Johnny's R Family Restaurant

**** Johnny's R has closed

Yes, it's really Johnny's R not Johnny R's........  If you've been driving on El Cajon Boulevard, how many times have you passed this place? It's right down the steet from Rudford's which has a strange pull on the Missus. It's pretty good when in the mood for a trip to "Diners-ville". Because of that, the Missus decided that we should try Johnny's R, you know, equal time, and all that stuff......

 I gotta say, Johnny's R looks a bit prettier than Rudford's, the folks are very friendly, and the attitude is very laid back.

Perhaps a bit too laid back...... we watched as three tables got their food after we placed our order completely finish their meal, pay the check, get into their cars and drive off and still no food. As you can see, the place wasn't very busy. And it's not like we ordered anything too difficult, the Missus got two eggs (over-medium), hash browns(the menu says "home fries", but this ain't that), with rye toast dry($5.50)....they didn't even have to butter the bread.

The toast was perfect, the eggs done adequately, eggs were perhaps a bit under-done for over-medium, but better for soaking up with the toast. The hash browns were terrible....have you ever tried making O'Brien or Hashbrowns in a non-stick pan? Or perhaps with just a touch of cooking spray? You'll never develop a nice crust and your potatoes would be dry as heck, which is what this was. Also, there didn't seem to be a grain of salt on anything at all.

I ordered the Hot Roast Turkey Sandwich ($8.40):

The fries were purely SYSCO, but were fried decently, but lacked salt. The gravy seemed to come from a jar, but was (barely) passable. Who doesn't love white bread soaked in gravy?

The Missus was feeling pretty sorry for Her hashbrowns and Herself, until She saw me pull out my three thin slices of "turkey". As you can tell, calling this "turkey" might be a stretch, and "roast turkey" an even bigger stretch:

Grey, bland, flaccid....... not a great combination. I was quickly wondering what species of turkey this came from. The oddest thought entered my cabeza while looking at this....you know how we're taught to cut "with the grain" or "against the grain", what do you do when there is no "grain"? It really looked like that stuff in packs selling for 79 cents in the deli section. I've had my share of processed turkey, but this was over-processed turkey........ I rarely add salt to anything I order, mainly because I like to taste the food as served. But in this case, I had to add a ton of salt....though I couldn't bring myself to eat that "turkey". As I stared at my mystery meat, the Missus said to me, "you know, there's a Coco's right across the street..... and I know you've never set foot in a Coco's." (And the Chicken Pie Shop next door, Rudford's, and even a Denny's nearby....)

While we were having our meal, we noticed that most of the customers seemed to be regulars. It's too bad our meal didn't turn out. Even with the very slow service, the folks here are so very, very nice.

In the end, unless we get some great rec's on something from this place, Johnny's not (ou)R Family Restaurant.

Johnny's R Family Restaurant
2611 El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA 92104

Comments

[Stephen]

Wow, I'm really surprised to hear about your bad experience there. I've eaten there many times and the food was always good, and the service pretty on point as well. I haven't ever been there for breakfast, though, only lunch. Their burgers are pretty good, and the gyros sandwich is good, if a little bland. They do load the pita up pretty full.
Maybe you should try lunch. It is a little on the pricey side for lunch though. Most sandwiches and burgers are $7+. but they are generously sized. Some of the daily specials are pretty good too.

[kat]

:(

[Chris]

Processed "turkey" is not good in my book.

Call me a rebel if you will; I actually like Sysco fries (U.S. Foods if that makes it better)

I have found that people who concentrate their focus on a few things end up doing it well. This is true of fries, mayonnaise, and ketchup. (and a few other things) True that it is up to the end user to fry and season them properly; but more often than not a place that makes good fried potatoes from scratch is rare breed. In my experience, processed fries is a good compromise

[Dennis]

Hi Kirk, I haven't been here in a while but I remember the hot roast turkey and the hot roast beef plates looking like massive mounds of fresh carved meat with gravy over it. That's too bad.
I tend to be too sentimental about having breakfast at diners so I have a hard time being critical but I'd say that processed turkey would've ruined it even for me..

[Kirk]

Hi Stephen - This actaully was a lunch since they serve breakfast all day. Maybe i'll drop by for a burger when I do another "burger week".

Hi Kat - Exactly!

Hi Chris - Actually I love SYSCO fries and hashbrowns...who doesn't love the SYSCO-fied hashbrowns at Perry's? But because the fries are processed, I give them less leeway....you shouldn't screw up your fries and hashbrowns too badly.

Hi Dennis - Well the turkey here was carved from something...what I'm not quite sure. The Missus loves Her simple breakfast..... but they managed to not do a good job on the hashbrowns.

[Lynnea]

Those hashbrowns looked pretty inedible. But that whole, having to salt everything, I know a number of people who say "you can always add salt, but you can't take it away." It doesn't really hold true, because the taste is completely different.

[MrM]

i-ick!

That kind of looks like the old open-faced blurkey sandwiches I used to get at the old K-Mart in Spring Valley for about 50¢ back in the day...edible only coz I used to like the corn they made and I was only 8.

In any case...rip off. =(

[bill]

That was disappointing especially the turkey sandwich.

[foodhoe]

grey, bland and flaccid sounds pretty grim. The chicken pie shop next door sounds promising!

[Kirk]

Hi Lynnea - I'm of the belief that the food served to you is a reflection of what the kitchen wants you to eat... so lack of seasoning, is just that.....

Hi MrM - Man, this was not very good at all.

Hi Bill - I couldn't bring myself to eat the so called "turkey".

Hi FH - Cathy's done a post on the Chicken Pie Shop if you're curious.

[dave]

we went there once for breakfast. i always thought that breakfast was the one meal you can't screw up. i was wrong.

[Kirk]

LOL Dave!!! he-he-he.....

[Janfrederick]

$8.40 for that eh? Quite a profit I'd imagine considering they didn't even spring for salt.

[Kirk]

Hi Jan - I was very disappointed in that Hot Turkey Sandwich.

[mindless]

Kirk, I have been noticing of late that places with a large group of regulars (of the senior demographic) do not salt the food. And, yes, I have also been served hot turkey sandwiches that were made from pseudo turkey loaf.

[Kirk]

Hi mindless - Yes, great observation..... but then again Rudford's gets many of those too. But it could be that these are members of what we call the "dead tastebud society".....