Spike, of "Top Chef" fame, digs into the Washington scene with a burger joint on Capitol Hill.
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Love the size of the burgers - I wasn't overstuffed and didn't feel guilty eating the whole thing. A friend and I shared the fries and dipping sauces...the chipotle mayo was my favorite. We went on a rainy Monday and got there just before noon, so there was no wait. If I'm ever in D.C. and want a good burger and fries, I'll go here first now instead of Five Guys.
The fact that this is chosen as one of the best places for a burger in the city shows what a lack of choice we have. the idea behind the burgers is nice, gourmet fast food, but the food does not in fact meet the hype because the burgers are small, the meat on several occasions was precooked when it was placed on my bun, it takes forever, in part due to the line, but in part due to incompetency and the fries are not crispy and don't have enough seasoning (not to mention pretty expensive). The only thing this place does right are the milkshakes which are absolutely amazing - every time.
So. On an average Tuesday afternoon I decided to check out this place, and paid $12 for a cold burger with a nasty soggy bun and some limp fries that might have been tasty 30 minutes sooner. I wouldn't go back, despite the tasty burger patty and mushrooms. Sorry Spike. Try getting off the tour bus and doing some quality control for this joint.
1) Surprised by negative comments... 2) Delish to the max 3) Amazing turkey burgers
Besides the prices for ho-hum food [the burgers are terribly overpriced while tasting mediocre and the fries are greasy - please skip the onion glob. eww]the place is dirty. It isn't even that old and they haven't seemed to teach the staff what closing duties entail. I didn't even want to know what their bathrooms might look like. Ick. Have been twice won't returen
I am so surpised to see so many negative reviews. My burger (the Good Stuff Melt) was incredible. It came Medium, which was perfect since it seems every other burger joint loves to cook their burgers well done. The fries were great, and the chocolate shake was creamy and actually tasted like chocolate, unlike most fast food shakes. My husband loved the chipotle mayo and his onion "rings" (they're more like big onion slices). I think the burger size is just right. I'm tired of oversized portions. I will go back again and again.
Not 1 but 2 cockroaches never make a meal appetizing. I saw one scurry on the floor and one on the booth bench I was sitting on. And the burger was underwhelming given the hype. Overpriced too. And what's with the "environmental tax" added to my bill? 1 star is a compliment here.
While the burgers are good, they are the size of the $1 quarter-pounders you get at McDonald's. And spare me the "premium ingredients" BS, it's still a burger, and a burger that is overpriced and underwhelming is a losing product. Fun atmosphere, though.
The burgers here aren't terrible, but they are certainly not in the Five Guys or Hellburger universe. The fries were soggy, and cut into 1" lengths which made them all seem like cast-offs. The shakes were OK, but not special. But the price adds up, and the bottom line impression is that when what is really a good but not great fast-food joint costs $34 for two (2 burgers, 2 shakes, 2 fries, 1 soda), you've been ripped off. As my companion said, the combo with Frosty at Wendy's is better. I wouldn't go that far, but I suspect this place will do well for a year or so on the hype, and then peter out -- its just not good value for the price.
Interminable waits, rude service and food that is mediocre at best. I honestly don't know why anyone except maybe a desperate Hill intern would eat here.
I don't get the bad reviews. This place out 5-guys Five Guys. Mostly through more options. Great burger options, fantastic fries and the shakes! If you expect a Hell Burger gut bomb, you will be disappointed. Otherwise, don't miss the Good Stuff!
Great food is the bottom line. Everything is perfect. Try all the sauces. Don't compare it to five guys because it is different. It is more expensive because they use higher quality products. It's not meant to be super cheap. In my opinion, best burger i've ever had.
I have tried to like Good Stuff Eatery because it is close to work for me. However, I get a headache from the loud music, while waiting in a long line, only to get a quite expensive burger. It just isn't worth it.
