Johnny Rockets vs. Silver Diner

OK, just had my first meal (a burger, vanilla Coke and onion rings) at Johnny Rockets. The burger didn't floor me (Five Guys much better). But I did like the decor of the place.

Retro diner fans: Silver Diner or Johnny Rockets? I think the food is better at Silver Diner but I like the decor of Johnny's more.

I have heard of and seen Johnny Rocket's, although I have never eaten at one. But, what is Silver Diner?

Note for those living outside the mid-atlantic region: Silver Diner is a DC Metro area chain.



Yeah, Frogger67, I think the food at Silver Diner blows Johnny Rockets away. Much more choices and better choices. The 50's vibe is a little better at Johnny Rockets, but for food, there's no comparing Johnny Rockets with Silver Diner. (PS I typically go to the Rockville Silver Diner location)

So where is Johnny Rocket's at? I like Silver Diner.

I believe I have seen one or both in some airports.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

quote:

Originally posted by MikeS.

So where is Johnny Rocket's at? I like Silver Diner.

They started in Los Angeles in the mid '80s. The DC area got its first Johnny Rockets in the late '90s, I think. In northern Virginia, there is a new one in Shirlington, down the road from my apt. A few malls in the area have them too.

quote:

Originally posted by Scorereader

Note for those living outside the mid-atlantic region: Silver Diner is a DC Metro area chain.



Yeah, Frogger67, I think the food at Silver Diner blows Johnny Rockets away. Much more choices and better choices. The 50's vibe is a little better at Johnny Rockets, but for food, there's no comparing Johnny Rockets with Silver Diner. (PS I typically go to the Rockville Silver Diner location)

I like Silver Diner as well---but sometimes you gotta go for the "real thing" (if you're in the DC area--29 Diner on Route 29 in Fairfax, VA and "Frost Diner" in Warrenton, VA-----two places built in the 40s or 50s and never renovated).

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7

I believe I have seen one or both in some airports.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Silver Diner is only in DC. Not at airports. I'm not sure how widespread Johnny Rockets is. I've seen them up and down the east coast, mostly in Malls. Airports sound plausible for JR's.

Silver Diner opened a branch at BWI last November.I havent been there yet,but in my experience the airport branch of a restaurant is more expensive and food and service suffer in comparison to the non-airport locations.Bill Bateman's is a pretty good example of this at BWI.

quote:

Originally posted by Scorereader

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7

I believe I have seen one or both in some airports.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Silver Diner is only in DC. Not at airports. I'm not sure how widespread Johnny Rockets is. I've seen them up and down the east coast, mostly in Malls. Airports sound plausible for JR's.

They are definately at the BWI and I believe they are opening in other airports.

http://www.silverdiner.com/locations/map.html

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7

quote:

Originally posted by Scorereader

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7

I believe I have seen one or both in some airports.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Silver Diner is only in DC. Not at airports. I'm not sure how widespread Johnny Rockets is. I've seen them up and down the east coast, mostly in Malls. Airports sound plausible for JR's.

They are definately at the BWI and I believe they are opening in other airports.

http://www.silverdiner.com/locations/map.html

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

ok, I stand corrected. Silver Diner is in one airport - BWI, right here in the mid-atlantic. Hard to believe they'd go to any other airports except Dulles and National, but, if they're expanding further, I think it's a mistake. The restaurants are pretty good diners. I hope the airport version is just as good.

The Silver Diner in Cherry Hill, New Jersey has gone downhill in my opinion. It was very good when it first came there-around 1998-1999-approx. The last time we were there -yuk. It seems-at least to me-around 2004 it started going downhill and everytime we would go it would get worse. We will not be going back.

Johnny Rockets is like stepping back into the late 40's or early 50's.A malt shop!!! Food is just so-so and the big sin is their Malted is not good!

There is a Johnny Rockets in the Circle Centre Mall in downtown Indianapolis. Been there once or twice. Not the greatest food, but not horrible either.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeS.

So where is Johnny Rocket's at? I like Silver Diner.

There is one on Ocean Boulevard in South Beach. I had an average breakfast there.

Johnny Rocket's is a wonderful place -- if you are hearing impaired. If you are not you'll wish you were.

quote:

Originally posted by nicolem

The Silver Diner in Cherry Hill, New Jersey has gone downhill in my opinion. It was very good when it first came there-around 1998-1999-approx. The last time we were there -yuk. It seems-at least to me-around 2004 it started going downhill and everytime we would go it would get worse. We will not be going back.

Since NJ is the home of an incredible number of REAL diners, I have a hard time figuring out why someone would bring a chain-operated faux diner to our state. In fact, until I read nicolem's post, I didn't know that we had anything of that ilk in these parts.

With places like The Americana, Mastoris, Tick Tock, and so many other Mom & Pop-owned, authentic diners that are good, I do not plan to visit either The Silver Diner or Johnny Rockets.

