Lise and I got to do something today that we've never done before. We attended a pre-opening preview of a new Five Guys Burgers and Fries restaurant set to open in Keene tomorrow.

Our special, inside connection for this event is Lise's cousin, Cort Mendez. For the last few years he's been working on opening a series of Five Guys restaurants in New Hampshire, and we've been treated to updates and plans at various family gatherings when we see him.

We've learned about strategies for picking locations, have held discussions of the pros and cons of various highways and population centers, and even heard about the training process for new Five Guys employees.

Five Guys started in the Arlington, VA, in 1986 and has been expanding beyond the D.C. region since 2002. The Keene store is New Hampshire's 3rd, out of about a dozen planned.

We were very interested when we heard a Keene location had been found. The invitation to the preview was impossible to turn down, and Lise's mom joined us for the adventure.

The Restaurant

Walk in and you are greeted with a yell from behind the counter. "Three at the door!"

It was training day, the day before the official opening, so extra staff were there to learn the routine. It was a bit intimidating at first to be greeted by 20 or so employees behind the counter, but everyone was friendly and keeping busy. When Five Guys opens tomorrow, the normal staffing levels will be in place.

It's a simple menu. Burgers, fries, hot dogs, a veggie sandwich and soft drinks.

Your goal at the counter, really, is to build your dream burger. Start with a hamburger, cheeseburger, bacon burger, or bacon cheeseburger. The regular size option is actually two beef patties. You can go smaller if you want and get the "little" version of any of these, which is a single patty.

The selection of toppings is just what a burger lover would want. Ketchup, mustard, mayo, and relish, of course. Lettuce, tomato, pickles, and onions? Sure. How about some grilled onions, grilled mushrooms, jalepenos, or green peppers? Care for some A-1, BBQ, or hot sauce?

All toppings are free. The burgers range from $3.69 for a Little Hamburger up to $6.09 for the Bacon Cheeseburger with two patties.

Your next choice is fries. The regular version are hand-cut, peanut-oil fried potatoes with salt. You can also opt for a Cajun Style, and both styles come in regular and large versions.

Soft drinks come with free refills, and bottles of water are available.

The Review

Before we went, I decided to note my expectations, which were to find a burger like those at Wendy's (a familiar fast food option I'll use to compare) and to have fries that would remind me of the kind I've had at the boardwalk or a state fair.

The burgers were very good. They were both flavorful and juicy. The beef patty broke apart in the mouth in a way that felt real rather than processed. The lettuce is torn, not cut, and the individually-made burgers have a home-made look to them. They were messy, but not unmanageable. Toppings were ample. (Anyone ever have a Mr. Fred burger? It reminded me of that.)

A serving note: if your order has more than one custom-made burger in it, how do you know which is which? Stapled to your brown paper bag is a receipt with each burger numbered and described. Open the bag and you'll find corresponding numbers on stickers on each of the wrapped burgers for easy sorting and distribution.

These burgers beat Wendy's. Bigger, juicier, more flavor, more "real", better choices of toppings. Score 1 for Five Guys.

The fries were real potatoes and had that boardwalk-fry flavor. It was nice to see them come served in a paper cup with bottles of vinegar ready for pouring. They were served hot and fresh, and showed no signs of being dried out, burned, nor being soaked in oil, or overly salted.

Fries are harder to judge, for me, as I like many types. Curly fries or the thin McDonald's-style, when done well, are an occasional pleasure.

The Five Guys fries rank up near the top of the hand-cut, Boardwalk-style variety. They were thick, but not too thick, and had the right mix of crispness on the outside and tenderness on the inside. Bad boardwalk fries would be cold, overly done, and soggy with oil.

I know you want to eat healthy food and stay fit and trim. Those salads are great. But if you have a craving for a classic burger and fries combo, Five Guys may be your best choice for a place to go. It'll hit the spot, perhaps a few spots, and fill you up.

The new Five Guys is located in Keene at 363 Winchester Street and is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Give 'em a try if you like burgers and fries, and report back here what you think.