Shake Shack Garden State Plaza

So, the staff who broght my food over was nice, food was ready fast but for over 4.00 dollars for tiny fries and a double burger portions are small for babies and not worth 20 dollars!
Never again!

Let me just start by saying , this was my first shake shack experience. A soon as I walked in it was a clean atmosphere and the vibe was calm. The customer service was great. Taylor was a big help, she showed us how everything was done and was patient. She greeted everyone with a smile and made sure everyone felt welcomed. She’s a true gem. The food was Top Tier, the presentation was like from a catalog. I’ve never experienced anything like it. I’d definitely recommend and come again !

This is incredibly embarrassing to admit, especially as a self-proclaimed burger lover, but I've never been to Shake Shack.

At least, not until today, since my husband and I decided it was high time to make things right.

There are three kiosks situated right at the front of the restaurant and they seem to be the main way to place an order, along with a numbered placard so servers can bring the food to your table when it's ready. You can still place an order at the register if you're paying cash (or craving real human connection), but I noticed workers aren't statically stationed by the register here.

I actually like the kiosk method of ordering. I added an avocado to my Shack burger while my husband added an extra patty and fried onions and - easy peasy - we were able to make our custom burgers with a clear cost breakdown.

The burgers themselves were good. In true smashed burger form, there were crispy edges that got a near bacon-like texture from the hot grill. That said, I think some smashed patties tend to get lost in a bigger burger; to wit, I found myself losing that wonderful beefy flavor among all the toppings and bread and regretted not getting a double patty. But high, high points for toppings. The vegetables looked ad-ready fresh and my husband's burger was surprisingly full of bacon strips. The fries are my favorite type - crinkle cut - but a smaller serving than I would've expected for the price.

This particular Shake Shack is located on the southeast corner of Westfield Garden mall (the side that faces Route 17), which can be both a good and bad thing. It's great on Sundays, when most of the mall is closed due to Bergen County blue laws and there's plenty of parking. On most Fridays and Saturdays, though, expect the crowds - both in the mall and in the parking lot. There are quite a few tables inside, and on super crowded days, there are a few 'indoor-outdoor' tables along the side of the restaurant (meaning technically outside the restaurant but still inside the mall) for spillover seating.

The story of this establishment is a classic American success story. What began as a small hot dog stand operating out of Madison Square Park in New York City in 2001 eventually grew into a gourmet fast-casual restaurant with more than 377 locations both domestically and internationally.

Located at the corner of the East entry inside the Garden State Plaza mall, my partner and I decided on a quick lunch at Shake Shack after a hiatus of several years.

Upon entering this modern and inviting interior with plenty of available tables both indoors and outdoors, their large menu displayed on the wall featured gourmet hamburgers, chicken, hot dogs, crinkle-cut french fries, and milkshakes.

We were greeted at the counter and decided on the Shroom Burger, Avocado Bacon Chicken, Fries, with root beer and water to wash them down.

The burger and chicken were juicy, cooked to perfection, and flavorful. The fries were fresh, crispy, and served hot. The service was good, as one of them brought the food to our table fairly fast. The price was comparable to the area. The staff went above and beyond to ensure that every patron felt welcomed and valued. We can recommend this place.