Working off schedules at the hospital this month does have its benefits.  This morning, I saw my favorite girl and Smart Shopper Daphne Monroe on the news telling me about the deal of the day... burger, fries and milkshake from Johnny Rockets for only $3.99.  My partner has always refuses to eat there, and he was working, so why not try it?  My Smart Shopper card and I were on a mission.\n\nI live close to one of the four participating locations, and got there at 11:30am.  I expected a line of Smart Shoppers to be waiting in line for the deal, and was surprised when there were only about 7 tables taken and 12 customers.  That should have been the first sign to run.\n\nI quickly ordered the deal of the day, with a chocolate shake, and a diet coke.  The waitress took my order, and quickly returned with my soda and some nickels for the jukebox.  Cool.  Then I waited.  And waited.  And waited.....\n\nAfter about 40 minutes and three diet cokes, I overheard a conversation between the manager and my waitress.  Mind you the place is open, which means the grill is in view, the shake maker, etc.  I wasn't even near the center and was able to hear.  My waitress told the manager that one of her customers wanted a soda instead of a shake.  The manager told her too bad, the deal comes with a shake, so they needed to pay for the soda.  Were they talking about me?  I always expected to pay for my soda, since it was an extra item.  Mind you, I still didn't get my shake, but the manager who was making the shakes was VERY concentrated on making shakes.  I mean 5 minutes to make per shake concentrating.  That's all he did was make shakes, rather slooowly.  I saw maybe 6 made in a 40 minute window.  \n\nA few minutes later, my food arrived.  I reminded the waitress I ordered a chocolate shake, to which she said \""ok\"", and walked away.  She scooted to her manager, and said \""problem solved, he wants a chocolate shake\"", to which the manager replied \""too bad\"".  I was really hoping he had a dry, sarcastic personality like me.\n\nSo on to the food.  The burger was delicious.  It had a little too much mayo, but I guess that's why they wrap it in paper.  The bun was rather large and a little cold, like it just came out of the fridge, but it was good.  The pickles were thick, the burger had a few crispy, overcooked spots, but flavorful.   For some reason I expected a tiny patty, but it was a good size.  It was worth buying.  The fries on the other hand, cold.  I like salt on my fries, so nothing irks me more than getting cold, unsalted fries.  Yuck.\n\nAfter eating extra leisurely, in hopes of eventually getting my milkshake, it never came.  I waited about 10 minutes after I ate, and got my check, but no shake.  At least I didn't have to argue about the bill, since I was charged only $3.99 for the deal of the day.  I gave the waitress a $20. bill and got back $5. and change.  What???  After I walked over to my waitress, and explained I only got $5, she apologized and gave me back $10.  As this occurred, the disgruntled manager making milkshakes gave a dirty glare and snicker to the waitress and I.  I got the hell out of there as quick as I could.\n\nWould I return?  No.  I may be willing to pay $2.99 for a burger a la carte, if they offered it.  Instead, you have to order a burger and all-you-can eat fries for $5.99.  I asked if someone can get the burger alone to go or to eat in, and was told no.  A soda cost $2.50, and a shake $4.29, definitely not worth the price.  Everything was slow motion, like my time machine back to the 1950's broke and I was stuck in slow motion.  It took almost an hour to get a burger and fries.  I'm sure it would have been an hour and a half if I ever got the milkshake.  The service was horrible, but when you look at the manager it's no wonder.  These poor miserable kids are a slave to the 1950's with a manager who is rude and disrespectful not only to the staff, but also to the customers.  I would also have a hard time enjoying my job and going to work under those conditions.  I know these restaurants are franchised, so hopefully the manager was not the owner.  Either way, good luck trying to stay in business with him schlepping around.