As a general rule of society, when a chef of Danny Meyer's caliber opens a hot dog stand, mankind's responsibility is to go and queue and go and queue until the hot dog stand becomes the city's most popular hamburger stand, and consequently becomes strong and mighty, expanding into to other cities where even more hungry, beef-loving people can enjoy the good stuff at a great price, too.
Fortunately for us Miamians, we long-notorious layabouts, New Yorkers did all the hard part by incubating the O.G. shack in Madison Square. And now we have our second Shake Shack opening this weekend in Coral Gables, just across from The U.
(Story continues below.)
On The Menu: Shake Shack Coral Gables
Yep, no more long haul to Lincoln Road for sub-395'ers. The joint -- which is the largest-ever Shake Shack, and only the second in Florida -- will open Sunday, July 15 in the former Smoke't location on South Dixie Highway. Built with sustainable materials, including tabletops from reclaimed bowling alley lanes and wooden counter seating made from reclaimed river cypress, the patty palace is big and cool with a long row of windows that open onto a wide front patio seating another 60 people (in fact, the architects actually cut into the building to carve out outdoor space).
What sets Shake Shack apart goes beyond its clean design: the boutique chain sources top-notch ingredients, boasts a menu completely free of artificial trans fats, offsets 100 percent of its electric usage through Renewable Energy Certificates, builds with sustainable woods when possible, composts all of its kitchen waste, and donates 5 percent of sales from the Coral Crisp custard to the Miami Children's Hospital Foundation. Checkmate, other burger joints!
But of course, the menu's the most important thing to a foodie. Prepare to get hungry: SS Coral Gables not only carries the usual tried-and-true Shackbuger, hot dogs, and fries, but will launch with the newest creation, the Smokeshack (Niman ranch apple-wood smoked bacon with chopped cherry peppers and cheese), and three Gables-specific frozen custard "concretes," each with a South Florida flavor twist.
Also along for the ride: the Key Lime Pie concrete that was previously only available on Lincoln Road. Click through photos above to see what you're missing -- but only until Sunday! -- and check out images from opening night below, courtesy Jipsy.
