Johnny Fresco — Restaurant in Waterloo

The Rundown: Nestled in the heart of Waterloo, Johnny Fresco stands as a beacon of culinary delight, a testament to the art of fast food done right. With decades of history under its belt, this local gem has mastered the balance of speed, quality, and affordability in a way that feels almost magical.

The Food: The menu at Johnny Fresco is a parade of flavor, where each item seems to have its own fan club. From the perfectly crisp yet juicy chicken sandwiches to the burgers that boast a symphony of textures, the food here is nothing short of exceptional. The fries are a golden revelation, seasoned just right. Every bite is a reminder of why fast food can be an art form.

Service With a Smile: The staff at Johnny Fresco elevate the experience from great to unforgettable. With a team that seems to genuinely enjoy what they do, the service is swift, friendly, and filled with genuine warmth. They remember your order if you're a regular, and there's always a cheerful "thank you" that feels heartfelt. This kind of service doesn't just make you feel like a customer; it makes you feel like part of the Johnny Fresco family.

A Legacy of Love: Having been around for generations, Johnny Fresco isn't just a restaurant; it's a community staple. The walls adorned with pictures from over the years tell stories of countless family outings, first dates, and celebrations. This place has seen the town grow, change, and come back for more of its delicious offerings.

Value That Can't Be Beat: In an era where every penny counts, Johnny Fresco shines with its wallet-friendly prices without skimping on quality. The daily deals are a highlight, offering gourmet taste at fast food prices. There’s always something special to look forward to, ensuring your visit is both satisfying and economical.

The Verdict: Johnny Fresco isn't just a meal; it's an experience. It's where tradition meets taste, where every visit feels like stepping into a warm, flavorful embrace. If you're looking for fast food that feels like it was made just for you, with service that remembers you, and prices that make you smile, Johnny Fresco is not just a choice; it's the destination.

Don't miss out on this local legend; your taste buds will thank you, and your wallet will too. Johnny Fresco - where every bite is a piece of history, and every visit is a...

I went there on Sat night, never been there before and my lady friend is always ranting and raving about this place so we finally went.

The restaurant was a cozy, only a few in-house seating available, so I guess most take to go.

I had a double bacon cheese burger with an egg on it, poutine with beef gravy, My friend had a single with fries with gravy on the side. And a couple drinks. $57.xx for the bill.

There wasn't an abundance of patronage, just the normal flow of skip/uber/doordash, and some preorder customers and a couple come in to orders. Our meal took almost 30min to prepare and make ready for us. That to me is a smidge too long and based on traffic/customer flow it really shouldn't have.

We Recieved our food, at first look it looks yummy, burger is hearty, seemed well dressed and put together, the poutine was in a clamshell on its own. I ordered crispy fries and they were indeed how I requested them. My friends burger was made well to order aswell.

After the first bit I tasted something a little off putting, I couldn't place it but I know I didn't like it. I asked the ladies behind the counter if this is "Maple Bacon"? They did confirm that it was indeed maple bacon. I unfortunately hate the taste of maple, I hate everything to do with maple, and especially bacon. My opinion, my tastebuds, my choice. That right there ruined the burger for me.

My poutine was a full container, crispy fries as requested, but the poutine was WAAAAY TOO SALTY. I don't know if it was the gravy or just the bare fries. The gravy was a little too thick so it didn't flow to the rest of the fries it just kind of sat on top and wasn't hot at all so my cheese did not melt.

But the salt was too much, I could not eat it, I tried but just threw out 3/4 of my poutine.

I wish they would have told me it was maple bacon, and I was disappointed with the poutine.

All in all I probably wouldn't return to this establishment, just based on these...

Just arrived home from an 'order-at-the-counter' take-away of burgers and pitas with customised topping that were selected from a chart at the checkout. The option to select your toppings at the prep counter is no longer available. Instead, the cashier scribbled down the toppings selection in an indecipherable code on the back of the receipt, right side up, sideways in the margins, and in combinations such that one could not determine which toppings belonged to which food item. I knew then and there that there would be problems, but I held my tongue, thinking that maybe the staff had a long-established system understood.

Nope... Nope... Nope...

The preparation staff obviously were having problems interpreting scrawls and filling the order. Not once did the cashier who took the order offer to clarify his scribbling to them, nor did the preparers ask for direction from him, and most unforgivable, not one staff member engaged me, the client, standing right in front of them, how the dishes were to be topped.

Each and every food item was finished incorrectly, each getting/missing toppings from another order. A home, we opened up the packages, and started to swap items off each other's sloppy messes. We gave up as the time taken to do this turned the meals into a cold congealed pile of sh*t. Needless to say it was all tossed and we fed the green bin well this evening.

My take on this... if Johnny Fiasco offers such a wide selection of toppings, either computerise and/or present toppings options on pre-printed charted/slips to fill in to reduce errors and/or allow clients to pick and choose toppings at the prep counter (like you used to). If I ever have amnesia and find myself back there, I will insist on monitoring the preparation right up to the point that it becomes (over)packaged and handed to...