Shake Shack

I've been meaning to try the Shake Shack for quite a while now, and I constantly admonish myself for never seeming to make it. Essentially, Shake Shack is a permanent food stand in Madison Square Park, and it's burgers are so deliciously famous that a daily line of 45 minutes (at least) takes over the south end of the park. So, in a way, it's much more than a mere burger joint, it's some type of institution. It has to be if people are willing to stand in line for so long.

The irony is that I used to have lunch at this park all the time. Back when I worked in midtown, when the weather was nice, I'd buy food from a nearby deli, sit on a bench and people-watch my lunch break away, feeling the sun on my skin. It felt wonderful to be outside, enjoying urban life at it's finest, and having a direct view of the Flatiron Building. And often I would see the line for Shake Shack and wonder who had time for this, and also, could the burgers really be that good?

Finally last Sunday I had the chance to try it for myself. I'd joined Sabrina and some of her friends to see a Comedy Show, and afterward we found ourselves in Chelsea and looking for food. And since it was a nice evening (not that warm in all honesty, but basically only the second short sleeved weekend of the year), we decided to try out the burgers at Shake Shack. Most of us hadn't been there before, being rightfully afraid of the lines, but we reasoned that it was Sunday night after 9 pm, so it couldn't be that bad. And, in the worst case scenario, we could have a nice walk and go to another restaurant. No shortage of food establishments in the Flatiron area.

The line was the shortest I've ever seen it. A friend once told me that the best time to try Shake Shack was when it was raining, and I'm glad it didn't come to this. We waited about 10 minutes tops, and grabbed one of the many outdoor tables while waiting for our numbers to be called. I liked Sabrina's friends a lot, and we had a pleasant conversation. Then again, I think it's hard to not have a good vibe with people when you are in a relaxed outdoor environment.

I ordered the Shack burger, which is basically a cheese burger with shack sauce, (whatever that may be) and it was delicious. Tasty, tender, fresh, and I finally understood why people are so excited about them. The fries weren't crispy enough for my liking, but I'm inclined to believe that it's because they might actually use fresher potatoes.

I'd like to go when it's warmer and try one of their shakes. It is in their name, after all.

In the end, I'm glad I finally went. Still, even though the burgers were delicious, I'm not sure if any food item is worth a 1 hour wait in line. Supposedly, they've opened a restaurant location uptown, so that might be worth checking out.

My burger

Shake Shack
Madison Sq. Park.
5th Avenue & 23rd St.