Sonic Drive-In — Restaurant in Columbia Heights

We got takeout from the drive-thru and the food was alright but the process to get the order in and then fulfillment of our order was pretty bad. This review is far more for the service than the food which was good but nothing to write home about.

I first tried to order online so it would be ready when we arrived but their website is atrocious on mobile. It was very hard to check out and all I could figure out was to click in and out of the cart until the red ‘go to checkout’ button magically appeared. I had to do this several times as I had to edit the order on more than one occasion which I don’t recommend. It would have been faster to cancel it all and start over. Very frustratingly, when I went to checkout I was told the milkshake item I’d added wasn’t available and I’d have to edit the order to remove it or replace it. I did this twice before giving up as we were nearly there and figured I’d ask at the location what was up. As it turns out their shake machine is broken though there was no indication of that on the website being the reason I couldn’t add the shakes. Looking at other information on the location, apparently their shake machine has been broken for several months though they hope for repair in August.

Then getting to the Sonic was ridiculously confusing. It’s in the same block as it’s sandwiched between 2 other businesses and does not have its own entry. We actually ended up in the wrong parking lot twice (each of the other businesses once) and had to circle the block before finding the correct way to get in line as the entire area is a one-way only circle.

While ordering we had to state each item we wanted very slowly and clearly several times over for the person taking the drive-thru orders. He seemed to have some difficulty with the electronic ordering system and asked us to repeat ourselves many times as he attempted to clear the last patron’s order. Even once that was done he seemed to know nothing of their menu or how to punch it in. He twice asked us what one of their items was as though we were calling it by a strange name. Clearly a new hire but he most certainly needed either more training or more supervision or some mix of both.

After the excruciating ordering process paying and getting our food was fine. However we were missing several extras we had asked for which the person operating the drive-thru assured us would be no problem to get and it was the only thing he seemed confident about. We had no napkins, no plastic ware we asked for, and instead of BBQ sauce and some ketchup for dipping, we received what probably amounted to at least half of a small bottle of ketchup in packet form. As it is a drive-thru only we were unable to go in and ask for the items and had no desire to wait in the drive-thru line again to get to the front.

We will...

This location needs some help. The couple of times I have been there have disappointing.

The first time we went there everything seemed ok. Couple of things like the fries got cold and soggy after less than a 5 min drive to have a picnic with it at a park not far away.

Last time the person on the speaker and I had a hard time understanding each other. Then we ordered one of the chili-cheese dog, didn't receive the chili.

Today we go there again because we just came from a lake and wanted something cold one of the slushys or a shake once again had a hard time communicating with the person but it was super windy today so that very well could have been the problem. Although with it being the third time I highly doubt it. My son wanted the sour patch slush float. The guy came over the speaker and politely said "This location doesn't have ice cream, will just a regular slushy be ok?" Wait what?? No ice cream when it's advertised? "This location dosen't have ice cream" ??? If the machine was broken fine. BUT why not post something?????? Then the thing was ssooo darn sour it was almost unbearable to drink. Yes sour patch kids are sour but it was ridiculously over sour! You couldn't even taste if there was a flavor! I wanted a blue raspberry slushy and I received a blue slushy that was COCONUT! We thought they carried mini corn dogs so we ordered some and some cheese curds. Get the bag and it's just a regular old corn dog. If they didn't have the minis why in the heck didn't they say so? No instead they gave us a regular one. Which we do like. BUT when you think you ordered one thing and they don't have it nor do they tell you that and give you the closest thing? Then my hubby tries to go and get what he wants, my hubby said the guy that came out was kinda rude about it. But he did offer to grab him some cheese sauce that he wanted. My hubby frustrated just said it's fine and walked away.

Eveytime we have been there it seemed like they had enough people on. Which is great but it seemed like there was more horse play than anything else. Wich is great if your having a good time at work.. but should you make sure your guests are happy and get what they want, order AND pay for first?? Plus employees talking about/saying things that they probably should have waited for the drive-thru window to be closed first. Thankfully it didn't offend me.

This place needs some serious help if they intend on staying open. Upgrade in equipment or simply fix what they...

UPDATE: Until I talk to management or corporate, my review is One star. Would give Zero if I could. My first ever Sonic experience was a a little over a month ago, and I have been back twice since then. What a joke! Every time, it takes forever to order, and you can't get what you want to order anyway. This staff needs an overhaul as their service skills are atrocious. It's going to be a cold day in hell before I come back to this location.

Good food for what you pay for, although not a huge fan of the fries here. I didn't order fries, I ordered Onion Rings. It appeared the girl taking the drive thru orders inside was inexperienced because it took over 5 minutes to place my order as she kept asking for help. Once I came around to pay, I was informed by a different person than the one who took my order that they had been out of Rings for a period of time and he had told them multiple times to stop letting customers order them. He asked if I wanted anything else, and never being here before I didn't know what else was available. So I said I guess I would take some Fries. He removed the Rings from my order, then still charged me for the Fries... thought maybe there would be some sort of compensation for the ordeal so far, but at this point I don't really care, I'm just hungry because I haven't ate all day. After he took my money and shut the little drive thru window he turned around and said very loudly to the employees "Everybody!!! Again... We are out of Onion Rings!! People cannot order them!!" LOL The Fries were shoestring cut and soggy... two strikes right off the bat, well three really because I heard they have really good Onion Rings and that's really what I went there for. The Burger I ordered was made the way I asked for, and it didn't disappoint... it was really quite good, especially for a drive in/thru place. Burger gets 5 stars for sure! Traditional drive in setting that also has a drive thru and outdoor seating. It appeared to be popular and busy, as it was 9pm and there were only a few open car ports. Next time I may try the whole actual...