Smashburger

[jim07044]

The Montclair location is now open: http://www.baristanet.com/food/2009/12/a_smashing_star.php

[LJC]

Fair to Poor...

Nothing served at smashburger is anything better than fair; not offensive but far from great or even very good. Burger is on par or just below the level of 5 guys (ok, not bad), fries are weak, sweet pot fries are soggy and the milkshakes are thin. Fried pickels are horrid. Not impressed at all and don't see any reason to return.

[hitmanoo]

Fair to Poor...

Nothing served at smashburger is anything better than fair; not offensive but far from great or even very good. Burger is on par or just below the level of 5 guys (ok, not bad), fries are weak, sweet pot fries are soggy and the milkshakes are thin. Fried pickels are horrid. Not impressed at all and don't see any reason to return.

I disagree. Tried the Montclair location a week or so ago. I went with the BBQ Bacon burger w/o cheese. I found that the larger size of the burger actually allowed them to create a juicier product than that served at Five Guys. Certainly not an epic burger, but I found it to be superior to Five Guys. Not to mention a little more creativity as well.

That being said, the Five Guys fries are far superior. Since Amazing Hot Dog closed in Verona, there are no twice cooked fries to be found in this area, so I'm excited for the Montclair Five Guys to open. The fries at Smashburger are certainly decent. Their Smashfries have a super rosemary flavor, and you really have to like rosemary to enjoy them, otherwise you'll be overwhelmed. They just don't get that crispness that you can only obtain with a twice fried product.

Certainly both Five Guys and Smashburger are putting out a superior product to a McDonalds/Burger King, etc. If you're doing fast food and the actual burger is your priority Smashburger is superior. If you're a fries lover go with Five Guys.

[Cook456]

Clifton Smashburger opened last week, on Route 3 West, just before the Promenande.