Sonic’s Breakfast Toaster Sandwich
When you offer something called “Toaster Sandwiches” using extra thick sliced bread (aka: Texas Toast) it’s important you get the toasted part down. Otherwise you end up with big thick soggy bread, and it’s a turn-off. Over a period of 2 weeks, I’ve tried these breakfast sandwiches at four different Sonic locations, and all but one had the same disappointing result. Look folks, it’s not that good a sandwich to begin with, so when you can’t even toast the bread properly, it makes a big negative impact.
Anyway… moving on. The sausage patties are OK, about on average with many of the fast food breakfast competition. The egg is good, but it’s not asking much to get a decent egg for breakfast. Then again, I thought the same thing about toast. The slice of American cheese sits between the egg and sausage, melting between them and creating a nice cheesy flavor with each bite. It also bonds them together.
The inside of this sandwich would greatly benefit from a properly toasted outside. As it stands, the bread is too soft, and feels like something that I just took out of a plastic supermarket package. Of course I would never use such thick bread in the first place unless it was toasted, and I really don’t think Sonic intends to either. It seems that some employees are just not paying attention, or they don’t know any better.
Imagine biting into a crisp, golden brown toasty bread. Perhaps like this picture of the sandwiches on Sonic’s website. That would be great. That’s how it should be.
After all, this is not a case of exaggerated food photography where the burgers look bigger, vegetables look fresher, and so on. It’s just toast. Come on!
Apparently, they do place the bread over (or thru) some type of heat before serving, so technically speaking it’s toasted, but I would like to refer Sonic and their employees to this page at Wikipedia which explains what toast is, and includes pictures of un-toasted VS toasted bread. Hopefully between that page, and the picture on Sonic’s own website, they can figure it out. Big, thick, plain un-toasted white bread is NOT very appetizing, and it overwhelms the flavors of the other ingredients. My “toast” would have been better with a Bic lighter held underneath it for a few seconds.
The Breakfast Toaster Sandwich from Sonic is not bad, however it suffers from the bread issue, and it’s overall taste is nothing above average. Most fast food places have a version of sausage, egg and cheese. Some use biscuits. Some use buns. Others wrap it up in a tortilla. I was excited about a Texas Toast version, and felt it had a chance to stand out. Unfortunately there was only 1 sandwich delivered to me with the bread toasted beyond the slightest little bit. As expected, it was better that way, and I’m sure it’s the way Sonic intends for the sandwich to be served. I think somebody at corporate needs to create a “Toast 101″ class and get it started ASAP.
Price: $2.19 / Website: SonicDriveIn.com
Fast Food Critic Score: C-
Click here for rating system details.
Nutrition Facts - Sonic Breakfast Toaster, Sausage, Egg and Cheese.
Calories - 630
Calories from Fat - 350
Total Fat - 39 grams
Carbs - 46 grams
Saturated Fat - 13 grams
Trans Fat - 1.5 grams
Cholesterol - 340 milligrams
Sodium - 1380 milligrams
Protein - 23 grams
I’ve never understood the breakfast sandwich thing. OK you’ve got all of the ingredients in one handy package. Uh, tomorrow are you going to pour your orange juice and coffee over your cereal to make it handy?
Sonic has a great (albeit short) menu of toaster sandwiches that work well as alternatives to the same old hamburger. In my neck of the woods they even seem to know how to use the toaster. Not for breakfast, though.
If they really wanted to perfect that, they’d make it the way you make a good grilled cheese sandwich.
For some reason this review had me cracking up. How do you mess up toast, Sonic? :]
I agree with RJ, I don’t see how you can mess toast up…
Still looks yum. :)!
Same way Taco Bell can’t seem to put a nice crisp crunch on their ‘grilled’ burritos. I actually unwrap them and grill in a little butter when I get home so they’re nice and flaky-crispy on the outside.
perhaps there is some setting on their toaster and for some strange reason it’s set on light.
Is it possible to ask for it ‘extra toasted’? You shouldn’t have to ask, but maybe it’s worth a try?Unfortunately, I don’t have Sonics near me, although they do run their commercials all the time. Never understood that one.
[…] and 3-piece combos is a nice buttery slice of Texas toast. It’s always cooked golden brown (take note Sonic) and serves as a perfect way to soak up the extra gravy after finishing the chicken. Sometimes I […]