From coast to coast, smash burgers are winning hearts with their seared edges and juicy interiors. This year, Mercer students and faculty alike are able to try the Fresh Food Company’s newly spun version of them right in the caf. Many are lining up to get a taste, but are the burgers even worth it?
According to Sukumar Paidi '28, not so much. “The patty is way too thick to be a smash burger and it’s not crispy like you’d expect. The meat is all right but kind of thrown together," Paidi said.
And what was the rating out of 10? "5/10" came the response from the sophomore food critic.
Other students have sung its praises, most notably, myself. The burgers are not as bad as Paidi claimed. The seasoning is solid and I enjoyed the fresh ground beef, rather than the pre-packed patties that were served before. yet I do have to agree that it is not really a smash burger, at least in the traditional sense. Instead, it is Mercer's take on a classic.
Another difference between today's "Grizzly Grill" concoction and what was served last year is the time it takes for each individual patty to be cooked. While lines were not unusual, they seemed to move faster during peak lunch and dinner hours then than they do now. During non-rush hours, lines are manageable, but there have been times when the wait was not worth it.
Griffin Xu '28 is a biology and journalism double major and first-year staff writer for The Cluster. In his free time he enjoys reading and spending time with his friends.
