Elite Event: Smashburger Pre-Opening

So I came as a guest for this Unilocal elite event, and absolutely LOVED IT! What a wonderfully organized event both by Bella and the Smashburger establishment! The staff was super generous in their servings and were delighted to give us 2nds and 3rds upon request!!! :) Thanks to Chris R. for bringing me to this event, what an awesome treat!!!
A couple things I learned… Me being a «health nut»:
1) Smash burgers has veggies as appetizers! Sure, that may include their awesome sweet potato fries, but they *also served us deliciously cooked «flash-​fried» string beans and carrots too! For those with kids, a great way to get them to eat their veggies (next best thing to veggie chips). :P
2) Their *Smash Fries* are amazing — with rosemary, olive oil, and garlic — those are all healthy herbs/​ingredients right? ;)
3) They have «healthier» choices of burgers that were super tasty:
a) Avocado ranch black bean burger
b) Avocado club chicken
c) Spinach, cucumber, & goat cheese (even though I’m not a fan of goat cheese, it was still tasty in this combination)
4) Ok, not so healthy, but their milk shakes are extremely dangerous and addictive: Can’t go wrong with any of their flavors — but Butterfinger is my weakspot. And maybe Nutter Butter too… Yeah, they’re just that good. Stay away if you’re trying to be «good» that day! :D
Again, SUPER grateful to have been able to attend this event, and will definitely have to come back to Smashburger for my future burger cravings! :D
Eat it up!

The Smashburger establishment nailed it again. Smashburger is growing fast in tucson and there is a good reason why. The chain offers a great assortment of gourmet burgers in quick style.
It’s a safe bet to say everything on the menu is delicious — no misfires or weaklings here. We generously sampled quarter sized slices of (eight?) different burgers!
I was lucky enough to go the first Smashburger event and have been returning ever since! My personal favorite is the chicken smash with truffles and mushrooms with a side of veggie frites. But I also really love the spinach goat cheese. What keeps me coming back is that it is great for groups. You can go as simple or as lux as you want. You can get a really tasty and healthy meal or splurge on some decedent creation. They have gluten and dairy free options and great a great veggie patty. Basically, you don’t have a reason not to go!
The staff was so great and they had the event organizes and running like clockwork!

Such a great event! Smashburger knows how to introduce Unilocalers to all the superb burgers they offer! I was already a Smash fan but was happy to try the truffle mushroom swiss (may be my new favorite burger from SB)! Favorites of mine from the night include the veggie frites, fried pickles, the bacon cheeseburger and the spicy veggie black bean. I have ordered the veggie black bean many times on previous visits to Smash, not because I’m a vegetarian but because it is delicious and definitely has a kick to it. I like lots of flavor and Smashburger does that so well. This is such a fun burger joint that offers lots of interesting burgers. If you want basic, grab the classic. Also, love that they offer Haagen-​Dazs shakes!
Thank you to Smashburger for hosting Unilocalers. It was so good to get to learn more about the various burgers offered… I enjoy the variety!

What a great elite event! I had never been to Smashburger and I was very impressed! The store not only looked great, but the food was pretty amazing! We sampled quite a bit of everything.
Top Favs:
Grilled Veggies — they were an awesome appetizer or substitute for fries if you are going that way. They had just the right amount of deliciousness.
Smashburger Fries — if you are going more traditional, you HAVE to have these. They are to die for!!! I could have eaten those fries as a meal (not that I would recommend that, but they were that great)!
Mushroom Burger — this was by far my favorite. It had the most flavor and taste. We tried many others, but this one surpassed any other ones!
Dessert: SHAKES — to top off the night we had salted caramel shakes… I can tell you that I could have just drank that too. They were so delicious, I couldn’t just stop at the little sample. I got one to go… SO SO SO DELICIOUS! You have to try it!!!
Overall, I would def go back. The food was excellent and the presentation was incredible. I was, however, disappointed with the Tucson burger. It was too spicy (which I love spice, but I didn’t like this one). Maybe one with Cholula sauce or something like that.
Can’t wait to go back! Great event!

