JT
Joseph Taylor
Jul 18, 2026
This SONIC could be a great neighborhood spot because most of the staff are genuinely wonderful. They are friendly, engaging, and clearly understand how to make regular customers feel welcome. My dog, Hazel, became especially attached to them.
Hazel and I live nearby, and our evening walks gradually developed into a nightly stop here. Months ago, the general manager, Reeva, met Hazel, gave her a small pup cup, and told me she could have one whenever we came by. The other employees carried that tradition forward. Hazel quickly learned the route, pulled all 94 pounds of herself toward the restaurant, went straight to the same outdoor table, and waited for the people she had come to know.
Sometimes I bought food, a Dr. Pepper, or something else. Most nights, however, the visit was simply Hazel’s little ritual. The staff would greet her, ask her to do tricks, and take time to interact with her. They made the place feel less like a chain restaurant and more like part of the neighborhood.
That warmth disappears when Assistant Manager Jasmine is running the shift.
On the night that led to this review, Hazel and I sat outside at our usual table for roughly twenty minutes. The restaurant was nearly empty. Employees saw us but did not acknowledge us, which was completely different from the way we are normally treated.
I eventually stopped an employee and was told that nothing would be brought out without payment. I asked to speak with Jasmine because I wanted to understand why a routine that had been in place for months had suddenly changed. I was not refusing to pay, and I was not demanding anything free.
Jasmine came outside with a rude, condescending tone and told me I would need to pay from then on. She said she had already spoken with Reeva and that Reeva was going to “have a talk” with me. When I tried to explain that I only wanted clarification, Jasmine turned away while I was still speaking. She then told me she had already repeated herself and accused me of expecting “everything for free.”
That was both insulting and false. I had paid whenever I was asked. The issue was never the cost of a cup of whipped cream. The issue was being spoken to as though I were trying to take advantage of the restaurant when I was calmly asking about a change in something management had previously approved.
Hazel, meanwhile, sat at the table waiting. She arrived excited, expecting the familiar employees and routine she loves, and left confused and disappointed.
Jasmine has almost no instinct for hospitality and seems unable to distinguish a reasonable customer question from a confrontation. The contrast between her behavior and the excellent service provided by the rest of the staff is striking.
It is also relevant that Jasmine is Reeva’s daughter. The problem is not that relatives work together. The problem is that Jasmine appears to exercise authority without the professionalism or judgment the role requires, while the employees who actually know how to create a positive guest experience become noticeably restrained when she is present.
There is real talent at this location. Unfortunately, poor leadership and apparent nepotism are getting in the way of it.