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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/06/2013 01:51PM by lucky7s.[/i]

What do you want to know? I have done a couple of these.

Be sure to notice if there are ceiling tiles. Stay at the counter while your order is prepared. Otherwise, familiar observations and reporting.

Most important advice: Enjoy your Burger!

And they( restaurant) do not like you ordering all the toppings... pick and choose just a few even though the menu allows it.

Check for the grease mark on the pavement outside the front entrance door. Check for smudges on the windows and check that garbage cans inside and outside the restaurant have room for extra trash (ie., not overflowing).

I have done a bunch of them for stores around here. Mert and CanadaMom have great advice. Also, make sure that you notice who has a red shirt on and who has a grey shirt. There have obviously been so many people that have said they didn't see a grey shirted crew manager in the kitchen when there has been because they note that in bold and fireworks on the sheet. Also, make sure that you don't let a lot of time pass between when you get your bag and when you take your first bite. That can skew the temperature question.

Make sure to evaluate the food by 5 Guys standards, not personal preferences. Timing is important.

Otherwise, an easy shop, the locations I go to are always super clean and the food is without a fail, good.

Yeah the ceiling tiles, I forgot that once, had to ask my husband,and try to recreate it in my mind.

I can only say...MSC...no comment....

Count the number of times they shake the fries during the final cooking process. 15? Watch for changing of the gloves. It is an easy shop after you do the first one or two. Do not order the large fries.

The ceiling tiles is no longer a needed observation. That was changed with my instructions a few months ago.

Easy assignment. The instructions state that the employees are on the look out for shoppers so be cautious about staring at them too much and/or using your cell phone to text messages to yourself. You have to seriously wonder if this too is another shop where the manager is tipped off by home office that a shop is impending. But again, it is a fairly easy shop so give it a try and enjoy your free meal!!!

Has anybody done the Smashburger shop yet please???
If so, feedback please.

Thanks Much

I enjoy this shop and do it fairly often. The hardest part about it for me is standing at the counter for six minutes without looking suspicious. That is always awkward for me. Does anyone have any advice on how they do this?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/17/2012 02:30PM by stalar.

Being female, I frequently use the line about liking to watch men cook for me, as most of the cooks at the stores around here are men. Since the music is loud, I've occasionally pretended to have a hearing problem and don't want to miss my number being called. (Ignore the fact that they are pretty good at yelling, I'm older and they appear to believe this.) One of my favorite cooks thinks I'm some kind of foodie and he's always asking me questions about food, like how to poach an egg. Fortunately, I can hold my own in a cooking conversation. You can also appear to be a nervous nellie, who can never be to careful about his/her burger is cooked.

Is it for the same company. I haven't seen them in a while.

Same company, but I no longer see two of the locations I shopped often. I think they only allow you to do so many shops per location. I am hoping after some time passes, I will see them again. Luckily, we just had a brand new one built and I have been able to shop that one.

prettygul1 Wrote:
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> Is it for the same company. I haven't seen them
> in a while.

Good advice all around, I think lookinf up at the ceiling is a dead giveaway and rhey took it out. I have the best advice for you, load the bottom of the bag with peanuts then put your leftover fries(tray) on top...and go
SF GIANTS!!!!

You know, I was wondering why the ceiling tile question was no longer there. And I think you are correct in that you can only do a certain number per location as the 4 closest to me are never on my list anymore. When they call me to beg me to do one further away I always say no. Then I say I will not do any more unless the closer ones reappear and they act like they have no idea what I mean.

The shaking of the fries is my sticking point (no pun).

They are rarely bonused in my area. I stand at the counter and eat peanuts and pretend I want to stay close to the trash container for dumping shells until my order is ready. When they hand my order, I quickly eat a fry or two while making yummy noises before sitting down to make it look like I just couldn't wait. IMHO the shops are easy otherwise since all the ones I've done are super clean with everybody following the prep rules to the letter.

stalar Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I enjoy this shop and do it fairly often. The
> hardest part about it for me is standing at the
> counter for six minutes without looking
> suspicious. That is always awkward for me. Does
> anyone have any advice on how they do this?


Actually, I see LOTS of customers staring at/ or near the counter/the cooks, (it's like a show) and if you look around., you will notice (especially men, will stand near the counter and watch them cook the burgers.) So, to be standing there or near the counter is not unusual at 5 Guys

Arch Stanton Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Easy assignment. The instructions state that the
> employees are on the look out for shoppers so be
> cautious about staring at them too much and/or
> using your cell phone to text messages to
> yourself. You have to seriously wonder if this too
> is another shop where the manager is tipped off by
> home office that a shop is impending. But again,
> it is a fairly easy shop so give it a try and
> enjoy your free meal!!!
>
> Has anybody done the Smashburger shop yet
> please???
> If so, feedback please.
>
> Thanks Much


I don't think it's that. They ask us to call before to verify location and/or hours. That's when the tipoff happens. Even though Ive done a lot of these shops, they still require me to call the location before I go.

sethd85 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Arch Stanton Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Easy assignment. The instructions state that
> the
> > employees are on the look out for shoppers so
> be
> > cautious about staring at them too much and/or
> > using your cell phone to text messages to
> > yourself. You have to seriously wonder if this
> too
> > is another shop where the manager is tipped off
> by
> > home office that a shop is impending. But
> again,
> > it is a fairly easy shop so give it a try and
> > enjoy your free meal!!!
> >
> > Has anybody done the Smashburger shop yet
> > please???
> > If so, feedback please.
> >
> > Thanks Much
>
>
> I don't think it's that. They ask us to call
> before to verify location and/or hours. That's
> when the tipoff happens. Even though Ive done a
> lot of these shops, they still require me to call
> the location before I go.


I do these all the time and I always mark "no" for the did you call ahead of time...because I don't. I know what the hours are and the call is not part of the evaluation, it's a standard question asked at the beginning of most shops by this MSC...I have never had a shop rejected because I said no to the "did you call ahead" question.....

Someone please enlighten me about that grease mark question.... WHY?!

I have always believed it is because their burgers and fries are greasy and they are mindful that grease may be tracked out in front of the restaurant. I look each time. There are now several local 5 Guys restaurants but I have never seen a grease spot in front of any of them.

Since I've started doing these, I've begun noticing the grease marks in front of some of the local Chinese take out restaurants. Wow.

Yes, I have noticed grease spots outside of other restaurants - I never would have noticed if I hadn't done these shops requiring me to look. I guess the 5 guys are doing pretty good - one would think that burgers and fries are greasier than almost anything - yet I've never seen a grease spot at their places.......

Outside the side or back door, which leads to an outside dining area, can frequently be grease laden. But, that's not the door that's asked about. Of course, if it's noticeable outside the door, it had to be tracked from within.

I guess grease marks at the entance might cause customers to do a U Turn. It's not until you receive those delicious fries with grease saturating the bottom of the bag that you are in for it. I eat a few in the restaurant, take the fries home and then bake off the grease. But they are sooo good.