Darian C.
Yelp
What would you expect from a greasy spoon that has consistently good food? Well, I'd say you'd expect consistently good food. I've never had any food from Steak 'n Shake that I sent back, save one time when I ordered a chili starter, and they brought my burger and fries way too soon. By the time I ate my chili, my fries were cold. Of course, the restaurant made it right by bringing me a fresh order of their shoestring French fries.
I think my favorite part of eating at Steak 'n Shake has to be the old diner feel you get by its ambiance. Being close to MSU, Drury and OTC, it's in a perfect location to be a hangout for college students. They just did a remodel of their dining room, fixing horrible cracks and other issues with their floor, and redoing some of the bench seats on the booths, plus upgrading the surface of the bar, using stainless steel sheeting instead of wood.
Steak 'n Shake has grown their menu a lot over the years. Personally, I feel they have too many options, but hey, if it works for them and people like it, good for them. They advertise that every "meal" costs under $4.00. Today, I ordered a triple burger meal with fries, and added a bowl of chili (their chili is the best I've ever eaten), plus a double malted chocolate shake (it was during their "happy hour" so it was half price) and coffee when I was done with the shake. I had expect to receive a bill for around $15.00 to $17.00, but was pleasantly surprised that the ticket was only for just over $10. It was worth every penny, and the service was excellent.
This specific location has a personal appeal to me, as it was the first place that my dad and I ate when we came to Springfield when we were looking for the home we were going to move into when we moved from Illinois to Missouri. It was an experience that my dad and I got to share alone together, and I still cherish having that time with him. He's still with us, so every now and then, I take him there for breakfast or lunch.
The only complaint I have about the store is their rest rooms. They are either way too hot or extremely cold. Further, at least the men's room (I can't speak for the ladies room), smells horrible of urine that's not been mopped and has seeped into the grout and tiles. It really makes for an unpleasant visit, so if you've gotta go, be prepared. That's the only negative I have for them. Please, give them a try. They are open 24 hours a day.