The Baja chicken salad is really good, but the small portion of chicken isn't worth $2 add on. Also if you don't like cheese, make sure you ask for lite. Finally the jalapeños I had were pretty spicy. I enjoyed them, but if you are sensitive. I say skip them. Final thoughts; it comes with BACON!!!!! Yum!
(4)
Dave D.
This place is hyped for their fresh "best-tasting burger" so when they opened one in Frederick, I thought I'd give them a try. I had the Classic Smash with a garden salad (chipotle dressing) and a local craft beer (Flying Dog Tart Cherry Ale). The good: The beer was served in a ice-cold frosted mug - nice touch! The salad was fresh and the chipotle dressing was tasty and not overpowering. The "bowl" it came in was a little narrow - not making it easy to mix the salad (yes it needed some mixing) without tossing some onto the table. Still - really pleased with the beer and salad. The not so good: The burger patty was greasy and flavorless (salty - that's it). No better than a Wendy's single. The bun was kind of mushy - no real character - nothing special. The $5 off coupon made it a good deal, but without the promotion, not sure I'd go again.
(2)
Jerry W.
Solid Food. My wife and I ate here for the first time a few nights ago. I ordered the Classic Smashburger ($5.39) (single patty, slightly bigger than Five Guys' junior burger) with a side order of regular fries, and my wife ordered the Baja Cobb Salad with a side order of fried pickles. Though the restaurant was busy, we received our meal in less than ten minutes. My burger was quite good; I especially liked the deep caramelization of the patty. My fries were crispy and tasty (tasted much like McDonald's fries). My wife also enjoyed her Baja Cobb salad and commented on the fact that it seemed to be very fresh. The fried pickles were also delicious (for any one curious, Smashburger's fried pickels are pickle slices rather than spears and are coated in a tempura-like batter). Over-all, I was quite pleased with my experience and will be back to sample other items from their expansive menu.
(4)
Rodney P.
I wanted to see the new competition in town and see if they were worthy of a take over in the stiff burger community of Frederick. I was impressed with their menu selection, simple, and yet complex in the combination of choices using the same fresh ingredients (Very Clever). I order the spinach burger with cucumbers, simply because I never had a combination on a burger with those ingredients so I was intrigued as to what it would taste like. To my surprise the combination gave the burger a lamb-like flavor. I thought for a minute I was eating a little gyro sandwich. The menu is full of interesting combinations that the customer can put together and wash it all down with a ice cream rich shake. Smashburger is definitely letting the competition know they are here. I believe if patrons don't grow tired with the menu choices and combinations, which Smashburger should consider switching up or introducing new ingredients every now and then, they should more than take over the lion-share of the burger community in Frederick and perhaps change the expectations of burger eaters everywhere.
(3)
David L.
The wife and I tried this place out last week. The burgers,fries and milkshakes were tasty. Burgers were juicy,fries were crisp and not greasy. That's the good part. What I didn't like was the guy that brought the food to our table set the food down and within a minute, he came back and grabbed my tray. He had brought me the wrong burger. He then proceeded to take it to another table. Huge no no in food service. He should have tossed it and made the other party a new burger. Secondly, it took so long to get my sandwich, the wife was almost done with hers. On to the shake.. Good,nice thick and tasty. Bad, for the price they should fill the dinky cup they serve it in. Not half full. Lastly, the place was pretty clean except... The doors and windows were disgustingly dirty. The experience as a whole left me with one thought..., Poor management. I will not return.
(1)
Frank K.
Once again the combination of delicious food and great people serve up a great meal. Just a burger? No way! The freshest ingredients made to order, just plain nice folks, especially Gabrielle, my favorite cashier, make me go out of my way to stop here.
(5)
Lorena B.
Based on my first visit, I give Smashburger 3.75 stars. I'm not a fan of Hagen Daas ice cream so I didn't love my Oreo milkshake but it wasn't too bad. I wouldn't have ordered it if I'd noticed they used HD ice cream. Otherwise, I savored every bite of my truffle oil mushroom burger (I think that's what it's called). It tasted like a smaller version of The Cheesecake Factory's Mushroom Glam burger, which I love. Of course I added delicious bacon for $1. The beef was somewhere between Five Guys and Elevation Burger in terms of quality and flavor. Not mind blowing but solid. The skinny regular fries and Smashburger fries were good too. Very crisp and flavorful. Service was pleasant and there were no mix ups with our order. I didn't see or hear any of the problems amongst staff another reviewer mentioned.
(4)
Robyn E.
Awesome customer service, and very friendly Staff. The food was great very tasty;not too greasy, high quality meat and made in a timely matter. Loved it!
(5)
T F.
**SIGH** This is kind of a hard review to write. One one hand, the food was good, but a bit pricey for what you get. The chicken sandwich with feta and balsamic vinaigrette tastes great, but that is one thin piece of chicken. Like, really, really thin. My husband liked his BBQ burger, but once again, it's not terribly impressive size-wise. The Smash fries and sweet potato fries were tasty, but kinda cold by the time we got them home. So......why is this a one-star review? After downing our meals and shakes, I FOUND A FREAKING HAIR at the bottom of my shake. A HAIR!!!!! Of course, by the time I found it, it was well after 10:00pm and, as I mentioned, we were home. For $30 on burger and fries take out for two, I seriously expect better quality control than this.
(1)
Chef A.
UPDATE 2: Definitely on my third visit here, things are great. I went with the same order I went with last time, and but the slightly smaller size. The upside on the burger is a much better value, and would highly suggest, going for the full size meat. Please read previous reviews.
(5)
Jinki Y.
Very decent burger place. A lot better than five guys I would say. A lot less greasy than any burger joint that I have ever been two. They offer a big selections of different burgers, fries, salads, kids meals, milk shakes, and beers. It's very clean and the staff there are pretty helpful and attentive. Just right across from the FSK mall if your coming back from a tiring shopping spree! Give them a try!
