SONIC [moved from Mid-Atlantic board]

[Babs16]

Last night my husband, daugther and I had the opportunity to try Sonic in Barnaget. After reading so many different reports on this particular fast food establishment, I must say I was rather disappointed. My daughter ordered the popcorn chicken, my husband ordered a burger loaded and I not being humgry sampled the chicken. To begin with the chicken was cold. It took quite a few minutes for anyone to come back to the pickup window to see why we were still sitting there. We explained the situation to one of the workers and he apparently nuked the food ( and way to long I may add).. It was so hot, my daughter wasn't even able to eat her food right a way. My husband opened his burger and you guessed it , it was also cold. This too was nuked to reheat.

I have eaten at Sonic before but that was in another state and everything was very good. I wiil not get off the GSP, schelp to RT 9 to eat at Sonic again.

[Big N Fat]

We lost our Sonic Burger in Fort Mohave, Arizona this past year. It was built off the main highway and hidden behind an auto parts store. I felt that helped set it up for failure from the beginning. They always had a problem with getting the special order burgers correct. Just like the McDonald's does across the street. Sad when any restaurant closes but especially a BURGER JOINT!
-BnF

[topshot2219]

I am here to pledge my undying love to Sonic. Specifically the Sonic burger. I'm from Jersey where there are none currently, but tried it for the first in Orlando last week, and at least twice this week I have had an acute craving for that burger. The staff were very patient with us when we were drunkenly yelling orders into the microphone.

Everyone on CH boards has trashed the burger they serve. It's not Kobe sirloin, blue cheese whatever for sure, but in the fast food category it's tops in flavor, heft, (and digestion). The closest I can describe it is to a Whitecastle burger, Whopper size, with onions and a touch of sweetness. A must stop for 2am munchies!

[Davwud]

Foot long coney, cheese tater tots and cream pie shake. Their menu is hit and miss. I still need my fix when I'm at the inlaws though.

DT

[southernitalian]

The only thing worth buying at Sonic is their ice. They sell it by the bag. They're small round pieces. Not cubes, not chips. Perfect for Mojitos!

[Clarkafella]

For future reference, next time order a cheeseburger with chili, some cheese tots, and a lime slush. You will be much happier!

[ccbweb]

My wife and I quickly settled on Sonic as our preferred hop off the highway stop on our cross country drives. We have found them to be, I'd say, about 90% good in our experience. We like the tater tots, I love the hot dogs and she likes the chicken very much. We both love the drinks and shakes, too and we've had good service on all but one visit. Sounds like the one the OP went to has some pretty poor management going on.

[stellamystar]

Sonic - Yum!
All drinks (even the silly coffee ones they have been making - DH Loves them.)
All fried goodness (Poppers, mac & cheese bites, onion rings)
Grilled Cheese (odd, I know, but tasty)
Chicken Finger Basket

Sonic - Yuck
Hamburgers - sorry all
The Coney is a fav but their bun is bad! I get w/o bun. Low carb, haha
Hot Fudge Sundae - I like McDonald's of all places better
Fries. Sonic fries are no fun - get the onion rings or tater tots.

This is based on my MO/KS Sonics.

[Velvet Elvis]

Unfortunately I think Sonic is yet another place that has suffered from it's own success. When it was a smaller, more regional chain it was great, and, I would imagine, a lot of the people who LOVE Sonic are people who remember it from those days when it really was reliably great. However, as Sonic has exploded over the last 10-15 years their quality has gone way down. It is the way of chains, and it is sad because Sonic really used to be one of my personal favorites. I still go from time to time for nostalgia, but I don't enjoy it like I used to.

[Suzy Q]

That could be true, VE. I've never eaten at a Sonic outside of the Southeast, and as I said earlier, we've had them here for ages. I imagine some of the same franchisees still own/operate these locations, and when many of these started, Sonic was primarily located in smaller/more rural markets. You certainly wouldn't have survived long with bad food when you were one of about three restaurants in town!

[JonParker]

I was going to jump in with a defense of Sonic until i read this post. It's been 13 years since I left Oklahoma and moved to MD, and about that long since I've eaten at one. If true, that's pretty sad, as it was a relatively reliable place back in the day.

[BellaDonna]

I live in Texas and Sonics are EVERYWHERE. Their "food" is ok. I have never had cold "food" served from Sonic. The only things that are good are the drinks, desserts, and jalepeno poppers.

[danhole]

I pretty much agree with you Bella, but I have to add tator tots to that list. They are very good. The burgers and sandwiches always let me down, and I have gotten cold food before.

[Big Bad Voodoo Lou]

Sonic has great drinks and desserts, like their shakes and frosty frozen beverages -- but food-wise, I'd honestly rather eat at McDonald's.

[jeanmarieok]

I LOVE their cherry limeades. And the chili dogs are pretty good too. But the rest of the food is pretty mediocre at best.

[Ranger05]

We had a Sonic open in my area last year and it's terrible. The beef they use for the burgers is of poor quality even for fast food standards. Fries are always cold, and the onion rings have a wierd sweet taste to them. I put Sonic right at the bottom of my fast food favs right next to our local Roy Rogers which also sucks.

[Suzy Q]

Wow, sorry to hear about the bad experiences. We've had Sonics here in the South forever, and they're one of the most reliably decent fast food places around. I've never been to one where I've gotten cold food and the service is usually at or above the level of similar restos.

I usually also try the trick I've seen many people mention on these boards - I order something just a bit customized (like a burger with no catsup, etc.). You stand a much better shot of getting a fresh sandwich that way.

[RobertinRedBank]

I didn't know NJ had Sonics. Anyway, after passing Sonics for probably 40 years while driving in the South I finally stopped at one down Rt.13 on the Delmarva to see what all the talk was about. Had a burger, fries and shake. All were below average fast food quatlity and taste in my opinion. Maybe folks just like the drive-in thing, and accept the food - I dunno. Will never go back.

[big1515]

Sonic is a MESS ..why did they bring them up to Jersey ,,,, anybody over 7 years old will find Sonic to be well below any fast food place encluding McDonalds and Buger King