This is more of a thanks than a review. I was a +1 to the event and am new to Unilocal,but what a great introduction! So much fantastic food paired with great people. Thank you Smashburger for the amazing meal!
The Truffle Mushroom Swiss Burger was ridiculously good. I didn’t hear a single complaint when that burger hit the table… Just chewing and pleased patrons. I was worried it might be too salty, but it was absolute perfection. The fried pickles were also a hit with our table! I would recommend those, and would be a good side for 2+ people; it’s plenty of food.
Thanks again for a wonderful event, and can’t wait to get back!

«What are you doing tonight?» my hairdresser asked.
«I’m going straight to a Unilocal Elite event at the new Smashburger.»
«I LOVE Smashburger!» Her eyes got wide. «I love their BBQ Bacon and Cheddar Burger. They have a great salad, too!»
«I can’t wait!» I said. «This is a seven-​course ‘meal’ just for us. We’re taking over the restaurant and get to taste almost everything on the menu — including sides and a shake. We just sit there and they bring us food.»
«That sounds so good,» my hairdresser said, wistfully. She was heading home after a long day to make dinner for her three young kids. She looked so sad I wanted to bring her along. If only this amazing event was not already completely booked.

What I love about these Unilocal introductions goes beyond good food. You get the company’s back story. One of the reasons Smashburger is so popular is it fills an unserved niche between low-​quality fast food and sit-​down restaurants, like Red Robin. From the time the Angus beef is «smashed» to the grill, using a specially designed tool that sears in flavor, to the time it’s ready to be dressed with sauces and toppings: 3 minutes. The concept and flawless execution are such a hit nationally that they are leaving legends like Chipotle and Five Guys in their dust when it comes to store openings.
I love that they have developed a tasty something for everybody. Guys love the BBQ Bacon and Cheddar Burger. The Truffle Mushroom Swiss burger is more for the ladies. The tasty Black Bean Burger includes vegetarians. There is even a spicy burger with jalapeño peppers that was specially designed for the Arizona market. (Every market has its own.)
You can mix and match sauces, buns, toppings. You can even get your burger (sans bun) on top of a generous salad. The flash-​friend veggies, sweet potato fries with four yummy dips, even the fried dill chips added more interest to an already creative menu.
Christine explained everything beautifully and was so welcoming, even sharing some secret ingredients (my lips are sealed). The staff was in top form. This is a great addition to Tucson’s restaurant-​poor east side. Bravo!

This was one of my favorite events to date, with HUGE portions of goodies to taste, friendly staff, and good people; all for free! (plus tip of course) :D
The BBQ bacon burger was fantastic, as was the mushroom burger, and the black bean veggie burger. The shakes were tasty too!
Recommendations for the owner: if you want a great local barbeque sauce, check out Mr. K’s down on South Park Ave. Other than that, I would also say that the local burger was missing something… I am not quite sure what that something is, but it lacked a depth that some of the other burgers had. The veggies and the sweet potato fries were a tad salty in my opinion, but I usually do not use much salt, so maybe my taste buds are not as «seasoned» as most people’s… (That was a pun. A bad one. You should laugh a little.)
Overall, this was a great event and I look forward to seeing Smashburger succeed.
Oh yeah! To the organizers of the event, GREAT JOB!!!

I have no idea how I had never been to a Smashburger before but I definitely had the ultimate first visit! Smashburger pulled out all the stops with this pre-​opening event. We got to try all sorts of sides, everyone of their burgers and even a shake plus there were drinks including local beers. To so we overindulged would be an understatement. I really enjoyed getting to learn about Smashburger and their offerings throughout the night as we were tasting everything. My favorites were the Smashfries, the spinach and goat cheese burger and the Arizona burger. I love that even though they are a multi state chain restaurant they do have unique menu options in each state.
I’m excited to come back and use the coupon they gave us all but it will be hard to have to narrow it down to only one burger! Thanks to Smashburger for inviting all of us hungry Unilocalers out to their new location, we loved it!

I’m always searching for a good burger. Well I’ve found one right in my own neighborhood. Loved the bbq burger. The Black Bean burger is fabulous too. The sides really set Smashburger apart from the competition though. Sweet Potato fries and olive oil rosemary fries that are crisp and yummy. The veggie frites are unique and healthy. The salted caramel shakes is one I’m coming back for. Can’t wait to try the Nutter Butter shake.

