Steak ‘n Shake

Love this place. My friends and I would drive here all the time to grab their cheap yet tasty meals. Their milkshakes are surprisingly really great, and though their fries are thing, it doesn’t skimp out on taste!

Good greasy burger! Sit down at the bar, watch the fast paced kitchen whip up your meal. Nice departure from typical fast food for about the price of Mickey D’s. Skip the drive through, and enjoy the inside. The food is prepared to order very quickly, but still doesn’t lend itself to a drive-​though application. The wait is probable shorter by simply going in and taking a seat.

I’ve seen their signs for years during my dozens of trips up & down the I-​95 corridor. Finally stopped in to try them out. I’m glad we did. Quick & attentive service even though they were pretty busy. I had the mushroom and swiss burger — my GF had a BLT. With drinks & tip bill was $ 15.00. Food arrived quickly and tasted great. I prefer shoestring fries so I’m definitely coming back. Don’t know why I waited so long to try this place.

Terribly slow service but good food. I used to go here when I worked late at my old job, but I just don’t bother anymore especially now that we have Cook Out.

We love the shakes, but this location is SO slow. I’m sorry, but can’t give it better than 2 stars. We sat in the drive through for over 20 minutes with 3 cars in front of us. Mind you, this was not at lunch time, but at 2:30 in the afternoon. Not sure what the issue was, but I wouldn’t recommend this place.

Food & service were great! Even our little picky eaters finished their food & had fun. It’s not gourmet, but we enjoyed everything & it was cheap.

My wife and I used to love going to Steak and Shake when we lived in Atlanta so we were pretty stoked to stop by on the way down to visit family. We were both surprised to see how inexpensive it was to eat here; I mean $ 4.99 meals?! That’s pretty awesome.
So the food wasn’t as great as I remembered it. I ordered a frisco melt, what I always got. The fries used to be my favorite but not anywhere. It was too skinny for my liking. I ordered the spaghetti with chili as well. It wasn’t the worst thing I’ve eaten; however, the spaghetti sauce and the chili were fighting each other and it didn’t really mash well. The flavor was too strong.
Service was pretty good though. Our server was well-​mannered and I loved it. No complaints there. Now, going on to paying. There was only one cashier open so the line was a bit long. The cashier was both for leaving customers but also customers who were ordering to go so it took us almost 30 minutes to pay for our meal. It was ridiculous. Probably won’t be back. You definitely get what you pay for though.
Also, it wasn’t as dirty as what previous reviews stated. The restaurant was actually pretty clean.

I keep going back where because it’s tradition with a friend and the shakes are good, but wow. This place is a mess.
But y’know, I can’t say it isn’t worth stopping in at least once. Good shakes, interesting burgers. It’s worth the experience. Besides, you may get lucky and go there on one of their better days.
Also of note: 24-​hour drive-​thru and dine-​in with 2 – 4 PM and 2−4AM half-​price shakes.
The food itself is always pretty good, and I’ve never had them mess up my order. But you might be handed a cold burger or a half-​melted shake. Sometimes the wait staff is wonderful. Sometimes you can see your waitress having a conversation with her friends instead of bringing you your food. Sometimes the place is spotless. Sometimes the place is trashed. Sometimes everything goes by quickly. Sometimes it takes you five minutes to pay your tab because three people can’t manage to process a basic coupon. Sometimes you can see the cooks working hard and rushing to get things done. Sometimes you want to go back there and tell them to stop being lazy.
(Pro tip: If you’re going to have an open kitchen, you really need a supervisor there at all times to make sure your customers can’t see your staff being lazy or finished shakes being ignored by wait staff that couldn’t care less.)
The food almost always takes a long time even if you’re one of two tables occupied with no on in the drive-​thru. I’ve never even bothered with the drive-​thru; there’s no way it could ever be quick.

Food and shakes are good but they really need to clean this place. Especially the floor in the kitchen was in a terrible condition, it wasn’t just wet but oily all over the place, there was trash laying around and food.
Good food and service but seriously needs lot more cleaning from top to bottom.

