The waitress fist-fight at Waffle House story reminded me that I saw a man thrown through a plate glass window at a Waffle House in Florida during my dissipated youth there. The defenestration punctuated a spectacular fist fight. 24 hour greasy spoons tend to find troubled areas and trouble tends to find 24 hour greasy spoons.

Regarding the debate about Schoop's vs. In n Out vs. Sonic, it seems sort of silly. Schoops and In N Out have great fast food burgers (though the Schoops I visit -- in contrast to INO -- is not particularly swift and it has no drive through, nor is it open very late, all of which detract heavily from its value as a "fast food" establishment).

Sonic has a few funny commercials, some hits now and again, and quite a few vile things. Substitute "Jack in the Box" for "Sonic" in the above sentence, if you'd like.

JeffB wrote:Schoops and In N Out have great fast food burgers (though the Schoops I visit -- in contrast to INO -- is not particularly swift and it has no drive through, nor is it open very late, all of which detract heavily from its value as a "fast food" establishment).

not to mention that in addition to no drive thru, they have table service at schoops too

dddane wrote:

JeffB wrote:Schoops and In N Out have great fast food burgers (though the Schoops I visit -- in contrast to INO -- is not particularly swift and it has no drive through, nor is it open very late, all of which detract heavily from its value as a "fast food" establishment).

not to mention that in addition to no drive thru, they have table service at schoops too

In N Out is not fast either. A 10-15 minute wait at the drive thru is not unusual.

I won't add any fuel to the great hamburger debate, but Sonic is nearly here...



This was taken this weekend, and it looks like they're close to done. I had Sonic for the first time on the 11th (went camping in Missouri), and it was pretty darned good. Ocean Water and Cherry Limeades are pretty amazing.

jlawrence01 wrote:

dddane wrote:

JeffB wrote:Schoops and In N Out have great fast food burgers (though the Schoops I visit -- in contrast to INO -- is not particularly swift and it has no drive through, nor is it open very late, all of which detract heavily from its value as a "fast food" establishment).

not to mention that in addition to no drive thru, they have table service at schoops too

In N Out is not fast either. A 10-15 minute wait at the drive thru is not unusual.

That's because the burgers are cooked to order, which is one of the main reasons that I like In N Out. Generally, I won't touch a fast food chain burger, but INO is the exception.

All I have to say is tots and cherry limeades.

i like the lime-strawberry fresh fruit slush with extra lime and added fresh limes

I mean who honestly doesn't like this type of food? Maybe not every day or for dinner with the family, but for a little indulgence, this place is great.

My former job (now self employed, hooray) involved travel to such exotic locales as Panama City FL and Abilene TX. I managed to develop a SEVERE addiction to the Diet Limeades, extra extra limes--and they also have a pretty good grilled chicken wrap. I heartily endorse the arrival of Sonic to Chicago.

Opening day is August 19th.

Fujisan wrote:Opening day is August 19th.

And opening place is?

I'm guessing it's the one that was near completetion on Kirk Road just north of Butterfield Road on the north edge of Aurora. It fronts Kirk in front of the new Super Wal-Mart.

Yep, the sign outside the one at Kirk and Butterfield said there were private parties on August 17-18, and then I suppose they'd be open to the riff-raff the next day.

What Sonic is trying to do is emulate something that you don't find often anymore: the southern drive in burger of someone's youth.

While Sonic does a really good job making its burger look like the southern style drive in burger (it has thin patties, it's gloppy and messy), it still misses the nuances that set it apart from some of the old drive ins and independent chains that still exist in the south like Black's Barbeque in Gastonia, The South 49 or Herlocker's (which, sadly, is now closed) in Charlotte, or even the Rush's mini-chain in Columbia. Those nuances are: the crispiness of the meat patties that have been seared under the pressure of a spatula on the grill with the cheese melting over them, the crispiness of the hard toasted bun that contains the sloppiness of the mayo bound toppings and keeps the autonomy of bun and burger independent of one another, or the absolute crispness of the bacon on a bacon cheeseburger.

In fact, the Sonic Burger looks an awful lot like the kind of burger that one would get at the much heralded Rush's fast food which has been around central South Carolina for over 40 years-before there was any such thing as McDonalds. Like In N Out. Rush's isn't an imitator. They're doing the same thing that they have been doing for years-- that is, making a substantially better fast food burger than one will fins anywhere else in town. But, the Sonic burger doesn't taste like the Rush's burger, or the 30s style Black's Barbeque burger with its scorched bun.

