4 Star Reviews

Five Guys Concord

7741 Gateway Lane NW
Concord, NC, 28207
704-979-1283
All Five Guys Concord Photos

So I was reading letters to the editor of the Charlotte Observer food and entertainment section Kathleen Purvis. In one question to the editor was a comment about Five Guys franchise in Concord.

The letter proclaimed this place to be fantastic and hearty, and the editor replied with saying she had heard this same rumor and was going to give it a try soon.

Well I am happy to say i beat her to it. I was on my way to writing a piece on Chuck E Cheese being a classic part of childhood and a cheap escape for parents when I passed this place in Concord. After fighting the Saturday traffic in Concord, NC I managed to find a parking spot for Five Guys around 6pm on a Saturday. This location is side by side with a drive through Starbucks location so the parking lot is taking a life risk to drive in.

Walking up Five Guys struck me as the stepchild of a old favorite restaurant of mine called Schaller’s in Rochester, New York. Five guys is a very minimal white tile white walls and chairs sort of cafeteria look. There is no frills and this place looks like the kind of place you look for at 1am after a night of drinking. The location is open 11am to 10pm 7 days a week only, so you cant take that sugestion unless you leave the bar very early.

The location smells like cooking fries and the stacks of potato bags on the walls say they take great pride in making “home cooking” and not fast food. This sentence really sums up what you get at Five Guys. Everything looked and worked like you were at a family picnic and the burgers were getting made fresh at the park grill. The fries are true potatos cut and dropped in pure peanut oil so they come out heavy, greasy and tasting like biting into potatos and not frozen crisps.

You can see in the photos that we ordered two regular size fries, which is the smaller of the two sizes, and it filled an entire paper lunch bag to the top.

Again - This bag here only has two regular size fry orders in it.

This bag with only 2 orders of fries in it was heavy to carry soaked with grease and filled to the top like luggage. This monster sized order of fries was very impressive, like nothing I had ever seen.

The fries are very fresh and real but a bit heavy with grease for my tastes. We all agreed that still nobody can defeat the flavor of a McDonalds fry. While they are not as fresh or huge as these amazing fried, McDonalds still taste the best for some artificial reason. Keep in mind though, these are the most authentic and largest order of fries I had ever been served, just not my perfect style by my personal tastes.

The wife had the “small” bacon cheeseburger and I had the regular “cheeseburger”. Both of the burgers were doubles, both were stacked like “freak-burgers” and both tasted like licking the grill they were so authentic. My wife proclaimed it the bestburger she had ever had, and I wasnt far behind that assessment. The burgers here are excellent and taste like a backyard cookout with true grill flavor and neatly stacked and prepared while you watch.

Five guys take extra steps with large helpings and wrapping the burgers in real foil and not paper burger wraps. You will feel like you are at a cookout and getting the best grill prepared food you have had in years.

The walls of this location are littered with signs proclaiming awards they have won for the best food and fries, and I now agree that most of that is hard earned. This is a franchise that doesnt feel like one.

Five guys is like someone attending a softball cookout, handed everyone an employee shirt, and asked you what you want on your paper plate.

For fries this place has authentic and good true potatos fries in huge servings. In burgers, Five Guys has a real off the grill amazing fresh and authentic burger like no other you have had.

Our advice is sneak your McDonalds fries into Five Guys and order one of their burgers to go with it.

This combination would be the best burger meal you ever sat down to, this would be the all star of burger meals.

Ishi Japanese Restaurant

8109 University City Blvd
Charlotte, NC 28213
704-921-9219
Ishi Photos In The Gallery

Finally got to Ishi Japanese Restaurant And Sushi bar after hearing second hand rave reviews from a few people including our own prior review here from one of our readers. I have also since sat with a family member who is a freshman at UNCC and her father both who raved that we must try Ishi as soon as possible.

The rumors of the incredible value at Ishi along with the great food made this possible as I am pretty broke lately for restaurant money.

unlike reviews of fancy uptown “bistros” and “4 star affairs” mine are dictated by what’s in my wallet this week and not checks being picked up by “the man”. This is envy talking I know, I admit that much, I am only jealous of larger dining budgets than my own.

This location is not what I excpeted as it is very tucked away in the back of the Home Depot plaza right next to Peak Fitness. The workout addicts must love having healthy, fast and very good food right next door to their daily routine.

I was a bit surprised by the small hole in the wall feeling of this location and the completely dated and worn decor inside. I knew this wasnt a dressed up perkins or upscale dining but it is such a roadside diner feeling i was surprised on how “casual” (run down) it was inside.

