Sonic Drive-In — Restaurant in Phenix City

One star based on two visits more than a year apart.

First visit in 8/2020 was marred by the fact that the first stall I pulled into did not have a functioning speaker. When I moved to another stall that speaker system barely worked. Wait time was incredibly slow and the server deliberately did not return my change. I had to get someone else on the speaker to ask for my 8+ dollars worth of change. On top of that when I got the food home it was an “edible” slapped together burger with bottom of the barrel ingredients and the bacon was burnt.

Today’s experience set the bar on the ground and kicked it across the room.

The first stall had a non functioning speaker system and upon switching stalls that speaker system apparently did not work either. The button was blinking, the lcd screen reassured me there was life out there, somewhere. A fact that was confirmed when someone pulled into the the stall next to me. It worked very well! I’m very glad that gentleman and his daughter were not left waiting, wondering if anyone would eventually be with them. As I waited a car on the opposite side switched stalls in an attempt to get a working speaker of their own. I watched him press and press and press that little red button. Hoping, praying a voice from the other side would reach out and give him the strength needed to endure this strange social experiment. I have no idea if his efforts were rewarded and by the time the gentleman beside me got his food I had been waiting almost 25 minutes. I was not about to play musical Sonic stalls in an attempt to find the holy grail of drive in fast food. So when the gentleman beside me left, so did I.

To sum up my Sonic experience I went from being barely served and almost robbed in 2020 to no service in 2021. After visits like this it would be hard to imagine the experience required to lower the bar even further.

And that got me thinking.

Based on how Sonic treats its customers it’s entirely possible an employee could come out and smash my windshield with a baseball bat just for having the audacity to even attempt to order food. Or in the event I could actually order food and receive it I almost expect the manager would come out and ask me if I ordered a knuckle sandwich then immediately punch me in the throat.

If there is in fact some benevolent christ like figure that keeps all things in check and balanced, hopefully it will see fit to make 2022 the year Sonic dissolves as a company, physical locations are razed to the ground and their current employees find work with other companies that not only pay better but also aren’t an embarrassment to be associated with.

I don’t hold much hope for that reality but a guy can dream. And while we all wait for the guy on the big rock candy mountain to work in his mysterious ways join me in avoiding the Sonic brand whenever possible.

“But internet stranger where did you go after you left Sonic? How did you satiate your hunger?” I hear you ask. “What did you do to fill the void Sonic had carved into your soul?” Yes, yes internet reader I will reveal my secret to you now.

I went to...

Edited June 22nd (1:30am) - So finally got to try out this Sonic 'after hours' lol.

While the greeting we received when ordering wasn't nice or 'customer service friendly' the food was still good.

I ordered the chicken tenders, fries and another coffee this time without sweet cream and my husband got the double smasher. All delicious. My hubby says the fries needed seasoning but I thought they were great.

My daughter and her man orders separately and one item she order, the pizza bites?, was not in stock and they were told AFTER they ordered but Sonic replaced it with her second choice and adjusted the price before they paid. Their food came out good as well and cooked properly.

My daughter did have some confusion with the person taking the order and her man, they forget a drink due to the rudeness of the worker and her 'asking' them to repeat their order a few times, but the one who served them brought the drink to my daughter no worries. Think that nice woman knew the one who took the orders had an attitude on her.

Could have been her off night, could have been tired, whatever is was it's her job and should be done with a bit more kindness especially to people who haven't been rude to them. But I digress, the main focus is food and payment for nighttime which passed with flying colors for a Saturday night trip at 1am!

Edited June 1st - Once again an amazing place. My daughter ordered with the online app at 215pm and when we got there about 230 her food was ready, correct, and hot!

I ordered a cold brew coffee here and they got the flavoring right and even added the sweet cream I asked for.

Most of my interactions have been with them between 12-3 and they are 5Stars... haven't been here after 5pm in years, might be where all those bad reviews are coming from, might check it out for dinner one night and let you know.

For now though, still 10/10 will always recommend!

(Original review) Been here countless times and they are always super helpful and nice and the food/drinks are always on point.

First place we got a proper unicorn slush and straw. Going to be my go to spot...

I was just here less then 20 minutes ago and I waited over an hour for my food. I order the #4 BACON CHEESE BURGER TOASTER AND CHEESE FRIES WITH A LARGE SWEET TEA. My husband got the #7 chili cheese footlong and chili cheese tots and a large Dr Pepper. And we order our son the chick strips kids meal with fries. Well needless to say I got the complete opposite of what I ordered. My bread was not toasted the meat was hard as a rock and there was no bacon on my sandwich. My sons fries in his kids meal were rock hard! And they gave me Dr Pepper and chili cheese tots when I was for something else. So I took the food to the door after I had pushed the button and she came on the speaker and said please hold so I got my truck took it to the manager standing at the door and I asked her is the #4 suppose to have bacon on it and is the bread suppose to be toasted? She said oh you wanted bacon on it why didn't you ask? First off the sand which comes with bacon on it. I shouldn't have to ask for it and the meat is hard and I didn't order these nasty chili Tots and my sons fries are hard as a rock. She goes what stall are you at I'll fix it for you. So I told her stall 15. And I still ended up waiting 40 more minutes for my food to be wrong again. I just gave up and drove off. I will never be back they have poor service skills and sucky management. And they are so damn slow with running food out when they are...