Sonic sells nostalgia. But, it doesn't sell great burgers. I can't speak for the limeade because I'm a sweet eta drinker when i'm down south.

I grew up a block away from Sonics. Although the burgers are ordinary to me, the thing that makes the exprience different from the typical drive thru are the drinks. The grape & blue coconut cream slush is pretty awesome.

For years in Texas they have been making Knock Outs at this one snow cone stand. 2/3 of any flavored shaved ice with 1/3 vanilla soft serve ice cream mixed together slightly. Sounds strange to some but it's really good. The Sonic's cream slush taste similar.

Shopped at the Super Wal-Mart at Butterfield and Kirk this morning (8/17) and when leaving we saw employees headed for the Sonic. As we drove by there were management types standing by the entrance, employees out sweeping and signs that said "Family and Friends Only" so it looks like a full blown test run.

Any word on when the Algonquin Sonic will be happening? I think it will be on Randall near the new JC Penneys.

aviva5675 wrote:Any word on when the Algonquin Sonic will be happening? I think it will be on Randall near the new JC Penneys.

I will drop past it tonight and evaluate the progress (g).

The Chicago Tribune's web site updates what I personally consider to be the biggest "who cares?" story in Chicago food so far this year . . .

Christopher Borrelli wrote:The other day, three very large men in a very small car rolled up behind the Sonic Drive-In in Aurora. The smell of tar was pungent. In nearby fields little yellow flags from new developments flapped in the wind. The largest of the men, in the passenger seat, with a stomach so vast and gelatinous it rested on the dashboard as if taking a lunch break, rolled down his window. His right arm hung over the window lip like a dead goose. "You people open yet?" he asked. Sonic general manager Ray Mejia shook his head. "Tuesday," he said. The man slapped his palm hard against the metal of the car door. "The 19th," Mejia said.

Chicago area's first Sonic Drive-In finally opens Tuesday

=R=

I continue to be unmoved by the news of Sonic's arrival. However if I were to hear that a Sheridan's Frozen Custard were coming to town, now that is something to get excited about!

aviva5675 wrote:Any word on when the Algonquin Sonic will be happening? I think it will be on Randall near the new JC Penneys.

If it is, they have NOT started on the construction.

ronnie_suburban wrote:The Chicago Tribune's web site updates what I personally consider to be the biggest "who cares?" story in Chicago food so far this year . . .

It really is a huge "who cares" story indeed, but there was a really funny section in it.

At one point they talked about how they put traffic cones up to block the entrance, but people drove right over them. So, they rolled the dumpsters out to block the driveway but motorcycles started driving around them. Eventually someone got out of the car and physically moving the dumpsters out of the way.

This had me laughing out loud on the train this morning.

Best,
Michael

ronnie_suburban wrote:The Chicago Tribune's web site updates what I personally consider to be the biggest "who cares?" story in Chicago food so far this year . . .

Front page news this morning in the Trib is...Sonic! How did this happen?

David Hammond wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:The Chicago Tribune's web site updates what I personally consider to be the biggest "who cares?" story in Chicago food so far this year . . .

Front page news this morning in the Trib is...Sonic! How did this happen?

Slow news day in the world's biggest cow town.

=R=

I kind of like Sonic. I think that the reason I really like it is because as it stands now I only have it once every 5 or so years driving down South to my grandmother's.

However the best thing about a Sonic going in the Chicagoland area is that people will stop complaining about the commercials. "Why do they advertise something you can't even go to try?!"

^^^exactly... the reason its news is because everyone has seen the commercials but when you go to look for one the closest one is in moline or indiana; even 4 winds casino is more accesible

Am i the only who wants to do violent things to the people in their commercials until they shut up?? So annoying.

. . have i said too much?

Ghazi wrote:. . have i said too much?

Yes

the funniest part of the Sonic article for me was this:

"..now it would be nice to have a real restaurant in this part of Aurora. We need an Olive Garden."

eatchicago wrote:It really is a huge "who cares" story indeed, but there was a really funny section in it.

At one point they talked about how they put traffic cones up to block the entrance, but people drove right over them. So, they rolled the dumpsters out to block the driveway but motorcycles started driving around them. Eventually someone got out of the car and physically moving the dumpsters out of the way.

This is exactly why I will not be patronizing Sonic. Any business owner who is not bright enough to put a sign on the dumpster that states they are not open until the 19th does not deserve my business.

Buddy