Five Guys Burgers and Fries, 7 Scotch Road, Ewing (609) 882-7999
(Directions) (Website) Open 7 days, 11AM-10PM

Five Guys serves an outstanding burger and fries.  The fact that it’s a chain, and in Ewing, made me hesitate to add it to “Hidden Trenton“, but since this joint is in the same shopping center as Villa Rosa, I lost half my reason for procrastination.  Then, when I ate my first sample, I lost the other half.  The burgers and fries are that good.  I consider Five Guys a non-chain, chain (harkening to Watergate’s non-denial, denial): it’s thriving because the food is really good (if in this case, not good for you), not just fast or convenient.

The menu is simple and to the point:  you can have a burger, a hot dog, or grilled cheese.  You can have fries.  You can get soft drinks.

Burgers are made from fresh ground meat, in a hand formed patty.  They come “little” (1 patty) or regular (2 patties).  You can add bacon or cheese (these cost extra) and your choice of up to 15 toppings (all free):  mayo, relish, onions, lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, grilled onions, grilled mushrooms, ketchup, mustard, jalapeno peppers, green peppers, A-1 Sauce, BBQ Sauce, Hot Sauce.

Fries are fresh cut from Idaho potatoes, never frozen, and fried in pure peanut oil.  My 21 year old son and I shared a large order, and realized we could have easily done a “regular”.  Palettes of sacks of Idaho potatoes are scattered around the store.  And, in a nice touch, there are huge baskets of roasted peanuts in the shell placed near the counter to munch while you wait in line or for your order to be cooked (you carry your order to the table).  Tables are clean with a view of a strip-mall parking lot.

You’d be nuts to take a vegetarian to this place, but if you’re stuck, Vegans can eat the fries, and ovo-lacto vegetarians can hit the grilled cheese sandwich.

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