Shake Shack — Review by Daym Drops
Hartford, United States — American Fast Casual
Daym Drops visits Shake Shack to try their new barbecue rib sandwich and limited-time drinks, spending $41 for two drinks, fries, and a sandwich. While the mango shake and seasoned fries receive moderate praise, the $16 barbecue rib sandwich is heavily criticized for being dry, flavorless, and not worth even $7, with the reviewer expressing frustration about Shake Shack's declining quality and prices.
What was great: Mango Tropical Shake with Pride sprinkles had a pleasant mango-orange cream flavor; barbecue seasoned fries were crisp with good spice; soft bun on the sandwich
What could improve: Barbecue boneless baby back rib sandwich was dry and tasteless, not worth the $16 price tag; strawberry boba drink was overly tart with weak boba execution; extended wait times with new kiosk ordering system; overall pricing is outrageous and getting worse
The Dishes
The reviewer sampled several items from Shake Shack's new menu offerings. The strawberry with boba drink featured small tapioca balls at the base but delivered an overly tart lemonade flavor that overshadowed the strawberry, earning only 2.3 out of 5 stars. The Sprinkle with Pride Tropical Mango Shake proved more successful, offering a creamy blend of mango and orange cream flavors that wasn't excessively sweet and had a pleasant fruity aftertaste as the whipped cream mixed in.
The barbecue-seasoned fries arrived crisp with a dry rub seasoning that provided decent barbecue flavor, scoring 3.5 out of 5 stars. The main event, the Barbecue Boneless Baby Back Rib Sandwich, was a major disappointment. Despite the soft bun, coleslaw, pickles, and bacon, the rib meat itself was dry on the exterior and only slightly tender deeper into the sandwich. Even after applying the provided ranch sauce, the sandwich tasted more expensive than its quality justified.
The Experience
The reviewer noted that Shake Shack's new ordering system using kiosks has created extended wait times, contradicting management's apparent goal of efficiency. The old cashier system moved faster despite handling the same volume of customers. The reviewer described the experience as increasingly frustrating at this particular location.
Value and Pricing
The total bill came to $41 for two drinks, fries, and one sandwich, which the reviewer emphasized as outrageous pricing. The barbecue rib sandwich at $16 was the primary complaint, described as tasting like a $3.99 sandwich that should realistically cost $6.99. The reviewer struggled to justify paying $16 for dry, flavorless rib meat, stating it wasn't worth $13, $10.99, $7.99, or even $6.99.
Notable Moments
The barbecue rib sandwich at Shake Shack is definitely not worth $16. It's not worth $13. It's not worth $10.99. It's not worth $7.99. This should be a $6.99 sandwich. It tastes as if it was $3.99.
This one right here is the saddest sandwich in history. In history.
A particularly memorable moment occurred when the sandwich literally fell out of its bag, with the reviewer joking that it didn't want to go back in the bag because it was so bad.
The Verdict
The reviewer expressed deep disappointment with Shake Shack's current offerings and trajectory, comparing the restaurant's declining quality to Subway's failures over the years. He warned that if Shake Shack continues this trend, he may stop reviewing them entirely. While the mango shake and fries earned mild appreciation, they couldn't compensate for the terrible main dish and inflated prices. This review is a cautionary tale for anyone considering the new barbecue rib sandwich and serves as a reminder that Shake Shack's premium pricing no longer matches its product quality.