Everyone loves a good burger, and college students are no exception. When it comes to the classic American diner experience, no two restaurants emulate that old school style quite like Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers and Steak n’ Shake. Both are excellent places in their own right, but I wanted to find out which was the greatest of the steakburger restaurants.
My journey began with the ubiquitous Steak ‘n Shake. Unfortunately for Milligan students, the closest Steak ‘n Shake is 45 minutes away, located at the Pinnacle shopping center in Bristol. Strolling in the front door, Steak ‘n Shake has the 1950’s diner aesthetic down to a science, with the bright red booths and the massive stovetops just behind the front counter.
Steak ‘n Shake’s burger was all that one could expect from a classic American steakburger: a greasy but undeniably tasty pair of burger patties smothered in melted American cheese between two toasted buns. The burger itself was a bit more greasy than I would have preferred, and it left my stomach feeling upset on the drive home, but other than that it was an excellent entree. To round out the meal, I got an order of shoestring fries that hit the spot perfectly and an old-school style, chocolate milkshake. The milkshake was delicious, but I kept hitting little chunks of ice that had made it through the blender unscathed, and those distracted from the otherwise excellent milkshake.
Needless to say, this wasn’t the first time I had been to a Steak ‘n Shake, so I’ve been able to sample much from their menu, and I believe the huge number of options on that menu is one of Steak ‘n Shake’s biggest strengths. From cajun burgers to patty melts to Nutella milkshakes, there is just so much to try at Steak ‘n Shake, it absolutely begs for a return trip. For this showdown, I went with the basic double steakburger, but the variety on offer is certainly something to consider.
Days later, I packed up and headed to Johnson City for Freddy’s rebuttal, unsure of how it could stack up to Steak ‘n Shake’s food. Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers is a more modern take on the diner, with a noticeably smaller menu than its competitor. I ordered a similar meal to what I had at Steak n’ Shake but with one notable difference: instead of a chocolate shake, I chose the triple chocolate concrete. Freddy’s flagship dessert is the frozen custard, so it felt appropriate to get that instead of the shakes.
Steak ‘n Shake set pretty high expectations for the burger, but Freddy’s had no problem keeping up. The burger was every bit as savory as its competitor, but it lacked the heavy grease that kept the Steak ‘n Shake burger from perfection. The fries were also just as good, but the frozen custard was the true standout. Where Steak ‘n Shake’s chocolate shake was plagued by little bits of ice, the custard at Freddy’s was impossibly smooth. Every bite was absolutely divine, and it was the perfect way to finish up the Freddy’s experience.
So who is the winner? Is it Steak ‘n Shake’s classic charm and sprawling menu or Freddy’s tried-and-true combo of custard and burgers?
In the end, I have give the edge to Freddy’s. The quality of the food is just ever so slightly better than Steak ‘n Shake’s, and the frozen custard is just too good to pass up. Plus, it’s much closer to Milligan. If you’re looking for something more exotic, though, Steak ‘n Shake is well worth the drive, as you’ll always find something new to try out.