story & photos
by Alexis Ann
The Waterford Commons shopping area on Route 85 is now host to Smashburger, an international “better burger” franchise. This is Smashburger’s first location in Connecticut, and plans are underway for expansion in the Rhode Island and Massachusetts markets.
Smashburger Waterford did brisk business after opening to the public during the post-Thanksgiving weekend, and The Resident attended a special private “media night” on December 3 as Christine Ferris of the Smashburger group presented an array of tasty sandwich and sides samples. Members of the Mohegan Tribal Council also joined in on the fun, as the restaurant is part of a new franchise agreement that the Tribe has entered into with its new non-gaming business arm Mohegan Holdings LLC.
In addition to Smashburger sandwiches with beef, chicken and vegetarian options, attendees of the event were treated to a variety of side dishes. Smashburger takes the “french fries” concept to the next level, offering sweet potato and vegetable fries, along with the signature “Smashfries” tossed in olive oil, rosemary and garlic. Also available are fried pickles and “haystack” onion rings. Handspun old-fashioned milkshakes are served in a frothy glass with whipped cream, and come in a variety of flavors with Haagen-Dazs ice cream, and on December 3 samples of the Oreo and Salted Caramel shakes proved to be a great way to cap off the evening.
The Waterford restaurant is located in an area of the Commons adjacent to the Music and Arts and Sprint stores. It is 2,560 sq. ft. and has seating for 76 patrons – including outdoor seating for when the weather warms up. Smashburger’s home base is in Denver, and it is a rapidly growing business, going from 0 to 301 restaurants in the space of seven years, with the Waterford location being #301. World-wide, Smashburger operates in seven counties and employs between 6,000 and 9,000 team members.
The Waterford restaurant will provide over 40 jobs to area residents, and is already showing a commitment to southeastern Connecticut which fits with the the company’s philosophy of allying with the businesses and flavors of the region. The “Constitution Smashburger” pays tribute to the area’s Italian-American flavors, served on a crusty Ciabatta Bun, and featuring provolone cheese, mayo, pesto, baby spinach, and a peppery Giardinera relish. Asked for suggestions about which regional flavor might be included in the BBQ burgers, the Smashburger folks got a quick answer from us – Nutmeg! In the beverage department, Smashburger has gone very local, and features Mystic River IPA from the Mystic Brewing Company! Other available beverages run the gamut from Coca-Cola to Chardonnay.
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