Sonic Drive-In

Sonic is basic fast food, but it’s a guilty pleasure.
This review is for Lauren who took time to make sure we had everything we needed (extra napkins, sauces, and utensils) and even replaced an incorrect slushie order AND let us keep the mistake.
I’m visiting from NYC, but I’m so grateful to have supported hard workers like Lauren who display that Midwestern charm with grace and good spirits.
Thank you!

I looooove Sonic & visit the Sonic in the town I live in way more than I’d care to admit-​the 99 cent drinks (especially the diet coke add diet cherry) are amazing (love the ice!) & I stop in most Wednesdays with my kiddos for $ 1.99 kids meals. Due to my «frequent flyer» status at Sonic I know what my total should be and this place is a wreck. I was in town for a funeral and ordered a grilled cheese kids meal & upsized to a large drink. The kids meal is $ 3.19, the upsized drink adds .70. The girl gave me a total of $ 6.78 & I clarified with her that I only wanted to upsize the kids drink, not purchase an additional large drink. She told me to pull forward and she would try to make the adjustment. When it was my turn at the window the girl still said $ 6.78 & I said that I was told someone would be adjusting the price, etc. She told me no, the total is correct and I said a kids meal is $ 3.19 & an upsize .70 – how are we getting to $ 6.78? She said because their menu prices are increasing & I said but they’re not posted any higher on the menu board & she said she would check with her manager. They came back with a total in the $ 5 range which I knew was still high but I didn’t feel like arguing. When I got back to my hotel I checked the receipt and when all was said and done they still charged me for the kids meal plus an additional happy hour priced large drink. Argumentative, uninformed employees. I still love Sonic but this location is the pits.

The service is unbelievably slow. I’ve had to leave the drive-​thru line after ordering more than once, for fear I’d be late to work. I generally just go for drinks, which taste great here. Tasty drinks kept this from being a 1-​star review.

my drive-​thru experience:
although i love tots (except this time, because they are cold & slimy), this isn’t the the most intelligent group of people working here… along with a combo meal & tots, i ordered a sundae. first the sundae was handed to me just in its container. i asked for it to be put in a bag. she said, «ok, i’ll put it in with your food». (the cold sundae in the bag with my hot food.) i said, «no, i don’t want it put in the bag with my food.» she said, «uh, ok?» i didn’t think that was an unreasonable request. so, i get my sundae sideways in a bag by itself… grrr!

Great little chain! love that this still exists! we frequent for slushes! occasionally for burgers on the go! never have I been disappointed! you can add/​take away anything from any of their burgers/​dogs.

Never waited so long in my life for drinks… Ugh. The other complaint I have, is that the drive through speaker is way way way WAY too quiet. I couldn’t hear a word as I was trying to order, but I eventually got what I ordered. Not a repeat, unless I have an overwhelming craving for Diet Cherry Limeade.

This is right by my work, so heading in I usually stop by and grab some breakfast. The food isn’t bad, I’ve been happy with my breakfast. I haven’t eaten a lot for lunch or later on during the day so I cant comment much on that part of the food, but overall I’m happy with the service and they have a good happy hour deal where certain things are half price. And you cant go wrong with half price. :)

I found myself in Peoria this past weekend to visit the fam. Saturday was a booze vest for my cousins 50^th birthday. Complete with Busch, bags, and walls of mounted large mouth bass. Yes, that side of the family are what you call rednecks. But hey, no manners needed.
Sunday morning rolls around and I’m STARVING! Normally, I frequent Hardees while I’m there for their amazing breakfast. Alas, I slept too late to indulge. FRICK! What am I gonna do now?
Enter Sonic Drive-​In. I’ve been dying to try this place forever. I always see the commercials but there’s none around here. So I roll up with my cousin in his giant Ford pickup and peruse the extensive menu. I got the bacon cheeseburger toaster. It’s served on texas toast and topped with your usual fixins (that’s right, fixins) and an onion ring. Also got the chili cheese tots, and cheddar nuggets. Basically a mini mozz stick, except cheddar. I washed it all down with a cranberry limeade.
This is a hangover meal of the Gods. Everything good and greasy and covered in cheese. And for those hot pipes, the limeade was the perfect cure. Plus — you don’t even have to get your lazy ass out of the ride — they bring it right to ya!
My theory — the owner of this place knows the healing effects of greasy fast food for the morning after and took it one step further — ensuring that it requires minimal movement to enjoy said miracle cure.
I am now both extremely sad/​happy that there isn’t one of these joints closer to me. I mean, my stomach’s pretty pissed off about it — but my arteries are breathing a sigh of relief.

This location just opened this week to a packed drive-​thru and car stalls all weekend long, with a Peoria police officer directing traffic around the super cramped lot. Yesterday it took me 10 minutes just to get a frickin cherry limeade!
That said, Sonic’s food is good. Not good for you, but tasty. You will fall in love with their tater tots like you’re in grade school all over again. And better get there soon, because the food never tastes as good as it does when a brand new store opens and they have 30 more people working there than they feasibly should.
Get an extra-​long chili-​cheese coney with tots and an Ocean Water.
Don’t ask questions tough guy, just do it.