Steak &b Shake--Never Again! (Page 4): When I was in Scotland last year many of the pubs could only serve food a few days a week because of a shortage of cooks. Most of the cooks came...

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

When I was in Scotland last year many of the pubs could only serve food a few days a week because of a shortage of cooks. Most of the cooks came from other countries and there were still COVID restrictions that restricted getting visas.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

SuperflyTNT wrote:

No pickle, no mustard? What kind of heathen are you.
Also I’ve not seen a kiosk yet that supported any kind of cash payment.

Mustard, ketchup, and mayonnaise are pure poison!

The kiosks don't take cash, but they sure want a tip. Like I will ever tip a kiosk!

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Jimmy T wrote:

The old "Jot'em Down Grocery Stores". We... (show quote)

My grandfather used to work at grocery like that. The owner told him, “when you’re weighing the meat you need to rest your thumb on the scale so it weighs a little heavier”. My grandfather told him he couldn’t do it because those were his friends. The owner said, “you have to do it with your friends because your enemies don’t shop here”.

JustJill Loc: Iowa

jaymatt wrote:

Last night after an outing to see Christmas lights, we stopped at Steak & Shake. At the "new" versions of the restaurants, over half the menu is gone, one must order from a kiosk, no waiters, no condiments on the tables, only three employees, dirty tables, etc.

Note to self: Never, ever eat at Steak & Shake again. It used to be one of my favorite so-called fast food places to eat. Quote the raven, nevermore (apologies to E.A.Poe).

That is too bad. We just had a wonderful experience at a little family owned shop. Frydae. Street fries and shakes or sundaes.

I got the best Poutine I have ever had and a unique shake. Hubby got plain sweet potato fries. It was clean maybe 6 tables. 2 young girls working the counter. One making fries the other making shakes. Soft 70's music in the background. The girls were genuinely friendly and wanted to wait on the customers.

scallihan Loc: Tigard, OR

jaymatt wrote:

Last night after an outing to see Christmas lights, we stopped at Steak & Shake. At the "new" versions of the restaurants, over half the menu is gone, one must order from a kiosk, no waiters, no condiments on the tables, only three employees, dirty tables, etc.

Note to self: Never, ever eat at Steak & Shake again. It used to be one of my favorite so-called fast food places to eat. Quote the raven, nevermore (apologies to E.A.Poe).

Are the restaurants all company owned, or franchisee owned? If franchisee owned, everything could be different at another venue with an owner/manager who cares.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

coolhanduke wrote:

Bi product of minimum wage increases and finding reliable help.
I believe you will be seeing more and more of this.
We enjoyed going for breakfast at Denny’s pre pandemic. Could get 2 breakfests for a little over $20 with tip. Last time we went was over $30 plus tip.
Eating at home much more now.

Going back over twenty years, we would often go to a little restaurant in NH for breakfast. I like the 222. Two eggs, two sausage, two pancakes for $2.22.

I prefer eating at home.

Reuss Griffiths Loc: Ravenna, Ohio

SuperflyTNT wrote:

Let’s not turn this political and get it sent to the attic. Then I would have to go off on how misinformed you are and remind you how bad it was before government got involved in the workplace.

Too late. You already have gone off and shown us how misinformed you are.

fourlocks Loc: Londonderry, NH

jerryc41 wrote:

People complain about things like that and the DIY cash registers in stores. I wonder what the reaction was to supermarkets, where customers had to go and get each item themselves. When I was a kid, we had two local grocery stores. You'd go to the counter and tell the man what you wanted.

Agreed. Or how about pumping your own gas? I remember my father pulling into the the Texaco station in our '57 Olds and waiting for the attendant to walk over to the car and ask what he wanted. Remember the Allman Brothers album "Wipe the windshield, check the oil, dollar gas?" In my poorer days, I've uttered those exact words.

I'm okay with a kiosk for a modest restaurant with an inflexible menu. Saves time. For a better restaurant I want to hear about any specials from the waiter and maybe to ask them, "Is the salmon fresh or the Paella any good?"

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

fourlocks wrote:

Agreed. Or how about pumping your own gas? I rem... (show quote)

I went to Lowe's this morning. There were only three out of six DIY registers open, with seven people waiting to use them. Then I went to the supermarket and got through the DIY quickly.

Come to think of it, Lowe's is a source of materials for DIY projects, so why should people object to a DIY register? 😂

BebuLamar

fourlocks wrote:

For a better restaurant I want to hear about any specials from the waiter and maybe to ask them, "Is the salmon fresh or the Paella any good?"

Any you expect that they will tell you that the salmon isn't fresh or the paella isn't worth getting?

scallihan Loc: Tigard, OR

BebuLamar wrote:

Any you expect that they will tell you that the salmon isn't fresh or the paella isn't worth getting?

I never ask staff how a dish is, other thanbto ask how large are the portions. They probably haven't tasted it, and they certainly aren't going to steer you away from something unless it's toward a more expensive dish. I read reviews in Trip Advisor (never Yelp) and read between the lines of bad reviews- some people live to find fault. If you're looking at a local restaurant, check reviews on Nextdoor Neighborhood.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

scallihan wrote:

I never ask staff how a dish is, other thanbto ask how large are the portions. They probably haven't tasted it, and they certainly aren't going to steer you away from something unless it's toward a more expensive dish. I read reviews in Trip Advisor (never Yelp) and read between the lines of bad reviews- some people live to find fault. If you're looking at a local restaurant, check reviews on Nextdoor Neighborhood.

I find that staff at better restaurants will usually be very honest. Of course you’re still subject to an opinion based on their tastes.
As for Nextdoor? I see the recommendations they make when people ask about restaurants. As someone that knows how to cook and knows food maybe I’m just pickier than most.

RodeoMan Loc: St Joseph, Missouri

BebuLamar wrote:

The menu kiosk like the DIY check out has the advantage that I can customize the order without confusing the person who takes order. The self checkout let me pay with the kind of bills I want and get the change back the way I want without confusing the cashier.
For example if I want a hamburger with onion, lettuce, tomato and manyonaise but no pickle, no mustard and no ketchup and a fry with ketchup and a Fanta Orange zero sugar. It would be right.

Heaven forbid that you would actually speak with another human being.

RodeoMan Loc: St Joseph, Missouri

Amtrain wrote:

At least you were able to go inside and eat. I am getting so darn tired of getting out of my car and walking across the parking lot to pull on a locked door because the place does not have enough staff to open the dining room.

This happened to me AGAIN last night at Hardee's. The same restaurant tried a self-serve kiosk inside but it got so few people to use it, that they took it out—a no-win situation in any way.

We have the same situation here at the Hardee's in St. Joe. But this morning, I got in got my breakfast biscuit and cinnamon roll with raisins.

RodeoMan Loc: St Joseph, Missouri

jaymatt wrote:

The kiosk wanted a tip, too.

Maybe the best conversion was in Anderson, Indiana--it was bulldozed.

Too bad you can't send this conversation to Steak n' Shake Corporate. They'd probably send you a coupon for a hamburger. A single.