Sonny's Barbeque

[Villages Kahuna]

I heard that Sonny's BBQ was going into the old Whiskey Creek location across from Toojay's in LSL. Confirmation?

[Muncle]

Where ya been VK? Yes, it is true. According to today's paper, they will start kitchen retrofit "soon."

I guess this is okay. As a born and bred Kansas Citian, the universally recognized home of the best BBQ in the world, I've found Sonny's to be downright not all that bad.

[TomW]

We had an interesting experience with a Sonny's on our last trip to TV. Sonny's can vary quite a bit location to location. While driving to TV we overnighted in Tifton, GA. We ate at the local Sonny's and the food was absolutely top notch BBQ. I eat BBQ a little too often for my own good and I recognize the good stuff when I taste it. That location is the acknowledged best in the chain AND the only store in the chain that does not sell alcohol. The staff there believed there was a correlation between their excellence as a restaurant and the fact they didn't offer alcohol. The implication being that staff at other places imbibed during their work shift. Anyway, if you're near Tifton, GA, I recommend that Sonny's and hope the one in TV is nearly as good. We'll be visitiing next month so I hope it opens soon.

[MelZ]

I believe they plan on opening in June.

[billethkid]

opening soon.
If they have good service, clean facility, good food and resonable prices they will do very well.
Whiskey Creek had none of the above.

BTK

[BUC]

This is just my opinion, if you lile Bar-BQ why woould you go to Sonny's. This not good Bar- B-Q, it's like eating a fish sandwich at Mc Donalds and calling it a seafood platter. Real barB-Qcomes from any number of small roadside places throughout the south. Everyone knows that the best Bar B-Q is in Memphis Tenn, not KC!

[MelZ]

Buc:

Thanks for you opinion but since there are no small roadside stands in TV. I applaude Sonny's opening and look forward to eating there often.

[Bogie Shooter]

This is just my opinion, if you lile Bar-BQ why woould you go to Sonny's. This not good Bar- B-Q, it's like eating a fish sandwich at Mc Donalds and calling it a seafood platter. Real barB-Qcomes from any number of small roadside places throughout the south. Everyone knows that the best Bar B-Q is in Memphis Tenn, not KC!
Your opinion and I agree there is good bbq in Memphis,however, I am going to Sonny's since it is here, can not drive to Memphis every other week. Not sure what you are accomplishing by slamming Sonny's just because there is good bbq in Memphis.....

[Hawkwind]

Another good place for BBQ in Florida is a chain called Dustin's. Very similar to Sonny's. Locations in Deland, Edgewater, Ormond Beach, Port Orange and Melbourne. I have had some very meaty and tender baby backs at the Edgewater location. I make it a point to stop there whenever I am in the area at least once or twice.

[Cinco]

Gee, BUC, so glad you enjoy the Memphis BBQ and the little places along the roadside. Hope you'll just stick with those and leave Sonny's alone. Sonny's should do just fine without you.

I've eaten BBQ in numerous places each in Tennessee (yes, Memphis included), Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. Have I had better than Sonny's? I have, but not anywhere around The Villages and especially none that I can drive to in my golf cart.

BTW, for those of you who are looking forward to the Sonny's at LSL, they are reconsidering their stand on the salad bar! The Belleview manager said last week that "corporate" has deemed that all Sonny's will have a salad bar. I was sure glad to hear that.

[Jullie]

Yeah! Another salad bar. Good news! We have so few of them here.:a040:

[Muncle]

This is just my opinion, if you lile Bar-BQ why woould you go to Sonny's. This not good Bar- B-Q, it's like eating a fish sandwich at Mc Donalds and calling it a seafood platter. Real barB-Qcomes from any number of small roadside places throughout the south. Everyone knows that the best Bar B-Q is in Memphis Tenn, not KC!


Well Buc, everyone's entitled to their opinion, esp about BBQ. Heeelllll, some even like that stuff in the Carolinas and, can you stomach it, pour decent cole slaw onto mediocre meat and call it barbeque. Disillusion about the Carolinas or Memphis ain't all bad. For some species, it is only disillusion that keeps them from eating their young.

But I'll go to Sonny's (and Oakwood) on occasion. It doesn't always have to be the best. I eat steaks other that KC Strips, I have burgers other than Winsteads, and I'll have Frozen Custard other that Ted Drews. Sometimes you just gotta settle for what you can get.


`

[BUC]

Sorry i didn't mean upset anyone just expressing my opinion, as stated, Eat where you want, I guess bad Bar-B-Q is better than NO Bar-B-Q.

[MelZ]

Buc:

No apology is necessary I think we all have to keep our comments relevant to TV. The Hot Dogs at Nathans in Coney Island may be the best in the country but what does that have to do with the Hot Dogs in TV.

Nothing

[golfnut]

Buc, what are your favorite restaurants that you can currently get to in your golf cart?

[chelsea24]

OK, the Buc stops here! Why are you all "grillin' " him? :1rotfl:

Never mind, I'm just being silly. :laugh: But, I hate to say it Buc, if you haven't had barbeque in New Orleans, you haven't had Barbeque. Or Carson's ribs in Chicago.

