Who expects a good burger at a fair? We went to the amazing Chinese Lantern Festival and there were a few food choices. The boys opted for burgers and dogs. They flipped (get it?!) for the burgers, and it was easy to see why! These burgers were juicy and tasty! They boasted my favorite salad dressing too - Thousand Island. IDK if these grounds are open year round or Square Burger was just here for the festival? I definitely will see if they are a chain and, if so, where is the closest one to our home!!! Yummmmmmmm!!! read more

SquareBurger - my son getting down on his "Ben Burger" (7/23/23) - American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Lights festival was great but don't eat here After 45 minute wait ordered 2 lemonade and a Big Ben burger. Should have been 18 bucks plus gave 3 tip so 21 Charged me 29 dollars. 15 minute wait after order for Big Ben Burger that came with nothing on it and was awful burger. That and lemonade tasted like country time mix. Staff not very good English but they do know how to manipulate cash register.Complete rip off so avoid if at all possible read more

Sunday afternoon visit on June 28, 2026. Cashier girl was very rude and couldn't be pried away from her precious cell phone while I tried to place an order. Super slow service despite being one of only two customers at that time. read more

Anybody out there been here within the LAST 10 years??? I did get a burger and milkshake last year (2025). Starr isn't still running the place They were both-well-lower level OK. Definite comedown from earlier times when the wait was sort of worth it. Since it's the "only game in town" except for the during the Chinese Lantern Fest I guess they do alright. But I do miss the tasty originals! read more

Orders a small ice cream and they barely gave half a scoop! Charged so much for nothing. Will never go here. Service is terrible too

Cute little spot in the park. They stay busy so they will most likely run out of things. I also find it kinda pricey but they can do that because of their location. Wait times can be long but I know they are doing the best they can with the space that they have. The employees are awesome! read more

Walking through Philly with my friend and I noticed that we were passing "Franklin Square Park" so I told him to stop because I heard of this spot from yelp and I had to expierence it. As I approach the kiosk I see the staff cleaning up, looking like they were ready to go home. I look at my watch and notice that it's 5:56 and they close at 6. So instead of being "That Customer" I asked them when they would be re-opening, to which they told me, "It's not problem man go ahead and order something if you want it you still have time." Now THAT'S customer service! I was impressed because I know if I was in their shoes I probably wouldn't have been so nice. I noticed that their milkshake of the month was "Blueberry cobbler" so I ordered one. It was seriously the best milkshake I've had. Better than anything CookOut or Sonic produces in HR. I let my friend grab a taste and he agreed. I can't speak on their food, but If you're in Philly do yourself a favor and grab a milkshake from SquareBurger. read more

SquareBurger - Blueberry cobbler milkshake. Seriously the best milkshake I've ever had. - American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

By no means will this place knock your socks off with a gourmet burger, but it really fits nicely into the park. They serve a cheeseburgers and veggie burgers which actually aren't too bad to grab a quick bite. They make a mean hurricane soft serve ice cream. You can also get other standards with pretzels and nachos. Prices are reasonable as well. Worth a try if you are in the park. read more

SquareBurger - Vanilla soft serve blizzard packed with Oreos. Yum. - American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Cake shake, and the out door ambience. These are the two best things about Square Burger for those like me who want the bottom line up front. I dont like writing detailed reviews on popular places because we're all pretty much rehasing the same thing 100x over. The burgers get a 3 stars- decent but nothing to write home about, and a little small for the price. The Philly Dog is notch above that. Bottom line, its a nice and peaceful place to sit outside on a great day. All locals must try the Cake Shake at least once. read more

SquareBurger - 3 shades of Win - American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Who knew that an unassuming burger cart in the middle of Franklin Square could be so delicious?! We stopped by Franklin Square to see the holiday village and juicy hamburgers atop brioche buns were exactly what we needed to warm us up! The fries were also salty fried goodness! The ingredients tasted fresh, not frozen and the price of $7 / burger was much less than i expected for a stand at a park (which can be so overpriced!) Who needs hot chocolate around Christmas when you can warm up with a burger?! read more

