Shake Shack

Oompa keeps up and knows some of the best burgers are at The Parker Merdien Hotel, PJ Clarkes, and of course Peter Lugar's! Oompa also had a powerful craving for a burger, and since the other 3 locations Oompa mentions were not convenient for Oompa, she went to Shake Shack! Oompa had heard about the long lines, but was shocked when she arrived at Madison Square Park. There were probably 60 people already in line! Oompa was hungry and in stylish shoes, so the wait was almost too much, but the friend Oompa met wanted to try very badly so Oompa waited. Oompa wondered as she waited in line who the others in line were talking to on their cellualar phones. Does anyone speak to those with them? Oompa and friend did, and told jokes while we moved in line. Others must have found them funny because we got some glances. After all this, did Oompa eat? Eventually! Oompa ordered the Shake Burger and Cheese Fries, and of course a beer for Oompa! But instead of being seated and eating, Oompa was given a beeper to notify her when the hamburger had been cooked and was ready. Oompa was aghast at more waiting, but a cold brew and a table to sit at did help. Oompa liked her burger just fine - it was tasty. Oompa also very much liked the french fries with delicious cheese. But even though the park is scneic, Oompa thinks the wait was excessive since you can get delicious hamburgers elsewhere faster and more comfortably! Oompa does not have any jokes left to tell if she went back and had to wait on a long line again!

Wow, the burgers were really juicy, I loved it. But the burger is really small, I could eat a couple more. I really like the fact it is in the middle of a park.

I don't know what the rest of these people are saying, but Shake Shack is by far the best burger in town. From bun to bun, the instant this burger (by the way, Double Stack burger with the stuffed portobello is what I'm referring to) touches the back of your palate, youre hooked. Waiting in the line is a pain, but you won't find better combo of cheese fries and burgers anywhere. I've tried. I'm waiting for the national franchise to roll out.

We went to this place on a Saturday. It was rainy and still pretty crowded. Up to this point the best burger I have had was at Big Nicks Burger and Pizza Joint on 72nd St. I am still not sure but Shake Shack may have a better burger. We still think that Big Nicks has a much better Shake then Shake Shack. But the burgers at Shake Shack are very reasonably priced and have a very good flavor to them. I think I probably won't go there again only because it is just outdoor seating...unless I was taking them there to try it out. It was very good.

As a New Yorker who did the unthinkable and moved to New Jersey, (it's cheaper, people, lets get a grip, times is hard!) I often forego all the cry-babying people do about over-hyped places like this. Let's get real, they're hyped because they ARE good. Magnolia cupcakes are heavenly, Blockhead's $3 margaritas are delightful and the Shake Shack- oh man. But I wanted to write this because of one thing, I recently went with a friend who would never forego meat in favor of a vegetarian option. While she was pleased with the seasoning on her beef burger, once she bit in to my Shroom Burger, her eyes turned ravenous and I could see her weighing the importance of our friendship vs. running off with my lunch. From her first bite of the ooey gooey cheese oozing out of the crisp fried portabella, it was love. She has been heckling me since to return and, but of course, I shall comply.

Delicious burger BUT not the best in the city. The burger joint in Le Parker Meridien is the best burger in the city. However, I find that comparing it to the Shake Shack is an apples-oranges affair. The Burger Joint is a heavily juicy, broiled burger with "the works" (ketch, must, onion, let, tom, mayo). Shake Shack is not as juicy but has a very interesting meat profile (sirloin & brisket, I think) that brings out the salt and fat (in a GOOD way!). Plus, the shackburger has that delicious but indescribable Shack Sauce. Go at around 4 or 5 in the afternoon on any weekday ('cept Friday) to avoid lines. While it's not the best (in my opinion) it's easily second place and is worth the wait even if the line is huge.

On a nice day the wait is 45 minutes to place your order and then another 15 to get it. That said, the shack burger and fries were so delicious you almost forget your lost time. The advice is: know how to entertain yourself. Most people stand with friends and talk, I decided to treat myself to one of their ice creams (that line is much shorter) and that helped pass the time. Try their frozen concretes. I didn't like the chicken apple sausages at all. I'll stick with the amazing burgers.