Review Johnny Pump - Essendon

New owners get a tick for me. This is their second cafe after The South Corner in Werribee. Some minor interior, menu and operating hour tweaks, but thankfully a lot of the existing features remained. Unfortunately they've stripped back the uniqueness of the Johnny Pump interior decorations opting for a more rustic/farmhouse style. Food was good, coffee was good, looking forward to giving their new dinner menu a crack.

Really cool place, Our first time coming here. We got burgers, chips and the dessert shakes... Really nice and tasty. Wife got the spaghetti and meatballs. Nice size serve and tasty as well. Will definitely come beck here.

A cozy little burger spot in Essendon.Good food at decent prices. Ambience: Picture old school shake-shop meets hipster cafe. Nice and cozy, with a fireplace to boot. A great place for a small hangout or even a casual first date. Service: The service was fantastic. Not too pushy, but was there to check-up if we needed anything. Very friendly and polite, not to mention very professional.10/10 would go back just for the service. Food: We had the Southern Chicken Burger, which came with fries, and a Caramel Latte. Here's where it get a bit tricky. Coffee was a bit burnt, and wasn't that great. However, the food was! I will say that it lacked that something that takes it to another level, though. Portion wise, I will say it is a bit smaller than some other places I been. I don't hold it against them, because it was perfect for me. I got to eat without feel sick after, and didn't have to worry about wasting any. However, if you are a big eater, you may want to order a bigger burger or something else on the side, because hubby said it wasn't enough for him. They have a great burger and shake deal that should do the trick, which we didn't try this time around. Overall, still a great place to grab a burger with a buddy.

What a great experience. Customer service was on point. The food was something to write home about. As you can see from the pics I took, I couldn't even take a good picture without first tucking in. Highly recommend Johnny pumps I will definitely be back.

This place is amazing! Me and my friend returned to Johnny Pump last week to get the 'burger+shake' deal for $19. The Pulled Pork Burger is incredibly delicious! We tried all different 7$ shakes and would recommend the 'wild berry' & 'nutella fudgey brownie' the most! Great place, good value for the price!!! Would come back any time!

Awesome place to be at! Friendly staff, warm and cosy environment/ambience. We tried the Black Angus burger and they were delicious! Their milkshakes are very unique. We had the Wild Berry and White Chocolate Cheesecake.

heard about they have the amazing milkshake but we didn't get it, may get some next time , but the burger was GREAT!! we had the Southern Chicken burger

The service was excellent and the burgers were really delicious! The fries and shakes were good but the fries were a tad soggy and the shakes, a bit too sweet for my liking. I'll be back to try more of their dishes!

Walked passed this place a million times as aroundy the corner from where we live. Took wife in for lunch for her b'day. The place was packed!!!! Great food, very good staff, great arvo. Went back a week later with family, head chef greater us and said welcome back, food and service even better than last time, and fresh and made onsite. Very very good value for money! See you soon.

The shakes here are awesome! They have shake specials every 2 weeks which they post on social media. Haven't tried a burger yet but they look great too. Nice vibe at this place and the staff are very friendly.

From the outside this cafe looks like a small hole in the wall with only outside seating but you step in and there is a much larger seating area waiting for you. I went for the classic smashed avocado with perfectly poached eggs. My partner tried the waffles with eggs and bacon which had the best balance of salty and sweet. I would be keen to come and try the dessert shakes as they looked amazing but I just couldn’t fit it in!

Very friendly & welcoming staff. Relaxed atmosphere. Food was great. The calamari was very fresh and tender, and I loved the beetroot vinegarette. We also had the big breakfast. Halloumi could’ve been cooked a little bit longer where it’s crispy on the outside and gooey in the middle. If I lived locally I would definitely come back. <br/><br/>

This was a small cute space with fire place going (was a wet Melbourne day) we got a seat near fire. <br/>Took a long time for someone to bring a menu, and once we got them they were very used, worn etc... (menu)...I might sound petty but these are things I notice. The salt shaker on table were not clean. The feel of the cafe was nice but could be improved. My coffee was strong but nice, however my partner had a mug which was weak so maybe an extra shot would be good. Now to end in a high, I have never had a bagel before and it was SO DELICIOUS ... which is where the 4 stars came in...