I like that there is a place like this in franklin square it's convenient. But today was my second time coming tand wanted to order a shake but both times they were either out of milk or not available for shakes. I get that it's easy to run out of things on nice weather days in a park setting but it wasn't even midday and when it's nice weather wouldn't you think they'd stock up a bit more? They are known for their shakes. Disappointed in that but decided to get a hot dog with chili and cheese on it. It was pretty good! But none the less would have been nice to have a cold shake in hand as well. Hopefully next time I catch them on a stocked day. read more

SquareBurger - A hot dog with cili and cheese - American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Went during lunch today with some co-workers, and I have to say, I was disappointed. The prices are great, and I didn't mind the small portion size. But I expected something more inventive and unique from a Stephen Starr restaurant. If they're going for simplicity, then every element should be absolutely perfect. My overall reaction was "meh." (However! The shakes are very tasty.) read more

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Tasty Burger, no frills but good, and a hot dog cooked on a grill, both with toasted potato rolls. The Tastycake Shake was excellent very sweet, and probably a ton of calories. Nice to sit in the park next to the fountain, and enjoy some tasty burgers. The fries were very crisp but a little over salted. read more

SquareBurger - Hot Dog,Hamburger and Fries - American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Since I was in need of a decent slice of Parklife and a killer milkshake, I decided to put the two together while grabbing a solid burger in the process. And for all of the above SquareBurger was the perfect destination. Franklin Square is already perfect with its people watching, min golf, carousel, and then some. But the fact that you get grab a tasty burger or hot dog with a Stephen Starr twist, and an easy contender for one of the best milkshakes in Philly makes it even better. While I was ready to grab the Cake Shake that everyone speaks so highly of, I was instantly drawn to the shake of the month option which was Salted Caramel Pretzel. It was the perfect blend of sweet and salty combined with vanilla ice cream and chunks of pretzel that was to die for. Whether you go classic or veggie the burgers are char grilled to perfection. But its hip to be square and get the SquareBurger with its chopped pickles, onions, and American cheese and go with a double patty. Or you could screw that and get the all beef Philly Dog that's wrapped in kosher salami that comes with cherry peppers and plum tomatoes. Eitherway you get the perfect lunch for people watching before you school someone in mini golf. read more

Reviews be damned I went down to check this place out for myself and I'll have to say I think a lot of you yelpers are either too harsh or need to head back there. I ordered a cheese burger with fries and a large drink which came out to less than $7 which was pretty cheap in my opinion. The staff was a little disorganized but I think that's to be expected when you're just starting up. There was a group in front of me so it did take about 10 minutes or so to get my order. They were very friendly though and aware of the wait. The head chef gave the guy in front of me an order of free fries for having to wait a bit. The burger was really good, juicy and not overcooked. If for some reason you like your burger cooked well done, I'd probably let them know. Good roll and lots of toppings. The burger was smaller in circumference but thicker than I expected so it was of adequate size in my opinion. The fries were very good as well. Thin cut and crispy, no need for ketchup, the true sign of a good fry. There were plenty for me so I'd have to imagine the reviewer that thought there weren't enough probably orders the super size at McDonald's. If you're eating at the picnic tables, beware of the birds. There was this little one that wouldn't leave me alone trying to get at my fries. They know no fear and are very persistent. It came so close I could probably have picked it up and it took so much for me to shoo them away you might have to do just that to keep them from stealing your food. read more

SquareBurger - This bird would not leave me alone - American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I moved practically caddy-corner from Franklin Square the beginning of December 2011 and walked past this empty little spot dozens of times waiting for it to open for the season. It was worth the wait. I ordered the Orange Creamsicle shake and while I was paying decided to go for the namesake burger as well. The shake brought back childhood memories of having sticky goo all over my face with the taste of orange and cream lingering on my palette. The burger looked small but was actually the perfect size for a warmer than usual spring day. I have been to several parks that had snack bars on location and the food and prices were on par with the gourmet dining one would find at the local Movieplex. Square Burger was a refreshing reprieve. Having a delicious shake and burger adjacent to the fountain watching people at play at the mini-golf or the carousel is a welcome bit of relaxation. read more

Squareburger... still up to their old tricks, I'm a fan. For a burger shack in the middle of Franklin Park, you can find yourself a pretty damn good burger. I've yet to get a tasty cake shake this season. But their burgers are still definitely up to par. Extra pickles please! read more