Johnny Rockets is supposed to be a malt shop...not a dinner...it looks the part...but the food is average....malts good..burgers, so so.

quote:

Originally posted by Tedbear

quote:

Originally posted by nicolem

The Silver Diner in Cherry Hill, New Jersey has gone downhill in my opinion. It was very good when it first came there-around 1998-1999-approx. The last time we were there -yuk. It seems-at least to me-around 2004 it started going downhill and everytime we would go it would get worse. We will not be going back.

Since NJ is the home of an incredible number of REAL diners, I have a hard time figuring out why someone would bring a chain-operated faux diner to our state. In fact, until I read nicolem's post, I didn't know that we had anything of that ilk in these parts.

With places like The Americana, Mastoris, Tick Tock, and so many other Mom & Pop-owned, authentic diners that are good, I do not plan to visit either The Silver Diner or Johnny Rockets.

There are a bunch of crappy "authentic" diners too. Dirty, greay pits, that are kept around by a forgiving public. I love the independent diner, too, but they're not always the best.

Love GOOD Johhny Rockets, if it's made right!!! The fries are very good too. Cherry Coke with real syrup.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeS.

So where is Johnny Rocket's at? I like Silver Diner.

Here is their locations website. As you can see they are in over half the states as well as 11 foreign countries.

http://www.johnnyrockets.com/locations/

quote:

Originally posted by leethebard

Johnny Rockets is supposed to be a malt shop...not a dinner...it looks the part...but the food is average....malts good..burgers, so so.

If it's not a dinner, is it a lunch?

it's food no more no less. johnny rockets prices are outrageous for what you get.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeS.

So where is Johnny Rocket's at? I like Silver Diner.

They are springing up like toadstools here in Greater Miami. There are at least ten, and more coming. I think there is one in just about every major mall.

quote:

Originally posted by Scorereader

quote:

Originally posted by Tedbear



Since NJ is the home of an incredible number of REAL diners, I have a hard time figuring out why someone would bring a chain-operated faux diner to our state. In fact, until I read nicolem's post, I didn't know that we had anything of that ilk in these parts.

With places like The Americana, Mastoris, Tick Tock, and so many other Mom & Pop-owned, authentic diners that are good, I do not plan to visit either The Silver Diner or Johnny Rockets.

There are a bunch of crappy "authentic" diners too. Dirty, greay pits, that are kept around by a forgiving public. I love the independent diner, too, but they're not always the best.

I had a craving for a decent burger the other afternoon, and I thought I would be a good RoadFoody and patronize a little coffee shop / diner that had gotten a folksy write up in the local paper.

Nasty burger, limp greasy fries, and revolting cole slaw. They didn't mess up the Diet Pepsi, though. All for eight bucks plus tip.

I walked out of there thinking, "Now I know why some people go to McDonald's!"

There is a Johnny Rocket's in a casino in Camp Verde, AZ. I love to go there for their over-stuffed egg salad sandwiches. So good! Probably the best I ever had - even better than my own. I'm sure they use real Best Foods mayo. Egg salad is my all-time favorite sandwich!

quote:

Originally posted by MiamiDon

quote:

Originally posted by Scorereader

quote:

Originally posted by Tedbear



Since NJ is the home of an incredible number of REAL diners, I have a hard time figuring out why someone would bring a chain-operated faux diner to our state. In fact, until I read nicolem's post, I didn't know that we had anything of that ilk in these parts.

With places like The Americana, Mastoris, Tick Tock, and so many other Mom & Pop-owned, authentic diners that are good, I do not plan to visit either The Silver Diner or Johnny Rockets.

There are a bunch of crappy "authentic" diners too. Dirty, greay pits, that are kept around by a forgiving public. I love the independent diner, too, but they're not always the best.

I had a craving for a decent burger the other afternoon, and I thought I would be a good RoadFoody and patronize a little coffee shop / diner that had gotten a folksy write up in the local paper.

Nasty burger, limp greasy fries, and revolting cole slaw. They didn't mess up the Diet Pepsi, though. All for eight bucks plus tip.

I walked out of there thinking, "Now I know why some people go to McDonald's!"

I too have been "burned" by a few diners, but luckily the majority of them in NJ are reliable purveyors of respectable Roadfood. There are a few places that I have crossed off of my list because of bad experiences, but Mastoris, Americana, Tick Tock, and a few others remain incredibly good.

Johnny Rocket's is a burger 'n fries joint I have seen at many malls across the country and is o.k. if you want to have table service instead of the "food court experience". 
 
Silver Diner is a Metro-DC-based chain of full-menu diners.  Over the years I have eaten at their Rockville Pike (original location), Arlington, Fair Oaks, Reston, Tyson's, and Potomac Mills.  The food is good, but lately there have been too many service goofs (cold food, melter ice cream) for me to return.

The primary problem I have with Johnny Rockets is that they use the same vanilla based milk product for all their milk shakes.  May be OK for vanilla, but strawberry, chocolate & coffee shakes just don't make it without a flavored ice cream base.

I thought Johnny Rockets was a local, Los Angeles chain. Wrong again.
 
The last one I ate at was destroyed by the 1994 Northridge Earthquake.
 
Guess it's been awhile.