Tolerable burgers, horrendous chili.

Question I have about such places is why go to them except if you're
far away from home?

There is a Johnny Rocket's in Hoboken and yes their hamburgers are marginal.
Again, In and Out spoiled me on almost every other burger out there!

Fries are not bad.

They DO make a good Coke Float (OK, I can't get them to make a PEPSI float! ;) )

They are also a little pricey.

There is a nice on in Manhattan Beach CA on Rosecrans and for kids who are picky they have a great grilled cheese and an egg salad that is good too. Their shakes are wonderful and it's the music that I enjoy. My kids are grown but they love to go and plug nickels into the machine. There is a brand new one at the refurbed Del Amo Mall in Torrance, CA and it's much larger than most of the other ones I've been too. Fast service, nice servers and okay food.

I thought the same thing when I ordered a strawberry shake on Ocean Dr in South Beach.

--Russ

I've only had a chance to try Johnny Rockets on a Royal Caribbean cruise. I thought the food was ok but it definitely was close to being a highlight of the trip.

Anyone able to compare the JR's onshore versus on Royal Caribbean?

Yes. It's an overpriced Steak & Shake

Truer words have never been spoken

They're sort of half-way between upscale fast food, and "family grill" chains like Chili's/Applebee's/Red Robin in terms of their price, presentation and the size of the burgers. Quality of food is very good by chain standards.

I wouldn't go out of the way for them, and if you have a GOOD local burger place, I'd go there. But in the absence of a good local place, they're a nice option to have.

Coach, there's one up in Huntersville at Rosedale off of Exit 23. I've had plenty of meals there that have to be eaten with knife and fork - the bottom bun often gets too greasy and gooey to be picked up after the yolk from the egg makes it way to the plate!

really?? there's one at the roosevelt field mall and it's always busy.

It's alright...
 

I think Johnny Rocket's is mediocre. They have fairly good burgers, not bad, but nothing really noteworthy. Around here in SoCal, we have a competing chain, Ruby's Diner, with much better burgers and milkshakes, and more menu items. But I'll still goto a Johnny Rocket's every now and then.


Steve

Up in NorCal, we have two 50s-themed diner chains - Lori's and Mel's, both of which have slightly-to-moderately-higher prices and much broader menus. The burgers at JR are a bit better (IMO) than the ones at either Lori's or Mel's, but given the menu differences I'm not sure they really compete one another.

I like Ruby's Diner much better, but there are none around here. JR's makes very good malts. I go there when I get an apple pie craving late at night. It's way-above-average apple pie. Most chains (and local diners, too) give you a plate of brown goo when you order apple pie. JR's pie is 95% big, non-mushy chunks of apple. Very nice.

There are two Johnny Rockets around me, one in Hoboken on Washington St, and the other in Jersey Gardens (Elizabeth).. Every time I pass by it, I want to give it a try but never did for some reason..

Not sure now if I should stop in..

I believe you can find them on some Royal Caribbean cruise ships. It's one of the places on the ship that will cost you a little something extra. I've always assumed, for that reason, that they were something special. I've never been in one, for the same reason.

Yes. Virtually everything about them on the ship is the same as on land, except on the ship the staff is MUCH friendlier :) and will actually give you the nickels to put in the juke box.

(Service seemed faster on the ships as well.)