Johnny Rockets

I have something to admit. I've never been to Johnny Rockets before. *Que boo's and shoe-throwing*

I thought it was just public opinion when people claimed it serves the best burgers in Bahrain. We all know how public opinion is. Many here seem to think more western = better. What ever happened to Tip Top and M7ammad Noor? End Rant.

Overview: Johnny Rocket's is pretty much an American diner experience. It's located next to the Aali Mall shopping complex, at the very front. You can't miss it. Is its reputation comparable to the food served? Let us embark on this magical food journey and find out.

Service:

The service is above-average, if anything. It took the food (for 6 people) a total of 17 minutes to arrive. This is astounding, as our meal encompassed several appetizers like the chili-cheese fries, and buffalo wings. The waiter had a wide knowledge of the menu, advising my friends on what to order according to what they're looking for. My only complaint is that the drinks took 7 minutes to arrive. This would be understandable if we ordered freshly brewed iced teas or a similar beverage, but this was not the case; I don't think six glasses of soft drinks take that long to serve. This is only a minor and trivial matter; they certainly make up for it with their speed in delivering the main course. Again, I must emphasize the need for waiters asking the customers how a meal is halfway through. This seems to be ignored at many restaurants nowadays. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it certainly does separate above average service from a perfect one.

4/5

Atmosphere:

I think Johnny Rockets nails the atmosphere spot-on. I can't think of anything they left out to make the atmosphere any more authentic. It incorporates the old hand-painted Coca-Cola advertisements of blondes holding coke bottles and smiling emptily into the distance. The place has those tall diner chairs that always make the experience funner for the kids. Music choice is, surprisingly, well chosen and ranges from a variety of old American classics. Did I also mention that some tables have a small jukebox on them? You put in 100 fils and you can flip through a range of classics for you to choose from. The waiters' uniforms is what tops it all off. You really feel like you're in the 70's. They wear those hats and everything. A+

5/5

Presentation:

Well it's not amazing, but it's not disappointing. The burgers look good aesthetically and the chili-cheese fries looked scrumptious. Everything was served steaming hot straight from the grill. I could not wait to dig in. Although the food did look good, the presentation was not necessarily memorable. Keep in mind that a 5 in this criteria is a presentation that surprises you with something new that sticks with you. All in all, Johnny Rocket's produces some good looking burgers that are comparable to the pictures in the menu.

4/5

Food:

This is the most important criterion in our reviews. Everything is irrelevant if the food is sub-par. I am happy to say that Johnny Rocket's does not disappoint. I ordered the Smokehouse, and I can confidently say that I have not eaten a better burger anywhere else. The proportion of the meat to the other ingredients is precise. The fries are decent and everyone seemed satisfied with their meal. I would like to note that the patties are made as soon as you order. They look hand-shaped, not perfectly circular like in many other restaurants serving burgers. In addition to this, the chef work station is located conveniently behind the tall diner chairs so you can see them work. Another great experience for the children. I would like to note that someone mentioned their burger was good but extremely heavy. This was not the case with mine, but his complaint will be noted. Other than that, everything was excellent. Good job and keep up the good work.

4.5/5

Pricing:

The pricing is similar to what you would pay at Chili's or Fuddrucker's. I paid a total of 4BD which encompasses the burger and a drink. One thing to note is that, unlike its competitors Johnny Rocket's doesn't serve any fries with the burger. You need to order them separately. This may put Johnny's more in the pricey range. The burgers are good and of high quality, but the burger is all you're getting. Usually you get a side of some sort, but this was not the case.

3/5

Total: 20.5/25

Overall, I think this is one of the best places to go to if you have the burger munchies. Think I was too lenient? Too harsh? Let me know with a comment below.

The Butchershop and Grill

Overview: Having the reputation of serving the highest quality meat in the nation, The Butchershop and Grill is supposedly the place to go if you want the highest quality steaks and ribs. It's located in Bahrain's City Center, right by Al-Wafi Gourmet and the cinema. Let’s see if this reputation matches up to the real thing.