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In the heart of Franklin Square, Stephen Starr caters to those craving an all-American menu - burgers, hotdogs, and fries. Despite being a corporate juggernaut, SquareBurger highlights the fact that Starr knows how to please pedestrian palates as well - not necessarily a bad thing when it's done right, and at affordable prices to boot! On a recent weekend afternoon, the GF and I set out for Franklin Square. We got in line, which was already packed with parents bringing their kids out for some minigolf, a ride on the Merry Go 'Round, and of course, some burgers and fries. SquareBurger [$4.75 x2] American cheese, pickle, onion, ketchup, mustard As they should be, these burgers are grilled on the flattop, creating a nice, salty crust, with a juicy interior. The potato rolls were nice and pliant, housing a melange of cheese, pickle, onions, and the requisite condiments. Nothing fancy, but a great bite nonetheless. Interested in a double SquareBurger? It's $2 more. The Philly Dog [$4] All beef hot dog wrapped in salami, onion, cherry peppers, plum tomatoes, mustard The Philly Dog was a nice twist on the typical hotdog. Wrapped in thin salami, the all-beef hotdog still had great snap, with an extra salty emphasis from the salami. The vinegary cherry peppers offered a countervailing acidity to each bite - somewhat reminiscent of a Shake Shack's SmokeStack. Crinkle Cut Fries [$2.50] The crinkle-cut fries are done right. Crispy and salty on the outside, and creamy within. Now that Shake Shack is done with the crinkle-cut variety, SquareBurger may be the place in Philly to get your crinkle-cut fix. SquareBurger offers American tastes in the heart of Philadelphia, without any unnecessary frills or price gouging. Now that summer is here - what better way to spend your weekend afternoons? read more

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I love the idea and the quality is there, but what you get for the money is just not good enough. I'll pass next time. read more

SquareBurger - Squareburger! Not so square actually! - American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I live near Franklin Square park, and every time I have been there or walked past it, I have thought about trying Squareburger. Since its a seasonal restaurant, that limits the amount of time you have to try it. We needed to figure something out for dinner on Friday evening before heading down the shore, so I suggested we walk up and finally give it a try. We ordered a burger each, split and order of fries and split a cake shake as well. We grabbed a seat at a nearby picnic table and waited for the food to be ready. It took an inordinate amount of time to prepare our food considering we were the only people there. There was no line and there was no one else eating there, but it still took a good twenty minutes to prepare our food, which for most places isnt a big deal, but at a hamburger stand, especially one that isnt busy, its an issue. When we finally did get our food, we were constantly annoyed by the birds and squirrels in the park. This has nothing to do with the restaurant's rating, just a side bar so you know what to expect. They will climb on the table while you are sitting there eating and they will not move when shooed away. You have to be very aggressive with them. The burgers were thin, placed on a potato roll that was toasted, and topped with cheese, chopped onions and pickles and a healthy serving of mustard and ketchup. Good solid burger. Wish it was a little meatier, but toppings were spot on and simple. Fries were ridiculously hot and cooked well, but expected hand cut fries from a Starr operation. The shake was outstanding. One of the best milkshakes I have had anywhere. They left the krimpets just chunky enough so that you got pieces of icing and cake in your sips of milkshake. It was heaven in a glass. I thought the prices were very affordable. Was it the best hamburger I have ever had? No. Was it worth it for the price, yes I believe so. The damn kake shake is fantastic. Definitely worth a visit! read more

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We ordered the burger of the month (western) and a veggie burger. $23. Waited... And waited... And waited.... 20 mins later we noticed other people got their food. I went up and asked and they never even cooked my order! I was pissed and ready to hit that 1 star button. But the manager was professional. Cooked it immediately, apologized and gave us complimentary mozzarella sticks. read more

A very smart place to open a food joint. With the playground filled with kids using up their energy, burger, hot dogs & fries are what they will be demanding. I don't remember ever having the burgers here but I use to love the thin cut fries that came in a cup. Then I think they were changed to trays which gave you so much more. I stopped eating here after that. Judging from the pictures on here, thr burger looks pretty good & they have wavy fries now. Maybe I'll give it a try soon. read more

