Shakin' Shake Shack

The food adventure continuous.

A while back, I posted a blog about checking out IHOP in Dubai.  Next to the restaurant is another joint that looks interesting.  It was a burger joint that doesn't have too much decor on its interior but the queue is long it's a sign that they are probably serving good food.  It certainly is all about the burger at Shake Shack.

Who would have expected that a restaurant with a name as Shake Shack spells fab burgers.  Of course, beef burgers often go hand in hand with a vanilla milkshake.  A lethal combination to guarantee a coronary blockage.  But! Let us forget about that for awhile, besides, I haven't eaten a beef burger for months already.  Beef is not a star on our grocery list - so it is always a treat to have some.

Since visiting Dubai is always reserved for long weekends and holidays, we thought testing Shake Shack goodies will just have to wait.  So while I was hungrily checking their menu, turned out they have already opened one in Abu Dhabi at Dalam Mall.  Hooray!

Truly Dalma Mall is a dark horse when it comes to shopping and dining.  I'm beginning to like this mall already.  As you would know, I am partial of Al Wahda mall.  Aside from being near our home it has everything I need.  Anyway, the Shake Shack is not hard to miss as you approach the mall a signage in metallic silver can be seen from afar.

The menu was not so extensive.  It was basically burgers, fries, hotdogs, shake and frozen custard.  For the menu click here.

The ambiance of the restaurant was lay back and relaxing.  Late diners occupy some of the wooden tables with an engraved logo of the joint.  It was pretty cute.  Also, it was noteworthy that their wooden chairs are really sturdy.  The design looks like the basic foldable picnic chairs but it holds.

So here is what we have ordered:

Shack stack - AED 37.00
Single Cheeseburger - AED 28.00
Single Shack Attack - AED 21.00
Single Design your Own concrete - AED 12 + 3 (addition of Peanut Butter Sauce)
Cheese Fries - AED 18.00

The overall meal experience was satisfying.  I was not so happy with the concrete.  I was expecting it would be like milk shakes.  I guess I ordered the wrong item.  Turned out the milk shakes were at the other side of the menu.  My mistake.  Usually frozen goods are listed right next to the desserts.  My husband liked it though.  We'd probably visit it again the next time we visit Mussafah area.  

Davao's Burger Trail

Before grilled burger patties came into the scene of Davao's gastronomic crowd, we were all contented with what Mcdonald's and Jollibee's burger offered.  It was nothing sensational.  That's why I don't usually order those burgers just because I don't like the taste plus the rumors that those patties were made from cultured organisms. 

copied from foodnetwork.com

Then entered Space Burger, first taste of those grilled burgers just made me fall in love with beef in a weird way.  Way back, when you want good burgers, Space Burger is the place to go.

copied from franphil.com

                                          
 Over the years, burger joints opened and tried to compete with the "grilled" patties.  Before I left Davao for Abu Dhabi, Brother's Burger opened.  I was working for an American company and my all American boss just can't stop gushing about the steak burger of Brother's Burger.  To quote "it's exactly how American burgers should taste." 

copied from yahoo images

I think had his lunch there 2-3 times a week since it opened.  It's amazing he didn't get a a coronary with all those beef juices running into his veins.  Curious that I was, I decided to give it a go.  Since it recently opened the waiting time for the burger took an hour before you get what you have ordered.  For me, it was just too bland for my liking.

By 2012, another burger fever hit Davao and that is Gino's Burger.  I should give it to Gino's their patties are absolutely huge.  It was forgettable.  Then on my recent home coming, another burger joint was suggested by my brother.  It was advertised everywhere and I think they have 2 branches in Davao City.  One is along Quirino avenue and one is along Quimpo Boulevard near SM City Davao. 

So, one lunch break, I convinced my brother to sneak out for lunch to try the burger.  The venue is exactly what the name of the joint- backyard.  Plastic tables with the basic condiments as centerpiece.  They have a weekly promos so when were there the price for the fries were 50% off.  We ordered the Cheesy Bacon Burger and BB Philly Cheese Steak Burger.  We also ordered Jalapeno poppers as side.

The Menu - you can actually customize it!

The verdict:  on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the highest, it was an 8.  The burger was good, especially the buns with black sesame on top.  They even buttered it lightly inside.  It was just messy to eat.  So if you are planning to impress a girl on a date this is definitely not the place.  The Jalapeno popper is a letdown.  I was expecting a whole jalapeno stuffed with cheese then fried, but instead it was just a cheese fritter with bits of jalapeno inside.  But all in all it was good.  For the menu of Backyard Burger click here.

Tips on ordering...have it cooked medium well...as my brother say it ...it just gives you all the right juice to complete the burger.