I say this as I’m waiting in the drive thru line for close to 30 minutes at this point. Unacceptable wait time at any drive thru. Even if there was a larger order you still have people pull around. Luckily (or unluckily) this is just a pit stop. So much for it being quick. Do not come here if you’re in any hurry. Or have kids in the car. I can’t judge the food quality yet but I will edit this.
Edit: everything is right and taste good.

I’m going to keep this one quick, as I’ve reviewed two other locations (both I believe actually are owned by the same group that own this one). Food’s good, but when you have service that’s sub-​par every single time you go to a location, it’s crossing the line. This time, me and my friend were driving back to Norfolk, and this was right off 95 (we’ve been to this one three or four times) and decided «Yeah let’s have Steak ‘n Shake». Took us a couple minutes to get seated as the host/​busboy (not complaining, it was after 10pm) was cleaning up the booth (Note: make sure your busboy dries the table off). We sat down, and waited, and waited, and waited until a server came to take our order (about 10 mins). Ordered, and our drinks came out. Now, usually Steak ‘n Shake takes 10 – 12 mins to get your food. This took 30, and when it came out, my friends burger (which he specifically asked multiple times for no raw onion) came out with raw onion on it. The server takes it back, another 15 minutes later, brings out his burger. This isn’t terrible, but when I walk up to the counter and pay and I’m flat out ignored for five minutes, I’m sorry, but that’s just too far. Along with that, the cashier was incredibly rude.
Will I be back? No. Not at all. Food’s good, but the service isn’t worth the savings.

I normally love Steak and Shake, but this location provided horrible service to my mother and me. If it were a possible option, I would prefer to leave a zero star review.
We were moderately promptly greeted and taken to our seats around 11:25 this morning. We ordered within five minutes, but then did not receive our food for another twenty five minutes. I understand that waiting for food is normal, but one should not have to wait that long at a restaurant that operates a drive thru.
When we finally received our food, our burgers were luke warm, and our fries were cold. Either the food was not properly cooked, or it had been sitting out for some time. We promptly asked to speak to a manager to discuss the situation. After waiting ten minutes for the manager to come over, I walked up to the counter and asked for the manager again. Our server assured me that the manager would be over «in a few minutes». We waited an additional ten minutes, with no sign of a manager.
For the first time ever in my life, we then walked out without paying our tab. I feel no guilt for this, however, as the most either of us ate was a single bite of our burgers. Nearly an hour wasted to end up not eating.
I have loved every other Steak and Shake location I’ve been to, and now I hesitate to ever return.

