Shake Shack now open year-round?

[xnumberoneson]

I'm very excited about this news. I've always wanted go there, but I only get back home to NY during the holidays when it's closed. I'm hoping that the lines won't be quite as long in the cold weather, but New Yorkers are a hardy bunch and the tourists will be out in full force at Christmastime as well. Either way, I'm planning to make a burger run when I'm home in December! Would love to read reports about the winter version of Shake Shack. I'm assuming the shakes will be replaced with variations of coffee and hot chocolate.

[KateMW]

Ok, the menu looks great, but are these burgers THAT good? I love burgers. They are my guilty pleasure. They sound great! What about BLT Burger? Those look good and they have spiked shakes!

[MMRuth]

I recently had the toasted marshmallow shake at Stand, which was fantastic (not spiked, but they do have some spiked ones). Hamburgers there also very good - and better fries, I think.

[CornflakeGirl]

We were just at Stand a couple of weeks ago and wanted to love it. It was good but we ended up feeling a bit let down.

Everything on the pickle plate had the exact same flavor. The Marshmallow shake was good but much more like a dessert than a beverage. I ordered it for myself. It was smaller than I expected and I still didn't finish it. Even with my SO pitching in to help.

The burgers however, had almost no flavor. Even with the onion marmalade. Big letdown! The fries and onion rings were good though.

[Lucia]

I've been to BLT Burger only once shortly after it opened. My burger was good, not great. SS is my favorite in the city--you should definitely give it a try if you haven't yet. And their concretes/other custard creations are my favorite frozen desserts in the city. I agree w/MMRuth that the shakes at Stand are also very good.

[jakew8]

I've been to BLT Burger many times. I think that the lamb burger and the chili are the highlights there. The beef burgers are so-so.

Shake Shack, on the other hand is my favorite burger in the city. The beef blend allows the relatively thin patties to be cooked but retain their moisture and they don't "bleed out" myoglobin (or "blood" as most diners errantly call it). The shack sauce (get the Shack Burger), fixins, and buns are delicious. The weak link at Shake Shack is the fries. They're not bad, but they don't compare to the quality of the burger. Now, Shake Shack is prone to the oft-heard "overrated, especially for the wait" gripe, but that argument contains a contradiction: when it's nice out, why complain about standing in line outside in the nice park? And when it's not nice outside--i.e., when you wouldn't want to wait outside--then it's not crowded. Problem solved!

If you need an indoor burger option in the area, I think that Stand is a better (and less expensive) choice than BLT Burger. Get the pot of pickles to start!

[KateMW]

Thanks Jake...now where is the Stand?

[jakew8]

Stand is on 12th Street between 5th and University Avenues.

[MMRuth]

Adding place:

-----
Stromboli
112 University Pl, New York, NY 10003

[Bob Martinez]

"when it's nice out, why complain about standing in line outside in the nice park?"

The "standing in line" part is not normally considered to be a good thing. Sure, it's worse to be standing on line in rain or cold but even on a nice day standing on line for 45 minutes is not something most people like to do.

[MMRuth]

I have always avoided the line by going between 11 and 12 on the weekend. Can't imagine standing in line for Shake Shack for an extended period of time, but when the line is short or non-existent, it's a fun lunch in the park. (Great sculpture these days as well.)

[kathryn]

Heat lamps are go!

http://eater.com/archives/2008/01/eat...

[kathryn]

Year-round Shack confirmed by the NYT:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/28/din...

They will be closed Dec 22. through Jan. 2. And Shake Shack will be taking take-out orders by phone; $25 order minimum. [phone].

[kathryn]

Update: takeout/phone orders are only avail. Dec. 3 - March 1. The system appears to be up and running smoothly already.

The new heat lamps are not there yet. They will be installed during the period they are closed and they plan to have 'em fully operational by Jan. 3.

[TBird]

"The new heat lamps are not there yet."

certainly could have used them there today at lunch. but i'm not complaining! now that's a tasty burger....
:-)

[livetotravel]

Went today and the manager on duty confirmed all year 'round operation with closing for 3 weeks around Christmas/New Year.

BTW - I was there at around 2:00 PM and "only" waited 37 minutes total - in-line and waiting to get buzzed - not bad by my experiences. And, the Shack burger was once again magnifique and perfectly medium rare - the fries were hot and crispy.

[ultraclay]

Hopefully cold weather will cut down on the lines. I haven't had been there all year because I haven't been willing to wait an hour for a burger, no matter how heavenly it is.

Given the line I saw on the shack cam yesterday afternoon, I'm going to give it another 20 degrees before I give it a try.
::c::
http://www.ultraclay.com/

[TBird]

i go weekly and have never waited in an hour long line. it can be done.

[MMRuth]

We don't go weekly, but when we go at 11 or 12 on a cloudy Sat. morning - no lines.

[David W]

update from the V V-
http://www.villagevoice.com/blogs/foo...

[xnumberoneson]

The article says they will be closed for a period "around the holidays." That's when I'll be back home, so hopefully I can catch them before they shut down for Christmas and New Years.

[CalJack]

Please provide a reliable source for this otherwise-outlandish promise of cold-weather burger bliss.

[David W]

http://www.shakeshacknyc.com/

"Beginning Monday, November 5th, Shake Shack will be open daily from 11:30 AM-6:30PM"

[MMRuth]

Is it possible though that that is just a change to their closing time?

Rumor here:

http://nymag.com/daily/food/2007/05/k...

[David W]

Ah, good point. Sometimes you see what you want to see...

[TBird]

confirmed by asking last week when i was there. hummmm, maybe i should go by today, just to "confirm" again? ;-)

[CornflakeGirl]

They're going to be open year round with heat lamps to fight the cold weather.

[kathryn]

Yes, please! And if you can get it in writing, that would be nice, too. :)

[TBird]

tbirds the name, taking one for the team is my game! :-)

[kathryn]

Where did you hear this news?

I've seen them have hot chocolate when it's colder out, but it's usually a special. Never seen them have coffee.

They closed on December 1 in 2006. December 23 in 2005.

[janellegunther]

my boyfriend had lunch here monday and he asked about when they closed for the season, the employee told him they weren't closing this year. i forgot to spread the good news.

[kathryn]

Hooray!

See also:
http://www.villagevoice.com/blogs/foo...