Steak ‘n Shake

First off the food is great when u get it but the wait staff is UNBELIEVABLY rude almost borderline racial… me and my girlfriend (who is of a different race) USED to go there frequently bc of the great price and food. but we would be rudely looked at by the wait staff bc we were an interracial couple and ignored… the wait staff (who were mostly black women) had nasty looks on their faces and one actually came from the back because the manager who was on the stove had to go back and tell her to come out took one look at us said something to the manager and went back to the back. the manager continues to cook and we were atill ignored. we left and will NEVER return to that location again unless they totally revamp the entire staff. and this is not the only time this has happened.
As i mentioned the food is great but the staff is completely rude and un professional.
(and im a black man)

Terrible service. Terrible. Walked in with my girlfriend and see 5 employees and only 3 tables filled. There wasn’t a sign saying to seat ourselves or to wait to be seated, so we wait and none of the employees said anything to us or approached us. After waiting a while we decided to seat ourselves. A waitress walked right past us on many occasions yet never spoke to us. After 15 mins of no service, I ask this waitress if we can have some menus. She asked who our waitress was… we got mad since all of the employees saw us sitting there and didn’t do anything, so we left to do drive-​thru instead. This was another mistake. We waited over 20 mins for our food with only 1 car in line in front of us. We counted about 8 employees between the people in the front and back. There were only 6 customers seated inside eating. Tell us why it took 40 mins to get 2 burgers and a large side of fries, which were made very sloppy. Incompetent, lazy, and rude. Avoid this place at all costs.

I’ve been to a lot of steak and shakes, but this one by far is the WORST! while I was waiting for my food. I saw man who was sitting down waiting to be served actually get up and go to the window where they place the food when it’s ready and pick up his plate and come back to the table! Unbelievable service at this location. Never seen a restaurant so chaotic. place needs a complete overhaul starting with the management!!!

Today I stopped in for a burger and I stood where the sign says «wait to be seated «about 5 min and finally one of the young ladies decided that it was her job to seat my family and I. Wow!
I began to scan the area as i waited boy did it look filthy! Tables that had food on them and dirty plates spilled pop on the tables. Then the young lady directed us to our table, as I walked behind her I had stepped on something it felt like a pile of dog poop! It was a half a burger on the ground! ! We got to our table and they attempted to clean it, but it still had bits of food on it. I was going to walk out at this point, but i also wanted to give them a chance to correct the problem. It took another 5 min. For our waitress to take our order for drinks. I decided to hit the restroom to wash my hands and I seen that they had a warning sign up for wet floor not sure why until I went into the men’s room. I walked into flooded bathroom and almost slipped and fell ! The girls restroom was the same according to my daughter. We notified the manager that it was unsafe for any patron to go into those bathrooms. He said they were aware of it, but that’s just the way it is around here. He mentioned that he is a new manager and that he’s doing as much as he can. My niece told him that it was a health violation and that she was going to contact the health department or the city inspector. At that point his eyes got real big and said I’ll get right on it. What a shame!!! This place had no leadership and the young ladies were behind the partition wall eating food while customers waited!
I will never return to this restaurant again! We cancelled our order and left so I can’t review the food.

This review was from years ago, It was in my draft, I forgot to post it. I always get the delicious hot dogs. Tonight, I ordered from the drive thru one in Larkin Ave, 2 Chicago hot dogs no mustard & chilly cheese fries. Took them ½ an hour to complete the order, 1^st time came with mustard & the have to remake them. Bummer, expensive $ 12 & took such a long time. Only 1 car other than mine, they had to go in to take their long order. Hot dogs still delicious, chilly cheese fries taste like shit. Lol…

Terrible service! After waiting 30min in the drive through I went inside to ask how long it would take to finish my $ 15 order. The manager Tony said he did not know how much longer my food would take. I have never seen a restaurant run so poorly.

Me and my coworkers used to come here all the time if we had to open before our shifts. The food is okay, typical fast food. The servers here are very friendly but Bri was our favorite. We haven’t had her in awhile but the new servers just aren’t the same. Overall, it’s okay for the price.

I cannot believe that this place is still operational. I was seated when I walked in but then I waited up to 15 minutes before someone even acknowledged me at my table. Order was given with a drink all at the same time. 10 – 15 minutes pass I get my my food with no silverware. When they returned I requested my drink and when they return with my drink. then went to go get a straw. Half of the restaurant was empty tables ready. Line out the door to get in and a line at the door to pay the check. If you truly want a steak and shake meal go to the one by the Joliet mall off of Route 30.

