Sonic - I Just Don't Get It

We just got the, what I beleive, is the second Sonic in IL, located in Algonquin. I visited there last week and waited in line for over 30 minutes for a cherry slushie and an order of onion rings. While both of these items were fine, they were nothing great. Can someone help me to understand the allure of Sonic and what it is I should be ordering? There is some reason that they have had to hire parking lot attendents to direct traffic.
 
Note the second location is in North Aurora and they to have gone gangbusters since opening a few months ago.

The ice

mouse, I don't get it either.  When they first opened here in the late 80s it was a novelty--especially then with the rollerskating servers, but on the odd occasion that I'm stuck and I have to eat there, most everything they serve has a chemical taste and I don't finish it.  And I'm a finisher.

As far as I'm concerned the allure of Sonic is the fact that it's a true drive-in with carhops. I bespeaks a more pleasant time in America and the world.

I'm another one that doesn't "get" Sonic. Down here (Central FL), most of the year it's just too hot & humid during the day to want to sit in your car & eat lunch, unless you keep your a/c running. Where's the fun in that? Besides, I don't really like their food & try to avoid super sugary drinks.

A Sonic opened in Hanover, PA two or three months ago and has been doing a fine job of drawing customers.  However, there's an authentic old-fashioned mom & pop drive-in restaurant, the Tropical Treat, just a few miles north of town.  The Treat is only open from mid-March through late September.  It will be interesting to see what happens to the Sonic's customer base once the 50-plus-year-old local joint reopens in the spring.

Color me ignorant, but after seeing the commercials on TV for years, I finally went to the new Sonic in Hanover, Pa. and stupidly drove around the building twice looking for where to enter. 
 
I then realized, there was NO inside. You either ate in your vehicle, or ordered at the kiosk in front of Sonic and sat at one of the three or four tables.
 
Food was okay, but I was glad I never drove 70 or miles, and only had to go 15 miles and was going to Hanover anyway.
 
The cherry-limeade was excellent.
Grillnut - I just saw your post, I will have to look for the Tropical Treat.
 
Thanks.

mousec, please don't take offense, but:

The online yellow pages list 44 Sonics in Illinois, with only 2 in the 60xxx zip code (Aurora & Mokena), so yours in Algonquin is probably at least the 50th Sonic in the state.  (We have 3 in our area listed: Peoria, East Peoria & Pekin.)  You, like our dear (?) governor (since he has had such great difficulty finding his way to the Governor's Mansion in Springfield), need to realize there is a lot more territory in Illinois than just Chicago and its suburbs.

Sonic is ok for what it is.  I never visit a FF franchise expecting great food.  You're just not going to find it there.  That's not what they're all about. My expectations are usually met.  What I do expect, is consistency from one location to the next.  This is one of the basics of franchising.  I at least want to know what I am going to get.  Of course, some do a better job than others.

From what I can tell,from the 3 or 4 visits to Sonics we've made, it is all about atmosphere and the return to earlier days for us oldsters, and the new gimmick of skating carhops for the younger patrons...it's not about the burgers certainly!!!
     It reminds me of "Johnny Rockets", too That franchise takes you back to the 40's malt shop...with average food, also...but it's the 40's time warp feeling!! Heard also of a franchise that builds new diners for the diner feeling...seems to be a growing trend...create a feeling...and maybe people will live with average food!!!

I live about 3 miles from the one in Aurora, Illinois and still haven't been. I'd be curious if they still use the car hops, last Sunday we had 26 below zero wind chill, today about 5 inches of snow on the ground and about 20 degrees and windy. They built out in an open area that is always going to get wind.  

leethebard


[size=..seems to be a growing trend...create a feeling...and maybe people will live with average food!!!

Well said, Leethebard..
it's like a Rainforest Cafe! which has very average (to below average) food, IMO
We've  got 2 Sonics in NJ, at last count..
They are "okay"... I like the sloppiness of the burger, and I do like their cheap choc. cream pie milkshake.
 
I agree; just okay, not great...


 

leethebard


and the new gimmick of skating carhops for the younger patrons...

Ahem! There's nothing new about skating carhops. I remember them doing that in the late '40s and early '50s.

