Jan 03 2006
Same Schnackies, Higher Prices
In a sad but probably inevitable move, Schnack on Union Street raised its prices. The new menu focuses more on burgers and dogs (now the black Angus beef dog from Stahl-Meyer), which according to its website will allow the restaurant to focus on specials. Personally, when I crave Schnack, it’s the burgers I’m after.
I don’t have a copy of the old menu, but I know the burgers suffered a price jump. I believe the single Schnackies used to be $1 and they’re now $1.65. Doubles are $3.86, triples are $5.25 and the quad is $6.90. Of course, toppings like cheese (.75) and lettuce and tomato (.60) are still extra. And it’s hard to down a burger without a side of fries ($3.75) or onion rings ($5). Beer even took a hit, with Schwag coming in at $3.75 a pint–before I *think* it was $2.50. Normally, when we do a Schnack run we can be in and out with tip for $25. This time, it was more than $25 without tip. The rise in price won’t stop me from getting my burger fix because I do love these little burgers, but here’s hoping the extra cash will improve the very friendly but often confused service.
33 Responses to “Same Schnackies, Higher Prices”
I guess I’ll have to try them out. The Union street location just looks like a newstand food counter from the outside. Do they actually have a kitchen? I guess appearances can be deceiving.
More importantly, do they offer milkshakes?
Thanks for your kind commments about our new menu. Other changes include a full pint of beer for the Combo, and portion increases for some dishs, etc.
We have been doing a lot of training and we expect that our service has improved. I am always interested in hearing about our service good or bad.
Food is cooked at both Union St and 4th Ave. $th Ave. is an express only menu.
There was a server there a while back who was a total basket case every time we went in. Honestly, he was part of the whole experience and we miss him.
Food is cooked at both Union St and 4th Ave. $th Ave. is an express only menu.
Ooops. I believe I was referring to the 4th ave location. The Schnack Express at the Lyceum right?
Good to hear that food is actually cooked at that location. I’ll try it out.
My husband and I are on a tight budget, and we don’t mind the new prices- I think they’re fair. Looking forward to checking out the closer-to-me Lyceum outpost.
We’ve always had friendly service- my only complaint, if you could call it that, would be the blaring Iron Maiden on Sunday nights.
Also excited to try the specials!
Check out the Beer Float next time you are at Schnack. Scrumdelish.
I recently had enough time for just one meal while passing through NY and my craving led me to Schnack for lunch, which turned into dinner …
Some of the specials are worth diverting from the burgers for, but fortunately – because of the Schnackies – you don’t have to!
the schnack express at lysceum does not have beer milk shakes
i think the service at schnack has been terrible for a while now and i pretty much avoid the place for that reason alone. i’ll give it one more try, based on harry’s reference to recent training, otherwise i’ll happily continue to pay a few more bucks for burgers – and friendly, informed service – at hope and anchor, which is only a ten-minute walk away.
well worth the raise in price all things considered, some things are better when they are priced closer to the correct value anyhow, and shnacks apeal has (at least to us ) been the food over the cost.
the ribs, get the ribs if you can, and harrys jalepeno and garlic sauce- is that still around?
The jalepeno and garlic sauce is still an optional topping. I didn’t see the ribs, but I’m guessing that might be one of those specials Harry was talking about. I agree it’s still worth the money, and the extra $$ won’t keep me from my burgers, but hey, who doesn’t like things cheaper!
As a member of Brklyn Central YMCA Schnack softball team, I feel compelled to add that for two years they have served us (usually 6-10 in total) weekly througout the summer with almost always friendly efficient service (okay so we always need more napkins but were kinda slobby). And we like the beer, though limited in selection, it performs its role as softball beer just fine. There are veggie alternatives for the, uh, culinarily challenged and we enjoy the fries. And the Big Salad. And the milkshakes. And the beer. And the music almost always rocks. And the beer.
We like Schnack, and the prices had every reason to go up. Afterall this is New York.
(And the beer.)
I love me some Schnack and I’m happy to pay the higher prices. My only complaint is the way they handled my Super Bowl order last year. It showed up an hour late, cold and I never received the refund I was promised. That hasn’t stopped me from going back a bunch in the last year, but I would talk to others who have catered with Schnack before placing an order.
I think Bon Appetit magazine used to have a feature (and maybe still does …) in which folks could request that the mag contact specific restaurants in hopes of getting a particular recipe published (ie – My wife and I really enjoyed the flan at Chuy’s in San Antonio, can you get the recipe?)
How about it, Harry – what’s the exact formula for the Beer Shake?
Thanks for all the comments.
We have been working on service but part of our casual service is that we expect people to try to contact us if there is a particular problem. We have two new waiters and new bus staff.
At 4th Ave the menu is VERY simple. Burgers $2, Black Angus Dogs $3, Tofu Burgers and Vegan burgers (house made, totally vegan…)
We run (at least) two types of ribs during the winter. Beer Braised Beef Ribs and RC Cola Braised Pork Ribs. We are currently running the RC Cola Ribs with a Grill Portabella Mushroom Cap and Garlic Mashed Potatoes $9.95; as of 12:55 AM Tues we have 7 portions left.
We did the beer milk shakes “On TV” for Cool in your Code (a local TV Show). We use 3 scoops of ice cream to 3 oz of Dog Fish Head (DFH) Chicory Stout (DFH World Wide Stout is better if you can get it!!).
