Johnny Rockets

This place is terrible. I am not a difficult customer to please, but food is incredibly over priced and not very good. Go to Steak and Shake.
I purchased a groupon and they wouldn’t accept it on my phone even though they told me it was fine before ordering. I will not be returning.

You heard it from me first: Johnny Rocket’s is way overpriced… Wait, huh? Everyone has said that thus far? Oh… Well at least I’m not crazy.
I have a friend who has disturbingly simple taste buds and this place falls in line with them. They make a good burger, not a fantastic one, but they charge a crazy price for it. They have good fries and the service was fine. I’m not too sure about their milkshakes but that would just add to the already intimidating bill.
This is one of those joints that I always forget isn’t worth it, and each time I go back I am reminded. By no means is it awful, but it’s definitely bust-​for-​your-​buck.

Although everyone else has commented on Johnny Rockets outrageous prices, I’m going to go ahead and say it again:
Johnny Rockets is insanely overpriced.
This is a 1950s themed restaurant charging prices that are exorbitant even by 2012 standards. Step through the door and you’re whisked away to yesteryear. Peruse the menu and suddenly you’ve been rudely plopped back down in the here and now. We paid $ 6 AND some change for a grilled cheese. Grilled cheese!
That’s another thing, vegetarian choices here are seriously lacking. It was grilled cheese or a Boca burger and I’ve had revolting veggie burgers before from other restaurants, so grilled cheese it was. And, it was fine. I mean, c’mon, it was grilled cheese. That’s about as simple as it gets and pretty difficult to screw up.
My husband had a burger and said it was good (just good).
Johnny Rockets cleverly serves everything a la carte (cash in now, Johnny!) so we had to purchase fries separately. We went with the ½ fries, ½ rings and they arrived long before anybody ever even considered putting our food on the grill. This is just moronic. Who wants fries as an appetizer to be served before their burgers and whatnot? Judging by the other Unilocalers’ comments, nobody.
Unlike other Unilocalers’ experiences, however, our server was friendly and efficient. She provided the ketchup smiley face, which, being a simpleton, made me smile in return. She kept our glasses filled and served our food hot.
But, one friendly server is not enough to lure us back to Johnny Rockets for alright food at woefully inflated prices.

I have a friend back in England who once ran for local government using the name «Johnny Rocket» — which was his alternate DJ nickname. He ran on a platform of «everyone should have fun» and garnished over 160 votes come election day. Not enough to win, obviously, but still more votes than several other independent candidates with far more sensible ‘grown-​up’ viewpoints managed to accrue. Maybe this says more about politics than any of us need to know?
I suspect Johnny Rockets — the restaurant chain — would also like to boast «everyone should have fun» as their tag line. Sadly, this is far from the case.
In a nutshell, the Johnny Rockets concept feels tired and extremely dated, hardly suited to today’s generally «looking for healthier choices» public. It’s woefully expensive too.
On our most recent visit with a friend our check came to over $ 32 and all one of us had to eat was a portion of their french fries and a glass of water! We went there before a (thankfully much better) night out elsewhere. It was disappointment after disappointment. Firstly our friend was upset they had done away with the egg salad she had eaten at JR’s since they first moved into the area. Then my wife failed to get the shake she asked for because our server completely forgot it until she was reminded halfway through her grilled cheese sandwich. Inexcusable.
We should have taken a hint from the fact that staff outnumbered customers on the night we were there, despite it being prime dining hours. They loitered behind the counter looking at people and chitchatting amongst themselves. What they should have been doing is clearing away the dirty tables and generally cleaning what has become far from a inviting interior. I saw ripped vinyl seats, dirty floors where they meet the walls, broken tile everywhere and a general aura of what I can only describe as ‘restaurant decay’.
The staff were not interested in their jobs, the food all seemed like «very little for a hell of a lot», offering nothing out of the ordinary or in any way ‘special’, whilst the environment felt like a terrible MAD parody of much better past times.
I note that the chain have opened a new location at Cincinnati’s prestigious Banks project. Well, for us, it will be a case of «Won’t Go, Johnny, Won’t Go, Go, Go» purely based on the utterly lackluster, expensive and disappointing experience we had at this one. Massively mediocre.

