9 p.m. Just after tonight's crazy thunderstorm let up a bit. No line. No surprise at that, though.
What was surprising, however, was the lag time between ordering and burgering. About seven people attacking the Shack, including me, and the joint was moving incredibly slow, even with four or five employees doing their thing.
Not only that, but my cheeseburger, which I ordered with onions and pickles, arrived with the o's and p's on the side in little plastic containers. Would it have been too much for the Shack to, oh, I don't know, actually place them on my burger? It's not like I had the luxury, with umbrella in one hand and to-go sack in the other, of sitting down at a table and assembling my burger myself.
And the burger was overdone. Definitely cooked beyond the default medium.
This was my first Shack attack of the season. It won't be my last, but tonight I can say the Shack was all wet.
I cannot believe how slow the preparation is at Shake Shack. I watched through the window while waiting for my order on a busy Sunday afternoon last weekend as burgers sat ready to be eaten for minutes on end. Fries were piled high under heat lamps for half an hour. I waited 45 minutes to get my food - the same amount of time I spent waiting in line.
Hmm. That's crazy. I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, simply because I typically go during hours when the customer number could justify the post-order wait. But last night ... seriously, there were 7 people waiting, and you could see burgers sitting there, fries sitting there. It didn't look like they were grilling the burgers fresh. I also thought it might be because I ordered a burger with pickles/onions -- they seem to take longer when you don't order a straight-up Shack Burger, which I suspect they have dozens of pre-prepared and ready to go. I guess more gruelling research needs to be done. And I'm not complaining about having to do it.
I had a really good experience this season. Both times I went, the line was long, but after I ordered, I only waited about 5 minutes for my food. (once was a friday night around 8:30, the other time was a thursday during lunch). My onions were on the side, but I don't mind putting them on myself.
The staff at the Shack is completely frustrating! Every register transaction seems to take at least 2 minutes and they never open the 2nd Express (drinks & custard only) register anymore. The only possible excuse could be that the customers like to ask lots of stupid questions but that can t be the case for every single customer. Then when you finally order, you get to stand there and gaze at the slowness that is their food preparation. All they serve are burgers, 2 or 3 different kinds of hot dogs, and fries. I know its not McD s (as their FAQ sign states, it isn t fast food) but it ain t complicated either. It s really not that difficult and shouldn t be that slow to order or get your food. The customer service attitude there is almost like they DON T want your business.
but my cheeseburger, which I ordered with onions and pickles, arrived with the o's and p's on the side in little plastic containers. Would it have been too much for the Shack to, oh, I don't know, actually place them on my burger?
Dude, please. Anybody with more than five minutes experience in customer relations knows the answer to that one: they got reamed by somebody who didn't like the way they did it ("What?!? You put the onions on top of the pickles? That's disgusting. I don't want it and I'm not going to pay for it.") Not putting them on is eaiser to fix than putting them on wrong.
I can say from having gone there in the rain before, it's a great time to go. Having no line is a beautiful, beautiful thing. I don't necessarily mind that it takes them a while -- I have yet to look at the Shake Shack as something that will move fast. A wait at the window vs. a long wait in a line there? I'll take the wait at the window.
I went there just the other afternoon and had one of the best burgers yet. However, the Shake Shack Attack Custard had wayyyy too much chocolate in it for even the biggest chocolate fan at the table.
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Shake Shack in the Rain, originally uploaded by Slice.
Not only that, but my cheeseburger, which I ordered with onions and pickles, arrived with the o's and p's on the side in little plastic containers. Would it have been too much for the Shack to, oh, I don't know, actually place them on my burger? It's not like I had the luxury, with umbrella in one hand and to-go sack in the other, of sitting down at a table and assembling my burger myself.
7 Comments:
I cannot believe how slow the preparation is at Shake Shack. I watched through the window while waiting for my order on a busy Sunday afternoon last weekend as burgers sat ready to be eaten for minutes on end. Fries were piled high under heat lamps for half an hour. I waited 45 minutes to get my food - the same amount of time I spent waiting in line.
Hamburger Chris at 3:52PM on 06/02/06
Hmm. That's crazy. I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, simply because I typically go during hours when the customer number could justify the post-order wait. But last night ... seriously, there were 7 people waiting, and you could see burgers sitting there, fries sitting there. It didn't look like they were grilling the burgers fresh. I also thought it might be because I ordered a burger with pickles/onions -- they seem to take longer when you don't order a straight-up Shack Burger, which I suspect they have dozens of pre-prepared and ready to go. I guess more gruelling research needs to be done. And I'm not complaining about having to do it.
Adam Kuban at 4:06PM on 06/02/06
I had a really good experience this season. Both times I went, the line was long, but after I ordered, I only waited about 5 minutes for my food. (once was a friday night around 8:30, the other time was a thursday during lunch). My onions were on the side, but I don't mind putting them on myself.
Hamburger Jennarator at 5:13PM on 06/02/06
The staff at the Shack is completely frustrating! Every register transaction seems to take at least 2 minutes and they never open the 2nd Express (drinks & custard only) register anymore. The only possible excuse could be that the customers like to ask lots of stupid questions but that can t be the case for every single customer. Then when you finally order, you get to stand there and gaze at the slowness that is their food preparation. All they serve are burgers, 2 or 3 different kinds of hot dogs, and fries. I know its not McD s (as their FAQ sign states, it isn t fast food) but it ain t complicated either. It s really not that difficult and shouldn t be that slow to order or get your food. The customer service attitude there is almost like they DON T want your business.
Hamburger CoreyNYC at 9:46PM on 06/02/06
Hamburger Anonymous at 10:23PM on 06/02/06
I can say from having gone there in the rain before, it's a great time to go. Having no line is a beautiful, beautiful thing. I don't necessarily mind that it takes them a while -- I have yet to look at the Shake Shack as something that will move fast. A wait at the window vs. a long wait in a line there? I'll take the wait at the window.
Hamburger ryan at 4:40PM on 06/03/06
I went there just the other afternoon and had one of the best burgers yet. However, the Shake Shack Attack Custard had wayyyy too much chocolate in it for even the biggest chocolate fan at the table.
Hamburger Nick at 10:45PM on 06/09/06