Sonny's Place

This place has a lot of character... and a bit of a funny smell. It's in what looks like a really old, run-down house, but... that didn't stop us from enjoying the food. The half muffuletta was delicious and large enough for four people! It's served on parmesan crusted bread and filled with the traditional meats, cheese, and olive spread. The cheese fries were pretty good. The menu states that it may take a while to get your food since it is made to order, but it wasn't crowded when we went at lunchtime on a weekday, so it didn't take very long at all. Service was good. What it lacks in ambiance it makes up for in flavor. We would like to go back and try some of the other dishes.

The atmosphere is exactly what I expected with an old school diner feel, even with the old school smell. Cool looking old school cash register up at the counter. The service was great. The gumbo was not to my liking at all, with maybe 3 dry shrimp and sausage that had tasted like it was warming for days. Very fishy taste and alot of tomatoes. Not my style at all. The muffaletta was was decent and heavy on the olive. I like that but the wife didn't. Over all feel is cool to dine in a place that old but the gumbo needs serious help. Kinda disappointed 😞 Response to I guess the owner. I don't know what your talking about in reference to friends. Just giving a honest review. You can see I rate many places also and I don't care who knows who. I have traveled the world and this is something that I like doing it trying different places. To be honest I had high expectations of this place. Just not much cup of tea. Im sorry you are upset with this review, but if you fix this gumbo I will come by and give you a better review if it's better.

My review is based off delivery. I did not experience the place in person. My review is on the spaghetti. Very pricey for cafeteria quality. I question the bread as it has a weird smell to it. I am not a foodie by any means and being a veteran, I pretty much will eat anything. But this fell short. Be a different story if the plate was half priced. I’m sure the other food is better but I would not recommend the spaghetti.

Sonny’s Place is one of those classic spots you’re always glad you stopped at. The food is delicious, portions are generous, and everything tastes fresh and full of flavor. The atmosphere has that warm, old-school charm—colorful, inviting, and perfect for relaxing with family or friends. Staff is friendly and the service is fast. Definitely a must-try if you’re in the area. I’ll be coming back for sure!

We had a great burger and fries at Sonny’s place. This place has been around since 1944. Service was great with lots of interesting pictures on the walls.

I love these kind of places, man. Low key, normal, regular people kind of stuff, dude. The guy made us Hurricanes. He didn't have to, but he did. One thing - the cheese on the cheese fries needs a little work, and the bright fluorescent lights kind of killed it - some warm lighting would rock it. Other than that, we really enjoyed our burger and hanging around talking the bull crap, ayy. Good people here. They made us feel very welcomed and the prices were better than reasonable. Long live Sonny's.

Hubby and I had dinner here on a Saturday night. Our waitress was friendly. We got a cheeseburger and fries, quarter grilled muffaletta and cup of soup with 2 alcohol drinks and it was about 55 bucks. The chili was decent. My husband said his burger was really good. The muffaletta was the best I've ever eaten and I've tried them everywhere including a bunch in Nola. I'd say it was a little pricey but I'll still be going back especially for that muffaletta

The atmosphere is exactly as one would expect with an old school diner feel. The service was very good and polite. The food was another matter. The gumbo was unpalatable with dusty dry shrimp and sausage that had been in a soup warmer all day. Maybe more than one day. My dining partners muffaletta was rubbery and barely palatable. What a disappointment.

Sonny's is an island treasure. Sonny's is Galveston's oldest bar and restaurant. As a local, I have tried many things on the menu, but nothing compares to the Muffelatta and Grilled Muffelatta. You can order it 1/4, 1/2 or whole. If you order it whole, hope you are hungry or have a partner to share. The atmosphere is casual and you can watch sports on multiple flat screens. You can also just come here to hang out with friends while playing pool, shuffle boards, and pinball. You'll meet locals and get a true feel for the island life. Christmas decorations are up year round, so bring the cheer. Be careful because all patrons are expected to abide by the southern way: watch your language and behave.

The best on Hamburgers on the island. Great service I've cold beer. Really cold beer

We ate here tonight. We were a bit hesitant as it looked like just a bar from the outside. I ordered the grilled ham and cheese it was really good. My husband ordered the burger, he said it was great. My grand daughter ordered the chili cheese fries and the Parmesan cheese pasta, she said it was awesome. I did try her food as well and it was really good too. After dinner we played pool and pinball. It was one of the best nights we have had in a long time. The staff was amazing, very kind, considerate and fun to talk with as well as doing a great job. We will definitely come back here again on our next visit to Galveston. Don't let the outside of this place keep you from coming into a great place......take a chance! Thank you for making our night! You all are the best!

