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".

.

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?

Here is my go to place when I want to go out for breakfast or lunch.

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http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1751294337.jpg

Waffle House is an acquired taste that I happen to like . Love their omelets and hash browns . Occasionally stop by for lunch and get a burger . It is a greasy spoon old time restaurant with modern efficiency . You can sit at the counter or a booth just depends what's available . They yell out the orders in their unique lingo it's an experience . Reminds me of the diners we would sometimes go to when I was a kid .

^^^ It's only an acquired taste if you "ain't from around here" ;). Now .... almost all the greasy spoons have gone bye.

In & Out is the epitome of what a Burger can be.
Toured the fleet ops once, immaculately maintained, plenty of extra chrome, beautiful trucks.
Some day nation wide.

https://www.forbes.com/profile/lynsi-snyder/

Not going to lie, chain fast food is the absolute last place that I look for a genuine human experience. It’s like dumpster diving for food. How about a quality local sit down restaurant that has more than a microwave in back if you’re craving an “authentic” experience?

That would be great! Do you know of one local to Eaton, Ohio? I don’t, and I’ve lived here for 7 years.

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Do you all still have Frish's up there?

This is definitely one of the places I think of whenever anyone mentions Daytona.

I dunno about that. Maybe it's just me but no matter where I go I always have a good time with those around me.

Oh sure there are times when it's just not going to happen, but those are rare.

How many times do you start a conversation with someone in line by asking them "What are you getting today?"

Or asking the person taking your order what their fav. menu item is?

At the Taco Bell when I was aaked if I wanted any sauces...I just replied "I'll let you decide."

Of course, there's no law saying you need to socialize with other humans.

Life's a beach - and much more!!! :)

Favorite bumper sticker:
 

SMILE!
Everyone loves a moron

Reading about the dining choices in middle America is depressing but not as depressing as experiencing them, which I've done many times. When you dumb a population down enough about food, you can sell them lots of Wonder Bread, Skippy Peanut Butter and Mountain Dew. It's all in the plan. :)

That's a memory! There was one 10 miles away until about a year ago. It had deteriorated into a generic, sit-down place - fast food without the "fast." They still exist, but I don't know where they are.
Frisch's used to have good burgers, shakes, and fries. They had drive-ins that were packed with the cool kids after football games.

The rest of us went to Cassano's Pizza - where they had beer.

:)

You've obviously never been to an In & Out, freshest highest quality ingredients from highly controlled sources. Christian proverbs are listed on every cup bottom and its the best paying fast food job around.

https://www.in-n-out.com/history

We have gone away from fast food except...Mexican take out. We here in SoCal/San Diego have so many excellent options. Our local favorite is TJ Tacos, genuine stuff and delicious. We do drive through and take it home.

Personally I cannot stand the move to kiosk ordering. On a motorcycle trip a few weeks back with my buddies we stopped at McD and it took me 5 minutes to figure out how to order a Sausage Egg Muffin and coffee. That said I realize the FF industry is moving massively to automation due to minimum wage increases...well at least here in CA. Last time (4 months ago) I picked up some burgers and fries from 5 guys...$75 was the tab. Never darkening their door ever again.

Local A&W comes to your table to take your order and then brings your food out to you. Too bad I don't care for their food much. The root beer is still pretty good. Not like the old days though. :(

Back in the 90s I liked them, but they have slowly served smaller and smaller burgers. If I want a $0.49 burger I will go to Hamburger Stand. Fresh ingredients still so there is that going for them.

Baz, you seem like a GREAT guy...but we're polar opposites. When I'm out in public conducting business (shopping, getting food, whatever), I absolutely do NOT want to strike upa conversation with a stranger. If you talked to me, I'd politely respond (I WAS raised)...) and then get away from you :D

That's why when I fly, my headphones go on the second I get on the plane. I'm in "ignore the world" mode for the duration of the flight.

In & Out is about the biggest "ho-hum" burger joint out there, IMO. Burgers aren't any better than McD's (which are bad) and their fries are nothing to write home about. I don't understand people's love with this joint.

If I'm eating out at a burger joint (very rare), it's 5 Guys for me.

There is only one..



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Shake Shack is cheaper than 5 Guys... and better...

But All American you get a really good burger fries or onion rings and a drink for less than $10

They only added bacon as an option a few years ago.....