When I was a young lawyer in Gainesville, Florida back in he early 70's many of us went to lunch at Sonny's FAT BOY'S BBQ, the first of which was located in Gainesville. I'm gonna tell you, that was the best bbq I had ever eaten. Sonny Tillman ran that place, cooked those ribs, made the most amazing bbq beans and garlic bread... He had the real deal in waitresses there, the kind of folks that you would find at your neighbor's kitchen table serving you the best home cooked food ever, with attitude. These women worked on their feet back and forth to the kitchen, and believe me, these gals worked hard, on their feet for years on end.
We'd chow down like there was no tomorrow, going back to our offices needing a nap, the bill-able day being virtually lost as a result of our food comas. This could not be an everyday event, I assure you.
Then Sonny built another location in town, then a 3rd. Clearly we were not the only fans of this amazing food experience.
Afterwhile I moved to California, returning to Florida and the South on numerous occasions, for both business and pleasure. And Sonny's evolved, dropping the "FAT BOY'S" part of his name, and expanding into a chain across the Southeastern United States. I heard that Tom Petty of the Heartbreakers fame, a Gainesville native, would have Sonny's shipped out to California on regular occasions. For me, whenever then, or now, I get off a plane anywhere in the South, I immediately head to a Sonny's location for a "fix". If this sounds compulsive, it is. Perhaps it's more like looking for that comfort food that feels like home. Like mashed potatoes and peas, for some folks. For me, it's mashed potatoes and peas....and it's Sonny's.
If I go to a city in North Carolina, the yellow pages tell me the closest Sonny's. Atlanta, Melbourne, all over the South. And each one looks exactly the same, with the same menu. I understand an Orlando couple who my friend was the interior decorator for, bought the franchises from Sonny years back. Don't know if they still own it, but wish they'd open in California.
To illustrate my addiction, I went to the Pritikin Institute in N. Miami a few years back for a month of exercise and healthy eating, to work on losing weight. I was a perfect specimen of a participant, diligent, eating right, no-fat, shrubbery for days (salad), exercising vigorously every day. Mid-way through the month I had gone online and downloaded all Sonny's locations between N. Miami and Melbourne, where I was driving on my "release" date. I had the locations mapquested, color-coded for mileage from Pritikin, etc. The thought of going to Sonny's a "reasonable" 2 hours after I left N. Miami seemed rational enough time to wait. The anticipation of a meal at Sonny's was what got me through the last 2 weeks of the month. So by W. Palm Beach, I found my way and.....it was worth it.
What's so great about being here in Carrabelle is that there are 3 Sonny's locations in Tallahassee. They are just far enough away (an hour and 10 minutes) that I don't go there when here...instead I'm eating oysters, shrimp and grouper fresh from the Gulf non-stop. But when flying back here from California to the Tallahassee airport, it's immediately to Sonny's, like a spiritual experience. Whoever I'm travelling with, or meeting in Tallahassee, that's where we go. Whether in Boca Raton or Cape Coral, when invited to a fancy 5-star dinner as an option, and when asked where I'd like to go, I say "Sonny's". Cheap date or business dinner, for sure.
I am rarely disappointed. Sometimes the ribs or meat are a little dry, but not usually. Frankly, it's perfection. Not fancy. Definitely not expensively priced! It's truly affordable. I don't think the "all you can eat" dinners are more than $12.95, and may be a few dollars less most times. That is amazing!
A few times when I go West to Panama City, well, yes, there are a few Sonny's there, too. So I try and stay put in Franklin County where there is no Sonny's....thank Goodness. It's difficult enough trying to lose weight so I can get my hip replaced to have that temptation in my face, too! An hour and 10 minutes is just far, and close, enough.
We'd chow down like there was no tomorrow, going back to our offices needing a nap, the bill-able day being virtually lost as a result of our food comas. This could not be an everyday event, I assure you.
Then Sonny built another location in town, then a 3rd. Clearly we were not the only fans of this amazing food experience.
Afterwhile I moved to California, returning to Florida and the South on numerous occasions, for both business and pleasure. And Sonny's evolved, dropping the "FAT BOY'S" part of his name, and expanding into a chain across the Southeastern United States. I heard that Tom Petty of the Heartbreakers fame, a Gainesville native, would have Sonny's shipped out to California on regular occasions. For me, whenever then, or now, I get off a plane anywhere in the South, I immediately head to a Sonny's location for a "fix". If this sounds compulsive, it is. Perhaps it's more like looking for that comfort food that feels like home. Like mashed potatoes and peas, for some folks. For me, it's mashed potatoes and peas....and it's Sonny's.
