Shake Shack

Famed restaurateur Danny Meyer opened the Shake Shack as a novel way to bring high quality summer food (burgers, fries, hot dogs, shakes) to the masses. The burgers are juicy and come on a great bun; the fries are crisp and tasty; and the caramel shakes and coffee shakes are especially delicious. Quality has its price; obviously Danny Meyer does not create McDonalds-style fast food. The seating can be incredibly pleasant or tedious; it depends entirely on who is dining in your proximity. Beer and wine are also available.

Although it has been a tremendous success, it can take up to 20 minutes to get through the line during the busy summer lunch rush. Recommendation: Go at an off-peak time, such as 11:45 a.m. or 2 p.m. on a weekday, or on a Saturday. And if you are especially bored at your nearby office or you just fear having to wait in a long line, check out the Shake Shack Cam to see how many people are waiting.