Avoid Smashburger

You Only Get One Chance to Make a First Impression, Plus the Burger was Average

Mr. Menu, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Jul 13, 2007 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."

Smashburger

Neighborhood: Denver
Denver, CO 80246
United States of America

Please note: This is a commentary about my personal experience of trying to eat at Smashburger, not a review of the burger.

Earlier this week while driving down Colorado blvd., I noticed an new burger place, Smashburger. YES! Maybe a good burger place in Denver, where the cheeseburger was invented. At first impression I was a little skeptical, you need to fill out a card with options to add to your burger. A burger is a simple item. Have a few extras, but don't go over board, not at a fast food burger place. And NEVER offer a salad, even if you offer it with a hamburger patty on top.

The place had most tables full, and some people were waiting for to go orders. We waited in a line of 10 people, I handed my card to the nice lady at the counter, she then read me every item that I checked off. Why did I fill out the card? After being told that it was going to take 20 mins, and we accepted the ridiculous time frame, sat down. 20 minutes came and went, so at 30 minutes I start hearing other tables complain about being there for an hour. I was not going to wait an hour for a burger, maybe at the Apple Pan or In-N-Out. So I went up to see what the problem was.

There was an inexperienced manager, over complicated burger condiment station and far to complicated packaging for a burger. I asked the manager for the status of my burger, he said they were working on it, but my friend's burger, ordered on the same ticket, had not even been put on the griddle yet.

They had a serious situation going on and all the guy could say was that he was doing the best that he could. I even offered to help deliver the seven burgers that were just sitting there. Then I noticed my burger had been sitting on the counter the whole time. Turns out they prepare to-go orders ahead of the orders eating there.

Looking around that the swarming un-happy customers, I noticed six burgers actually being cooked. Why would that grill not be full of burgers? There are 20 people waiting.

Finally my friend just says he wants his money back. Initially tell us that they will not refund our money. Other people get upset and they end up giving us all a refund. At the same time the burgers are done and they just handed us the food.

So we leave, letting new customers know about the wait time, they turn around and leave.

Finally, I am starving, I get to sit down and eat my burger and an AWESOME blossom. Big patty, a little on the dry side due to the fact it was just sitting under a heat lamp for 20 minutes, with pepper jack, lettuce, tomato, pickles (best part), smash sauce. It was average at best.

Overall, the burger was a 5 out of 10. The service was unacceptable and the concept of high end fast food, salad, breakfast, burger joint that serves beer is a hard pull for me. I will see over time if they fix there problems and replace their current management if the place is successful

At the time of this publication, they have one location and one in the works.

303-757-4301
1120 S. Colorado Blvd.
Glendale CO. 80246
Hours: Sunday - Thursday 6am to 10pm Friday & Saturday 6am to 11pm.

Published by Mr. Menu

In constant search for the perfect burrito. View profile