http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/423471/gary-mills/2013-09-11/five-guys-burgers-and-fries-set-close-riverside (http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/423471/gary-mills/2013-09-11/five-guys-burgers-and-fries-set-close-riverside)
Sad news this was the closest location to me.
I used to eat at Five Guys quite a bit when they first opened at the Town Center in 2006ish (I worked near there at the time) and the prices were much more reasonable back then. Five Guys is pretty much my go to place for a a quick burger and fries and I occasionally go to their Riverside, Jax Beach, and Avenues locations. I've noticed that they aren't even remotely as busy as they once were and I put that on the prices. Still a great burger and fries, but the prices just aren't doable for a lot of people these days.
Quote from: CityLife on September 11, 2013, 05:05:47 PM
I used to eat at Five Guys quite a bit when they first opened at the Town Center in 2006ish (I worked near there at the time) and the prices were much more reasonable back then. Five Guys is pretty much my go to place for a a quick burger and fries and I occasionally go to their Riverside, Jax Beach, and Avenues locations. I've noticed that they aren't even remotely as busy as they once were and I put that on the prices. Still a great burger and fries, but the prices just aren't doable for a lot of people these days.
It's essentially $20, give or take, for a couple to eat there. $10-12pp.
Anyone know if that's the reason the Riverside location closed though? If not, what gives?
(I don't even eat there...I'm just wondering how it's possible that they didn't survive.)
Every time I went in it was dead.
They'll be back in a new location as soon as it's built.
Quote from: fieldafm on September 11, 2013, 05:20:43 PM
They'll be back in a new location as soon as it's built.
Field, are you suggesting that Five Guys will have a presence on Riverside Avenue in Brooklyn by chance?
The five guys spot will be quickly filled with another local favorite...
Quote from: acme54321 on September 11, 2013, 06:27:08 PM
The five guys spot will be quickly filled with another local favorite...
I call shenanigans! Are you just going to tease us? Not even a hint
$20 for a hamburger fries and a coke, can't imagine why they closed.
^^^Damn, they that high? Wow. Although I can imagine that many there in Riverside have plenty of disposable income. With that health conscious demo there, I can't imagine something like a YogaBerry replacement going wrong.
^^^^Not too far off. From the online order form
$6.49 for 1 Cheeseburger
$3.39 for an order of fries
$2.29 for coke
add in sales tax and you're looking at spending $13 for a standard fast food meal.
I'm not a huge fan of 5 guys. If I want a decent burger and fries on the go I'll go to Wendy's if one is nearby. However, I also think their location in Riverside was abit of a pain in the ass for alot of people to get to. If they do re-open in one of the Brooklyn spots I think they would do fine just from the weekday lunch crowd.
Quote from: CityLife on September 11, 2013, 05:05:47 PM
I used to eat at Five Guys quite a bit when they first opened at the Town Center in 2006ish (I worked near there at the time) and the prices were much more reasonable back then. Five Guys is pretty much my go to place for a a quick burger and fries and I occasionally go to their Riverside, Jax Beach, and Avenues locations. I've noticed that they aren't even remotely as busy as they once were and I put that on the prices. Still a great burger and fries, but the prices just aren't doable for a lot of people these days.
To be fair, beef prices have gone through the roof since that Five Guys opened.
(http://i.imgur.com/zBEL9rP.png)
Chris, $20 is a bit of an exaggeration. A bacon cheeseburger (single), individual order of fries (little fries), and regular drinks is around $11.50.
Sad to see them go, just as I was sad to see Qdoba leave that spot before Five Guys arrived.
Quote from: Gators312 on September 11, 2013, 08:27:59 PM
Quote from: acme54321 on September 11, 2013, 06:27:08 PM
The five guys spot will be quickly filled with another local favorite...
I call shenanigans! Are you just going to tease us? Not even a hint
It's Firehouse (http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/423471/gary-mills/2013-09-12/firehouse-subs-plans-new-restaurant-five-points)
Nice
Will 5 Guys be going to the renovated shopping center on Margaret or somewhere in Brooklyn?? I'm hoping Margaret, because that would be some great energy for that area.
Quote from: I-10east on September 11, 2013, 10:51:38 PM
^^^Damn, they that high? Wow. Although I can imagine that many there in Riverside have plenty of disposable income. With that health conscious demo there, I can't imagine something like a YogaBerry replacement going wrong.
