Devin Skolnick
Web Features Editor
The long-awaited opening of Five Guys Burgers and Fries in Westport is scheduled for Tuesday, January 12. The space at 534 Post Road East has been renovated and transformed from a former retail store to a red and white tiled themed restaurant. The article clippings and various awards that hang on the walls are just one reason why many Westporters have been counting down the days until Five Guys’ opening.
Although some categorize Five Guys as a fast-food restaurant, it actually considers itself to be a “fast casual” restaurant. According to Dana Marona, the General Manager, “The main difference between Five Guys and a fast food establishment is there, the burger waits for you, while at Five Guys, you wait for the burger.”
While the sandwiches and kosher hotdogs may taste delicious, its main attraction is the burger. Each is hand rolled patties from fresh, never frozen ground beef and weighs between 3.3 – 3.5 ounces. In addition, a wide variety of toppings are offered: mayonnaise, relish, onions, lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, grilled mushrooms, ketchup, mustard, jalapeno peppers, green peppers, a-1 steak sauce, barbeque sauce, and hot sauce. No matter how many toppings a burger is coated with, they are all free!
Five Guys also serves huge portions of hand cut potatoes, carefully cooked in 100% peanut oil.
Barrels of peanuts will also be placed throughout the store for the customers’ enjoyment; people will be able to anxiously wait for their meal while snacking on peanuts and watching the burger being prepared in the open kitchen.
Even though many will dine at Five Guys, Katie Saveliff ’11 has a peanut allergy, disallowing her from eating one of Five Guys’ notorious burgers. “If it gets popular, I definitely feel like I will be missing out. But, when my friends eat their burgers, I can grab a bagel from next door,” said Saveliff.
Marona said that orders will take about 7 minutes to prepare upon ordering.
Marona and Assistant Manager Greg Zawacki felt that Westport needed a restaurant that had a family-centered atmosphere, along with great quality food that makes the dining experience a memorable one.
Burger-lover Alec Lundberg ’11 said, “Five Guys will provide Westport with a place that serves good food and is a popular hang out spot, something that has been lacking in our community for a while.”
Jack McCambley ’11 is also looking forward to this restaurants’ opening. “We have so many locally owned pizza and sandwich shops that are amazing. But, to be honest, you can only eat so many Godfathers (Fortunas) or Cicillian Pizzas (Arcudis). Westport needs a good burger; hopefully it will come with Five Guys,” said McCambley.
Check out Five Guys’ website for more information.
Nutcases • Jan 20, 2010 at 2:58 am
Actually ALL 5 Guys have peanut warnings printed on the doors to stores. Every restaurant cant be for everyone. If you have peanut allergies dont go to 5 guys! I and it seems a few others thought that this was a food/atmosphere review and not a blog on allergies. On that point the burgers and fries are very good and a welcome addition to the area.
All about you • Jan 18, 2010 at 2:32 pm
Grow up! Not everyone or most for that matter have peanut allergies. Peanuts are part of Five Guys business. Every five guys I have been in has peanuts and it is a nice touch for most of us. Talk about self-absorbed. You are in the minority. Dont try to punish the majority!
Jennaye • Jan 19, 2010 at 5:23 pm
Actually, your tone is really offensive and immature. This is an ongoing discussion about the establsihment and to warn people, as I have yet to see any signs posted (but I could have missed them) about the nuts served and used in cooking. Actually, if you check with the Westport/Weston Health District, they will tell you that nuts are considerd a "major allergen" and must, by law be treated as such. I do not think any of us is complaining about the establishment, but want there to be responsible mamgement, as well. And actually, you should check your facts, because peanut and nut allergies are one of the highest increasing allergies in the nation. SO as far as "growing up"..well, I would say you still have a lot of that to do……
Peter • Jan 17, 2010 at 9:58 pm
I was hoping to try it out but with a daughter with nut allergies, forget it! Oh well.
Not an Idiot • Jan 12, 2010 at 9:04 pm
It isn't the restaurant's responsibility to put "Peanuts exist here: People with allergies stay away" signs on their establishment. Seriously? Do you want those signs on supermarkets, well you're at it? What I want to know is why there are so many people with food allergies these days. No one seemed to be allergic to peanuts prior to twenty years ago.
Peter • Jan 17, 2010 at 10:00 pm
Yes, they should definitely put up signs if they are going to have barrels of peanuts around the store!! If someone with a severe allergy walks in they can have a reaction almost immediately before they know what happened. That's different than just cooking with peanut oil.
Jennifer • Jan 11, 2010 at 7:22 pm
Yes, too bad indeed. And dangerous for the peanut allergic public, too I might add. While I realize there is no way to prevent this, they are the ONLY restaurant in Westport as far as I know who cooks with and serves peanuts/peanut oil. The oil can be very easily transferred from person to person, object ot object. Many peanut allergic will react without ingesting the peanut, just by touching or coming into contact with the oils or nuts. So, even adjusting the menu would not be enough. Supposedly, there are signs that need to be placed on the doors warning the public and no peanuts are allowed out of the store, but take it from me…once the peanut dust and oil is on one who has eaten there and that person leaves the establishment with this on his hands, mouth, and clothing, it can be very, very dangerous for some members of our community
mike • Jan 9, 2010 at 5:43 pm
Its a shame that these guys can't understand that they will lose business from the peanut allergy sufferers. Sure we can go elsewhere but it seems like they can adjust their menu to be an establishment for all