This place gets the award for worst service EVER. I would give this place zero stars.

You know… I don’t think this place is not that bad. I’ve tried both the hamburgers and Veggie burgers. Both are great!
The staff is friendly, happy and quick. Fine, it’s a chain restaurant, but the food was always prepared right and came out hot.

Service was slow, my burger was flat and dry because the cook keeps squeezing and pressing it on the grill. Cold fries and they skimp on sweet potato fries. Avoid this place if possible. I got, and finished my fries 15 – 20 min before my burger made it to my table

One word summary: AVOID
2.95 for each coke and another .59 for cherry and vanilla?
The 2 of us stopped for lunch. Never again. 2 burgers, split one order of half fries and half onion rings and 2 flavored cokes. The cost 29.23. Insanely expensive and mediocre food.
Again, AVOID.

This specific location is now running a deal on Living Social.
Probably because they have a hard time keeping customers.
Keep your money, don’t buy the deal.
My last visit (a few weeks ago) really, really, REALLY disappointed me.
Did I mention disappointment?
Of epic proportions?
Oh, yes. It was downright «punch you in the face & make you bleed a milkshake» kind-​of terrible.
Now. Starting from the beginning.
I’d just picked up a good friend from the airport, & we decided to grab a late dinner before I gave him a ride home. We always liked the NOTL Johnny Rocket’s, & had tried this location on occasion (without major incident), so we decided to stop here.
When we walked in the door… I was a little surprised at how many dirty tables there were, when there were only a handful of customers in there & (what looked like) plenty of «let’s stand around & avoid working» staff members.
After we grabbed a booth, the waitress came over & (though it was clear she expected our full order) took our drink order…2 waters & 2 milkshakes. 10 – 15 minutes later, we got our shakes… both leaking off the sides, only partially full, & ridiculously messy… with no straws, no spoons, & no water. Again, we asked for water…& again, she left to get it… returning 5 minutes later asking us for the rest of our order. Oh, & you guessed it. No water.
We finally got the water, & ordered our food… mine, a route 66 (mushrooms, onions, swiss cheese… you get the drill)…my friend’s, (I forget the name) a regular double style burger…& an order of bacon cheese fries to share. When we finally received them, we had to flag down the waitress for plates, napkins, straws, & silver wear.
While we were talking, & waiting for our burgers, the waitress came back to tell me (15 minutes after we ordered) that they were out of onions & couldn’t add any to my (mushroom/​onion/​swiss) burger. I said that was fine (as this had happened once before, at the same location, & they deducted a small amount from my bill for it), & she left our table. (Why it took 15 minutes of us to find that out, I don’t understand.)
We got our burgers, ate, & were still nursing our shakes thanks to some serious conversation. Asked the waitress for 3 boxes, received the check, one small box, & a small bag… then had to push for the others, & finally got them 10 minutes later.
As I said, before… we were in the middle of a very serious conversation… when, as I’m mid-​sentence, the waitress walks back up (arms on her hips, huge attitude) & says «you gonna pay for that at the counter or what?»
*To note… we weren’t (in any way) taking up a needed table, making a scene, or anything… we were one of 3 groups, & were even a bit quieter than necessary.*
I was so offended, I made the comment (to my friend) «we’d better leave before they force us out the door, since they’re already so close.» He agreed, & we took our checks to the register. A woman (I’m assuming the shift-​manager) was there, with a bunch of money out. After given us a very dirty look, she said she was busy & that we’d have to pay in cash or «wait however long.» Our waitress said she could help cash us out with her tips, & pulled out a big chunk of cash from her apron. Both handled the money situation terribly.
My friend & I, both, paid in cash… exact change, only. Once we’d left, on the way to the car, he made the observation «I can’t believe how rude that girl was. I’ve never not tipped anyone.» This is, also, a first for me… I’ve NEVER not left a tip until this.
The changes they’ve made to the menu (which separates items & raises the prices a little) are so not worth it. I will NEVER come back here… if my craving is that strong, I’ll make the drive to NOTL & eat the parking fee, too.

