
3

"I visited the new U District Shake Shack at 2623 NE University Village St when it opened and found it to be the chain's third regional location (joining downtown and Kirkland) with a limited menu of the usual ShackBurgers, crinkle-cut fries, and thick shakes plus seasonal items like a pumpkin-flavored shake, a hot chicken sandwich, and spicy cheese fries. I noted that beverages include the chain’s canned wine and Shackmeister ale as well as beers from Pike Brewing Company and Reuben’s Brews, and that the restaurant is highlighting a new takeout option letting diners pre-order via the app or website for curbside pickup at drive-up or walk-up windows through the new “Shack Track” system; there will also be limited dine-in service at half capacity and seating on a large three-sided patio. The app and new pickup system could help reduce the long wait times the chain saw when it first arrived in the region in 2018, after which hype gradually cooled, though the Kirkland location proved popular as well." - Gabe Guarente