Part of me doesn't even want to tell you about this place. It's incredible. Get the muffaletta. Get the grilled one. Don't be scared by the signage, go in order a drink and get the muffaletta. This is five star and the history in this little tiny building is astounding. Meet Richard. He's the last of the lineage and is keeping his grandfather's memory alive. He's also lovely. This place is just awesome. Watch your language. Behave or leave. You'll get it when you go in. You're welcome.

Richard and staff make some very delicious food. Whenever I'm in Galveston I make my way there for toasted muffuletta!

Reasonable prices but double the internet prices. McDonald's has thicker burgers. Schlotzsky's has a better sandwich. They didn't bring silverware. No one refilled the water. There are too many amazing local places on the island to return to this.

Tried the grilled muffalata, it was disgusting. Tried the chili cheese fries greasy and disgusting. Water was the best part of the meal. Not impressed with the food in Galveston one bit!

Great place, food and service was excellent. Marvelous atmosphere. Grilled muffuletta was amazing

Came here about 4 years ago on a suggestion. Ordered 1/2 muffeletta. Could only eat 1/4. But man it was good. Came to Houston for a visit and made it a point to come back for another Muffeletta. Not disappointed. The place is definitely a hole in the wall but if you come to Galveston make sure you stop in for a Muffeletta. Besides, who's ever hear of a Muffeletta??? You won't be disappointed.

Disappointed! Server was lazy. Never came back to my booth, no silverware, no water refill. Website prices are about half the price of the actual menu. Cheese nachos were dryer than a popcorn fart. Shrimp sandwich was OK. Got to watch Gunsmoke.

Bartender/server is rude. Pretty sure she rolled her eyes as we walked in. Food came out separately .... First 2 orders and the about 5-7 minutes later, 3 more orders and then fries after that. Husband said beer was hot.

Definitely a hole in the wall restaurant. Staff is super nice and the menu has some very nice sounding options. I had a half grilled muffuletta (good enough for 2 people) can't recommend it enough

Great place, service was good and food was great. The vibe is old school cool, it's a place you feel like you're with family

This spot will take you back in time when things were a bit more simple. Full bar with some of the best prices in Galveston County. Extensive menu with some excellent options, some even made with grandmas own special recipes. Service is always friendly and fast. Screens for the game as well as pool and arcade for the gamers.

TOTALLY recommend Sonnys!! My parents went there on dates back in the 40s and I eat there whenever I am really hungry for a great cheeseburger. Last year I went for a burger and was talking to the owner who remembered my mother AND her name and the street in which she lived!! Sonnys is a total 5 star!!

So glad we checked this place out. We had a rental for the weekend and this was a half mile walk from it. From the outside I thought it was just a bar, but after looking for somewhere to eat that was close enough to walk to we found out they had food. My daughter devoured the double cheeseburger. I was lucky enough to have gotten a bite, and it was amazing. I had a chili cheese dog and it too didn't disappoint. My daughter had a soda, and I had a soda with a little whiskey in it and the total was around $20 or so which in my opinion was well worth it. We will be stopping by next time we are in town.

Great place. The best grilled muffalata in Galveston. We really enjoyed the atmosphere.

It took me over two years of living in Galveston, but I finally made it to Sonny's Place. This restaurant has been around forever, so it has become a very well-known establishment among Galveston locals. I came for a Friday lunch and ordered a bowl of the seafood gumbo and the dressed shrimp bun. Both were really good! The gumbo came out hot and was very flavorful. It also had a respectable amount of shrimp. I'm definitely ordering the large bowl next time. The shrimp bun was a decent size and filled with fried jumbo shrimp, veggies, and their homemade tartar sauce. The bread was nicely toasted and tasted great. The sandwich might fall apart while you're digging in, so ask for a fork if you're too modest to pick up the falling shrimp with your hands. The service was fast and attentive. And the owner came by our table to tell us a funny dad joke. I loved that a lot. I can see why this place has withstood the test of time.

Great burger ! Friendly service and very affordable. Great local hangout. Shrimp gumbo on Fridays until they run out.

So glad we found this hole in wall Great food, chili is worth 2-3 visits along with muffallata , very friendly, atmosphere was fantastic with chance to visit with Sonny

Delicious food no matter what you order. If you are lucky Sonny Jr (92 yo) will come by your table to chat!

Cool historical place. Beer selection is a bit limited. The grilled muffuletta was pretty good.

