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Steak ‘n Shake

Steak N Shake Restaurant Back of the Menu

Steak ‘n Shake Restaurant (pc: eater.com)

Gus Belt owned a Shell gas station in Normal, Il in the 1930’s and was looking for ways to increase revenue. He began offering customers chicken, coleslaw, and beer. When the local community started to object to the beer sales, he decided to make a change taking out a $300 loan to convert the Shell station into a restaurant. Hamburgers were an up and coming menu item in America at the time, so he switched from chicken to burgers and shakes. Belt would die unexpectantly 20 years later in 1954 and his widow Edith would go on and run and grow Steak ‘n Shake the next 15 years before selling it for $17 million in 1969.

General Restaurant Information

Food Type: Hamburgers

Restaurant Type: Fast Food

U.S. Locations: 568

States: 30 states, Steak ‘n Shake Locations

Company Slogan: In Sight, It Must Be Right

 

Contact Information

Website: steaknshake.com

Questions: Contact Information

Phone number: 877-785-6745

Email: Contact Form Only

Blog: No

FAQ Page: Frequently Asked Questions

 

Ownership

Who Owns Steak ‘n Shake? Biglari Holdings

Headquartered: Indianapolis, IN

Contact Information: 

Website: biglariholdings.com

Email/contact page: Biglari Holdings Contact Information

Phone: 210-344-3400

Address: 17802 IH 10 West, Suite 400, San Antonio, Texas 78257

Do They Franchise? Franchise Information

 

What Is It Like To Work At Steak ‘n Shake?

Steak ‘n Shake Employment Page

3.3/5 or 66%; 3,800 Reviews (indeed.com)

2.7/5, or 54%; 1,200 Reviews (glassdoor.com)

What to expect when working at Steak ‘n Shake (job-applications.com)

 

First Steak 'n Shake Restaurant Back of the Menu

Original Steak ‘n Shake Restaurant 1219 S. Main, Normal, Illinois (pc-pantagraph.com)

The History of Steak ‘n Shake

Original Location: 1219 S. Main Street, Normal, Illinois

Founded: February 1934

Founded By: Gus Belt

Biography Articles:

The History of Hamburger Restaurant Chains (restaurantnews.com)

Founder Obituary: 

Obituaries:

Augustus Hamilton “Gus” Belt (findagrave.com)

Name Origin: The word steak came from the steakburgers they would offer and likewise, shake came from the milkshakes they were going to serve. Gus was committed to bringing the best steakburgers and hand-dipped milkshakes around. To show how good his prime meat burgers were, Gus would bring in a barrel of steaks and grind meat into the burgers right in front of the customers.  (source)

Steak ‘n Shake History Page: Company History Page

Current View of Original Location:1219 S. Main Street as it is today(link may not work on mobile devices without Google Maps)

Historical Articles: 

The Steak n Shake Company History (fundinguniverse.com)

Exploring the Bloomington-Normal roots of Steak ‘n Shake (videtteonline.com)

 

Social Awareness

Charity Focus: No resources found

Green | Eco-Friendly: No resources found

Animal Cruelty: No resources found

 

Discounts At Steak ‘n Shake

Rewards Program: Steak ‘n Shake Reward Program 

Do Kids Eat Free at Steak ‘n Shake?

What day do kids eat free? Weekends (Saturday & Sunday)

SummaryExcludes drinks and shakes. Dine-In only. Kids 12 and under. One kid’s plate for every $9 spent. 

Does Steak ‘n Shake Offer Military Discounts?

Summary: No information found

What Does Steak ‘n Shake offer for My Birthday!?

Summary: If you are a member of their rewards club, they will send you a special gift (depending on your location) for your birthday and special occasion date.

Does Steak ‘n Shake Offer First Responder Discounts?

Summary: No information found

Does Steak ‘n Shake Offer Senior Citizen | AARP Discounts?

Summary: No information found

Are There Any Other Discounts or Benefits at Steak ‘n Shake?

Summary: The hamburger chain offers both an email club as well as a rewards program tied in with their app.

Currently, for the eClub, they offer the following –

Be the first to know about special deals and new menu items from Steak ’n Shake! Just fill out the form below to join our exclusive eClub. Members will receive a FREE Double ’n Cheese ’n Fries* when they join, and a FREE Specialty Milkshake on their birthday! It’s our way of saying thanks for being a loyal member of our eClub.

When you sign-up for the rewards program, they currently offer the following –

Free milkshake with first app purchase. Receive $5 in rewards for every $50 spent.

