Shake Shack is coming! Let’s discuss.
Earlier this week, Inside Scoop broke news that Shake Shack, the famed New York burger chain, is coming to the Bay Area. The first outlet is slated for Palo Alto’s Stanford Shopping Center in fall 2018, followed by locations in Larkspur and San Francisco.
Q: Why is Shake Shack such a thing? And why should Bay Area people care about it? Sarah Fritsche:
Honestly, I’m not sure what magic spells Danny Meyer has worked to make Shake Shake such a national phenomenon. As for why we should care about it — well, for starters, it’s damn tasty. On a slightly more petty note, the L.A. area can already boast several locations and the lack of a NorCal outpost was beginning to feel like a bit of a snub.
Esther Mobley:
I’ve never totally gotten the Shake Shack hype. I’ve always felt like it’s a fine but unspectacular fast food burger that gets by on cute nostalgia marketing and its association with restaurants like Gramercy Tavern (whose hype I completely, 100 percent endorse). Plus, I’ve never liked Shake Shack’s veggie burger option, a fried portobello stuffed with near-liquid cheese that’s not flavorful enough to justify its messiness.
Justin Phillips:
Shake Shack is a thing because not only is it actually a great burger place, but it’s almost alienating in its East Coast-ness. There aren’t many fast food chains in the country that can thumb their nose at a Bay Area expansion for years, despite people clamoring for it, and feel just fine about it. Even their Bay Area growth is passive-aggressive: They’re not even coming to S.F. or Oakland first. I kind of love that.
Q: What are your current top three when it comes to San Francisco’s gourmet fast food burgers? Esther Mobley: 1. Gott’s 2. Super Duper 3. Umami
Justin Phillips: 1. Gott’s 2. Roam 3. Umami Sarah Fritsche: 1. Popson’s 2. Super Duper 3. Gott’s Paolo Lucchesi: 1. Super Duper 2. Gott’s 3. Roam
Urmila Ramakrishnan: (Note: veggie burgers only) 1. Umami 2. Gott’s 3. Super Duper
Q: Shake Shack versus In-N-Out. Who ya got? Justin Phillips: Shake Shack. As a Louisiana native, I admit East Coast brands are more familiar to us. With that said, the fries are better at Shake Shack. The burgers are better, albeit sometimes a little salty. And this may have nothing to do with food, but In-N-Out fanatics are annoying. I cannot stand the hype surrounding In-N-Out.
Sarah Fritsche:
I’m a born and bred California girl, so In-N-Out will always be first in my heart. (Nothing beats a DoubleDouble animal style.) That said, I finally had the chance to try Shake Shack in Philadelphia last fall and it is pretty spectacular. Their milkshakes and fries are definitely superior to In-N-Out.
Paolo Lucchesi:
In-N-Out is the California party line, but we’ll have to see how Shake Shack translates.
Esther Mobley:
Well, unlike Sarah, I’m an East Coast girl, and maybe the novelty of In-N-Out is still working its magic on me. I like it better.
Urmila Ramakrishnan:
As the Midwesterner in the group, neither of these were options until after I moved (Minnesota got its first Shake Shack in 2016). That being said, there’s just something about ordering a grilled cheese “animal style” that appeals to me. I’m a fan of the secret menu at InN-Out, and I’m all right with the fact that it might make me one of those annoying fanatics. Plus, the veggie burger at Shake Shack is just not something worth my time.
Q: Shake Shack does crinkle fries. Are crinkle fries good? Esther Mobley:
Crinkle fries can be good, but in my opinion the best fast-casual (or is this just fast? I can’t tell the difference anymore) french fry belongs to Five Guys — which, by the way, deserves to be in this conversation! None of these joints can beat the Five Guys fries.
Justin Phillips:
To answer the question: Yes. They. Are. There’s something about the crinkle fry’s shape and ability to really soak up oil that gives them an edible life span that’s longer than the fries at In-NOut. Also, I agree with Esther — I could eat my weight in Five Guys fries.
Urmila Ramakrishnan:
I agree with Esther on Five Guys fries. They are the french fry champions. For me, a crinkle fry’s purpose is as the shake’s companion. Unlike the non-crinkled counterparts, you’ll get the maximum surface area. There’s just something about dipping a crinkle fry into a chocolate shake that’s satisfying. So, yes, crinkle fries are good.
Sarah Fritsche:
I have no beef with crinkle fries. I particularly like that their rugged shape allows for better ketchup adherency. Also, apparently, I need to try Five Guys french fries.
Paolo Lucchesi:
On the French Fry Approval Matrix, crinkle fries register as trashy and gross.
Q: According to CEO Randy Garutti, Shake Shack is considering the Marina for its San Francisco entry point. Where should Shake Shack open in the city? Paolo Lucchesi:
It’s tricky because Shake Shack is identified with public places in New York with its Madison Square Park roots, but it doesn’t feel right to have an import open in an iconic S.F. place, like Crissy Field or even Jackson Square. Clearly it needs to be a symbol of New San Francisco and be placed atop Salesforce Tower.
Sarah Fritsche:
Definitely in/near Golden Gate Park. Second choice: Around Yerba Buena Gardens.
Esther Mobley:
I endorse parks or parklike locations. Yerba Buena Gardens, Washington Square, Dolores Park, the Panhandle … just please, whatever you do, Danny Meyer, don’t go in Salesforce Tower.
Urmila Ramakrishnan:
Golden Gate Park, Yerba Buena, maybe somewhere in the Presidio.
Justin Phillips:
Is it weird that I’d kind of like Shake Shack to be somewhere in the Tenderloin?