Service:

The service is pretty decent. Upon entering, you are greeted with an array of lovely nibbles (free of charge, at that). I will get into the details regarding the taste later, but giving your customers bread and a range of dipping sauces for free is a nice touch. Seeing as the restaurant is located in the mall, standing around waiting for a seat is not a problem; the waitress’s main priority is to get you a seat as soon as you enter. As for timing it took 7 minutes for the appetizer, a German sausage, to arrive and 17 minutes total for the main course. This is an excellent time, but I can’t help but feel that it may be due to me dining alone. Regardless, the service is superb although the waiters could be a little more attentive. Asking a customer how the meal is mid-way is what separates a good meal from an amazing one.

4/5

Atmosphere:

I can’t be picky, since the restaurant doesn’t have much space to work with. From what I saw, the restaurant houses a pretty solid European décor. There were barrels situated here and there and European-esque lamps. I don’t usually comment on choice of color, but nothing looked out of place. There was a good balance of green to white that doesn’t make the place seem too flashy. Although the décor is not bad, nothing particularly stands out; it’s pretty ordinary. As for music, there was none (or if there was, barely audible). All I could hear was the noise of the mall.

3/5

Presentation:

The first plate I was handed was one of bread, with a wide range of toppings. The butter, fish paste, etc were arranged in a neat manner, each in its own little crease on the plate. In addition to this, a separate plate was given that holds olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping. This complementary appetizer looked above average, but seeing as it’s complimentary it will not be used to determine the final result for this category. My appetizer, the German Sausage (its exact name, I cannot recall), was not very special. It was long and placed in a coil-like manner on the plate. I don’t know about you, but that did NOT look appetizing at ALL. The parsley leaf on the side didn’t counter balance this, unfortunately. The main course, Barbeque Grilled Chicken, arrived soon after on a larger plate; it looked much more presentable. I could not wait to dig into the two succulent chicken fillets smothered in BBQ marinade. Sadly, it wasn’t steaming hot; however, it was warmed to an appropriate temperature. The main course, like the appetizer, was decorated with parsley leaves. Other than that, the presentation was average.

3/5

Food:

My sausage appetizer had an unusual mix of spices – not the pleasant type of unusual. Perhaps it is an acquired taste, but I thought the use of spices was overwhelming. I do not recommend it. The grilled chicken fillets were cooked well – not too much or too little. However, they were a bit bland. The sauce used was extremely light, which is a good thing, but the chicken requires some seasoning before smothering it in sauce. Something simple, like adding some salt on the chicken before covering it in sauce, would solve the bland taste issue. The baked potato that comes with my platter was also cooked to perfection, with some sour cream placed on top. It was one of the better parts of the dish I was served. Overall, the meat quality varied from dish to dish. I did not like the sausage, but enjoyed the chicken fillet. It was near perfect and just requires a little tweaking when it comes to seasoning. I did not try a steak, so my review does not encompass The Butchershop’s steak quality.

3.5/5

Pricing:

Everything cost me 8 BD altogether. This includes a bottle of water for a drink. This is pricier than some of the other restaurants in the premises. Although it does seem a little expensive for a one-person meal, I was rather overwhelmed by the portions. Like I mentioned before, my dish came with not one but TWO chicken fillets. I couldn’t finish the whole thing, let alone the baked potato on the side. All in all, I think you get what you pay for to some extent.

4/5

Total: 17.5/25

In general, I think this restaurant has barely above average food. The best meat in Bahrain? This matter is still debatable. Think I was harsh? Lenient? Leave a comment below!

Reviewed by Yousif Alsaid

Franks A Lot

Overview:Franks A Lot is a restaurant that opened up in Juffair near Al-Jazeera supermarket a few months ago. It serves mostly Mexican food as well as a variety of tex-mex dishes. For further information, feel free to call them on +97317811970. Does Franks A Lot beat Senior Paco's, one of Bahrain's most popular casual Mexican restaurants? Read on to find out.

Service:

A delectable meal could potentially be down-graded to a merely good one as a consequence of sub-par service. Thankfully, this is a trap that Franks A Lot successfully dodges, and remarkably so. Our waiter was quick to welcome us and guide us to a suitable table upon our arrival, and he did so with a smile. Our menus were ready right away, and he was very attentive and returned to our table as soon as he noticed that we were prepared to order. The food was brought to us after a minimal wait, perhaps in the neighborhood of 10 minutes. The waiter was also sure to check back with us, mid-meal, to ensure that we were satisfied with the food and his service. A nice touch was serving complimentary nachos with dipping sauce once we arrived.

