Crave Shack

Positive: One of the better halal burger joints I have eaten at. Try the Crave burger, Inferno burger, or Swiss burger with Crave fries!
Negative: Long wait times. Inferno burger is not as spicy as advertised. Milkshake was not that good.
Overall: Recommended for the burgers and the environment.

Poor Service
An illustration of how bad the service is here is that they took our order and we paid, then 15 mins later they came over and told us the chef was late and hadn’t arrived yet. While the complimentary iced teas were nice, taking an order for food without anyone in the building to cook it is really quite poor.
The next time we went by, all I ordered was a milkshake. When that took 10 minutes we decided this wasn’t a place we’d be coming back to again.

I had a strawberry shake here a while ago, and it was literally strawberry milk. The patrons were out of control, and the staff were kind of slow and out of it. I am not sure that I’d go back.

I frequent one of the hookah bars a few storefronts down and after passing by I had to try it one day. First experience my friend went in for the donut burger and I could tell immediately that the guy behind the register was high. His eyes were soo bloodshot. Note: if you’re going to get at work at least spend the $ 7 and buy visine so it isn’t obvious.
Anyways, I bought the Nacho Grande form here and it was absolutely awful. When I got it, it was cold. i went back and told the guy he served me cold food. He threw on the stove top for about 3 min and gave it back to me. I knew it would still be cold because he heated it from the bottom so only the nachos got warm and not the chili/​cheese that was on top. I just took it it and left and wont ever go back.
The guys who work there are idiots and the service was god awful. The fries aren’t bad though but I’d really rather take my money elsewhere altogether.

I give this place a two because I feel exactly «meh» about it.
Went last night, a Saturday, around midnight. Drinks had been consumed. Seemed like the perfect place.
My friend wanted chicken nuggets. They were out. Chicken strips? Out.
I got the chicken club which was seriously meh.
The fries are pretty good.
My other friend got the cheese fries. The cheese is kind of the gas-​station-​nacho ilk.
I may stop in here for a shake or fries late some night when every other place is closed. Other than under those circumstances, I wouldn’t recommend it.

Not sure if I should be allowed to review this place… since the first and only time i went was when i was drunk with my friends. I remember having the donut burger and fries and thinking i died and went to greasy food heaven.
I also remember the cashier seemed like he was seriously under the influence himself, which at the time didnt bother us at all, we actually found it funny. But i can see how that would be annoying if you walk in there sober.
I would go back, perhaps not drunk next time. update later?

Just discovered this place lately, they have great burgers & fries!
3 of us ordered Inferno & Swiss room & Crave burgers.
Also their «crave deal” — you can choose french fries/​crave fries/​shakes/​soda…, to make it combo.
And we had their homemade crave fries which was cheesy and flavorful!
Will definitely come back for more!
The best in town.

Having passed by the place numerous times and hearing good things from friends, i finally had the chance to try it out for myself tonight!!!
The menu is fully loaded from hot dogs to chili, and from wings to the sandwiches and burgers, along with numerous shakes and drink options. After reading the menu, even with my new lifestyle change, i wanted to try it all…
Between my party, we tried several things and the two favorites that stood out for me were the Inferno Crave Burger, Buffalo Chicken Sandwich, and the chili cheese fries. i was expecting the inferno to burn my mouth, but it did not, so even the weaklings can give it a try to test their limits.
The food was delicious and the fresh ingredients amplified the taste in each bite, AND it is definitely a better choice when compared to the fast food choices around. The prices are adequate for the portion size
Next time, i do want to try the crave doughnut burger, which has a lot of people talking…
On a final note, the place is clean and decorated decently to give it a 50’s diner aura, meanwhile the food is great. So, if you happen to be in the Astoria neighborhood, check it out…