I like their halfprice drinks from 2-4 every afternoon.

I'm not a fan of sonic either. The ice is the only thing I like. The burgers are bland and the ice cream doesn't have a taste

We just got a Sonic in SW PA last year.  I couldn't wait to eat there.

I like the ice.  That's it.

I love their drinks.  I think some of the fasination I have with Sonics is that we don't have them in Los Angeles.

While I am not a fan of their food, The RT.44 Limeaide is great. And "happy hour "is 2-4pm every day so its half price.

It's a very interesting franchise.  They have done a wonderful job of marketing their most profitable item..Drinks.  Nobody pays the attention to drinks that Sonic does. 
 
Their beverage choices are terrific.  And don't kid yourself, ice plays a huge part in their success.  Susan may be kidding, but she is correct.  I love the little pellets.  Where else can you get a good old fashioned lime rickey for all you senior boomers from back east.   A real cherry syrup soda.  They have created a really profitable niche in the marketplace. 
 
I wonder if they use Fox/U-Bet out of Brooklyn (if they are even in business anymore) for their syrup needs?  Anyone know?

Sonic opened here in Daytona Beach and it was packed for the first two or three months.  Now, it's calmed down and it's just another fast food dining choice.  The food is ok..I love the drinks.  That's what I'll stop for.  I had a few of the breakfast sandwiches..Never had their burger.  The onion rings were not bad at all.

But, what we need here is White Castle!

Funny. The only things I've ever had to drink at Sonic are iced tea and coffee. Those drinks you're all raving about turn me off.

To each his own.

I don't know if any restaurant has better commercials than Sonic.  I know I should not base my opinions of a restaurant on its marketing; however, there are a lot of things I know I shouldn't do.

Of course, there are no Sonics in Baltimore, so the appeal of the commercials doesn't really mean anything to me.  I do, however, know where I'll be going the next time I'm in Hanover. 

There is a new CFS sandwich being advertised.  Hmmm.  Tempting.  May or may not try.  Nahh; Whataburger right down the road......

Robearjr


I don't know if any restaurant has better commercials than Sonic.  I know I should not base my opinions of a restaurant on its marketing; however, there are a lot of things I know I shouldn't do.

Of course, there are no Sonics in Baltimore, so the appeal of the commercials doesn't really mean anything to me.  I do, however, know where I'll be going the next time I'm in Hanover. 

Jack in the Box comercials are as good, if not better. but you don't have those either. Oh well
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YVeU09waQ8&feature=related
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRO9Uwm1tes&feature=related
       http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKSB4AV740w&feature=related
          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdKwWUIo2r4&feature=related

We've had Sonic, Five Guys and Fatburger all come to Chicago in the last several months.  A group of us journeyed out to all three - each twice, and ordered a variety of itmes.  It was pretty much a slam dunk - Five Guys for food, Sonic for drinks.  The only memorable itme at Fatburger was the ice tea machine which dispensed 4 varities of tea. 

Everyone regarded the Five Guys burger as the best of the lot.  The hot dog at 5G was a dissapointment.

Robearjr


I don't know if any restaurant has better commercials than Sonic. 

Just once I would love to see someone rise out of the backseat with a baseball bat & knock out both of those people before they can open their mouths. Nothing gets me reaching for the remote quicker than a Sonic ad.

I still want a Sonics within 15 miles of home.  I want a Lime Cherry Ricky or Limeade and can't get them anywhere close to home.

mar52


I still want a Sonics within 15 miles of home.  I want a Lime Cherry Ricky or Limeade and can't get them anywhere close to home.

hey marlene, we've got 2 with more to come in the rogue valley. Next time you come visit your brother, you'll have to stop

My post just vanished as I was typing it!

Hey Bill!

It's my cousin the pedeodontist who lives there... now in Ashland.

I'd definitely stop for a drink at Sonics and would hope that the Mom and Pop Mexican place in the south part of Medford was still there.  I think it was West of the 5 paralleling the 5 at the first exit for Medford.  

Are there still only 2 Medford exits?

Happy New Year!

Say what you will.  But there is nothing better for a basketball playing girl.  She can pop in anytime of the day and get breakfast or lunch.