I still haven't completely recovered from the closing of Big V's Burger Joint. While Five Guys Burgers and Fries might not fill all of the gap in my heart, I think it will accelerate the healing process.
A lot.
The menu is blissfully simple: burgers, hot dogs and fries. Toppings are free. Jalapeño slices are the most exotic of these. A regular burger has two patties, thin and (alas) well done. I ordered my burger with bacon, cheese and -- trying to recreate my beloved Big V's Animal, though this didn't occur to me until later -- jalapeño slices and grilled onions.
And the fries! These are fries exactly as they should be, thick-cut, with the idealbalance between a crisp, brown exterior and a hot, fluffy interior. Though I couldn't see how the fries were made from start to finish, they tasted like fries made the proper way: freshly cut, soaked, fried once and then fried again at service.
A nice touch: A dry-erase board near the service counter tells you the origin of "Today's Potatoes." Today's were from Sugar City, Idaho. As at Big V's, these details add up to an experience far beyond your standard fast-food joint. While Five Guys might never entirely replace Big V's in my heart -- Big V's burgers snuggled up close to the line of "too-greasy," making them an especially hedonistic pleasure, not to mention that it was locally owned -- burger aficionados shouldn't wait to check them out.
