BY NICHOLAS BRANDT
Highly ranked in the nation for fast-casual food and serving around 3 million per day, Sonic is “America’s Drive-In”… or is it? Based off of the carhops of yesteryear, the chain has gained a fair amount of popularity among food-lovers. To see for myself, I traveled to Duarte looking into what makes the place so popular.
The feeling of the establishment hits you the moment you drive into the spot. At first, I thought “Where do I order? Do we go inside? I am so confused!” until I saw the screen on the driver side. Apparently, it utilizes the old method of eating in your car while the carhops deliver food. Of course, if sitting in a car isn’t your style, there are benches near the kitchen. Surprisingly, that is the only thing in the building other than the restrooms.
The technology they use in the ordering system strays from the carhop system but blends the two eras nicely in one efficient, intriguing method. First, you look at the menu and decide what you want to order. Then, you press the red button on the board, causing a drive-thru-like radio to talk to the employee. You can either insert a credit card into the slot next to the button or wait for the carhop to come with your food and pay with cash.
As soon as the food arrived, I immediately looked for something that smelled the best. Considering that they all looked absolutely delicious, I grabbed the first thing that was on top: mozzarella sticks with marinara sauce. It had a fairly rough texture, causing me to pick it up with ease. It felt warm to the touch yet cool enough for me to hold it with pinched fingers. The first bite had a beautiful mix of the crunchy, crispy breaded outside and the gooey, oozing cheese within. Paired with the marinara sauce, it was mesmerizing. I could hardly contain myself and scarfed it down. A slight flour aftertaste remained, but it didn’t affect me very much.
Next was a #3, a double-patty cheeseburger with bacon, lettuce, and tomato. The silver foil that it came in reminded me of the way it was carefully folded to pack food in. I took my first bite, but had to stop mid-chew. The bacon was on the crispy side, and made it a little hard to chew without squishing the burger down. It had that same bacon taste, but felt quite hard against my jaw. By the end, the cheese became overbearing and took over the rest of the sandwich. But overall, it was decent.
After I picked the bacon out of my teeth, I wiped my face and prepared for the next item: a #9, crispy classic chicken sandwich. At a glance, you can see its entire contents consisting of only a chicken piece, lettuce, tomato, and ranch. My first thought was “Another ‘crispy’ item? And with only that? Guess that maybe this isn’t worth it…” But boy, was I wrong! I was hooked from the moment I took a nibble of the tender chicken club, from the cool, crisp lettuce to the warm, fresh bun. The ranch blended with the entire masterpiece beautifully, setting my tastebuds on a one-way trip to paradise. After I finished, I began to think about when I’d get a chance to experience it again.
The tater tots I ordered with it were generic, nothing really special about them. Other than a lack of ketchup, I felt neutral about them. Sure, they’re better than school tots but not the best I’ve tasted. The Oreo chocolate milkshake I ordered was better than I expected it to be. The rich, cocoa-flavored liquid went up the straw and into my mouth causing me to instantly smile. This reminded me of homemade shakes that I used to get from the ice cream shop as a kid, but better. So good that I almost didn’t notice a small detail… one look at my receipt confirmed my suspicions. There were no Oreo bits in this! The carhop came back the same way she did delivering our food, without skates. Kind of a disappointment, but maybe only some employees know how. I couldn’t blame her as I explained my situation. The service was fast, polite, and very humble. The lady delivered a new shake, apologizing for the error. I checked my new receipt, finding not a single upcharge! I showed the lady, asking her why I received no upcharge. She considered it a way to say sorry for the mistake, making me smile.
Overall, Sonic did hold up its end of the deal, proving its position as “America’s Drive-In.” Its mix of carhops and modern technology gives it a good look, its food is great for a portion of the menu and the service is fantastic. I’d rate it a solid 4 stars compared to fast-casual locations. If you’re ever in need of some great eats and you find a Sonic, I recommend driving right in and pressing that red button. It’s worth it.
Fast Facts:
Address: 1070 Huntington Drive, Duarte, CA
Phone #: 1(626)256-7902.
