Shake Shack Montgomery Village — Restaurant in Santa Rosa

Understood that this location of the much talked about burger franchise in Santa Rosa just recently opened...but it has a lot to do to impress me. Walked in shortly before noon and found only one table with a single customer eating. They must be in training mode still as there were at least 10 people behind the counter and in the kitchen area. There was no welcome offered by any employee, and after looking at the menu offerings, stepped up to the counter. The young man asked if I was ready to order, answered a few of my questions and rang me up and I paid $15.93 for a burger and order of plain crinkle cut fries. I was given a number and told they would bring my meal out when ready. I thanked him and found a seat and waited for my food. Service was quick...perhaps too quick. My tray of food came out with only the burger and fries - no napkin, salt, pepper, ketchup etc., nor was I asked if I needed any of them. So I asked and was told we could get our own at a solitary station in the restaurant. First thing I tried were from the ample serving of fries...they were cold! Requested a new order and they apologized and shortly returned with crispy, hot supply of fried goodness..yes I love a quality crinkle cut fry. Next I bit into my burger and was leary about it when I pick it up as the bun was cold, as if it had been in a refrigerator. The burger had good flavor, but unfortunately, it too was cold...and the smashed style thin beef burger was still raw in the middle. I like rare to medium rare burgers, but I still want them to be at least warm in the middle. Real disappointment all the way around. I don't understand the hype Shake Shack has, but based on what I received for what I paid, I'll save my money and fire up my grill and fix a better burger than what most of these high priced, influencer rated and recommended burger places could...

Let me tell you about the time I took my taste buds on an all-expenses-paid vacation to Shake Shack. Spoiler: they didn’t want to come home. I strutted into Shake Shack like I was about to sign a billion-dollar burger merger. The smell hit me first—like angels slow-cooking beef patties on a cloud-shaped griddle. I ordered a ShackBurger, crinkle-cut fries, and, because I live dangerously, a milkshake that could legally qualify as dessert royalty. The burger arrived looking like it was styled by a food stylist who moonlights as a magician. The bun? Buttery, golden, soft enough to make a pillow jealous. The patty? Juicy, beefy, and cooked to the perfect level of “I’m pretty sure this cow died with honor.” The lettuce and tomato added just enough crunch to make me feel healthy about my choices (which was a lie, but a delicious one). And the ShackSauce? I don’t know what’s in it—liquid happiness? Unicorn whispers? All I know is if they bottled it, I’d put it on everything, including my taxes. Now, the crinkle-cut fries. These things don’t just crunch—they announce themselves. You bite in and it’s like a crispy confetti cannon of salty joy went off in your mouth. I’ve had fries before, sure, but these are the kind of fries you’d fight your friends for. I would trust these fries to babysit my dog. And that milkshake? Thick enough to bench press, sweet enough to date. It made me remember childhood joy, summer afternoons, and the exact moment I gave up on my summer body. Worth it. Final Verdict: If Shake Shack burgers and fries were a movie, they’d be a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and win Best Picture and Best Original Sauce. 10/10 would eat again—even if I had to run a marathon afterward...

It's a new place and the crew is still figuring things out. They opened last week. I arrived at 11:10, got through the line to place my order at 11:25. I noticed each person ahead took longer than the usual burger place to order as the cashier was being trained on the job. There were 4 computer kiosks to use to place orders if one wished but only 2 were working. I ordered the Golden State burger which threw the cashier and the person training her for a loss. Couldn't find it on the order screen. Like I said, they are training their crew on live customers.

I got my food at 11:30. So that part was quick. The burger was really good. The bun was soft but not sloppy and did not get in the way of the meat, which had a nice maillard crispy outer and juicy inside. The cheese and sauce were in perfect proportion and the pickles were nice and crisp. The quality of the meat was evident. Just a darn good burger. Fries were the crinkle cut variety nicely cooked crisp and golden outside fluffy inside. Lots of them. They offer only one large size. With a tip the bill was $26 for a double burger fries and small Coke. No refills on the soda. The soda machines are behind the counter. You get what you pay for, I guess. Good food but you have to pay for it. Give the crew time to learn their jobs and ordering will probably be faster. I would go there again if I was in the...