Shake Shack
ShackStack – Cheeseburger with crip-fried Portabella Mushroom filled with melted Muenster and Cheddar Cheese topped with Lettuce, Tomato and ShackSauce
Chick’n Shack – Crispy Chicken Breast with Lettuce, Pickles, Buttermilk Herb Mayo
Blueberry Sweet Corn Custard with Whipped Cream
Summerlin S’more Concrete – Chocolate Custard, Marshmallow Sauce, Graham Cracker and Chocolate Truffle Cookie Dough
Desert Crunch-stellation Concrete – Vanilla Custard, Malt, Guittard Chocolate chunks and Chocolate Toffee
Not one to go out of the way for a Burger, let alone to wait in line for hours during a trip to Manhattan, Danny Meyer’s Shake Shack had always stood out as a sort of novelty until rapid expansion dropped two into the Las Vegas community, a recent look showing the experience to be typical Union Square Hospitality Group in terms of the smiles and service exhibited while the food itself is decent, though certainly not “destination” worthy in terms of quality, price or concept.
Situated in Downtown Summerlin, a location in the dining alcove nearest Red Rock Resort and Casino adjacent Wolfgang Puck, Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken and Pub 702, Shake Shack takes up a significant footprint with indoor and patio seating, the entrance bringing diners face-to-face with a big board of options and the counter with room for queuing.
Pure Meyer in its concept, the non-GMO Buns, antibiotic-free Meats and Organic Produce all showing a passion for quality while also commanding a premium price, ordering at Shake Shack is a streamlined process with weekly Specials augmenting a list of classics plus the recently launched Chicken Sandwich, the prices really no different from Panera or other “quick casual” concepts with a five part order totaling just a shade under $34.
Amused by the Calorie Counts, just in case the toll on one’s wallet for what is essentially fast-food delivered tableside despite a flashing pager is not enough, it bears mention that Shake Shack has actually designed their food to be “Instagram Friendly,” and with each Sandwich presented as if birthed from the wrapper the visual appeal is undoubtedly compelling, though first bites of the ShackStack were far less-so as the melty Mushroom completely overwhelmed an underseasoned Meat patty that really added nothing to the flavor of the Cheese, Sauce and Fungus.
More impressed by the Chick’n Shack, a brined Breast fried golden with a pleasant spice profile that outperforms Chick-fil-a from Bun-to-Bun as Pickles, Herbs and Lettuce all mingle nicely with the Bird, the rest of the afternoon focused on Shake Shack’s famous Concretes and Custards, the weekly Blueberry Sweet Corn a lackluster attempt to do something Jeni’s has been doing for a decade with a taste not much different from Vanilla with a spoonful of sautéed fruit drizzled over it, while both the Summerlin S’more and Desert Crunch-stellation fared better largely as a result of the Mix-Ins as the texture of the Custard was far less creamy that either CJ’s or Luv-It.
TWO AND A HALF STARS: Admittedly taking a detour for a Concrete while in Manhattan, that line separate from the one for Burgers, Fries and Dogs, Shake Shack is little more than fast-food dressed up with “healthier” ingredients and more attention to detail, the benefits of each left to the diners discretion but by-and-by more hype than substance.
RECOMMENDED: Chick’n Shack and Portabella Mushroom. Service is also exemplary.
AVOID: Nothing was particularly “bad,” but the beef was entirely underwhelming white the Custards all seemed to be propped up by their toppings rather than the quality of the Soft-Serve itself.
TIP: See the website or in-store chart for a Custard of the Week menu. Other seasonal Sandwiches and Shakes only identified by laminated sheets inside the doors or by phone.
WHAT THE STARS MEAN: 5 World Class, 4 Excellent, 3 Good, 2 Fair, 1 Poor.
https://www.shakeshack.com/location/summerlin-nv/