The location was clean enough and family feeling enough it is just time for it to find its way out of the 80s.

I want to rebutt this last sentecne and remind myself and my readers that with good enough food, who cares if the stools are from a 1970’s waffle house.

No booths inside is sometimes a bummer, since I was ther with the kids in tow the lack of booths is a bit of a discomfort. I know everyone reading doesnt really care but if asked would always choose a booth.

The menu, which I have scanned and linked to here to save me time in explaining it, is packed with huge and wide variety of great lookig plates. This statement lends to the fact that this place would be a great fast and healthy lunch stop. A lunch stop with a seeming endless variety of choices keeps the patrons coming back over the long haul.

Everything on the menu here is basically between 4.50 and 8.00 which means 40-50 things to choose from for under $7, not many restaurants can say that. I had the Habachi Steak, which means Sirloin steak cut into small pieces and laid on top of fried rice (Japanese fried rice so its basically white rice), this is served with japanese style sweet carrots. These carrots are round carrot sliced and boiled with a sweet flavor. I could take or leave the carrrots, which I imagine all men agree about all carrots in the world, but they were good enough and original.

The habachi steak was without a beter way to put it, the best meat i have tasted in the last few years. I was lucky enough to get to atend the grand opening samplign at the “texas land Company Steakhouse in Concord, at which i had lobster and a T-bone steak. The meal was free as it was a training night for the staff, but would have cost about $40. The Habachi Steak was far better tasting and perfectly cooked soft beef for all of $5. The flavor of the steak and hw tender it is cooked will really impress anyone who sits and orders it.

The major problem with this meal was the fact that it was exceptinal steak pieces on top of essentially white rice and steamed sweet carrots. After eating me meal I could have easily finished my Wife’s, reached over and finished both the plates of the patrons behind me, and still wanted desert. The meal is so “not filling”, while at the same time so delicious that I may order 3 plates on my next visit. This lack of filling food really creates a hole in the “affordable” menu.

If you are going looking for a light lunch, healthy meal or fast high quality taste for somethin orginal to eat this place is a exceptional choice. if you just done doing “negatives or Powerlifting legs” at Peak Fitness and need a heavy filling meal? this place will likely leave you still very hungry.

My Wife had Teriyaki Chicken and Shrimp ($9) which was the same rice with sweet carrots served with chicken and shrimp that has been stir-fried. Again the meat was excellent and the rice and carrots god enough but the meal not very filling. We did determine that the steak was by far the best choice of the two plates and that is the recomendation.

We got out the door for $20 with the tip on the table $23 and was very pleased with the taste though I had to make sandwiches at home 2 hours later.

The steak was one of the best things on any of my plates since moving to Charlotte. The steak and healthy taste was very good, perhaps too good, since it just reinforced the problem that there wasnt enough to fill me.

I will go back and explore this huge menu as well as the excellent sushi choices and have a beer and sushi afternoon. I have given up on the great low prices on the menu though since I expect tohave to order twice.

Amazing tender flavor, great taste, low prices and huge menu including great sushi choices. The food just didnt fill me up and the portions were not nearly big enough for any hunger beyond light lunch.

Cold Stone Northlake Commons
Northlake Mall

Cold Stone Photos

Cold Stone isnt reinventing the wheel, and its a bit pricey sometimes for a family, but there is no denying that it is top quality, clean and a fun franchise.

Got out to Cold Stone Creamery in the new Northlake Commons for Valentine’s Day and as always a good scoop of premium ice cream with alot of choices.

I am a bit of an Ice Cream guru having spent 6 years of my youth working for Abbott’s Frozen Custard, which is one of the premium ice cream stops of the East coast based out of Rochester New York. I also enjoyed about 10 minutes of expert ice cream exchange with Shwan the owner of this Cold Stone location in the new Northlake Commons. Shawn owns 3 locations of Cold Stone Creamy and is quite the clear expert on making frozen deserts.

This newest location is very small but shows great walk by traffic promise once the summer arrives. Cold Stone makes their mark on Ice Cream by serving a very dense and heavy variety of ice cream with your choice of items or candy mixed in by hand. The ice cream is slapped on a clean ice cold stone countertop where it is mixed with the ingredients from one of their many combinations. You point at the ingredients and they mix it up. You can choose from about 12 different house specialties or pick and choose from dozens of candy mixes and say how it gets mixed. Throw your hand made creation on top of a waffle cone or in a dish and you will get full fast on this extra dense ice cream.

