Techno Whirly Outerspace Burgers at SONIC

END OF SUMMER 2015:

Sonic - makes me think sparklers and techno fab and rocket ships. Zena, Goddess of Fire, loves this sort of superhero way-out there stuff. 

In reality: NOT.

First of all, the parking is a nightmare, but I didn't want to eat in the Zenamobile (yuck), and take-away is for ninnies that like cold fries. 

One lane is for carhop service and the other is for take out. The parking lot, above, was packed full even though the restaurant itself was half empty. Brilliant. 

OK I know you want to hear about the food but the parking lot at Sonic here in Latham is SO STUPID: please allow me to rant for a bit. Because cars were seriously backing up on Route 7 when they first opened (due to glee at having a new Sonic and/or because the parking lot is SO RIDICULOUSLY SMALL, and/or because there are not as yet any drones delivering my meal), so they closed that entrance. Which now means that you pull into the parking lot from the side road, and if there isn't a spot, you have to back up into the line of cars waiting to get in to get out. SO STUPID. Oh, wait, I said that already. We parked at Denny's across the street.

There was one spot left in the lot but that was blocked by a signboard. URGH. 

The entrance is welcoming, with plenty of outdoor seating. It was hot, however, so we went inside where it was comfortable and cool, to the end of the line, which was almost out the door. The space was clean and quiet, with a nice low din. You order, wait to hear your name called, and someone rollerskates them over to your table.  

Cold drinks dominated the display and made me want one. 

The menu is pretty standard stuff, nothing crazy modern here: cheeseburgers, hot dogs, fried chicken balls, fried sides, some breakfast creations, a plethora of frozen treats, and some enticing limeades. 

Cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheeseburger. They do not have a hamburger on their menu. REALLY????

Foodie Friend wanted a double hamburger. So I ordered her a double cheeseburger, no cheese ($4.99), you know, a plain hamburger, which my server interpreted as a plain hamburger - no cheese no lettuce or tomato or onion or anything else - sheesh. Just a hamburger. QUESTION:  Sonic - are you too far out there to remember what a hamburger is??? It was overcooked and a bit dry, but a condiment girl stopped at our table and offered us little packets of stuff like relish, as well as paper goods, so that perked us up.

I had the cheeseburger with the works ($4.19). It was sticky in my mouth (sticky bread and sticky cheese that kind of stuck itself to the roof of my mouth). But the meat was cooked just right, with a nice amount of lettuce and pickle, and it held together well. It was a fairly generous sized burger, too, but was, overall, kind of boring. The small fries ($1.19) was actually REALLY small, and OK, most fries are OK - never met one I wouldn't eat. These are definitely reminiscent of those McD's shoestrings, only with the skin. 

The cheeseburger was good in an old-fashioned kind of American hamburger way.

On my burger adventures I'm trying to order the basic burger, the fries, and the shake, but I was thirsty, it was a hot day, so I went with one of the limeades. I REALLY liked my strawberry limeade - and FF REALLY liked her cherry limeade ($1.69 each). They are just a bit fizzy, not too sweet, served with crushed ice and with bits of real fruit to block up the straw - this is something you don't get everywhere. Very nice.

The table was a mess. I'm also starting to hate those little annoying ketchup packets. The little peppermints are soft and buttery (see it in the middle of the table???) - that was a nice surprise. 

So nothing futuristic for this place - no surprises, but those frozen creations and other drinks do set them apart from some of the other chains. And so the next time Zena is feeling overheated she may just go ahead and try that drive-thru and get herself a Pineapple Upside Down Master Blast. Now THAT sounds cool!!!

Zena, Goddess of Fire

Athos

Is it just me, or have restaurants gotten darker and darker?  I was just reading an article about restaurants in New York who are not allowing customers to take photos of their food because the flashing was getting to be an enormous annoyance for everyone.  Well...I USTA be able to just quietly take out my phone and take a photo but I haven't  been posting lately because I can't get a photo that way anymore.  It's too dark.

Athos was the same way earlier this week when I visited with a friend.  She has taken to the restaurant and I know why.  Located at 1814 Western Ave., it has a very handsome and comfortable ambiance.  We slipped into a booth because we were there for wine and appetizers.

My friend was experienced, so she was a very helpful guide regarding how much to order.  We both enjoyed the cabernet sauvignon, and we got the shared salad for two, which was dressed with a subtle creamy house dressing that didn't cover up any flavors.

Pita with tapenade came with the table and the tapenade was a great start.

We added:


SAGANAKI
lightly sautéed kefalograviera cheese finished with table-side greek cognac flambé 10 †

and


KEFTEDAKIA
grilled ground beef & lamb patties seasoned with mint, garlic, and onion 8  ◊

The cheese was strong, chewy and salty and was magnificent with the wine and the other flavors on the table, and the keftedies were perfectly grilled.

So I couldn't think of a better way to enjoy sitting with my friend, sharing our new haircuts and catching up with each other than this lovely spread of delicious food.  And I still can't, several days later.

When we left on that Tuesday night, the parking lot was full, but the restaurant had remained very quiet - a mark of excellent architecture in my book.  My friend explained that the family who owns the place had a restaurant that her family used to enjoy in New York City, and now they have relocated here.  I'm really glad they did!