G's Burgers

 G's opened in 2008, after a Carvel franchise had been there since...I dunno, 1677? They expanded the building and added a grill to make fresh burgers. The legend of the place was that George Tsioflikis, the owner, traveled the land in search of the best burger joints. Somehow this ended up as G's.

If there was a source that he seemed to plagiarize, it would be Five Guys. When it opened, Five Guys was just exploding, but the idea of freshly made burgers and French fries that tasted like actual potatoes was a novel idea. Very quickly, G's became a local institution.

The burgers are...fine. They are better than your average fast food joint, but don't rise to any sublime levels - not that Five Guys' burgers are blow-your-mind either. The toppings are...also fine. They a few specialized options like a Hangover Burger (has a fried egg on it) and a Mac and Cheese burger (exactly what it sounds like) and an Island burger (no one knows). 

There are a handful of other options, like gyros and cheesesteaks, but if you're not there for a burger, you're there for a hot dog, preferably a chili dog. The chili isn't bad, actually, with just enough heat to remind you what chili should taste like. 

Given the union with the Carvel outlet, the milkshakes are probably the best thing on the menu. The classic New England "black and white" shake is our family's preference but your mileage may vary.

Now, let's talk about the fries.

When it opened, everyone raved over G's Burger's fries. If your only option over the years was some variation of frozen potato sticks dunked in a fryolator, then these were a revelation. Freshly made and salted, they tasted like actual potatoes, and not salted Styrofoam.

And then you went to Five Guys.

This was clearly the inspiration, but however you measure it, there is simply no comparison between the two. G's fries are hard, fried to a literal crisp. Sure, throw enough salt on fried anything and it will taste good, but G's fries are good only in comparison to Burger King or McDonald's.

For us, G's is a meal of convenience, even a meal of last resort. The burgers are good, the shakes are delicious and the fries are...OK. You can get fed reasonably quickly (slower than fast food, quicker than a sitdown place) and while it's not fast food cheap, it's not a "night out."

If you have kids, its' appeal broadens, especially with ice cream right there.

Recommend under the right circumstance

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