Steak and Shake

[DWalt]

The parent company of SnS (Biglari Holdings) is located here in San Antonio. Yet, there is no SnS store here. At least not that I am aware of. The burger competition in SA is probably too much for them, considering that Whataburger chain (also headquartered here) has pretty well saturated the local market (and most of Texas). It's tough to beat Whataburger for customer loyalty. Whataburger has nearly killed off Wendy's and Jack in the Box locally. I ate in a SnS place in Chattanooga TN about 10 years ago, the only time I was ever in one. Nothing memorable about it as I recall.

 

[meaneyedcatz]

The parent company of SnS (Biglari Holdings) is located here in San Antonio. Yet, there is no SnS store here. At least not that I am aware of. The burger competition in SA is probably too much for them, considering that Whataburger chain (also headquartered here) has pretty well saturated the local market (and most of Texas). It's tough to beat Whataburger for customer loyalty. Whataburger has nearly killed off Wendy's and Jack in the Box locally. I was in a SnS place in Chattanooga TN about 10 years ago, the only time I was ever in one. Nothing memorable about it as I recall.

There chili , chili Mac and chili three way are fantastic!

 

[375hh1973]

Been to several Steak n Shake places.

They take WELL DONE to a whole new level...

I understand that chains won't cook a medium rare or rare burger but, damn.

An NHL hockey puck has more moisture.

 

[hemiram]

I used to like SnS a lot back 30 years ago, long before they came to this area. The ones here locally have been closed at least twice for health violations. Really gross stuff. They are open again, but Culver's has come to town and I expect them to be gone almost as soon as the Culver's being built nearby are open. On the East side of town, Culver's has decimated the other fast food places to the point I almost feel sorry for the guy who runs the McDonald's nearby. I think a large part of the other fast food places' business is simply the result of the long wait at Culver's starting about 11am every day. I go at 10am, when they open up and a couple of times I've been the first customer of the day.

IMHO, Culver's is the best chain fast food place I have ever had. They keep screwing up my orders, which is nothing new, but they give me free meals to make up for them messing up! That double butterburger I have most Sunday mornings is fantastic. The fish is great too, as are the onion rings. I haven't been to McD's in years. Same goes for Sonic (Hugely overrated, IMHO). If only White Castle would come back to Toledo....

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Getting us ready to eat in the People's Commissary.

 

[DWalt]

They are coming back to the Cincy Metro area. I'm having visions of the Double R Bar Burger. (Roy was born in downtown Cincy)

Interesting. I remember that there was formerly a Roy Rogers national chain in operation, but I thought it went out of business long ago. I am not sure that the Roy Rogers name has any drawing power these days. Most people under 40 probably have no idea who he was, unless they watch his old movies on TV. While Roy (Leonard Slye) was born in Cincy, he grew up in Duck Run, near my old home town. He is still sort of a hero in that part of Southern Ohio.

 

[JFthunder]

Years back they took the Mocha off the shake menu… told them then it was the beginning of the end… took a while.

 

[Chubbo]

Hopeless?

HeneryT; Your suggestion is admirable, but I’m afraid that it would get the same response that reporting someone for using a cellphone while driving would get.

It makes me heartsick, to see our Law enforcement officers disregard people breaking laws, because those laws, are considered acceptable by a majority of themselves, or a majority of the selfish members of our society.

The pattern is set, and I see no remedy for it.

Chubbo

 

[johngalt]

Growing up Steak 'n Shake was a family favorite. However the one thing in common among almost all I have been to is about half the tables have dirty dishes.

Back in the day they were definitely a step up from the typical McD's/Burger King/Wendy's. But with Culvers I don't really miss them any more.

 

[TX-Dennis]

Only one Steak N Shake here that I know of, and it's in a truck stop / gro. store / hardware store. I've not tried it, and I guess if most of the comments in this thread are accurate I'll just keep things that way.

 

[Doug M.]

That was my dad's favorite. My son went to law school in CU and dad would drive up and take him out to SnS or a local steak place. He always left him with some cash also.