(5)
Deidre C.
Decided to give Smashburger another try. Arrived around 4:30 and was the only customer in the store. The crew member who took my order was friendly. However, there was trash on the floor and on one table. It did get cleaned up while I ate. Food came out quickly and was piping hot. I got spicy buffalo fries and a smashburger with goat cheese and mushrooms. The fries were amazing. Perfect, spicy little shoestrings. The burger was very good, too. Very juicy. The toppings weren't stingy, either. It would appear that timing is everything here. Come at the right time and you'll leave happy.
(4)
Lily H.
I've been here a few times and I try to order something new but I pretty much ALWAYS get the avocado club with grilled chicken with veggie frites(flash fried green beans and carrots) YUM! I've had the smashfries here and they are definitely really good. I'm not much of a milkshake person but they use Haagen-Dazs ice cream which has to be my favorite.. The nutter butter milkshake tasted SO good. I only subtracted a star for the crappy customer service but I mean what can you really expect when most of the staff looks like they either just graduated high school or never graduated at all. Would it kill you to PRETEND that you're friendly!? I absolutely hate going anywhere where I can tell that a person hates their job and doesn't want to be there. I used to work in the food industry and customer service so believe me I get it.. A lot of people are really rude and I get that people have their bad days but leave your personal problems outside of work! Anyway, I do enjoy the food here. I would have to say that I definitely prefer this place over five guys.. I feel like it has many more options. I will definitely be back!
(4)
Eric Y.
Decided to check this place out since I had a coupon and it was great experience! The cashier was very friendly and gave me time to decide what to get. I got the avocado club which was great. The avocado was soft, the burger was flavorful and the bun was on point. The haystack onions were a bit salty for my taste but still good. Seems like there are some negative reviews but I am guessing they have improved since then. I would definitely come here for another burger!
(4)
Adam N.
Going to QSR and "better" burger chains has been my "thing" for the past five or six years, and having eaten at Shake Shack, Jake's Wayback, BGR, In-N-Out's, Five Guys, and a few others, I was excited to finally try the Colorado-based chain. I went to the VIP Grand Opening event and while I think the crew was still trying to get to work out some issues, I was very impressed. Burgers: I grabbed a Bacon Cheeseburger, subbing Sharp Cheddar for American. The Egg Bun was good but not memorable. Not as much pillowy richness as BGR or pleasant sweetness of Shake Shack's or Jake's potato buns, it wasn't toasted so much as it was saturated in butter. This was actually pretty offputting, but thankfully the butter didn't overwhelm the rest of the burger. I thought the burger was good and well seasoned, appropriately but not overly (read: grass fed) beefy. Although I was expecting more of an intensely flavorful, malliard-reaction inspired crust. The bacon was solid (a big step above Jake's) and the meltification on the cheddar was excellent. The cheese was actually the best and most prominent part. Sides: Two words. Fried Pickles. My God these were outstanding. Not too heavy but still bursting with vinegar flavor and an addictively crunchy crust, they're beyond good with ketchup. I sampled some Buffalo fries too; perfectly crispy and shoe-string thin with a uniquely spicy but meaty seasoning. Shake: Had a sample of the Salted Caramel. Really complex and flavorful. although a little thin for my liking. Might have been the sample size. Atmosphere: Cool and relaxed. Love the QSR feel and the employees were all very excited and upbeat. I'll probably be back to get "just" a burger to check out the merits of the smashing technique and get another sense of just where it ranks in pure beef flavor (I'd say behind BGR's dry-aged burger and Shake Shack's blend) but it's definitely a great option for burger lovers, and given the menu size and scope a step above places like Five Guys.
(4)
Topshelf P.
Smash Burger is a good place. I was expecting more considering the name "Smash" made me think this place was serving ridiculously large burgers. Wrong! They are good but, a bit small side for the price.
(3)
Chris F.
Ordered online and picked up food for work. 3 orders. Receipt on each bag was correct with order. 1 order was missing fries. Another order had the burgers in the wrong bag. I will still never understand how difficult this is for someone. For the food, the Haystack onions is what I had and they were not all that great, co-worker said fries weren't all that great as well. For the burger, it was ok, nothing special. A place right down the road called Five Guys is so much better in my opinion.
(2)
Angie J.
I ordered the Classic Smash (burger) and Smash fries with a side of fried pickles and it was absolutely delicious! The burger was juicy; the bun was soft; and the fried pickles were on point. My husband really liked the Smashfries which was seasoned perfectly. Quick, friendly service! I look forward to my next visit and will try Avocado Club Chicken.
(5)
Bob F.
This was our first visit to any Smashburger. First impression, pretty good for a quick serve place. I got the big burger and my wife got the regular. The burgers come in many ways including make your own. I got the BBQ burger and she made her one. Both burgers were very good. This will be my new favorite "quick serve" burger place. I got the regular fries and she got the sweet potato. I am not a fan of the super skinny cut fries but they tasted good. Didn't try the smash sauce but I will if I get a chance to go back. We ordered online and then picked at the store since it was a workday so I can't give details of their service. Everything was ready to go when we got there and the place was clean. The only downside I see to the location is that the area of town they are in can get very heavy with traffic at times so i am not sure how often I can get back.
(4)
Jamario G.
Nice burger joint with some good selection to choose from. I had the delicious bbq bacon cheddar burger.
(3)
Sondra K.
I had the grilled chicken on multigrain with lettuce, pickles, tomato, onion FRESH jalapeño!!!! and katsup. It was fantastic! The chicken was juicy and the bun was nice and soft. They did go a little heavy on the onion, but as long as you check before you bite in to it you'll be good. I also got the side salad for 2.99- that was TINY, like smaller than a Wendy's .99 side salad. Although it was small, it was very fresh and the spinach was a nice touch. Would eat here again!!
