1st time at Sonny's. I was visiting from CA and was craving southern BBQ so my friend a took me here. It hit the spot! I got the chopped brisket, jalapeño and cheese, sausage, mac & cheese, cornbread, and baked beans. Everything was great. Our waitress Michelle was very helpful and friendly. Would totally come back. read more

Sonny's BBQ - got the Pick 2 Combo; the chopped brisket, the jalapeño and cheddar sausage, & a side of BBQ Beans, Mac & Cheese, and cornbread. - Barbeque Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

The food was good. I ordered a 4 meat plate for $19.99. Then there was an up charge for brisket and ribs. It was not clear on the menu. My $19.99 became $26.99. If it was clear I might have ordered something different. The servicer did not make the up charge clear. I knew about the salad up charge. I'm not sure I will return when in the area. read more

Meh. I usually like Sonny's but today was a big disappointment. My pork was dry, my large portion was small and my garlic toast was burnt. You can't serve dry, day old meat at a bbq joint, just can't happen. I'm changing to two stars. I asked if I could sub onion rings. I was told yes. I wasn't told it would an extra three dollars. I could have order a separate side of rings and got fries. I won't be back for a while. Really a bad experience. read more

I was so excited to order takeout from here being that I was in town for Thanksgiving. I ordered the dry rub wings and they gave me old wings!! The wings were so old and dry that the seasoning didn't even take. I'm so upset that I spent my money here to get served bad food. read more

Sonny's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Yesterday I went to Sunny's and got the brisket with fries and a cup of ranch, it was delicious. Our server Anna was so sweet and truly loves what she does. The lighting was low which made it feel comfortable and reminded me of my childhood home. Can't wait to come back! read more

Wow!!!! I split the candied hamburger and chopped brisket sandwich. Soooo good! When I come again, I won't know what to choose. Service was pleasant and on target. read more

Gosh, I hope you came hungry cause they don't mess around. Although to make the matter more complicated, I hit more meat than I was supposed to have with this meat platter. Happy little mistake, that I consumed later as I had to getwhat I didn't finish to go. Service was fine,. probably better than fine as I was a lucky guest. It's definitely a modern BBQ house interior which works. I'd go back, not the best BBQ I've ever had at this particular branch, but still very enjoyable. read more

Sonny's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Worst service ever mediocre food had to wait for 20 minutes trying to get our waiters attention NEVER GOING BACK! TO SONNYS AGAIN!!

We dropped one of my sons' stuff at the dorm and took him out for lunch before he left the nest to start the Summer B session of his freshman year. We decided on Sonny's since they started in Gainesville. We started with what used to be called a "Redneck Egg Roll." It's not called that anymore because someone was offended by the name..... I'm here to review the food, so I'll leave it at that. It was excellent no matter what you call it. My wife enjoyed her pulled pork, and my son devoured his pulled pork & chicken combo meal. I had to remember to breathe because I was eating my sliced pork so quickly. We all enjoyed the slaw and fries as the sides. It seems that wherever we go and visit a Sonny's for a meal, the quality is always consistently good. Very enjoyable BBQ. read more

Very mediocre. Used to be great before Covid. Sonny Tillman hasn't owned any of these for a long time. And it shows. Service is terrible, BbQ is awful. The only reason I went was because of the salad bar. They never brought it back since Covid. Prices went up salad bar never came back. read more

$13 dollars for a pulled pork Large sandwich with ZERO sides and waited twenty five minutes for it WTF. An order of fries was another $4 and thats the cheapest side, again WTF? This is the Gainesville location on Archer rd. And the hot and spicy bbq was not hot and spicy at all. Roommate was not at all happy with his plate of bbq and had to get another portion of pork because the first was dry and had no fat on it. Last time I step foot in Sonnys, Definitely NOT the real original Sonnys from the 80s and 90s, once again a big corporation destroys a great restaurant place. Very very sad Sonnys was staple in those days, salad bar all you can eat days long long gone. Now its hipster cool daddy bbq place...​​ read more

One of my favorite places! Great staff and excellent BBQ. Malyn, thanks for the great service! read more