 

Steak 'n Shake Back of the Menu

Steak ‘n Shake (pc-mashed)

Amenities

Order Online: Online Order

WiFi Available: Yes

Use Apple Pay: No  

Reservations: No 

Catering: No 

Drive-Thru: Yes 

Open 24 Hours: Mos  

 

Customer Reviews of Steak ‘n Shake

Yelp: 2.4/5 or 48%, 1,175 reviews sampled

Tripadvisor: 3.4/5 or 68%, 652 reviews sampled

Overall (weighted) Average: 2.75/5 or 55%, 1,827 reviews sampled

 

Steak 'n Shake & Related Items on Amazon

Smokin’ with Myron Mixon
Smokin’ with Myron Mixon
Franklin Barbecue: A Meat-Smoking Manifesto
Franklin Barbecue: A Meat-Smoking Manifesto
Meathead: The Science of Great Barbecue and Grilling
Meathead: The Science of Great Barbecue and Grilling
Weston Hamburger Patty Paper
Weston Hamburger Patty Paper
Electric Meat Grinder
Electric Meat Grinder
Gourmia Electric Meat Grinder
Gourmia Electric Meat Grinder
Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 Griddler
Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 Griddler
Eat What You Watch: A Cookbook for Movie Lovers
Eat What You Watch: A Cookbook for Movie Lovers
Weber’s Big Book of Burgers
Weber’s Big Book of Burgers
Drinkmate Beverage Carbonation Maker
Drinkmate Beverage Carbonation Maker
Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us
Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us
In Defense of Food
In Defense of Food
Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side Of The All-American Meal
Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side Of The All-American Meal
New Star Foodservice Commercial Grade French Fry Cutter
New Star Foodservice Commercial Grade French Fry Cutter
Weston Restaurant Quality French Fry Cutter
Weston Restaurant Quality French Fry Cutter
The Pampered Chef Mix N Chop
The Pampered Chef Mix N Chop
Weston Burger Express Hamburger Press with Patty Ejector
Weston Burger Express Hamburger Press with Patty Ejector
Weber Gourmet Burger Seasoning – 2 Pack
Weber Gourmet Burger Seasoning – 2 Pack
Hamburger America
Hamburger America
The Bob’s Burgers Burger Book: Real Recipes for Joke Burgers
The Bob’s Burgers Burger Book: Real Recipes for Joke Burgers
GWHOLE Non-Stick Burger Press Aluminum Hamburger Patty Maker
GWHOLE Non-Stick Burger Press Aluminum Hamburger Patty Maker
Lodge 10.25 Inch Cast Iron Skillet
Lodge 10.25 Inch Cast Iron Skillet
Hamilton Beach Electric Smokeless Indoor Grill & Searing Grill
Hamilton Beach Electric Smokeless Indoor Grill & Searing Grill
Grillaholics Stuffed Burger Press and Recipe eBook
Grillaholics Stuffed Burger Press and Recipe eBook
Great American Burger Book
Great American Burger Book

Food & Nutrition

Menu: Steak ‘n Shake Menu

Kids Menu: Steak ‘n Shake Kids Menu

Secret Menu: No resources found

Most Popular Menu Item: Original Steakburger; Oreo Shake, Oreo Mint Shake

Coke or Pepsi: Coke

Serve Alcohol: No

Nutritional Information: Steak ‘n Shake Nutrition Guide

Vegetarian | Vegan Options: 

145 Vegan Chain Restaurant Menus Every Vegan Needs to Know (urbantastebud.com)

Farm to Table | Organic Options | Clean | Non-GMO: No resources found

Miscellaneous Nutrition Resources: 

Healthy Meals at Stean ‘n Shake (eatthis.com)

Steak ‘n Shake Nutritional Information (fatsecret.com) (fastfoodmenunutrition.com)

The Worst Milkshakes in American (#5) (eatthis.com)

Healthy Eating at Steak ‘N Shake (katemovingforward.com)

 

Allergy Information

Allergen Information: Steak ‘n Shake Allergen Guide

Gluten Free Options: 

What to Eat at Every Major Fast Food Chain If You’re Gluten-Free (spoonuniversity.com)

Gluten-Free Menu at Steak ‘n Shake (glutensniper.com)

Dairy Free Options: 

Steak ‘n Shake Dairy Free Options (godairyfree.org)

Restaurant Guide For Dairy-Free Dining (godairyfree.org)

Peanut Free Options: 

Steak ‘n Shake Peanut & Allergy Information (steaknshake.com)

Food Allergy Guides For Many Chain Restaurants (verywellhealth.com)

Ways to Eliminate Risks of Peanut Allergy When Dining Out (healthguidance.org)

 

Steak 'n Shake Interior Back of the Menu

Steak ‘n Shake (pc-ocaladailyphoto.blogspot.com)

Does Steak ‘n Shake Have Any Secret Recipes?