I heard Sonny's was very good and I'm looking to forward it it. Mel's right, no apology necessary. We all have favorites in other locations, I'm sure. ;)

[Dirigo]

I'm a big Sonny's fan ever since I first stopped at one in 1992. My favorite Sonny's was on Irlo Bronson/US192 in Kissimmee. But that one is closed now :cus:

Last trip to Florida we ate at the Sonny's in Haines City on Rte 27 South of I-4. The first thing I noticed was there was no smokey smell in the air. And the BBQ was not up to standard. Has Sonny's centralized the BBQ processing and started delivering prepared product to it's locations?

Just wondering if anyone else has noticed anything different about the quality/consistancy of Sonny's BBQ.

Just over a week and we'll be eating at Sonny's in Belleview.:pepper2:

[MelZ]

I'm a big Sonny's fan ever since I first stopped at one in 1992. My favorite Sonny's was on Irlo Bronson/US192 in Kissimmee. But that one is closed now :cus:

Last trip to Florida we ate at the Sonny's in Haines City on Rte 27 South of I-4. The first thing I noticed was there was no smokey smell in the air. And the BBQ was not up to standard. Has Sonny's centralized the BBQ processing and started delivering prepared product to it's locations?

Just wondering if anyone else has noticed anything different about the quality/consistancy of Sonny's BBQ.

Just over a week and we'll be eating at Sonny's in Belleview.:pepper2:

good question

why not ask them when you at the Belleview store

:icon_hungry:

[Dirigo]

good question

why not ask them when you at the Belleview store

:icon_hungry:

I will and I'll post their reply when I get back from our Lifestyle Preview.;)

[Cinco]

Diringo, I can tell you from personal experience that the Belleview Sonny's definitely smokes their own products. We eat there at least once a week, and there are times you can smell the smoke before you even get to the restaurant. I can't say I ever remember the strong smoke smell inside the restaurant, but the I guess that's what vents and exhaust fans are for. Sometimes it's smokier than others, but we've never had a complaint.

Hubby and I are in a real rut. For years, we've ordered the same thing. We each get the "Big Deal" with the sliced pork on garlic toast. He gets the baked beans and I get the cole slaw, then we split those sides. We also split a half order of the onion rings. Of course, sweet tea is included in the price, so we spend just over $20 (including a nice tip) for an incredible meal for two. Occasionally, we'll break with tradition, walk on the wild side, and order ribs or chicken.

We're addicted!

[Dirigo]

Diringo, I can tell you from personal experience that the Belleview Sonny's definitely smokes their own products. We eat there at least once a week, and there are times you can smell the smoke before you even get to the restaurant. I can't say I ever remember the strong smoke smell inside the restaurant, but the I guess that's what vents and exhaust fans are for. Sometimes it's smokier than others, but we've never had a complaint.

Hubby and I are in a real rut. For years, we've ordered the same thing. We each get the "Big Deal" with the sliced pork on garlic toast. He gets the baked beans and I get the cole slaw, then we split those sides. We also split a half order of the onion rings. Of course, sweet tea is included in the price, so we spend just over $20 (including a nice tip) for an incredible meal for two. Occasionally, we'll break with tradition, walk on the wild side, and order ribs or chicken.

We're addicted!

I'm getting hungry! I can smell that smoker already!

Only once or twice have I broken out of my rut at Sonny's. I used to go for the chicken with all the sides. When I first discovered Sonny's in 1992 you could get the all-you-can-eat chicken with a bowl of beans, slaw, fries, and garlic toast for $3.99, and if you had a coupon you could get a free drink.

Now that I am older, I usually get the salad bar instead of he sides (except for the beans).

I could eat, and have eaten, there twice a week. My wife is not as big a fan, but she does like it.

Dirigo

[marianne237]

Has anyone tried The Backyard Boys BBQ in Mt. Dora? It's become our favorite.

[MelZ]

Last trip to TV I had the chopped brisket with garlic toast, they baked beans and onion rings on the side the whole was excellent. My wife (who is non a BBQ fan) had the pulled chicken and actually enjoyed it.

Damn I'm getting hungry

[Dirigo]

good question

why not ask them when you at the Belleview store

:icon_hungry:

I did ask when we ate at the Belleview Sonny's last week while on our LSP. They do "smoke their own" in Belleview. Our server couldn't speak for the other stores or for the company as a whole.

[MelZ]

I did ask when we ate at the Belleview Sonny's last week while on our LSP. They do "smoke their own" in Belleview. Our server couldn't speak for the other stores or for the company as a whole.

Thanks for the followup and letting us know.

:icon_hungry::icon_hungry:

[Grill Meister]

Where ya been VK? Yes, it is true. According to today's paper, they will start kitchen retrofit "soon."

I guess this is okay. As a born and bred Kansas Citian, the universally recognized home of the best BBQ in the world, I've found Sonny's to be downright not all that bad.

I was not of the impression that Kansas City was universally recognized as the best BBQ in the world. I had heard rumor that publicists had created a diversion from Eastern North Carolina so their BBQ eateries would not be overrun by some many BBQ lovers. That must be the reason for Kansas City's notoriety.

[jtdraig]

Hate to be the bearer of probably unwelcome news but the best BBQ we have ever had comes from a place called THE COOKHOUSE in, of all places, New Milford, CONNECTICUT! I don't want to debate as this is merely a point of information and, yes, we have been to KC, most places in the South, etc.

:beer3: