As some of you may know, I move boxes for a living. So imagine my pleasant surprise last night when I saw a number of boxes going to:
STEAK N SHAKE
2423 N KOSSOWO RD
WAUKESHA, WI 53186
(Yes, they actually did say Kossowo Road, but I know that’s actually Kossow Road – just a few turns away from the Kalmbach campus!!!)
Either good news for me or my doctor! I haven’t decided yet.
That location is about 1/2 mile from our office. Must… be… strong…
My New Year’s resolution for the foreseeable future is already set: no heart-related issues this year. It’ll be tough with SnS moving into the neighborhood!
Someone better warn Human Resources… our health insurance claims are bound to rise. (Unless people offset the impact of the less-than-healthy consumption of SnS food by walking over there, instead of driving. Yeah… right!)
Personally (and no offense to all Kalmbach and other supporters), I’ve never understood the devotion that railfans have to SnS. It extends beyond the whole Kalmbach following, too. I know a number of non-Trains.com railfans that definately put SnS at the top of railfan food fare.
It’s not that I hate SnS. I’ll stop there from time to time, but it’s not like I’m more likely to stop there than any other food establishment. From the SnS stuff I’ve seen around here, and what I’ve garnered from other railfans, SnS has almost a cult following.
Like I said…just my observation. Have fun resisting the call of your new SnS, Bergie. It’s definately more affordable than my personal affliction, LBA (Lens Buying Addiction). Lately I’ve been hearing the siren call of another Pentax Limited lens. Would that I could sustain my addiction with a quick lunch instead of dropping $900 on an odd focal length (31mm)! [;)]
Mike & Eric can have my share of SnS (or KC’s Winstead’s)…I’ll be over at Frisch’s, Culvers, Brauns, WhataBurger or In’N Out. (A BigBrother w/ Cheese at Lee’s in Trinidad will do the trick too!)
MikeY: Drag Eric out to Salt Lake next fall. (if glug doesn’t do him in in 7 weeks)
I wouldn’t drive too far out of the way to get to a SnS, but if you’re looking for a decent “Steakburger”, they’ll do.
They’re kind of an upscale burger place (They claim the world’s best burger) with waitress service and more complete meals. Last Saturday my lunch at the one in Gurnee, IL was a “Steakburger” with portabello mushroom, apple slices/grapes, coleslaw, and a very good dark chocolate shake topped with cherries and whiped cream.
They were founded in central Illinois and now have their headquarters in Indianapolis. They’ve been around central Illinois since before I was born - so I grew up with them around. Which I guess is one reason they’re not that special to me. But I think the food is decent.
Near perfection in burgers and fries and vanilla shakes. After 20 or 30 years of that, you might want to try their grilled chicken; really good too. I guess they have other things, but I have not quite gotten my fill of burgers yet.
I don’t know if others notice this or not, you have to be sitting at the counter to see it. When the Fry Chef is “on the game”, it is a barrel of fun to watch them cooking. I don’t know if they get trained this way, but I have seen several over the years that seem to have music that they are cooking to. However many pre-formed ground beef patties are forked onto the grill for several beats of the spatula tapping the grill. Then each patty in the column gets flattened on one edge, in sequence, down the column and then back up the other edge and then down the middle… all to this beat. Then they get flipped over and smashed in the same sequence. The buns are buttered and lightly grilled and slice of cheese is placed on the meat for a beat or two and then it is all married together and ready for the fixin’s… I prefer lettuce, pickle and mayo, but it is all up to you. (The lengthwise sliced dill pickles are especially good ones.) All during this time the cook has not stopped moving… if he is not flipping or smashing the burgers, the spatula is scrapping the grill or tapping the grill surface… all to the beat… I think it is a bit of a calypso type beat.
I have driven 100 miles (Cedar Rapids, Ia. to Rock Island, Ill.) JUST to eat at a Steak ‘n’ Shake.
Well, I wouldn’t eat anything at McDonalds, not even to win a bet.
At least Steak & Shake steakburgers start out as a never-frozen ball of good quality fresh beef mashed on the grill into a patty. Before they came to the Chicago area, we’d drive 145 miles to Bloomington, Ill. to get some every couple months.
You don’t even need teeth to eat one of those punch-pressed, freezer-to-grill embarrassments Mickey D’s has foisted on America. At least no matter what city you’re in, they taste equally awful.