We don’t have five guys in Orlando either though 
Well, I can vouch that they haven’t changed the burgers or fries in at least 45 years. From the time I was about 4 my family used to stop at a particular SnS on our way to the “big city.” I now live less than a mile from the same location and go there probably close to once a week. It is still just as I remember it all those years ago. I would say you either had a very non-standard experience and/or your taste in burgers is not the same as mine.
As far as the fries go… I love 'em, but you don’t eat them one at a time. You grab about 5 or 6 (dip in ketchup is optional) and eat the whole bunch. Cheese, Chili, and Chili/Cheese fries are also wonderful options.
Service… could be that we were until a year ago in the same location as the corp headquarters, but I’ve never ever had bad service there.
I’m raising the next generation of SnS lovers. My kids and I would ride our bikes there and sit on the spinning stools at the counter. It is still the one place that I know they will all agree on if we are trying to decide on a place to go to.
How so? They’re both the same general style to me: loosely packed, freshly ground, minimally seasoned, pan griddled, crispy edged, thin fast-food burgers.
There is a Steak ‘n’ Shake near me, about a mile away from a Five Guys. If I want a burger, I’ll definitely go to Five Guys, but it’s always fun to grab shakes at Steak ‘n’ Shake. Can’t go wrong with any of them.
Steak n Shake makes a great burger. And they serve it to you on a plate like a grown up.
I’ve been once and can’t wait to go again.
We do hit SnS now and then for shakes, and the food’s fine as well. Last time I had an apple/walnut/cranberry salad that was just glorious.
S’n’S has some nostalgia for me; when I was in college my buddy and I would take one road trip each year to a music festival and there was a SnS on the way that we would always stop at, and it was the only time we ever ate there. Later on they opened stores near us, and they have them where I am now, so it’s not as much of a treat. The shakes are awesome, but a very rare treat.
We just got our first 5 Guys recently and I loved the fries. The burger was pretty good. But actually there’s a local place (Fat Mo’s) that has better burgers.
I love Steak and Shake, largely a nostalgia thing as it was a favorite restaurant of my grandparents.
Steak N Shake added a “Wisconsin Buttery SteakBurger” to their specialty burger list about a year ago. A regular steak burger is great, but with a giant slab of real, sweet cream, butter added along with caramelized onions- well it just about made me wanna slap my waitress it was so good. So buttery… mmmm
I like to order the platter Steakburger with fries and a choice of side, usually I get the salad (which is excellent), or a cup of chili. My favorite thing to do is fish out the tiny hot peppers from their peppered vinegar sauce with a clean knife and add them liberally to my salad or chili. I like 5 or 6 of those bad boys mixed in with my salad or chili.
I like Steak and Shake burgers, don’t like their shakes, and am not a fan of those skinny fries. I like steak fries or fair fries or wedges, not shoestrings.
Damn. Now I want a chili five-way at Steak and Shake.
Ooh, now I want a chili five-way at Skyline. Never mind. 
No. My most recent visit, I was pretty drunk, and even then, I couldn’t finish the burger. It’s pretty terrible.
Or Price Hill Chili. 
Ooh, I’ve never been. Recommended?
I was going to be in Cincy this weekend, but I’m probably not now. Drat.
Definitely recommended!
They have everything that Skyline and Gold Star do, plus double deckers and breakfast (with goetta).
You should try it next time you’re in my neck of the woods.
I will. Thanks for the tip!
Wow, I haven’t had goetta in about… well, it’s been decades, I think.
Okay, I need to stop hijacking. It’s making me too hungry. Back to people praising and/or dissing SnS!