Entertainment

Sonic Drive In - Hit & Miss on Customer Service

RESTAURANT REVIEW - I was so excited when Sonic Drive In was coming to Madera. On several cross country motorcycle rides I've eaten at them all over the mid-west. My favorite was across the street from Harry Truman's Farm outside of Kansas City.

When this one opened in Madera they started with a half price night while they worked out the bugs. Four years later they still haven't worked out the bugs. I don't know if it is lack of training or if their menu is too complicated for graduates of Madera Unified.


Here is an example: I like the Extra Large Coney chili dogs, but the way the menu has it set up they come with cheese. If you order a plain extra large hot dog with chili it is 80 cents less but the cashiers heads explode when you order something not on the menu. There is a button on the cash register for extra large hot dog. It is easy to see and select but these folks can't understand it without a manager walking them through it, holding their hands.

Tonight I ordered four Jr Sonic Burgers California Style. For those of you that don't know Sonic calls California Style anything with thousand island dressing. So instead of mayo or mustard and ketchup, my burgers should have thousand island. All four had mayo. I clearly said to the cashier "California Style" and she read it back with thousand island. So why the mistake?

If this was an isolated incidence I wouldn't make a big deal about it but it is an 85% occurrence. I am often surprised when an order is made right at the Madera Sonic. For a place that advertises all the different ways they can make a drink, why do they have such a hard time with the food?

I love those chili dogs but I'll tell you my blood pressure shoots through the roof when I eat them. Not from the hot dogs or the chili but the stress in ordering them from under-trained people. Order one my way and see.