Favourites at Shake Shack?

[Ani]

Hi all,
I will visiting from Montreal in April and am really curious about the shake shack. Fellow chowhounders have suggested it and I was wondering what were your favourite orders. I tried to take a look at the menu online but it isn't working for some reason. So curious to see the hits and the misses.
Thanks,
Ani

[ballulah]

BTW, for Ani the OP who couldn't see the menu online, Menupages.com is a website you can use to look up a lot of NYC menus. Here's the link to the Shake Shack.

http://www.menupages.com/restaurantde...

[Bottom Feeding Foodie]

Just wanted to update the board, the shack is back and just as good as last season. The lines are not too bad as thievery stated. I waited less than 15 minutes. I am enjoying my chocolate shake as I type.

[dw438]

When I'm on line or waiting I make like I'm on line at some In-N-Out Burger in Los Angeles, with the temps in the 80's or so. Then I order a double shack burger, fries and a shake, and it's like I'm in la-la-land again.

[caphill2320]

Is it really as good as In N Out?? I'm headed up to the city to visit my folks and was thinking about trying to go Saturday for lunch. Are the lines truly insane on the weekend? What if you get there right at 11?

[jakew8]

Many would argue that SS is better than In N Out b/c SS uses a better blend of meat (i.e., different cuts, not better quality per se).

The earlier you get there, the better. I and my hung-over companions (and most others like us) don't seem to make it before 12:30.

[thievery]

just ate my first shack of the year during this afternoon's dry run opening. about 25 min from getting on line to getting food. nice addition this year... they give you a pager when you order. so you can run errands in the area while waiting.

still tasty as ever.

[Odelay101]

RE: Hot Dogs

Apparently this year they've installed a griddle, so no more steamed dogs. We'll see how that works out.

They also now have those chain restaurant styl buzzers to let you know whne your food is ready, so you don't have to listen for your name.

[jakew8]

I don't understand when a) they need the buzzers and b) they started to accept credit cards.

The cash-only was fine b/c everything came out to 25-cent numbers. I guess they think that the extra that people spend w/ credit cards will more than make up for the merchant fees.

As for the buzzers, really? I always thought that standing up there waiting for the food made you feel more connected to your fellow shack patrons. I guess they don't like the crowd by the window?

And if either was designed to make the place more appealing in any way and attract more business--stop! There's enough already!

[NowThatsGreatFood]

Go for the classic single and dress it yourself. The fries are excellent. See this photo for a little eye candy!

[ballulah]

Bring your dog and get a poochini. Vanilla frozen custard, peanut butter and dog biscuits. Watch your dog go absolutely nuts.

[a_and_w]

Cheeseburger with fries if I'm staying, two cheeseburgers and no fries if it's "to go." The fries are tasty when hot but quickly get cold.

[linengirl]

Ani,
I don't think you need to worry too much about what you order. New Yorkers get all passionate about SS burgers, but remember that we don't have backyards or bbqs to make our own burgers and hot dogs with. You'll probably make better yourself, at home, later this summer. At least, that's my opinion. Although I have great respect for those guys, and our office would revolt if they closed. Bottom line: for you I think it'll be more about the experience: pick a nice day, enjoy standing in line (yes, that's part of it!), order a beer and a burger, or a shake and a burger, some fries, and sit in the park with us. It's a great way to watch the city go by...

Have fun!

[livetotravel]

unless you have sirloin and brisket at home, and mix it in just the right combo, you won't even come close to duplicating the SS burger.

[Ani]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I was just curious about what shake shack had to offer and don't worry, eating burgers and drinking beer and shakes on a nice day sounds great to me!

[steakrules85]

Does Shake Shack cook your burger rare if you ask for it that way? I know a lot of places won't but I think they would.

[jakew8]

I've never heard of anyone ordering a burger to temperature at shake shack.

that being said, the thing that I love about SS is that the meat is just still tender and juicy even when cooked throughout. i usually hate when burgers are grey throughout, but the shack is my lone exception.

[kesues]

i always get the schroom - stack burger and order it rare.... it doesn't usually come rare, but it does come pink in the middle (rather than grey throughout) and i find it much jucier.

[Polecat]

I think we're all agreed - those of us willing to publicly date ourselves - that Shake Shack could only stand to gain from starting a line of Sid and Marty Croft Supershow menu items.