Looking for a snack in Queens can be a challenge at times. If you have buddy also that can only eat Halal food, it adds to the challenge. But lucky for some, there is at least one place where you eat something else besides vegetarian, kabobs, or chicken and rice. Will this ferret be disappointed of a substandard imitation of this city’s classic items or find a good replacements.
Crave fries at this space is basically fries with a tangy sauce. The fries were crisp and well salted. I am not 100% sure what the sauce is but it reminded me of an IN and Out animal style type sauce. Not the same but reminds me of it.
The Doughnut bun bacon cheese burger, a interesting concoction which I had enjoyed. Many foodies call this burger a Luther Burger, after Luther Vandross. Since this is a Halal place, they used turkey bacon. Turkey Bacon I am not too fond of it in general compared to regular bacon, but in this sandwich the saltiness is needed. I don’t recommend excluding the turkey bacon even if you do don’t like it normally. The doughnut was prepared by being cut in half and grilled, sweetness on the inside of the sandwich, I believe also this doughnut is a Glazed Dun-​kin Doughnut, not a Krispy Kreme. The sweet and saltiness worked well, similar to a McGriddle cake. Yeah, don’t judge me.
Note: Krispy Kreme doughnuts are Halal, but hard to find in New York these days, «Alcohols used as a carrier for food colorings and flavorings are permissible as long as they are not sourced from dates or grapes.»
I had also tasted a regular cheese burger and it was an average burger. It wasn’t as good as a shake shack burger, but better than a Fast Food Chain burger. The lettuce and tomatoes were fresh and still crisp.
We had two flavors with the wings, Mango and Fiery. The fiery were spicy but nothing crazy and over powering. They are good for people who enjoy a spicy kick. The Mango flavor was sweet and very mellow, I would say this is a bit spicier than ketchup. The meat was of good quality and was moist on the inside.
Nachos with chili cheese, were good, there was nothing very unique about them compared to others. But since it is a Halal place, this place makes it possible to try something like this.
The shakes here are slightly looser than I normally preferred. The taste of the shake was fine but it was not heavy and thick as I have grown accustomed to. It was very easy to drink through a straw. Some people actually prefer it this way, I do not.

If one business in Astoria could burn down, I hope it’s this one.
An hour and a half for delivery. A fucking hour and a half for delivery. Was told my address was confusing on the phone. It isn’t. And once the delivery came, they had no change. And then was told it was my fault the delivery was late because I didn’t tell the guy on the phone my information twice. Because these pricks don’t speak english, it’s my fault.
Jesus H Chris I hate this place. Shit food and what the fuck, an hour and a half, and then am told it’s my fault?
Hopefully the delivery guy came back to a burnt husk of a store front. I’ve been drinking.

This place is THE WORST. They should be ashamed and embarrassed, and it’s a shock to me that they are in business at all.
We ordered our food for delivery. It took 10 minutes just to do that; the idiot on the line couldn’t seem to understand ANYTHING we were saying. He also didn’t know his own menu, as the concept of a root beer float utterly baffled him, despite its being on the menu.
We waited an hour, and the food didn’t show up. I called, and the guy had no clue that I’d even ordered! He then said, «Oh yeah, it’s coming, just wait 10 minutes!» 10 minutes passed, no food. I called back. He said «Oh, I don’t know where it is, our delivery man doesn’t have a phone, sorry!» A full 20 minutes after that, I look outside and see a guy ringing every doorbell on our street, trying to figure out which apartment was ours (despite the fact that we’d given them our exact address and apartment number.) I’d already ordered from another restaurant, and refused the Crave Shack delivery. I called Crave Shack and told them I was sending their guy back to them w/​the food, that I wasn’t paying, and would never order from them again. He didn’t seem surprised or apologetic at all.
In short, Crave Shack is the absolute worst of the worst in terms of customer service and promptness. They are discourteous, awful communicators who lack a knowledge of their menu, their delivery service takes forever (about 2 hours,) and they have no concern for their customers. No such restaurant deserves your business (or any business,) and I really am shocked they are still around, but suspect they probably won’t be around for much longer, at this rate.

The Good:
The Donut Burger (Crave Burger) is the best greasy unique burger I have had. Never would have thought I would like a burger mixed with a donut, but now I have a hard time to resist when passing by. The fries and wings are really good also. Wouldn’t recommend having it often due to health reason, but everyone should try it at least once.
The Average:
The people working there aren’t the most competent, but they are friendly. The place is kept clean and the décor is different then the common theme in the area.
The Bad:
It is expensive for a burger shop, especially for the area. With a Crave Burger alone being more then $ 6.00, a filling meal for 2 have come up to almost $ 30+ for 2 burgers, cheese fries, wings, and drinks. With other great food stops in the area, including my favorite Gyro stand on the corner of Steinway and 34^th St. that will fill you up for half the price, it’s hard to make this a regular joint. They definitely need to lower prices to compete.