Cold Stone is a bit expensive for a family or soccer team after game treat. If you go in with a wife and 2 kids you can expect 14-18$ out the window, but if you think of the “you get what you pay for appraoch”, then this may not seem out of proportion. You definately get a high quality scoop with a huge selection that can please any taste pallet, but will pay an extra buck or two per person.

This location is not the best example of these nice clean comfortable franchises as it is a bit small and just getting started, but you do know you will get a very clean freidnly singing dancing and cheerful customer experience for you couple extra bucks.

The staff is taught to sing, greet and please the customer and this is the mark of a good franchise. Couple this customer service and clean setting with a high end scoop and youll know why it costs a bit more, and you’ll return every week.

Our thanks to Shawn for the brief ice cream lesson and putting our knowledge of ice cream to shame, we wish him success in a franchise that has made the extra effort to be worth your $15 every time you choose to spend it.

Ishi Japanese Restaurant

8109 University City Blvd
Charlotte, NC 28213
(704) 921-9219

This is a review contributed by a reader almost a year ago. I sat with a local UNCC student and got the same raves about this great place.

Seems that if you are on a budget and want the best quality food for a low price and served up fast, this may be the best choice around UNCC.

From the story I was told most students already know and swear by this place for a fast cheap alternative to Ramen Pride noodles or mac and cheese for fast and cheap. So if you want a pace change read on and then get your last 47 cents in the gas tank and drive to grab a great lunch by UNCC.

Ishi for the college crowd and budget!

If you have ever been on a budget then you know about ISHI, the best alternative
to Chinese food, Japanese food.

We have been long long customers to ISHI and go 3-4 times a month.

You can’t beat the prices on everything, from the hibachi chicken to the sushi.
The college student headquarters because you can get lunch for $5, seriously!
Sushi is very inexpensive and the staff is very quick. You never have to ask
for more beverage, the food is just enough, and you can’t complain about the
price.

I highly recommend anything on the menu. It is the exact same food that you
can get at Kabuto or Nakato, but for a fraction of the price. (Don’t forget
to pick up one of my business cards for a mortgage when you walk in the door
to your left!)

Why only 4 1/2 stars - The food is good, not great, it is always warm, but
never piping. You can’t argue with the price or the service. The atmosphere
is a little dated, but the service is so quick that you don’t have time to notice
it.

Recently had another chance to stop back at one of the best lunches in the West Harris Blvd area. Golden Taipei is a 4 1/2 star rating here on Charlottecritic.com and one of our favorite places to eat.

The only knock against Golden Taipei that has been sung by a few people I have spoken with is the cost being high for what is basically the same ( but better ) Chinese food.

The solution to this is Lunch menu, which Golden Taipei serves from 11-4pm everyday of the week. You get about 15-20 choices of the highest quality chinese food in the area. Dont think this is another place to get sesame chicken, Golden Taipai is a slice above anything else I have had with it modern style inside, nice comfortable family owned staff and top notch food “plated” at your table.

I had the amazing Scallops which are always the best choice and have become my favorite Chinese meal since Taipei turned me on to them.

So get off your bump, drive to the Davis Lake area and patronize this family owned stop. Golden Taipei is loaded with one large family that is friendly and respectful, they serve the best fresh and hot Chinese food and the style is simple and sheek and makes for a great fast lunch or perfect for a date.

The full review of Golden Taipei Davis Lake is her.

The Golden Taipei

4.5 Stars

All Photos from Golden Taipei
Shoppes at Davis Lake
Charlotte 28269
seasame chicken,general taos chicken,chinese buffet,sushi,bar

Restaurant Review For The Golden Taipei

The Golden Taipei is one of the new Shoppes at Davis Lake that just opened in the brand new plaza on WT Harris. They have been open for one week now and I finally got in there to meet the owner and see the location.

This restaurant is very near my home in Charlotte and I had watched them decorating and preparing over the last few weeks for the grand opening. I did not expect such a fantastic job making the most of a great location. This is located on one of the corner courtyard locations within the plaza, which means you can dine outside. This outside dining and restaurant as a whole is in no way stuffy or all frills as many courtyard dining setups may be. This restaurant is the absolute perfect decor to combine a great sit down date location with a family run friendly hangout and eating spot.