*
What years was he at UIUC law? I am a product thereof myself (but they would never admit it).

The only Stake 'n Shake that comes to mind in CU is out on north 45 on the edge of Urbana. Eaten there a few times and it was pretty decent, with good service.

The shift in service paradigms due to COVID has had some interesting effects. My experiences with the the McDonalds I pass the most often is that they have done a great job with the service through the drive-through. The other thing I see is that their food safety practices seem to be the best and most consistent in the fast food category. Not a preferred food stop, but workable under some circumstances.

 

[johngalt]

A lot of the fast food places here now have signs 'online orders only', I assume due to staffing shortages.

 

[M29since14]

…The shift in service paradigms due to COVID has had some interesting effects. My experiences with the the McDonalds I pass the most often is that they have done a great job with the service through the drive-through. The other thing I see is that their food safety practices seem to be the best and most consistent in the fast food category. Not a preferred food stop, but workable under some circumstances.

I see the same thing in my neck of the woods.

As to Steak & Shake, I try not to be too outspoken about stuff that doesn’t matter (like hamburger joints), but I wouldn’t take a dog I didn’t like to a Steak & Shake - based on consistently bad service and a disagreeable staff. The one that I visited violated my three-strikes rule long ago. And that particular restaurant is now closed. Others must have felt likewise. I can get along at McDonalds, though I judge that they are now considerably overpriced. I guess, in the fast food business, what isn’t? And that’s going to get worse.

My final thought - All fast food restaurants should have a COMPETENT, RESPONSIBLE, ADULT SUPERVISOR ON-DUTY anytime food is being served.

 

[biku324]

Sorry, guys, but Blake's Lot-a-Burger puts them to shame with green chile 'burgers.

 

[grover99]

There has been a Steak and Shake about 10 miles from me for the last 7 or 8 years but I never tried it. So today I gave it a shot. I went through the drive through and the service was fine. The girl at the window was friendly. I had a double steak burger with cheese and while not great better than McDs and cheaper. Wendys had been my fast food joint of choice but the last burger I got there had shrunk in size. But still the same price. The Steak and shake burger was rather small also. Fast food maybe still fast but not a place to get an inexpensive meal. I drop by the local AM-Vets on Friday and get a burger that is much better than any fast food place, FF and a beer for $7.50.

 

[straightshooter1]

There's a S&S just up the street from our Church, but I haven't been there in at least 15 years, maybe more.

Used to like it and met my wife there after she got off work on Wednesday nights, we'd eat, the go over to the Church.

I prolly sound like a snob, but we just don't patronize any fast food restaurants any more with the exception of Chic Fil A and then it's the drive thru for sodas and/or lemonade.

Since the Covid hit we go to very few restaurants of any kind.

And, we've discovered the Airfryer.

Bob

 

[Telecaster]

I went to a Steak N Shake after they got rid of the employees, and it was an eerie spookie experience. It was not good at all. The food wasn't as good either.

Locally based Firehouse Subs just sold the company to a giant mega corp. for one billion dollars. Good for the Sorensens. I saw one of the Sorensens at the gun shop once, he was leaving with a new Glock.

Unfortunately, I expect quality to plummet. It's already been dropping lately. The new owner also owns Burger King and Popeyes, neither of which are known for quality or service though the Popeyes chicken sandwiches are pretty good.

 

[JohnHL]

Takhomasak!

(Some of you will get this.)

John

 

[SMSgt]

There's a S&S just up the street from our Church, but I haven't been there in at least 15 years, maybe more.

Used to like it and met my wife there after she got off work on Wednesday nights, we'd eat, the go over to the Church.

I prolly sound like a snob, but we just don't patronize any fast food restaurants any more with the exception of Chic Fil A and then it's the drive thru for sodas and/or lemonade.

Since the Covid hit we go to very few restaurants of any kind.

And, we've discovered the Airfryer.

Bob

The Boss is a big fan of CFA. I admire its business plan, the food not so much. It's nice to see it has employees actually cleaning tables instead of letting stuff pile up until it falls on the floor.