5/5

Presentation:

The presentation of our food varied from dish to dish. The appetizer we ordered, Jalapeno Cheese Sticks, was presented satisfactorily but did not appear to be particularly alluring. The tacos shared a similar appearance. The accompanying toppings, however, did not. It was quite apparent from the off-green color of the guacamole, for instance, that it was prepared a significant while back and was lazily scooped onto the taco dish. Luckily, this was somewhat balanced out with the other two dishes: the hot dog and the BLT sandwich. The hotdog’s smell wafted towards our table as the waiter was preparing to serve it to us, creating an almost torturous anticipation of the scrumptiousness that was sure to come. Similarly, the BLT sandwich pleased our nostrils before our taste buds, a technique that never fails to further stimulate a hungry man’s appetite. Visually, both these sandwiches were superior to the jalapeno and taco dishes. The BLT sandwich was served with a few sides, including a salad and some fries. It was clear that the contents of the dish were carefully arranged in a manner so as to avoid a cramped appearance, which paid off. The dish in which the hotdog was served was rectangular, and fit the hot dog snugly, making it seem as if it were begging for you to claim it your stomach’s hostage.

3/5

Atmosphere:

Upon entering Franks A Lot, it is apparent that a considerable amount of effort was put into the décor in order to create a fittingly Mexican mood. Various Mexican items such as sombreros and maracas were hung up on the walls and served as effective visual distractions until your food arrived, not to mention adding an appropriate feel to the restaurant. Needless to say, one would expect some Mexican music when dining at a Mexican restaurant; Franks A Lot was lacking in this category. As stereotypically cliché as it may sound, having songs like La Cucaracha playing in the background really would add to the experience of eating at Franks A Lot. Despite this, the music played was mostly covers of classic American songs, which is still somewhat appropriate considering the restaurant’s tex-mex nature. The restaurant was hardly spacious, and an expansion would be beneficial to the almost cramped, single-roomed restaurant. Worthy of mentioning is that we noted an odd scent when entering the restaurant, but nothing too off-putting.

3/5

Food:

Pretty darn good. That’s pretty much all you need to know about what Franks A Lot offers in the food department. In fact, I’d dare to go as far as to say that it’s probably the best casual Mexican restaurant in Bahrain that we know of. Senior Paco’s has officially been usurped. I personally felt that the hot dog was the best of the dishes we had, while my colleague insisted that the tacos took the prize. Either way, we were both left with our tongues begging for more. The fries were crisp and weren’t excessively oily too. We requested that the hot dog was to be served with toppings separately, which ended up being a shrewd choice. The mustard, diced pickles, ketchup, and sauerkraut complimented the fries and pretty much anything else you had the audacity to dip into them. Our friend gave his BLT sandwich a solid 7/10, which is still respectable. I can confidently say that Franks A Lot probably offers the best moderately priced Mexican meal you can find in Bahrain. The downfall of the food was that some of the ingredients were clearly not fresh and dragged down what could’ve been an excellent meal. I also almost choked on a seed in my orange juice, something you’d hardly expect to encounter in a restaurant of a higher caliber.

4.5/5

Pricing:

There isn’t much to say about Franks A Lot’s pricing other than that it is very reasonable. A meal for three, including appetizers came up to a fair total of 12 BD, averaging 4 BD per person. This means that not only does Franks A Lot offer some of the best Mexican food on the island; it also does it while going easy on your wallet. It’s a great choice for if you’d prefer to avoid dishing out on a pricier restaurant that might not even be as good.

5/5

Overall: 20.5/25

Reviewed by Yazeed Al Dugaither

We look forward to your feedback. Please let me know if you think I was too generous or perhaps too harsh in any of the categories, and feel free to inquire about any detail you felt was lacking.

Reviews: The Great Revival!

Sorry we have not been updating as frequently as we should! New reviews coming your way! We'll be reviewing many restaurants as of May 20th. Scared to try out a new restaurant? Want to know if a restaurant lives up to its reputation? Leave a comment below and let us know which restaurants you want us to review!

Yours Faithfully,

Yousif Al-Said