It was an exaggeration, but its def not too far off (upwards of $10 for a "meal"). The last time I went there I got a basic hotdog w cheese/chili, small fries & small drink. It was just over $10 if I'm not mistaken. Yeah, pretty steep for what it is. It's better quality than your run of the mill fast food, but they shouldn't be charging those prices for the type of food they serve.
I feel like a lot of their locations simply have too much space in their stores & should scale back in order to offer better pricing. A smaller place in Riverside, with even a walk up window (like Dreamette) would be better suited IMO.
I agree with everyone above. Granted in some cities (ahem SF) it's hard to find any basic lunch for under $10, or even $15 in many/most cases, but for fast food 5 Guys is way overpriced. I don't understand the craze or devotion people have.
Firehouse is the fastest growing franchise in the country right now and people really like it. It's an incredible operation.
I'm glad Firehouse is coming back. I can live without Five Guys, I only ate there a handful of times. It was expensive and the burgers really weren't all that good and the fries were hit or miss (even though you got a cubic ton of them). I can't live without a hook and ladder or a meatball sub that isn't Subway. (Larry's does a passable one, but when I go to Larry's I only want the Italian Big One.)
Firehouse is a class act for sure.
Quote from: simms3 on September 12, 2013, 11:49:47 AM
I agree with everyone above. Granted in some cities (ahem SF) it's hard to find any basic lunch for under $10, or even $15 in many/most cases, but for fast food 5 Guys is way overpriced. I don't understand the craze or devotion people have.
Firehouse is the fastest growing franchise in the country right now and people really like it. It's an incredible operation.
Watch the quality drop like flying bricks.
-Josh
Quote from: RiversideLoki on September 12, 2013, 12:37:30 PM
I'm glad Firehouse is coming back. I can live without Five Guys, I only ate there a handful of times. It was expensive and the burgers really weren't all that good and the fries were hit or miss (even though you got a cubic ton of them). I can't live without a hook and ladder or a meatball sub that isn't Subway. (Larry's does a passable one, but when I go to Larry's I only want the Italian Big One.)
Ive never been a fan of five guys either. Ive been there twice since they hit the Jax market. Wasnt impressed. The last time I went was about 3 years ago and I said I wasnt going back
I USED to really enjoy 5-guys. There's was a fresh tasting burger with a nice selection of toppings. I could care less about the fries.
IMO, 5-Guys downfall in one word: Wendy's
I know, right. Here's the thing, Wendy's has been going through a major overhaul over the past couple years to really focus on their burger, and now what they're offering is completely comparable to 5-Guys at almost half the cost.
The burgers are made to order. You can add toppings as you like. They allow you to choose from a variety of sides if you choose a combo. When I want a quick burger, Wendy's is the place, and has been for over a year for me.
It used to be 5-Guys, but now I just walk around the corner to Wendy's.
All of this is assuming my Larry's fix isn't in full force. :-)
You know who makes a better burger than Five Guys? That freaking sausage shack in front of Lowes off of Cassat... I'm not kidding.
I've never been impressed with Firehouse. Just something never tasted quite right about any of their sandwiches. Which is funny since for awhile I was neighbors with the guy who is the head food scientist for the whole operation.
Quote from: FSBA on September 12, 2013, 12:53:17 PM
I've never been impressed with Firehouse. Just something never tasted quite right about any of their sandwiches. Which is funny since for awhile I was neighbors with the guy who is the head food scientist for the whole operation.
Where is he now?
I'd like to go and kick his ass.
A freaking 'food scientist' should know better than to put honey ham on a damn Italian Sub - absolutely blasphemous!
I used to eat Firehouse quite a bit when it was just getting started back in the day. I don't know if my tastes have changed or quality has dropped, but I rarely eat there anymore. I work at the beach and Angie's and Sun Deli crush Firehouse or Larry's. Speaking of the beach, I was just at the 3rd Street Five Guys and 2 people were there the entire time, which is pretty standard when I go. Granted, this location is focused more on night operations, but still.
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on September 12, 2013, 12:44:04 PM
I USED to really enjoy 5-guys. There's was a fresh tasting burger with a nice selection of toppings. I could care less about the fries.