(4)
Joshua H.
I came with a couple friends and enjoyed it. I ordered the BBQ bacon and cheddar burger, the bacon cheeseburger, the smash fries with the oil, and also 2 milk shakes for myself. Ate it all and it was so delicious! My buddy also ordered the PBJ milkshake and it was surprisingly good as well! Good people, and good atmosphere. Sun coming in the windows in the evening is the only negative thing I have to say.
(5)
Charles E.
My first horrible experience. After placing a $30 + order I got home to find no meat in my sandwich. Living several miles away I called and was greeted with a very pleasant voice that apologized and offered to remake my entire order for me at no charge. She even went so far to take my order over the phone and even threw in two free milk shakes. ( kudos to her for making a bad situation into a positive). That's where the good part of the story ends. I went back the very next night since my craving for a smash burger hadn't been satisfied and was greeted at the register. I proceeded to tell story and indicated that there should be a note left by the employee that I spoke to the night before, she picked up a piece of paper and told me there was no note so I asked for the manager on duty who proceeded to argue with me about the situation and told me I couldn't have what I was promised. Eventually she looked to her right and there was the note. All she had to do was look!Great food...not the best customer service skills. I left still not sure if I'll ever be back to this location.
(3)
Noah K.
In short, I liked it. Five Guys is the benchmark for this sort of place, and while Elevation Burger didn't measure up, this place does. The price was on par with 5 Guys and although I left feeling less full, I was perfectly satisfied (unlike Elevation) and sense that it may be a bit healthier than Five Guys. Despite only being open a couple weeks at most, the staff was well trained and competent. Food was out quite fast and staff were making sure all was well, so I was impressed there. The ambience was quite pleasant, it certainly had the other chains beat in that regard. I thought there was a surprising amount of seating for such a small storefront. The burger itself: it was available different ways that looked interested, with some interesting toppings too, that I will certainly try in the future, but for the first time there I just thought I had better try the classic "big" burger, although I did take the opportunity to substitute pepper jack cheese for American. The burger was well constructed - I think although the "big" patty was much bigger than the ones at Five Guys (and bigger than the bun which was meant for the regular), there is probably a bit more meat with the two Five Guys patties than one big Smashburger one. The flavor was very good though and it was a juicy burger for sure. The bun (thick spongy brioche, maybe?) was worlds beyond the industrial ones at Five Guys and the wimpy think potato rolls at Elevation. I ordered the Smash fries as opposed to the regular ones, when I asked the cashier which one she would choose. They were the thin ones like Elevation has, also cooked in olive oil I think. They had special seasoning on them, mainly rosemary is what I noticed. Overall, I would say they were great, nearly as good as the Elevation fries (the strong point there). I would say that while they're different in style, they're the same quality as the Five Guys fries-- which would be upgraded from very good to outstanding if they just double fried them to become crispy, but that's a story for another forum.. They came in one size, which I would say was about the right amount on the side of a burger. I didn't order any, but I notice they had beer! That's a definite plus. I didn't look carefully at what they had, but a beer was $4 each, so not too bad. I will be back! Glad to have Smash Burger here for sure.
(4)
Christine R.
I had some pretty high expectations for this place - I love Five Guys, Elevation burger and Red Robin was right across the street from the location we visited in Frederick. I thought to myself: Any place that puts itself near a Red Robin better bring it when it comes to quality, accuracy and deliciousness. Boy was I wrong about Smash burger! I went here with my kids and boyfriend for a dinner that was last minute. It was supposed to be a birthday dinner for me and we just didn't feel like sitting down at a restaurant like Red Robin. So we went here. We had the following: *-BBQ bacon burger - boyfriend said it was OK, Was only cooked to medium (they never asked for a "Doneness" request?) he likes his burger cooked dead. *-Avocado club burger - no avocado, no "club" really. I ended up with bacon, burger and lettuce and tomato, quite disappointing. no avocado, no ranch, no mayo, no onions, no cheese. *-Kids smash burger w/ bacon - my son loved it, it was huge for a kids burger *-Chicken tenders - My younger son is 2 so he doesn't need that much food however for $5 he had 3 small ( and I mean small) chicken tenders and fries. First: The kids meals tasted decent, but there was quite a disparaging difference between the amount of food in the chicken tender meal and the amount of food in the kids smash burger meal for the EXACT same price. My 8 year old ended up with a regular size burger, and it had more bacon than my club burger?! that was the first thing that I noticed was off. Second: Boyfriend ordered a salted caramel shake. It came out to him soupy, like it didn't have the proper ratio of ice cream to milk. He had no problem asking for more and got exactly what he wanted, but for over $4 it should have been thick to begin with. Third: This part is kind of where it is about an opinion. I am gluten free, they offer a gluten free bun (thank you!!) for any burger for an additional $1. I messed up after putting my order in and promptly corrected it with one of the servers, and she communicated to the kitchen right away. That part was awesome. I loved that it was no hassle to switch my order, especially for a diet thing like being gluten-free. However, that was where it ended. We took our order to go since we wanted to go home. I got home, opened my burger and lo and behold it was a burger, slice of bacon lettuce and tomato on a gluten free bun. No avocado, no ranch, no mayo, no cheese, nothing. They got 2 stars from me because the fries were good and well seasoned, always a good starting point for a burger joint. But for me, that was where it ended. We do not plan on going back because I spent almost $40 for that meal and it just wasn't worth that.
(2)
Marie M.
Move over Five Guys- I just discovered SmashBurger!! TRULY a backyard burger like my dad used to make. Cooked through, while remaining juicy; nice crunchy, fresh dill pickles and crispy (not greasy) bacon. The Smash Fries are delicately flavored with olive oil & rosemary (and they say garlic but I didn't taste it, which is a good thing). Also tried the Salted Carmel milkshake. It was ridiculously good.
(5)
Brian A.
