Some Shake Shack locations are now featuring the Smoke Shack, a $6.25 bacon cheeseburger with cherry pepper relish, bacon from Niman Ranch, and Shack Sauce. The burger is still living on the “Today’s Special” board, so don’t look for it on the large official menu. GrubStreet and A Hamburger Today posted earlier this week that the Smoke Shack is only available at the Madison Square Park and Upper East Side locations, so I hit up the park, because — of course — I had to get my hands on one asap! And, I can confirm this is one tasty burger.

I have bought Niman Ranch bacon before, and it is of very high quality. There was two very long pieces of bacon folded diagonally to cross each other on the burger. One piece was so crispy that it broke with just a little pressure from my fingers. The second piece was softer and didn’t break. My preference is very crispy bacon, so I hope they work on this in the coming weeks to be consistent and crispy. The Shack Sauce is what it is, basically a glorified Thousand Island Dressing, like it or hate it. What I found the most interesting was the cherry pepper relish. It provides spiciness, tartness and a slight chill that counterbalances the grease and gooeyness of the melted cheese, sauce and oozing burger. This balance is why pickled jalapenos are sometimes added to burgers, but this was soooo much better.

Union Square Hospitality Group confirmed the Smoke Shack’s limited release (sorry, ML’ers!), but they did say that due to overwhelming response (uhhh…duh! It is a bacon cheeseburger!), they will be releasing it to other locations later in the summer. We will be sure to keep you updated whenever that happens.

When’s the last time THE New York Times restaurant review also qualified as a Midtown Lunch? Apparently, Pete Wells has discovered Shake Shack and awarded it one star in today’s dining section. I can’t decide of it’s badass or just bizarre to review it … now. While Mr. Wells was “never let down by the hot dogs,” he was brutal when it came to their fries, calling them “pretty awful,” among other things. But for the main event, the burgers, he found the doneness unpredictable. “Shake Shack wasn’t even consistently inconsistent,” he wrote when two patties in the same sandwich were cooked differently. We are certainly fans of Shake Shack on this blog, but it’s hard to defend the place when Mr. Wells isn’t exactly wrong. Sure, I’ve had inconsistently cooked food from Shake Shack, but when you get a really good Shack burger … it’s just SO GOOD.

But even stranger might have been the companion blog piece comparing seven other NYC burgers to the Shack, including several from Midtown. He bestowed favorable words to both the signature burger from Steak N’ Shake and Schnipper’s Quality Kitchen’s burger while mentioning that Bill’s Bar & Burger was greasy. True. But the fact that Mr. Wells didn’t even address Five Guys or Burger Joint at all is pretty inexcusable.  What do you guys think?

Shake Shack is kicking off their annual 4th of July celebration early with Corn Dogs ($4.50) and their special Blueberry Pie-Oh-My concrete ($6.50). Their Corn Dogs, which feature Vienna dogs dipped in housemade batter, deep-fried w/Corn Relish, only come around a few times a year and they’re serving them at all Shacks (except Madison Sq, sorry Flatiron!) today through Monday. Unfortunately the Corn Dog plus concrete will take you a buck over the ML, but as a pie concrete fan (blend a pie slice with custard), I’d wager it’s worth the splurge.

Shake Shack, 691 8th Ave. (on 44th Street), 646-435-0135

These past few weeks of Lent I’ve been giving recs for fish lunches for those who are observing and eschewing meat. Fried fish sandwiches are always a popular option and the new Shark and Bake sandwich from Trini Paki looks like a good option if you’re able to get there early, but what if you don’t like fish? Enter my go-to meatless option at the Shake Shack: The ‘Shroom Burger.

If you like portobello mushrooms this is a veggie burger alternative worth checking out. The ‘Shroom burger ($6.50) consists of a panko breaded and fried portobello filled with melted muenster and cheddar cheese, topped with lettuce, tomato and shacksauce on Shake Shacks soft rolls. The mushroom is crisp and that first bite yields a wonderfully melty cheese goo center. Pair this with an order of their custard of the day (it’s Fluffernutter, today!) and you won’t miss the fish.

Not feeling a fried sandwich? Fill up with a bowl of meatless ramen at Menchanko Tei or Oms/B.

Shake Shack Theater District, 44th St. and 8th Ave

Photo courtesy of speedygo