How often do you get to sample almost everything on a restaurant’s menu, so when you come back, you know exactly what to order? This is the brilliant idea behind Smashburger’s elite event. We got to try a quarter of 7 different sandwiches, in addition to sides like smash fries (fries with olive oil and rosemary) and FRIED PICKLES (heaven. period.). The staff was incredibly friendly and accommodating, and we even got to go back in the kitchen to find out how smashburgers were smashed.
AND, to top it off, my roommate, who was my +1, won a year’s supply of burgers! We’re ridiculously excited about this, and we’ve been joking that she should put this on her CV/​Resume under «Honors and Awards.» :) Thanks, Smashburger! We’ll be back soon… and often.

I was blown away! Not only was the food delicious but extremely well presented and described. The service left me wanting for nothing, the food was described and presented, within moments it was on our table. I am a huge fan of methodology and structure, they had this event down seamless lie a well oiled machine. quality food delivered in a timely fashion, with a smile. You got me especially the BBQ bacon burger, and I am not usually a fan of BBQ on a burger. I’m a fan!

Holy food coma! I think I am now just feeling unstuffed from last night’s amazing event at Smashburger!
I’ve had Smashburger before, but since I’m a creature of habit, I’ve never tried anything besides their standard burger. I might have to start mixing it up after getting to try 7 different burgers last night! I really enjoyed all the burgers but my favorites were the Classic Smash, the BBQ Bacon & Cheddar, and Truffle Mushroom Swiss. I don’t really like mushrooms too much, but the Truffle Mushroom Swiss was so good that I may have to make an exception in the future. And the bacon on the BBQ Cheddar was so tasty! It was perfectly cooked and had just the right amount to complement the burger without it be over/​underwhelming.
I missed trying to the fried pickles, but I definitely enjoyed the onion strings and rosemary fries. And just when I thought that I couldn’t possibly eat any more, I somehow made room to sample their Salted Caramel milkshake. It was perfect! Just the right amount of sweetness and creaminess.
Not only was the food great, but the staff were just as wonderful. Christine, from the Smashburger headquarters, was super informative about Smashburger’s history and all the delicious burgers and sides we would be trying. The staff were constantly coming around bringing us new goodies and clearing away our empty baskets. At the end of the night, the manager even left us come back into the kitchen to see how as Smashburger is made.
I couldn’t have asked for a better event! Thanks Unilocal/​Smashburger for a wonderful evening!

We were such a lucky lucky crowd!!! The new Smashburger location was a bit out of way for me, but it was totally worth the drive! I have always had wonderful experiences with Smashburger, mostly when I lived in Tempe. A smashburger is not your ordinary greasy spoon burger – it can dress up it can dress down, it can be sophisticated and it can be stunningly simple, it is full of characters and made with love, and it can bring a big smile to both my vegetarian and meatlover friends. All in all, smashburger is smashing!
You may ask, what can be so special about sampling various burgers? Of course it can! Everyone loves a good burger, but when the goodness is multiplied by SEVEN (the total number of delicious burgers we tried), plus an assortment of yummy sides and refreshing drinks, it is out-​of-​bound joy! The different burgers Smashburger offers has pretty much covered the entire spectrum of personal favorites, regional specials, decadent treats, and timeless classics. I love a good old classic smashburger, while my friends are raving about the truffle mushroom swiss burger. I may or may not have singlehandedly emptied two plates of sweet potato fries and onion rings, but I can tell you – those were goood!
In addition to the finger-​lickingly good food, I love the clean upbeat décor of Smashburger, the excellent service, and all the great stories of this great restaurant! Why it’s called Smashburger? Because it was smashed and absolutely smashing! Love this place, and will definitely be back when it opens officially!

