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  4. I went to Five Guys for the first time. The milkshakes and fries were tasty but not worth the money - and the drinks machines were surprisingly tricky to use.

I went to Five Guys for the first time. The milkshakes and fries were tasty but not worth the money - and the drinks machines were surprisingly tricky to use.

I went to Five Guys for the first time. The milkshakes and fries were tasty but not worth the money - and the drinks machines were surprisingly tricky to use.
My drink overflowed.Joe Molander
  • I went to Five Guys for the first time to see what its burgers, fries, and milkshakes are like.
  • I thought the milkshake tasted better than the burger, which I found a bit bland.
  • The fries portions were massive and the free refills were fun.

I've heard a lot about Five Guys burgers over the years - and I wanted to try one for myself.

I
Sophie Hicks

Five Guys opened its first restaurant in the UK in 2013, and now has more than 100 here. I went to my nearest one in Newcastle, northern England.

Five Guys opened its first restaurant in the UK in 2013, and now has more than 100 here. I went to my nearest one in Newcastle, northern England.
Grace Dean/Insider

The menu contained largely what I expected, though I was surprised there weren't more meat-free choices.

The menu contained largely what I expected, though I was surprised there weren
Sophie Hicks

I ordered a cheeseburger, fries, refillable soda, and milkshake. It came to £21.65 (around $30), which I thought was a bit pricey for a casual meal.

I ordered a cheeseburger, fries, refillable soda, and milkshake. It came to £21.65 (around $30), which I thought was a bit pricey for a casual meal.
Grace Dean/Insider

While I waited for my food to cook, I decided to pour a drink at the Coca-Cola Freestyle machine using the cup I was given when I placed my order.

While I waited for my food to cook, I decided to pour a drink at the Coca-Cola Freestyle machine using the cup I was given when I placed my order.
Joe Molander

I loved being able to customize my drink, though it took me a while to figure out how to pour it. I had to ask my friend who told me that you had to press the silver button. I had thought it would be a button on the touch screen.

I loved being able to customize my drink, though it took me a while to figure out how to pour it. I had to ask my friend who told me that you had to press the silver button. I had thought it would be a button on the touch screen.
Joe Molander

Using the machine was fun ...

Using the machine was fun ...
Joe Molander

... but I got a bit distracted posing for photos ...

... but I got a bit distracted posing for photos ...
Joe Molander

... and my drink overflowed.

... and my drink overflowed.
Joe Molander

It took about eight minutes for my food to be ready.

It took about eight minutes for my food to be ready.
Grace Dean/Insider

There were tables downstairs, too, but I took my food upstairs to tuck in.

There were tables downstairs, too, but I took my food upstairs to tuck in.
Joe Molander

Here's what I got.

Here
Grace Dean/Insider

I opted for a regular portion of the Five Guys-style fries. When I placed the order, the server told me that it's usually enough to feed two or three people. The fries overflowed the cup they were served in ...

I opted for a regular portion of the Five Guys-style fries. When I placed the order, the server told me that it
Grace Dean/Insider

These are all the ones that couldn't fit in the cup.

These are all the ones that couldn
Grace Dean/Insider

Five Guys seemed really proud of their fries ...

Five Guys seemed really proud of their fries ...
Grace Dean/Insider

... and had bags of potatoes, as well as containers of peanut oil, throughout the store.

... and had bags of potatoes, as well as containers of peanut oil, throughout the store.
Grace Dean/Insider

I'd never tried fries cooked in peanut oil before but to be honest, I couldn't taste the difference.

I
Grace Dean/Insider

I went for the Heinz Five Guys Mayonnaise to dip them in.

I went for the Heinz Five Guys Mayonnaise to dip them in.
Callum Sawyers

The fries were yummy and had the perfect amount of salt on them. The portion was massive though, and I only ate around a third of them.

The fries were yummy and had the perfect amount of salt on them. The portion was massive though, and I only ate around a third of them.
Callum Sawyers

Then I moved onto the cheeseburger.

Then I moved onto the cheeseburger.
Grace Dean/Insider

The toppings were free, which I thought was great, though the more expensive ones - cheese and bacon - meant you had to upgrade your order to a different burger. I ordered mine with mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, grilled onion, and grilled mushroom.

The toppings were free, which I thought was great, though the more expensive ones - cheese and bacon - meant you had to upgrade your order to a different burger. I ordered mine with mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, grilled onion, and grilled mushroom.
Grace Dean/Insider

The burger was pretty big with its double patty, and I was excited to tuck in.

