Shake Shack- Theater District NYC Restaurant Review

It is appropriate that one of the New York City locations of Shake Shack resides in the Theater District, with its flashy marquee proudly displaying its namesake. Casual onlookers may know this fast food restaurant for one thing, and one thing only—there is almost always a line out the door. Summer heat and humidity—the line is out the door. Frigid winter cold with subzero wind chill—the line is out the door. Pouring rain—the line is out the door.

This isn’t the first New York City location; the original resides outdoors in Madison Square Park. However, according to Serious Eats, not all Shake Shacks, even in New York City alone, are created equal. Each restaurant apparently has its own idiosyncrasies with regard to the construction of the brand’s trademark sandwich—The ShackBurger. It is also worth noting that in a recent ultimate throwdown among In-N-Out, Five Guys, and Shake Shack for ultimate burger supremacy (written by reviewers from California, nonetheless), Shake Shack came out on top.

When the buzzer rings, you can retrieve your food, and to the right of this counter, there are all sorts of condiments that are pretty neatly served through pressurized pumps. To the right of the bathroom is a small fountain for some free water on tap. However, once you have your food on your tray, doing an awkward balancing act that stirs vivid memories of middle school lunch, dodging fast-moving people while seeking out somewhere, anywhere, to take a seat. Yes, this is probably the most touristy of all of the Shake Shack simply due to its proximity to the main attractions of New York City and Port Authority. Once you manage to find a seat, however, you’re in business, because you are in for a delicious, if slightly pricey (what do you expect from anywhere in New York City, anyways?) meal.

On a scale of one to five, zero being a low score and five being a high score, we rated our experience on an index that includes:

• Flavor
• Value
• Intangibles
• Overall Recommendation.

Flavor—5/5: “I had the Double ShackBurger with fries and a black and white shake. The ShackBurger is known to be competitive with In-N-Out burgers due to its special Shack Sauce. In my opinion, the Shack Sauce does not measure up to In-N-Out’s spread, as it is not as sweet, and is blander. However, the meat is juicy and everything tastes of quality food, as it should be for a $7.25 burger. It may seem small in circumference, but as long as you take your time to chew and swallow, and really enjoy the burger for all it’s worth, it will fill you up. The fries are a golden yellow, and because of their crinkle cut may seem like they are frozen but they are indeed fresh, and delicious. Of course, what’s a meal from a place called Shake Shack without the, well, shake? I began my Shake Shack career with the black and white shake, and have been a humble servant of its greatness ever since. I am not joking when I say it might be the best shake I have ever had. It’s a perfect balance between the vanilla ice cream and the real hot fudge that they mix together to create a delectable dessert treat. I have tried a strawberry shake as well, which, don’t get me wrong, is no slouch, but it is no black and white. Recently, I also tried a concrete for the first time, a new special called, ‘The Great White Way,’ which is vanilla custard, crisped rice, and marshmallow, which was very good, but also almost overwhelmingly sweet.”

Value—3.5/5: “When I walk into Shake Shack with a craving for a good burger, fries, and, of course, my black and white shake, I can expect to easily spend nearly $20 on a meal. It’s not that the food is bad, in fact, the opposite is true, but it seems like a lot for what is essentially fast food. The shake is incredible, but comes in a cup that is approximately the size of a value soda at any regular fast food joint, and comes in at the price of $5.25, which usually runs out (much to my dismay) all too quickly. However, if you eat everything relatively slowly so you can enjoy it, you will get a meal that is filling—it just isn’t the best value.”

Intangibles—3/5: “There are equal parts good and bad about the Shake Shack experience. The line is often long, but moves relatively quickly, and the c-line is a nice addition if you simply want a shake or concrete, so you don’t have to wait on the hot food line. The selection of both food and drink is solid, and the free water on tap is appreciated, especially when dealing with a salty burger and fries, and a heavy milkshake. Seating is another problem, and Shake Shack really cannot handle large parties well; if you are part of one, don’t be surprised if you get split up and have to sit in twos scattered throughout the restaurant wherever there’s space—it always seems to be busy in that dining room. Also, it is worth noting that the bathrooms are new and clean and awesome—highlighted by their high tech Dyson blow dryers that you actually stick your hands into.”

Overall Recommendation—4/5: “The good ultimately outweighs the bad at Shake Shack. Wait in line, wait for your food, wait for a seat, grab a few cups of free water, and you will be rewarded. The burgers and the fries, much like Five Guys, taste undoubtedly fresh,which really can’t be taken for granted in this day and age of poor fast food. As a wise traveler once said, ‘Come for the burger, stay for the shakes—especially the black and white one, which is really awesome.’”

Once you manage to make it in the door from the line that sometimes winds right alongside the clear glass window outside of Shake Shack, you are greeted by a line for hot food on the left that meanders around a tiny floor space and an often-vacant “c-line,” or cold food only line, that serves Shake Shack’s concretes and shakes alone to the right. Ultimately, the menu is relatively simple, and boils down to burgers, hot dogs, fries, shakes, custard, and beer and wine, because Shake Shack apparently is a classy establishment, as well. Upon placing your order, the attendant will take your name and give you a buzzer which will go off when it is time to retrieve your food. While you are up there, you can also ask your attendant for a free sample of the custard of the day—this has ranged from the strange, pancakes and bacon (the first time I visited Shake Shack) to the delicious, coffee and donuts (the most recent visit)."