IMO, 5-Guys downfall in one word: Wendy's
I know, right. Here's the thing, Wendy's has been going through a major overhaul over the past couple years to really focus on their burger, and now what they're offering is completely comparable to 5-Guys at almost half the cost.
The burgers are made to order. You can add toppings as you like. They allow you to choose from a variety of sides if you choose a combo. When I want a quick burger, Wendy's is the place, and has been for over a year for me.
It used to be 5-Guys, but now I just walk around the corner to Wendy's.
All of this is assuming my Larry's fix isn't in full force. :-)
Funny you say that, I always compared 5 guys burgers to wendys. IMO their burgers taste like wendys double stack, just with extra toppings. For all of that, I can go to wendys
I will miss the peanuts... :(
One of Five Guys' big problems is likely their lack of variety. You can get away with limiting your menu to burgers, fries, and soda when you're the hot new chain that everyone is dying to try out, but when the buzz wears off, you need to bring a little more to the table. When my office goes to lunch, Five Guys is continuously vetoed because there are no moderately healthy items on the menu. It's a twice a month place, at best, if you have any aspirations of living into your 60s. Think McDonalds or Burger King would still be in the black if they only offered burgers and fries? Wendy's turned their fortunes around on the back of their new salad offerings. Gotta expand the menu if you want people to make Five Guys a weekly stop, rather than a monthly binge.
Quote from: RiversideLoki on September 12, 2013, 12:51:05 PM
You know who makes a better burger than Five Guys? That freaking sausage shack in front of Lowes off of Cassat... I'm not kidding.
Ahhhhh...... The powers of suggestion.
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/1237436_3394960649935_1935094488_o.jpg)
You weren't kidding, though! DAMN! That is a tasty burger.
great... just effing great... 8)
Quote from: BridgeTroll on September 12, 2013, 03:54:33 PM
great... just effing great... 8)
I'd put off your Lowe's trip until tomorrow afternoon... just sayin'.
I apologize for your waistlines...
Quote from: RiversideLoki on September 12, 2013, 04:13:17 PM
I apologize for your waistlines...
No apology necessary, but if you happen to pass by a guy, probably somewhere on Old Ortega Rd or HWY 17, standing beside his bicycle, puking his guts up, just know that you're the one responsible.
I'll toss a defibrillator out the window on my way home.
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on September 12, 2013, 12:44:04 PM
I USED to really enjoy 5-guys. There's was a fresh tasting burger with a nice selection of toppings. I could care less about the fries.
IMO, 5-Guys downfall in one word: Wendy's
I know, right. Here's the thing, Wendy's has been going through a major overhaul over the past couple years to really focus on their burger, and now what they're offering is completely comparable to 5-Guys at almost half the cost.
The burgers are made to order. You can add toppings as you like. They allow you to choose from a variety of sides if you choose a combo. When I want a quick burger, Wendy's is the place, and has been for over a year for me.
It used to be 5-Guys, but now I just walk around the corner to Wendy's.
All of this is assuming my Larry's fix isn't in full force. :-)
Too bad the Wendy's in Riverside has got to be one of the most poorly-run establishments in the country.
^ It sure is disgusting in there..
I take it that apparently Firehouse's way beats Five Guys way, and if you don't agree, it's free!!! I'M the one that came up with everything! :D
Quote from: funwithteeth on September 12, 2013, 10:46:22 AM
Quote from: Gators312 on September 11, 2013, 08:27:59 PM
Quote from: acme54321 on September 11, 2013, 06:27:08 PM
The five guys spot will be quickly filled with another local favorite...
I call shenanigans! Are you just going to tease us? Not even a hint
It's Firehouse (http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/423471/gary-mills/2013-09-12/firehouse-subs-plans-new-restaurant-five-points)
Winner winner... sub for dinner?
First QDoba and now Five Guys. Hopefully Firehouse has more success in that location.
Chris Callaway and his partner owned all of the Five Guys franchises around town (I think 22 total). I think Chris sold his portion last year and moved back to North Carolina to focus on a new venture. Might be good timing with beef prices skyrocketing and a ton of competition in the "better burger" category.
Way overpriced for what you get. I took one look at the prices and walked out. If I'm going to spend that kind of money I'd rather go to Col. Mustard's on the beach.
