Whenever I am craving a Frisco Melt or a juicy burger topped with fried onions, I hit this place. While it is true they often have few people on staff, service is never slow. I have gone in many times and never had to wait more than five minutes for a server, once we were ready to order. My orders have always been correct, hot or cold (depending on the food), and fresh. Both the eating area and the restrooms are clean and well maintained, and the staff is courteous to a tee. Coupons are mailed to locals monthly, and they are certainly worth a trip. I have also used their drive-through and was not disappointed. Prompt service, hot food and a courteous attendant: all I could ask for. I gave them four out of five for the simple fact that I am not a huge burger fan, preferring more varied foods. But when I do want a burger, this is my place to go.
(4)
Comicbook G.
One being the lowest star I can give I guess I'll have to settle with that. First off the drinks didn't even come till we got the food. aside from getting the wrong meal, the food was old and cold. Our waitress, aside from creeping on our table, never asked or got us refills. She also seemed very confused when I told her about the mix up, a plus she fixed it.. But still left the wrong meal on the ticket which ended in a explanation to the manger when we left. My final thought this restaurant wins the "worst experience ever!" Award for the day -Cbg
(1)
Karen C.
The service has always been friendly at any time of the day or night! Yes, this is a 24 hour establishment!! I've even called ahead in the wee hours of the morning to slide through the drive up.
(4)
Amanda H.
If I could give this place a negative star I would, I don't care how cheap it is because after you eat that you're going to need to go to Kish for some vaccinations. Come on people, move a table and clean under it!
(1)
Helen D.
I like the food.. I dig the kid combo with the 2 small sliders. My combo came with half a box of fries. Considering they are pricier than most drive thru, I would have liked to have expected more. Usually the side of cheese is hard to stretch.. I'll prob have leftovers this time!
(2)
Andy S.
Food as expected....service was a little wanting. Always seems to take some time to get your food here.
(3)
greg t.
I got a shard of glass in my shake! Unfortunately, I found it by trying to chew it. It caused some minor bleeding in my mouth. The manager didn't seem too concerned and offered a "Sorry about that. Please fill out an accident report". The hostess explained that the glasses get banged around a lot, and they have no idea whether or not there is something in the glasses. That sure made me feel better! NOTE: before this incident, I visited this restaurant 50 - 100 times over the past 5 years...and kept going back. The service has ranged from some of the worst I've ever had to some of the best I've ever had...but was generally good. The food was always excellent...for burger/fries/shake fare. Hygiene has been a chronic issue in that there is an above average incidence of dirty plates/spoons/glasses there. I think the menu prices are a bit high, but they offer ample and generous coupons which make it a great deal...plus kids eat free on the weekends. I suppose a shard of glass could happen anywhere...but like the steel wool at Yen Ching, it makes me a little spooked. I stayed away for a few months following the shard 'o glass shake...but finally broke down and started going again. They still have occasional hygiene issues, but the value (with coupons and free kids meals on weekends) is hard to beat.
(4)
Lexi B.
if you have a taste for steak and shake, either A. dont go to this one or B.dont go inside. They always have one or two waiters for an entire restaurant and service is beyone terrible..its literally unbearable. I was almost tempted to fight paying my bill after being stuck inside for and hr and a half! yuck
(1)
Philip T.
Steak and Shake around the Chicagoland area is bad when it comes to service and quality, but none of them hold a candle to this one. The only time I ever went to S&S here while attending NIU was when friends wanted to go. I went with my girlfriend one evening and it was the last time I would go. The server came by and took our drink order and appetizer order. Soft drinks and cottage cheese w/ peaches. 20 minutes later we got our drinks without the appetizers. She asked to take our order and we put in our food order (with salads). I asked for the cottage cheese once again and she said "oh, sorry I forgot". another 30 minutes later the server brought out our food without salads which we asked for before the dinner. I asked again... "where's my cottage cheese and salads?" She told us she forgot again and was super sorry. about 10 minutes after I had asked she came back with the salad and the cottage cheese. The salad and cottage cheese were HOT like they had been sitting under a heat lamp for 30 minutes and the salad had no dressing. I started getting really angry and said take back the cottage cheese and bring me salad dressing with a refill on my drink. She then preceeded to go back and talk with the chef for a good 15 minutes before she brought the salad dressing and refill. I had finished my burger and she came back and said sorry for the wait we're backed up in the kitchen (for dressing and a drink?!?!?!?!?). At that point I was so sick of the service and mistakes I wanted to flip out on the server and manager and skip the bill... my gf refused to make a scene so we paid the bill and left never to return.