Came in on a cold, chilly, windy, wet and cold Friday night and was greeted with a courteous smile and very warm ‘hello’ from behind the coffee machine. ‘Hi there’ we replied. ‘Any room for 2?’ we asked. The staff were super friendly and whisked us immediately to our table 😊 the wait time to order was a little long but understandable with the waiters juggling between the floor and grill, but the food was certainly worth its wait 😍 350g ribeye on the bone topped with mini prawns! Yum! They even gave us a steak knife too! Big thumbs up to ol J.Pump👍🏼 It’s only a small place... maybe just big enough for 2v2s or sheva, but certainly worth a try 😊

From the outside the restaurant looks like a small cafe but once you step inside there's a whole big seating area and the decor is very nice. Great burger joint, and I would highly recommend you give their milkshakes a try!

Amazing burgers and great shakes. We did use a Scoopon with our order with no hassles. It's hard to stand out when there are so many great burger places nearby, but these guys can do it! Keep up the good work!

Came here today for lunch . We had the burgers and those beautiful freak shakes . Good food with friendly service . The milkshakes are the must try , we love it . Lovely outdoor dining area .

Super friendly an attentive staff here who make you feel very welcomed. The decor of this restaurant is uniquely made to look like an old fire station which I absolutely loved. The pulled pork burger I had would have been a lot more appetising had the veggies been more fresh as I found it to be a tad bit stale.

You’re greeted with a friendly smile as you walk in the tiny entrance, past the kitchen to the main dining room of the restaurant, with the open fire a great addition on a cold day. The space is intimate and the staff are warm and welcoming. The food is really good and reasonably priced. For four large meals, multiple coffees and a crazy shake it was around $90. We had baked eggs in sugo, waffles with icecream, smashed avo with poached eggs, and a pulled pork burger with fries. All meals were delicious and well presented. All the eggs were perfect. The crazy shakes are only $7 and are far more palatable than some of the ridiculously oversized shakes you can’t get through. We had the Nutella brownie shake and it was huge but not ridiculously so. Very delicious and made thick shake style. The coffees and chai latte were good too but could be hotter so if you like it hot, request it. They will definitely oblige. They do breakfast through to dinner and the menu is big enough and varied so there’s something for everyone. This is a place I’d keep going back to for sure.

3.5<br/><br/>I haven't had a freak shake in a while and boy, did Johnny Pump delivered. A delicious and creamy peanut butter shake, topped with chewy s'mores cookies, loaded with pretzels, chocolate custard, whipped cream, fairy floss and more peanut butter, I was in sweet tooth heaven.<br/><br/>If freak shakes aren't your thing, then rest assured you will be pleased with the coffee here. The skinny latte that my partner had was smooth and strong.<br/><br/>The NY Waffles was undeniably delicious but was just missing that wow factor. Likewise, the Brooklyn cast iron baked eggs was hearty and flavourful,, but the eggs were too well done.<br/><br/>Service was accommodating and friendly. I would love to come back for more of those indulgent shakes!

Been here twice and loved it both times. I got the burger and shake combo for $19 both times and its great value and super filling. I got the angus burger both time which was great the patty is fantastic. My fiance has had both the pork and chicken burger and raves about both. I had the blue heaven with lemon meringue shake which was my fav it was sooo good. Ive also had the oreo and toffee popcorn which was pretty good too. My mum came last time and had a toasted ham, cheese and tomato sandwich which was huge and great quality. Cant wait to go back. My 16 month old loves all the sweet treats on top of the shakes.

Extremely friendly service which deserves a shout out! However, the milkshakes made both me and my sister feel sick. It didn’t taste bad or anything but we both developed stomach and chest pains which was odd because this hasn’t happened before.

First time here and very much enjoyed it.<br/>Old fashioned ambience, friendly staff and delicious meals!<br/>Both had a Black Angus burger - the meat melted in our mouths .<br/>Shakes were decadent but a little less cream on top would have been nicer.

