[Psyko Tek]

Originally Posted by Stewie

A better burger? Smashburger coming to area


One of the nation’s hottest restaurant concepts is coming to the area.

Denver-based Smashburger said Monday it plans to open locations in Lawrence in spring 2010, Overland Park in the summer of 2010 and in Westport. No date has been set for a Westport opening.

The operations offer “cooked-to-order” burgers, 100 percent Angus beef (1/3 or ½ pound), smashed (thus the name), seared and seasoned on the grill, put between a butter-toasted bun and then topped with such items as cheese, fresh produce and condiments.

Customers can order from one of the chain’s recipes or they can create their own. Also on the menu — chicken sandwiches, salads, haystack onions, Häagen-Dazs shakes, bottled beer and wine. Average check price is $7.95.

This so called “better burger” segment of the industry is expected to capture a growing portion of the $100 billion hamburger category, according to Nation’s Restaurant News, a national trade publication.

Local operations like Blanc Burgers + Bottles and Chefburger also have jumped on the trend. Blanc currently has a Westport location so could be going head-to-head with Smashburger.

Smashburger, which currently has 27 operations, was recently named one of five “2009 Hot Concept Winners” by Nation’s Restaurant News with average annual sales at about $1.3 million per location and a new location opening every other week.

tried it last weekend
not a big fan
ranks less than
my grill
what a burger
in an'out
jack in the box ultimate cheese burger