Great service, clean restaurant and an awesome breakfast with milkshake of course. Definitely a place to stop if looking for a place to stop off I-​80.

There were only three ladies working on a Friday night and we sat 20 minutes without getting our waters. Our waitress kept disappearing into the bathroom (that had an out of order sign on it) and coming out smelling like dope. It sounds ridiculous, and it was. It was by far the worst service we’ve received. The cook was nice and doing her best, but said that the whole staff had walked out. We’re still sitting here without our food and are considering just leaving.

My boyfriend and I have went here early in the morning around 3AM on a few occasions. The place is always dead, yet you still wait about 20 – 30 minutes for your food. Fine, whatever. When we get drinks the waiter rarely comes over to give us a refill. The last time we went, my boyfriend ordered coffee. The lady said she would make a fresh pot for him. She must have drank the whole pot because he never got his coffee. We didn’t bother saying anything about it because we expect such crappy service from that place anyway. The food is always fresh at least and the bathrooms are usually pretty clean, but other than that, forget this place.

Only 1 star because I had to give them something. All restaurants are supposed to be 24 hours but if you walk in you will not be served. They won’t even know you are there. If you are in the area at late hours and hungry, do yourself a favor and find a McDonald’s.

Don’t go here unless you want to be told to walk inside and order your food and wait 29 minutes. It’s 3 am on a Saturday and only one other customer is here with 3 workers.

I contacted the Steak and Shake main office by 800 number to make a complaint. A corporate manager contacted me within a couple of hours of the complaint (and this was in a Saturday!). He sincerely apologized and vowed to personally visit the location to address the problem. The corporate manager sent me a certificate for a free next meal. The rating stands because the experience is what it was. I am impressed with Steak and Shakes responsiveness. Their response is a testament to truly caring about the customer.

Service was a little slow, I realize that we were just in for the sheaks. but it seams that if servers think The tip is going to be small they just don’t care.

Horrible drive up service I did not know grown men cant figure out a simple task. Burgers were smashed, wait time was enough to go postal! Fire the whole bunch and regroup. I am never going back. Complete joke of a restaurant.

Bad service. Not that the staff is rude but the wait times on food is pretty long. Waited over an hr for a burger. I understand their jobs are hard work retail myself. Won’t be coming to this location any time soon in the future found hair in my food…

Well, I stop here from time to time. Usually they are rushed and they do get the orders incorrect. Today in drive thru I ordered a double steak burger they gave me a single. Not the end of the world but enough to be annoyed about. I always check my food from any drive thru as people sit behind me and think «what the Hell’s taking so long»? Yes I’m that guy in front of you driving you nuts. :)
So, whenever I have a problem like this the staff had been courteous and friendly and fixed it immediately without attitude. I haven’t eaten in for awhile so I don’t honestly remember that particular occasion or have anything to say about that.
The food has always been fresh and hot. I’ll give them that. They lose a star for the mixup and the coke products always tasting rather flat compared to other places. Not the worst and I like it better then the Wendy’s in the area.

I hate to have bad review at S&S. I love their burgers an shakes but this place is nasty. My fries were cold, I asked for new ones and the waitress was great but I could hear the cooks bitch about it. It happens but then my 5 way chili Mac had a sticker in it that said Sunday. I feel bad for the wait staff because the cooks don’t care and are lazy about what they serve.

First the «Steakburger», now the «Steak Dog». I’m a fan of Steak N Shake, have been for years, even though they never seem to be located in my part of the country, I stop when I am able. My previous forays have been written about here.
This trip a mere dunk in /​out as I was making my way across «Main Street USA» (I-​80) in Northern Illinois, Joliet to be exact, in search of Jake and Elwood.
The Steak Franks are 100% beef, chunks of sirloin, and are offered in varying styles, including «Chicago» (mustard, diced onions, sweet pickle relish, tomato slices, pickle slice, and sport peppers); «Chili Cheese» (Genuine Chili, shredded Cheddar ‘n jack cheese, and diced onions); «Carolina Slaw» (mustard, diced onions, and creamy coleslaw); «Cheesey Cheddar» (grilled onions and smothered with loads of melted Wisconsin Cheddar).
Steak ‘n Shake makes frequent references on their menu to «Genuine» chili, and I have no idea what that means, do you?