Five Guys, Five Amazing Reasons to Love Burgers

It's official.  I've lost my "Five Guys Burgers" V-Card.  Although long past overdue, I finally made my way to Naperville, IL, home of one of the most notorious burger joints in the Chicagoland area.  Up until now, I did not know why.


Now, I do.  Woah.  This place is amazing and immensely business savvy too.  For those of you who have not had the pleasure of going, do not expect bells and whistles.  It is simple, 50s-style in-and-out diner cafe food and feel.  Basically, it capitalized on McDonalds.  It has almost everything but the yellow coloring.  It's Red & White, empty plain tables, burger, dogs, and fries.  That's it.  


However, unlike it's competitors, it boasts a pretty amazing deal.  First of all, no preservatives or antibiotics are used in their meat. It's sad that we've come to a point in society where that has to be mentioned, but they're the "healthy" fast food burger, if you can say that.  


Then, the fries are in 100% peanut oil, so no trans fat here!  Also, they give you access to as many free peanuts as you want while you wait.  Applause, applause.  Not only is that simple, easy, fill-up fast food, but they've basically put a "Know Yourself" atmosphere front and center.  Allergic to peanuts, Don't Go There.  Duh!  That does not mean other people shouldn't enjoy such simple gestures, so know yourself and stay away if you know that's not a place for you to be.


Otherwise, there's no storage.  All the fries & oil is sitting around you, table side.  Awesome.  No storage so less overhead cost.  Brilliant business financial planning.  


THEN, you have to actually eat your way through your fries to get to your burger.  Genius!  They overload you with so many fries that you can't be anything but happy and no longer starving by the time you get to the main course, and the main courses are not gargantuan sized either.  They're normal people sized, so you're not eating your face's weight in meat.  Thank you, Five Guys!


Overall, if you haven't been there, you should go.  I'm not a fast-food person, and it was a heavy weight in my stomach afterwards because I'm just not used to that food, but it was a wonderful experience and I loved every single minute. Now, I just need more of those fries.....