Made me wait outside for at least 42 minutes because of Wi-Fi finally opened and I had to leave for my meter just went somewhere else

Nice compliment to the park, and the wonderful Christmas lightshow, this burger joint is not a destination. Nice enough to eat at when you are here, but not worth traveling to. Salt the patty and double fry the fries if you want to step your game up though. read more

I am a bad, naughty, dirty, weekday vegan.... Yes I just started my "summer weather diet" but I couldn't help myself. It was 87 degrees out and I live 3 blocks from Franklin Square Park. I took my dogs for a "walk" and decided to sneak myself the famous SqaureBurger *CAKE SHAKE*! Was it Vegan? No Was it under 300 calories? Most likely not Was it amazing?! It's a milkshake made of vanilla ice cream blended with TastyKake Butterscotch Krimpets, sponge cakes covered with butterscotch icing.... YES IT WAS FREAKIN' AMAZING! Do I have regrets?! Of course I do and no I did not tell my husband or post it on Facebook. Ashamed, I took a long cold shower after to scrub off the guilt & sickness I felt from the sugar overload. But yes ladies it is worth all the shame! Treat yourself this summer and let it remain your dirty little secret. ;-) read more

Officially opened on Thursday, July 16th!! Ok, in defense of SquareBurger, the opening days played host to over 300 police and firemen, press events and hype, not to mention the first time being to the public in the already bustling Franklin Square. Calm down Yelpers. You all work so hard to be the first to complain. Why not talk about how there is finally a permanent food structure in the park and how that whole side of Race Street is no longer and drug infested shanty town and also how you, your families and friends can feel safe in a space that was voted "The best Kids Play Space" in the city!! As for the burger, it's on a potato roll! How large did you expect the burger to be? If you buy the way the make it, with all the fix'ns, the burger is quite satisfying! Add fries to that and you will barely have room for the "Cake Shake"! I think for under $10 you can have a burger, fries and a shake in a space designed to entertain which traditionally would have high prices, I think that's a great deal for food that is not mediocre! Without being petty and understanding the nature of a start up, I am a HUGE fan of SquareBurger! Yelpers, give it another chance! read more

My boyfriend and I walk through Franklin Square all the time and decided to grab a bite. I ordered the veggie burger, and got the chicken quesadilla. The man who took our order was very friendly and kind, the burger hit the spot. We'll definitely be coming back! read more

Willing to chalk up the fact that it took me FORTY-FIVE MINUTES to get a burger and fries to some sort of police-and-firemen charity lunch that was going on at the same time. Even so, if you're going to handle paying customers and freeloaders* at the same time, you need to have your shit together. Today, SquareBurger's shit was decidedly un-together. After waiting for 25 minutes, I strolled up to the window and noticed my ticket was up next. Then I watched the not-entirely-with-it burger assembly boys (high school summer job?) proceed to SHUFFLE THE ORDER TICKETS TOGETHER. They then got reamed out by their boss, which was sort of amusing. The burger was tasty, but nothing to drool over. Martin's Potato Rolls and frozen fries complete the offerings, which strike me as a little lazy, even if they did taste fine. The shakes looked pretty tasty and promising. Judging from the menu, you could do some serious cardiovascular damage by way of one of their salami-wrapped kosher dogs paired with their Tastykake milkshakes. In sum, worth the money, probably ($8.50 for a burger, fries, and a soda, which isn't terrible downtown). Not worth a 45-minute wait. *Dear Police and Fire Department, please come to my house if I call 911. No hard feelings, OK? read more

There are few things that please my not-so-inner fat kid more than SquareBurger's Tastykake Cake Shake. Tastykakes through a straw?! Why didn't I think of that? I must have been feeling uncharacteristically nice that day (I'm going to blame the milkshake euphoria) because I even shared it with my boyfriend who has never had tastkakes before (sad) and he absolutely loved it. The only thing that has kept me away from Squareburger in general is the blasted line. I ate waiting for my food (fat kid again), but if the milkshakes are any insight into what this stand in general has to offer, I guess a ten to twenty minute wait isn't all that bad. read more

