Critic's Review
Now that every food place in town has figured out that people will pay $12-$15 for a hamburger if they claim it's "hand-formed" or "a short rib blend", places like Jack's have become an afterthought. Jack's has been around forever, and they sell 1/2 pound hamburgers for $5.99, which is about half of what you'll pay in most restaurants.
Despite the age of the place, Jack's isnt bad inside; they've kept it up nicely. The outside tables with the red umbrellas are new.
They assume you know how it works; I ordered an "original" cheeseburger. $5.39. More than fast food but less than everywhere else. They have a "Fixins" bar with onions, pickles, relish and jalapenos. I loaded up on onions and pickles.
As delivered, the hamburger isn't too impressive. Cooked on a flat top, it's just a round of meat on a bun. Everything at Jack's is half-assed. The cheese isn't melted. They put it on the bun and put the burger on top.
Some ketchup, onions and pickles dress it up. Lettuce and tomatoes are extra. They have mushrooms now for .69 also.
Totally unseasoned; salt needed. The burger has a little grease to it. A pretty good lunch for the price, but nothing to go crazy over. I like a greasy burger better than a dry slab of ground sirloin. But we're used to better burgers than this now.
Review 2/25/10
Jack's has been around for 38 years, and places that last that long have something going for them. You will notice, however, that most of the people who dine here regularly have probably been coming since the early days.
Jack's is a modest little shack that reminds me of a cabin on a lake somewhere, except this one is on US 1. There's a counter and a big sign with your choices. One annoyance is that they assume you know how to order. They didn't mention that lettuce and tomatoes are extra and if you don't ask you don't get them; they don't ask if its to stay or to go. So you order and you wait and then you put your onions, relish, mustard and/or ketchup.
The burgers are pretty good, but nothing hand-made; just a skinny burger reminiscent of Wendys when it first opened. Juicy but still prepackaged. The fries aren't worth the calories; again out of a bag and not terrible greasy or crisp. I put them in the same balpark as Five Guys; another pedestrian experience that simply doesn't live up to the hype.