So now we'll have Publix, Firehouse, Subway, Larry's Giant, and Jimmy Johns all within 1 mile radius. I guess we can't bitch for not being able to get a sandwich.
Subs are the new sushi in Riverside.
Love the burgers. Hate the bathroom-like ambiance. And having to dig through a mass of hot, greasy fries to get to my burger.
Beyond eating a great burger - and they are great burgers - there is absolutely NOTHING appealing about any Five Guys restaurant. Hard surfaces all over the place, loud, cold, uncomfortable, no music, wobbly tables, nothing to read but ads from other Five Guys talking about how great they are and the crappy peanut droppings all over the place.
Give people a nicer place to eat at - and stop piling the insane amount of hot fries on top of the burger.
And one thing unique to Riverside was their God-awful outdoor tables planted right in the high-hot sun with zero shade (even the umbrellas weren't enough). This is Florida. We're hot. Don't make us sit in the hot sun to eat our burgers.
Quote from: ben says on September 12, 2013, 06:52:10 PM
So now we'll have Publix, Firehouse, Subway, Larry's Giant, and Jimmy Johns all within 1 mile radius. I guess we can't bitch for not being able to get a sandwich.
Give me a Primanti Brothers or give me death
Quote from: ben says on September 12, 2013, 06:52:10 PM
So now we'll have Publix, Firehouse, Subway, Larry's Giant, and Jimmy Johns all within 1 mile radius. I guess we can't bitch for not being able to get a sandwich.
Too bad we lost Quiznos, or we'd have the full house. I've got to think this will be the nail in the coffin for that Subway.
Quote from: FSBA on September 13, 2013, 01:15:28 AM
Give me a Primanti Brothers or give me death
Amen. But, If Primanti's was as proliferated as those others, I'm sure it wouldn't be as good or as special. You just can't eat those things on the reg. I mean, I've seen people that do, so I guess you can, but you wouldn't want to.
Quote from: PeeJayEss on September 17, 2013, 08:55:58 AM
Quote from: ben says on September 12, 2013, 06:52:10 PM
So now we'll have Publix, Firehouse, Subway, Larry's Giant, and Jimmy Johns all within 1 mile radius. I guess we can't bitch for not being able to get a sandwich.
Too bad we lost Quiznos, or we'd have the full house. I've got to think this will be the nail in the coffin for that Subway.
Quote from: FSBA on September 13, 2013, 01:15:28 AM
Give me a Primanti Brothers or give me death
Amen. But, If Primanti's was as proliferated as those others, I'm sure it wouldn't be as good or as special. You just can't eat those things on the reg. I mean, I've seen people that do, so I guess you can, but you wouldn't want to.
(I've got to think this will be the nail in the coffin for that Subway.) Why? Firehouse Sub is good but Subway is cheaper in cost.
Firehouse was in Riverside before (Sleiman Shopping Center @ Margaret)...and Subway survived then
Whaaaaattttt!!!!???? Too many sub places in Riverside!! Close them all down!!
Riverside now OFFICIALLY has too much, pizza, beer, sushi, sandwiches, bars, businesses, cars, people, RPC members. It's going to hell in a hand basket and quick!!!
[sarcastaball mode: off]
Quote from: If_I_Loved_you on September 17, 2013, 09:17:14 AM
Why? Firehouse Sub is good but Subway is cheaper in cost.
Not by much.
Quote from: tufsu1 on September 17, 2013, 11:18:11 AM
Firehouse was in Riverside before (Sleiman Shopping Center @ Margaret)...and Subway survived then
Further away, less exposure, ghetto shopping center. I think its safe to say a Firehouse in the 5 Guys location will do much better business. That and you'll be able to physically see a better sandwich option while heading into Subway. Nothing against Subway, but I'm not sure sure that one does all that well as it is.
Quote from: tufsu1 on September 17, 2013, 11:18:11 AM
Firehouse was in Riverside before (Sleiman Shopping Center @ Margaret)...and Subway survived then
+1000 Now I can't remember when Firehouse first came to the Sleiman Shopping Center. But Subway was on Lomax St a very long time before it moved to it's Margaret St location. Look overall not everybody likes other Sub Joints? I don't care for Larry's Giant Subs and I have never been to Jimmy Johns. When I shop at Publix I would rather buy the lunch meat and take it home then to buy a sub.