The burger was pretty big with its double patty, and I was excited to tuck in.
Callum Sawyers

The burger was nice but it somehow tasted a bit bland. I think this was down to my choice of filling. If I'd opted for gherkins or mustard, it may have had more flavor.

The burger was nice but it somehow tasted a bit bland. I think this was down to my choice of filling. If I
Callum Sawyers

It was super oily, too. This is how greasy my hands were after having just three bites.

It was super oily, too. This is how greasy my hands were after having just three bites.
Callum Sawyers

There was a lot of mayonnaise in the burger, which made it a bit sickly - especially because I had mayonnaise with my fries, too.

There was a lot of mayonnaise in the burger, which made it a bit sickly - especially because I had mayonnaise with my fries, too.
Callum Sawyers

I also couldn't notice any mushroom in the burger.

I also couldn
Callum Sawyers

The burger was good and I ate the whole lot - but for £8.25 ($11.45) it was nothing special.

The burger was good and I ate the whole lot - but for £8.25 ($11.45) it was nothing special.
Grace Dean/Insider

After this, I decided to grab another drink. There were two more Coca-Cola Freestyle machines.

After this, I decided to grab another drink. There were two more Coca-Cola Freestyle machines.
Grace Dean/Insider

The machine said you could pour your drink using your phone, which I thought sounded fun.

The machine said you could pour your drink using your phone, which I thought sounded fun.
Grace Dean/Insider

I opened the camera on my phone and tried to scan the QR code on screen ...

I opened the camera on my phone and tried to scan the QR code on screen ...
Joe Molander

... but after nothing happened, I realized you needed to manually type in the URL, which was displayed under the QR code.

... but after nothing happened, I realized you needed to manually type in the URL, which was displayed under the QR code.
Joe Molander

This takes you to a website where you can actually scan the QR code.

This takes you to a website where you can actually scan the QR code.
Joe Molander

You selected your drink on the website, like you do on the machine, and then hold down a button to pour the drink.

You selected your drink on the website, like you do on the machine, and then hold down a button to pour the drink.
Joe Molander

It would have been better if there were clearer instructions but pouring my drink by phone was fun.

It would have been better if there were clearer instructions but pouring my drink by phone was fun.
Joe Molander

Then I moved onto the milkshake.

Then I moved onto the milkshake.
Grace Dean/Insider

Newcastle's Five Guys is particularly famous for its milkshakes because one was thrown at Nigel Farage, then leader of the Brexit Party, when he visited the city in May 2019.

Newcastle
Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

Source: Insider

Farage's attacker went for a salted caramel and banana shake but I opted for Biscoff, banana, and peanut butter.

Farage
Grace Dean/Insider

Source: BBC

The milkshake was super yummy and definitely my favorite part of the meal. However, the peanut butter was definitely the dominant flavor. I got a few lumps of yummy Biscoff spread, but it wasn't until the final sips that I could taste any banana.

The milkshake was super yummy and definitely my favorite part of the meal. However, the peanut butter was definitely the dominant flavor. I got a few lumps of yummy Biscoff spread, but it wasn
Callum Sawyers

At £5.25 ($7.30), it was a lot for a shake. I thought it was worth it because I wanted a flavor combination that you don't often find. Having unlimited toppings for one set price is great, but if you wanted a plain strawberry or banana shake, I thought it wouldn't be worth the money.

At £5.25 ($7.30), it was a lot for a shake. I thought it was worth it because I wanted a flavor combination that you don
Grace Dean/Insider

Even though Five Guys is a huge global chain with nearly 1,700 restaurants ...

Even though Five Guys is a huge global chain with nearly 1,700 restaurants ...
Grace Dean

Site: Five Guys

... the Newcastle location had touches that still made it feel local, like two boards of children's drawings.

... the Newcastle location had touches that still made it feel local, like two boards of children
Grace Dean

I had to add one myself, of course.

I had to add one myself, of course.
Joe Molander

I liked how I didn't have to pay extra to dine in - but I would have maybe been annoyed if I ordered the food for takeout and still paid the same as sit-in customers.

I liked how I didn
Grace Dean

Overall, the food tasted good ...

Overall, the food tasted good ...
Grace Dean

... but I felt like I was paying restaurant prices for fast-food service. It took nearly 10 minutes for the food to be ready, too, which isn't great if you're in a rush.

... but I felt like I was paying restaurant prices for fast-food service. It took nearly 10 minutes for the food to be ready, too, which isn
Grace Dean

Going to Five Guys made a fun change, but I'm not sure I'll be racing back there any time soon - apart from maybe for a milkshake to treat myself.

Going to Five Guys made a fun change, but I
Sophie Hicks

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