Based out of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Sonic Drive-In is attempting to make inroads in the Bay Area fast food scene, as this location in American Canyon is just one of five locations in the nine counties that make up the Bay Area. This could be the best location in the region because it is located in the Napa Junction Shopping Center along the Napa Vallejo Highway otherwise known as Highway 29. What better way to enjoy ones journey on their way to wine country or their way back to the city than a quick stop at one of the country's best loved burger joints for a quick stop for a meal or a frosty beverage that Sonic Drive-In is so well known for, that and being one of the country's few car hops where they deliver your food right to your car window. There have been many times in which I have driven up to one of the many parking spaces available and pressed the red button, ordered and received my food and beverage in no time flat. What makes Sonic Drive-In so up to date is that they have modernized their service to include ordering and paying on their app way ahead of time and then pulling up to a stall, typing in the stall number and viola your food is ready to go in no time! And this is exactly how I ordered my food on a warm Sunday afternoon on my way up to enjoy a nice week ahead of me in wine country. Me and a group of friends decided to meet up for a quick bite at the Sonic Drive-In in American Canyon before we checked into our hotel a few miles away in Napa.
As I saw my friends already parked in a stall making an order. I surprised them when I pulled up next to them and ordered right from my smartphone. Since Sonic loves to give a number of discounts and deals if you order ahead on their app, I still had my birthday reward that was still available to use, which was a complimentary small side item from their menu of my choice, so I decided to order their Hand Made Onion Rings, which was a value of $3.19 which wasn't too shabby. Also for my main meal, I decided to order their signature menu item of the month, which for this month was their Sonic Crave Cheeseburger, which was a 100% pure beef patty layered with melty cheese, their SONIC Crave Sauce, tomatoes, pickles, diced onions and chopped lettuce served on a toasted bun. To wash down my meal, I ordered another of their limited time menu items with a Medium Red, White and Blue Slush Float, which was made of Strawberry, Vanilla Ice Cream and Blueberry Raspberry Flavor. My total bill was only $7.52, which was fairly reasonable, and was delivered to my car in less than 10 minutes. Now this particular location no longer has a roller skating server to bring out your order, which I think many locations have dropped this unique attribute as who needs to get injured with all of these questionable drivers out there, but the fact that they still deliver you car door in this day and age no matter the weather or time of day or evening is nothing short of remarkable.
What's nice about this particular location of Sonic Drive-In is that they have three picnic tables set up in a grassy field, complete with willow trees that provide some shade, where diners can enjoy their food not too far away from their cars. What is also nice about using the Sonic app is that they give you all of the ingredients that make up your food and beverage, so you know exactly what you are eating, and you can make substitutions, or delete or add on ingredients depending on your preferences, sometimes for an extra fee. Although I like the rotating menu of specials that Sonic Drive-In provides, sometimes what they are offering isn't up to snuff from previous offers, case in point their Crave Cheeseburger was a poor imitation of an In-and-Out Cheeseburger, with the same thousand island dressing as the "signature" sauce, but without any juiciness or warmth that their competitors provide with their food. I liked my slush float, as it was a festive drink for the holiday, but after mixing it after a few sips, it turned into looking and tasting like a regular strawberry shake. Which I will definitely be ordering next time, as in my opinion, their Blasts and Shakes are the signature items that I will order each and every time I head to a Sonic Drive-In. They are filling enough to be a meal in their own right. In fact, I honestly think that their blasts and shakes are actually better tasting than the food that they offer at Sonic because they are more thoughtfully prepared with fresher and more unique ingredients. It is this reason that I keep coming back to Sonic Drive-In, as whenever I see a location driving along the highway I know that a tasty frosty treat is in order. Especially in a region as diverse as Napa Valley because who doesn't need a little pick me up for the long drive home from downing a few glasses of delectable wine in one of the greatest places on earth to enjoy them? At Sonic Drive-In in American Canyon, they're sure to sober anyone up! read more