Shake Shack Madison Square Park
Hamburger restaurant · Flatiron District ·
Gourmet burgers, fries, shakes, and frozen custard in a park
Gourmet burgers, fries, shakes, and frozen custard in a park
"Starting as a hot dog cart in 2001 to help revitalize Madison Square Park, we opened a permanent Shack three years later and were immediately met with epic lines and a legend. It’s counter-service elevated by hospitality: Pat LaFrieda–sourced smash burgers on Martin’s potato rolls served in crisp paper sleeves; crinkle-cut fries (sometimes cheese-topped); a standout mushroom vegetarian burger; and rotating frozen custards (on opening day our custard machine broke and we had to 86 custard by 3 p.m.). In the early years we operated seasonally, used a Shack Cam to gauge the line, hand-packed leftover custard pints to avoid waste, and gradually shifted balance from hot dogs to burgers and fries. The Shack’s emphasis on the same quality ingredients and hospitality we use in full-service restaurants helped it grow slowly at first (100 restaurants in 10 years, now 400+ worldwide) and ultimately reshape the fine-casual/chef-driven quick-service landscape; there are plans to expand much further. My standard order is a double cheeseburger with a slice of raw onion and fries (often with something “for the table”), and I still wish we could bring back the Coffee Shake, which I think paired with fries like Sauternes and foie gras." - Amy McCarthy
"I once saw a man at Shake Shack, dressed in a suit and setting a formal table. On the small metal table he placed a white tablecloth, fine silverware, a candle, and some flowers. For a moment, I was overcome with joy at the beautiful event that was about to unfold before me...this man was about to propose to a burger. Unfortunately, a woman soon arrived and the man instead professed his undying love for her. Nonetheless, I was inspired, and had learned something important. I now realized that I could live a fulfilled and happy life devoted to a single hamburger - The Shack Burger. There are two lessons to be learned from this story. First, Shake Shack is the burger by which all other New York City burgers are to be measured. This is hamburger perfection, and the epic lines are the only thing preventing weekly Infatuation visits. Second, there is a huge badass somewhere out there that proposed to his girlfriend over a burger and fries. Well done sir. Food Rundown Shack Burger About as good as a hamburger gets. A Pat LaFrieda sirloin and brisket patty with crispy edges on a soft bun. The Shack Sauce is buttery heaven. The only downside here is that the single Shack Burger can leave you wanting more, while the double can put a hurtin’ on you. A single and a half would be about perfect. Fries Decent crinkle fries to accompany your burger. If you are really going for it, the cheese fries are pretty damn tasty. Shack-cago Dog While the burger is fantastic, the dogs at Shake Shack deserve some recognition of their own. This is a true Chicago style dog, steamed poppy seed bun and all. New York Dog A Vienna beef dog topped with some high end kraut on a potato roll. Not exactly a dirty water dog, but it’s tasty." - Chris Stang
"Your Order: ShackBurger ($7.69) and crinkle cut fries ($4.19). Someone is probably going to be mean to us on the internet for this one, but they’re probably just hangry for a ShackBurger. In LA, there’s In-N-Out, and in NYC, there’s Shake Shack. And the burger—which you can find at 19 locations across the city, and also all over the country, including Lexington, Kentucky—is really good. Don’t go here if you have the time to read this guide and choose. But if you need a smashburger, and need it now, the odds are high that you’re ten minutes from a Shake Shack, and that the ShackBurger with lettuce, tomato and ShackSauce will more than satisfy your craving." - willa moore, neha talreja, will hartman
"The O.G. location of Danny Meyer’s hit burger chain is this humble stand inside Madison Square Park. And while there are now locations scattered all over the city (and the world), there’s something special about the very first outpost, especially when the weather is nice. It’s hard to top the simple pleasure of a Shack burger eaten outside. On nice days, expect a long line, but it moves." - Eater Staff
"New York has many popular burgers, but Shake Shack’s Shackburger might very well be the favorite (though it’s faced backlash over how it handled new coronavirus-related small business loans). The chain remains open for takeout and delivery, with updates about temporary store closures posted here. The burger shop is requiring diners to place orders online or via the Shack Shack app and wait outside to get their food." - Carla Vianna
