Five Guys — Restaurant in Pilot Sound

October 2024 updated review** I miss the management and the food from 2 years ago at this restaurant but, it is what it is. Long story short, I visited this place after new management took over and I noticed the burgers didn't quite taste the same and I thought maybe it was me so I came back a few weeks later and tried it again and same result. I stayed away far almost a year and thought I'd give it another go. I'm not saying the burger is bad I'm just saying it is not what it once was and a big part of that is the crisping of the meat, that was what brought the flavors out and it's called the Maillard reaction (The Maillard reaction is a chemical reaction that occurs when cooking meat on a hot grill typically between 365 to 400°, Fahrenheit, creating a burger's browned crust and delicious flavors) The first time I had a burger at five guys I had that beautiful crisp meat around the edges and the patty itself giving it amazing flavors whereas now it is just a burger cooked on a grill and while many people would love that I still miss what kept me coming back to this restaurant. Unfortunately after giving it another chance today I still find they are missing the mark. Again I'm not saying that the burger is bad It's just doesn't live up to the way it was 2 years ago. While it's saddens me as this was my go-to place. My burger was cooked all the way through and like I said there was nothing actually wrong with it and I know many people love it and will keep on loving it, for the price I will Go to other Smashburger restaurants that are up for the task. There are a few out there that still crisp up that meat and do what we love. 2 years ago* Well I had to see what all the hype was about, I finally went to the five guys burger restaurant wondering if it's just another burger joint or does it live up to all the talk I've been hearing. So as soon as I walked in we were politely greeted and the kitchen is wide open so you could actually observe everything going on which is something I really like and it's kind of hard to hide anything. The place was clean and I have to say inviting. Of course you could smell those juicy patties in the distance and those fresh cut fries being cooked and I have to say it's a very pleasant smell. Being my first time I wanted to look over the menu carefully before I place my order and I was greeted by one of the friendly staff members and if I have any questions and I told her that this was my first visit so she proceeded to explain the menu to me in a very kind unfriendly manner. Once I made my order we sat down to wait for our number to be called which wasn't that long. We picked up our order and sat down and opened up our little treasures. At first glance we looked at the french fries which you could see are freshly cut and I tried one and the flavor just pops as they cook it in peanut oil which gives it an amazing flavor. We opened up our burgers which are wrapped in a very thin piece of tin foil like old school and inspected our burgers and you could see two juicy patties with cheese embroiled into each and all of our toppings meticulously stuffed into our lightly grilled sesame seed encrusted bun. To tell you the truth my first bite I could not believe as the flavors hit my taste buds like electricity going through a power line I had to take a second bite to make sure I was not dreaming and in fact each bite thereafter was a pleasure until I was at my last bite knowing that this little dream was about to end. I have had a lot of burgers in my life but this one by far was the tastiest, it was juicy flavorful and just the right blend to tease my taste buds. My hat is off to these guys on how they are able to put out such a simple Burger but with a different technique that adds so much flavor. I will definitely be coming more often to visit this place and have myself another meal and I will be updating more pictures in the future. Great job guys keep it up as you are now my family's favorite juicy tasty burger restaurant. I give a rating of 9 on...

Having Five Guys in your Mouth isn't all it's cracked up to be.

The burgers are very average, what you would typically make in your own home. Nothing fancy and definitely not anything that jusifies the price. Once consumed the burgers will sit in your stomach like a boulder. The Cajun French fries are drowned in Cajun powder, gross is the best description. The milkshakes are actually pretty good, but at the price they ask for one I would hope so.

The restaurant at Manning Center is very dirty, all of the tables were a mess and they give out free stale bulk peanuts with the shell, which are left everywhere. There was only 15 people in the restaurant so it's not like the staff was overwhelmed with work, but not one person came out to clean the tables or the floor the bathroom was equally untidy, very unprofessional for a restaurant. Futhermore, there is only one toilet in the Mens bathroom and that functions as both Urinal and Toilet. Hygiene is an afterthought at this location.

Five Guys reminds me of the Movie "The Founder" but when the franchisee lets their restaurant go to hell. This Five Guys location is a glowing example of that.

To top off your dining experience you get the Sex Pistols, or equivalent music blaring out of horrible quality speakers. Fine for the Mosh pit, not so much when your trying to eat lunch. This was my first visit to a Five Guys and will be my last. Five Guys is very overrrated, prices overinflated and...

Disappointing Experience with Cross-Contamination Concerns

I recently visited Five Guys for dinner and had a disappointing experience that I feel compelled to share, especially for those with dietary restrictions.

When I ordered a cheeseburger, I specifically told the cashier that I did not want any bacon near my burger due to my dietary restrictions. The cashier assured me that they never prepare them together and that they always change gloves between handling different items. I believed him at first.

However, as I watched the food preparation process, I was dismayed to see that even the manager was using the same spatula to flip both the burger patties and the bacon. This practice raises serious concerns about cross-contamination, which is unacceptable for those of us who avoid certain foods for religious or health reasons.

This experience has left me very disappointed with the Five Guys franchise. If you have dietary restrictions, especially if you are Muslim and avoid pork, I advise you to be extremely cautious. Don’t just take the staff's word for it—observe how your food is being prepared to ensure it meets your standards.

I hope Five Guys will take this feedback seriously and improve their food handling procedures to better accommodate customers with specific dietary needs.

I hope this version better reflects...