Inside: Five Guys Burgers and Fries

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Five Guys Burger and Fries is a popular, award-winning fast food joint famous for its beefy burger, which was voted No. 1 by "Washingtonian Magazine" for several consecutive years and has also won awards in cities all over the US. Though the menu is limited and the interior is simple, Five Guys has an extensive fan following and receives rave reviews from a variety of different sources.

Food: Obviously, the burgers are the highlight here. You can choose from a regular burger, which has two beef patties, or a little burger, which only has one patty. The little burger will provide plenty of meat for the average person. Your burger of choice can then be fixed up with American cheese, bacon, or a variety of vegetable toppings and condiments, all free of charge. The restaurant claims that there is no gluten or artificial trans fats in their hamburgers.

If you're not in it for the burger, try one of the kosher style hot dogs, available with cheese or bacon (or both if you feel like busting your gut). For vegetarians, there is a grilled cheese sandwich and a vegetable sandwich, the latter of which is simply a bun with your choice of vegetable toppings.

Fries are available in sizes regular or large. The regular is huge, and can easily be shared by several people. Like the burger, the fries are very good, but they're definitely greasy.

Presentation is extremely simple, but sadly destructive to the environment. Whether you're dining in or out, you'll get your sandwich wrapped in aluminum foil, your fries in a Styrofoam cup, and everything closed up in a brown paper bag. The paper bag does a decent job of soaking up the excess grease, although there will still be plenty left over if that's your kind of thing.

Libations: You have a choice of Coca Cola soft drinks with free refills or bottled water.

Décor:  This really isn't the kind of place to hang out in just for the atmosphere, but it's clean and offers plenty of seating. The interior has the feel of a diner, completely with a standard red and white color scheme, and the walls are covered with signs and information about the chain. Our only complaint is that the tables are very close together and there are no partitions or sectioned areas for privacy. But then again, you can always order take-out if you don't feel like mingling with the crowd.

Crowd: This place is packed during the lunch hour. We've rarely seen a Polaris restaurant as busy as this one. If you arrive between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., expect to wait in line for a few minutes. Once you've ordered, it doesn't take long to get your meal.

All ages of people can be seen dining here, but it's clear upon glancing around the room that it draws more men than women.

Service: Fast and friendly is the name of the game. Despite the long line, we didn't feel rushed to make our order, and the friendly cashier had no problem answering our questions about various ingredients. Tables are cleaned quickly and efficiently after each diner leaves, so you won't stand around long waiting for a seat.

Bottom line: If you love burgers, get more for your money and try Five Guys instead of your standard fast food chain. You'll be doing yourself a favor.

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