I’ve had many burgers in my lifetime; some have been good, some have been terrible, and all of them have been from different restaurants and, in many cases, different countries. Most recently, I had the opportunity to eat a burger from Five Guys, which has become a phenomenon in the past few decades starting in the East Coast.

When you walk into the restaurant, you are greeted by a room that feels pretty laid back. There is no table service at Five Guys, and it’s all a very independent environment. Once you get to the cashier, it’s standard procedure, with the menu being fairly straightforward in terms of the options. Along with burgers and fries, Five Guys also serves different a variety of hot dogs and sandwiches. One of the things that Five Guys has become well-known for is also the complimentary roasted in-shell peanuts that are available.

I decided to get the standard cheeseburger with lettuce and tomato, since this is the way I have most of my burgers. Along with that, I also ordered a small fries and a regular drink. The kitchen is right behind the register, so you can see your meal come to fruition the moment after you order. I was surprised when I was done ordering, however, to see how expensive it was. I came in with a twenty dollar bill expecting to have at least six dollars in change, but ended up only having a couple dollars and some coins. This is something you probably want to consider if you’re going out to eat with the family.

Once you open your bag when you sit down, you immediately notice something: how many fries they actually gave you. The cup in which they come in is overflowing, which I’ve recently heard is another staple of Five Guys.The fries are pretty salty but overall taste good, while still retaining that potato-ey taste. The regular cheeseburger that I ordered had two patties with American cheese and a greasy sesame seed bun. In contrast to many other burger places, Five Guys burgers look like a whole meal and will supplement you. The burger wasn’t anything mind blowing or extraordinary. That being said, it tasted good and it is a great way to have a straight up, normal burger while still having it at a premium fast food restaurant. This combined with the fries and the drink made eating at Five Guys an enjoyable experience.