Wowza, we thought this place looked a little divish from the outside, and it seemed to always be closed when we walked by, but the menu and the reviews looked good,and it was only a block or 2 from our b&b. We arrived shortly after they opened, and we were the only people there. We were greater promptly, and seated ourselves. Our server was amazing. We ordered a half dozen mug oysters, and the full sized grilled Mufaletta to share between 3 people. The oysters were fantastic, and a great price, and we could have easily ordered the half Mufaletta, because we ended up takin mor than half home. It was so good! Don't let the outside scare you off, this is a great place that has been in the same family for generations!

This is a hole in the wall dive bar and restaurant. I was leery based in the drab, rundown curb appeal, but inside is a welcoming, spacious atmosphere. It's apparently a hotspot for locals and the oldest continuous operating bar in Galveston. We got burgers and fries to go. They were delicious and reasonably priced. I'd definitely go back if in the area looking for a quick meal with a lively interior atmosphere.

My husband and I chose to eat here based on their website, famous for their burgers & history. First impression was disappointment, there was a swarm of flies populating this place. The menu was jumbled to me so, I asked the waiter what she recommended. She took us all around this cluttered menu and got to the burgers last. I asked about showing a picture of my ID since I forgot my hard copy (I'm 25). The waiter went to ask the manager but the locals through in their opinion and I guess talked him out of it.. he never said anything to me, I never saw him leave his stool at the bar- he seems like douche bag. The place was dusty, disorganized and dull. The burgers weren't bad but fries and garlic bread were soaked in grease. I'd have to be starving to come back to this mess.

Don't go on looks when you get to Sonny's! It's just good people and honest good food! We were trying to decide where we were going to stand in line for dinner when I found the reviews for Sonny's and realized it was about 4 blocks from our rental house! We both just wanted "something that we would make at home"- we had plenty of Seafood all week and decided to wander over after the hubby heard they had frito pie! I had a chili dog and fries both were just what we were hoping for! Great prices and good food - you really can't beat the service either!

Sonny's is a great lunch place. They have a huge selection of food. The hamburgers are really good. Order a double meat if you like a bigger burger. Their spaghetti is also very good. Mostly it's just a really cool "old Galveston" place.

I've eaten at Sonny's on many occasions. Good service and really good food. Highly recommend giving it a try.

Enjoyed the atmosphere and good food. Unique dishes and good prices. I would recommend.

We came in town late to visit some friends and were getting hungry as the evening passed. So we searched for a bite on the late night tip and found this jewel. We ordered one muffalata for 4 people and it was enough. The bread, meats, olive spread was all hittin. Probably thest muff I've ever stuffed.

It is so refreshing to see that some places never change! I was a frequent visitor with my parents. So when I came to town for a girl's weekend, we stopped by on a Friday night. Food was tasty as ever! Gumbo was on point! Make sure to try the grilled muffaletta! Previous owner was at the bar, feisty and sassy...LOVED it!

Not sure why it took me so long to finally try this place, but now I have. For years, I've heard people rave about this place. It's one of the more well-known Galveston restaurants, and also the oldest. We went in the other night, sat at the bar next to a hilarious gentleman who turned out to be the previous owner and the current owner's father. A really nice girl took care of us. The drinks were stiff and at a fair price. You don't see that very often these days. It's a divey-looking place with a fun atmosphere and excellent juke box. Cool people all having a good time. My bowl of chili was perfect and beer was cold. My friend's chicken salad was also perfect. We saw all these giant muffulettas, pasta dishes, and burgers being served. We're definitely going back to try these other dishes. Thank you Sonny's for a great time. We can't wait to come back.

Old school bar and cafe. Good food and bar with reasonable prices. Very interesting menu, check it out.

How can you rate this place 4 or 5 star OMG is mediocrity food, establishment and service. Please if you're not a good critic food person shut you're mouth. Sunny's is Chinese management with no idea about food. If you're eat just anything this is you're place. Super bad grill chicken sandwich and old taste oil soaking fries. Establishment old stinky mold odor please owner get help on management. Health and clean place first, then food then service.

We had a great time here on a Friday night. We came right after work and had the raw oysters in a mug, a cup of gumbo and split a half Muffalata(huge) Everything was very tasty. The bathrooms were clean. This is an old burger style joint. But they have a lot of food choices. We had a young guy waiter that was a really gracious and provided excellent service this place is well loved by the locals so it can get packed!

