No more Steak N Shake for me
 

I used to enjoy lunch at the counter at Steak N Shake now and then. There are’t any out here in the sticks, but I’ve had two occasions to stop at two different stores in the last month when I was back home. Things have changed.
They don’t have a wait staff anymore, and they closed the counter. If you still chose to eat there (I didn’t) you place your order at two big touch screens, where you stand in line while the kid in front of you pokes at the screen with his nose finger. When he’s finished slimming up the screen, you are expected to poke it yourself to place your order. No thanks.
For me, even at down scale eateries, dining is more than shoveling down food. There is an experience involved. I used to enjoy the experience at S N S, sitting at the counter, watching the fry cook make burger sandwiches. Some of them were performance artists.
Looks like the end of another part of our era. I wasn’t made for these times.

I've eaten their burgers via the drive thru....but I don't remember ever being inside one.
I always put them on the level of Wendy's but maybe a little better.

Almost all the airport fast food places have gone to 'order at the screen' and 'use the app'. I hate it also.
A good share of motels have done the same. Nobody at the front desk...talk to the guy in the box.

I’m going the opposite direction of you fine gentleman. I kind of like the touchscreen ordering. I can take my time and peruse the menu and then know that everything I wanted is on the order.

My local Taco Bell and McDonalds both have these- you can still order at the counter if you want. Although the couple times I went in the McDonalds, it wouldn’t take my card, so I had to take my number receipt to the counter and pay there.

Since I usually get my stuff to go, I always wash my hands before I eat at home.

We had a great Steak & Shake. They closed it when Covid hit. I went to one in Nashville and it was terrible. No more S&S for me.

Do you have any Culver's in your area?
If you liked S&S...Culver's ButterBurgers are great.

Go to the local cafe. Order the Patty Melt. That will give you a good measuring tool of how good the rest of the menu will be.

A sit down lunch is good for the digestion.

I don't think I've been to a SnS, maybe since the late 80s or early 90s if that. I've seen them, but I'm not certain that I've ever actually eaten at one.

Another era closes...

I go when I'm in IN, which is about every 6-8 weeks. I have dined inside once and I think I had to use the kiosk pad to order. No biggie. Their burgers are pretty good.

Their food is decent, guess I don’t do fast food for the experience. You would like Culver’s, their food is good and their service is superb.

I'm surprised y'all are frequenting these chain establishments. I find there's lots of places near me with way better food for the same price. Bars, food trucks, and independent restaurants, all come to mind.

The trick is to avoid the tourist places. $$

There is a Culvers and I do like it from time to time. Only fast food in my town is Subway so its not really convenient to just go out for a sandwich. Easier to drop a burger on the grill.

^^^ They have a large menu of food....but I keep coming back for the Butterburger Deluxe Single Patty.
It's exactly the type of burger I like.

I haven't been to a Subway in prob 10 years....and don't miss it.

We had the same experience to the SNS near us. No thanks to the new operation. We also discovered Culver's and that is now on the favored lunch spot list.

SnS have the best fries and shakes. They are my fav late night junk food (think 10pm or later).

The takeaway here is we are leaving behind a culture we once embraced.

Enjoyed.....took comfort from.

Human connections.

All going by the wayside little by little.

I don't do a lot of eating out but last week went through the local Taco Bell because I was hankering for a crispy taco.....the girl taking orders and running the register had purple hair coloring but a sparkling personality and the gold standard as far as operations.

There's still some good experiences to be had in the "eat out/take out" world.

I taught jr college back in the 80's in Daytona and would run by the SNS at the corner of 92 and Nova once in a while. But haven't been back in many moons....

Waffle House .......... you can sit at the counter and watch your meal being made . Their burgers are as good as anyone's. Old time charm mixed with modern efficiency . You are greeted when you walk in and your order is taken at the counter/booth . You pay at a register to a human .

We used to have a SnS but it closed . We enjoyed going there but that was when humans took your order . If we are traveling and stop at a fast food restaurant for a quick bite if there is an ordering kiosk we turn around and leave . We are old school guilty as charged :D .

Totally agree Baz. It sucks. Human interaction is going by the wayside quickly.


I very rarely go to fast food places, if I do its Wendy's only. Five Guys has been knocked off the list because their prices are totally outrageous.

I absolutely hate having to order from a kiosk, or use your effin "app". Im also one of those freaks that still pays with cash whenever I can.

I'd much rather get my food from a local restaurant/bar/diner. Ala' "Drive in Diners an Dives".

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I agree with Dixie. Here in CA, thanks to our governor, fast food wages are now $22 an hour. Consequently, any fast food place has now priced themselves right there with dine-in regular restaurants. I opt for the dine-in, get seated, waitress, food served, etc. If my brother and I go to Carl's Jr., (our favorite FF place, along with Taco Bell) 2 burgers, fries and drinks comes to a little over $27.00! We rarely ever go to the FF places any more.

I don’t frequent fast food places. Its only if I’m out off the property at lunch time. There are only a few alternatives for lunch around here, only one of them has decent food and it’s pricey. I normally make my own lunch, and I haven’t been out for dinner in 6 months. I prefer the meals I make at home.

I loved that, and Im sorry to see it going away. One of my fondest memories is eating at the department store lunch counter. It didn’t happen often, and it was a huge treat. That’s probably why I enjoy it now, when I can. Bob Evan’s closed their counter, the local place with a counter sucks. So - Waffle House, huh?