I’m giving them 1 STAR! The other times I’ve been here, the experience was smooth sailing. I’ve only been to this location during the daytime. During the evening, it’s a complete nightmare!
When my family and I dined here a few weekends ago, the experience we had was HORRENDOUS!!! Everything was horrible, the dining area was GROSS. Customer service was poor, slow, and for the most part, unresponsive. I really don’t think there are enough colorful words to describe how gruesome this experience was. I’ll try to explain the experience in detail below…
THE DINE-​IN LOCATION
NASTY! Old food (like several hours or maybe days old), condiment sauce, and trash all over the place. Floors were sticky I felt like I was on a mouse trap. We even cleaned two of the tables ourselves just so we could sit inside peacefully.
THE SERVICE
As soon as we arrived, we had a rude cashier take our order. Pacione was her name. It starts with the whiny «I’m better than this job and shouldn’t be taking any orders» attitude. My family and I felt the poor vibe right away. That’s not how you greet any customer regardless of how bad your day was. Everyone has those days, either put up or go home. It’s not like the place was busy when we arrived either.
The whining and moaning carried on as she grumbled about how she hates her job, the long hours she’s been working, and how the monitor screen for taking orders wasn’t working. Someone else finally stepped in to take our order as she walked off like a child throwing a fit.
Okay, cool, whatever. Order is placed and now we wait for our food.
and wait…
and wait some more…
30 minutes pass and as more customers walk through the doors, the cooking area looks like a zoo. We go back to the counter and ask about the status of our order. We didn’t even receive the drinks at this point! WTF? So we ask Pacione as she stepped back in after her temper tantrum. She was the only one available walking around SO nonchalant. Either we were ignored or we would get a rude/​snappy response. Delivering the drinks to us was like we were slaving her to hand it to us. Where do they find these privileged kids who have to work so hard?
What was even funnier was the arguing back and forth between her and what seemed to be the manager. Not sure what it was about but that doesn’t make any guest feel comfortable.
1 hour later after the initial order… and everyone in our party didn’t receive any food. We see PLENTY of burgers/​hotdogs/​fries cooking and not one product was delivered to us or any of the remaining guests for that matter. You can imagine by now the line is out through the door… not because of how great the service is, but how poor this place was operated.
Food was finally being distributed after an hour and a half. None of the workers had a clue as to which order belonged to whom. They literally threw food in the bag and called out what was in it. Why did they even take anyone’s names? You had some of the workers on their phones, others just talking, and two cooks flickin’ da wrist like they’re in a vine clip. Save that for your time off, this is job time.
The only person that was of use and overworking was the elder gentlemen, Larry. He assisted us with all of our needs. He literally was a one-​man operation aside from the cooking. He did everything the other staff members couldn’t. From waiting tables, cleaning the dining area, warming up food in the microwaves, to providing us an update of our order. We finally got our food after an hour later. YAY… not
THE FOOD
If the long wait didn’t bother you, tasting the food will. The chili was COLD. Fries were stale, hardened, and COLD. Burger meat was COLD. Is this leftover Tuesdays? Did they pick the food off the floors to give to us? I don’t know. We watched all the food cook in the kitchen… HOW?
FINAL THOUGHTS.
I’ve been to locations elsewhere throughout the country and it was never bad… AT ALL! We thought at the very least, the food would be satisfying as we had such a terrible experience in the service department already… WE THOUGHT.
Had we not voice our concerns and hounded the table for our food… I’d be surprised if we would even receive the order. Great thing Larry assisted us. He deserves 5 stars by himself. While he did expedite the process, we did miss several orders of sandwiches and fries. We realized this right away but we were too tired and didn’t feel like fighting anymore. So we just gave up and went home. This place will never get our business again. It wasn’t just our group that experienced poor service that night… one man waited with his group of daughters for just as long as we did. The only difference is he didn’t hound them.
The manager at this location can’t keep his colleagues in check, the workers don’t give a damn about anyone else but themselves. Steak ‘n Shake needs to close this location or hire new staff (except Larry). I refuse to ever come back to this location. Worst steak n’ shake experience ever. YUCK

I ate here when it first opened and it was great now that I am passing threw I wanted to stop in again! It’s bad stood in front of the podium and had 3 employees pass me by without saying a word, just look at me as if chewing gum stuck to the bottom of their shoe. I sat at the bar side seating and got the same service from my waiter. I decided they might have an off day so another time I tried the drive threw because I was in a little hurry and it was the worst thing I could have done they took so long to make my food and the drink they gave me was wrong. Now you might be thinking no big deal right you just got the wrong drink but I am allergic to NutraSweet and when I took a sip of the diet coke I was given for the second time I got upset. After being sick from that experience, I will not go back.

I have never been to a burger place so horribly ran in my life. Some workers such as one that we have ran into, Pacione, was very rude. She kept complaining and cursing, she was on the phone, as well as another employee. We waited for an hour for our food, and when we asked for our food, they asked what we ordered. There is no point in taking someone’s order if you are not going to follow it. We couldn’t even get water. The cooks were making food, but for nobody! They were just making burgers for the drive through people. If it was an option, I would give this place negative stars. Employees were just walking out, and refused to do their job. There was one man that helped us, he made sure we were taken care of. But our food was cold, the tables were filthy, and I’ve never been to a restaurant this poorly ran.

