With standard fast food options constantly expanding in America, it's no wonder that Five Guys is set apart from the crowd.
The simplicity of the menu has remained virtually untouched since the restaurant's opening in 1986. Now one of the fastest growing businesses in the U.S., there are currently 205 Five Guys restaurants scattered across the East coast; the one in Blacksburg was added to the list in April 2004.
The menu simply consists of hamburgers with cheese and bacon options, 100 percent kosher hot dogs, fries and Coca-Cola products.
Costumers can order a regular burger, consisting of two patties, or a little burger, with just one patty. While all burgers are cooked until well done, their juiciness is ever-present when customers sink their teeth into the ground beef burgers.
Adding to the uniqueness of Five Guys is the handling of their meat; it is prepared by the order on large griddles lined up along the walls behind the counter.
"Their meat just tastes fresher," said senior and biology major Elsa Mekonnen. "It's actual ground beef; you can see them cooking it."
Burger-craving customers will also notice a slight impression of peanuts as they enter Five Guys. Roasted peanuts are openly available and free to those awaiting completion of their order.
"I love the peanut aspect," Mekonnen said. "They're a nice little appetizer."
Another "peanut aspect" of Five Guys is the fries, which are cooked in peanut oil, overly stuffed into a cup and served in a brown paper bag, complete with oil splotches.
"The peanut oil is actually a healthier oil; it's just not as fattening," said Nikki Dove, General Manager of the Blacksburg Five Guys.
With zero cholesterol per regular serving, Five Guy's fries certainly do seem to be the healthier choice, even if it doesn't taste like it. The healthy preparation technique does not affect the taste, and there are even two flavor options to choose from: Cajun and regular.
"I always get the Cajun fries," Mekonnen said. "They're the ones that are spicy and have that extra kick."
And the pricing for these specialty burgers and fries isn't bad. With free toppings including lettuce, tomatoes, onions, sauted mushrooms, mayonnaise, Heinz ketchup, mustard, relish, and hot sauce, an above average Five Guy's burger can be purchased for under $5. An all-inclusive meal of a regular-sized burger, fries and a soft drink costs approximately $9.
The atmosphere, which resembles an old-fashioned diner, includes red- and white-checkered tiles across the walls and a plain cement floor. Although there's nothing eye-catching about the restaurant's decor, college students still find it attractive.
"It's the way they set it up...it's a good hang out place," Mekonnen said.