Sonny's BBQ - Pulled Pork Sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I ordered for pickup and it said it would be ready at 6:06pm. Needless to say I didn't get my to go food til 6:36pm. Everything was cold and I was missing my drink. At this point I was a little mad since I had another commitment to go to and didn't have the time to go in and talk to someone about it. I got a pulled pork sandwich and Mac cheese and it was all cold . I also place an order for some fries while there and they were hot but tasted stale like they had been reheated. I was truly thinking they were just doing better a few months ago to have this terrible service. I don't see myself coming back. read more

My husband and I ate a late lunch yesterday 8/8/25. The food was perfect as always, and our waitress was awesome. Our only complaint is the condition of the tables. The tops are sticky. Wiping them doesn't help. I was thinking that perhaps the sanitizing spray you clean the tables with has slowly eroded the top coat. Definitely don't know for sure but worth looking in to. Thanks. read more

A great BBQ joint here in Gainesville, FL. The original Sonny's was created here in Gainesville and this is legit BBQ! The Carolina BBQ sandwich was delicious. The atmosphere was very family friendly and rustic. Definitely a must-have when coming to Gainesville. Our waitress was awesome as well. read more

Sonny's BBQ - Carolina BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich with green beans - Barbeque Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Loved the moist brisket, corn bread, and coleslaw. The BBQ suacesl were very good with the smokey and regular as favorites. Service was good even though it was crowded for lunch. Bathrooms were also kept clean. Arrival off SW Archer Road can be a challenge. Parking lot was at capacity and can be tricky to navigate. read more

I've ordered the family meals for takeout from here many times. Their pulled chicken and pulled pork are reliably good. The one time that I had an issue, management was quick to address it and make it right. I would reccomend this Sonny's location to anyone looking for Barbecue. read more

pulled pork, too much gristle & fat. sampled brisket...good flavor. beans and cole slaw unremarkable. tea service +++ barbecue sauces great! needs better meat dishes to appreciate. loved the onion straw, could make a side of them. read more

Shared a two meat combo with crinkle fries and baked beans. Our waitress brought us extra plates to use since we were sharing but they were extremely cold -- not preferred for only lukewarm food to start. Brisket was good; smoked pork had quite a bit of fat (first time we've experienced that at a Sonny's); baked beans were awful (tasted like someone opened a can and poured them in the bowl; no seasoning and barely warm); crinkle fries were good but could have been hotter. We both had sweet tea and both thought it was very weak and watery. Waitress was offended that we asked her to remove the straws from the table -- we don't use them and didn't ask for them. read more

Don't use the drive through, and check your to-go orders carefully. I tried to order a smoked turkey sandwich, but they were out. I ordered a brisket sandwich on a bun with mustard sauce, a side of coleslaw, and unsweetened tea. The order taker read it back wrong so I repeated the order. I pulled up to the window, paid, and he handed me my drink saying "Here's your sweet tea". So, of course, I informed him a third time that I ordered unsweetened tea. I pulled forward and waited. He brought the rest of my order out and I asked him if the mustard sauce was in the bag. He said "You wanted mustard sauce?". Of course, that was the third time I told him. He brought me the mustard sauce and I was on my way. I should have checked the sandwich because after I got back to my hotel and opened the container, my sandwich was not on a bun, it was on a unbelievably greasy Texas toast. To top it off, there were large chunks of fat in the sandwich (see the picture). What a terrible experience. The only thing edible was the cole slaw, which was excellent. I will add that I believe it is this Sonny's location that is terrible. Yesterday, I got takeout at the Sonny's in Waldo as I was driving down from Jacksonville, and it was a five star experience. read more

Sonny's BBQ - Large pieces of fat in the brisket sandwich. - Barbeque Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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I ordered take out via the app. I ordered and received a brisket sandwich. I was happy to see it was a big overstuffed sandwich. Unfortunately it was overstuffed with fat. In my picture what is on the roll is meat. What's on the side is entirely large chunks of fat. read more

