As soon as I walked into Sonny’s Diner, I overheard another patron say, “this chicken and spaghetti is so good, it’ll make you slap your mama!” That pretty much sums up the entire experience of eating at Sonny’s. It has that classic home-cookin that takes you right back to your mama’s table. (Though God knows if I ever actually had slapped my mother, my sister would be running this site solo as I could not run it from my grave!)
The food is reason alone to go to Sonny’s. Open only at lunch on weekdays, you have a plate lunch waiting for you that is homemade and hot. Chicken fried steak is offered each day, along with a variety of other lunch specials. But as far as I’m concerned chicken fried steak is pretty much always a good decision. Just listen to the words: chicken, fried, and steak. It should be its own food group. But I digress.
As wonderful as chicken fried steak sounded, I decided to try their meatloaf. I was sure my husband would get something different as he always does so we have more food to sample, but of course to when I am trying to write a restaurant article he gets the exact same thing. Sometimes he’s a tad oppositional. But as always the food was right on in it’s delicious homemade flavor. Just posting these pics makes me hungry again!
Another reason I love to go to Sonny’s is the history of the building. It is located in one of the old ice houses. People in Texas sometimes refer to an ice-house as a place that serves cold beer or what our daddy likes to call a “beer joint”. However, this was an actual building that was used to store ice back during the times when not everyone had readily available access to refrigeration. As you can see from the pictures, the old doors add an interesting architectural element to the decor, and add a bit of nostalgia from a time long gone in Texas history.
This small windows outside the building are where people could pay a quarter for a large block of ice.
The main reason I adore Sonny’s? It doesn’t matter if you have been there one time or a hundred times, Nelwyn knows exactly who you are, and probably knows your order before you do. She has been in the restaurant business for over 25 years, and Sonny’s has been in this location for a little over three years.
It’s always a treat to go to Sonny’s and today was no different. If you are ever in northeast Texas and want directions, e-mail me and I will gladly let you know the way.
Wednesday, October 7th, 2009, 10:57 pm | 
Out of the frying pan | 
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October 8, 2009 at 3:29 pm
great article!!! keep ‘em coming, my Friend!!
October 14, 2009 at 6:32 am
That’s my MOM!!!!!!! I never thought my mom would be on the internet!!! Yes she is a great cook. I do remember when mom (Nelwyn) would be racking her brain trying to figure out how to cook crabs in a different meal. Hard times called for drastic measures! Unlimited meat, like crab, for free. Mac n’ cheese w/ crab in it. Crab helper, you just name it and she probably made it! hahahahaha…. I got so sick of crab, but I also was a hungry kid, so no matter! Mom never saw us kids hungry even in crisis! Great cook! Hats off to my mom!!! I’ll love her always!!!! Oh yea…. Now she fixes chicken fried steaks after I’m long gone away from home!! I see how she is!! hahahahahaha!!!!!Love ya mom!
October 15, 2009 at 5:12 pm
I have known Nelwyn for several years now, and she is more than just a good cook. She is a great neighbor, mother, sister, friend, and always willing to help me. I am so proud to be considered her friend and neighbor. She can also SING if there are any of you who didnt know that.!!
October 19, 2009 at 6:13 am
All need to visit Sonny’s diner!!! It’s fast pace homemade scrumptious food! It’ll melt in your mouth!!!!