The Five Guys juggernaut has reached the shores of the River Cherwell. Established in 1986 in Arlington, Virginia, Five Guys has spread its tentacles across the world, setting up home in nearly 1,500 locations across the globe. As the arrival of the brand into Oxford shows, some four years after they set foot in the UK, this growth continues on at quite a pace. But most importantly, how are their famed burgers?

And the answer to that question is they are fine; nice if not as earth-shattering as the hype would have you believe. There is a degree of diversity to their burgers, with a choice of toppings to accompany their patties. These range from lettuce and tomatoes to grilled mushrooms and jalapeno peppers. I prefer my burger with as much meat as possible, so opted for a bacon cheeseburger with a topping of Bar-B-Q Sauce. My partner was happier to diversify and so added mayo, lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, mushroom and relish to hers. The result was the same: a juicy burger, speedily consumed. Their standard burger comes as a double patty so there is some heft to the meal.

The experience around the burger is reflective of the main attraction. The atmosphere is that of a simulated-diner, bright lights and Americana music on the stereo. From the drinks on offer I had a milkshake of salted caramel and chocolate and my partner sided with the soda. They now have hi-tech drinks machines that allow many different choices of variations of soft drinks, with maximum refills. There are a lot of chips. Too many of them, with Five Guys piling as many as they can. They are good-tasting fries but too many to be fully enjoyed, and many go to waste, due to the hefty burger taking precedence.

If I have an issue with Five Guys it is the degree they proudly wear their praise. Caking their walls are large quotes and recreated clippings from publications singing praise for how revolutionary Five Guys is. It makes me uncomfortable that if I have any misgivings with the meal I must be wrong. It feels unique to this brand and it certainly detracted from my time in the restaurant. It is also counter-productive; a publication praising the affordability of the burgers has received a written-on customer feedback stating that these burgers really aren't that cheap. And certainly this is a burger that feels more expensive then it needs to be.

At Five Guys the service is fast, the chips are plentiful and the burgers are flavoursome. There are better burgers and more enjoyable dining experiences but certainly the pace of the Five Guys adventure is commendable. A feast consumed in 15 minutes, perfectly located on St Giles makes for a convenient meal that basks in its own praise a little too much.