The location is family run, and we had about 5 people to our table to ask about our meal and instroduce themselves. Mike was our host, and is one of the family partners of the establishment. The people were friendly beyond all norms and just real people happy to have a great place to offer their patrons. The decor blew us away when we entered. A very dimly lit atmosphere with beautiful wood chairs tables and sushi bar area. This may be the best restaurant to take a date you will ever find. It has everything you want in a date restaurant

1. Price is medium in case she doesnt like you. -35 for two
2. Lighting is dim to a perfect comfortable level to help you feel like your having a one on one sit down.
3. Staff is very attentive and happy to have your visit.
4. Mike informed me the license is underway, and they will have sushi and drinks very shortly to accompany a great casual place.
5. They have a 41? Plasma TV on the wall if the date goes poorly.

The food was perfect and fresh. The Waiter asked how we want each dish prepared, and we were again informed by one of the family members visits to our table that they will prepare any dish on the huge menu to any level of spice. I went with the Beef in Garlic sauce and asked for spicy and it was perfect. Huge amount of crisp vegetables, and a perfect size portion. My wife had the seseme chicken and it was by far the best we had in a long time. Our plates were served from their plates right at our table side with great care as shown below which was a tradition we miss in chinese food. Huge pieces of shrimp in the shrimp-fried was another missed treat. My Beef in Garlic sauce as served by the waiter at my tableside.

Cant say much more since chinese food does bring very few changes to the table. The presentation and service was at our beckon call, The family ownership is friendly and cordial, the interior clearly spent the extra dollar on every detail to make the inside gorgeous, and the food was top notch. I really wish them the best, as this is what they served up in service and food quality. Golden Taipei Chinese Restaurant Charlotte

Located in the Shoppes at Davis Lake is a place everyone should try as soon as you get the chance. This will be one of the years best for us with little doubt.

See the photos from our visit ans followup visits to Golden Taipei here.

Also if you stop in congratulate the owner on his new daughter Reina.

Also we had a great lunch at Golden Taipei

4 Stars 

By: Charlotte Critic
David Cox Road
Charlotte 28269
(704) 921-1545
Menu Features: rueben,sandwiches,subs,salads,wraps

I just discovered that this is a franchise situation as I had thought it a more local operation. I am more impressed knowing that. When your goal is a deli you are one of two things

1. A yuppie or cubicle worker looking for a handy light lunch that will not grease you up too badly for the rest of the day. A fresh somewhat healthy lunch to not weight you down.

Or

2. A meat loving Dagwood looking for a huge stacked sandwhich on bread that you just dont keep in your house, maybe a nice thick salad complete with eggs and ham on the side. Either of these people will be very pleased with Jasons Deli on David Cox.

This place has a huge menu of all basically the same base ingredients delivered on tons of good soft bread.

The choices like wraps and salads will make the “type 1 working folks” very happy with the light healthy lunch they find here. If you are buying M-F here you might feel some pain from the higher end deli prices you find here.

Expect you lunch to be 8$ and not the that you might hope for in a perfect world.” And for anyone not agreeing with these quoted prices, those people always quote the price of a 6? sandwich and a small coke.

NOBODY I respect wants a 6″ sub , so that doesnt apply here.

The prices are high-ish, but completely worht it since the very nice location requires higher rent I assume. For this reason i forgive them, and happily drop $9 for lunch to go.

Fresh salad bar, friendly staff in both english y espanol makes yet another nice friendly touch.

Now for you type 2 “starving people”
When you see the stacked sandwiches come out you will be in awe. The portions are huge, and the Rueben is so good. Basically a deli only has about two responsibilities with such simple food…
1. make it big and fresh
2. Be friendly and clean beyond this there really is no science to a Dagwood.

Jasons Deli on David Cox Rd succeeds on both of these facts, and scores bonus points for such huge portions and an excellent upscale clean sit down place.

If you are looking for a sit down lunch that is perfect for your girlfriend, boss, soccer team, mother, uncle Herb….whomever. Jason Deli hits on all aspects of what a deli should be, and provides a place you can sit and sip coffee after a monster Pastrami on rye. A nice yuppie clean place with huge sandwiches. 4/5 stars

4 Stars 
301 S. Tryon Street
Charlotte 28282
(704) 371-4448
Review contributed by a Charlottecritic.com reader
Photo credited to http://www.johnnyburrito.com/burritopics.htm

Johnny Burrito is a great place for lunch if you are in the uptown area, though maybe sure you are either taking an early or late lunch, besides the line goes down the hall between 11:45 – 1pm. But if you come anytime before it you will be just fine.