Secret Recipes:  

5 Way Chili (copykat.com), (geniuskitchen.com), (copymethat.com)

Double n Cheese Steakburger (youtube.com)

Steak ‘n Shake Burgers (YouTube Video 1), (YouTube Video 2)

Seasoning (geniuskitchen.com)

Frisco Melt (mashed.com), (thespruceeats.com)

Garlic Double Steakburger (copykat.com)

Vanilla Milkshake (recipe4living.com)

 

 

Did You Know?

Fun Facts: 

They are owned by Biglari Holdings who by the way owns Maxim (magazine) and Western Sizzlin. Biglari Holdings is owned by Sandar Biglari, an Iranian businessman.

The founder, Gus Belt would dig through the trash when the restaurant was getting started to see what menu items were being thrown away so to make the menu better (mentalfloss.com)

The Steak ‘n Shake at 1158 East St. Louis Street in Springfield, MO was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012 as a landmark on the famous Route 66

It began as a gas station that sold chicken and beer called Shell’s Chicken (mashed.com)

Their slogan, “In Sight, It Must Be Right” came from Belt’s grinding the steak in from of the customers.

The restaurant was the inspiration for Shake Shack

 

Interesting Articles:

What die-hard fans don’t even know (mashed.com)

14 Sizzling Facts (mentalfloss.com)

10 Things You Didn’t Know (thrillist.com)

Franchise partner deal (nrn.com)

Steak ‘n Shake Tries And Fails To Take Down Wendy’s On Twitter (wycd.radio.com)

 

 

Steak 'n Shake & Related Items on Amazon

Smokin’ with Myron Mixon
Smokin’ with Myron Mixon
Franklin Barbecue: A Meat-Smoking Manifesto
Franklin Barbecue: A Meat-Smoking Manifesto
Meathead: The Science of Great Barbecue and Grilling
Meathead: The Science of Great Barbecue and Grilling
Weston Hamburger Patty Paper
Weston Hamburger Patty Paper
Electric Meat Grinder
Electric Meat Grinder
Gourmia Electric Meat Grinder
Gourmia Electric Meat Grinder
Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 Griddler
Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 Griddler
Eat What You Watch: A Cookbook for Movie Lovers
Eat What You Watch: A Cookbook for Movie Lovers
Weber’s Big Book of Burgers
Weber’s Big Book of Burgers
Drinkmate Beverage Carbonation Maker
Drinkmate Beverage Carbonation Maker
Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us
Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us
In Defense of Food
In Defense of Food
Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side Of The All-American Meal
Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side Of The All-American Meal
New Star Foodservice Commercial Grade French Fry Cutter
New Star Foodservice Commercial Grade French Fry Cutter
Weston Restaurant Quality French Fry Cutter
Weston Restaurant Quality French Fry Cutter
The Pampered Chef Mix N Chop
The Pampered Chef Mix N Chop
Weston Burger Express Hamburger Press with Patty Ejector
Weston Burger Express Hamburger Press with Patty Ejector
Weber Gourmet Burger Seasoning – 2 Pack
Weber Gourmet Burger Seasoning – 2 Pack
Hamburger America
Hamburger America
The Bob’s Burgers Burger Book: Real Recipes for Joke Burgers
The Bob’s Burgers Burger Book: Real Recipes for Joke Burgers
GWHOLE Non-Stick Burger Press Aluminum Hamburger Patty Maker
GWHOLE Non-Stick Burger Press Aluminum Hamburger Patty Maker
Lodge 10.25 Inch Cast Iron Skillet
Lodge 10.25 Inch Cast Iron Skillet
Hamilton Beach Electric Smokeless Indoor Grill & Searing Grill
Hamilton Beach Electric Smokeless Indoor Grill & Searing Grill
Grillaholics Stuffed Burger Press and Recipe eBook
Grillaholics Stuffed Burger Press and Recipe eBook
Great American Burger Book
Great American Burger Book

 

Social Media

Followers (as of September 2018) –  

Facebook: 3,943,917

Twitter: 464,000

Instagram: 188,000

Mobile Apps

Alternatives

Better Options: Coming Soon

Similar Restaurants:

Culver’s

In-N-Out Burger

Red Robin

White Castle

 

In Summary

When you drive by a Steak ‘n Shake restaurant, you may get the idea that it offers a taste of nostalgia for your childhood or even your parents or grandparents childhood. From the outside, it looks like a diner from the 1950’s and who doesn’t love the 50’s? Look a little deeper, and you will see a very different restaurant. Did you realize that when you walk through the doors you’re supporting Maxim magazine? That it’s owned by a holdings company, who couldn’t care less about you?  In all the research I have done on restaurants, never have I seen so many complaints as that of Steak ‘n Shake. It’s certainly not how I envisioned the 50’s and sure not a restaurant I want to give my money; there are just too many other options.

 

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