Johnny Rockets is a diner-themed restaurant from California. It is a no-frill, burger-and-milkshake joint, much like what you see in the movie Grease. And it is now open in the new Eastwood Mall, Quezon City.

The first thing one notices is the brightness of the place. I'm not used to all-white lighting, but they are being true to the 50s ambience. Everything is patterned after the diner era-- from the tiles, posters, seats, to the straw canisters on each table.

There's even a juke box that plays hits from the 50's. I haven't seen a juke box in ages, especially one that works. You just need a one-peso coin to play a song. There are also two "date tables" with mini juke-boxes, and they work, too.

But of course we come to a restaurant mainly for the food. Johnny Rockets sent a training team from the U.S. to make sure everything tastes just like their American counterparts, or even better.  All the burgers and beef sandwiches are made with 100% pure beef imported from Australia. They also come with a generous serving of high-grade large-cut fries.

Their most popular and biggest burger is called ROUTE 66, P465. Topped with cheese and fresh mushroom, it is large enough for two women to share. The patties are lightly seasoned instead of smothered in spices, so I could actually taste the beefy goodness. This only works if the beef is fresh and not gamey.

Philly Cheese Steak, P395. Very meaty, and not greasy!

Chicken  Tenders, served with fries P345. With choice of dip. I went for Ranch, and it was yummy. You have to eat it as soon as it is served, though. I took my time to take photos, and you know what happens to chicken breast when it gets cold...

Onion Rings, P185. I noticed that the rings were all uniformly-sized. I wondered if they were "fake" onions. Turns out, the onion rings are imported from the US, and they arrive pre-selected. The rings that are too small or too large are discarded.

Original Shakes in Strawberry, P215. Yowza! Over P200 for a drink??! It is extra rich and thick, though. It is almost pure ice cream. And just to make you feel extra guilty-- the ice cream is custom-made for Johnny Rockets to contain 15% butter-fat, as opposed to regular ice creams which have only 9-11%. Stay away if you're on a diet! But oh well, life is too short.

Chicken Club Sandwich, P395. I like the fact that I got a whole chunk of chicken breast, instead of chicken spread. It reminds me of club sandwiches by the pool when you order at a 5-star restaurant.

By the way, I had the other half of my club "to-go" and ate it 2 days later-- the lettuce and tomatoes were still crisp, and the bread did not turn dry nor soggy. Impressive.

Brownie a la Mode . Moist and chewy, with extra-fat ice cream!!!

Let's Dance. The one thing I haven't gotten used to is the dancing! Yes, folks, every 30 minutes or so, during peak hours, the waiters, managers-- the entire staff, actually-- will treat the customers to a dance number. I do not recall seeing a performance in Sta. Monica, but I'm told it is a tradition for Johnny Rockets. Most of the people were amused, while a few looked indifferent. But there was a group of teens who were so entertained, they requested two more dance numbers while they recorded the performances.

Smiley Ketchup, FREE! The place serves ketchup "with a smile".

Opening Night: Models Thea and Sasaan, rockin' the 50s vibe with a vintage convertible behind them. (Styling, Hair & Makeup by Cherry Pacheco)

I have to say, it is quite pricey, but if you love your burger, it is worth it. The whole experience of eating in a diner was fun. I think oldies and young ones will enjoy it. Funny, I asked a few kids aged 7-10 if they knew the songs and dances, and they were clueless. At least the kids can learn a bit of history while dining here.

Store Info:
Johnny Rockets is located at the 1st level of Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City
Tel: 470-2208
Business Hours: Mon- Thur 11am - 11pm
                           Fri & Sat  11am - 1am
                           Sun 10am - 11pm