Sonny's is nothing more than fast food BBQ. If you just want a sandwich that's a smoked deli sandwich, sonny's is a great place. I actually like their BigDeal sandwiches and sliced pork plates. The worst part is that it depends on the people working and the time whether it's good or really bad. My last three experiences in three different sonny's restaurants were excellent, mediocre, and horrible.

A friend who worked there told me that the sliced pork is smoked in house along with turkey, and the pulled pork/ribs and all sides are just warmed up on site but cooked in the warehouse. This would explain the variations that I have witnessed.

The chain has fallen on recent hard times. They upped the prices quite a bit in 2007/2008 and they have closed at least 3 restaurants due to poor sales. The prices have come down some in the past two years but when my ticket per person gets over $9 I wouldn't go there.

Of course I do have good memories of going to Sonny's every Thursday night for a few years, but to expect gourmet BBQ is asking too much.