This is my favorite fast-food style burger in the area. I don't know what it is that they do that got me hooked...maybe its the potato roll, the perfectly cooked burger, or maybe it's the aesthetic of the lunch box. Whatever it is, i'm addicted and always find myself making the walk, grabbing my box and sitting in the park. What I order? The cheeseburger, fries, and a root beer float. I find a nice tree and take my boxed lunch and watch the world go by and think to myself how happy the little things like this make me. read more

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, and the earth was welter and waste and darkness over the deep and the wind of God hovering over the waters, and God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." ...and so began the creation of the world according to Genesis...but there is something that the writers of the Bible fail to mention in between the first and seventh days of the creation of the world. Sure, they hit the main points...the firmament separating the waters, the living creatures according to their kinds and all that. However, they forgot to mention the part about the cake shake. This review is about the most ridiculous shake in Philadelphia. It was brought to my knowledge by Meghan B. and I knew that any combination of cake and milkshake is one that I must consume. One minute you are drinking a vanilla shake and as soon as the pressure lets off of the straw, you are chewing moist cake. This dessert is a delightful abomination. Somewhere in the book of Genesis, they must have deleted a passage that said went something like this: "and God said unto the milkshake and the cake that they would be united as one and then God said 'wait, wait...this is ridiculous. I'm seriously not going to do this' and God decided that this union would not be one of divine command, but merely something he should allow to exist when it enters the mad mind of Steven Starr or a group of stoned college kids who think it is funny to put tastykake in a blender and God saw that it was absurd." This is the only item that I have tried at Squareburger but it warrants its own review because of how silly it is. read more

People have complained about my old review, so now i will simply say they make decent burgers & shakes. Is it akin to Shake Shack in NYC? I don't think it's nearly as good and the burgers are smaller. Want more deets? See grubstreet's write up. It was perfect! read more

Big thanks to my friend for suggesting this place. Serious Eats had a review of this place, and she insisted that we come try it out. We ordered a burger and fries to share. The wait was not too bad - less than 10 minutes total. Burger was done well and really juicy but a little salty. The chopped pickles were a nice touch, but didn't appreciate the mustard (will ask for no mustard next time). All in all a good burger. Fries were not that fresh, so I was disappointed in them. The star of the meal was their cake shake - vanilla ice cream blended with butterscotch krimpets. Why didn't I think of this?! It was really creamy with small chunks of cake. Didn't get as much butterscotch flavor as I was hoping for, but it was still very delicious. My only negative about SquareBurger was that everything was a little pricey. Perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon...great weather, nice park, wonderful friends, and some pretty tasty eats. Will definitely be back for a repeat. read more

Overall, pretty disappointing experience given the recent hype. Went there on a Sunday afternoon and the line fluctuated from a few people to as many as 15 or so. The ordering process seemed unnecessarily chaotic and their system of giving you some items at the front and others from the side seemed ridiculous. Clearly, significant kinks need to be worked out. The burgers were smaller than we expected and don't come with lettuce or tomatoes. Decent buns, though. Fries were okay, but again, don't expect too many in the cup. My friend liked the Kake Shake, but he's a long time local kid who grew up on Tastykakes. I predict that the curiosity factor will only keep people coming for a little while longer. Unless there are some big improvements, I know I won't be coming back any time soon. read more

I've been meaning to go to Square Burger basically since the day it opened. It's not in a convenient location, which may be one of the reasons I haven't made it. But yesterday, in the perfect weather, I rode my bike down here for lunch. Square Burger is nothing more than a shack. Sure, it's owned and operated by Philadelphia's (arguably) most well known restauranteur, Stephen Starr, but that doesn't make it fancy. The atmosphere here is great though. You're in a nice, Philadelphia park with a Merry-Go-Round pumping out music and a mini-golf course nearby. There is a fountain in the middle and tables scattered around the park. On a nice day, it's a great place to eat. The menu here is small. Cheeseburgers,hot dogs, fries and shakes are the mainstays. I believe there was also a salad, maybe a few other options. We both ordered cheese burgers and fries. The fries are fine, but nothing special. The burgers are small, but not too small. They're a great representation of outback, BBQ grilling. The buns are grilled, and the burgers are cooked on high heat to get a crunch outside, but are still well cooked throughout. The toppings here need some work, as our cheeseburger only came with diced onions and pickles. Tomatoes and lettuce go a long way. I didn't have a milkshake, but I saw one being made. It looked fantastic. It had two butter cream TastyKake crumpet mashed in. It was the shake of the month, and next month they'll put peanut butter cupcakes in the shake. There are two slight downsides: The line moves more slowly. Also, the prices are higher than they should be. Bottom Line: It's nice to spend some time in the park. If you're like me, you could have a better burger at a fraction of the cost in your own backyard. The milkshakes are the biggest draw here. If you're sneaky, a trip to the Foodery at 10th and Pine can bring the whole experience up a notch. read more

