After more than a year of waiting, Five Guys Burgers and Fries finally opened its doors to the public today. The long-awaited opening didn’t hurt business as over 30 people filled the chain restaurant at 12:30 p.m.
General Manager DezMond Low said the store was even busier before that, as the high school lunch crowd came in between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. “We got about 30 high school students then and its been steady ever since,” he said.
According to Low, they haven’t even seen the lunch rush yet and expect it to get even busier between 12:45 and 1.
Although tables were packed and a long line was forming, Low said that Five Guys is really going to be a night business. Five Guys is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Music was playing and smiles were all around as everyone was enjoying their burgers, fries and complimentary self-serve peanuts. The crowd was diverse, ranging from high school students to senior citizens, who gathered with friends. Some people came from Verona, South Orange and West Orange to try the new burgers.
“This is the best burger spot,” South Orange resident Sean LaCon said. LaCon, who works for Blessed Ministries in Newark, actually helped put some of the employees in their current Five Guys’ job. He said he worked closely with Low and that Five Guys was excellent working and training everyone.
Other people sitting at the tables couldn’t stop talking about the fries, which are also offered with Cajun seasoning. “This is how they made fries years ago,” someone said.
Montclair State University student Alejandro Bequillard came to have lunch with Lincoln Tech student Jordan Snipes. “We’ve mainly been hitting up Elevation Burger,” Bequillard said. “But Five Guys has bacon that Elevation doesn’t offer. The bacon is really the cherry on top.”
Although Bequillard is a fan of Five Guys, he admits when he saw the “Coming Soon” sign last year he thought that meant only a month or two and began to get frustrated as time went on. “It was well worth the wait though,” he said.
Bequillard and Snipes shared a regular Cajun season fry and were amazed about how many french fries were included not only in the order, but left over in the bag.
The burgers are offered in a single or a double with a variety of toppings that can be added. A single burger, order of regular fries and regular drink ran $9 and change, which at first seemed pricey for a burger, but I enjoyed the large portion of fries and great taste.
Okay, you’ve heard it here first! Time for Decamp and NJ Tranist to start planning for wider seats! The spread is coming!
BTW–I thought the peanuts was a great idea! Now the kids can take the peanuts back to the zoo!
I will try the 5 Guys in about two weeks when that grill is fully seasoned!
I went to the grand opening of the Millburn 5-Guys Burgers. I never went back. It’s like drinking 4 ounces of pure peanut oil. The burger was okay, the fries cooed in peanut oil were simply GROSS! The bun the burger was on was damp from so much usage of peanut oil.
Still the BEST burger is Pals Cabin #1 Tierney’s #2 and THE LANDMARK on Mt. Pleasant Ave in Livingston just prior to the Rt 10 Circle, tied with Tiernry’s. B-U-T The Landmark has better bar drinks.
Ya all complain that I don’t go to Irvington/Newark and/or Spanish eateries, but I have spoken on here , at least 4 or 5 times about the LANDMARK. Who here has gone ? Ah Ha…
“The bacon is the cherry.” I’m going to be pondering that all night.
I guess George Washington really choppped down a bacon tree..
Greasy, wet burgers. Not tasting quite as much of salt as Smashburger’s, but still, similarly not very big on real burger taste.
And this gushily simplistic item constitutes news?
I’ve been to the Landmark about 25 years ago. It was always packed with guys drinking at lunch. Some people were talking about it a few months ago, and no one could remember the name. Since then I’ve driven by it a couple of times. Guess it’s time to go back.
Well, deadeye, if they’re drinking at lunch, how do you expect them to remember the name?
How bout some cherry bacon ice cream.
Not much here folks… The food is just not great. Went to one and will never go back.
What we really need is an In-n-Out Burger. Good basic burgers, great price. Now that, unlike this, would be newsworthy.
Deadeye, do not get the Corned Beef! It is horrible!
Burger & fies & a beer (20 brands they have), 6 on tap
Burgers are really great, ditto the fries.
I like Rolling Rock Beer, and at one time, Landmark
had it on tap. ?? Now ??
Pal’s Cabin – you gotta be kidding – overpriced, smokey-flavored hockey pucks!
Landmark – ditto
Tierney’s – a very, very good burger; maybe the best in B’ville – unexpectedly good from “A Bar with a Grill” [their line, not mine]
Five Guys – very good burgers, GREAT fries!! FYI – only the fries are cooked in peanut oil, not the buns. I do feel sorry for those with peanut allergies, tho’.
Smashburger – good burgers, good malts, pitiful fries.
Elevation Burger – decent burger, but over-priced; quality control issues, i.e. gristle; parking nightmare – I’ve gone elsewhere more than once b/c of lack of parking.
you all should try Krug’s Tavern in the ironbound in Newark — allllll the way down on Wilson Avenue. I swear on everything holy and unholy that you will call it the best burger you’ve ever eaten in your life. No one has argued with me yet! haven’t tried 5 Guys but definitely will at some point. Love tierney’s burgs but Krugs’ are better!
Five Guys gets an F- review from us.
I placed an order online, they charged me card my, husband went to pick it up and they had nothing for us. we showed them the confirmation email and they basically shrugged their shoulders at us. Worst customer service ever. Did they try to make it right? NO. We will NEVER GO BACK. there are lots of great burger options in town I don’t need to waste my time or be treated poorly by these guys. Good bye.
Nazlo, for your info….. Pals Cabin was voted the #1 best burger in Essex County, by some Food mag. 2 years running. The plaque is on their wall.
Look at the prices that ALL fast food charges. Some at .99 cents. More if they heap on chesse, onions, lettice, tomatoes, mushrooms, etc. etc. BUT for just the burger, it’s .99 cents. Now then, the costs of doing business, insurance, tax, employees wages, etc, etc, etc, what quality of meat do you think you are eating? I will tell you. Entry level ! The lowest quality meat a
We though it was really noisy. The staff seemed juvenile(expected) however they appeared to have no management. It was a free for all. It will be good as a place for HS kids to hang out at but Uptown Bistro has a better burger for roughly the same price!
There’s something really strange going on in the restaurant. We went to eat there yesterday around 4:00 and the entire front of the store was taken up by employees off their shift who were just hanging out – around a dozen of them. Then, behind the counter, it seemed to be mass chaos with another dozen milling around seemingly without purpose and talking with their friends, who were hanging over the glass partition meant for food safety. There was absolutely no management that I could see. As far as the food, it was mediocre and we both felt nauseous afterward. A strange place that made me feel very uncomfortable, and net net, not a positive for the town. Anyone want to take bets on how long they will be there?