Back in October, a friend of mine and I decided to try Johnny Burrito because it was the only Mexican restaurant we could find out downtown that look reasonably priced.

We were staying at the Omni so it was just a short walk over. Walking into the restaurant the first thing you will notice is that there is no seating, that is no problem because you can either go upstairs and eat in the Atrium or walk right now the hall and sit in the cafeteria and eat. Either place offers tables and chairs, but the cafeteria offers a booth if you are in the mood to relax. The first thing you do when you get to the restaurant is pay. You tell the casher what type you want and what you want to drink.

I had the Big Chicken (The BIG is not for average sized people, trust me if you do not eat much get a regular). I had with my BIG Chicken burrito a Sun Drop Slushy (this is the only place in town that I know that carries them).

After you pay, the burrito size you order is placed on tin foil and then put on the bar to slide down so they can add your toppings. My burrito was huge looking; maybe my eyes were too big for my belly. First you they put your chicken down, then your rice, and then the bean type you want. >From here you get to decide the rest of your toppings.

You are able to choose from the following: cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, bell pepper, black olive, sour cream, jalapeno & banana Pep, guacamole, Cilantro, and then you have four salsa to use from: Tomatillo Salsa (Tart), Salsa Casera (Mild), Pico de Gallo (Med), or Habanero (HOT! HOT!). For my burrito I went with the spicy chicken, Mexican rice, black beans, cheese, lettuce, and the Pico de Gallo (Med) salsa. At the end of the line you are handed your burrito in a bag, inside the bag is a piece of gum.

They do not want you to have bad breath for the rest of the day at the office. After getting your burrito you are you pick you drink, the Slushy was at the end of the line. The burrito was excellent; it ranks up there with my favorite burrito from Qdoba the Chicken Quaso with roasted chili corn salsa. Make sure though when you are eating it to only unwrap the foil wrapper as you each down the burrito. The foil wrapper helps to hold it together at the end, or else you will be eating it with a fork off your lap. I would have to get Johnny Burrito 4 Stars.

This is a link to their menu: http://www.johnnyburrito.com/menu.htm. The reason for the 4, is that unlike Qdoba you do not receive the free chips and salsa, and isn’t that something you always expected when you go get Mexican.

Also, if you are a first-time at it you might get a little scared because they try to move people very quickly in and out, so people do not have to wait in line too long. This is must try if you work in Uptown.

Bump For Shanes Rib Shack Charlotte

4 Stars 

Charlotte Critic
40 E. McCullough Dr
Charlotte 28262
Menu Features: ribs,pulled pork,texas toast

Photos From Shane’s Rib Shack Charlotte>

Restaurant Review For Bump For Shanes Rib Shack Charlotte
Bump for Shane’s. So much is changing and getting even better that it is time for a bump for Shane’s Rib Shack in Charlotte. You can read on here, or see the original review of Shanes Rib Shack Charlotte. With the soon to begin new UNCC school year, a near to the college place to eat like Shane’s Rib Shack needs a big bump to the top of the heap to get more food lovers like my family in their doors. Shane’s has been running some very nice coupon offers that land in my mailbox every month and keep me going back. I don’t need to get a free sandwich to goto Shane’s, but it sure cant hurt with the price of gas these days. I have added a ton of great new photos to give Shane’s Rib Shack virgins a look at what a pulled pork should look like, and how to get a good sized meal for your . Shane’s has added Banana pudding to the menu, which was like fresh bananas in the blender with a bit of crisp crust mixed in, like graham crackers at my best guess. If yu think it sounds strange, then close your eyes and order it and let your mouth decide. While it may not be something you have room for at Shane’s it is definately fresh and not too sweet. The honest truth is that I like this place alot, but understand that I love pulled pork, so Im partial to this type of “heaping” food. Also, the owner knows our face now and gives us an extra special greeting which is great, but the first time we stepped in the door we already had nothing by nice thigs to say about the friendly staff that always takes the time to say hello to my beautiful daughter, always takes the time to check on us throughout, and food that has never been anything less than 10 times Sonnys barbque in flavor and freshness. The short of the matter is that if you want to get a good heaping meal, look in the ads in your mailbox, get the coupons and get your family to Shane’s for what isnt “reinventing the meal”, but definately has pulled pork and “Charlotte-style” friendly staff down to a science. Plenty to dip and excellent crispy Texas Toast keeps this one of the easiest to love lunches for my buck. Say you saw how good they looked on Charlottecritic.com and win nothing,… but make us look good.