Johnny Pump has been on our agenda for a long while now, and tonight on a quiet Friday night we decided to finally visit. Located on the ever popular Mt Alexander Rd, the restaurant presents an inviting and family-like ambience- rustic, warm and welcoming. With service that is nothing short of outstanding, this restaurant will make any night into a worthwhile one.<br/><br/>Today we opted for the Angus burger with a berry cheesecake shake, and the pulled pork burger with Nutella shake... Let me first say that if you buy a burger ($16) you can get a shake for $3. Yes that's right $3 for the shakes in our pictures... The best value in town! Let's start with the milkshakes. The berry and cheesecake was gorgeous. Fresh, the illusion of health, and just a combination of milky, berry, cheesecake goodness. There was literally a cheesecake placed at the top and that tasted like your typical New York cheesecake. Sensational. The Nutella shake was oozing with chocolate flavour and was rich in texture and taste. Both shakes had very fluffy and enjoyable cream and ice cream, and just look at how big they are! Incredible value for only $3 with a burger.<br/><br/>The Angus burger and the pulled pork can best be described as authentic and fresh, tasting like a nice home cooked burger. The ingredients including the egg, slaw and meats were all tasting as if they had just been prepared for today's consumption. The Angus burger was quite good, as did the meat of the pulled pork, with the slaw tasting creamy and complimenting the meal well. Overall the burgers were satisfying, just not like the greasy, juicy burgers we were familiar with. With that being said it is a very unique and interesting burger, taking for a more fresher and homely vibe.<br/><br/>A very pleasant experience at Johnny Pump today thanks to the service, value and satisfaction of the meals combined. Come here for the shakes and a decent burger, or an overall good dining experience!<br/><br/>Food: 4/5 (Burgers 3.5, Milkshake 5/5)<br/>Service: 4/5<br/>Ambience: 3.5/5<br/>Value: 5/5<br/><br/>Overall: 4/5

The food was great, we loved the shakes. It was a pretty busy Sunday but the waiter Jasper was a one man machine. Great service, and still running around serving everyone else too. Our favourite was the Burger me up Scotty, maybe a few more chips to go with it?

Always happy to find another hip, new cafe in the northern suburbs to try, we finally paid Johnny Pump a visit for a Sunday brunch. My eyes were instantly drawn to the decor - so much thought has gone into the little details of the interior which really tells a story of the cafe. I thought that was cute.<br/><br/>Our waiter was really delightful and helpful. The only downfall for me was the time it took for our meals to come out. Considering we were one of only a few tables of patrons there at the time, the timing just felt off. But once we finally received our meals, it became worth the wait. Great food! Again, after ordering coffees, it felt like far too long of a wait to receive them, and when we did, they weren't very hot, but still drinkable nonetheless. <br/><br/>I think Johnny Pump is a great addition to the Essendon area. I would be keen to give it another shot!

Friend and I had burgers here and opted to share a milkshake. Thank god we didn’t get one each because those things were enormous and very sweet. Overall a good experience! Go if you want to stuff your face with food and shakes.

Had a Pork burger with a Nutella shake today. Pork burger was nice and the shake was extra sweet which is what you are paying for. Partner had the Chicken burger and she was happy with that too. Used the entertainment guide thinking I’ll get buy one get one free but it wasn’t to be because it was a combo. That’s fair enough but be weary just on that Entertainment guide peeps.

Staff very friendly and made us feel really welcome. Delicious coffee. Meals we ordered for lunch (x 4) all faultless & generous in size. We will love to return!

The staff were very accommodating and clearly had a passion for good food and the food itself was delicious. I ordered the "Burger Me Up Scotty" and a Fudgey Brownie Shake, couldn't walk afterwards but it was absolutely worth it. Definitely would go back!

Food was great, went as a group of 9, all orders came out at the same time. Ran out of every beer they had available though which was super annoying

After all the rave reviews of this place I was really disappointed in my meal. When we were seated we were given a menu of burgers and shakes ($18 for both) but after chosing my burger we were told burgers were only served after 1130 - not much good to me at 10am and why would you give a table a separate menu with burgers on it if the menu cant be ordered off? (There was nothing on the menu to say 'only after 1130'). They are know for their shakes but there was only 5 to choose from but after the burger disappointment I didn't bother and just had water instead.

