The Shake Shack at Chestnut Hill
How long is the line for The Shake Shack in Chestnut Hill?
Well, we went at 8:10 pm on a Saturday night and it was a mere twenty minutes. But, at 9:00 pm, the line was twice as long! Is it worth the wait? It depends who you ask.
My kids say, “Yes!”
My husband says, “No!” (but he hates to wait in line for anything!)
You stand in line to place your order which sometimes snakes around the building. You also pick up your food at left corner window below. Behind the order and pick up line is a frenzy of chefs making the food. The open kitchen is fun to watch.
Study this menu on the wall while you wait so you can order quickly! The people waiting behind you will thank you for your decisiveness! The person who needs to know every detail about the limited menu options? Well…we got stuck behind one of THOSE people and it’s not a great way to make new friends.
Once your order is placed, you’ll need to find a place to sit. The seating is never easy but the room is pleasant. I sent my 11-year-old to save us seats. A pushy woman tried to steal the table my daughter had been waiting patiently for, but luckily the nice people leaving the table stood up for her. It’s a bit of a free for all, but the food coming out seems to match up with the dining room seating somehow.
Now you wait for the food. It’s another good 15 minutes. But the food is worth it!
The hamberger buns are house-made. They are not cut all the way across and are soft and pillowy with a nice exterior texture. The hambergers are small though! I have heard that 13-year-old boys need to order two hambergers and two shakes to get full!
The bacon is Applewood organic bacon and nicely crisp.
The fries LOOK like the frozen mushy kind but they are freshly cut potatoes and perfectly cooked.
My kids concluded that the chocolate milk shake was the best thing on the menu. It was small but perfect. The right consistency without being too thick to go up the straw or too water-y. The flavor was perfect: chocolate-y without being cloying. We shared one between three of us because we wanted to go to Pinkberry for dessert. I heard that the frozen custard was amazing at The Shake Shack too though.
I’d say, if crying give the baby a milk shake!
We’d come back but we still have to figure out the perfect time when there is no line. 4:00 pm? 10:00 pm? What do you think?
it’s a good burger…maybe even a great burger. but is it worth 50 minutes of my life? not really. we waited 30 minutes in the line (which was not even that long) and another 20 minutes after ordering. surprised you said the shakes were “small.” they’re at least 12 ounces which is more than enough ice cream, esp when you’re eating a greasy burger too!
bottom line, if there’s no line, sign me up. if there’s a line (when when isn’t there?) i’ll drive on by…
Hi LisaD,
I agree. The burger is great and the shakes are truly perfection but 20 minutes in the first line is my max. There must be a weird time though where there’s hardly any line like 4:00 in the afternoon. I’m going to find out!
The shakes were small compared to other burger places where you get a giant cup brimming over. Also, 3 of us shared it but you are right that calorically, smaller is better!