359 replies to this topic

[AK@Spicehouse]

Does anyone else find it amazing that with 12,000 page views, this thread is a go to stop for E-Gulleters. I love the nuance discussion of Per Se, the "should I do Babbo or Lupa" bickering and the love of all things DuCasse. Then we read about the bun not being the correct size to hold the hot dog. LMAO. What a trip this is. The lowly hotdog, leftovers culinarted (sic) together and put in a casing, rates higher than the art work being served as food at Jean Georges, Le Bernadin and Les Halles. Gotta love NYer's...

The shack is indeed open.  The lines are brutal, the burgers are still amazing, and the prices have been changed to round off nicely with tax.

Finally, I can eat burgers again...

[Dryden]

the art work being served as food at Jean Georges, Le Bernadin and Les Halles.

Sing it with me - One of these things is not like the others...

[Holly Moore]

Breathes there a man with soul so dead who never to himself has said, "this Double Shack Burger - it is truly a work of art!"?

[AK@Spicehouse]

I can't be controversial, I supply everyone... Seems to me that on any given night, these are three dynamite restaurants. Never meant to breathe them in the same lung compression. I could have strung together Nathans, Shake Shack and RollNRoaster, but someone else would have had a fit. Maybe the trio of BLT Steak, "V" Steak and Tad's would crush you. It was just a thought...

the art work being served as food at Jean Georges, Le Bernadin and Les Halles.

Sing it with me - One of these things is not like the others...

[JennyUptown]

I'm heading to NYC on Friday and will arrive in time for lunch. Just suggested to my hostess that this where we start our weekend!

[tupac17616]

I'm heading to NYC on Friday and will arrive in time for lunch.  Just suggested to my hostess that this where we start our weekend!

Good call

[jauster]

Went for lunch today. Got there around 12:45. Wait was about 45-55 minutes. When we left at 2:15, the line was still as long as when I got there. Am happy to report that nothing has been lost during the off season. My cheeseburger was the best!

[Transparent]

The shack is indeed open.  The lines are brutal, the burgers are still amazing, and the prices have been changed to round off nicely with tax.

Finally, I can eat burgers again...

Finally! And just in time, too. Friday is half day of school. Time to hit the shake shack! How are the prices? Higher or lower? I'd be surprised if it was the latter. ;)

[philadining]

Well, get ready for even longer lines, Marcus Samuelsson has it in his list of "best meal deals" in the April Food and Wine mag.

[flinflon28]

I work at Shake Shack and let me firstly thank you all for being so excited for the return of what I think is the best burger in NY! I hope you find the food to be worth the wait. It is a very exciting to be swamped with orders, look out the window and see that the rush will not let up for another hour. Our team must be doing something right!

[JosephB]

I work at Shake Shack and let me firstly thank you all for being so excited for the return of what I think is the best burger in NY!    I hope you find the food to be worth the wait.  It is a very exciting to be swamped with orders, look out the window and see that the rush will not let up for another hour.  Our team must be doing something right!

Is there a line before noon and after 2:00 pm?

[Dryden]

Yup.

[georgeb]

OK...

[nypork]

Cmon waiting 55 minutes for a burger,they are not that good

[jauster]

Cmon waiting 55 minutes for a burger,they are not that good

They are pretty darn good. Plus, the weather was warm for the first time this spring. I don't think folks really minded hanging out in the park in line. I'm sure this is the initial rush - people are excited for spring and excited that their favorite burger is back. Once we're in the middle of summer, lines will be much more manageable like last year.

[bpearis]

They are pretty darn good.  Plus, the weather was warm for the first time this spring.  I don't think folks really minded hanging out in the park in line.  I'm sure this is the initial rush - people are excited for spring and excited that their favorite burger is back.  Once we're in the middle of summer, lines will be much more manageable like last year.

The shack burgers are really, really good. The only thing bad about them is one isn't enough but two are probably two much. Solution: get a shack burger and a chicago dog. I went yesterday. The line to order took no time -- it was the pickup line that was backed-up -- i think we ordered around 2 and got our food in about 20 minutes. When the weather is as nice as it was yesterday, it was like playing hookie from work (okay, it was hookie from work). Besides the initial rush of the first week, the other thing making it so crowded is the limited hours. I think when people know they can go after work (starting in May) lines will dissapate somewhat.

