Point taken.
I'll eat just about anything if someone else is buying.
I don't want to divert from this Sonic thread but if I can just comment on 5Guys for a moment.
If you read enough of their dedicated thread, everyone says that you have to order the burger a specific way,
on the fifth Tuesday of an undisclosed month during a leap year while viewing a solar eclipse. It's ridiculous.
At Sonic, I can order the burger I want without any special caveats. And it's delicious.

The same thing Expat said can apply to most fast food places in small towns vs. large cities/suburbs. The small town versions usually are run better and have better quality control. My girlfriend grew up near Huntsville, Arkansas population around 1,600. It was a big deal when they got a Sonic in town over 20 years ago. It was the one and only fast food chain in the area that they had (other than a Pizza Hut that had closed).

I personally haven't had anything special at Sonic in the few times I've eaten there, but I did have a brownie sundae that was excellent (and naturally has been dropped from the menu ). I tried to order a Sonic Blast two different times and both times I was really disappointed. I assumed it was like a DQ Blizzard or McFlurry. But both of mine were more like melted, bland, ice cream that didn't know if it was supposed to be a shake or a "blizzard" type dessert. I know both times I had them, I was in large population areas, so I'm sure I'll try it one more time someday (but in a rural town!).

Chitown B wrote:I want Sonic for a couple things, and that's limeades, toaster sandwiches, and cheddar nuggets. I can't get those in my zip code, and that's why I want a Sonic close...

I hear what you're saying, but I'd trade you my entire neighborhood Sonic for just one char-burger from Huey's right about now.

I was unloading photos off our camera, and found a few pictures taken in the Sonic parking lot. I'm uncertain as to what possessed me to think that anybody here would be interested in these photos, but I'm throwing 'em up here anyway. If nothing else, it'll get me that much closer to the free $20 Lettuce Entertain You/LTH gift card for reaching 100 posts. Here they are...

I love those twilight summertime shots.

Chicago Expat wrote:If nothing else, it'll get me that much closer to the free $20 Lettuce Entertain You/LTH gift card for reaching 100 posts.

Lettuce Entertain You/LTH gift card?

EvanstonFoodGuy wrote:

Chicago Expat wrote:If nothing else, it'll get me that much closer to the free $20 Lettuce Entertain You/LTH gift card for reaching 100 posts.

Lettuce Entertain You/LTH gift card?

Oy... at least have the courtesy to do this on April 1st, Expat

Dmnkly wrote:

EvanstonFoodGuy wrote:

Chicago Expat wrote:If nothing else, it'll get me that much closer to the free $20 Lettuce Entertain You/LTH gift card for reaching 100 posts.

Lettuce Entertain You/LTH gift card?

Oy... at least have the courtesy to do this on April 1st, Expat

Ah... okay.

Dmnkly wrote:

EvanstonFoodGuy wrote:

Chicago Expat wrote:If nothing else, it'll get me that much closer to the free $20 Lettuce Entertain You/LTH gift card for reaching 100 posts.

Lettuce Entertain You/LTH gift card?

Oy... at least have the courtesy to do this on April 1st, Expat

Sometimes I think I should just take the ethical step of reporting my own posts to the mods, lol.

Chicago Expat wrote:

Chitown B wrote:I want Sonic for a couple things, and that's limeades, toaster sandwiches, and cheddar nuggets. I can't get those in my zip code, and that's why I want a Sonic close...

I hear what you're saying, but I'd trade you my entire neighborhood Sonic for just one char-burger from Huey's right about now.

I do love Huey's. Literally across the street. I get their double chili cheese dog with an extra bun, usually.

Rumor 'round these parts is that the Lake Zurich location will be opening August 31st.

Chicago Expat wrote:[Okay, before we get to Culver's, let me begin by telling all of you expressing your displeasure with Sonic that you're crazy. Sonic is wonderful fast food. Now, there are several caveats to its wonderfulness. One, you can't go to one in the suburbs. Also, if the Sonic is in a town with a population greater than 100,000, it's not really a Sonic. In fact, I'd be willing to hypothesize that the deliciousness of a particular Sonic is negatively correlated to the population of the town it's located in. The larger your town is, the less scrumptious those tater tots are gonna be.

Absolutely correct. Sonic has the best burger around in my in-law's town of Atlanta, TX (pop. 2000 or so) but why would I go to one in Chicago? There are better options everywhere here.

Someone please point me to a good cherry limeade with pill ice on the north side of Chicago, and I will forget all about sonic. Seriously.

Chitown B wrote:Someone please point me to a good cherry limeade with pill ice on the north side of Chicago, and I will forget all about sonic. Seriously.

What about Suzie's on Montrose, east of Cicero? They have a neat drink menu.

Chicago Expat wrote:

Chitown B wrote:Someone please point me to a good cherry limeade with pill ice on the north side of Chicago, and I will forget all about sonic. Seriously.

What about Suzie's on Montrose, east of Cicero? They have a neat drink menu.

if it has what I described I will check it out. It's a bit of a hike from Andersonville for a pedestrian, but it's still do-able.

Chitown B wrote:

Chicago Expat wrote:

Chitown B wrote:Someone please point me to a good cherry limeade with pill ice on the north side of Chicago, and I will forget all about sonic. Seriously.

