Shake Foundation ~ Santa Fe, New Mexico

Latest visit: May 2023

First visit: Sep 2015

Wednesday ended up being my workday from hell (there's some irony in that sentence, but I'll leave out the details). I could barely get away to eat. I knew lunch was the only option because if I did have any spare time, I was supposed to be sitting in an all day meeting that started at 8 in the morning. That's not realistic. Anyway, we escaped for an hour so I could eat something. We skipped going to Shake Foundation last year, and my notes from the 2021 visit were nothing more than it was still good.

I guess I could write the same thing, but we have come to the conclusion that this might be our last visit here. Part of it is the employees that work here. They clearly aren't interested in having paying customers. That means they have to do their jobs, ya know? So the attention to detail is severely lacking. I thought the green chile cheeseburger was good, but Mrs. RJG said it lacked seasoning, perhaps salt. Even the soda was flat she stated. I had a coffee milkshake that was pretty weak honestly, but still decent. You have to be an A+ player to get on the RJG Santa Fe Social Register. Shake Foundation has found its way to the minor leagues.

--- original 9/11/15 review

If you spend enough time in Santa Fe, you'll learn that another local favorite meal is a green chile cheeseburger. Shake Foundation has a good rep in town, and it was lunch, so let's check it out!

Food: It's burgers and fries, and all made with strictly fresh ingredients. They also have burgers beyond the usual beef, including lamb, turkey, and Portobello mushroom. We each went with the traditional "Junior Foundation" which is a simple cheeseburger (and good size for lunch) and jack cheese with... green chile. The chile is added similar to a condiment, so it's not overly sloppy. The buns are buttered (a Midwest tradition) and lightly toasted which is another differentiator. Just a superb tasting burger, and the chile is very hot (spicier than the norm for Santa Fe). Which works for the RJG! And that spiciness continues to penetrate, and thus opens up the flavor of the burger that much more. Also, special mention goes to the fries, which are of the super thin shoestring variety, crispy, and delicious.

Drink: Given the name, it should come as no surprise that handmade shakes are also a specialty here. Mrs. RJG and I were very tempted to share one, but since it was near the end of our trip, and we were not feeling svelte by this point (witness the prior reviews), we decided to pass. Next time we will most certainly indulge. The reviews are very positive, and their shakes have a variety of flavors.

Location: Apparently this location housed a gas station for many years. As such the lot is large, with plenty of parking (finally!). Order up at the window and sit on any of the picnic tables, under the big trees. Very pleasant outdoor dining.

Notes: The owner/chef of Shake Foundation has a long history in Santa Fe. Like our own Tim Love, he wanted to create a high quality alternative to what is usually considered "fast food". Shake Foundation opened in January 2014.

9/11/15 (new entry); 9/19/21; 6/5/23

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