Daniel B.
Yelp
Yum. Shake Shack has brought their yummy burgers, hot dogs, French fries, frozen custard, and milkshakes to the Atlanta BeltLine. You can find this restaurant on the Eastside Trail between Edgewood and DeKalb Avenues, just south (within short walking distance) of Krog Street Market and StudioPlex Alley.
Shake Shack is located on the ground level of the luxury apartment building Edge OTB. Free parking is located inside the Edge OTB garage. Enter via DeKalb Ave. This is Shake Shack's fourth Atlanta area location and it opened in April 2019. Shake Shack calls this their Old Fourth Ward location, but I think it's technically in Inman Park. It's actually right on the border of the two neighborhoods.
I've been to the Shake Shack in Buckhead (Georgia's first Shake Shack) and I enjoyed my experience at this Shake Shack more. For starters, this location is more spacious and laid back. Though not a big deal, parking is closer and more convenient. They have a sizable covered patio with plenty of ceiling fans and games like ping-pong and Jenga. The build-out is modern, featuring tall windows, sleek light fixtures, and several TVs. And it's neat that it sits directly on the BeltLine. I'm a fan.
You walk up and place your order at one of six tablets. The displays were bright, crisp, and responsive. The touchscreen menu was intuitive and easy to navigate. As first-timers, we had no problems placing our orders. There were friendly Shake Shack employees in the vicinity in case anyone needed help. You can see into the kitchen through the wide pick-up counter/window. Staff behind the counter were welcoming customers as they made their way in.
Whether dining in or taking out, you'll be notified by text message (you have to submit your phone number during the checkout process) when your order has been received and when your order is ready for pick-up. The staff will also shout-out your name when your order is ready. Along with card, the ordering kiosks accept Apple, Google, and Samsung Pay. You can also order online and pick up in store.
During our visit, burgers ranged in price from $4.89 for a single-patty burger to $10.49 for the Shack Stack (more on this outstanding burger below). They also sold chicken sandwiches ($6.89), chicken nuggets ("bites"), "flat-top" dogs (chicken or beef, split longways; $3.59-4.99), crinkle-cut fries ($2.99-4.89), concretes (frozen custard blended with mix-ins, $4.89 single or $6.99 double), shakes ($5.29), and more. They don't serve alcohol, but they do serve drinks like root beer, flavored lemonade, and organic tea and apple juice.
The two of us ordered:
* ShackBurger (single, $5.69) - cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, and ShackSauce
* Shack Stack ($10.49) - cheeseburger topped with fried portobello mushrooms filled with muenster and cheddar cheeses, with lettuce, tomato, and ShackSauce
* Bacon cheese fries ($4.89)
* Pie Oh My Concrete (single, $4.89) - vanilla frozen custard blended with pieces of H&F Bread Co. pecan pie
This was a tasty meal that really hit the spot for both of us (though obviously unhealthy). If you're craving this kind of food, Shake Shack certainly delivers.
I've had the ShackBurger on more than one occasion and there's nothing wrong with it. It's a solid cheeseburger. All of Shake Shack's burgers are cooked to medium temperature and served on Martin's brand potato rolls. The ShackBurgers I've tried have been consistent between locations with good flavor and fresh ingredients. For a simple and reliable burger, these suffice.
Shake Shack's Shack Stack is where it's at. The burger was heavy, but incredibly delicious. It was messy to eat with all the melted cheeses oozing out once I broke through the crisp-fried portobello batter. The Shack Stack may sound and/or look gimmicky to some, but it works. The flavors and textures all meld together nicely. It's an amazing burger and probably in my top five in Atlanta behind Holeman & Finch, Fred's Meat & Bread, and Farm Burger.
The bacon cheese fries were good, but not something I was crazy about. My fiancee liked them more than me. I prefer my fries simpler and would have been just as satisfied with plain fries and ketchup. If you want to all out though, the bacon cheese fries are worth getting. They give you a good amount of crispy bacon (torn into small pieces) and melted cheese. The fries come with a wooden fork to help you eat.
The Pie Oh My concrete was fantastic. Five percent of the sales of this particular concrete go to the nearby Giving Kitchen, a local non-profit that provides emergency assistance to food service workers. I think it's great Shake Shack incorporated local H&F Bread Co's pecan pie into this concrete. It tastes as good as it sounds. The frozen custard was dense, smooth, and creamy and the chunks of pecan pie were substantial. I couldn't get enough of that hard, buttery crust and luscious pie filling.
The staff was nice and service was quick.
A fun and welcome addition to the Eastside Trail.