(1)
Jeanna G.
I have frequented many other Steak n Shakes before the DeKalb location, and honestly this location could learn a thing or two from those. My husband and I stopped by on a Saturday afternoon, and it was pretty busy. We weren't seated right away and were greeted with a fake "hi, how are you". When we thought we were going to be taken to a table, she seats someone else without making it clear who she was going to seat. Then when we were eventually taken to a table, it wasn't clean. We had to stand and wait for the hostess to clean it. It took about 10 minutes for the server to acknowledge that we were waiting to order. Drinks took a long time to arrive. But the server alone was pleasant and made ordering easy. I ordered the double steakburger with no cheese and fries, my husband ordered the Frisco melt. It took about 30 minutes for us to get our food. Once we got our food I was underwhelmed. Normally the burger patties are a lot bigger, but these looked a lot smaller than the ones I've come to expect from this chain. My burger was also cold (hubby's was hot), but at least my fries were hot, and with the fries being so good it somewhat made up for the burger. It was so busy, that I didn't even get a chance to complain until my plate was almost clean. I was hungry, and didn't want to wait for a remake (and risk them messing up my order) so I ate it anyway. Again, it's good thing the fries were hot. Aside from my burger being cold, it tasted good. The server was more than apologetic, and he did ask me if I would like another one, even though my burger was almost gone. He also let the manager/cook know about what happened. When we took our receipt to pay, the cashier asked which one of our orders was the burger, and I said it was mine. She apologized and comped my part of the bill (the whole $4). If it hadn't been for the cold-burger mishap I would've given this location 4 stars. I've ate at Steak and Shakes for many years, and I honestly wish this one in DeKalb were more like the ones in the Southern US.
(2)
Derek G.
Everyone knows what to expect from a chain. The food is decent. The service can sometimes be spotty, especially late at night. The waiters are usually under staffed and are typically NIU Students - meaning they'd rather be drinking or studying - don't expect amazing and you'll have a decent trip.
(3)
Chris R.
Despite what other yelp members have to say about the Steak and Shake here in DeKalb, I think the place is great. Fantastic, amazing, and unbelievable are not words to describe this local eatery, but the service has never been terrible, nor slow. The crew is always friendly, and courteous. That alone is something to be praised in this town where most of the restaurant staff are college kids that could care less about being nice or helpful. Not quite worthy of 5 stars in my book, not yet. But seriously you need to think about where you are eating. This is a pleasant burger joint, that has pretty decent food, and a polite staff. Don't expect your world to be rocked by a steakburger... It just won't happen.
(3)
Rowena T.
Had a late night dinner here and I can say the food was okay. Nothing out of the ordinary. I ordered the chicken fingers and thin/crispy fries and it tasted satisfactory. For a meal under four dollars I couldn't complain. However the service here wasn't good. It took a while to receive our food and there was a few mistakes and missing orders that we had to remind them about.
(2)
Edward C.
Don't know what people are bitching about. As far as SNS goes this one was great. Good food, not any dirtier than your normal SNS. They as a chain are slow, but this one runs slightly faster than most.
(4)
Sarah W.
Love the food, but the service is horrible. My husband and I waited 50 minutes for burgers and fries. Our waitress never came back to refill our drinks or to check on our order. The wait staff could be heard bickering with each other and even started complaining about each other to us as we asked about our food. We ended up leaving without our food, so who knows how long it would have taken.
(1)
A S.
Sat at a table for 15 mins, not a single staff member came to the table. I'm guessing they didn't want another table for the night... we left.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Drive-Thru : Yes Caters : No
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Lexi S.
