Are all Steak and Shake restaurants like this?

[Aimeedyan]

I've only been to one Steak and Shake location, and have been to that one a few times. The first two times, someone at my table ordered a shake. The shake came a good 20-30 minutes after we ordered, like as we were finishing our meal.

The last time I went, I told DH the shakes sounded really good but they don't bring them when you're eating, much less before your food, so I was skipping out. Sure enough, the table behind me ordered shakes and when their check was being paid they asked for their shake in a to-go cup because it had just been delivered to their table.

To go isn't a bad idea, but it sure sounded good when you order it...

This particular S&S is notoriously slow, so maybe the shake is just part of the slowness issues they have?

Are all Steak and Shakes slow in getting your shake out? Is there one shake maker per store that you have to wait on? If you order a shake as your beverage, do you expect it to come with or before your food or am I the weird one?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

30 mins for a shake? Did you talk to the manager? We always got our drinks/shakes before our meal.

However I have not gone in and eaten in awhile.

I would be tempted to order the shake first and see how long it takes before ordering my meal.

I bet the drive thru is "taking your shakes".

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

DH loves Steak N Shake because they've got Chicago 5-Way Chili. If they took 20-30 min getting his milkshake, he'd be TICKED. We've never had a problem with ordering shakes and they've never taken more than 5-10 min tops.

Maybe it's just your SnS.

 

[Cindy B]

I 've had that same problem at the Steak and Shake in Orlando. We found that it is easier to do the drive thru because well, those transactions get timed but the "lobby" runs on Southern time... (Southern time is almost the same as "island" time or Jamaica time)


Shakes are usually last to come out as well.

 

[joshsmom]

I'm here in the good old Midwest. SNS is notorious here too for slow service when it comes to shakes. Our food ALWAYS arrives before the shake does, but we are usually only a little into our meal when it comes, so we can still eat it with those yummy steakburgers. I've found that ordering a side-by-side or a less popular one (in other words, not chocolate, strawberry or vanilla) actually speeds up the time I get my shake. I think the more popular ones go to the drive thru first, so getting something "less popular" (but just as yummy) may speed up your delivery time.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

It shouldn't be that slow, but perhaps I can give you some perspective. My first job was as a server at Steak N Shake. Now at Steak n Shake we hand dip all of our milk shakes. This means that we have to scoop the incredibly hard ice cream, put in milk and syrup, then put it on the spindle. The problem is the spindle will phyiscally bore a hole in the ice cream if you just leave it there, so you have to stand there and move it around by hand. There are three spindles on a machine, but we only have two hands, so the most we could do was two at a time. I hated making milkshakes, it took so much time, was cold, and sticky.

Think about the time it would take for a table of four or five if everybody orders a milkshake. It's horrible. The other problem is that we only had a shake person on duty during the busiest times. When a shake person was not on duty, I was expected to make them myself- while still taking orders and running food and refills. I almost always got my shakes out before the food, but it was a close call sometimes. Especially if we were in the middle of a rush because I would have to wait for the machine to free up.

 

[disykat]

I've never been to a steak and shake, but if I order a shake with a meal (other than fast food) I always ASK that my shake be delivered after my meal. I don't like it coming first. I get piggy and drink it down before I even get my food!

 

[Mickey&Donald]

I know nothing about Steak and Shake (never even seen one!) so I looked up the menu.

They don't serve steaks at Steak and Shake?? Really? Too weird.

 

[OK!]

I just wish they still had lime freezes.



That said, I've never had inordinately slow shake service, but after reading the description of the process, I can see how it might take longer than one might expect.

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

No they don't serve steaks at Steak N Shake, but they do serve DELICIOUS steakburgers.

And I LOVE their little matchstick frenchfries. Yum.

 

[kimmikayb]

They serve "steak burger". Which are actually good.

Our SnS is really great, fast service and our shakes come with our meal. However, we went to the Orlando SnS once and it was horrible!! We watched our food sit in the window for almost 10 minutes. Asked someone to get it for us and still it sat. So I got up and served the meals! They just looked at me. There were only one other family in there and they had their meals. We never got our shakes there. Worse service I've had!

However, ours is great!

 

[KristaTX]

The thing I can't figure out with Steak and Shake is why they don't play music. It looks like the kind of place that ought to be playing oldies - like a malt shop. But it's just silent. There's no music at all, and it just doesn't feel right .

The food has always been okay, and I think they've brought our malts/shakes out on time (if you are talking about the one near Hulen Mall). But the shakes are just, eh, okay. In this part of the country Braum's is better for burgers, fries, and definitely for ice cream.

 

[pyrxtc]

I've been to an Orlando SNS twice (same one) and had quick service and the shakes came before the meal and we were ordered 5 of them. I can't wai to get back to one! Wish one would open up in my area!

Both times, the place was almost empty tho.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Glad to know others have had the same exp - they DO move on "southern time", great way to describe it! I know we can't go in there if we're in a hurry that's for sure. I sure do love those cheese fries, though...

Krista - it is Hulen one, and I agree on the Braum's. Have you tried their new bread pudding ice cream? It's so good it's sinful.

 

[schmitty]

It depends alot of time with me. Sometimes Ill get it with my meal, sometimes before the meal and sometimes alittle bit after I get my food. It doesn't really matter to me when I get it as long as I get it.

 

[Cindy B]

Glad to know others have had the same exp - they DO move on "southern time", great way to describe it! I know we can't go in there if we're in a hurry that's for sure. I sure do love those cheese fries, though...

Krista - it is Hulen one, and I agree on the Braum's. Have you tried their new bread pudding ice cream? It's so good it's sinful.

As a Northerner with a very tight schedule , Southern time really drives me crazy.

Up here, reatuarants are fast paced, quick turnover and well, with two kids we didn't really linger too much to begin with.

However once you cross Virginia on I95, everything moves on Southern Time! Meals aren't put in the computer right away, waiters/waitresses want to be chatty (never happens around here) and people move like turtles. If a waitress has four tables-- they really only do one table at a time.

We have to make adjustments regarding Southern Time and add at least 15 minutes if not closer to 45 minutes.

 

[Metro West]

I've never had bad service at the SnS near my house. The food is always hot and comes very quickly.

 

[Geoff_M]

Our family loves S-n-S! While occasionally we've gotten the shakes on a slow time table, overall the service is fine and the shakes arrive right about the same time as the food.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Ive only been once, to one of the restuarants in orlando. I know we got our shakes first, but there was only 1 or 2 other tables of guests

 

[SC Minnie]

We usually stop in just for the shakes but we did go to lunch there one time and DD ordered a shake with her meal. It was brought to the table with everyone else's drink.