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The Steak & Shake Paradox: Burger Joint Classifications

Discussion in 'Questions and Answers' started by Fin D, Sep 15, 2012.

  1. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

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    Ok, so places with a drive thru and a counter where you carry your food to your seat are fast food like McDonald's or Burger King. Then there's the casual dining restaurants like say a Chili's.

    So, the question is how do you classify Steak-n-Shake, Fuddruckers & Five Guys? Are they the same classification as each other in spite of only one having a drive thru?

    We simply cannot advance as a society until these questions are answered.
     
    muscle979 likes this.
  2. Two Tacos

    Two Tacos Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Of those, I have only been to Five Guys, and they are fast food. Drive through’s don't matter, they still get a lot of to go orders (which they put in bags) and their not pizza or Chinese. There for they are fast food.
     
    Fin D likes this.
  3. MikeHoncho

    MikeHoncho -=| Censored |=-

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    Checkers is still the shiznit
     
  4. unluckyluciano

    unluckyluciano For My Hero JetsSuck

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    fuddruckers is classified as ****ty overpriced burgers IMO.
     
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  5. Yellow Snowman

    Yellow Snowman New Member

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    Even McD's has stepped up their game. Food comes out quick but the new McDs are actually pretty nice inside, far better than some of these other places, Steak-n-Shake included.

    For the record, I'd probably rather go to any of the places mentioned over Burger King and Chili's. they have the absolute worst food ever.....can't believe Burger King is still in business they suck so bad.
     
  6. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

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    To Go Orders do not constitute fast food. Chili's, Red Lobster, etc. all do to go. I think drive thru is the #1 factor in classifying it as fast food.
     
  7. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

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    You have problems.
     
  8. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

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    You missed the point.
     
  9. Yellow Snowman

    Yellow Snowman New Member

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    I know the point of the thread, i just had to go on my little rant. Not sure why you're taking your joke thread so seriously anyways.
     
  10. muscle979

    muscle979 Season Ticket Holder

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    Five Guys is no joke.

    The food comes out pretty quickly at these places which is why I kind of still think of them as fast food. You do have to go inside but there are no servers and there are fountain drinks set up like in a fast food place. [At least at five guys, i haven't been to the other places mentioned] Also the prices at Five Guys are pretty on par with the prices at a fast food place. I can go there and feed my family of four for around 30 bucks. I can't do that at a place like Chili's. To me places like this are going to eventually kill off the Burger Kings of the world that were just throwing out crap as quickly and as cheaply as possible.
     
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  11. Stringer Bell

    Stringer Bell Post Hard, Post Often Club Member

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    Anywhere that doesn't have dedicated servers is fast food IMO.
     
    Fin D likes this.
  12. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    Five Guys' prices have gone up here. A double cheeseburger, fries and drink runs like $12. I remember when it was $9. Nevertheless, still incredible.
     
  13. Stitches

    Stitches ThePhin's Biggest Killjoy Luxury Box

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    The only Steak and Shake's I've been to have dedicated servers, and menus at the tables.
     
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  14. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

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    I still feel like the lack of a drive thru is damning to the attempt to call it a fast food joint. The do it yourself soda is another indicator however, good job on that.

    Maybe we need two new classifications:

    Five Guys/Fuddruckers = fast casual
    SnS = drive thru casual

    Thoughts?
     
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  15. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

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    Hence the quandary, for it also has.....a drive thru....and an eat at counter like a diner. But its not a diner because its 90% burgers like a Wendys.

    We must decide!
     
  16. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

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    Did I take it serious? Hmm.
     
  17. finyank13

    finyank13 Reality Check

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    Gourmet fast food D.....thats what I would classify it as...
     
    Fin D likes this.
  18. Desides

    Desides Well-Known Member

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    Checkers is awful, at least the one by my work. The manager there clearly hates her job and life, and the food is served cold. Disgusting.
     
  19. BlameItOnTheHenne

    BlameItOnTheHenne Taking a poop

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    Davie

    [​IMG]
     
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  20. Alex44

    Alex44 Boshosaurus Rex

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    Believe it or not it's highly regional. Burger King food in South Florida isn't the same as Burger King food in California for example. There are some really good BK's and some disgusting ones.
     