QuoteI think its safe to say a Firehouse in the 5 Guys location will do much better business.
Firehouse had wanted to move closer to Publix for a long time, however the end of the lease with PSDG was still a long ways off. Ironically for a business founded by fireman, the fire turned out to be a good thing.
Here's a vote for an upscale, non-smoking gay bar in the old 5 Guys space. Preferably one with an owner who has style, can promote a fun atmosphere and is not trying to model the place after some skank joint from the 1970s with boarded up windows, watered down drinks and bad, drag music.
Quote from: fieldafm on September 17, 2013, 04:01:24 PM
QuoteI think its safe to say a Firehouse in the 5 Guys location will do much better business.
Firehouse had wanted to move closer to Publix for a long time, however the end of the lease with PSDG was still a long ways off. Ironically for a business founded by fireman, the fire turned out to be a good thing.
Soo...maybe it was them that burned the place down instead of the Buffet?
Quote from: Duvaltopia on September 17, 2013, 11:18:59 PM
Here's a vote for an upscale, non-smoking gay bar in the old 5 Guys space. Preferably one with an owner who has style, can promote a fun atmosphere and is not trying to model the place after some skank joint from the 1970s with boarded up windows, watered down drinks and bad, drag music.
I want a waterpark at the shipyards!
Quote from: KenFSU on September 12, 2013, 02:04:30 PM
One of Five Guys' big problems is likely their lack of variety. .............................
ditto
The Five Guys in Riverside is stinky and I always used to like Five Guys. Poor ventilation or whatever causes the worst grease smell I couldn't stand it. Even after the short walk home I had to take a shower my clothes smelled like used peanut oil.
I hope a Firehouse does move in. We need more sandwich shops in the neighborhood. And more tacos and pizza options.
Speaking of tacos, has anybody else noticed a decline in quality at Mossfire since they last changed the menu? What's up with that?
^ I don't get Mossfire's appeal....at all.
Quote from: PeeJayEss on September 18, 2013, 01:46:39 PM
I want a waterpark at the shipyards!
I want an amusement park for the JEA Southside Generating Station site! :)
Quote from: ben says on September 18, 2013, 06:11:59 PM
^ I don't get Mossfire's appeal....at all.
chips and salsa? nice upstairs patio? good beans and rice? tacos? beer? Anyplace that has beer has
some appeal, whether you like it or not.
Quote from: PeeJayEss on September 19, 2013, 09:41:54 AM
...Anyplace that has beer has some appeal, whether you like it or not.
The Island Bar? Give it a shot and let me know how much 'appeal' it has. ;-)
Some of us learned the hard way.
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on September 19, 2013, 09:45:32 AM
Quote from: PeeJayEss on September 19, 2013, 09:41:54 AM
...Anyplace that has beer has some appeal, whether you like it or not.
The Island Bar? Give it a shot and let me know how much 'appeal' it has. ;-)
Some of us learned the hard way.
So you went there? Clearly it has
some appeal, enough to get you in the door. I'm sure the other people there saw the appeal. I won't ask what you found so unappealing.
The appeal was that it seemed a unique place in a unique location.
There's not enough eye-bleach in the world....
Next time I want a 'unique' experience, I'll just drive a bit further up the road and hit up the SOS Club about 2 in the afternoon.
Speaking of the Island Bar...
http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2013-09-19/story/police-charge-1-seek-another-jacksonville-carjacking-robbery (http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2013-09-19/story/police-charge-1-seek-another-jacksonville-carjacking-robbery)
Quote from: ben says on September 18, 2013, 06:11:59 PM
^ I don't get Mossfire's appeal....at all.
Mossfire is like Avondale's Brick. It's the idea of the restaurant more than the actual restaurant that has appeal. That's all they have going for them. They might as well serve empty plates cuz ain't no one going there for the food. It's like having an imaginary tea time with the queen of england. It may not be real but it can be just as fun. The queen is a blast to be around especially when she gets gossipy.
Quote from: TheCat on September 19, 2013, 02:05:43 PM
Quote from: ben says on September 18, 2013, 06:11:59 PM
^ I don't get Mossfire's appeal....at all.
