Smash Bros Burger — Restaurant in Merced

I was really looking forward to trying out the new burger joint in town. Unfortunately, I didn't have a great first experience.

The menu is deceiving because you might think " $6 for a burger, not bad..." but then you see the burger and you realized you might need 3 of them to feel like you ate one complete burger. It's like a panini version of a burger. I get it. It's a smashed burger, but it feels lacking in bread and toppings. There's practically nothing in there. The burgers look nothing like the images the owners posted on Instagram or even here on Google.

My genuine first reaction when I looked in the bag and saw my fries, was "oh they forgot my 2 burgers!" Then I moved the napkins and I saw the two little anemic "burgers" in the corner of the bag. The napkins were able to completely hide the burgers! I thought they forgot to add the buns or something, but the whole burger is super flattened (see image).

It was about 36 dollars plus tip (so over $40) for 2 burgers, 1 fry, 1 loaded fry, 1 shake, 1 fountain drink. They don't offer a combo meal with fries and a drink. All drinks and sides must be ordered separately.

The wait time was above average. I must have been there at least 20-25 minutes for what I consider a relatively simple order, with only 2 people who ordered ahead of me. (Side note, some people with similar orders who ordered after me got their meal first, but it is what it is)

I could have gotten a filling meal for two in the $40-50 range. It could have been sit-down meal with service, not fast food takeout that left us hungry. Or I could have gone across the street for a full-sized burger if we're being honest.

The fountain drink area wasn't dirty, but it was messy and some of the tables hadn't been cleared by the customers, but I also didn't see any staff go check any of these areas or try to clean up. I was there for probably about 25 minutes and the place was messy the whole time with no one even going to check on cleanliness.

Now for the positives: The oreo milkshake was pretty decent. I'm not sure if they offer different sizes, but it felt between average and small for the price. For $6, it was probably reasonable. The burgers had flavorful meat. You can tell they use better quality than most fast food. I liked the option to add fresh jalapeños to my burger. I also asked for the meat patty on the loaded fries to get served chopped up so it was easier to eat. The loaded fries were the highlight of the order. Nice and crispy with tasty toppings and sauce. The Jalapeños were a nice touch, although the menu doesn't mention them, so just be aware of that if you don't like peppers. To me, the size seemed fair, but I could also see how you might want more fries for the same amount of toppings and sauce. I think there is potential here, and I still need to try the cheese steak, but I do believe the prices and portions need to be calibrated if the goal is to get returning customers. These are all areas that can be improved and can make a huge difference in a...

When i walked in, I was pleasantly surprised with the size cleanliness of the restaurant & the decor. It wasn't much, but it shows that the owner put some time & effort into masking it presentable rather than just being "the new hole in the wall" joint. The staff greet the customers when they walk in. The menu isn't huge... but it's not as small as In-N-Out (right across the street) either; their base burger is comparable in price as well. They have a nice small variety of burgers to choose from. The hamburger bun was soft & delicious. There are a few different interesting french fry options, as well as some delicious add ons & and sides. I didn't try their milkshakes yet, but they have some nice selections available: vanilla, chocolate, & and strawberry, of course, but they also had butterfinger, caramel, and a few others. Can't wait to go again and try them out!

Reason for not 5 stars on service: While ordering, the cashier didn't add my drink to the order even though I did order one. Then, after my food was ready, there was no eye contact. The cashier just yelled out my order number like she didn't know who I was. There were only 4 customers in the place at the time & they all had their food already, lol. Then, when I walked up to the counter to get my food there was still no eye contact and no words, no acknowledgement, no "enjoy your food" or "can I get you...

I recently visited Smash Bros Burger in Merced, CA, and my experience was incredibly disappointing. I ordered the Philly Cheese Steak, fries, and a Bros Cone Ice Cream. To my surprise and dismay, the server, who also acted as the cashier, handed me the Bros Cone Ice Cream without wearing gloves. This is highly unsanitary as the same person who handles money should not be touching food with bare hands.

When I pointed this out and asked her to wear gloves before preparing my ice cream, she showed no sign of remorse or apology. It seemed she was indifferent to my concerns, which is alarming for a new restaurant trying to establish itself in the community. The server in question, named JESS according to my receipt, displayed a complete lack of basic food hygiene standards.

Aside from the hygiene issues, the food itself was underwhelming. The Philly Cheese Steak was over-seasoned, making it quite unpleasant, and the fries were overly salty. As someone who enjoys supporting new small businesses, this experience was particularly disappointing.

Unless Smash Bros Burger makes significant changes in both their hygiene practices and food quality, I will not be returning. It's crucial for them to understand that customers expect their food to be handled with care and respect, especially in a time when food safety...