I can’t believe we managed to eat our way through their menu! I’m still in shock and didn’t even need to eat breakfast this morning… lunch might not be happening either.
Totally fun event– we sampled some amazing burgers. I’ve never been to Smashburger before, but I’m definitely a fan now, totally sold! Christine did a great job of selling the burgers to us and explaining the thought process behind eat one. Really interesting. The egg buns are soft and fluffy and compliment the burgers so well. The flavors of each burger were unique and interesting. I loved loved loved the Truffle Mushroom Swiss Burger. The chicken burgers were great– no idea that a flat smashed up skinny piece of meat could taste so good! :)
The girls helping out were amazing– they were running around making sure everyone was happy. They offered beer, sides, brought out the food with lightening speed, then cleaned our tables super quickly.
We were told at the start of the event that if we wanted to try something that wasn’t on the tasting menu, to simply asked. Our table got hooked up with Smashfries (rosemary and garlic seasoning = Yum!), sweet potato fries, french fries, veggie fritters AND deep fried pickles. No idea how we managed to eat it all, but we did.
After we ate our way thorugh the menu, they brought out Salted Caramel shakes… I drank 3. Ok they were really small, but still… then on our way out to thank us all for coming, the girls hooked us up with any flavor of shake we wanted. Thank goodness I had a friend there willing to split our order. I promised myself I’d take it home and save it for later. but by the time I got home I had somehow managed to drink it.
They also have us a sweet goodie bag with a coupon for a free burger and a water bottle. Nice.
I love all the Unilocal Elite Events, and as always, they knocked it out of the park. Thank you!

Okay super duper impressed with last nights Smashburger Elite Event! I hate to say that I was a Smashburger Newbie until yesterday! And have to admit I can’t wait to go back!
First off, the event was extremely organized and we didn’t miss a thing. Met new people and we sat with amazing Unilocalers! Gift bags always a plus. Love my ecofriendly reusable bag:)
Now onto review SmashBurger– ummm yum yum and yum! Being able to taste 7 of their specialty burgers and sandwiches was a great intro to their endless delicious possibilities! I love that there is another spot I can call my dinner «go to» spot when I’m «mad at my kitchen». I love that they are open to alternatives and catering to my families picky and extravagant needs! I can take any of the specialty amazingness like the cranberry BBQ, truffle mayo, and applewood smoked bacon to a burger or chicken sandwich or salad! Love love the explanation to how they keep the flavor alive by using their smashing technique– yould be amazed to see how flat the chicken gets and still remarkably flavorful! And the portions definitely fill your tummy!
Thank you Smashburger you have a new Smashburger lover! Yummy #smashTUC

I am so impressed with Smashburger that I don’t even know where to begin.
Well, an obvious place to start is with the food. We were treated to an incredible array of tasty delights from Smashburger. Upon entering and getting our Unilocal badges, M and I were directed to the front counter where we both ordered up a cold beer served in a frosty mug. Made our way to a table where the delicious smash fries and veggie frites awaited — which were both delicious.
Before we knew it the burger parade started! They say Tucson’s Rodeo Parade is one of the longest non-​mechanized parades but I’m thinking Smashburger could compete because those burgers… they just kept coming! Started with the Classic Smash, then the BBQ, Bacon & Cheddar, next up was the Truffle Mushroom Swiss, then the Black Bean Veggie Burger, followed by my favorite the super spicy Arizona Burger, then the Classic Chicken Smash and finally the Chicken Avocado Club. I can’t even believe we ate all of those wonderful taste treats. Sweet potato fries were included in the mix and they are really hard to stop eating! Our table missed the fried pickles but I’ve had them before and they are soooo good!
The evening was sent completely over the top with the Haagen Dazs Salted Caramel milkshake. Glorious — and topped with fresh whipped cream.
Our hostess for the night was Christine from Smashburger’s headquarters in Denver. She did a great job of telling us about each burger and how Smash fills that niche between fast food/​not so great burgers and much slower/​pretty good restaurant burgers. Smash prides itself on fresh, quality ingredients and what is so unique about Smashburger is they use fresh, never frozen meat and make loosely formed balls each day and cook each one when ordered by placing it on the grill and «smashing» it with a specially made metal device for 10 seconds against the grill to sear the meat and allow it to cook IN it’s own juices.
I was lucky enough to spend the evening sitting with Christine’s parents who were in town visiting friends when their trip coincided with their daughter’s event at 22^nd & Kolb. What a great evening!

So much food! We enjoyed 7 different burgers! The awesome staff even supplied us with sides of fried pickles and fries and at the end of the night some sweet shakes! So much food and the best part was that it was all so good! I loved taking the time to hear about all the amazing ways they make their burgers! My fave was the Truffle Mushroom Swiss Burger! Their sides are perfection too! The staff was so nice, the restaurant was clean, and the event set up was perfect! Hands off to excellent staff who put this event on and to Smashburger! This was an excellent event!