Doughnut buger sounds gross but to each their own…
Anyway. Ordered take-​out. I didn’t mind the wait. Your order is made to order and the kitchen is out in the open so you can watch them making your meal. The staff was friendly but the service was a bit slow since the person who took my order was also the one who made it and rang me up.
I got home and the burgers were SMALL. They look like their four ounces and something on a dollar menu somewhere.
So after spending $ 25+ we were all left with a greasy after taste and yet still hungry!

The sign really enticed me as it is so simple a concept… burgers, shakes, fries… how simple.
I am not a big fan of the design inside, mostly high tables with stools that look as comfortable as a crammed seat on the 7 train.
The food also left a lot to be desired. I just had a different expectation level when I went in there than the food I receicved. The burger was really nothing special and the fries were not any better.
The shake I had was not thick at all and was a disappointment in my eyes.

They had me at «donut burger.» And man, it did not disappoint. Unfortunately, some other aspects of Crave Shack did. All in all, it’s absolutely worth a try and I’m sure I’ll be back for another helping soon.
THE GOOD
* That aforementioned mad-​genius concoction of fat, sugar, and heaven: the Donut Burger. The glazed donut «bun» is sliced in half and then turned inside out, so the gooey glaze stays off your fingers while still contributing flavor, and the cut edges are lightly grilled for a crispy finish. The bacon was perfectly cooked, as was the burger patty. I haven’t had many better burgers.
* I’m not much of a fry person, but I wouldn’t be able to pass on Crave Shack’s. I’m surprised at other reviewer’s claims of unfresh, cold fries. Ours were straight out of the frier and the freshest I’ve ever tasted. Almost as crispy as a potato chip on the outside but still perfectly chewy on the inside.
*The interior is clean and bright and there’s plenty of seating.
THE BAD
* Unfortunately, one of the things I was so disappointed by was one of the things I’d expected they’d do best: the shakes! We ordered an Oreo shake, mostly to dip our fries in. It barely qualified as a smoothie. The consistency was just slightly thicker than milk, like a special flavor of Yoohoo you’d find at a convenience store. And for $ 4.75, that really burned. It was really a shame to find an otherwise great burger joint that couldn’t make a complementary shake.
* The service left something to be desired. We were the only customers on an early Friday night. The two employees seemed dazed, and they both completely disappeared after our order was placed. One finally emerged from the employee’s entrance to take a dinner break. Our burger and fries came after about 15 minutes. A bit long, but not really complaint-​worthy for fresh food. Strange thing was that our shake finally came out almost 10 minutes later, and for that time there was no one at the counter to ask about the wait. In general, the service was just strange and a bit alienating.
* Prices are a little high for the area and for the portion size.
Like I said, I’ll definitely be back to Crave Shack on the basis of the Donut Burger alone, but I hope they’ll improve in a few areas so they can establish a strong following in the neighborhood.

I’m writing this review with a unique perspective because I’m a vegetarian who willingly took myself to an Astoria burger joint. I had one of their crave meals with a veggie burger instead of a regular one.
My fries were great. Good, crispy and drenched in junky cheese and «crave sauce» (thousand island). My Oreo Shake was excellent and definitely a reason to go back.
However, my veggie burger was one of those cheap, terrible falling apart veggie burger patties with like, canned peas and carrots in it. Egggh. I also asked for American cheese on the burger and got a slice of mozzarella instead that did not go well with the burger. Also, the burger in no way fit the bun and was very hard to eat. Disappointing.
The people there were very nice and took my suggestion of adding a portobello mushroom mushroom burger to their menu. If they do indeed add one, I’d be happy to give this place another try. I bet their star rating would go up significantly.

The food was a solid 3*s; the cheap prices and great courteous service garner Crave Shack an additional *.
I ordered the Crave burger meal. The Crave burger had cheese and the special Crave sauce (it’s like 1000 island dressing). I would have liked my burger better if the bun had been toasted and if the cheese had been more melted.
The fries are crispy deliciousness. They coat their fries with starch, so the fries are extra crispy.
The Crave burger, fries, and Coke was about $ 7.50. Definitely quite cheap. A good price for good food.
Bareburger serves a better burger, but I’d be paying double for the price. When I’m in the mood for really good food to indulge myself, then Bareburger is it. When I need a quick good bite to eat, Crave Shack meets the craving.