It looks like they are building bathrooms nearby as well.

[juuceman]

It looks like they are building bathrooms nearby as well.

are you talking about the cinder block building structure going up nearby?? if so, i think that's the new artwork for the summertime.

[bpearis]

It looks like they are building bathrooms nearby as well.

are you talking about the cinder block building structure going up nearby?? if so, i think that's the new artwork for the summertime.

i was. that's disappointing. they need bathrooms there.

[Transparent]

Pft, I thought they were bathrooms too. I got there at around 12:30, and the line wasn't that bad. I ended up waiting 20~30 minutes before I sat down. The line was much worse as I glanced from the front. It was mostly people on lunch break. Weather was great, too. Not as great as yerterday, of course (75F!)

[brooklyncook]

I don't think I've seen this mentioned, but how early are they open? I'm down the street, and figured I'd plan my attack by showing up as soon as they're ready.

I'll consider my burgers "brunch," having not had breakfast.

[ned]

I think they open at 11am.

[dahlsk]

They're open from 11-4 during April. I was just in NYC this week with my husband and it was the first meal we had in town. Tuesday, with the weather so nice, it was great! We had shack burgers, fries, concrete and shake. Arriving at noon, our wait was 30 minutes to order, but only 10 to pick up. It definitely was a kick off to a fun trip :)
dahlsk

[brooklyncook]

They're open from 11-4 during April.  I was just in NYC this week with my husband and it was the first meal we had in town.  Tuesday, with the weather so nice, it was great!  We had shack burgers, fries, concrete and shake.  Arriving at noon, our wait was 30 minutes to order, but only 10 to pick up.  It definitely was a kick off to a fun trip :)
dahlsk

Fantastic. I'll have to plan for tomorrow, I think, since any attempt now at trying to get burgers will result in me extending my lunch break far beyond what it should be. :)

[georgeb]

Stopped by at 11 am today... beautiful sunshine, was fourth in line, so 4 minute wait.

Didn't have the shake, but had the chicago style dog, fries and a soda. The dog was good, real poppy seed bun and vienna hotdog, with pickles, lettuce, tomato, bright green relish, sport peppers and celery salt. Good, but not as good as the gold coast dogs I recall from Chicago.

All that said, worth the stop, worth the wait in line... maybe next time I'll try the burgers...

gb

[flinflon28]

There are lots of things wer are trying to do to make the lines at the shack more reasonable. If you come from 11-11:30 on weekends there is practically no wait but afterwards it gets a bit loony. We always try to explain that it is not the cashiers or ordering that is the problem rather the fact that each burger is made to order and the grill is just a small to medium sized flattop. We also butter and toast all the buns on the same grill so that takes up valuable burger space. There is talk about a smaller flattop coming in soon strictly for bun toasting and that may speed things up. We may also be starting a custard only line but this is still just an idea.
This past Sunday we were short staffed and everything seemed to flow like silk as far as getting orders out steadily if not lightning quick. It is amazing to look out of the window and ALWAYS see a line that goes to the corner of 23rd street...it's a real rush!

[eatpie]

I waited an hour in line on Saturday - around 2pm. It was a beutiful day so I actually enjoyed the wait. Double Shack Burger was outstanding. I recalled the
fries being so-so and ended up being pleasantly surprised although our order of cheese on the "cheese fries" had coagulated by the time our food was ready. Choc Shake was over mixed and had too much milk, Arnie Palmer was delish. $16 was a steep price tag but I def overindulged.

I had a few bites of a their tasty fried Portobello Burger - good stuff.

[kjohn]

I seem to have good luck with hitting the Shack at just the right times. Late afternoons seem to be pretty good.

[SethG]

Hit the Shack today about 1:45 only to see a pretty huge line. But hats off to the staff, it moved pretty fast. I made it to the counter in about 15 minutes, then waited a few more minutes for my cheeseburger, fries & shake. Very satisfying lunch.

The nearby construction adds a certain dust bowl quality to the seating area. I took my goods to a bench in the park proper.

[Avumede]

One complaint: Their concretes are way too large and expensive. I would prefer getting a quarter of a cup, even if it is as much as half the current price.

[bergerka]

Now that it's May 16, does anyone know how late in the evening they're open? Neither their phone message nor their website is updated and I want to eat dinner there after work tonight.

K