With all the raving reviews about the crazy dessert shakes Johnny Pump was a place we couldn't pass on.<br/>It was around 3:00 PM on a Friday, yet JP was relatively busy. We were promptly seated, but waited a while to have our orders taken. We ordered 2x Burger me up Scotty and 1x Peri Peri chicken burger.<br/>The sauces and dressings drenched the buns so, they were soggy and difficult to hold. The burgers filled us up and we were thinking to return another day for the shakes.<br/>However, seeing shake after shake being served to the tables around us caused serious dessert-envy, so we decided on a Tiny Teddy shake to share.<br/>The drink part was average. Just a typical milkshake. However, the dessert topping was amazing. The textures and flavours all complimented each other. There was a good amount of crunchy, chewy and soft textures.<br/>Will return to try more flavours.

Dingy atmosphere, staff very nice though. Food was nothing special. Priced nicely. Will not come here again as much better cafes in the area!

First time here, was a pleasant experience the service was good. I had the breakfast bruschetta which I really enjoyed although i did ask for extra mushrooms on the side which I didn't get <br/>:(. Apparently the southern chicken burger was very nice.

Loved the food but the service was very slow. For example, coffee was ordered three times and took about 10 mins each time, with one of order we had to ask if it'd been forgotten. Food was served almost as fast as other cafes.

Great food and the service was quick! I ordered Fletchers veggie breakfast, and my partner ordered the penne ragu. I cleaned up my plate so quickly - everything was perfect and delicious. My partner also really enjoyed his pasta and was impressed with the amount of flavour. We will be back for sure!

Great place..... the triple burger was the best burger I've ever had. Great service and the shakes are awesome. Would recommend to anyone who loves great food and a great experience. Cheers guys well done

Well worth every bite<br/>Yummy food and great service.<br/>Coming back again👍😄 to enjoy another meal<br/>Had to wait an hour for food due to bringing me the wrong meal...so was hungry for a while😞 but they looked after me while the error was being rectified.<br/>Thank you

I have been meaning to try this place for years, mainly for the burgers and shakes. However today I need to kill time so I popped in for breakfast.<br/><br/>The interior is set out like a fire station which is funky and different, they also have an open fireplace which is perfect for winter.<br/><br/>Now for the food, i ordered the Canadian breakfast I think it was called which was big and amazing. The waffles were perfect with scrambled eggs and maple infused bacon. There was also cinnamon poached apple, tomato and a little banana. <br/><br/>It hit the spot perfectly and was so filling I think I will be skipping lunch today!

Burgers and shakes, but I'm left shaking my head.<br/><br/>I wanted to like Johnny Pump; they have excellent customer service from the moment you peak through the window to responding back to reviews online. The owner values feedback and wants to continue to improve his offering.<br/><br/>The café is deceivingly small from the front, when you walk in; it's strikingly large with plenty of room to dine in with nice styled wooden table and chairs.<br/><br/>The menu caters for a whole range of tastes having a huge American inspired breakfast selection with a lunch menu that introduces some Italian dishes in there. There's also a dinner menu as well. There's so much to have here, this review will focus on its main attraction of burgers and shakes.<br/><br/>I had the Burger Me Up Scotty, with Wagyu beef, grilled tomato, iceberg lettuce, caramelised onions, ranch sauce, American cheese melt, pineapple slice, soft brioche bun and fries. <br/><br/>This is where my excitement was quickly soured by a disappointing burger experience. As much as the owner would like to say this is a brioche bun, it's not. It's a seeded bun. A brioche bun is high in egg and butter content and this wasn't. If you're not going to use one, remove it from the menu. If customers don't like it because it's heavy, then they shouldn't be ordering a brioche bun to begin with. <br/><br/>The Wagyu beef crumbled all over my wooden plate, this was perhaps the most frustrating part of this burger. The patty didn't hold and was half the size of the bun, making this burger almost impossible to put in your mouth. Why not make the patty the same size as the circumference of the bun? My burger had no caramelised onions and little to no ranch sauce (I could barely taste it). <br/><br/>The American cheese melt was not melted; it was as if they put the cheese on in the last minute which made the burger dry. The Wagyu beef, although crumbled, was tasty and juicy, that was the only highlight.<br/><br/>The waiter asked if everything was okay, I replied with my feedback and he responded with other customers also had issues with the bun. The owner later expressed this as well.<br/><br/>The chips were nice, but seemed like they were soaking in oil? They had a strange green/yellow tinge to them, reminiscent of using vegetable oil. For $17.95 including the burger, I thought the amount of chips were small. I still don't understand why some cafes still cheap out on the chips.<br/><br/>We ordered the wild berry smoothie and the Nutella and brownie shake. The wild berry smoothie had little taste, there's no hit of flavour, it's almost like you're drinking skim milk and plain yogurt with a plethora of seeds. <br/><br/>The Nutella and brownie shake was nice, although, I was disappointed the chocolate sauce on the cup was not Nutella. The brownie was okay, but overall the presentation didn't reflect the taste.<br/><br/>There's a lot of work to be done here, the burger is not up to café quality if you're paying this much for it. <br/><br/>Getting the basics right is something Johnny Pump needs to do to improve. <br/><br/>I can't recommend the Burger Me Up Scotty in this current state.

