A diner from Des Moines, IA
Mar 20, 2008
A group of coworkers and I decided to try out the 'new' Johnny's for lunch on Thursday, March 20th. We arrived around 11:30, didn't get to order until 12:00, and the food did not arrive until 12:30. I ordered the small Ceasar Salad; when it arrived (in a cup just slightly larger than a coffee cup), it had one cucumber slice, one tomato slice, six croutons, and about five bites of lettuce. The menu said it also came with garlic bread. When I asked the waitress where the bread was, she gruffly said, "Well, I would have brought you some if we had any." I also had to ask for dressing, as it came plain with nothing on the side.
After all was said and done, they agreed to comp us on our beverages ($2.00 for soda! At least they have free refills...) and the salad (which was about $5.00). My coworker was charged 50 cents extra for the cheese on his double cheeseburger, which he thought (correctly) should come automatically when you order a double cheeseburger.
There were several other things wrong with our experience. Just to scratch the surface: severely-limited menu (they were missing half of the things on the shortened menu anway), cramped seating, inexperienced staff, and no attention to detail.
The only good thing about the place is the abundance of televisions. If you're into sports, this will be a great place to check out games on their big-screen televisions.
If you are going to open an eating establishment, either be ready to go on the first day with a complete menu and a full staff, or wait until you know you can do it right.
Even when (and if) they get things 'right,' Johnny's is just a carbon-copy of every other bar/restaurant in Des Moines. Nothing about the place stands out, and the only reason Johnny's will survive is because it is an institution in downtown Des Moines. It will always be a 'second-choice bar' for downtown partying.
After all was said and done, they agreed to comp us on our beverages ($2.00 for soda! At least they have free refills...) and the salad (which was about $5.00). My coworker was charged 50 cents extra for the cheese on his double cheeseburger, which he thought (correctly) should come automatically when you order a double cheeseburger.
There were several other things wrong with our experience. Just to scratch the surface: severely-limited menu (they were missing half of the things on the shortened menu anway), cramped seating, inexperienced staff, and no attention to detail.
The only good thing about the place is the abundance of televisions. If you're into sports, this will be a great place to check out games on their big-screen televisions.
If you are going to open an eating establishment, either be ready to go on the first day with a complete menu and a full staff, or wait until you know you can do it right.
Even when (and if) they get things 'right,' Johnny's is just a carbon-copy of every other bar/restaurant in Des Moines. Nothing about the place stands out, and the only reason Johnny's will survive is because it is an institution in downtown Des Moines. It will always be a 'second-choice bar' for downtown partying.
