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Sonic: Tyler’s Drive-In, Too

October 1st, 2009

Like a John Wayne western, Sonic Drive In restaurants somehow manage to make us feel nostalgic for things we never actually experienced. Granted, many people do remember the 1950’s, where car-hopping waitresses wore roller skates and Franky Avalon crashed every beach party. But for the generation that thinks a “Drive In” is only a place where teenagers make out and tornadoes strike, Sonic reintroduces the good-old days in tantalizing Technicolor.

Tyler Sonics have four locations. As the name implies, they won’t have lobbies. You will drive into a spot, roll down your window read the big colorful menu, and give your order over the intercom. You can pay by credit card at that time, or wait for the “car-hop.” In a few minutes, she will walk out with your food (sorry, but rollerskates are rare nowadays), offer condiments from an impressive cargo belt, and take your money, leaving you to eat inside your car and have semi-witty conversations for 30 seconds.

“So,” you might ask, “if there is no lobby, why would I go? Why would I pay to sit in a parking lot and eat in my car?” There is a simple answer: the food is flat-out impressive, and the drinks are unbelievable. How else could Sonic become America’s Drive-In restaurant?

Sonic’s burgers are hot and delicious. They are light years ahead of Big Macs an barely shy of Whataburgers. Their fries are equally tasty, as are their chicken sandwiches. But these items are just Sonic’s obligatory staple foods. Most people come to Sonic because of all the unique things they offer, like Coney and Tots. Officially, that’s a hot dog and small potatoes. Sonic offers these without a shred of embarrassment, again claiming Nostalgic Rights. Who doesn’t have great memories of eating hot dogs on a Saturday afternoon? And I can promise you that Sonics are better than your memories.

Keep moving down the menu and you’ll find the glorious Toaster fleet. That’s a big burger, club, or breakfast sandwich between two golden pieces of Texas Toast. And speaking of Toast, you can get breakfast food all day, which is always appealing to people like me. The sides are fantastic, too, with onion rings, mozzarella sticks, chili cheese tots, and my favorite: jalapeno poppers.

But it’s Sonics specialty drinks that will keep you coming back. Don’t settle for a Coke or a Sprite. You can get those anywhere. Go for something big, like a Signature Limeade. Cherry, strawberry, lime, apple, cranberry… so many choices. Can’t pick one? Pick them all. Sonic’s Limeades are legendary because they actually put fruit into the drink. My favorite is the STRAWBERRY LIMEADE, a drink whose name demands capitalization. There aren’t just bits of strawberry mixed in, there are chunks, so that after you finish the drink itself, you’ll have a healthy desert mixed right in with your ice. It’s a beautiful thing.

All of Sonic’s drinks are fully customizable. There are thousands of possible combinations that have never even been though of before. Be creative. And do the same when desert time comes. Sonic’s Frozen Favorites menu is as unique and appealing as the drinks menu. I recommend going beyond the obvious sundaes and milk shakes and opt for a Sonic Blast, a Cream Slush Treat, or a Java Chiller. You can’t go wrong. Just don’t skip it.

I seriously doubt that the 1950’s ever tasted this good, but when you are holding a Toaster Sandwich and a Mocha Chip Java Chiller, it really doesn’t matter. If you really want to feel like a 50’s beach party-goer, head over to Sonic on 64 & the NW Loop or on South Broadway Tyler Texas. There are outdoor tables, a fine playground for the kids and a beach volleyball court for you. But if you go there, I can’t guarantee Franky Avalon won’t show up to mooch a Mozzarella stick or two. You’ve been warned.

The Many Faces of Whataburger in Tyler

September 24th, 2009

When you come to Texas, you’ll see the white and orange A-frame roofs all over the place. There are almost as many them in Texas as there are Texans, which is good news for everyone who lives there! Call it Texas’ own In ‘n Out Burger. Call it a slightly higher class, more expensive fast food option. Just don’t call it “Water Burger.”

Whataburger was founded in the 1950’s in Corpus Christi by a man who wanted to impress his customers so much by the size and quality of his food that they would exclaim “What a burger!” The restaurant took off and made a name for itself by making fresh, quality burgers to the exact specifications of each customer. Their plethora of condiments was never stale and always at your disposal. In other words, they were giving burgers “your way” long before burger king ever did.

Today, Whataburger restaurants can be found all throughout the South, and they are still committed to that principle. When you order, they’ll suggest “all the way, mustard,” but you can can tell them exactly what you want. Scratch the pickles and add jalepenos. Lots of ‘em. This is Texas, after all!

I would be remiss if I didn’t recommend the #1 with cheese and bacon. If you’re really hungry, go ahead and make it a double meat. You won’t be disappointed. They don’t have much use for heat-lamps because they still make it fresh when you order. And the fries are terrific, just like everything else on the menu.

In Tyler, Whataburger is a more interesting option than most other fast food restaurants because of the individual themes of the various locations. Do you love music? Are you a fan of Elivs Presley? Try the 50‘s Whataburger on the East Loop next to El Charro. The walls are filled with memorabilia and vinyls from from the golden age of Rock ‘N Roll, and posters of the movie starts like James Dean and Marilyn Monroe. The 50’s Whataburger is guaranteed to bring back memories for the elders, and create new ones for the young.

Need something to get your motor running? NasCasr fans rejoice! There’s a Whataburger for that! Stop into the Hot Rod Whataburger on South Broadway in front of the WalMart Supercenter for a breakfast burrito a cup of coffee, and some high-octane decor. Come really early if you want, because this Whataburger, like the others, is open 24 hours.
Or maybe you’re just feeling especially patriotic about Texas. (This is a peculiar phenomenon, found in almost no other state.) There’s a Whataburger for that, too, on the south loop across from Broadway Square Mall. The Texas theme Whataburger features long horns and oil references galore–a visual history of the state of Texas. Put on a Rangers hat while sitting in there with a #2 double meet, and even Nolan Ryan would be impressed with your Texan authenticity.

And hey, speaking of Nolan Ryan, the All-Star Whataburger is on the West loop between Hightways 64 and 31. This one is my personal favorite, not just because I used to go study there in the middle of the night, but because it is littered with sports memorabilia and TV’s tuned to ESPN. My favorite display, more than the motorcycle or the Cowboys pictures from their 1990’s Super Bowl teams, has to be the framed picture of the aged Nolan Ryan, pummeling the head-locked Robin Ventura after the much younger man charged the mound. It was not only one of the funniest, most unforgettable moments in recent baseball history, it was also vintage Texas. Just like Whataburger.

If you show up to the All-Star location for a game, see if you can coax the manager into cranking up the volume. They didn’t used to do it for us, but they just might, now, if you promise to buy a shake with your meal.

There are more locations too! Check out the original Tyler franchise on South Beckham, or the new one on 155, just off the loop. I think you’ll agree that Whataburger is one the best fast food franchises in the country.

Rank and Review Whataburger in Tyler Texas from 1 – 10 stars by clicking here