Went here the other day with a friend from inter state and thought it was amazing. Service was great, but the food was just on point!! My friend was happy we chose to go there and will definitely go back again

The burgers were amazing and so are the milkshakes. Me and my sister enjoyed it but we had to wait 40 minutes to receive our burgers. The service was great as well

Pleasantly surprised..... this place is deceiving ... it looks like a cafe on the outside. There website focuses to much on the burgers and shakes but there is a great dinner menu of which is very satisfying if your after a wide range of pasta and Italian tapas offerings .. all dishes I had were tasty and the pasta was anything and better that u would find in Lygon Street by far and generous servings too with reasonable price range. What I didn't like was the confusion of a relaxed restaurant or a place for the young that want a burger and shake .. but hey it covers all age groups for the local area .. Pity it closes early would have loved to stay on and finish the wine which is also reasonably priced by the open fire place ... highly recommended and will be back ... good pasta !!

Went for the special burger and shakes for $19.<br/>Pretty good deal, but the shakes and the burger itself was disappointing.<br/>Shakes were very artificial, more for the looks than the quality.<br/>Burgers lacked flavour and eggs were overcooked 👎🏻<br/>Wouldn't return as there are many cafes that do the same shakes and burgers that are tasty.<br/>Staff were attentive and friendly.

I liked my thick shake both the times I have been here. I see myself going there again to try out another shake. If you're not into the whole thickshakes, I think $8 for chips is a bit pricey.

their dessert shakes are a MUST TRY! Would say that the burgers are nothing too exceptional, but the dessert shakes are sooo delicious. Remember to quote "mates rate" when you book a table for Wed/Thurs night, and you'll get free dessert shakes for you and your mate when you both buy a burger

Continuing the current Burger Quest we were recommended to track out to Moonee Ponds/Essendon to try these "amazing burgers and shakes". Whilst there is more on the menu, this was the meal of choice.<br/>The place is small, maybe 20-25 seats and very noisy. The seats were full so the echo noise was fever pitch. Saturday night, hungry, let's do this.<br/>The burger menu was limited, four choices and none of them really fighting for attention. Ordered the Black Angus burger and when it came there were a handful of chips thrown on the side of the plate. The burger was a 4/5 but the chips were rubbish and cold.<br/>The shakes that are on offer look great but are really poor quality, just flavoured milk and cake/cream.<br/>This place is run of the mill, would serve as a nice local, but they are not breaking any ground here....<br/>Next.....

