A new restaurant has opened its doors amongst other Hill favorites such as Del Taco, Papa Romano’s and Cosmos. Five Guys Burgers and Fries has finally come to Boulder.
According to the Five Guys official home page, 200 hundred new restaurants are anticipated to open in 2011, including the one now located on the Hill. Originating in Virginia and quickly franchising across the U.S., Five Guys is perfect for a late-night snack or hangover prevention. Burgers are delicious, greasy and made-to-order.
(Courtesy of Wikipedia)
Ryley Thornton, a 22-year-old senior advertising major, shared his experience at Five Guys.
“The first interaction I had with Five Guys was on the Fourth of July in D.C.,” Thornton said. “I loved it then and I was stoked to see it in Boulder. I have been going consistently since it has opened. I go about two to three times a week.”
Five Guys is known for burgers that are hefty, filling and taste great. Even an order of “small fries” is more than enough to fill a hungry, always-busy college student.
According the official website, the menu is trans-fat free and nothing is ever frozen—there is not one store that has an installed a freezer, just coolers.
Five Guys Burgers and Fries love their peanuts. French fries are cooked in 100 percent peanut oil and complimentary boxes of peanuts are located all throughout the store. Customers are welcome to them while they wait for their orders.
“I like the peanuts,” said Abigail Whipple, a 21-year-old junior media studies major. “I’ve only been to Five Guys one time, and it was really busy. The whole feel reminded me a lot of In-N-Out.”
Though Five Guys is quickly becoming a new Hill restaurant favorite, some students criticize that the meals are unhealthy. Based on a 2,000-calorie diet, a large fry is 1,464 calories according to Five Guys nutritional guide. A cheeseburger (two patties) is 840 calories and a little cheeseburger (one patty) is 550.
The nutritional ramifications deter students like 19-year-old sophomore marketing major, Colleen Braun, from eating at Five Guys.
“Five Guys is just ok,” Braun said. “A large fry is 1,400 calories. Ew, not worth it.”
But, for a restaurant location that specially caters to college-aged students, many are not too concerned that Five Guys Burgers and Fries may not be the most health-conscious place they can eat. They just care that it tastes good and their money is going to a good cause—namely satisfying their craving for a greasy, delicious burger.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Chelsea O’Neill at Chelsea.oneill@colorado.edu.