The Aho sauce is now on the menu full time.
You know, I live in the neighborhood, on Sackett across the bridge and used to go to Schnack all time but i find the service to be completely inept and rude. One guy, whom I won’t described actually huffed and scoffed after bringing my girlfriend the wrong take-out order. Until the service improves dramatically, I’ll continue to walk my business over to Gravy, the best restaurant in Alan’s “empire” in my opinion, and with very kind servers.
Has the food at Gravy improved? We went there when it first opened and I wasn’t impressed. I can see where they’re trying to go with the menu, but it wasn’t executed well.
That is very sad news. Won’t stop me, but maybe I will just run down to the Redhook branch like I usually do.
FYI, Alan has little if anything to do with Gravy.
If anyone has a problems with the current staff at Schnack feel free to let me know.
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I’ve never had problems with any of the staff at Schnack, they’ve always been very kind but casual. I always felt that part of the charm of Schnack was the service. Saying that, I recently went on a Wednesday afternoon and while a little surprised (but not upset) with the small price increases and menu changes, had great, attentive but relaxed service. Keep up the good work.
Our service is supposed to causal. Most places have lots of “service points.” Basically all the things the staff is supposed to do for you and the way they are supposed to do it. At Schnack it is as follows:
1) greeted when you enter (when we 1st see you)and either seated to let you know to sit where you like.
2) A napkin, fork and knive for everyone at the table; we don’t get fussy about where on the table as long as it is more or less in front of the person eating.
3) The wait staff should let you know what the specials are and should take food and drink orders together (we don’t get drinks and then come back for the meal order).
4) As they leave the dining room the wait staff should be removing used/finished dishes from the table(s).
5) At the end of the meal customers should be thanked and asked to “please come again.”
In terms of the food, fries and onion rings should be served 1st and then everything else. Fries with combos come with the combo. When we are busy (and for large groups) food comes out as its ready which means not all of the food will come out of the kitchen for one table exactly at the same time.
I used to live over on Garnet St., my sister was on Sackett, and going to Schnack was a little treat for me (Hey, I was living on 20K a year!) . If I was still living in the ‘hood, i’m sure i’d still be going there as often as I used to, if not more. I miss the hell out of those burgers!
A funny Schnack story about waiters: I was dating a guy who had long, curly Robert Plant hair (needless to say it didnt work). We were sitting at a booth, and since dateboy had his head turned, our server came up and said “hello ladies” = and dateboy turned, and the poor server had a look of sheer embarassment on his face. It was hilarious.
Any way to ship schnackies to VA?
I had an experience like that when I worked at this burrito shack in Atlanta called Tortilla’s (similar in ambiance to Schnack). This person who looked like the spittin’ image of Ralph Macchio and I said, “What can I get you sir..”
The GIRL got really pissed at me and walked off in a huff.. WOOPS!
Anyway, I like the servers at Schnack, they remind me of my own twisted food service history.
I think I may stop dining at Schnack with the price increases. The service always sucks, the entire place is covered in a thin layer of grease, and it is a hike away from the rest of civilization.
A price hike for Schnack would be like a food stand in the middle of Canarsie with decent dogs raising its prices after a blurb in some mildly popular blog.
The food is good, but I only go there because it is cheaper than other places. Why not go to Alma? Or better yet, to one of the 150 other restaurants closer to where most South Brooklyners live.
If a hamburger is dripping good juicy greases alone in the middle of the woods would anybody taste it?
Bad moves Schnack, ya goin down!
Right.. because Alma’s food is sooooo good…
For me it’s clear from these blog comments, talking w/ customers and other feedback that enough people enjoy our food for us to continue to flourish.
However, I agree with JR, if people are only going to Schnack because of the price, its’ probably best if they enjoy cheaper food some place else.
I don’t agree that the service always is bad and again encourage people to contact me if they do get bad service.
Schnack scored a 52 on it’s most recent health inspection. The higher the score the worse the property. 28 is the limit before mandatory inspections. The neighborhood restaurants have done pretty well, the ones I go to at least.
We have had several inspections in the last month. We did have a poor inspection the day after the transit strike, which is probably the one Mike refers to. Our most recent inspection was better than that.
Schnack is one of my favorite places to grab a bite. Food is good, service is informal and friendly and the scene is unique (to use a phrase). A few dollar increase in price won’t change any of that.
I have not tried the Lyceum Schnack yet, but plan to soon.
Harry – don’t get bummed out about miscreants on blogs – they crawl out of their holes to spew venim, but scurry away like cockroaches when the light is turned on them.
We just found out about the price changes today. My wife and I have been big fans of Schnack since it opened. The sometimes-quirky service never bothered us, and the food has always been excellent. However, raising the prices so severely is a real disservice to customers. Raising prices 10% or 20% is one thing, but essentially doubling the price of almost everything on the menu is very disappointing. Shhh…listen…what you hear is the sound of longtime customers walking away.
Eric is factually wrong to say that we doubled our prices; I don’t think any price doubled.
They obviously don’t appreciate Schnack anymore, Harry. You’ll just have to move the business out to Colorado. I promise I’ll eat there everyday.
I had some email exchange w/ Eric. He made one good point which was we were famous for “Cheap Eats” which I think based on the current menu we are not exactly cheap any more, on the other hand i think we are still priced with respect. More than that, I think we have a quality product and a great base of customers and a good staff.