SmashBurger to open in May

We've long been jealous of states with their very own In-and-Out Burger shops. Will Colorado's most serious burger chain bring us something even better?

I've never tried SmashBurger before (most locations are in Colorado, with a couple in Texas and Kansas), but they look like they might be a serious contender in fast food's "better burger" category (Smashburger is to McDonald's as Chipotle is to Taco Bell).

Their basic menu includes burgers ("smashed" on the grill, apparently), dogs, a few salads and sides, plus wine and beer. On the plus side, the toppings look intriguing: applewood smoked bacon, sauteed mushrooms, guacamole, and fried egg, among others. (On the downside, does American cheese really have any purpose, like, anywhere?) I'm also excited to see malts made with Haagan-Dazs ice cream (the one drawback to Wagner's in SLP = crappy soft-serve shakes).

tThe first Minnesota location is scheduled to open in May at 3900 Silver Lake Road in St. Anthony.