Of all chain burger joints in the area, Smashburger smashes the competition. The menu has great variety and I get something different almost every time I go and I'm always satisfied. You can create your own burger with about 6 different bun options with any special toppings you want, at a fair price. Not to mention their own menu of amazingly created burgers. The burger is always cooked to perfection and the toppings are fresh. The smashfries are very tasty and are cooked perfectly every time. I go to this place once a week and should be going more often!
(5)
David D.
I have never been to a Smashburger and really wanted to try this place. However, I have to say that the burger was very average in my opinion. There wasn't anything wrong with it, but just didn't live up to the hype. Since I had never been to Smashburger, I opted for a classic. For a burger that is supposed to be smashed and seared, it just didn't have that good crust on it like I've had on similar burgers, which is really the whole point in smashing on the flattop. Now, the Smash fries were excellent. They were thin, just like I like them, and had a good crunch to them. The combination of the olive oil and rosemary were wonderful. I am likely to try the place again though, as the fries made it worth the visit.
(2)
Dee M.
Oh no! I thought I liked this place. The first two visits were great. The last one -- not so much. Service was non-existent. I knew there was a problem as I watched my melting milk shake spilling over the glass and begging me to come and get him from behind the cashier. So I did. But the burger was already eaten, and the onion rings were drowning in their grease. My friend's burger was mediocre. My swiss and mushroom had an odd taste -- were those really mushrooms. Hmmmm. Should I go back and give it another chance? Or opt for Jersey Mike? My first two experiences were lunch The last one was dinner. Maybe a different staff. The manager definitely wasn't there.
(2)
Bethany S.
Good service. Fast order prep. Had the Chesapeake burger, yummy, juicy, finger licking good. Fried pickles were ok, not the best I've had. Hubby did not like the fries, too rosemaryish. Had the salted caramel shake : delish! Will be back!
(4)
Tiffany M.
Smash fries are delicious! Last time I went though they were on the soggy side, too much olive oil. Fried pickles are delicious, sweet potato fries are good but on the salty side. I've had both the Classic Smash and Avocado Club, both very good. I prefer this over other quick burger chains (Five Guys, Burger Joint, Elevation Burger).
(4)
Steve R.
I just had my second meal here and the place is just amazing. The burgers are large, fresh and very tasty and way above your typical Five Guys. It's a different atmosphere, more upscale... well as upscale as you can get for a burger joint. Two of us has Classic Smashburgers and one had the Bacon Cheeseburger. We had Smash Fries and Onion Rings which melt in your mouth. The food was delivered faster than a typical McD's. Do yourself a favor and try it.
(4)
Cindy M.
This place is horribly disorganized. Meals take forever to come out and then they are wrong. Staff is confused or disinterested in their job. Food quality is poor, but expensive. Do yourself a favor and go to Jersey Mikes right next door
(1)
Sam C.
I wanted to like this place. I really did. It doesn't take long to get bored with the menu at Five Guys, so I get a little excited when I see a new burger joint open in Frederick. That excitement lasted until the moment I took my first bite. For $22 I got a Classic Smash Burger, a Chesapeake Burger, an order a SmashFries, and a chocolate shake. The Chesapeake burger comes with Tiger Sauce (aren't these things endangered?), cheddar cheese, various toppings, served on an onion bun. The Classic Smash burger is your basic casual dining burger, but with something called Smash sauce. They tasted exactly the same since both sandwiches were overloaded with onions, while the juice and the flavor of the meat was thoroughly cooked out of them. All I could taste was the overpowering onions and the carelessness with which they were slapped together. The burgers themselves were the consistency of microwaved meatloaf that had been refrigerated and reheated over and over and over again. The fries were fine. I'm not a big fan of thin cut fries, but the garlic and olive oil were a nice change from what most places offer. The shake was way overpriced. At $4.29, I expect more than a 16oz kiddie cup filled with soupy ice cream. I didn't try the chicken sandwiches or the fried pickles, and I would like to had my first experience not so bad. But I think I'm done with Smash Burger. At least the Frederick location.
(1)
Jeffrey G.
ok burger, nothing special. the bun was the best part and the rest was just plain. also tried the strawberry milk shake, and it actually tasted a little sour. not very impressed.
(2)
Sooperken S.
I've eaten here twice, and both times my order was hopelessly wrong and took a ridiculously long time. The food is also not hot enough when served. The entire staff have a look of utter confusion and their actions reflect that. The bickering back and forth from the servers to the kitchen is constant. Apparently an order of burger and fries is too complex for the cooks? I'm sitting in the restaurant as I write this review and I've already seen 5 customers complain about their food. Also, the meat is cooked to death with no option to have it cooked less. I will not be going back.
(1)
Peach P.
So excited that smashburger is in Frederick! !! Usually go to the one in Germantown and this one is much closer for us. We also love BGR but where their burgers are chargrilled, smashburger offers a flat top seared burger which is always well seasoned and juicy. The beef (and everything else) is really good quality that you can tell from your first bite. I like the regular egg bun, they also offer huge salads and a variety of chicken sammies too. The fries are crispy shoestring fries which are given in generous portions (in my experience each receipt has a free fry on your next visit if you complete the survey). This is the first smashburger I've been to that actually has the fried pickles on the menu. In other locations it's kind of a secret item that is not advertised but if you're a fan of smashburger you know they offer. This was our first visit to this location as they just opened earlier this week. For only being open a few days we were impressed with the consistency of the food that matched their other locations in the dmv area. The staff were very nice and attentive and our food came out super quickly!
(5)
Elsa P.
Had the avocado club...wow Great burger..fast service and friendly staff. Will be back again!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Hipster Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Paid Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Drive-Thru : No Caters : Yes
Burger or Hamburger is savored as the most desired fast food meal in the United States. A hamburger is basically a sandwich prepared by stuffing ground meat patty, generally beef, between two slices of a bun cut in half. Hamburger is also famous for its seasoning. Most popular condiments used in hamburgers in the United States are mustard, mayonnaise, and ketchup. Besides ground meat patty, hamburgers are also stuffed with lettuce, onions, tomato slices, pickles, and cheese.