Whenever I am craving a Frisco Melt or a juicy burger topped with fried onions, I hit this place. While it is true they often have few people on staff, service is never slow. I have gone in many times and never had to wait more than five minutes for a server, once we were ready to order. My orders have always been correct, hot or cold (depending on the food), and fresh. Both the eating area and the restrooms are clean and well maintained, and the staff is courteous to a tee. Coupons are mailed to locals monthly, and they are certainly worth a trip. I have also used their drive-through and was not disappointed. Prompt service, hot food and a courteous attendant: all I could ask for. I gave them four out of five for the simple fact that I am not a huge burger fan, preferring more varied foods. But when I do want a burger, this is my place to go.
(4)Comicbook G.
One being the lowest star I can give I guess I'll have to settle with that. First off the drinks didn't even come till we got the food. aside from getting the wrong meal, the food was old and cold. Our waitress, aside from creeping on our table, never asked or got us refills. She also seemed very confused when I told her about the mix up, a plus she fixed it.. But still left the wrong meal on the ticket which ended in a explanation to the manger when we left. My final thought this restaurant wins the "worst experience ever!" Award for the day -Cbg
(1)Karen C.
The service has always been friendly at any time of the day or night! Yes, this is a 24 hour establishment!! I've even called ahead in the wee hours of the morning to slide through the drive up.
(4)Amanda H.
If I could give this place a negative star I would, I don't care how cheap it is because after you eat that you're going to need to go to Kish for some vaccinations. Come on people, move a table and clean under it!
(1)Helen D.
I like the food.. I dig the kid combo with the 2 small sliders. My combo came with half a box of fries. Considering they are pricier than most drive thru, I would have liked to have expected more. Usually the side of cheese is hard to stretch.. I'll prob have leftovers this time!
(2)Andy S.
Food as expected....service was a little wanting. Always seems to take some time to get your food here.
(3)greg t.
I got a shard of glass in my shake! Unfortunately, I found it by trying to chew it. It caused some minor bleeding in my mouth. The manager didn't seem too concerned and offered a "Sorry about that. Please fill out an accident report". The hostess explained that the glasses get banged around a lot, and they have no idea whether or not there is something in the glasses. That sure made me feel better! NOTE: before this incident, I visited this restaurant 50 - 100 times over the past 5 years...and kept going back. The service has ranged from some of the worst I've ever had to some of the best I've ever had...but was generally good. The food was always excellent...for burger/fries/shake fare. Hygiene has been a chronic issue in that there is an above average incidence of dirty plates/spoons/glasses there. I think the menu prices are a bit high, but they offer ample and generous coupons which make it a great deal...plus kids eat free on the weekends. I suppose a shard of glass could happen anywhere...but like the steel wool at Yen Ching, it makes me a little spooked. I stayed away for a few months following the shard 'o glass shake...but finally broke down and started going again. They still have occasional hygiene issues, but the value (with coupons and free kids meals on weekends) is hard to beat.
(4)Lexi B.
if you have a taste for steak and shake, either A. dont go to this one or B.dont go inside. They always have one or two waiters for an entire restaurant and service is beyone terrible..its literally unbearable. I was almost tempted to fight paying my bill after being stuck inside for and hr and a half! yuck
(1)Philip T.
Steak and Shake around the Chicagoland area is bad when it comes to service and quality, but none of them hold a candle to this one. The only time I ever went to S&S here while attending NIU was when friends wanted to go. I went with my girlfriend one evening and it was the last time I would go. The server came by and took our drink order and appetizer order. Soft drinks and cottage cheese w/ peaches. 20 minutes later we got our drinks without the appetizers. She asked to take our order and we put in our food order (with salads). I asked for the cottage cheese once again and she said "oh, sorry I forgot". another 30 minutes later the server brought out our food without salads which we asked for before the dinner. I asked again... "where's my cottage cheese and salads?" She told us she forgot again and was super sorry. about 10 minutes after I had asked she came back with the salad and the cottage cheese. The salad and cottage cheese were HOT like they had been sitting under a heat lamp for 30 minutes and the salad had no dressing. I started getting really angry and said take back the cottage cheese and bring me salad dressing with a refill on my drink. She then preceeded to go back and talk with the chef for a good 15 minutes before she brought the salad dressing and refill. I had finished my burger and she came back and said sorry for the wait we're backed up in the kitchen (for dressing and a drink?!?!?!?!?). At that point I was so sick of the service and mistakes I wanted to flip out on the server and manager and skip the bill... my gf refused to make a scene so we paid the bill and left never to return.
