Shake shack UWS
This weekend A Hamburger Today reported the soft opening of the new Shake Shack in the Upper West Side neighborhood of Manhattan. I was wandering aimlessly around on Sunday and thought it would be a good idea to check out the new Shack. This one is just like the Shack on 23rd street in Madison Square Park. That shack is plagued by long lines during the summer months. Today was actually one day before the official opening day, and the line was not too bad when I got there. If the lines are manageable, then the folks who live by Columbus Ave and 77th St now have a great new neighborhood burger place.
The Upper West Side location of Shake Shack differs from the original location in that the store is entirely indoors. There's also a dining room that makes you feel like you're sitting in the park. The green chairs at the two-tops mirror those you would find in any New York City Public Park. The chairs at the six-tops actually mimic the look of a park bench. When you're eating in the upstairs dining room, it feels like a patio enclosure or something. When I went it was early evening, but during the day it must get good light.
When I got there, there was really no line. Two people were in front of me and I got my order of shack burger and root beer within 10 minutes. After I finished my burger though, the line quickly because fifteen deep. There was an employee handing out menus for the people in line and welcoming people into the Shake Shack. Once she disappeared and came back with custard samples. Mmmm... vanilla custard. It was just one spoonful, but hey, I'll take it!
The Shack burger was good as ever. It was exactly like the one at the original Shake Shack and I had no complaints. A salty and beefy burger that disappears much too fast. This time I washed it down with some Abita root beer. Mmmm... After the burger, I went downstairs to look at their downstairs dining room which also features a flat screen TV. Mostly though, the dining room was full of babies. I'm not sure if babies like hamburgers, but the Shack UWS was a jungle of newborns.
My biggest complaint against the Shake Shack was always the ridiculous line. Seriously, for a burger?! Hopefully the new location in the Upper West Side keeps the Madison Square Park line shorter and more manageable in the future. Sometimes the mood for burgers just strike at random, and it would be nice to not have to wait an hour just to get a quick bite. I guess time will tell...
Shake Shack UWS
366 Columbus Avenue.
New York, NY 10024
646-747-8770
We need a Shake Shack in BROOKLYN! By the way, yesterday I was at the Ft. Greene flea market around 5:30 and the Red Hook vendors there had NO LINE! I got a pupusa and a pork taco without waiting.
Ang
October 20, 2008 2:21 pm
You got lucky... I was there at 3:30, saw the line and left. haha
Danny
October 20, 2008 2:38 pm
Oh God--I feel like I am the only soul in all of the NYC metro area who has not tried this burger joint yet....looks sooo yummy. Good thing the UWS branch is an indoor one for the upcoming winter days.
Dani
October 20, 2008 4:40 pm
Yea, indoors is definitely good :) Although when it's really cold out or if it's raining, the line at the Madison Sq Park shack is really short. I love it when that happens!
Danny
October 21, 2008 10:15 pm
All American on Long Island in Massapequa is better, but this place works if you're in NYC.
Andrew
May 12, 2009 4:46 pm