Five Guys Burgers and Fries

Not my first trip here and I have been to other 5G's, but this was just ok. Two large bacon cheeseburgers, one large fry, one bottle of water and one large soda $26. The bacon was crunchy and rubbery? The oil in the fryer definitely needed changing, the fries were awful. Eating the peanuts while waiting is one of my favorite things, the peanuts were rancid. I realize this is a high volume location, we went on a hot busy Saturday afternoon, but the entire experience was: MEH.

* Staff were friendly
* One star loss over the peanuts
* Orders came out quickly
* I know they are expanding nationally, they need to
tighten the quality or they will FAIL.

This is a pretty new Five Guys that opened up in baltimore a year ago. It's right in the heart of Mount Vernon so there's more parking here than the one near Inner Harbor where I used to go to. I love the cheeseburgers here and they give you double patties plus you can add whatever toppings you want. The fries are pretty good and the peanuts are all you can eat for free. It's not as cheap as eating at a McDonald's but the burgers are juicier and it's a step up from any fast food hamburger joints.

As a Minnesota native transplanted to Boston, I didn't really get the cult-like cultural following of 5 Guys Burgers. When some people talk about the burgers and fries, they become so passionate and sometimes forceful that it makes me think, "Woah. Settle down there." I get it now that I've tasted it. I am now one of those people.
The burgers actually taste fresh, and you can get an endless myriad of toppings on your burger. Toppings include the traditional condiments; additionally, they have things like BBQ sauce and jalapenos. The fries are thickly cut (but not too thick) and salted perfectly. They were too hot too eat when we got our take-away bag of goodness. That's fresh.
They seem like a great company. There are cheerful employees who seem to actually want to be there, creating your next gastronomical euphoric experience. There's a sign on the coke machine saying something to the effect of: "It is our pleasure to serve you. Thank you for allowing us to do so. It is you, our customer, who keeps us in business." Wow, they're right. I hate it when you go somewhere and feel like the establishment is doing you a favor by allowing you to buy their product. The overall quality of 5 Guys is very high.
I wish I could eat 5 Guys every day. And believe me, if I could, I would. My doctor would also see me a lot more often...

This NoVA original has franchised across the east, and will hopefully infiltrate California making millions of Californians realize what a true burger and fries taste like. None of this In-N-Out business (although, it ain't bad, but not in the same league as 5 Guys). I was so glad I had two 5 Guys within walking distance to me when I lived in Bmore, but of the two this one was best. You have the choice of eating your burgers in Mount Vernon and enjoying the sun away from the Inner Harbor crowd. One of the things I'll miss from The Charm City.