If you love mouth-watering burgers and delicious milkshakes, then it’s pretty likely that you love Shake Shack as well. This popular eatery, with a new location a short GUTS bus ride away in Dupont Circle, is one of eleven eateries started by renowned restaurateur Danny Meyer.

On Tuesday evening, the Lecture Fund hosted Meyer in a packed Riggs Library to talk about how he got into the restaurant business, what he’s learned in the process, and how hospitality guides his current success as the CEO of the Union Square Hospitality Group.

Meyer started by telling the story of his own college life as a Political Science major at Trinity College, where he believed that the only career path that he could consider was to become a lawyer. “I will never forget how blind I was,” Meyer said. “I was thinking about what I could do versus what I should do.”

He emphasized the importance of following your passions: “To be doing something with your short life that you don’t want to do is absolutely ludicrous. Your passions are there. Your gifts are there.” Meyer explained that after entering the restaurant business, he realized that work must be something you love: “I have a very highly developed love for doing things that make other people happy.” For Meyer, making other people happy came in the form of great food, service, and hospitality.

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It’s official. The frozen yogurt craze is in full swing in Georgetown now that Pinkberry has arrived. Perhaps the trendiest and most popular frozen yogurt shop of the moment, Pinkberry has captured the hearts of many across the world with over 170 locations in 16 countries. As a loyal fan of the yogurt chain ourselves, Vox couldn’t wait to get our hands on one of those icy, fresh desserts now that they are in walking distance of campus.

The interior of the shop is similar to its other locations: tastefully decorated (pun intended) with contemporary and naturalistic elements such as sleek, modern shapes, a pebble floor, and a sky-blue and grassy-green color palette.

And the yogurt is almost better than Vox remembered it. The sweet yet slightly tangy Original flavor accompanied with ripe, juicy strawberries is perfectly refreshing, even on a frigid winter day. Pinkberry also offers a few other seasonal flavors, including a mouth-watering Mango, Blood Red Orange, Pomegranate, and even Peanut Butter. And with a variety of toppings ranging from fresh fruit to shaved chocolate to crunchy cereal to cheesecake bites, Pinkberry’s got it all. It’s no wonder that this place was bustling with customers when Vox got there.

But is this all too good to be true? Indeed it is. As much as the chilly treats are enjoyable, there is a major setback to this dessert: the steep price. A medium yogurt with toppings, which costs $4.95 at our hometown Pinkberry in California, is a whopping $6.95 here in Georgetown. We’re sorry, but the fact that a frozen yogurt could cost more than a lunch at Chipotle to be taken lightly.

Due to its high prices, Pinkberry may find it difficult to become a favorite hangout spot for college students. However, with the help of wealthy local residents and tourists desperate for a break from the sweltering DC summer climate, Pinkberry should have no trouble finding success here in Georgetown. With that said, who knows how Monday’s arrest of Pinkberry’s co-founder, Young Lee, will affect the thriving yogurt chain. Allegedly beating up a homeless man is not the greatest PR, but that’s a whole other story.

Photo: Alex Rice

Einstein Bros. Bagels has returned to Georgetown. Six months after their Wisconsin Avenue location closed, the bagel-based eatery has reappeared in the Car Barn today. Open only on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., the kiosk will compete with The Corp’s various stores, Wisemiller’s and Saxby’s to meet the Hilltop’s workday bagel needs. A flyer promoting the establishment suggests that a full store is “coming soon,” but lacks a time frame.

Unfortunately, the bagel store is closed on the weekend, like most of the other restaurants run by Auxiliary Services. For now, Hoyas seeking a bagel brunch on Saturday or Sunday won’t find satisfaction in the Car Barn. Hopefully, the full store’s hours will more closely mimic those of Starbucks and Cosi.

Offering six different kinds of bagels and a sandwich and salad here and there, the kiosk is largely self-service. You choose, slice (with a plastic knife), toast and schmear your own bagel and pour your own coffee. A bagel and cream cheese is $2.85.

While the effort to liven the quiet atmosphere of the second floor of the Car Barn is commendable, the bare-bones structure of the kiosk and the proximity of Wisey’s makes Vox question the viability of the new store once the novelty wears off. The proximity and popularity of Wisey’s, which also sells bagels, will certainly overshadow the new Einstein Bros. for the time being. Only if the full store eventually has the variety of offerings and hours of its Wisconsin Avenue antecedent will it become another Hilltop standard alongside UG, Midnight, Starbucks, Wisey’s and Saxby’s.

The location will be mildly convenient during finals periods, when some students seeking a study space less crowded than Lauinger Library use the Car Barn. Particularly during fall semester exams, the availability of hot food inside the Car Barn should encourage more students to study there.

Photo: Jackson Perry

A Note to Readers: Unfortunately, Vox can’t cover every great eatery in Georgetown, so scroll down to the comments and let us and incoming freshmen know your own favorite dishes, dives, and hidden culinary gems.

There comes a time in every Hoya’s life when another trip to Leo’s proves daunting and he or she begins looking for some more varied options. Some good places to start include:

The Basics –

Wisey’s: Officially “Wisemiller’s Deli,” Wisey’s is the closest walk from the front gates and offers up a delicious, artery-clogging set of sandwiches that serve as an accessible alternative to the Leo’s buffet.