Shanes Rib Shack Charlotte

4 Stars 

Charlotte Critic
40 E. McCullough Dr.
Charlotte 28262
Menu Features: ribs,fries,texas toast,pork

Photos From Shane’s Rib Shack Charlotte >

Restaurant Review For Shanes Rib Shack Charlotte
Well I got a coupon for one of the new restaurants that are part of the new upscale Grand Promenade Village II being built on WT Harris just past the Wal-Mart plaza. If you haven’t seen the new Grand Promenade Village I and II then you haven’t seen the very nice Miami styled upscale dining and shopping being built near to the UNC Charlotte campus and the University City heart. It is clear that as University City gets an identity, areas like the Grand Promenade Village II will be making an effort to make sure that identity is an upscale yuppie clientele with Family and professionals on the go in mind. The new restaurants include Wings, Mexican, Vietnamese, A Latino bakery and of course today’s afternoon adventure with the family - Shane’s Rib Shack for pulled pork and/or Ribs!
It should be known that you don’t have to work too hard to make me love good barbeque and pulled pork, there are few meals more satisfying than well done pork and hot sauce, when it is done right.
Shane’s is a little known franchise based out of Atlanta with a very “charlottecritic” style of doing things From their site: “Shane isn’t about flash, he’s about food. He’s about family, community, and darn good food. So much so that he quit his high-fallutin corporate job, dusted off Big Dad’s (Shane’s grandfather) secret recipe, and enlisted his own family to make a dream come true. And that’s how every Shane’s Rib Shack is run: as a family, for families. OK, and for anyone else looking for some great BBQ. But it’s a family place, through and through.” Shane’s Photo Album   You can also stop by the main Shanesribshack website here http://www.shanesribshack.com/ Or visit the Charlotte area website at http://www.shanesribshackcharlotte.com/ Its gonna get messy - Now that is enough to make me drive out here for a taste So is it better than that lousy Sonny’s? Um… oh yeah. Went and with the wife and tackled the pulled pork on Texas toast with fries and a drink. I figured this to be the standard “student lunch” and this location is clearly designed to build on the student population and appetite. The fact that so many students are employed here will surely help them build the reputation as a “food run” for UNCC students for lunches. The service was fast friendly and well staffed for only the second day open, everyone had a smile and the waitress checked on us which is a nice bonus for what is actually a fast food stop in nature. You order at a counter at Shane’s from a huge menu on the wall including anything you need to stop-up your heart such as BBQ Pork
BBQ Chicken
Big Hamburger
Big Cheeseburger + bacon
Chicken Tender Sandwich
Baked Beans, Fresh Slaw,
or Potato Salad and tons more. You will also enjoy that Shane’s Rib Shack brings the food to your table, and won’t require a tip. You get your own drinks, and you get to choose from a nice condiment bar with Vinegar, sweet and spicy, or plain old hot barbeque (wasn’t really too hot). Actual of the few changes that would have made life perfect a few more sauces like honey mustard and a true fiery-hot sauce would have been nice to mix it up on my next visit, but you will really like the sweetness of Shane’s own personal blends. So out comes the spread, and I apologize that I didn’t get better pictures of it in the gallery (camera issues). Picture for yourself a nice red basket lined with paper and filled with steak fries, alongside a pulled pork with about 11/2 inches of pork on two inch think buttery slices of crisp and light Texas toast. The bread really put this over the top for all of us, as it was crisp, thick and buttery. The fries were thin steak fry style and also very fresh and top notch, and the capper is a thick steaming pulled pork which will bring you back. In all the sweet & hot flavor of the custom sauces and the “step above fast food”, at your table basket of fries and pork was a great value at about 12$ for two! Hey Shane why only 4 stars then? While the place was as good as could be hoped, and We recommend a visit for everyone who likes good fries and tasty dipping sauces, we also think they need to prepare to compete for students a bit more. Shane’s had 3 flat screen TVs that I saw, all were off and all three were maybe 21″ models. I’m not looking a gift horse in the mouth, but Shane’s has a few student bars right in the plaza that is packing them in with big screens and buffets, so prepare to compete for that with some more decoration and eye candy. Tasty food, served on perfect Texas toast with fresh fries and all for the price of Wendy’s? Throw in friendly staff and a friendly owner and a very spaced out seating area that will work nicely for watching football games if they spring for bigger TV’s and you have a must try location for ribs. This pork stinks of our ‘pick of the Month for February’.