Not an efficient or fast food place in the least bit. Terrible service and horrible wait for food. You have to stand in line to get a table then once your seated you stand in another line to buy your food.
Understaffed and inefficient. Will not be stopping at this location again.
After receiving food (update): the fries were cold and the milkshakes sat on the counter for 20 mins. Friend ordered the sliders and the buns were stale and rock hard.

Here’s the problem with this «new concept designed» Steak n Shake and I believe other SnS’s are being constructed as well. They put the register in the middle of the counter where customers place «to go» orders, come to pick up orders, and pay their checks. You also have customers seated at this counter area causing a huge congested area. Very poorly designed.
I believe they should have gone with the concept of the server presenting customers with a check and processing it, just as places like Olive Garden or Red Robin. It would eliminate the entire congested counter situation and moving patrons in and out quicker.
Also, with the drive-​in customers competing with regular sit-​down customers being served, one of the two is going to lose each day. As others have stated, either the drive thru will take for ever, or the sit down customers will be waiting 30 minutes or more for there meals.
This operation was «not thought out» by corporate office. Additionally, at times they are way understaffed making it even worse on the sit down customers. We experienced this also on Monday of this week. I cannot blame our one server as he was seating customers, waiting on at least 7 tables, and writing checks and helping with the cash register. «It’s impossible».
Also, when you first walk into this Steak n Shake the greeting seating stand was built right up against the front door. Another congested traffic area.
Tell you what, the architect for Steak n Shake at the corporate office really did not think this design out as for the inside patrons.
The owner has to rethink the operation and somehow apply change to it’s current condition.
Yes, you can only cook so fast, get the drive thru customers taken car of, and run this Steak n Shake as it should please customers. Ask corporate for advice and help.
You don’t want to lose customers and business.
I gave it 2 stars because the food was good and the waiter tried best he could for being the only person waiting tables and because the manager didn’t attempt to help him.
COMMENTS WELCOME!
Disclaimer: We have eaten here at least 5 times in the last few years and this was the first time I noticed the horrible service. On the other hand, I could spot the concept of a nightmare with the design of the restaurant when it first opened. You just knew it was designed with flaws.

Might be the worst Steak ‘n Shake I’ve ever been to. Very disorganized, no manager in sight it seems, wait staff left a lot to be desired, and it was just an overall bad experience. The host didn’t know what the heck he was doing, and can’t really blame him because he didn’t get any support from anyone when he asked for help, the waitress was just awkward and borderline rude, and the only silver lining was that the food came out looking decent and tasted good too and of course, a great value.
Exercise caution before coming to this one, you may wait a while and don’t get your hopes up on getting crazy awesome service.

Let’s face it, a road trip down 95 S is totally mis. In fact, the only way to make it better is through a grease injection usually of the fast food variety. I’m usually a Chick-​fil-​a roadtripper but on a recent trip I decided to try something a little bit off the beaten path.
Steak ‘n Shake had come highly recommended by a few cousins so I eagerly entered their address into the GPS and away we went! I should have known better to trust the tastebuds of a high schooler because this place is a hot mess/​
As soon as I walked in, I wanted to walk out and take a shower. The tables were groaning from piles and piles of unwashed dishes and people chowing down like the end of tomorrow. This is a sit down style, fast food restaurant but they also have take out at the counter. There is no real line so ordering is confusing.
I got a kids burger (regular burgers comes with two patties and I wanted one) with cheese, fries and a milkshake. You can see them cook the patties on the griddle fresh. Since there was no room to sit in the restaurant, we ate in the car and everything tasted like a grease trap rescue mission. I hate myself so I ate everything anyways and spent the next 3 hours of my trip regretting all of the decisions I have made in life to that point.
I think it took three days for the sodium content in my body to regulate itself again.
I think it’s because I’m old but I’m not a Steak ‘n Shake fan.

This place is cool. Stopped here on my way to Richmond from Northern Virginia. This was my second time here and I’ve noticed that it’s usually crowded.
The servers are always always always so nice. They will strike a convo with you and make asking them for things easy and casual. The foods alright. It’s nothing absolutely mouth watering and great, but it’s not bad. They have a lot of burger and sandwich choices which I like.