Be sure to grab a Chicken Madness at least once during your freshman year (it would be quicker to list the toppings it doesn’t have). If you’re trying to avoid the Freshman 50, you can also check out Wisey’s healthy cousin on Wisconsin (look for the green sign), which serves up some lighter sandwich fare.

Sweetgreen: Opened in 2007 by Georgetown alumni, you can now find Sweetgreen all over D.C. Walk over to the M street branch to enjoy an expansive salad selection along with the best frozen yogurt this side of the Potomac.

Qdoba and Chipotle: Dueling Tex-Mex stops on M street serving up a fairly generic and identical menu of taco and burrito selections. Aside from Chipotle’s tendency to douse their meat in pepper, these joints are mainly popular for their cheapness. Qdoba offers a half-off burrito special Monday nights that will sometimes see a line stretching down the block.

The Tombs: Classy and a bit overpriced, the Tombs is pretty much the Georgetown tavern, located just a block off campus and known equally for its bar and burgers.

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Our very own Leo O’Donovan Dining Hall is a bit of a bonding experience for all freshmen and sophomores, who must submit to the mandatory meal plan, barring a few exceptions.

Vegetarianism doesn’t get you a pass on Leo’s, but you bleeding heart animal lovers will be pleased to hear Peta2 voted Georgetown the 10th most vegetarian friendly campus of 2008. Though we have yet to repeat the performance, Leo’s vegetarian options aren’t all that bad. In fact some Leo’s-weary diners become what we like to call “Leo’s vegetarians,” in self-defense from the dubious post-Thanksgiving turkey mélange.

Anyway, whether you carry out a (totally safe) Grab ‘n Go sandwich, or enjoy your chicken fingers beneath Leo’s nod to the Sistine Chapel, surviving Leo’s requires an iron-clad will stomach and a reliable Tupperware set. Not to mention the well-developed knack for double-think that allows students to smuggle out a backpack full of nauseating food after every meal.

Luckily for all you newbies, some of your fellow Hoyas have compiled their favorite Leo’s recipes (we like to call them coping mechanisms) in O’Donovan’s On The Waterfront. Since these tips won’t get you through the whole year unscathed, here are Vox‘s tips for dealing with Leo’s, originally compiled by former Voice Editor Juliana Brint:

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Although most internships are sadly unpaid, it’s not all hard work and making copies. June 10-19, D.C.’s discount labor get free and reduced fare at restaurants, museums, and shops in the city during the InternsRock: Intern Appreciation Week, hosted by the Washington Center.

Some of the promotions include 20% off at Tombs, a free Sprinkles cupcake, and free admission to the Newseum. All you need to do is present proof of your internship – like a letter from your supervisor, a note, or an e-mail – at one of the Washington Center offices near Dupont (1333 16th Street, N.W., 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday) or Union Station (1005 3rd Street N.E., 10 a.m.-11:00 a.m. daily) and you get a wristband that will access all the discounts.

Image: Washington Center

Photos by Max Blodgett

Kicking off the ”Future of Food” conference in Gaston Hall on Wednesday, Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation, expressed his disappointment with the Washington Post-sponsored event.

“I wish more food industries were on the panel,” he said. “We want a dialogue, want to find areas of common ground, and, even if you don’t agree with us, you’ll find we serve a good lunch!”

Though Schlosser noticed the conspicuous absence of leading agro-business figures, attendees expressed far more excitement over the sustainability super-stars that were in attendence—most notably, His Royal Highness Prince Charles.

A pioneer in food sustainability, the Prince of Wales delved into the complex challenges facing public health, rural employment, environmental protection, and international food insecurity.

While the audience delighted in Prince Charles’ quip about “making embarrassing speeches about my eldest son during wedding receptions,” he gave the conference an air of seriousness, delivering a sober speech about the perils of continuing our dangerously unstable agricultural model.

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Tired of  Wisey’s, or Booey’s, or Wingo’s? Try something new for cheaper than usual this week.

The 17th annual Restaurant Week is bringing deals to over 200 restaurants in the DC-area. Participating restaurants are offering three course lunches and dinners at $20.11 and $35.11, respectively. Tax, tip, and beverages are not included, though. Most restaurants are participating from January 17 to January 23, but some businesses will be offering their deals until the end of the month.

Georgetown Patch has posted a full list of the restaurants participating in Georgetown.

Make sure to make your reservations soon because many places are already full for the week.

h/t: Georgetown Patch Photo: dcsocialite.com

The world of Georgetown restaurants is cut-throat. From cupcakes to kabobs, most end up in ruthless competition with at least one rival. (Think Chipotle vs. Qdoba, Georgetown Cupcake vs. Baked & Wired, or Wingo’s vs. Wing Co.)

The result? The restaurants that survive the brawl are delicious and provide top-of-the-line service. So, when a new crêperie opened its doors last week to challenge the likes of Crêpe Amour and Café Bonaparte, I decided to scope out dessert juggernauts’ competition.

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It seems that Georgetown restaurants can’t get enough of college students. More and more establishments now offer half price specials, almost guaranteeing that their lines go out the door on those special days.

So, we’ve compiled a list, including happy hour specials for those of-age. (After all, even upperclassmen can be cheap.) Let us know if we missed any!

[Editor's Note: Asterisked restaurants require a weekly "secret word" that is found on Hoya Connection.]

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