I’m not much of a hamburger person, but the food here is a solid choice.
They have a few options for us non-​hamburger people, ranging from chicken sammich to grilled cheese and more. I had a grilled cheese, and well, it was toasted bread and melted cheese! Hard to mess up, really.
I also saw the donut burger in person. It’s much smaller than I imagined, but I was assured that it was delicious. It’s not big enough to cause a heart attack, but not too small that you won’t be full.
The fries were hot and cooked. Add your own seasonings!
They also have a selection of sauces for dipping purposes (or any other sauce-​based purpose — use your imagination!). A ketchup, a couple mustards, nothing amazing. The drink selection is likewise expected.
The inside décor is clean and bright. I don’t understand why every single place needs to have TVs everywhere AND blaring music, but it seems to be a theme. A little distracting if you are going to stay and eat.
All and all, a good place to chill with a group of friends and get some basic comfort food.

The Crave Shack has brought the burger back to Queens for me!
I had stopped eating burgers altogether after being served a greasy, bland disgrace one too many times. My love affair was rekindled after I began going to The Shake Shack. I thought I had to commute into Manhattan and stand in line for an hour and a half to be able to have what I consider to be a phenomenal burger.
With the opening of the Crave Shack, those days are over. A good friend showed me the way and took me here. I was skeptical. The overly bright sign and slightly retro décor was something I’d seen before. They were usually accompanied by sub par meat on a tasteless bun and not much else. But, this wasn’t the case at all.
Their burgers are amazing. I had the inferno burger, which I can best describe as juicy deliciousness atop a pillowy potato bun topped with some of the freshest lettuce, tomatoes and jalapenos you’ve ever seen. A dollop of their inferno sauce provided more additional flavor than heat, but complimented everything nicely.
I had the opportunity to try their fries and wings, both of which were very good but somewhat overshadowed by the amazing burgers they serve up. Their menu also features hot dogs, nachos, shakes, and a variety of other sandwiches and appetizers for those who aren’t in a burger mood. My friends were quick to vouch for anything on the menu with crave sauce, which I think is a mayo based condiment best likened to McDonald’s special sauce.
They offer sliders and ¼ pound burgers as well as an imposing 1 pound monstrosity that my boyfriend actually ordered. It was far larger than expected and he ended up sharing it three way so he’d have enough room to finish the rest of his food. Upon seeing a burger that size, he thought he’d be sacrificing on taste but that wasn’t the case — it was just as satisfying and delicious as mine.
Burger lovers of Queens: heed my call! If a carnivorous craving hits, and you don’t feel like leaving the borough or standing in line for half the evening, come to the Crave Shack! I still love the Shake Shack, but this is definitely just as good.
Side Note: You might not be able to tell from their menu or their discreet sign, but this place is 100% halal. However the burgers are 100% American style, without any added spices or flavorings.

In one word. Delightful. We got word of a certain item on their menu. The Crave Dough-​You-​Nut. For years I’ve heard rumors of a burger with a donut bun, and this place had one. I had to try it.
Upon entering I immediately felt a sense of familiarity. It was well designed and very clean. You can tell a lot of thought went into making this place. Combining a fast food joint and a diner type of feel, it was obvious this place was made with take-​out or a cozy sit down in mind.
So I went up to the counter and the young man who took my order was very pleasant and informative. I ordered the burger with the Crave Fries and a Chocolate Shake.
DELICIOUS. I could not believe what I was tasting. Something that was originally just a curiosity was immediately scarfed down. This place is definitely now on my frequent late night snack hole list. The fries were exactly how I like them, and the Crave sauce is delicious.
Chocolate shake made with Ghiradelli chocolate? Yep. This place reeled me in nicely.
Considering they are open till 2am, (Even on Sundays!) I now will think twice before I head over to White Castle. Crave Shack is way tastier and did not leave me feeling awful afterwards.
Great job and good luck! You will definitely be seeing more of me!