring the noise, crowds and mess (maybe to take it out and scoff it in the car would be better...) but not paying what would get a meal in a "proper" chain restaurant where the food is not any worse and the experience much more pleasant.
They must be doing something right as the queue was out of the door, but it was just a big, noisy, untidy (tables not being cleared quickly etc) fast food joint.
Queue waiting to get in the door, it must be good it's busy!
Get to the front- It's so loud in here- girl behind the till is shouting at everyone and I have to yell my order to be heard,
Send the mrs off to find a table (she eventually had to someone else's rubbish off of one out of desperation- she's not happy, cleaning up after what must have been a table of monkeys attempting to smash through an entire sack of peanuts- there seems to be no staff actually out on the floor dealing with the mess, they all appear to be behind the massive counter)
Get robbed for over £25 for two burgers and fries with drinks,
Queue waiting for the one working drinks machine, which everybody seems to spend an age choosing a flavour on,
Queue waiting by the counter for someone to scream my order number at me at the top of their voice, decide to grab some peanuts- getting hungry now.
Fight through the crowds to the table.
Sit down, have a headache by this point, open the bag to find...
A mediocre burger and a couple of cups of OK chips. By now we just eat it reasonably quickly- we're a bit fed up just want to get back out into the relative tranquility of Cabot Circus.
It's not an experience I'll be rushing back to repeat. At half the price it may be worth enduring the noise, crowds and mess (maybe to take it out and scoff it in the car would be better...) but not paying what would get a meal in a "proper" chain restaurant where the food is not any worse and the experience much more pleasant.
Edited by Timfy on Wednesday 26th October 10:20
Type R Tom said:
If you're ever in the west coast of the US, have an in and out burger. You won't find a better chain burger anywhere. Amazing value for money as well, makes 5 guys seem like you've been robbed.
I thought it was pretty average. It was cheap and very very busy though. The menu annoyed me, apparently the secret menu is the real thing and whats on the board is just very basic. Not being American I had a bland basic burger and was probably the only person in the whole place who did. I really don't see the point in the secret menu when it's standard and everyone knows it except regular punters.Buzz word said:
Type R Tom said:
If you're ever in the west coast of the US, have an in and out burger. You won't find a better chain burger anywhere. Amazing value for money as well, makes 5 guys seem like you've been robbed.
I thought it was pretty average. It was cheap and very very busy though. The menu annoyed me, apparently the secret menu is the real thing and whats on the board is just very basic. Not being American I had a bland basic burger and was probably the only person in the whole place who did. I really don't see the point in the secret menu when it's standard and everyone knows it except regular punters.http://secretmenus.com/in-n-out-burger/secret-menu...
I know what you mean though, it's not often you need to do research before going to a burger chain!
As soon as they went provincial it clearly all went down hill. As I said back on page 2 or something.
Why they trot these things out to MK I have no idea, obviously a £17 burger to someone living there is going to be expensive, should have left it in Central London and have been done with it.
Why they trot these things out to MK I have no idea, obviously a £17 burger to someone living there is going to be expensive, should have left it in Central London and have been done with it.
okgo said:
As soon as they went provincial it clearly all went down hill. As I said back on page 2 or something.
Why they trot these things out to MK I have no idea, obviously a £17 burger to someone living there is going to be expensive, should have left it in Central London and have been done with it.
But the problem is not that it costs £17 for a burger and fries. The problem is that it costs £17 for a distinctly average burger and fries. If people in Central London are stupid enough to fall for that, good luck to them.Why they trot these things out to MK I have no idea, obviously a £17 burger to someone living there is going to be expensive, should have left it in Central London and have been done with it.
Clearly us provincial yokels are a little more uncomfortable with having their pants pulled down by an over-hyped McDonalds-a-like.
lauda said:
okgo said:
As soon as they went provincial it clearly all went down hill. As I said back on page 2 or something.
Why they trot these things out to MK I have no idea, obviously a £17 burger to someone living there is going to be expensive, should have left it in Central London and have been done with it.
But the problem is not that it costs £17 for a burger and fries. The problem is that it costs £17 for a distinctly average burger and fries. If people in Central London are stupid enough to fall for that, good luck to them.Why they trot these things out to MK I have no idea, obviously a £17 burger to someone living there is going to be expensive, should have left it in Central London and have been done with it.
Clearly us provincial yokels are a little more uncomfortable with having their pants pulled down by an over-hyped McDonalds-a-like.
At any rate, you haven't lived until you've eaten a Dip 'n' Flip.
Type R Tom said:
If you're ever in the west coast of the US, have an in and out burger. You won't find a better chain burger anywhere. Amazing value for money as well, makes 5 guys seem like you've been robbed.
I was disappointed with In-n-out when I was in LA, I prefer Five Guys, or Shake Shack, but there isn't one near me.C70R said:
You've pretty much made his point for him... There will always be people able/willing to pay that for mediocre food with a fun brand in London. In Bristol and MK, not so much.
At any rate, you haven't lived until you've eaten a Dip 'n' Flip.
I'm not sure that was his point though. His point was that people outside of London are unable/unwilling to pay £17 for a Five Guys. They're not, as evidenced by how busy my local one near Southampton was on Sunday.At any rate, you haven't lived until you've eaten a Dip 'n' Flip.
My issue with Five Guys has nothing to do with how much I or anyone else is prepared or able to spend on something. It's that fundementally the place is extremely poor value for money and a prime example of marketing over substance.
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.
lauda said:
C70R said:
You've pretty much made his point for him... There will always be people able/willing to pay that for mediocre food with a fun brand in London. In Bristol and MK, not so much.
At any rate, you haven't lived until you've eaten a Dip 'n' Flip.
I'm not sure that was his point though. His point was that people outside of London are unable/unwilling to pay £17 for a Five Guys. They're not, as evidenced by how busy my local one near Southampton was on Sunday.At any rate, you haven't lived until you've eaten a Dip 'n' Flip.
My issue with Five Guys has nothing to do with how much I or anyone else is prepared or able to spend on something. It's that fundementally the place is extremely poor value for money and a prime example of marketing over substance.
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
I just wish they would stop wrapping them in foil because a sweaty burger is on a downward spiral before it starts
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