Lava hot cheese squirting out of a burger? It is the Shack Stack!

Lately there were some controversies about - what is the best burger.
Fooderati colleague Geordie Armani was rather disappointed by Shake Shack - however Foodiva rather approved the quality...

For me it is Shake Shack. It is just the perfect balance between the comforting archetypal virtues  of the classic American dish and the more gourmet approach.

Well - I was excited to find a Shake Shack in the Dalma Mall in Abu Dhabi a couple of weeks ago [then still under construction] - and yesterday I have discovered, that the second Shake Shack in the UAE is now open.

These days, I try to avoid over-ordering, so I opt for the peanut butter shake, one New York styled hot dog [this was not available, so I cancelled it without replacement] and the shack stack.

I was so excited, that I even forgot to ask for the removal of the tomato on the burger [yeah - I really dislike tomato slices on burgers].
Service is swift [though there is a bit assembly line feel to it], you get your buzzer and after only few minutes, you can pick up your metal tray. The interior of the restaurant is very similar to the Shake Shack in Dubai - Mall of the Emirates - only that they put some cocktail tables and stools besides of the kitchen, so you can spend your waiting time in watching the busy kitchen.

But it is not about the interior - it is all about the burger! The burger bun is soft and fresh [not sure, if this is objective - but I had the impression, that the bun was a tad crisper at the Mall of the Emirates - maybe I am fantasizing - maybe it one teething problem...

The burger is relatively high [if you take into account, that the beef patty is flat] - this is, because the cheese stuffed, crispy breaded portobello is sitting on top of the meat.
If you compress the burger, super hot lavalike cheese is squirting out. You might burn yourself - but it is just so awesome, that you can't resist to wait until it cools down a bit.
The burger is just right - juicy enough, but typical burger [not a rissole or meatball like in most posh burger joints] - it is tender there is no sign of gristle or sinew at all [unfortunately an often seen thing here in the UAE]. It just taste like fresh meat - and this is totally awesome.

The different parts [breadroll, lettuce, pickles, stuffed portobello and burger patty - not forgetting the shack shake sauce] then just join together - the sum is greater than the parts - it just taste like cheese-lava and beef infused heaven.
Unfortunately the peanut butter shake wasn't that great - while nice and tasty for the first sips, it revealed a certain egginess which wasn't nice at all. Johnny Rockets is still doing the meanest shakes...

Now to the rating:


WOW or MEH:                  Wow
Ambiance:                           7
Value for Money [1-10]:     7
Deliciousness [1-10]:           8
Staff Helpfulness [1-10]:     7
Going back:                         Definitely
Overall Score:                      8


Shake Shack is perfect for those who overall like McDonalds, however don't like the quality shortcuts which the guys with the golden arcs are doing. Lets face it - they are doing burgers and hot dogs [nothing fancy with truffles or foie gras] - however if you are understanding this, the food is really magical. Not sure about the shakes and the concretes. I would rather suggest to try there refreshing Arnold Palmer [half traditional lemonade - half iced tea]. Awesome!

Classics in Fast Food and the thin Burger Patty

After I have reviewed [the agony at] Wings 'n Things, I was just hungry to get the right fast food experience.
You know - sometimes it is not about having the best quality available, but just to experience the right [and accustomed] taste profiles.

Burgers are very special for me. When I was young [this might be 3 decades or so back - I know, that you would never guessed, that I am that old...] McDonalds fast food restaurants were not everywhere seen in Germany. There were still the styrofoam boxes, the better burger came in - and my parents kept me on very low supply of fast food, knowing that these are not the nutritions I would need to grow up strong.
Anyway - there is a typical taste, which I connect to a proper burger. Others might have different expectations. However for me the typical gourmet burgers are not real burgers for me. They might be tasty, they might be even delicious and yes, sometimes they might be of a better quality - but they don't shout burger to me.

So today on the [not so] long way from Dubai to Abu Dhabi I treated myself with a cheese burger meal and some chicken nuggets. Lets face it - the cheese of McDonalds cannot be seen anything else than horrible. Fake. Cheese. Not. Worth. To. Be. Called. Cheese.
But overall you get a nice, soft, juicy and tasty parcel which is touching your memories - in a good way. Chicken nuggets are working very similar with me. I tried a lot of different ones- but I never encountered better nuggets of McD. Please don't misunderstand me - always better are "flaky" real chicken tenders [oh yeah, BonChons - or Kim Chikin how it is nowadays called]. But the formed chicken pieces, we are knowing as nuggets, are the best in McD. Yes - hands down. Usually I don't like formed meat. It taste cardboardy and artificial - except of Donalds nuggets!
And then the sweet, smoky, thick and super tasty bbq sauce - and the tangy mustard dip...

But lets go to the dark side of the golden bows. How dare can they be, to charge more [and extra] for their artificial cheese? I never understood this. McDonalds - if you read this: Please offer a real cheese option. I am willing to pay extra. Really. Swiss or cheddar - it doesn't matter. But real, please!

Enough of it. Enough of the biggest fast food chain [or is it the second biggest?].
Back to the burger.

Fact is, that very few other companies, which are clearly upscale [yes Wendy's, Burger King etc all make also burgers, which are similar] do the "right" burger. The patties become too big. The bread becomes too bready. And the vegetables too veggie.
The triumvirate I know, which are clearly better than Mac - but still hitting the same soft spots in my gourmand feelings is:

• Shake Shack
• Fat Burger
• Johnny Rockets

And in exactly this order!

I read quite a lot of reviews, where reviewers criticized Shake Shack. Because the buns are too soft; because the patties are too thin. But this is exactly, why it is so close to my heart. I love you Shake Shack. No - lets not make kiddies - otherwise I had to eat them all...

Fat Burger features also soft buns and amazing tender beef. Sometimes the beef patty falls apart. But this is ok. We are under friends.

Johnny Rockets - I like the 2 above more than you, but you still have a very soft spot in my heart - especially if I combine one of your nice burgers with your awesome, luscious and forbidden peanut butter shakes.

Well... I am hungry again...