What a find off the beaten path.. we went at dinner just for a bite to eat. My husband said the homemade chili was the best he has ever eaten and he has eaten a lot of chili. I had a fried shrimp sandwich with homemade tartar sauce and it was delicious. Husband had a bottle of beer and when we went to pay discovered beers were $0.50 before 7. Felt like we had won the lottery. Next visit down I want to try the homemade spaghetti sauce . They did tell you up front not to come if you are in a hurry... but service was excellent and faster than most of the other restaurants on the island.

Local place. Great raw oysters in a mug. Seriously good. Fresh, tasty. Muffulettas were great. Grilled wasn't necessarily better though. Lots of locals, to be expected. Waitress did not smile at us and zero small talk...unless you were a local. No worries though.

Loved this place! The food was fantastic and the portions are huge. I'd love to go back next time I am in town.

My first time at Sonny's. Wow the Muffuletta was huge and delicious. First time I tried a grilled one. It took a little longer to prepare but it was worth the wait. I barely finished 1/4 of it. Next time I will come back with friends that want to share one. 8 of us could have shar The picture does reflect the size of the sandwich. It is LARGER than the plate.

Been a little while that I went on Friday at lunch and got special shrimp gumbo that's only sold on Friday. Man o man pretty dang good gumbo . Slap your girlfriend good. Friendly waitstaff, atmosphere was taking me back yrs in Galveston. You won't be disappointed I promise....

Met Sonny's son...elder gent who hangs out there...what a character !! Place is nothing fancy. They have window units (so sit in the middle of the joint) I noticed flies...might have been because table was very near front door. I didn't feel like the young girl waitresses were very attentive and one of them had just started and didn't speak or understand English to well. We ordered the "Only on Fridays" shrimp gumbo...it was ok. Many good size shrimp, but, the roux needed more flavor...green onion, little s/p...something? The grilled 1/2 muffelatta was big and very tasty. Prices are cheap. Took a photo of the bullet hole on the bar (near the plaque in remembrance. Might go back for a burger and frosty root beer next. SUPPORT LOCAL BUY LOCAL

I love the owner and his lil prank. You'll see if you go there :) Burger was one of the best I have had on this earth so far.

This was a little dive bar restaurant. We had the muffuletta and chili cheese fries. The whole sandwich is massive. We split one and the fries and we had left overs. The sandwich was good and so were the fries. We will go back and try a few others in the future.

4 stars for the grilled muffuletta! It was cheesy, buttery, and huge! Got the whole muffuletta for ~$18 and split it 4-ways. So filling and overwhelming for just a quarter of the sandwich. I won't order this again. I felt super slow and sleepy afterwards. I also had a difficult time breathing. Don't get me wrong, the sandwich was damn good. It was just too much for me. Also got the super nacho fries which were horrible. 1 Star! It was way too pricey at ~$15 for a large order. Portion size was small and the fries were soggy. I'll definitely visit Sonny's place again tho. It's supposedly the oldest bar in Galveston. Very cool, history-filled vibe to it with the wooden walls, musty smell, white-gray photos, and jukebox. I also heard from someone that they have the best gumbo on the island. Too bad we couldn't try it on this trip. It's only served on Friday's. We will be back only on Friday's to try the gumbo.

This is a really neat, oddball local dive restaurant and bar. It's in the middle of a residential neighborhood and looks like it's been around forever. Food and drinks are affordable. Waitstaff could be friendlier, but they're attentive enough.

Love love this place. Great people and good food! Mug of raw oysters is the BEST! Can't beat the prices either! A gem of a place!

Me and my coworkers just ordered our lunch and we where very disappointed with the food. Our French fries were over cooked and my patty melt was like a grilled cheese sandwich with a piece of meat slapped on it. My coworkers hamburger was made sloppy her bun was all wet and her fries where over cooked to. Maria was very rude to us when went to pick up our order and when we called to let them know about our order. I've heard rave reviews about this place but today they fell short. We are very disappointed.. We will not be visiting here again for our lunch hour.

I saw they had a 4.8 rating on Google and thought why not , the pictures looked good. We went and EVERYTHING was just not good ? The gumbo was gross , the fried shrimp was not good, even the chili cheese dog and burgers were mediocre. And Omgggg the raw oysters were disgusting. And I picked the place so it honestly ended up being in me that everyone didn't like their food . The wait staff was also not attentive and we were the only other party there. And the man who I'm assuming is the owner even made an inappropriate comment towards one of our friends because of his weight . 0/10 would not recommend. The only good thing was that it was cheap so we didn't get stuck paying an arm and a leg for a bad dinner .

The food here is Awesome! Great food food for lunch or supper. Everything you could ever want is listed on the menu. Try it! You won't be disappointed!