JOHNNY ROCKETS...AGAIN.

So I finally went to Johnny rockets,..2 words, good + times.

Let me say here, that Johnny Rockets is NOT, I repeat NOT, a fast food place, it's a restaurant. open kitchen, bar servery, simple counter and real live menus.

nicely packaged and nicely done

yes that is how the burgers actually look and yes, that is what they actually cost!!

 You will not find lists on light boxes here with images of internet meatpies and donuts. Just clean, tidy and simple. No plastic chairs and tables, nothing too cosmetic just very easy on the eyes, maybe a bit too minimalist but definetely stylish. It had a retro 50's feel in terms of decor and even the architecture with the facade reminding me of a scene from back to the future with michael j. fox.  I loved the furniture, the booths as well as the chrome 4 seaters which were supported by the chrome strips between wall panels, all adding to the retro of the restraurant.

love the look and feel, very bright inside.

its clean too.

There was a sign up that read as clean as a whistle and that was no lie. The place was spotless without a fly in sight (indigenous fast food joints take note). I just hope they can keep it that way for as long as possible. I also like the fact that they used venetian blinds, very mature.

The feel wasn't too 'high brow' but definetely far from cheap. It had a sense of classic retro sophistication but not in an overwhelming way that would scare one off and ooh! ooh! they had a JUKE BOX (forgive me, i'm a bush nigerian man), a real live, JUKE BOX, ....that played CDs (darnit!!).  You could choose tracks from your table at the push of a button and enjoy your double cheese burger to the sounds of Elvis Presley's' burning love'.

thats where they make the burgers, yes there, in the back, very clean.

choose your sounds...

the JUKE BOX!! Very American retro.

The essence of the Johnny Rockets Brand is obviously very classic American Family and their staying very true to it. Even the menu shows the heritage, from Chilli Bowls to real Cheese burgers, not the bread and meat that most of our dear fastfood joints churn out, but an actual REAL Burger. This makes them all the more attractive. I wouldn't want them trying 'Johnny's Pounded Yam and Efo Riro' certainly no "Africana Dishes". The closest thing to home was the "JOHNNY'S JOLLOF RICE", which was a nice touch and as 'Real' as they would wish to keep it, which in my opine is a good thing. I just hope this fidelity lasts, but, only time will tell.

I chose to keep it simple, seeing as i had a business meeting shortly after and was merely whiling away time. You can't go wrong with a BURGER and  COKE, even though the cost came to about N 3000 for said Burger and Coke and trust me when i say i was being ijebu prudent.

really like the design of this menu, and when i open up a restaurant i will have such menus, just for the sake of it...

(You will see no photos of my lunch, as i was too busy eating it...)

thirsty?...

The staff were what i like to call 'busy-friendly' without that vaguely insincere How-may-i-help-you-smile, but just plain and simple courtesy.  The manager, Khalil (expat) was very amiable and always seeking to add to your experience when ever your eyes met his.  He also did something that was surprising to me, well, seeing as i'm used to more drama when such events occur.

my main man, KHALIL!!

While i was guzzling down my N3000 Burger and coke (just for emphasis) a customer was about leaving and while getting up, dude mistakenly hit his tumbler and it went crashing down, scattering as it hit the well polished floor. Khalil briskly waltzed over and allayed the customer's fears with a slightly middle eastern "Don't Worry, no problem.", while  a subordinate member of staff swooped in and swept away the shards of broken glass. There was not a single mention of "How much..." or "Who pays..." (much to the customer's delight). Now i'm not saying if you take a brick through the window they'll wave if off with beaming smiles, but just the courtesy of realising it was an accident and leaving it as such was nice to witness. I wonder what would've happened had it been a 'NAIJA JOINT'.....hhmmmmnnnnnn.

All in all it was a memorable first time, and a pretty cool experience (for a bush nigerian man), i would definitely take my family there the next time we're in Lagos (and leave a couple of thousands light), but in my book, it'll be worth it.