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Wang C.
The Baja chicken salad is really good, but the small portion of chicken isn't worth $2 add on. Also if you don't like cheese, make sure you ask for lite. Finally the jalapeños I had were pretty spicy. I enjoyed them, but if you are sensitive. I say skip them. Final thoughts; it comes with BACON!!!!! Yum!
(4)Dave D.
This place is hyped for their fresh "best-tasting burger" so when they opened one in Frederick, I thought I'd give them a try. I had the Classic Smash with a garden salad (chipotle dressing) and a local craft beer (Flying Dog Tart Cherry Ale). The good: The beer was served in a ice-cold frosted mug - nice touch! The salad was fresh and the chipotle dressing was tasty and not overpowering. The "bowl" it came in was a little narrow - not making it easy to mix the salad (yes it needed some mixing) without tossing some onto the table. Still - really pleased with the beer and salad. The not so good: The burger patty was greasy and flavorless (salty - that's it). No better than a Wendy's single. The bun was kind of mushy - no real character - nothing special. The $5 off coupon made it a good deal, but without the promotion, not sure I'd go again.
(2)Jerry W.
Solid Food. My wife and I ate here for the first time a few nights ago. I ordered the Classic Smashburger ($5.39) (single patty, slightly bigger than Five Guys' junior burger) with a side order of regular fries, and my wife ordered the Baja Cobb Salad with a side order of fried pickles. Though the restaurant was busy, we received our meal in less than ten minutes. My burger was quite good; I especially liked the deep caramelization of the patty. My fries were crispy and tasty (tasted much like McDonald's fries). My wife also enjoyed her Baja Cobb salad and commented on the fact that it seemed to be very fresh. The fried pickles were also delicious (for any one curious, Smashburger's fried pickels are pickle slices rather than spears and are coated in a tempura-like batter). Over-all, I was quite pleased with my experience and will be back to sample other items from their expansive menu.
(4)Rodney P.
I wanted to see the new competition in town and see if they were worthy of a take over in the stiff burger community of Frederick. I was impressed with their menu selection, simple, and yet complex in the combination of choices using the same fresh ingredients (Very Clever). I order the spinach burger with cucumbers, simply because I never had a combination on a burger with those ingredients so I was intrigued as to what it would taste like. To my surprise the combination gave the burger a lamb-like flavor. I thought for a minute I was eating a little gyro sandwich. The menu is full of interesting combinations that the customer can put together and wash it all down with a ice cream rich shake. Smashburger is definitely letting the competition know they are here. I believe if patrons don't grow tired with the menu choices and combinations, which Smashburger should consider switching up or introducing new ingredients every now and then, they should more than take over the lion-share of the burger community in Frederick and perhaps change the expectations of burger eaters everywhere.
(3)David L.
The wife and I tried this place out last week. The burgers,fries and milkshakes were tasty. Burgers were juicy,fries were crisp and not greasy. That's the good part. What I didn't like was the guy that brought the food to our table set the food down and within a minute, he came back and grabbed my tray. He had brought me the wrong burger. He then proceeded to take it to another table. Huge no no in food service. He should have tossed it and made the other party a new burger. Secondly, it took so long to get my sandwich, the wife was almost done with hers. On to the shake.. Good,nice thick and tasty. Bad, for the price they should fill the dinky cup they serve it in. Not half full. Lastly, the place was pretty clean except... The doors and windows were disgustingly dirty. The experience as a whole left me with one thought..., Poor management. I will not return.
(1)Frank K.
Once again the combination of delicious food and great people serve up a great meal. Just a burger? No way! The freshest ingredients made to order, just plain nice folks, especially Gabrielle, my favorite cashier, make me go out of my way to stop here.
(5)Lorena B.
Based on my first visit, I give Smashburger 3.75 stars. I'm not a fan of Hagen Daas ice cream so I didn't love my Oreo milkshake but it wasn't too bad. I wouldn't have ordered it if I'd noticed they used HD ice cream. Otherwise, I savored every bite of my truffle oil mushroom burger (I think that's what it's called). It tasted like a smaller version of The Cheesecake Factory's Mushroom Glam burger, which I love. Of course I added delicious bacon for $1. The beef was somewhere between Five Guys and Elevation Burger in terms of quality and flavor. Not mind blowing but solid. The skinny regular fries and Smashburger fries were good too. Very crisp and flavorful. Service was pleasant and there were no mix ups with our order. I didn't see or hear any of the problems amongst staff another reviewer mentioned.
(4)Robyn E.
Awesome customer service, and very friendly Staff. The food was great very tasty;not too greasy, high quality meat and made in a timely matter. Loved it!
(5)T F.
**SIGH** This is kind of a hard review to write. One one hand, the food was good, but a bit pricey for what you get. The chicken sandwich with feta and balsamic vinaigrette tastes great, but that is one thin piece of chicken. Like, really, really thin. My husband liked his BBQ burger, but once again, it's not terribly impressive size-wise. The Smash fries and sweet potato fries were tasty, but kinda cold by the time we got them home. So......why is this a one-star review? After downing our meals and shakes, I FOUND A FREAKING HAIR at the bottom of my shake. A HAIR!!!!! Of course, by the time I found it, it was well after 10:00pm and, as I mentioned, we were home. For $30 on burger and fries take out for two, I seriously expect better quality control than this.
(1)Chef A.
UPDATE 2: Definitely on my third visit here, things are great. I went with the same order I went with last time, and but the slightly smaller size. The upside on the burger is a much better value, and would highly suggest, going for the full size meat. Please read previous reviews.
(5)Jinki Y.
