Steak-N-Shake: Chicago Style & Guacamole Franks

I’m normally not a huge fan of hot dogs.  I am also not a fan of Steak-N-Shake.  However, I must say I am hooked on Steak-N-Shake’s 100% beef steak franks.

One night while out and about, we were hungry for a bite to eat.  We didn’t feel like trekking into the city, and we wanted to fill our bellies with food as soon as possible (without having to wait to be seated).  As such, our options were limited.  After sitting in a parking lot debating our few options, we reluctantly chose Steak-N-Shake.

Upon our arrival, I noticed an advertisement at our table for their new jazzed-up franks.  I hadn’t had a good hot dog in a long time, so I decided to try one.  Nathan thought they looked good as well.  This night I ordered the Guacamole frank.  It was quite tasty!  For those of you who are guacamole lovers, I highly recommend it.  However, if you only like guacamole in small portions, this isn’t the frank for you as it comes completely covered in it.

After a long, hard day of cleaning today, we did not feel like dirtying up the freshly-cleaned kitchen by cooking.  We decided to head back to Steak-N-Shake for another meal of franks.  Tonight I decided to try the Chicago Style frank.  It comes loaded with mustard and sweet relish and also includes tomatoes, onions, and a pickle within the bun.  The Chicago-style frank also comes with a few hot peppers on top, but since I don’t enjoy having my tongue burned to the point of being unable to taste my food, I decided to leave them off.

It took only one bite to determine I liked the Chicago Style frank even more than the Guacamole frank!  I will definitely be ordering this one again.

Steak-N-Shake: The Carolina Slaw Steak Frank

My first review is going to be about Steak-N-Shake’s new foray into the world of specialty hot dogs.  The restaurant has just put out a new line of specialty franks with various toppings on them, with the frank on a toasted bun, sliced down the middle and loaded with toppings.  They have the standard steak franks and a chili frank, but also a new Guacamole frank, a Chicago Style frank, a Southwest frank, and the Carolina Slaw frank.  All of these can be combined with fries for the low price of just $3.99, and all of it sufficiently filling.

My choice of frank was the Carolina Slaw.  I’ve had it twice now, and although the second time they skimped a little on the toppings, both times it was absolutely delicious.  The Carolina Slaw toppings are mustard, onions, and a generous amount of a semi-sweet cole slaw.  The bun is, as I stated, toasted and the frank is quite meaty and long, and split down the middle and full of toppings.  Both times, at my local Steak-N-Shake in Wood River, Illinois, the fries were fresh and hot, and I supplemented my meal with a Vanilla Coke.  Heather will have to give her opinion on the Guacamole frank and the Chicago frank.  I had a bite of her Chicago Style frank, and that’s what I’m getting next.  Overall, I was quite impressed. If you can get out to Steak-N-Shake in the next few weeks, give the Carolina Slaw frank a shot.   I don’t think you’ll regret it.

Statement of Intent

Just to be clear:  We aren’t professional critics.  We are amateurs.

One night while speculating in Wal-Mart about the difference in energy saving light bulbs versus regular light bulbs, we came to the realization that the only fair way to settle the issue was to test both light bulbs and see how much longer the energy saving ones actually lasted.  Then inspiration hit.  Why not try this for other products and then blog about our very unscientific results?  We could test not only energy saving light bulbs versus regular bulbs, but also name brand products versus generic ones, and then post about any differences we find.  Or try different restaurants and let people know what we thought about those. And that’s how The Common Consumer was born.

We aren’t professional critics. Our tests will probably have plenty of flaws.  But nevertheless, we are going to push forward into unexplored territory for the good of all average consumers, and answer questions that have forever plagued those shoppers who pondered over whether Sam’s cola was REALLY as good as Coke, or whether Suave is really as good as Oil of Olay.  Our results will be posted here for all the world to see, and then you can decide whether to follow our advice, or take a chance on your own.  We aren’t being sponsored or funded in any way.  We are just common consumers with curiosity and a keyboard.

Welcome to The Common Consumer.