Mossfire is like Avondale's Brick. It's the idea of the restaurant more than the actual restaurant that has appeal. That's all they have going for them. They might as well serve empty plates cuz ain't no one going there for the food. It's like having an imaginary tea time with the queen of england. It may not be real but it can be just as fun. The queen is a blast to be around especially when she gets gossipy.
Hey, that's offensive to the Brick! It is in a league of its own when it comes to unfulfilled potential.
I think Mossfire gets a lot of loyalty because its been around for so long. My dates are fuzzy, but I remember eating there quite a bit when there wasn't much else to eat in Riverside/Avondale. There also used to be a time when Pizza Palace was the go to pizza joint...To give some of the R/A newbies an idea of how far the neighborhood has come.
Quote from: CityLife on September 19, 2013, 02:49:22 PM
I think Mossfire gets a lot of loyalty because its been around for so long. My dates are fuzzy, but I remember eating there quite a bit when there wasn't much else to eat in Riverside/Avondale. There also used to be a time when Pizza Palace was the go to pizza joint...To give some of the R/A newbies an idea of how far the neighborhood has come.
There were even 2 Palaces of Pizza for a time. Though good luck actually getting served at the little on on King, man that place was awful (though I still appreciate the existence of Pizza Palace). I agree on the Mossfire thing though. I have a great fondness for it, because it was once one of only a dozen restaurants in R/A, and the only one with tacos (Qdoba didn't last long)! I don't go there incredibly often now that R/A is the delicious capital of Jax, but I will continue to go there from time to time. Even if it isn't good as you say, I can't tell the difference. Plus there's chips and beer.
Quote from: PeeJayEss on September 19, 2013, 03:02:38 PM
Plus there's chips and beer.
And the original rooftop bar on Margaret St.....
Well, Mossfire is only slightly better than Brick. Yeah, Mossfire used to be the only place around that's why the idea of Mossfire is so compelling, "look, it's a restaurant with a cool name. We can go. It won't even matter if it's good. " They were like a mirage in the middle of a restaurant desert. We ran to it even though it was just a hallucination of good food.
AND. THE. CHIPS. Man, i've been to mossfire at least six times and at least six times my chips were a mixture of stale chips, medium stale chips and fresh chips. Maybe they're onto something if they mix fresh with mediocre the customer will be too confused to complain, I am. I keep eating the chips to see if I'm making it up that I just ate a stale chip, "this one tastes fresh...this one is kinda fresh...I can't tell with this one...this one is definitely stale...but this one is really and totally fresh...my pallet must be off today because we're in Mossfire and they have to be good or else I have nothing. :'("
Mossfire is the abusive restaurant we all keep going back to because "remember that one time..."
While we're in the area, O'Brothers. I've had good experiences there. I love their fish and chips but I'm confused by the thai/peanut sauce they serve with all of their dishes. It's not good and it doesn't go with anything they serve. It's a failed example of fusion, i guess?
I dont get the Mossfire hate? I eat there all the time(though never the chips) and my food has always been good.Maybe I have no culinary standards? I will say,the desserts are meh,thats 6 bucks I wont waste again.
Quote from: TheCat on September 19, 2013, 03:34:28 PM
While we're in the area, O'Brothers. I've had good experiences there. I love their fish and chips but I'm confused by the thai/peanut sauce they serve with all of their dishes. It's not good and it doesn't go with anything they serve. It's a failed example of fusion, i guess?
Is this something they just started doing recently? I usually just got a burger and fries from there.
Never got the peanut sauce, either, and I'm there a couple times a month. I pretty much only stick with burgers, too.
Quote from: CityLife on September 19, 2013, 02:49:22 PM
I think Mossfire gets a lot of loyalty because its been around for so long. My dates are fuzzy, but I remember eating there quite a bit when there wasn't much else to eat in Riverside/Avondale. There also used to be a time when Pizza Palace was the go to pizza joint...To give some of the R/A newbies an idea of how far the neighborhood has come.
Yeah, Mossfire may not be as amazing as some other places around but they're usually at least
pretty decent and like you said, they have been around for a while so have to be doing something right. I actually really like their seared fish tacos more than Burrito Gallery or Taco Lu's to be honest. I also gotta give 'em credit because I think they were one of the early local places that started carrying Bold City on tap when they first started brewing. They're ok in my book--way better than Le Brick.