If I go to a city in North Carolina, the yellow pages tell me the closest Sonny's. Atlanta, Melbourne, all over the South. And each one looks exactly the same, with the same menu. I understand an Orlando couple who my friend was the interior decorator for, bought the franchises from Sonny years back. Don't know if they still own it, but wish they'd open in California.
To illustrate my addiction, I went to the Pritikin Institute in N. Miami a few years back for a month of exercise and healthy eating, to work on losing weight. I was a perfect specimen of a participant, diligent, eating right, no-fat, shrubbery for days (salad), exercising vigorously every day. Mid-way through the month I had gone online and downloaded all Sonny's locations between N. Miami and Melbourne, where I was driving on my "release" date. I had the locations mapquested, color-coded for mileage from Pritikin, etc. The thought of going to Sonny's a "reasonable" 2 hours after I left N. Miami seemed rational enough time to wait. The anticipation of a meal at Sonny's was what got me through the last 2 weeks of the month. So by W. Palm Beach, I found my way and.....it was worth it.
What's so great about being here in Carrabelle is that there are 3 Sonny's locations in Tallahassee. They are just far enough away (an hour and 10 minutes) that I don't go there when here...instead I'm eating oysters, shrimp and grouper fresh from the Gulf non-stop. But when flying back here from California to the Tallahassee airport, it's immediately to Sonny's, like a spiritual experience. Whoever I'm travelling with, or meeting in Tallahassee, that's where we go. Whether in Boca Raton or Cape Coral, when invited to a fancy 5-star dinner as an option, and when asked where I'd like to go, I say "Sonny's". Cheap date or business dinner, for sure.
I am rarely disappointed. Sometimes the ribs or meat are a little dry, but not usually. Frankly, it's perfection. Not fancy. Definitely not expensively priced! It's truly affordable. I don't think the "all you can eat" dinners are more than $12.95, and may be a few dollars less most times. That is amazing!
A few times when I go West to Panama City, well, yes, there are a few Sonny's there, too. So I try and stay put in Franklin County where there is no Sonny's....thank Goodness. It's difficult enough trying to lose weight so I can get my hip replaced to have that temptation in my face, too! An hour and 10 minutes is just far, and close, enough.
Whenever I'm going to visit any of my friends in a town in the South, arriving either by car or by plane, I'll call on my cell to discuss where we might go for our first meal together, and if they know me at all, we'll each say in deep, gravely voices.......SONNY'S! We know!
I'm not saying it is the best bbq I've ever eaten, because it is not. The beans ARE the best, but in general, I've had better everything when you break down the components of their menu. It's great food, don't get me wrong, but not THE BEST. What is irreplaceable, however, is that feeling of history, home, friends and family, experiences shared, laughter and times spent at Sonny's, reliving my Gainesville happy days. Great meals with great friends is what it is all about.
I'm not saying it is the best bbq I've ever eaten, because it is not. The beans ARE the best, but in general, I've had better everything when you break down the components of their menu. It's great food, don't get me wrong, but not THE BEST. What is irreplaceable, however, is that feeling of history, home, friends and family, experiences shared, laughter and times spent at Sonny's, reliving my Gainesville happy days. Great meals with great friends is what it is all about.
If you've been to a Sonny's anywhere in the South, please share your experiences there, if you will.
And coming soon...informatoin on Linda's HOG WILD BAR-B-Q right here in Carrabelle! This is a major JEWEL! Great food. Great prices. Great owner, Ms. Linda. Pinki loves their Brunswick Stew. I love that they have a salad bar every lunch and dinner, and an "all you can eat" every lunch and dinner, also........are you surprised? More later.
Judy Miller
And coming soon...informatoin on Linda's HOG WILD BAR-B-Q right here in Carrabelle! This is a major JEWEL! Great food. Great prices. Great owner, Ms. Linda. Pinki loves their Brunswick Stew. I love that they have a salad bar every lunch and dinner, and an "all you can eat" every lunch and dinner, also........are you surprised? More later.
Judy Miller
