Shake Shack Review - Magnificent Mile - Chicago - The Infatuation
"It was only a matter time before we chimed in on all the ruckus and hullabaloo surrounding Shake Shack. Danny Meyer has scaled his restaurant concept more aggressively than Mark Cuban looks to grow any Shark Tank contestant's product, and when you're opening new locations on the reg, there's always the question of sustaining quality. Taking into account Shake Shack's recent IPO, we've been carefully weighing whether to BUY! BUY! BUY! or SELL! SELL! SELL! Well the verdict is in, and we are doubling down on buying a whole lot of Shake Shack's cheeseburgers. The thin 100% Angus burger with crispy edges is as good as they come, and the buttered bun that acts as a loading dock is great too. The only question is: do you order a single, which can be a little underwhelming, or a double, which might push you over the edge? These are good problems to have though, so we aren't complaining. Aside from the burgers, we aren't sold on the rest of the food. Crinkle cut fries are good even though we don't think great, and the hot dogs don't do it for us. Shake Shack has a ways to go to catch up with some of the great Chicago hot dog staples in town. Shake Shack deserves credit for making the Chicago location uniquely its own. Rather than feeling like a "New York" chain, Shake Shack Chicago has made the effort to partner up with places like Publican Quality Meats, Bang Bang Pie Shop, and Glazed & Infused to bring some local cred. The Ohio and Rush location will forever be a bit of a tourist destination, but Shake Shack's burgers live up to the hype. It should always be in the burger discussion when you want a casual and delicious bite. Food Rundown Shackburger It's a damn good burger, and now we know why people all over New York go crazy for it. Single or Double is the only question, and often times it feels like right in the middle is where you ideally need to be. 'Shroom Burger A fried portobello mushroom filled with melted muenster and cheddar cheese. You don't need to be a vegetarian to give this a try, but it makes Shake Shack a worthy destination if you aren't into the meats. Shack Stack Shackburger + 'Shroom Burger = Yup, this. The added cheesiness of the 'shroom burger makes it all a little too much for us at times, but it no doubt takes your regular burger to the next level. Shack-cago Dog This Chicago style hot dog may be top notch for customers in New York, but for these parts it's decent at best. You are going to Shake Shack for the burgers and milkshakes, so skip out on the dogs - there are too many other great hot dog joints around. Crinkle Cut Fries We don't love the fries here, but that doesn't mean they are bad. You still want them, and probably the cheddar sauce too. Shakes and Concretes It's always hard for us not to get a little ice cream when here. The basic shakes are all well done, or splurge for the concretes that are fun and interesting mixes with local dessert favorites. The Da S'mores concrete teams up with Bang Bang Pie Shop, while the Salted Carame'L' is loaded with Glazed & Infused donuts." - Sam Faye