We ate at Good Stuff this evening and were distinctly underwhelmed by the food served. The burgers were average at best but super expensive. I prefer five guys or fuddrucker burgers and they are also cheaper. Added to concerns about the food as it went in my mouth they also induced stomach cramps and left my wife and I feeling sick all night. A real waste of time.
In its early days, Good Stuff had a long line of customers queuing up, it seemed, to a trendy disco that might turn you away because you looked wrong. Hill people have since wised up. There are no lines now. The burgers, shakes, and fries are good. Alas, they are not nearly as good as Five Guys and a lot more expensive.
Went with my family and honestly, we did not enjoy it. Our burgers were smashed and the bacon was chewy. My daughter would not even eat the fries. Heard great things about the shakes, but those weren't all that great either. Five Guys is definitely much better...and cheaper!
I ventured to Good Stuff last night for the first time and was underwhelmed by the experience. The food was tasty enough, but was way overpriced for what I got. Dinner for two adults and two small kids at a self-service burger joint shouldn't cost $50. The table we were at was very unstable and the place didn't seem all that clean. They also forgot an order of fries we paid for. For the same experience, we could have gone to Five Guys for half the price. For the same price, we could have had full service mini-burgers and pizza at Matchbox. I'm glad I tried it, but I won't be going back.
Last night we decided to see if Spike really could cook. The atmosphere was chaotic, the elderly "door greeter" was rude, pushing me aside to get to the condiment stand, constandly standing in customers way,pointing fingers at the staff and selectively saying hello. So... the food, I ordered a turkey burger, my date the burger with cheese. Sharing a larger order of fries with rosemary and garlic with two cokes came to around $25. The turkey burger was half cooked... still pink almost red inside. (I don't believe it's supposed to be served that way) My date loved his burger would give it a four out of five. Mine was grossly undercooked and mediocre. The fries had flavor but were dripping in grease, too much to bear. Very disappointing.....
the sauces are key, mix and match the sauces with different bites. I highly recommend this eatery.
I was truly hoping for a great experience at GoodStuff, but I left feeling cheated. I ordered the $7 veggie burger, which surprisingly does not come with fries or a side. The bun and overall presentation was flat and lacked "premium" characteristics to match its hefty price. The mushroom patty was reasonably-portioned , but leaky (be careful on your first few bites). The $4 red bliss potato fries were the larger disappointment. You get a good handful, but they were over-saturated and literally sopping with grease. Its brown paper bag became practically translucent. Go there if your arteries can afford the grease, and price is no concern. My fast-food wait for the burger and fries was 25 minutes with no lines. Is this the price for novelty?
I want to see this place succeed and for Spike to open more formal eateries in the District, partic. on the Hill. But it just isn't making it. Burgers are inconsistent, usually overcooked badly (if you order them rare, they're then rawish). Fries and onion rings are soggy. Bison chili is bland--not as good as Ted's Montana Grill. I won't go back again until I hear from people I KNOW that they have had multiple recent great experiences. Five Guys is about 8 blocks away, and I'll be getting my burgers there.
My husband and I eat here almost once a week. Its one of the better places we've found to walk to in our neighborhood for a quick meal. It has a good vibe & we crave the Obama burger (ask for it), Smokehouse, & village fries with fresh rosemary, but they seem to have a problem with consistency & quality control. Sometimes the servings are too meager and thrown together for the price (usually get more when Spike's not there). We tell ourselves we'll go to Five Guys next time but we end up coming back hoping it'll be a good night. The milk shakes are ok. The best one I've had was the berry and my husband likes the marshmallow, but we've stopped ordering them because that's more than $10 right there...and not totally worth it.
I admit, the burgers taste good. But, they are way too small for $7.50. They're severed on those little potato rolls which, while tasty. can be inhaled in two bites. I'm not into this fad of enormous portions of French fries which they seem to do. I don't need a full sack of fries... what I need is a big, tasty burger. They got the tasty part down, now work on the big.
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