Five Guys Food Safari
Théo Grass
This particular location is right in the heart of the metrotech commons, giving it high visibility and foot traffic. The front sign itself isn’t lit, but due to the nature of the commons there are plenty of streetlights that give it enough light. There is some information about hours and online orders hanging in the windows all around making it very clear if you’ve made it in time or not.
The entire dinning hall as well as the cooking area is visible from the outside which adds to the drawn in factor because you can see and know exactly what you’re going to get. I will say they have eleven sets of tables, almost half of which are high tops, and only one labeled disability table.
I typically only come to five guys for a milkshake due to the high cost of the food if you’re eating alone. I like the strawberry and chocolate with oreo cookie; I let fate decide in the moment if i get with it without whipped cream.
The front door has the hours of operations listed again in bold white letters which helps keep it visible. Wording on glass doors tends to get muddy but the thick letters really make a difference. The door also has listed an allergy notice for peanuts; Pre-covid they used to have an open box of shelled peanuts that you could eat from while you waited for your food but they have since stopped doing this. The payment methods they accept as well as their social media branding is clearly listed at handle level.
Despite the lack of a remote open front entrance, there is a ramp down into the body of store, blocked by another door without remote open. I think it would be pretty hard to navigate by yourself if you used a bigger mobility aid like a scooter.
Just inside there are very big red and white signs directing you where you need to go, as well as several newspaper/ magazine reviews all over the walls. As a kid, my dad had talked this place up quite a bit and when one open din our town, we would frequent often enough ( due to the shear amount of fries they gave! our family of five could eat off of the little fries ) and those same reviews from then are still up now. I think the fact that the reviews are so old makes having them up counterproductive because it kinda shows that your brand isn’t nearly as relevant/iconic as it once was.
I have never been here when its super busy but there is a lot of open space to keep the line from feeling crowded. The menu is displayed on large TVs behind the register for ease of ordering, however, there are no visuals so portions size and appearance cant be judge for first time visitors.
As i said before, the food is pretty pricey, especially if you’re eating alone. They have no meal deals so you’d be paying for the ten dollar burger, the six dollar fries and four dollar drink alcarte, and thats just one meal out of your day. On the times i have gotten a burger, I asked for BBQ sauce and out of say five visits, i actually got the BBQ sauce only once. I had to start asking for a side of BBQ sauce as they handed me my food because due to the open layout, I could see the worker not adding the sauce and then wrapping it up. The order was all written down on the ticket stapled to the bag so why no worker ( it was a different woker each time) could get it right is beyond me.
As listed on the door, they take card payments as well as contactless, which is the option I uses most often now. before when I was a 1st and 2nd year I would use my physical card only. After you order they call it out to the kitchen and the kitchen responds which I tend to like about fast food shops. Its gives it its own culture; however due to this shorthand in relaying orders, special requests like toppings aren’t being taken into account and if youre not paying attention you will mess up someones order. The recite youre given has the number that will be called out on it.
The pick up area is clearly labeled right next to the kitchen where you can watch as they make your food. The Plexiglas has been there since before covid so its not because of that. Its here where I watched the different workers not give me the right toppings. The coutner is low for mulit-height compatibility.
The milkshake station is right next to the pickup counter and they are all made to order. They ask you if you want whipped cream as I mentioned above. They wont typically call out the shake by your order number so you have to remember that you're the one who order it.
Next to the milkshake station is the condiment station where you grab ketchup sweeteners, straws and tops. Next to that is the coke freestyle machine which gives a wide variety of drink flavors. There are two machines to keep down on lines in this smaller section of the store. A choking info graphic is also visible in this area of the dinning area.
There are two sets of trash and recycling cans, but they aren’t labeled in any way. Above the trash is a large red a white sign directing to the restrooms.
This sign however isn't as visible as the other direction signs are due to it being a white sign just floating against the white background of the store.
One of the door signs has fallen off which isnt very accessible to vision impaired people who depend on braille.
There is one emergency exit in the shop but it was being used as extended storage of mats and highchairs. Also, to note that there is a large step to access this door so in the event some with a mobility aid needs to use it, the step could stop them from leaving fast enough.
On my way out i noticed this single sign addressing the ongoing pandemic and precautions we can take to stop the spread.
The milkshakes are good for the price and they get them out fast enough. Id really get a burger for cheaper anywhere else, but if you and some friends want a lot of fries, six dollars for as much as you get is a pretty good deal. All in all not a bad process but in doing this journal, i remembered instances that really frustrated me when i lived closer to campus and when more often.
Thanks for reading :P
