French Fry Diary 85: Johnny Rockets, Atlantic City

Johnny Rockets is another one of those franchises where it’s all about the experience and the presentation, and that’s a good thing. It’s a 1950s style diner with a theatrical waitstaff just this side of Disney actors and the customer service is top of the line. I had been to the JR on South Street in Philly once or twice when they first opened so it had been a long time, so while in Atlantic City recently I thought I’d try the one there – I was not disappointed.

I was seated at the counter, and was surprised to be served from all sides. That was different. Anasia, my waitress, was first class. She made the experience a pleasure, making small talk, and checking to see if everything was all right. I also had a great view of the grill. It’s quite intriguing to see your Rocket burger come together from scratch - just a lump of ground beef into the finished delicious product.

This was definitely a burger to die for, as was the chocolate shake. The fries, called American Fries here at Johnny Rockets, were regular cuts and also delicious. If I had one complaint, it was that there just weren’t enough of them, and if you think about it, that’s more compliment than complaint. The fries of course came with the trademark ketchup smiley face, and even though I’m not a ketchup guy, that’s worth extra points right there.

And of course there’s the performance part of the evening. The lights dim for the beginning of Donna Summer’s “Last Dance” and half the staff and even some of the customers get up and strut their disco moves. Fun for all, and a great dining experience. Definitely and highly recommended.