Johnny Rockets in Kenwood used to be one of my favorite places to go. Who doesn’t like being sung to by a staff that is now ignoring your service needs, burning your hamburger, and letting your fries get cold? I kid, I kid — sort of.
I’ve just found that lately the quality of everything has been going downhill there. It is admittedly hard to not get up and dance with the staff as they choreograph their way through Aretha Franklin’s R-​E-​S-​P-​E-​C-​T but when you are watching your food get cold, it can get quite frustrating. When the food does come out it is just meh.
I noticed for a while the prices seemed outrageous (buy your burger at a pricey price AND pay for a handful of fries at another pricey price) they seem to have dropped — now you get both fries and burger for a reasonable rate. In that, they must have lowered their standards on the quality of food they are dishing out. Boooo!
On top of all that, the staff just doesn’t have the best of attitudes. I remember they used to give you nickels for the table jukeboxes — not anymore. And if you ask, it’s like you’ve annoyed them to death. They also use to give you your change at the table (if paying in cash) and push coins out of a coin dispenser, counting backwards in a really funky way that for some ridiculous reason took me years to learn! But even taking your order there is no excitement, they rarely make smiley faces with the ketchup for you, and hardly any gratitude at the end — here’s your check.
Seems like working a place like that should be fun — and tips decent when you consider your guests might be ordering 5 burgers and 5 milkshakes. Plus you get the bonus of listening to oldies and working in a different TIMEZONE! Increase the quality of food and quality of service and we’ll think about coming back more frequently.

The Streamliner Burger, delicious vegan Boca burger voted by PETA as the Best Veggie Burger in a Restaurant Chain:

I don’t think I’ve ever had a satisfactory experience at Johnny Rockets. For one thing, their prices are ridiculous for what is essentially over-​hyped fast food. I would be willing to pay the $ 10 + that it costs to get one of their meals if the food were more than mediocre. The burgers merely taste OK and are sopping with grease, the fries are pretty good as are the shakes but I’ve had better in both areas. I’m also not a fan of the way they cook their chili or hot dogs. And as for the atmosphere, I’d rather just go to a restaurant where it looks like the people serving have no morale than where it looks like they have no morale and try to hide it behind lazy dancing and off-​key singing to Oldy «classics.» If you want a burger find some place else, I’m sure there’s a McDonald’s right down the road (not that I’d really recommend them either).

I always enjoy coming to Johnny Rockets. It’s such a classic theme restaurant with pretty decent food!
The place is decorated 50’s diner style really well. The jukebox at every table is an added cuteness bonus. They actually work! The food is classic and yes maybe not the healthiest. Their milkshakes are super good. Their burgers are greasy, but taste nice. I really love the texture of the buns. They’re not standard but instead fluffy and flavorful. Gotta have some fries while you’re at it!
Yes it’s a little overpriced, but you’re paying for the experience as well as the food.

I was not please with my lunch trip to Johnny Rockets. The service was poor, and the quality was also sub par. The coke had zero carbonation and the cook did not even start to grill my burger until 10 – 15 minutes after I got my fries. To add insult to injury the bill for a burger, fries and a coke was $ 13.40 without tip. I left the establishment completely feeling like I had just been scammed.
I would generally let some things slide but the place was not busy and the owner was also present. However, she was more than content to yap it up with some friends. I have no idea how this place has been in business for 13 years. Maybe, I was just there on a bad day but I will never know because I won’t be going back.