Shake Shack’s New Summer Menu, Reviewed by 2 Burger-Loving Food Editors

• What It Is: crinkle-cut fries spiced with hot pepper blend of cayenne, garlic and paprika, served with a side of Shack Ranch
• Price: $5.49

"The fries were tender, lightly crisp on the outside and evenly salted," Pire says, adding that "the spicy seasoning was very garlicky at first, but the tingly heat built up as I ate." This makes the buttermilk-heavy ranch a welcome cooldown. All in all, it's classic Shake Shack fare, but I honestly prefer the classic cheese fries. (Note: You can order these as Spicy Cheese Fries with Ranch—more on that in a sec.)

• What It Is: crinkle-cut fries spiced with hot pepper blend of cayenne, garlic and paprika and topped with cheese sauce, served with a side of Shack Ranch
• Price: $5.99

"Confession? I *love* cheese fries," Pire says. "Here, the cheese was savory, salty and evenly distributed (although only across the top). One thing I appreciate about Shake Shack’s cheese sauce is that it’s sort of the best of both worlds in the sense that it’s a sauce, but it’s not like, bowling-alley-snack-bar nacho cheese (I used to bartend at a bowling alley, so I’m deeply familiar). And once it sits, it delicately solidifies like sliced cheese would without turning hard and crusty. That said, I found the ranch to be a bit overkill."

• What It Is: vanilla frozen custard mixed with mango puree and passionfruit mini popping boba, topped with whipped cream and a mango puree drizzle
• Price: $7.99

In a vanilla/chocolate/strawberry milkshake world, Shake Shack's mango drink stands out. It's like a sweeter take on a Creamsicle, with the passionfruit boba offering an explosion of flavor. With each burst, it's like going from watching standard TV to HD. It's a fun, fruity escape from the ordinary that will have you dreaming of putting your PTO to use...preferably on an island.

• What It Is: cucumber and basil puree topped with sparkling Shack2O water
• Price: $4.49

When my cucumber-averse husband tried this drink, he was pleasantly surprised—it's so basil-forward that it plays up the cukes' vegetal quality. (I also let him join in on the tasting, for a third perspective.) The end result tastes more like a zippy mocktail than spa water, making it his favorite beverage of the bunch. To me, as someone who loves cucumbers for their crisp, refreshing quality, I wished more of that mellowness shone through and could do with a little less basil. But overall, it was a fun, effervescent (and not too sweet!) alternative to drinking soda or lemonade. (However, lemonade fans, you're not left out: Shake Shack's also offering a Strawberry Lemonade and Tropical Mango Lemonade this season.)

• What It Is: boneless baby back pork ribs topped with BBQ sauce, coleslaw and pickles on a toasted potato bun
• Price: $12.99

The McRib this isn't. The McRib could never, honestly. And with all due respect to the McRib, these are two very different sandwiches. Shake Shack's take feels restaurant-caliber. It features thick-cut, whole slabs of boneless rib meat (rather than a pressed, ground patty), fried in a light, tempura-like batter that offers a crackly crispness. The meat itself is incredibly tender, not chewy, though you may want to ask for the barbecue sauce on the side. In our case, it was only slathered on one side of the sandwich, so the first few bites were a bit dry. Coleslaw and pickles add creaminess and crunch, making this sandwich seem like the lightest of the bunch, even though it's a pretty hearty meal.

• What It Is: vanilla frozen custard, graham cracker, chocolate and toasted marshmallow fudge chunks, hand-spun and topped with whipped cream and s’more crumbles
• Price: $6.50

As a s'mores aficionado, I appreciated the mix of flavors here, especially the chocolatey, malty base. (Even Pire, who somehow doesn't like chocolate ice cream, appreciated this one.) The sweet, toasty marshmallow flavor comes through strongest, overpowering the chocolate a bit, but it still makes for a delightful shake. Just be sure to give it a good stir with your straw, as the marshmallow fudge chunks and chocolate pieces tend to slip to the bottom of the cup quickly.

• What It Is: vanilla frozen custard mixed with key lime pie curd and graham cracker crunch, topped with whipped cream and more graham cracker bits
• Price: $6.99

Upon first sip, my husband's and my reactions were unanimous: This is exactly like a liquid pie. And that's coming from two Floridians! Many key lime pie shakes get too sweet, or taste almost chemical-y in their limeness, closer to a lime Skittle than the real fruit. Perhaps it's the use of curd with the custard, but the tanginess really hits here, and the graham cracker bits offered just the right honey notes and crunch.

• What It Is: Cheddar and American cheese coating Cavatappi pasta, topped with toasted breadcrumbs
• Price: $5.99

Fast food mac can easily taste dry—or totally flavorless. Thankfully, neither is the case here. Shake Shack delivers on a velvety, ultra-thick and creamy sauce. While I could've gone for a sharper cheese flavor, it's a mellow complement to the rest of the menu's bolder bites. It easily became one of my favorite chain mac and cheeses (and yes, I've had—and love—Chick-Fil-A's).

• What It Is: Angus beef, American cheese, applewood smoked bacon, pickles, crispy onions and smoky BBQ sauce on a toasted potato bun
• Price: From $10.49

You can order this burger as a single or double patty. We tried it both ways, and honestly, there is no wrong answer. (Just bring your appetite; the double is a behemoth of a meal, and the meaty flavor overpowers the BBQ sauce and crispy onions, though it is delightfully cheesy.) Shake Shack's burger patties get a great sear and caramelization, which plays well with the smoky sauce and salty bacon. My only customization? I'd probably swap the crispy onions for lettuce, just to bring in a note of freshness. And extra pickles. Always extra pickles.

• What It Is: crispy white-meat chicken, American cheese, applewood smoked bacon, pickles, crispy onions and smoky BBQ sauce on a toasted potato bun
• Price: $10.49

Across the board, we loved how crunchy and acidic the thick-cut pickles are, and here, they play up the tangy notes in the barbecue sauce to an almost mustard-y degree. Shake Shack excels at making a juicy, impeccably breaded chicken sandwich, and in this case, that thick breading is crucial to stand up to the sauce; it doesn't get soggy or mushy. Bacon adds a smoky note here, but I almost didn't need it.