Very decent burger place. A lot better than five guys I would say. A lot less greasy than any burger joint that I have ever been two. They offer a big selections of different burgers, fries, salads, kids meals, milk shakes, and beers. It's very clean and the staff there are pretty helpful and attentive. Just right across from the FSK mall if your coming back from a tiring shopping spree! Give them a try!
(5)Deidre C.
Decided to give Smashburger another try. Arrived around 4:30 and was the only customer in the store. The crew member who took my order was friendly. However, there was trash on the floor and on one table. It did get cleaned up while I ate. Food came out quickly and was piping hot. I got spicy buffalo fries and a smashburger with goat cheese and mushrooms. The fries were amazing. Perfect, spicy little shoestrings. The burger was very good, too. Very juicy. The toppings weren't stingy, either. It would appear that timing is everything here. Come at the right time and you'll leave happy.
(4)Lily H.
I've been here a few times and I try to order something new but I pretty much ALWAYS get the avocado club with grilled chicken with veggie frites(flash fried green beans and carrots) YUM! I've had the smashfries here and they are definitely really good. I'm not much of a milkshake person but they use Haagen-Dazs ice cream which has to be my favorite.. The nutter butter milkshake tasted SO good. I only subtracted a star for the crappy customer service but I mean what can you really expect when most of the staff looks like they either just graduated high school or never graduated at all. Would it kill you to PRETEND that you're friendly!? I absolutely hate going anywhere where I can tell that a person hates their job and doesn't want to be there. I used to work in the food industry and customer service so believe me I get it.. A lot of people are really rude and I get that people have their bad days but leave your personal problems outside of work! Anyway, I do enjoy the food here. I would have to say that I definitely prefer this place over five guys.. I feel like it has many more options. I will definitely be back!
(4)Eric Y.
Decided to check this place out since I had a coupon and it was great experience! The cashier was very friendly and gave me time to decide what to get. I got the avocado club which was great. The avocado was soft, the burger was flavorful and the bun was on point. The haystack onions were a bit salty for my taste but still good. Seems like there are some negative reviews but I am guessing they have improved since then. I would definitely come here for another burger!
(4)Adam N.
Going to QSR and "better" burger chains has been my "thing" for the past five or six years, and having eaten at Shake Shack, Jake's Wayback, BGR, In-N-Out's, Five Guys, and a few others, I was excited to finally try the Colorado-based chain. I went to the VIP Grand Opening event and while I think the crew was still trying to get to work out some issues, I was very impressed. Burgers: I grabbed a Bacon Cheeseburger, subbing Sharp Cheddar for American. The Egg Bun was good but not memorable. Not as much pillowy richness as BGR or pleasant sweetness of Shake Shack's or Jake's potato buns, it wasn't toasted so much as it was saturated in butter. This was actually pretty offputting, but thankfully the butter didn't overwhelm the rest of the burger. I thought the burger was good and well seasoned, appropriately but not overly (read: grass fed) beefy. Although I was expecting more of an intensely flavorful, malliard-reaction inspired crust. The bacon was solid (a big step above Jake's) and the meltification on the cheddar was excellent. The cheese was actually the best and most prominent part. Sides: Two words. Fried Pickles. My God these were outstanding. Not too heavy but still bursting with vinegar flavor and an addictively crunchy crust, they're beyond good with ketchup. I sampled some Buffalo fries too; perfectly crispy and shoe-string thin with a uniquely spicy but meaty seasoning. Shake: Had a sample of the Salted Caramel. Really complex and flavorful. although a little thin for my liking. Might have been the sample size. Atmosphere: Cool and relaxed. Love the QSR feel and the employees were all very excited and upbeat. I'll probably be back to get "just" a burger to check out the merits of the smashing technique and get another sense of just where it ranks in pure beef flavor (I'd say behind BGR's dry-aged burger and Shake Shack's blend) but it's definitely a great option for burger lovers, and given the menu size and scope a step above places like Five Guys.
(4)Topshelf P.
Smash Burger is a good place. I was expecting more considering the name "Smash" made me think this place was serving ridiculously large burgers. Wrong! They are good but, a bit small side for the price.
(3)Chris F.
Ordered online and picked up food for work. 3 orders. Receipt on each bag was correct with order. 1 order was missing fries. Another order had the burgers in the wrong bag. I will still never understand how difficult this is for someone. For the food, the Haystack onions is what I had and they were not all that great, co-worker said fries weren't all that great as well. For the burger, it was ok, nothing special. A place right down the road called Five Guys is so much better in my opinion.
(2)Angie J.
I ordered the Classic Smash (burger) and Smash fries with a side of fried pickles and it was absolutely delicious! The burger was juicy; the bun was soft; and the fried pickles were on point. My husband really liked the Smashfries which was seasoned perfectly. Quick, friendly service! I look forward to my next visit and will try Avocado Club Chicken.
(5)Bob F.
This was our first visit to any Smashburger. First impression, pretty good for a quick serve place. I got the big burger and my wife got the regular. The burgers come in many ways including make your own. I got the BBQ burger and she made her one. Both burgers were very good. This will be my new favorite "quick serve" burger place. I got the regular fries and she got the sweet potato. I am not a fan of the super skinny cut fries but they tasted good. Didn't try the smash sauce but I will if I get a chance to go back. We ordered online and then picked at the store since it was a workday so I can't give details of their service. Everything was ready to go when we got there and the place was clean. The only downside I see to the location is that the area of town they are in can get very heavy with traffic at times so i am not sure how often I can get back.
(4)Jamario G.
Nice burger joint with some good selection to choose from. I had the delicious bbq bacon cheddar burger.
(3)Sondra K.
