Look, I read the other reviews, too. And far be it from me to say that what I *believe* about their experience, and what they *experienced* about their experience should even be in the same sentence... but I will offer that those folks made the biggest Tragic Error that can be made at Sonic: They ordered food. Sorry Charlie, there's no excuse. Sonic is a dessert place, and any attempts to purchase a burger or any iteration of a fried potato here is an exercise in frustration and futility. It doesn't matter if there's bacon or cheese or BBQ sauce or liquid Bitcoin on the food-- it just doesn't compare to pretty much every other fast food joint you could think of. So why the four star review? Three reasons: 1. This place does ice cream shakes well. They make a good Sonic Blast here, and they didn't skimp on the add-ins. Ordering ice cream on vacation for three kids and an ice-cream-loving bride can backfire in a hurry if you screw it up. Thankfully, this Sonic drive thru didn't. 2. Close to my motel. Like, across the street from the el Cheapo Holiday Inn Express we stayed at on our roadtrip to Carlsbad Caverns last New Years. I could have walked, but why? 3. Service was great. OK, so there was someone in front of me in line in a "classic 70s Aunt-Car" who must have ordered 65 ice cream cones or something, because the gal working the window literally walked out to my car while I was still second in line... and this was after she did the same thing to the car in front of me while I was third. Brought me my change, gave me my desserts, smiled, wished me a nice evening... what a doll! Whatever this place doesn't seem to do for the locals with the order stalls they more than made up for at at the Drive Thru line. And the next morning, when we were leaving for SoCal, that damned car was still at the order window! (OK, not really, but it just seemed like it would have been.) Anyway, what have we learned? Ice Cream: Good. Food: Bad. Now you know. And knowing is half the battle! Geeeee Ayyyy Joooooeeeeeee. read more

It took 39 minutes to get a small 3 person order. Then gentleman who took our order could not hear through the speaker. I had SCREAM and he still couldn't understand. Girl finally came out with food. My husband gave gave her $40 for $26 and some change order. She just smiles and walks away!!!! My husband had to hit the button after waiting a few minutes to be like where's our money and we are missing a grilled cheese. Guy said on its way out. Just the girl comes with the money about " I had to get change." Then you need to tell us that sweetie. Also she had no idea we were missing a grilled cheese and went back in for it. We waited another 5 and directed. Worst fast food service EVER owner should really evaluate his establishment and the way it is being ran. You're loosing money everyday I'm sure for simple fixes. read more

Really don't know where to begin, first no stalls are open anymore. Order ahead and wait in long line when you pull up to order there's all kinds of things listed that there out of. No where near what it use to be by any means. Maybe owner or manager don't care just poorly ran and sonic corporation should look into this total embarrassment and making a bad name. read more

Absolutely the worst service EVER. NO SERVICE IS A BETTER DESCRIPTION. Ordered on the app. Checked in no one ever came out, had to get in the drive thru, it's backed up to Canal street. They definitely need management read more

Sonica has went to complete shit. Over 30 minutes and still waiting.. for a wrap and wacky pack. They don't answer phones, people walking out of the store holding children. I'd rather take my money somewhere else but I already paid online . I'll stick with McDonald's or Wendy's. Sonic will never have my business again. read more

Worst Sonic I've ever been to. Twenty minutes and still eating on order. Hit red button to check on the order and low and behold no response but within 30 seconds it was flagged out for delivery. Got back to hotel 2 minute drive) buns were burnt on the bottom and everything was cold like it had been sitting out for a while. Not worth your time or money read more

Ice cream tasted weird like expired and corn dog sucked . But I also notice that the inside where the workers are working could seriously use some updates! It definitely made me wish I would've just went to allsups for a quick snack. Not joking! read more

First we couldn't understand the guy at the window mumbling then the pickles, onions and everything where thrown in one spot then our sweet tea was unsweetened read more

Drive thru only!? Lazy workers cold food disgusting. It's hard to imagine them making quality food anymore I am extremely disappointed as I love Sonic, this one is trash read more

Do NOT stop. Just keep driving, that note hits most of Carlsbad NM. This Sonic is a ridiculous joke! No stall service. No mobile ordering. Hopefully NM gets better as we travel north. read more

If it was possible to leave less than one star I would. Terrible customer service, very rude employees, no available stalls, no mobile order options available, and the line stays wrapped around to Pierce street. It's a couple restaurants in Carlsbad that take pride in their service and quality of product but this IS NOT one of those places.. read more

Lucky enough to find a functioning stall to pull in to but once we ordered, the car hop came around and taped an "out of order" sign on the order button while we were still parked there. What made it worse was the drunk guy next to us blasting his music. The poor car hop had to come tell him to turn it down. This Sonic is going downhill fast....doubtful we will be back. read more

At least 17 stalls were broke down so we had to wait in the drive through for 15 minutes. The service was friendly and the shakes were good. That Is the only reason they got an extra star. read more

This car hop defeats the whole purpose of a car hop. They ALWAYS have little pieces of paper taped over their red buttons. The papers say "This stall not currently open" or something similar. So the drive thru is ALWAYS wrapped around the building. I finally asked an employee why their stalls break so much and she told me they put those papers up all the time because they're short handed. If you do stick around to wait forever and get food, you can count on them messing up your order. You will always get mayo when you don't want mustard and vice versa. The food is also very greasy. read more

we got here directly before closing and the people working were all still super friendly definitely was the perfect stop to get ice cream while traveling. read more

Came here last night, was not impressed. Burger tastes awful but by the time I took a bite out of it, I was too far away. The mint holiday shake was surprisingly good, but still couldn't get the taste of nasty burger out of my mouth. read more

Was looking forward to a nice warm burger and tater tots instead what I received was a cold burger with lukewarm tots.

I just got aggravated because the girl literally took a baby of tater tots back in and switched them for tater tots. And still brought them out after I said fries? read more

They didn't have orange but now they do. They suck and they are bad. I am giving one star.