What about Suzie's on Montrose, east of Cicero? They have a neat drink menu.

if it has what I described I will check it out. It's a bit of a hike from Andersonville for a pedestrian, but it's still do-able.

Call them first. Speaking from personal experience, the trip on the Montrose bus from Clark to Cicero is a very unfun busride.

abe_froeman wrote:They're putting one in up in Lake Zurich, too. On Rand/Rt. 12, just north of Rt. 22. I work down the street, so it will be nice to have another lunch option, but I'm not expecting brilliance.

How do they compare to Culver's, which is nearby?

The Lake Zurich one is open now. For burgers, I like Culver's much more.

shorty wrote:

abe_froeman wrote:They're putting one in up in Lake Zurich, too. On Rand/Rt. 12, just north of Rt. 22. I work down the street, so it will be nice to have another lunch option, but I'm not expecting brilliance.

How do they compare to Culver's, which is nearby?

The Lake Zurich one is open now. For burgers, I like Culver's much more.

Oh yeah, definitely open- they have the former Kmart parking lot next door set up to make a snaking line of cars waiting to get in, police directing traffic. I haven't ventured over there yet- maybe later this week after the excitement dies down.

Yea, open in Lake Zurich. It's a Sonic--not nearly as good a burger as Five Guys or Meatheads, but if you just love to eat in your car... and they charge $0.10 for a glass of water and don't tell you it's not free. I know, it's only $0.10, but it's the principle. Unacceptable.

Troy Smith, Founder of Sonic, Dies at 87 - http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/03/busin ... ref=dining

Don't know if this has been reported but i saw a sign for a soon to be constructed Sonic on Mannheim north of Grand. In a new shopping center being built.

Sonic's website confirms:

10440 GRAND AVENUE,
FRANKLIN PARK, IL 60131

Close enough to my work for a lunch visit.

DMChicago wrote:Don't know if this has been reported but i saw a sign for a soon to be constructed Sonic on Mannheim north of Grand. In a new shopping center being built.

Sonic's website confirms:

10440 GRAND AVENUE,
FRANKLIN PARK, IL 60131

Close enough to my work for a lunch visit.

They finally broke the 20 mile circle from Chicago! Mmmm... Cherry Limeade and tots within range.

DMChicago wrote:Don't know if this has been reported but i saw a sign for a soon to be constructed Sonic on Mannheim north of Grand. In a new shopping center being built.

Sonic's website confirms:

10440 GRAND AVENUE,
FRANKLIN PARK, IL 60131

Close enough to my work for a lunch visit.

Monday, Jan 18th was the grand opening.

http://www.pioneerlocal.com/franklinpark/news/1997309,franklin-park-sonic-012110-s1.article

Even better.

Thanks!

Tots on the horizon.

OK - I'm an idiot. I didnt know that Sonic was car hop service only. Went there with some work friends for lunch and it was all car hop service. We didn't want to eat in the car so we left.

Have to go back with the kids.

The Food Diva wrote:OK - I'm an idiot. I didn't know that Sonic was car hop service only. Went there with some work friends for lunch and it was all car hop service. We didn't want to eat in the car so we left.

Have to go back with the kids.

I visited one on the southside of Chicago last summer and they had a few outdoor tables with a speaker/menu nearby. We were able order and pay at the device and then the food was brought out to the table.

Of course it takes a special kind of Chicagoan to be dining Al Fresco this time of the year.

They had the same outside set up that you mentioned....guess I'm not that special Chicagoan to eat al fresco in January

I never eat in my car at Sonic, I just use the drive thru or get the food and take it home.

Panther in the Den wrote:Of course it takes a special kind of Chicagoan to be dining Al Fresco this time of the year.

By a coincidence, I dined a la trunk today at Riviera. You'd be surprised how many crumbs one of their sandwiches can produce.

Went to Sonic for lunch today 01-22-2010 with a few co workers as the new Franklin Park location is a 15 minute drive from the office.

Interesting that they had alot of staff directly in the parking lot making sure to note to all cars that it was not a sit down or drive thru place..and that you had 2 choices..order from your car or order for personal delivery at a set of kiosks in an outdoor seating area.

We ordered from each of the 2 ordering kiosks, which was empty in spite of the amount of traffic waiting for a spot at the carports. It was cold out but not so cold that we could skip waiting 15-30 minutes for a spot. The workers had a hard time hearing our orders when both were in use with just 4 people. How those are going to work in better weather with 50 screaming kids and families as it is right smack in the middle of all of the traffic and outdoor seating is beyond me.

I had the regular sonic cheeseburger with mustard and a caramel shake. The shake was excellent with strong caramel flavor and barely melted on the trip back. The cheeseburger was average, all of the ingredients were fresh. It tasted similiar to a BK Whopper without the sesame seed bun. Average is ok though, I'd order it again.

Coworkers liked the tots they ordered albeit they noted got a little cold on the way back to the office..but we knew that going in. Also it was noted that the cheese was skimped on a little when ordering it with the tots.

Definitely will swing back by again to try more of the shakes and other slushie liquid treats.