Place: Five Guys Burgers and Fries

Location: Puyallup

River Road: And Meridian

Dubbed: Five Guys Calories and Fries

By: Mr. DeRosa

I've done a damn fine job staying away from my beloved bacon cheeseburger the last three months.  It's been a challenge, but very worth it. 

I was doing just fine passing by Quick Pick on a daily basis. And I've substituted ground turkey breast on those rare occasions when hamburger-type cravings have struck. 

I was doing ... just ... fine.

Until Five Guys Burgers and Fries moved to town.

Those bastards. All five of them. Bastards!

With my will power was shrinking with every passing moment, I knew it was only a matter of time until my cravings got the best of me and I succumbed to the awesome macerated beef goodness. To rationalize, I convinced myself that there was a small, barely possible chance that the "Five Guys" part of the newly opened FGBF in Puyallup referred to the five members of N'Sync, thus creating a need to visit.

With this tiny glimmer of pop culture hope, there was no way I could pass up the chance to investigate FGBF in Puyallup.  I immediately envisioned Justin Timberlake sweating profusely over a deep fryer wearing a red apron and nothing else.  Mmmmmm.

Much to my dismay, neither Timberlake nor any other members of the greatest boy band from 1995-2005 were behind the counter at Five Guys Burgers and Fries upon my visit last week. I asked to see the manager, Tim Metzger, who confirmed the sad fact that N'Sync are not the "five guys" in question.

It certainly didn't take long to get me out of my N'Sync slump after tasting a FGBF bacon cheeseburger, however. Two 3.6-ounce, hand-formed patties are given a blanket of fresh veggies and dressings and enveloped in a very special bun - a bun Franz bakeries makes especially for FGBF.  You can order the toppings as "Everything" or "All The Way."  The latter includes goodies like hot sauce and jalapenos. 

Hand-cut French fries from local potato farms are fresh (and given a "Five Guys style" or "Cajun style" treatment - your choice). Hell, FGBF even posts a sign indicating what farm the day's fresh potatoes come from.

N'Sync or not, FGBF is by far one of the best burger experiences I've ever had.  Because, you know, any boy can open up a burger joint, but it takes five of them to make a good boy band.

[Five Guys Burgers and Fries, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., daily, 1002 N. Meridian, Puyallup, 253.446.6183]