It was better than curlys, and it had less stars!!! So not sure what thats about!! So pick sonny's!!

We are big fans of Sonnys, always have a good dining experience. This Friday that all changed at their Bartow location. It would appear that every Sonnys is getting a Facelift. Yeah it looks good on the outside, but the inside was a total disaster. It was so noisy due to the lack of sound absorbing material, every conversation was echoing throughout the restaurant, we could not even have a normal conversation. On top of that the air conditioning was so cold it actually blew the napkins off the table. Meanwhile we just got up and changed tables much to the disapproval of the hostess At this point we didn't really care about her attitude. After a15 min wait we finally placed our order. No problem with the food, everything was almost perfect. Looking around after our meal, no wetnaps. Even the server said, haven't got any... that was totally ridiculous. Bottom line this location was not ready to reopen. The acoustics in the restaurant were terrible and the staff was inexperienced. Until these issues are remedied we will not return even though we have been coming here for 8 years. read more

Thank you very much to the manager or whoever made my order right. The wait staff changed my order, argued with me that I ordered something different and told me not to be rude. I lost my appetite. Make sure you point to exactly what you want on the menu or they will change your order if it's the least bit unclear. Or better yet, go to Curly Tails. read more

What a great experience! Excellent service! Our waitress was Kat..It is so refreshing to have a waitress with such a fantastic attitude..she was friendly, attentive and offered great suggestions. We ordered the fried okra to start...very nice flavor and crispy...not soggy at all. Also had pulled chicken and brisket...very nice as well. read more

I've been eating at Sonny's all over the Southeast for decades and this one isn't really any different than the typical Sonny's experience that I've always come to expect. I stopped by at 12:30 on a Sunday and the place was packed with the after church crowd. The food was good and Ashley did a great job keeping everyone's drinks refilled and reorders moving in spite of handing six packed tables. All I can say is that while any restaurant can have problems, and I'm sure that this one has their share from time to time, my experience was very good and I'll be back. read more

This is the worst Sonny's. The management doesn't have a clue how to run a business. I will never go there again. Left after waiting an hour and being called liar by one of the hostess. read more

We normally Love Sonny's BBQ, but we just left without even sitting down because of the rudest hostess we've ever seen. First after telling her there were two of us she turned and walked away without saying a word, then she sat us on the far side of the restaurant between 3 tables of small yelling children. My husband ask if we could sit elsewhere, after glaring at him, she snatched the menus off the table and again walked away. No follow me, no right this way. Nothing a hostess of a restaurant is normally courteous enough to say. I understand people have bad days, but we left without sitting. If it's that much trouble, don't let me waste my time and money at your place. read more

Came on a busy Saturday, but you wouldn't know because their service runs like a well-oiled machine. Our appetizer was awesome, the "redneck eggrolls" and arrived within 10 mins after ordering our food. Food was at our table 20 mins and everything was correct and cooked well. Presentation gets a 10/10 as the food was cooked and presented as perfect as it could because it made our mouth' s water and stomach's rumble! It tasted as good as it looked too, amazing! I got the half chicken with fries baked beans, and garlic toast, as I stated, it was amazing, especially with every one of their signature sauces at each table which added with your own personal paper towel roll is an excellent added touch for rib lovers. Just an excellent place to eat for the family and I highly recommend it. From the chef's or BBQ Masters as I'm sure they'd prefer to be called to the service and bar staff are absolute professionals at this establishment. My Dad and I have been going to the Sonny's in S. Lakeland for over 30 years and THIS location is better by leaps and bounds! We also enjoyed the enthusiasm show by the staff when someone had a birthday, it was fun and refreshing to see the staff and customers having fun and genuinely making others happy. Good times and I'll be back for sure! read more

I have been here many times..Not one of my favorites anymore.. Tea is sometimes sour the salad bar is awful and the staff is gross im pretty sure they have a roach problem... Food is usually good I just hate sitting inside there anymore... Now the corn nuggets and okra I love read more

Fried okra FREAK!! We have great pitmasters that know how to cook BBQ. Ask for me, Amy Lynn, I'll take great care of you and your party!

Food choices are very limited, and what you do order there's no flavor to anything. Salad bar was missing some selections. Tomatoes were pre chopped into tiny pieces, they tasted old and soggy. The sliced pork and ribs are great. Other hot sides like okra, fries, and beans are ok. Seem short staffed during lunch rush. read more

I took my entire family to eat here while I was visiting. It was awesome! Absolutely outstanding, friendly service, comfortable atmosphere, delicious food and all at a great price. Wish I lived closer because I would eat here all of the time! read more

No stars but they make you pick at least 1 this place is terrible I have spent a lot of money there over the years our server tonight Danny a girl was Our server all was fine at the table food etc.except I really did not need to know about her sushi vomiting experience in the bathroom she told us about right before she took our order gross she should have went home anyway instead of touching other people's food but anyway the food was brought out we ate I cleaned our table up as always nice and tidy she only got us drinks once not a lot of running for us period no complaints to anyone after our food came out and when we got our check I paid and left a 2.50 tip in change on the table because that's all I had available to give extra so we got out the door and the rude server follows us gives it back and says here I have kids that's not enough so I was very upset about this and thought to myself what a witch, I went back in asked for a manager she went to the back of store behind the doors and says I don't care like a child so I speak to the manager about the behavior i told her what she said and the lady said manager condones this type of behavior and tells me she has 4 kids and works hard and I proceed to tell her I spend a lot of money there and I have kids as well and life expenses and I don't have to leave anything but I did and was worried about making sure I did leave something boy was I stupid the manager basically gave me her attitude as well and said the waitress said I left a 85 cent tip which was a pure lie.It is not my families fault how her life is and how many kids she has to raise I told the manager maybe she needed a better job to support them if that's the best she can treat customers.There was so much I wanted to say but I shut it down because the people nor the place is worth it they act like you owe them your life aside from your bill and if you don't tip your garbage and get treated just that way there's only one man at that location who is good and that is Trevor no restaurant I know and I called another Sonny's tolerates this kind of behavior!! read more

Good meats, excellent sides. Some of the best baked beans I ever had. Good sauces and Cole slaw. Glasses of sweet tea you could wash in. Come here when you want good BBQ at a reasonable price. On this visit I had the brisket. Usually I get the ribs or sliced pork. If you are really hungry get the sampler plate and have a little of everything, plus two sides and bread. If you have a family, the feast for four is a good deal and amply feeds four people. A variety of meats with bowls of beans and slaw, plus breads. read more

Past few years they had been really slipping, especially for take-out. Always check your order before you leave, u they've been better as of late... read more