Steak N Shake

I like Steak N Shake. There was a Steak N Shake somewhere between Alabama and Wisconsin (that narrows it down, right?) that my family would stop at sometimes when we’d make the 18 hour drive to visit my mom’s side of the family. It was one place that my dad would actually enjoy stopping at. I think it was a magic combination of inexpensive, slightly old-fashioned, and obscure (obscure to us, at least, because we didn’t have one near us at home). We even have souvenir Steak N Shake glasses in the top of the cupboard that were tacitly considered “too nice to use.” So I’m glad that we have one in Huntsville, even if I don’t go very often. Maybe I secretly think that if I went there all the time, it would be less special.

But Smalls and I did go there for lunch recently. I like the setup, because you get seated by a host or hostess, so if it’s just you and your kid or kids, you don’t have to juggle drinks, a tray of food, your diaper bag, your toddler, etc. on your way to find a table. But it’s not really more expensive than fast food places, and their food is pretty good. Also kids eat free all day Saturday and Sunday!

When we were seated, Smalls got two crayons, a hat, an (unassembled) cardboard car, stickers, and a kids’ menu to color. That's really a lot of stuff to play with, especially if you decide stickers should go on your face as well as your menu. Most of the items on the kids’ menu are about $2.49-$2.79. You get a choice of fries, mandarin oranges, or applesauce. Drinks are priced separately ($1.19-1.49), and there are other sides (apples, baked beans, and macaroni and cheese) that you can add for $.99. You can see the kids' menu online here: http://www.steaknshake.com/media/pdf/SNS_KidsMenu.pdf. Smalls got chicken fingers, oranges, and milk. Smalls ate every bite, and if the waitress minded that we sat there for an hour, she didn’t show it. During the last part of our leisurely lunch, I found all the words in the Valentine’s Day word search on the kids’ menu. Good job, Mommy! I’m not a big fan of word searches, though; they remind me of busy work in elementary school.

Even though we had a great visit this time, I have to mention that one time last spring, we did receive an almost-raw chicken finger here. The waitress took it away, apologized, and gave us Smalls’ meal for free, but when I go to Steak N Shake, I do check the chicken carefully. Really, I check Smalls’ food carefully everywhere. And after that incident in Michigan with the margarita in the kids’ cup last year, I check her drinks, too. But I have almost gotten over the raw chicken incident, and I still love Steak N Shake.

Bathroom report: The largest stall in the women’s restroom has a fold-down changing station.

Toddler friendliness ratings:

Atmosphere: 4.5 out of 5 booster seats.

Food: 4 out of 5 booster seats. I like that the kids’ meals can come with fruit.

5901 University Drive, Huntsville (in front of Madison Square Mall)

http://www.steaknshake.com/