UES finally getting a SHAKE SHACK

[pbjluver]

Big article in the NY Times Business section today.

I am thrilled that something like Shake Shack will be filling
that spooky, vast empty space on 86th Street.
A space that has been void of retail for years and years.

Great for the neighborhood.

[ellenost]

It's open (tonight only until 8--soft opening; will be open until 11 starting Friday). I figured I'd try it tonight before everyone else got in line. I got in line at 6:30; waited 1/2 hour to place my order ('shroom burger, single shack burger, and a new concrete "coffee bean brownie"); waited 10 minutes for the food (five minutes walking back to my apt.). Food was still warm and tasty. Staff was giving out tastings of chocolate and melon custards. There are a number of booths inside as well as communal tables. There are also tables outside in the plaza area. Staff was very friendly. Only request: the paper bags for take out need to be stronger (I was afraid I'd be walking on 86th St. with my burgers dropping out of the bag). It'll be interesting to see the length of the line next week when word gets out that it's open. I think Shake Shack will do great on 86th St. (2 movie complexes, next to Barnes & Noble, and near the subway). I hope they offer the "B" line that they have at Madison Square Park.

[nativeNYer]

enjoy, UES'ers!! i live 5 blocks from the UWS location and could not have been happier to welcome them to the nabe. it's always crowded but they do their best to keep the lines moving and the general manager is extremely accommodating (i.e. takes feedback seriously). wishing the same for you guys.

[MMRuth]

25 minute wait as of about half an hour ago ... passed for now!

[teresa]

I walk by Shake Shack everyday and I've noticed that they have removed all the paper and we can see into the restaurant. When will they be opening? I am really anxious. I heard about the long line at the new one in Times Square. I am hoping this location will be as busy as the UWS location.

Any updates?!

[Jane A.]

Aside from all the local traffic, it's likely to be mobbed after school. Several schools feed to the 86 St. Crosstown bus.

[teresa]

I'm not sure if anyone is excited about the opening of this location, but I checked last night and they now have a sign on their door saying that the wait is almost over! I hope they open by the end of this week. From what I saw, there seems to be plenty of seating inside. I am hoping they have outside seating as well. The menus are up and the kitchen looks ready to go!

[ellenost]

Yes, I noticed that the construction is almost over. I hope it opens soon since I just checked the August soft serve menu, and most of the flavors looks great: salted caramel, sweet corn, and caramelized peach. The other flavors look good too!

[smarty]

As I walked by this morning, I heard a workman say it should open on Friday, 8/6.

[ellenost]

Thanks for the "heads-up"!

[pbjluver]

should I get on line now?

[ellenost]

That's actually not a bad idea.

[RGR]

Now, in the event that someone in our immediate family gets a "Shack Attack," we're all covered. Our apartment is a few blocks from the flagship in Madison Sq. Park, and our daughter and s-i-l live just a few blocks from the UES location. I have this vision of the line up there wending its way past the entrance to their building! lol

As much as I love Shake Shack, I would never wait on line more than 15 minutes max. No burger -- or any other food, for that matter -- is worth a long wait.

Shake Shack photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391@N03/sets/72157622199439453/

http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com

[pbjluver]

http://ny.eater.com/tags/shake-shack

[ellenost]

Bummer! Missed the free samples yesterday. I knew I should have walked on 86th Street after the gym.

[teresa]

I am so excited! I will attempt to get on Friday. :)

[teresa]

I walked by SS yesterday evening. I noticed there were SS employees standing outside giving out menus. There were plenty of people inside and eating. I was told that it was a family and friends event and that they should be opening on Thursday or Friday this week. I can't wait for my shack burger.

[RGR]

Acc. to Eater, SS is soft open, and there is a line. Quel surprise!

http://ny.eater.com/archives/2010/08/shake_shack_upper_east_side_is_soft_open_now_now_now.php

http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com

[ml77]

I've searched the series of tubes and can't find any updates on this. I live in the nabe and have seen ZERO activity at this site. Is there an ETA?

[natsellspots]

I walk by the site everyday and it is now under construction. If you go to the SS website, click on locations and then choose UES, the menu is already up. (The menus for the "concrete's are different at each location).

[ml77]

Yes, since posting this three weeks ago I've seen that some activity is beginning at the site. Summer can't get here fast enough!

[ellenost]

I'm very happy to have Shake Shack in the neighborhood. Although I love EMP, Ko and Per Se, it's great to have "fun" food nearby. Since my apartment is only 5 minutes away, I can get my "shroom burger" back home, and it'll still be warm. Personally, I don't think anything Danny Meyer does is "crappy". I've been to most of his restaurants, and have always been impressed with the high quality of the food (including Shake Shack).

