vip in the city

Shake Shack attack

Since its highly hyped debut in July 2004, it seems that Shake Shack has been constantly in the news, making just about every best burger list in NYC (and a few around the country), so I don’t need to add anything more here about how tasty these burgers are, or how long the lines can be.

HH had just started a new gig near Madison Square Park, and since I hadn’t ventured it in a couple of seasons, this afternoon seemed as fine a time as any to attempt a visit back to the Shack. At peak times, I’ve known the line to stretch 40-50 deep, but this afternoon, we “only” had to delay our burger gratification — from arrival to eating — by about 40 minutes. It may have been just good luck, or perhaps after three years the Shack has become so crowded, nobody goes there anymore.

We were a day early for Shacktoberfest, so without the “special Shacktoberfest offerings” to distract, our choice was clear. We put in an order for a round of Shack burgers and fries and repaired to the picnic tables to wait. Last year, due to popular demand, the Shack installed a live ShackCam (rendering the ShackWatchers photo posting service obsolete) so that would-be visitors could monitor the order line and plan their food runs accordingly. This year, they introduced what has been dubbed the ShackWand, which buzzes to let you know when your order is ready for pick-up. Beats the old system of hovering by the window, straining to hear your number called out into the park.

Not everyone is a fan: earlier this year, The Post‘s Steve Cuozzo snarkily deemed Shake Shack’s “the most overrated burger in New York.” Maybe, but as I sat with my friends in the warm Autumn sunshine, burger juice and special Shack sauce dribbling down my chin, I had no complaints.

There are 3 Comments ... Shake Shack attack

H20Buffalo
October 17, 2007

I am skeptical of standing on line for a burger. I still wouldn’t but we went one night, also in October, and there was no line so we tried the burgers. They were quite good I admit. The shake was nice too. Anyone try the concrete yet?
I will advise for any peeps who head down to the shakeshack only to have the line be a major deterrent, that there is a secret institution just down the street that has been there since the ’20’s: Eisenberg’s. @ 174 5th Avenue between 22nd and 23rd street. Great shakes, sandwiches and good burgers. Neither a wait nor trendy attitudes; just good food. It’s so old school it’s mostly open during the day when the neighborhood was not gentrified with people *gasp* even thinking about living in the flatiron district!

Qsoz
October 17, 2007

“Repaired”…nice one. 🙂

vipnyc
October 17, 2007

@H20Buffalo: Eisenberg’s! “The Best Place To Pretend You’re In A Movie About New York Where An Important Scene Plays Out In A Tiny Coffee Shop”

@Qsoz: Heh. I knew you’d like that one.

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