Here's my conundrum: How to order the burgers, fries, etc. as well as the dessert items and time them in such a way as to eat everything in a nice relaxed manner without the custard melting on you. Since both lines move at different rates, your dessert is more likely to ready first. Anyone ever devise a workable strategy?

Problems, problems....

[Lucia]

Eat fast!
If you want a simple dessert, you could always go back in the B line and get your custard after you're done eating.

[ballulah]

See, I decided in college that without parental supervision if I wanted to eat dessert first, I'd eat dessert first. hahaha.

[CornflakeGirl]

Previously they allowed you to place your entire order at the same time but request your custard when you finished your burgers/dogs/fries.

When you're ready for your concrete you just return to the p/u window and they'll make it for you.

This way you don't have to get back on the order line.

I really hope they're continuing this practice.

[hugglyj]

i LOVE the double shack but sub one of the patties for a shroom burger. the portobello with the cheese that oozes out. mmm goodness. definitely NOT healthy but so tasty. with onions, and pickles + some water, that's enough for me. can't handle any more.

[jakew8]

that's called the "Double Stack"

[steakrules85]

That sounds awesome but I don't see Double Stack on the menu. They will substitute one of the patties for a shroom burger though huh? Sounds astounding.

[jakew8]

I went there with an out-of-towner friend and we ordered separately. I told him to order a double shack, and he accidentally said double stack. he got the burger/shroom combo. maybe he somehow got a lesser version of the "shack stack" with only one beef patty.

[roze]

I have been going to the shack since day one (live one block away) and never thought about this combination before. Got one for dinner last night--omg- you have given me a whole new outlook on what I ALREADY thought was one of the best burgers! Thanks!

[davisready]

Shake Shack was open last night?! I thought they weren't opening until tomorrow.

[roze]

They did a soft opening yesterday from 12 to 6:00. Probably will again today. Official opening is still tomorrow.

[a_and_w]

Huggly, that sounds...incredible!

[thievery]

i go for 2 shack burgers rather than 1 double shack (when that hungry). the balance of bun, condiments and meat is ideal in a single (and the bun is one of the great selling points of the shack)... but i'm a bigger fan of thin burgers than the overly thick patties at most places...

cheese fries over regular fries.

[Ani]

Hi all, thanks so much, am really looking forward to it. Have a good one!

[livetotravel]

OMG - This Wednesday, the 21st, is opening day - I will be there!

Double Shack Burger
Fries
Water (as a concession to all the calories above!)

[hominaray]

Shack Burger
Another Shack Burger
Maybe some fries
Arnold Palmer

[fascfoo]

My standard meal at shake shack:
Double Shack Burger
Chicago Dog
One of the shakes.

[jsmitty]

the portobello burger is very good if you want to go that way

[ricky7]

i go with the double shack and the arnold palmer. fries are ok and nothing special about the hot dogs. but the burger rules. oh the lines, the lines...

[eve]

Check out www.shakeshacknyc.com (or is it shakeshackny.com?) for opening date (next week). My favorite trio (of which I only order two at a time) is the shack burger, shroom burger and Chicago dog. I pass on the fries--not my favorite.

[jza1218]

Double Shack Burger
Cheese Fries
Beer

[Kanger]

For the burger, I usually go for a double plain--I do like the shack sauce and cheese, but I feel like the meat is so damn good that I don't want to sully the flavor at all. For drinks, I go for a pint of Brooklyn or Longboard Lager, or the Concrete Jungle if I can find someone to share.

[rose water]

exactly what kanger said re: burger. plus/minus lemonade (nicely sour, not too sweet), fries, or brooklyn lager.

[Lucia]

Cheeseburger, cheese fries, and either a sundae or a concrete jungle.

[jakew8]

Double Shack Burger.
Fries.
Black and white shake.
Water.

That's my usual order. I don't really like the hot dogs as much.

[dkstar1]

I'd have to agree for the most part. The fries aren't that great and I'd rather have a root beer float but yes to the double shack burger, water (salty burgers) and up until this year, I'd agree with the hot dogs.

My problem with the hot dogs of seasons past, is that they were boiled. Now that they have a hot dog griddle, I think giving the dogs a second chance will reap rewards.

One thing about the burgers...it's just like the story of Goldilocks. The single shack burger isn't enough, the triple shack burger is too much but the double shack burger is juuuust right.