Not just local brews. Until relatively recently (within the last year or so), Mossfire was the only restaurant in that area that would serves micros from other parts of the country. Stone and such.
Quote from: funwithteeth on September 20, 2013, 10:12:36 AM
Not just local brews. Until relatively recently (within the last year or so), Mossfire was the only restaurant in that area that would serves micros from other parts of the country. Stone and such.
Good point. Also one of the only places to get Sierra Nevada on tap.
I was reading the December '13 construction update and looked up the five guys closing thread, which I see evolved into a debate about Mossfire.
Agreed with everyone who says it was an oasis in a restaurant desert back in the day. In 2002-03 I remember it being fresh and the place to go. Spent plenty of happy hours on the outside patio, and the food was new and unique to Riverside at the time.
Since they've taken away their southwest steak sandwich and moderate price increases I do find myself eating there less, but it's still a good spot all around.
Five guys is very enjoyable (esp. for us carnivores) but the prices are the # 1 complaint for most of my coworkers that used to visit there. And like someone else said, it's a once or twice a month spot to visit at best. I can do Firehouse every week.
I never understood the price complaints Five Guys was easily better than any fast food burger, always cooked to order, and always generous with toppings. It was a nice compromise between forking out $9+tip at O'Brothers/Mossfire and having to eat the hot garbage they serve at Wendy's. I really miss having a decent burger place in the neighborhood. It's a shame they have to be replaced by yet another sub sandwich shop.
For whatever reason people here do not seem very tolerant of upper-end fast food ($7-$10). Quizno's is dead, Tijuana Flats is often empty unless it's a $4.99 Taco Tuesday, Gina's is closing down, and Larry's has to have a sign twirler out every day to drive business. I get the sense that Firehouse is not going to do particularly well in that location - particularly since sub shops tend to rely on a good lunch rush, and the parking situation there during lunchtime is absolutely terrible.
Agree on the price comment. Hell I went to Larry's subs yesterday and paid $8.60 for an 8 inch turkey sub, a drink and a bag of chips. Talk about rip off.
It wasn't that far off a fast food burger, but was 5x the price. It's not the $20 by itself, it's the price vs. quality equation that bugged me, and presumably the other people who made the same comment.
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on January 04, 2014, 10:47:27 PM
...it's the price vs. quality equation that bugged me, and presumably the other people who made the same comment.
I didn't read back through, but that's pretty much my sentiment. I ate there 1-3 times a month UNTIL Wendy's started with the cook to order burgers and the better bread and the better fries and the other options for sides....
Basically, Wendy's stepping there game up just a bit proved the tipping point for me when I'm in the mood for a hamburger.
On the flip side, when I want a fantastic burger, I go to BlackSheep and this is my order; Burger, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onion straws, fried egg and pork belly.
Yeah. I said pork belly and absolutely meant it.
It's about a $15-18 burger depending on when you order it, but my gluttony doesn't carry a price restriction.
Interesting that Five Guys is expensive, but Firehouse is not? you can still spend about $10 easy at Firehouse. The menu at Five Guys is certainly limited, but I always thought it was a good value, especially when you get the Jr burger.
It's not as if the premium burgers at Wendy's are really that much less expensive. It's still like five bucks for a Baconator....except that unlike Five Guys, Wendy's gives you smaller patties, soggy bacon and a relatively small selection of toppings. Not to mention inexplicably poor service at almost any time of day and french fries that may or may not have been cooked an hour ago (depending on your luck).
I'd rather cough up seven bucks for a Five Guys burger thick crispy bacon, more toppings and freshly-made cajun fries every single time. Even when you call in an order, they insist (perhaps to their detriment) on cooking the fries fresh when you arrive rather than ahead of time.
MbWright is correct -- Firehouse will be in pretty much the same predicament as Five Guys was. It's pretty difficult to spend less than $7 on a sandwich there. People that want cheap subs will go to Subway, people that want premium will go to Publix or Larry's. I get the sense they were doing well before Wasabi burned down, but that location was not the traffic/parking nightmare that Oak Street is during lunch and dinnertime.
Actually, that building has a very serious parking nazi on patrol. There is generally ample parking in their lot.