Sonny's BBQ - Brisket sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

The service was amazing! Country western style BBQ saloon style place. Country music piped in. The brisket grilled cheese was top notch! The tots were cooked to perfection. The ribs were a little thin, but tasty. The brisket sandwich (chopped) was juicy and flavorful, but could have used more smoke. The spicy BBQ sauce was one of the best sauces we've had. If we lived nearby, I'd be in BIG trouble! I'd be here once a week and gain 200 lbs in a year! Next time we're in the area, we'll be back! Walking distance from the Tesla Superchargers too! read more

Food was great! Service was amazing she was very sweet:) Ambiance was very relaxing and calm:-) read more

Excellent food and service. We had Brooke as our server; she was efficient, friendly and attentive. The restaurant is also clean and comfortable and super convenient to shopping and right off I-75. read more

Stopped at this outlet of Sonny's passing thru Gainesville. Sonny's is one of my favorite BBQ places, from years of living in the Tampa Bay area. Service was great. Our server cleared us a table outside so we could bring the dog and brought her a big bowl of water. Orders taken, food served quickly and accurately with a smile. Thank you! Food here was average. Sliced pork, my go-to, was tasty - lean & smoky. Sadly it was ice cold. The baked beans were sweet with thick sauce and big chunks of pork. Slaw was creamy and crisp. Garlic toast piping hot, drenched with butter and garlic. Excellent for dipping in the sauce with the beans. I've had Sonny's dozens of times over the years, including this outlet. I'm sure this uneven meal isn't the norm. Definitely will be back. read more

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I was driving on a road trip with my Dad and we stopped here for dinner. The BBQ is absolutely delicious! I enjoyed every bite of my pulled pork sandwich. The sweet bbq sauce was a perfect touch. The only critique I would have was the wait find for our food, but besides that delicious! read more

Sonny's BBQ - Pulled pork sandwich and bbq beans - Barbeque Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Loved the food. Service was too notch and the ambiance will make you never want to leave. Highly recommend.

I called in my order, and the lady said it would be about 15 min. She asked me the color and model car I was driving. The call was easy, as some places are so busy that all you get is a busy signal, when you call. After I went to Publix for soda water and ice cream, I slipped into one of the parking slots at Sonny's and stayed in the car. A nice lady came out and handed me my food, and I handed her my credit card. She came back, I signed it, and while process was easy and seamless. She was also very polite. The food was amazing! Tangy bbq sauce on delicious ribs, smoked wings that make you just want to keep eating, and a few extra packets of bbq sauce. The potato salad was so good, it was impossible to stop eating it, once I got a fork-full. The cole slaw is better than KFC!! Great meal!! Good price! I'll be back! read more

Sonny's BBQ - CALL THEM! THEY ARE OPEN!! - Barbeque Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Janinne was great, incredibly funny especially when she picked on my friends. Would come back just to experience it again.

I love this place , has a great service and is a beautiful place thanks especially to Malyn, she was great read more

Excellent food, courteous friendly service, good value for the money spent. Jamie was quite efficient!!! read more

It was so awesome food and service was great. Fantastic food I got the brisket and the burger. Great all around

Janinne was great as always good service good food always happy! After a disappointing experience at the 39th ave sonnys it's always good to know I can come back to archer rd and they won't let me down! read more

Went out to eat with some friends from home. Food was great, awesome BBQ sauce. Janinne was a great server, she seems very personable, was super friendly and cracked some jokes at us, I fw that heavy read more

It's not exactly the same restaurant that I remember in college. It's brand new building in fact. But a lot of the features that I came to love from Sonny's is still in effect. And the staff are super friendly. When I was a student at University of Florida, I remember seeing Sonny Tillman and his wife now and then at the stores. It's long been sold to the corporate entity, but I still love my Sonny's barbecue. I was heading down to my hometown when I stopped in to grab a meal. They are using Covid precautions with masks, sanitizer available, gloves on the back line crew, and so forth. I was sat very quickly. I got my typical unsweetened iced tea with extra lemons. I ordered the AYCE pork platter - sliced is my favorite. Chose corn bread, coleslaw, and baked beans as my sides. The baked beans lived up to my expectations fairly easily. The corn bread was very tasty and sweet, but I felt like it was a little overcooked. Not by much though. The pork was the main star. Tender juicy and delicious, the pork just melted in my mouth. It has that nice savory smoked flavor through and through. With a little Sizzlin sweet sauce on it, that pork was like manna from heaven. I was home. After eating to my heart's content, I paid my bill and shared a few jokes and laughs with the waitress named Chloe. She was very attentive, kind and fun to talk to. Once again, Sonny's delivers. I left with a full stomach and a happy heart. I will be back. read more