I had the grilled chicken on multigrain with lettuce, pickles, tomato, onion FRESH jalapeño!!!! and katsup. It was fantastic! The chicken was juicy and the bun was nice and soft. They did go a little heavy on the onion, but as long as you check before you bite in to it you'll be good. I also got the side salad for 2.99- that was TINY, like smaller than a Wendy's .99 side salad. Although it was small, it was very fresh and the spinach was a nice touch. Would eat here again!!
(4)Joshua H.
I came with a couple friends and enjoyed it. I ordered the BBQ bacon and cheddar burger, the bacon cheeseburger, the smash fries with the oil, and also 2 milk shakes for myself. Ate it all and it was so delicious! My buddy also ordered the PBJ milkshake and it was surprisingly good as well! Good people, and good atmosphere. Sun coming in the windows in the evening is the only negative thing I have to say.
(5)Charles E.
My first horrible experience. After placing a $30 + order I got home to find no meat in my sandwich. Living several miles away I called and was greeted with a very pleasant voice that apologized and offered to remake my entire order for me at no charge. She even went so far to take my order over the phone and even threw in two free milk shakes. ( kudos to her for making a bad situation into a positive). That's where the good part of the story ends. I went back the very next night since my craving for a smash burger hadn't been satisfied and was greeted at the register. I proceeded to tell story and indicated that there should be a note left by the employee that I spoke to the night before, she picked up a piece of paper and told me there was no note so I asked for the manager on duty who proceeded to argue with me about the situation and told me I couldn't have what I was promised. Eventually she looked to her right and there was the note. All she had to do was look!Great food...not the best customer service skills. I left still not sure if I'll ever be back to this location.
(3)Noah K.
In short, I liked it. Five Guys is the benchmark for this sort of place, and while Elevation Burger didn't measure up, this place does. The price was on par with 5 Guys and although I left feeling less full, I was perfectly satisfied (unlike Elevation) and sense that it may be a bit healthier than Five Guys. Despite only being open a couple weeks at most, the staff was well trained and competent. Food was out quite fast and staff were making sure all was well, so I was impressed there. The ambience was quite pleasant, it certainly had the other chains beat in that regard. I thought there was a surprising amount of seating for such a small storefront. The burger itself: it was available different ways that looked interested, with some interesting toppings too, that I will certainly try in the future, but for the first time there I just thought I had better try the classic "big" burger, although I did take the opportunity to substitute pepper jack cheese for American. The burger was well constructed - I think although the "big" patty was much bigger than the ones at Five Guys (and bigger than the bun which was meant for the regular), there is probably a bit more meat with the two Five Guys patties than one big Smashburger one. The flavor was very good though and it was a juicy burger for sure. The bun (thick spongy brioche, maybe?) was worlds beyond the industrial ones at Five Guys and the wimpy think potato rolls at Elevation. I ordered the Smash fries as opposed to the regular ones, when I asked the cashier which one she would choose. They were the thin ones like Elevation has, also cooked in olive oil I think. They had special seasoning on them, mainly rosemary is what I noticed. Overall, I would say they were great, nearly as good as the Elevation fries (the strong point there). I would say that while they're different in style, they're the same quality as the Five Guys fries-- which would be upgraded from very good to outstanding if they just double fried them to become crispy, but that's a story for another forum.. They came in one size, which I would say was about the right amount on the side of a burger. I didn't order any, but I notice they had beer! That's a definite plus. I didn't look carefully at what they had, but a beer was $4 each, so not too bad. I will be back! Glad to have Smash Burger here for sure.
(4)Christine R.
I had some pretty high expectations for this place - I love Five Guys, Elevation burger and Red Robin was right across the street from the location we visited in Frederick. I thought to myself: Any place that puts itself near a Red Robin better bring it when it comes to quality, accuracy and deliciousness. Boy was I wrong about Smash burger! I went here with my kids and boyfriend for a dinner that was last minute. It was supposed to be a birthday dinner for me and we just didn't feel like sitting down at a restaurant like Red Robin. So we went here. We had the following: *-BBQ bacon burger - boyfriend said it was OK, Was only cooked to medium (they never asked for a "Doneness" request?) he likes his burger cooked dead. *-Avocado club burger - no avocado, no "club" really. I ended up with bacon, burger and lettuce and tomato, quite disappointing. no avocado, no ranch, no mayo, no onions, no cheese. *-Kids smash burger w/ bacon - my son loved it, it was huge for a kids burger *-Chicken tenders - My younger son is 2 so he doesn't need that much food however for $5 he had 3 small ( and I mean small) chicken tenders and fries. First: The kids meals tasted decent, but there was quite a disparaging difference between the amount of food in the chicken tender meal and the amount of food in the kids smash burger meal for the EXACT same price. My 8 year old ended up with a regular size burger, and it had more bacon than my club burger?! that was the first thing that I noticed was off. Second: Boyfriend ordered a salted caramel shake. It came out to him soupy, like it didn't have the proper ratio of ice cream to milk. He had no problem asking for more and got exactly what he wanted, but for over $4 it should have been thick to begin with. Third: This part is kind of where it is about an opinion. I am gluten free, they offer a gluten free bun (thank you!!) for any burger for an additional $1. I messed up after putting my order in and promptly corrected it with one of the servers, and she communicated to the kitchen right away. That part was awesome. I loved that it was no hassle to switch my order, especially for a diet thing like being gluten-free. However, that was where it ended. We took our order to go since we wanted to go home. I got home, opened my burger and lo and behold it was a burger, slice of bacon lettuce and tomato on a gluten free bun. No avocado, no ranch, no mayo, no cheese, nothing. They got 2 stars from me because the fries were good and well seasoned, always a good starting point for a burger joint. But for me, that was where it ended. We do not plan on going back because I spent almost $40 for that meal and it just wasn't worth that.
(2)Marie M.
