In Coconut Grove, Miami ~ Johnny Rocket's, the Best Fifties Style Burgers and Shakes

Sometimes I just can't stand it, I just have to have a Vanilla Malted...Now, I'm no stranger to a other flavors of malteds and milk shakes having spent my early years in Brooklyn where candy stores abound and can be found on every street corner. My aunt ran one for years and I loved to go behind the counter to make some overly sinful ice cream concoctions...But, with all the experimentations I did, a vanilla malted always remained my favorite.

Now, when the craving gets the better of me, I think of Johnny Rockets and make my way over one of the closest locations near my house to indulge in one of those thick and delicious malteds they serve along with all the other items reminiscent of those days gone by when diners and corner drug stores were so prevalent

In 1986, when Johnny Rockets opened their first diner on Melrose Ave in Los Angeles they have always been proud of their menu offerings, featuring fresh, good tasting diner food with great service in a friendly atmosphere. Most of the time you are greeted when you enter with a big hello along with the rock and roll music that fills the air...The servers seem to have a grand old time when they make a thing about the way they pour ketchup onto your plate in a certain way.... the decor has that retro 50's look so popular again.

The menu if what you could call "All American Diner Cuisine" with 8 varieties of burgers offered and your choice of many different types of toppings, for the vegetarian there is even a Boca Veggie Burger... The prices vary from $4.79 for "The Original," served with fresh lettuce, tomato, onion, relish, pickle, mustard and mayonnaise, and up to $5.99...You can add cheese, your choice, of Swiss, American Tillamook or Pepper Jack, for an additional $.69. Then there is the Smoke house special, bacon, crisp onion rings and their special barbecue sauce. They also have a variety of sandwiches; Grilled chicken breast, Tuna salad, Egg salad, Grilled ham and cheese, bacon, lettuce and tomato club sandwiches, to name a few, all in the price range of $4.00 to $6.50...New York's Nathan's Hot Dogs, are also featured along with Chili dogs, Chicken fingers, and Rocket wings, with your choice of Bleu Cheese or Barbeque sauce, round out the food menu. The side dishes, French Fries and Onion rings are always well prepared and I've never found them to be to greasy.

And of course we must not forget the fountain specialties. A huge treat awaits when you dive into one of those thick deluxe shakes and malts, There are more then enough choices to satisfy any sweet tooth hunger or craving; Chocolate, Strawberry, Oreo Cookies & Cream, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Butterfinger, Strawberry Banana, Mocha Fudge, or, my favorite, Vanilla...each $3.99. Also available are cold delicious, thirst quenching floats with your choice of ice cream and soda flavors, you can also have a hot fudge sundae for the same price. A dollop of whipped cream is the perfect topperl...Want some pie? then try a piece of "All American Apple Pie" seasoned with just the right amount of cinnamon spice for $2.49, then, add a scoop of ice cream for a $1.49 or add a piece of melted cheese for $.69. Boy, what a tasty treat!

Johnny Rockets are located all over the country in shopping malls and on street corners, at least I know of one on a street corner in a very busy part of Miami's Coconut Grove and they are always busy so they must be doing something right! So the next time you have a craving for a short food trip back to the diner days of the fifties, Think Johnny Rockets, you wont go wrong!