Makes Shake Shack average. Do not be intimidated if there is a line, usually goes very quick. Really good simple, no nonsense burgers. I am definitely a fan. Awesome place to take outtatowners. read more

What SquareBurger is not: -SquareBurger is not part of the gatropub burger revitalization that Philly is undergoing -SquareBurger is not the kind of place you go looking for a big menu or earth-shattering dining -SquareBurger is not attempting to make the best burger in the city. Now that we have that out of the way, it is a lot easier to explain why SquareBurger is super awesome. Like a back yard BBQ burger on a summer afternoon, these meaty concoctions just hit the spot. The beef is low-quality, the buns are of the potato variety, and the fries dont come with some fancy malt vinegar sauce on the side. Which is to say- perfect. So juicy from a high fat content, overwhelming the crunchy bun, the burger is simply delicious. And the fries are damn fine as well, sea-salted and crunchy. The fountain soda is vibrant and sugary, like any good burger companion should be. My fiance had the veggie burger. She doesnt like many veggie burgers, but this one she threw down like a homeless person who found a Primo's hoagie in the garbage. The tables are right next to a big, beautiful fountain. It is simply perfect atmosphere for a quick tasty bite. read more

Wasn't very impressed but unfortunately I will be back since it's the only food vendor in the square and I'm too lazy to walk elsewhere. 1 - Burgers were REALLY salty. It's almost like i was biting into bits of salt crystals. 2 - Food takes forever long 3 - Milkshake was a fail. Received it and it was basically all melted. Made me wonder if they just gave me a cold glass of milk w/ foam on top. 4 - Lemonade was tart but definitely better than one that is overly sweet. read more

Just got back from having lunch at SquareBurger, and I think I may need to curl up under my desk and have a nap. Tastycake shake? Yes please! That's all the calories I need for one day, plus the wonderful Butterscotch Krimpet taste I love so much. The veggie burger was okay, but the point of this place is clearly the shake. read more

NEVER AGAIN! I went in the afternoon because I knew it wouldn't be that crowded and was, literally, the third order in line. The two orders in front of me were both philly dogs and I got a burger and fries. The level of incompetence at this place astounds me. It took them 40 mins (FOUR-ZERO) to char the **** out of one side of my burger and barely cook the other side. They also, apparently, marinated the pattie in salt prior to cooking it... They had 5 people behind the counter, one of whom was dressed like a chef. I'm sorry, mate, but don't dress up like a chef if you can't handle the simplest hot menu I've ever seen! The guys at Zeb's food cart at 7th & Market can knock out 50+ orders in an hour with 1 or 2 guys and these Starr idiots can't even turnaround a single hotdog in under 20 minutes. And, no, I'm unfortunately not exaggerating! I'm sorry, but it boggles my mind that a successful restaurateur like Stephen Starr can't even handle a burger joint with 5 hot items on the menu. Seriously, Stephen, hire some of the food cart guys from around center city and see how speedy service is done! EDIT: Wow, I just saw a pic of Starr and just realized that HE WAS THERE! He and some other bigwigs were getting some comped food. Crap, if I'd have known I would have enlightened him... EDIT 2: Ok, I went there again with some coworkers (my objections were noted, but dismissed). Squareburger's speed has improved slightly, and they seem to be utilizing the separate order and pickup windows effectively. So, I will give them that. But, the food is still unbearably salty. I don't know if it's a ploy to sell more lemonade, but everything tastes as if it is coated in salt. Oh, and one of my coworkers burgers was "Pittsburgh rare" (charred outside, very rare inside). That's fine for a steak, but really unsafe for a burger. read more