Move over Five Guys- I just discovered SmashBurger!! TRULY a backyard burger like my dad used to make. Cooked through, while remaining juicy; nice crunchy, fresh dill pickles and crispy (not greasy) bacon. The Smash Fries are delicately flavored with olive oil & rosemary (and they say garlic but I didn't taste it, which is a good thing). Also tried the Salted Carmel milkshake. It was ridiculously good.
(5)Brian A.
Of all chain burger joints in the area, Smashburger smashes the competition. The menu has great variety and I get something different almost every time I go and I'm always satisfied. You can create your own burger with about 6 different bun options with any special toppings you want, at a fair price. Not to mention their own menu of amazingly created burgers. The burger is always cooked to perfection and the toppings are fresh. The smashfries are very tasty and are cooked perfectly every time. I go to this place once a week and should be going more often!
(5)David D.
I have never been to a Smashburger and really wanted to try this place. However, I have to say that the burger was very average in my opinion. There wasn't anything wrong with it, but just didn't live up to the hype. Since I had never been to Smashburger, I opted for a classic. For a burger that is supposed to be smashed and seared, it just didn't have that good crust on it like I've had on similar burgers, which is really the whole point in smashing on the flattop. Now, the Smash fries were excellent. They were thin, just like I like them, and had a good crunch to them. The combination of the olive oil and rosemary were wonderful. I am likely to try the place again though, as the fries made it worth the visit.
(2)Dee M.
Oh no! I thought I liked this place. The first two visits were great. The last one -- not so much. Service was non-existent. I knew there was a problem as I watched my melting milk shake spilling over the glass and begging me to come and get him from behind the cashier. So I did. But the burger was already eaten, and the onion rings were drowning in their grease. My friend's burger was mediocre. My swiss and mushroom had an odd taste -- were those really mushrooms. Hmmmm. Should I go back and give it another chance? Or opt for Jersey Mike? My first two experiences were lunch The last one was dinner. Maybe a different staff. The manager definitely wasn't there.
(2)Bethany S.
Good service. Fast order prep. Had the Chesapeake burger, yummy, juicy, finger licking good. Fried pickles were ok, not the best I've had. Hubby did not like the fries, too rosemaryish. Had the salted caramel shake : delish! Will be back!
(4)Tiffany M.
Smash fries are delicious! Last time I went though they were on the soggy side, too much olive oil. Fried pickles are delicious, sweet potato fries are good but on the salty side. I've had both the Classic Smash and Avocado Club, both very good. I prefer this over other quick burger chains (Five Guys, Burger Joint, Elevation Burger).
(4)Steve R.
I just had my second meal here and the place is just amazing. The burgers are large, fresh and very tasty and way above your typical Five Guys. It's a different atmosphere, more upscale... well as upscale as you can get for a burger joint. Two of us has Classic Smashburgers and one had the Bacon Cheeseburger. We had Smash Fries and Onion Rings which melt in your mouth. The food was delivered faster than a typical McD's. Do yourself a favor and try it.
(4)Cindy M.
This place is horribly disorganized. Meals take forever to come out and then they are wrong. Staff is confused or disinterested in their job. Food quality is poor, but expensive. Do yourself a favor and go to Jersey Mikes right next door
(1)Sam C.
I wanted to like this place. I really did. It doesn't take long to get bored with the menu at Five Guys, so I get a little excited when I see a new burger joint open in Frederick. That excitement lasted until the moment I took my first bite. For $22 I got a Classic Smash Burger, a Chesapeake Burger, an order a SmashFries, and a chocolate shake. The Chesapeake burger comes with Tiger Sauce (aren't these things endangered?), cheddar cheese, various toppings, served on an onion bun. The Classic Smash burger is your basic casual dining burger, but with something called Smash sauce. They tasted exactly the same since both sandwiches were overloaded with onions, while the juice and the flavor of the meat was thoroughly cooked out of them. All I could taste was the overpowering onions and the carelessness with which they were slapped together. The burgers themselves were the consistency of microwaved meatloaf that had been refrigerated and reheated over and over and over again. The fries were fine. I'm not a big fan of thin cut fries, but the garlic and olive oil were a nice change from what most places offer. The shake was way overpriced. At $4.29, I expect more than a 16oz kiddie cup filled with soupy ice cream. I didn't try the chicken sandwiches or the fried pickles, and I would like to had my first experience not so bad. But I think I'm done with Smash Burger. At least the Frederick location.
(1)Jeffrey G.
ok burger, nothing special. the bun was the best part and the rest was just plain. also tried the strawberry milk shake, and it actually tasted a little sour. not very impressed.
(2)Sooperken S.
I've eaten here twice, and both times my order was hopelessly wrong and took a ridiculously long time. The food is also not hot enough when served. The entire staff have a look of utter confusion and their actions reflect that. The bickering back and forth from the servers to the kitchen is constant. Apparently an order of burger and fries is too complex for the cooks? I'm sitting in the restaurant as I write this review and I've already seen 5 customers complain about their food. Also, the meat is cooked to death with no option to have it cooked less. I will not be going back.
(1)Peach P.
So excited that smashburger is in Frederick! !! Usually go to the one in Germantown and this one is much closer for us. We also love BGR but where their burgers are chargrilled, smashburger offers a flat top seared burger which is always well seasoned and juicy. The beef (and everything else) is really good quality that you can tell from your first bite. I like the regular egg bun, they also offer huge salads and a variety of chicken sammies too. The fries are crispy shoestring fries which are given in generous portions (in my experience each receipt has a free fry on your next visit if you complete the survey). This is the first smashburger I've been to that actually has the fried pickles on the menu. In other locations it's kind of a secret item that is not advertised but if you're a fan of smashburger you know they offer. This was our first visit to this location as they just opened earlier this week. For only being open a few days we were impressed with the consistency of the food that matched their other locations in the dmv area. The staff were very nice and attentive and our food came out super quickly!
(5)Elsa P.
Had the avocado club...wow Great burger..fast service and friendly staff. Will be back again!
(5)