Sonny's BBQ - Pulled pork plate - Barbeque Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Once again, Sonny's does not disappoint! We came for our pregame meal on a busy game day and got sat right away! Definitely can't say that for other places today! Our server was super nice and got our drinks out super fast! You can never go wrong with their iced tea! I got the chopped brisket sandwich on garlic bread with tots and it was exactly what the doctor ordered! The brisket was perfectly juicy and fall apart cooked. The marbling was just enough to not be too heavy but gives so much flavor. The garlic bread was toasted just enough and had good flavor. The tots are a nice change from what you would expect. The seasoning is salty with a teeny bit of sweet, almost a paprika type taste. No sauce or ketchup required although their sweet BBQ sauce is consistently yum! My husband got the sliced turkey sandwich in garlic bread and enjoyed it. The entire restaurant was in the game day spirit, lots of orange and blue! It is evident that Sonny's started here in Gainesville and this location stays true to the vibe. They happily provide a bucket sized to go cup for your drink so make sure you ask! So glad we came here! read more

Our waitress was very attentive. Great bbq sandwich. Fries taste great dipping in their bbq baked beans. read more

Sonny's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

customer service was through the roof! best server i have ever had, Caitlin. she was so polite & got us everything we needed! read more

I ordered a small pork sandwich, fries and drink. Pulled pork portion small, more bun than pork. Fries were mostly small pieces that were hard and crunchy, again very small portion, ice tea was great and plentiful. Way too expensive for what you get. I wanted to get some Coleslaw but decided not to when I saw it was going to cost an additional $3.50...for Coleslaw! Service friendly. I have been going to Sonny's since I was a kid... but they are pricing themselves out of business I am afraid. read more

My wife and I went to this location on Saturday for lunch. Our server was fantastic so my review has nothing to do with our server. My review has to do with the food as well as the management. The restaurant was not full or busy by any means. For some odd reason it took over 20 minutes for my wife and I to get our food. My wife ordered the new Fried Green Tomato BLT and I had the Whole Hog Sandwich. Our food finally arrived and my wife's sandwich appeared to have been smashed. It had little bread and the tomatoes were soggy and there were very little tomatoes at all on her sandwich. Her lettuce had a black substance on it that looked like mold. The best part is after all this wait our food was only Luke warm. My sandwich never made it to the garlic bread. My meat was literally sitting in the plate and not on the bread at all. My fries were not fries. They were hard end pieces that were not edible. We brough our issues up to our server who sent a manager over to speak with us. The manager came over and basically insulted my wife. He stated to my wife that the sandwich looked find and asked her "what is wrong with it?" My wife showed and explained to him in detail what was wrong with it and he basically blew her off and stated that is how the sandwich is. My wife turned and stated to the manager let me get this correct this sandwich was made to specs and he replied yes. My wife then stated so black moldy substance on my lettuce, smashed bread, and soggy tomatoes on a fried green tomatoes sandwich is acceptable. The manager paused and at that point my wife handed him the sandwich and told him he could eat it because she was not going to. My wife ended up not eating. I then showed him my sandwich and he basically blew me off also. I had asked my server for new fries but for some reason they were never ordered. Our server checked on us after the manager came over and my wife explained to her how rude the manager was. She then stated here is my General Manager. The General Manager stopped by and we yet again explained what happened. He decided to make excuses for everything we had a problem with. First, we were told that the Garlic Bread was not your normal bread and that was why the sandwich was not good. I was then told that you all could not get the normal fries Sonny's serves but it did not quite make sense or match up. I looked at other people's plates around me and they had fries that I am accustomed to at Sonny's. I am not sure who I got what I did but honestly it is no surprise. This Sonny's has been in decline for years as has every Sonny's in Gainesville. This is why we do not frequent Sonny's and Saturday reminded us why we usually stir clear of this restaurant. read more

Sonny's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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