(1)Jeanna G.
I have frequented many other Steak n Shakes before the DeKalb location, and honestly this location could learn a thing or two from those. My husband and I stopped by on a Saturday afternoon, and it was pretty busy. We weren't seated right away and were greeted with a fake "hi, how are you". When we thought we were going to be taken to a table, she seats someone else without making it clear who she was going to seat. Then when we were eventually taken to a table, it wasn't clean. We had to stand and wait for the hostess to clean it. It took about 10 minutes for the server to acknowledge that we were waiting to order. Drinks took a long time to arrive. But the server alone was pleasant and made ordering easy. I ordered the double steakburger with no cheese and fries, my husband ordered the Frisco melt. It took about 30 minutes for us to get our food. Once we got our food I was underwhelmed. Normally the burger patties are a lot bigger, but these looked a lot smaller than the ones I've come to expect from this chain. My burger was also cold (hubby's was hot), but at least my fries were hot, and with the fries being so good it somewhat made up for the burger. It was so busy, that I didn't even get a chance to complain until my plate was almost clean. I was hungry, and didn't want to wait for a remake (and risk them messing up my order) so I ate it anyway. Again, it's good thing the fries were hot. Aside from my burger being cold, it tasted good. The server was more than apologetic, and he did ask me if I would like another one, even though my burger was almost gone. He also let the manager/cook know about what happened. When we took our receipt to pay, the cashier asked which one of our orders was the burger, and I said it was mine. She apologized and comped my part of the bill (the whole $4). If it hadn't been for the cold-burger mishap I would've given this location 4 stars. I've ate at Steak and Shakes for many years, and I honestly wish this one in DeKalb were more like the ones in the Southern US.
(2)Derek G.
Everyone knows what to expect from a chain. The food is decent. The service can sometimes be spotty, especially late at night. The waiters are usually under staffed and are typically NIU Students - meaning they'd rather be drinking or studying - don't expect amazing and you'll have a decent trip.
(3)Chris R.
Despite what other yelp members have to say about the Steak and Shake here in DeKalb, I think the place is great. Fantastic, amazing, and unbelievable are not words to describe this local eatery, but the service has never been terrible, nor slow. The crew is always friendly, and courteous. That alone is something to be praised in this town where most of the restaurant staff are college kids that could care less about being nice or helpful. Not quite worthy of 5 stars in my book, not yet. But seriously you need to think about where you are eating. This is a pleasant burger joint, that has pretty decent food, and a polite staff. Don't expect your world to be rocked by a steakburger... It just won't happen.
(3)Rowena T.
Had a late night dinner here and I can say the food was okay. Nothing out of the ordinary. I ordered the chicken fingers and thin/crispy fries and it tasted satisfactory. For a meal under four dollars I couldn't complain. However the service here wasn't good. It took a while to receive our food and there was a few mistakes and missing orders that we had to remind them about.
(2)Edward C.
Don't know what people are bitching about. As far as SNS goes this one was great. Good food, not any dirtier than your normal SNS. They as a chain are slow, but this one runs slightly faster than most.
(4)Sarah W.
Love the food, but the service is horrible. My husband and I waited 50 minutes for burgers and fries. Our waitress never came back to refill our drinks or to check on our order. The wait staff could be heard bickering with each other and even started complaining about each other to us as we asked about our food. We ended up leaving without our food, so who knows how long it would have taken.
(1)A S.
Sat at a table for 15 mins, not a single staff member came to the table. I'm guessing they didn't want another table for the night... we left.
(1)