Five years of catchy commercials teased Wisconsinites, and it's finally here: a Sonic Drive-In. The new Sonic, 6413 University Ave., is not on campus, but it's worth the drive now that the initial hype has died down.
The menu is filled with familiar favorites, including single and double burgers, cheeseburgers and french fries. Despite a lack of originality, all items on the menu set themselves apart from the competition in taste. The burgers, complete with fixings, are bigger and tastier than the typical fast food burger, and the french fries are saltier than expected but still good.
Another common item on Sonic's menu is chicken. However, instead of the usual chicken nuggets, Sonic has popcorn chicken, chicken strip sandwiches (on the $1 everyday value menu) and different specialty grilled or crispy chicken sandwiches, such as the chicken and bacon ranch. Though the chicken strip sandwich isn't substantial enough for an entire meal without sides, the popcorn chicken is definitely worth a try.
Alhough it's often overlooked because it's so small, Sonic also has a breakfast menu, available all-day if you're jonesin' for french toast sticks after a long day of classes. The breakfast menu also differs from other fast food eateries. For example, Sonic has a breakfast sandwich, but it's on Texas toast, in a burrito or on a bistro sandwich, not the cliché biscuit or muffin.
The clear aspect of Sonic that separates it from every other fast food restaurant is its extensive list of drink combinations. According to the website, there are approximately 168,894 drink combinations. The drinks themselves come in four sizes instead of the traditional three: small, medium, large, and ""Rt.44,"" a 44-oz. cup of perfection if you make the ""right"" drink.
Customers start out with any fruit juice or Coke product as a base, then add any flavor, from vanilla and chocolate to strawberry and orange and even blue coconut. In addition to the usual drinks and juices, Sonic also has smoothies, shakes and Sonic Blasts, which are similar to McDonald's McFlurries.
Sonic Blasts are cups of vanilla soft serve with tons of sweets mixed in, like M&M's, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Butterfingers or Oreos. No straws for these sweet treats, only spoons. They are thicker than milkshakes and keep their consistency, making for the best shake-like confections out there.
Another oddity is on the lunch and dinner menu: You can get an extra-long chili cheese coney (hot dog), chili cheese tots, or a junior Frito burrito.
It's fair to say that Sonic may not have been such an immediate success if advertising giants had not promoted the restaurant to Wisconsinites five years in advance. Commercials or not, Sonic is a hit that's here to stay.