[nativeNYer]

I'm 5 blocks from SS's UWS location. After trying many burger spots throughout Manhattan, these burgers are one of my favorites. No, I wouldn't wait 2 hours in line for them, but I have no complaints. Initially, when they first opened, it seemed like they were somehow creating long lines. We addressed it and the problem was immediately fixed. Now, it's still crowded but the lines are reasonable b/c they aren't stalling. Seat turnaround is not bad either. Afterall, the seats are so uncomfortable that, once you're done, you just wanna go which is fine. This, of course, negates the pro-communal atmosphere Danny Myers claims to have created but I don't really care. Burger is good, service is good and there's a place to sit if you wait 5-10 min.

[teresa]

I'm also very excited about Shake Shack coming to 86th Street. I hope the restaurant is ready by spring. Their burgers remind me of In-n-Out. Also, the size is perfect. The patty isn't overwhelming. Also, we can't forget their fries, shakes and custards! This will be great for a neighborhood full of over-priced diners. It's hard to find anything tasty that is decently priced in the UES wasteland.

[thew]

oh good.now we can get crappy fast food burgers that are trendy without having to travel.

at least it should makes the lines at paty's across the street shorter

[gutsofsteel]

You know I don't think it's worthy of a wait on a line, but it's a decent burger. I don't understand all the hoopla about the burger, but "crappy fast food" it isn't.

[thew]

let me clarify - for a fast food burger it is probably not bad at all. but compared to burgers you can get in almost any diner in the city - it's crap. to me. line or no line i would rather go to the viand or gracies corner if i wanted a burger on 86th st. or if i wanted a slightly nicer pub feel up to genesis on 88 and 2nd

[smokeandapancake]

JG is still my UES go to .

[gutsofsteel]

Those are different styles of burgers than Shake Shack's burgers.
They also serve beer and wine and other good things. It's really not the same, it's apples vs oranges. I don't love the fries but lots of people do. Shake Shack serves good food - not great, not worth a wait in a line, but good. And I look forward to having it in the 'hood. It's not the same as sitting in a diner in any way.

[smokeandapancake]

Im just saying, i prefer a JG melon burger over Shake shack. that's all.

[gutsofsteel]

My post was directed toward "thew"

[thew]

yes - they are different styles. and the fast food style, shake shake and in and out, apparently the pinnacles of that style, fail to impress me or please me in any way. thus, for me, shake shack is a crappy fast food burger that i cannot imagine choosing over a coffeeshop or diner (which are places i would never order a wine or a beer BTW) or a good pub burger.

and no intellectualization or categorization is going to change that, for me

[gutsofsteel]

I hear you, you don't like that style of burger. But that doesn't make it crappy - it just means you don't like that style. I do like that style, and there are plenty of crappy versions, but the Shake Shack isn't one of those. I'm not so sure actually what "crappy" means. Is a Big Mac "crappy?" Because i think they taste great and I occasionally crave one. So maybe a Big Mac is crappy because of the crappy quality of ingredients? Shake Shack doesn't use crappy quality ingredients so not sure what makes it "crappy." If it's not to your liking, that's a different issue.

[thew]

in my universe, my not liking something does indeed make it crappy. as in, it tastes like crap to me

[MMRuth]

Well, I don't like a lot of offal, but that doesn't mean it's crappy, just because I don't like it.

[thew]

no, it would mean it was crappy if I didn't like it....

;)

[gutsofsteel]

Well as long as that's clear.

[MMRuth]

What is paty's? And, have you had a chance to try the Ottomanelli burger?

[gutsofsteel]

Paty's is the taco truck on 86th St I think.

[MMRuth]

Ah ok - just didn't know it's name - have had a couple of good tacos from it.

[MVNYC]

Ottomanelli's burger is very good and not talked about a lot. I never really understood the love for Shake Shack but to each their own. I prefer a larger meaty burger to a fast food style.

[thew]

bingo

[gutsofsteel]

Bingo indeed, but that doesn't make the Shake Shack burger "crappy."

[MMRuth]

I like both of them very much - just two different kinds of burgers.

[gutsofsteel]

Do a search - there have been discussions about this here on CH already I think.

[smokeandapancake]

yea-this was in the times a few months ago..regardless, great news.

[gutsofsteel]

Is there an estimated date for opening yet?

[smokeandapancake]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/16/din...

[MVNYC]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/20/rea...