#65 - Johnny Rockets - Sandy's synopsis

This review is going to be pretty short because Johnny Rockets is basically a fast food restaurant. However, it looks like a diner and it will make you feel slightly better about yourself for not going to McDonalds. It reminds me of the diners in Archie comics where the milkshakes looked delicious and the burgers looked so small Jughead somehow managed to eat 10 of them. 

Their shakes were indeed very good. They were served in an old-timey glass with extra shake on the side. I ordered their chocolate banana milkshake and it did not disappoint. I'm a sucker for banana in liquid form. 

The burgers however were not so small that I could eat 10 at a time. The burger was delicious though (by fast food standards). A more substantial bun than the usual fast food chain. 

We also ordered some fries and onion rings to go on the side. I personally prefer McDonald's fries, they are thinner and had more salt. These are more like steak fries that I'm not a fan off.  However, Johnny Rockets does win in the onion rings department - purely because I don't know of any other fast food place that offers onion rings...

In summary, if you're hankering for some fast food and are in the area, Johnny Rockets is a solid choice. The service was very friendly and competent, they are accommodating of your gluten allergy and they have a fantastic range of milkshakes. Also, you get to pretend you are in an Archie comic. 

Johnny Rockets

443 South Street

Philadelphia PA 19147

215-829-9222

#65 Johnny Rockets - Sam's synopsis

For those of you unaware, Johnny Rockets is a chain fast food restaurant that attempts to emulate the feel of a 1950s diner. Unfortunately, I can't comment on how valid that claim is, being born in 1986 and all, but it does give off an old-timey vibe while you're in there. And it's a fun atmosphere, if you're into that kitschy stuff. The staff did some singing for someone's birthday while we were there, which apparently is a regular occurrence (singing, not birthdays, but who knows how many people go to Johnny Rocket's for their birthday? Or claim its their birthday for free dessert? Definitely pulled that stunt in high school at TGIFs before).

The first thing you should know about Johnny Rockets is that they definitely always have milkshakes available. On our saunter we have oft been disappointed by the promise of a milkshake, only to find out it was all a lie. So I was very excited to order one knowing full well that it would be available. There are several fancy options, but since I'd been deprived of a milkshake so many times, I went for a classic chocolate shake, topped with a sizable amount of whipped cream (an essential component of any milkshake). It's pretty hard to mess up a standard milkshake, and I'm happy to say that JRs did not disappoint. First off, the quantity they give you is about the equivalent of two full milkshakes, which is already pretty great. They use Hershey's syrup, which isn't always my favorite but they mix it in with vanilla at the right ratio to really hit the spot. The whipped cream on top allows for a delectable blending of smooth and creamy flavors, and there's quite a bit to last the milkshake (unless of course you're Leslie Knope). 

For food, I was really craving chicken tenders, so I got an order of that and the table split fries and onion rings. The chicken tenders hit the spot, crispy on the outside, moist on the inside, greasy but not too greasy. They also reheated a lot better than I was expecting (a bold move on my behalf regardless). The BBQ dipping sauce was good too - nothing extraordinary but better than what you get at some other fast food places. I was pretty underwhelmed with the french fries, they weren't very flavorful or crispy. Not their strongest quality. The onion rings were much better, coated nicely and fried to a nice crisp. They weren't so greasy that they destroyed my stomach - but that might have come from only having a handful of them instead of an entire basket. 

Overall, I'd pick Johnny Rockets over a lot of other fast food places to satisfy a greasy food-craving or as a good place to stop by while you're currently inebriated. And it definitely wins in the fast food milkshake contest.

Johnny Rockets

443 South Street

Philadelphia, PA

(215) 829-9222