  21. Killer Bees

    Killer Bees Bringin' the Ruckus

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    I wouldn't classify Steak and Shake servers as "dedicated" lol
     
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  22. texanphinatic

    texanphinatic Senior Member

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    I would say that you cant really classify some of these new upscale burger places as either fast food or regular restaurant - they are almost a new genre of restaurant, trying to combine a higher quality meal with the speed and price of fast food.
     
    Fin D likes this.
  23. pennphinfan

    pennphinfan Stelin Canez Arcade Scorz

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    what the **** is steak and shake?
     
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  24. MikeHoncho

    MikeHoncho -=| Censored |=-

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    Damn. I'm sorry to hear that. This lady should be taken to the shed... and forced to work at Wendy's instead. I've never had bad Checkers.
     
  25. Alex44

    Alex44 Boshosaurus Rex

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    I've never had bad Wendy's its the best fast food ever....W Burger and stuff some french fries in it = better than boobs.
     
  26. jdang307

    jdang307 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Around here Five Guys is much much faster than Fudruckers. I wouldn't even put the two in the same spot. Fudruckers don't have servers but they are not fast food IMO. You can grab a beer, you can grab steaks. They have videogames. Kids leagues hold awards and events there.

    Drive-thru is an indicator of fast food, but the lack of one doesn't disqualify a place as non-fast food. At least that's how I see it. Around here in San Diego there are a bunch of taco/burrito shops. Cal-Mex burritos. Some have drive-thru's, some don't, but they're all the same.
     
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  27. jdang307

    jdang307 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Forgive them. A lot of them don't have In-n-out.

    :P (reference to another thread, put the pitchforks down)
     
  28. Stitches

    Stitches ThePhin's Biggest Killjoy Luxury Box

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    Agreed. Checkers and Rally's are great.
     
  29. MikeHoncho

    MikeHoncho -=| Censored |=-

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    [​IMG]
    BLASPHEMER!!!
     
  30. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

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    I'm gonna need a strong argument to agree with that.
     
  31. Alex44

    Alex44 Boshosaurus Rex

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    Five Guys is delicious but most certainly fast food. To me Fast Food is about quality and speed not a drive through. A Five Guys burger is very fast food quality, their fries are great though.

    Steak and Shake I've never been to, but from the commercials it looks more like a diner/fast food hybrid to me.
     
  32. Laces Out

    Laces Out Well-Known Member

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    Are man card revocations still applicable? If so I'd argue this is a textbook case for revocation
     
  33. Alex44

    Alex44 Boshosaurus Rex

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    :lol: I knew this was coming.
     
  34. Fishweiser

    Fishweiser New Member

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    I dont know if its just the five guys in my area but, try this: Next time you spend 12 bucks on a burger and fries at five guys, close your eyes after taking a bite and ask yourself how easy it could be confused with a wendys double cheeseburger for half the price. To me, they taste the same. Now I like my cheeseburger plain so I dont know how much different the salad toppings can effect it, but yes,...wendys and five guys burgers have similar tastes to me, but a huge difference in price....
     
  35. gunn34

    gunn34 I miss Don & Dan

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    I love Five Guys, but would have to agree. Wendys I like too, but they don't offer all the stuff FG does. I've only been to one Checkers and it was aweful (in DC).
     
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  36. Alex44

    Alex44 Boshosaurus Rex

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    Yeah FG has way more options but the burger itself does taste like Wendys. But I think Wendys has the best fast food burgers so it's not an insult. Five Guys is more about the fries than burgers IMO which are delicious.
     
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  37. Nappy Roots

    Nappy Roots Well-Known Member

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    Love 5 guys. Love Wendys. Wendys is the only drive through place I will go too.
     
  38. BlameItOnTheHenne

    BlameItOnTheHenne Taking a poop

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    No mention of Char-Hut?
     
  39. 2socks

    2socks Rebuilding Since 1973

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    inflation.....oh wait sorry, there is none

     
  40. Vengeful Odin

    Vengeful Odin Norse Mod

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    Five Guys, In-N-Out, Smash Burger, Steak & Shake.

    There really aren't any other options if you want a decent burger. Maybe Whataburger or Wendy's if you're super desperate.

    As for the question, it's fast food. Too me it's just like a Chipotle or Qdoba, upscale, but fast nonetheless. If you walk up to the counter to order it or get it from a drive-through, then it's fast food.
     

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