Back to The Shack - at Storhaug

Gard Karlsen
7 days ago
2 min read

I used to visit The Shack quite often back when they had a location inside Victoria Hotel, but that branch closed a few years ago. The Shack has outlets all over the region, and last year they finally made a comeback in Stavanger city centre — or rather, Storhaug. I stopped by on a Sunday, and at the time I was the only guest in the restaurant.

The space itself is new and modern, with high ceilings, colorful and trendy wall décor, and seating for maybe around 20 guests. The menu is largely the same as before, focusing on burgers, ribs, milkshakes, and fries. What is new is the menu design — and honestly, I find it pretty frustrating. It’s bold and eye-catching, but when it’s hard to actually read what’s on the different burgers, something has missed the mark.

I went for one of their classics, the “Explosion” burger (with bacon, parmesan, pickled onions, and chili mayo), along with bacon cheddar fries. The food arrived quickly, which was expected, but the burger was served in a takeaway box — a slightly odd choice considering I was dining in. There are no gloves for eating here, only wooden cutlery, which worked… well, just about.

The burger itself was good: a proper smash burger topped with the ingredients mentioned above, and the chili mayo delivered a pleasant kick without overpowering the rest. Visually, the burger looked quite flat, but the patty was nicely sized, matching the bun it was served in. The fries were perfectly fine too, though they reminded me that I usually prefer classic fries without too many toppings.

A cold draft from the ventilation system made the dining experience a bit less comfortable, so once I finished my meal, I quickly cleared up and headed out. All in all, it was a decent burger, but if The Shack wants to bring more life into the place, a few adjustments might be needed: a cozier atmosphere, beer service, and some tweaks to the ventilation. I’d also appreciate gloves for eating and a more restaurant-friendly presentation when dining in.

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