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| - Smashburger is a place that aims to be a couple steps above Five Guys while still giving their diners a quick meal that can be ordered to-go when necessary. As a Five Guys fan, I was definitely all for seeing if Smashburger could complete with them. While I'd had a chance to sample Smashburger's menu before they opened, I'm in Monroeville so infrequently that it was months before I could return and enjoy a proper meal here. But finally I was in the area for Steel City Con - and I immediately drove here afterward to get my burger on.
While Smashburger by design allows for people to take their meals elsewhere, I opted to sit and just enjoy my burger before I headed home. I ordered a burger I hadn't already sampled: the Avocado Club. Kind of a basic burger in that it just has avocado, bacon, lettuce, tomato, ranch dressing and mayo, but since I already knew what I liked and didn't like from the tasting event menu I was happy to go back to basics during this visit. And unsurprisingly, I liked what I got. The burger was fairly juicy and quite tasty, and the added flavor and crunch from some of the toppings mixed with the more creamy textures of the avocado and dressings made for a great burger overall.
I'm admittedly not that big on their thinly sliced fries, which were a little oversalted when I visited (but not inedibly salty). The problem I have isn't just that it's easy to oversalt or over-season the fries because they're so little - it also just gets a little harder to pick them up as you work your way to the bottom of a serving because the already tiny fries get even smaller as you go. Personally I like the bigger fries at Five Guys more.
That said, this place DEFINITELY beats Five Guys side-wise. In addition to their straw fries, sweet potatoes fries and onion straws, Smashburger offers side salads and a side of cooked veggie sticks. It's a nice little thing that allows someone to make their burger indulgence a little healthier. Add in the fact that any of their burgers or chicken sandwiches can be made into full salads, and you can ask them to hold any toppings you may not like, and you've got a place that really can make for a relatively healthy but quick lunch or lunch on the go.
My final thoughts? I love Smashburger for what it is. While it wouldn't make my top burger place list, it is still extremely good considering that the place is meant to be a fast food kind of stop, and as much as I love a greasy Five Guys burger they definitely beat Five Guys with their healthier options. I'll probably pass on the small fries during future visits though. I certainly hope that I'm able to return soon, as I'd love to try a Haagen-Dazs shake one day and I still want to order full versions of all of the burgers I previously sampled. Here's to the next time I'm in Monroeville!
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