Published: November 13, 2008

For those of you who have never experienced Shake Shack, the infamous burger oasis located in the middle of Madison Square Park (near Madison Avenue and E. 23rd Street), I have some good news. Last month, the Shake Shack, which is best known for its juicy hamburgers, thick shakes and painfully long lines, opened a new location on the Upper West Side at 366 Columbus Ave., on the corner of 77th Street. I had never ventured to the original Shake Shack, so the new location gave me the perfect excuse to take the plunge and try out the renowned fare. Braving the wind and rain of a dark Tuesday evening, my friends and I walked the 17 blocks from Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) to the Shack.

Upon entering, the first thing I noticed was the short line. We took this as a positive sign because we were starving and had expected a long wait. The menu at the Shake Shack has traditional fast food items—hamburgers, hot dogs and French fries. Vegetarian? No problem! The menu also offers the Shroom Burger, which is a Portobello mushroom filled with cheese and topped with lettuce and tomato.

Unlike your typical burger joint, the Shack offers an interesting array of drink choices. “Concretes” are the Shack’s answer to McDonald’s McFlurries. These custard concoctions come in either vanilla or chocolate and can be mixed with various toppings such as caramel, almonds or fruit. Along with milkshakes and soda, the Shack also serves wine and beer. When one of my friends inquired about the ShackMeister Ale (which is beer brewed exclusively for the Shake Shack), he was given a small sample to taste. He said the beer tasted a lot better than what he’s used to drinking and that it would make for a good accompaniment to any burger.

Once you reach the counter, you have a full view of the entire kitchen, where workers are busily preparing the delicious food. Hamburgers are all lined up, awaiting their proper toppings while the milk shakes are being poured at a mile a minute. After I ordered a shack burger ($4.75) and shake ($5.25), I was handed a small remote control. I was told to stand in the waiting area until I felt my remote shake, which indicates when an order is ready. My meal was served on a metal, cafeteria-style tray that was reminiscent of those I used in my grammar school days.

For a Tuesday night, the place was packed. Once we finally found seating upstairs (there’s additional seating in the basement) we were ready to feast. My Shack Burger, which is a cheeseburger with Shack Sauce, was served well done. The Shack Sauce, which consists of a mixture of ketchup, mayonnaise and “secret” ingredients, was an awesome addition. It had a creamy consistency, similar to ranch dressing, but tastier.

Jake Pellinen, FCRH ’09, commented on the burger’s fresh tomatoes and lettuce. “The toppings were in perfect proportion to the burger.”

My friend Bart Jaworski, FCRH ’09, raved about the cheese fries claiming that the shack had “mastered the art of making good cheese fries because they didn’t use that nacho cheese-like stuff that comes from a pump.” He also really enjoyed his Second City Bird Dog, which is a hot dog made of chicken and bratwurst topped with a full load of tomatoes, relish, mustard and pickles (among other things).

Vaughn Kristas, FCRH ’09, opted for a spoon when indulging in his Natural History “Crunch-stellation,” which is vanilla custard mixed with chocolate crunchies and hot fudge.

All in all, the new Shake Shack proved to be the ideal spot to grab an inexpensive and delicious meal. In contrast with the mandatory hour-long wait at the Madison Square Park location, Shake Shack on the Upper West Side offers somewhat speedy service. The new Shack has an industrial feel to it, with brick walls and metal signs, but the atmosphere is still relaxed and casual. It has a unique menu, which appeals not only to die-hard burger fans, but also to those who don’t eat meat and prefer wine with their burgers. Due to its diverse eats and reasonable prices, I’d recommend visiting Shake Shack soon and helping yourself to one of the best burgers in town!