Pumped with a good array of meals ......<br/>Interesting little rustic cafe ..... indoor and outdoor dining area, small frontage but long to the back, high ceiling, roomy and comfortable ambience. <br/>Melbourne wet Winter is here, Johnny Pump seems to be the right place to go. Off the main esplanade of trendy Essendon/Strathmore suburbs. train station nearby, my only complaint is the guys' toilet, outside ...... it's cold bro :-)<br/>Coffee wise; about 3/5 for the Latte and 4/5 for my short black.<br/>Foodwise;My Brooklyn Baked Eggs was cooked well, just a tad over-baked with the eggs, as I usually like them with the yolk running, all balanced, not too acidic.The rest of the groups ordered Calamari Salad, Jersey Chicken Salad, Scotty Burger, Risotto Pumpkin and Moroccan Chicken Focaccia, no issues, they seem to be satisfied.<br/>Plenty on the Menu, you won't go hungry.The young English accent waitress looked after us well just by herself, although this place could do with more staff, as it was quite full.<br/>Worth the 48 minutes drive to get there ..... pumping "hungry" all the way.

Visited this place with a scoop on deal. Exterior is appealing although on entering you are overwhelmed with a kitchen/service prep area, before being led to dark/cold cafe style seating area at the back. This place is well-known for it's freakshakes, although on this occasion we had waffles and a burger. Both were tasty and well presented, although the service leaves a little to deserve... could be more friendly. Probably wouldn't return.

Not bad shakes. A little to thick and a very weird texture. Although the cheesecake on top was really nice. <br/>The chips were overly salty though.

On a quiet corner of Essendon sits Johnny Pump - an intimate canteen style cafe known for their decadent dessert shakes and juicy burgers (though the American meets Italian menu offers much much more). Most people I know have come here for their shake and burger meal deal and I was no different. Normally I'd steer clear of giant shakes but on this day I really needed a pick-me-up. And boy was I glad I ordered one!<br/><br/>The wild berry and white chocolate cheesecake shake was devine! I was expecting a sickeningly rich and sweet milkshake but was greeted with a mug of fresh berry flavours topped with a slice of creamy berry & white chocolate cheescake, drizzled with zesty berry sauce. All smoothly balanced and was a dessert in its own right.<br/><br/>The black Angus burger (with dill pickle & tomato relish, aioli, bacon, egg, iceberg lettuce, grilled onion and BBQ sauce) was a decent serving and came with a bed of crispy fries. Perhaps I didn't come on their best of days, but the 'juicy burgers' they've marketed was hugely disappointing. The patty was burnt and dry, egg was overcooked and didn't complement the rest of the ingredients, and the bbq sauce - well let's just say they definitely didn't skimp on it! I really wished I could've enjoyed their burger more but unfortunately couldn't... Maybe I will give it another shot next time, when I come back for another sinfully tasty dessert shake.

Came here with high expectations from many friends, ect and left a bit disappointed. We waited over an hour for out meal. A table of 5, with 2 people ordering steak on a quiet night at 7pm unacceptable. They only had 2 cooks on that day and really need to hire more staff. Heard the steak was very good but other than that food was a bit above average. May come here again but i hope service improved

Great little cosy café in Essendon. Great prices, great food and staff are fantastic! Apple pie was amazing!Great service. Great place to go with your partner or even a few close friends!

I purchased a scoopon 2 main meals and 2 drinks for $22 and visited Johnny pump on Saturday lunchtime to try the place out. The place was buzzing with people and the staff were really friendly. We got the burger me up Scotty which was fresh and delicious, very juicy and tasty. Our meals took a while as there was a mix up but we were informed and offered free drinks to apologize for the mix up. This was great because we didn't even complain! After lunch we had coffee and tea which was also lovely. Would go back again!

One of the first in Melbourne to jump on the freakshake bandwagon, years ago I crossed the Westgate solely to get one from this establishment. Upon doing so I discovered the food was actually pretty good and they are open all day serving up breakfast, lunch and dinner so you can get that shake fix with any meal. I recommend the burger and shake combo as you get a really good deal for $19 when lots of shakes elsewhere are retailing for $12 (and these ones are actually quite substantial). Breakfast was good too and the menu offers a bit of everything ie all the dishes you will find in Prahran but cheaper

Friendly staff and delicious food. We came for lunch and the tables filled up quickly. I had the northern Italy penne ragu which was huge and hearty, good thing my dining companion helped me finish it. The sauce was very tasty but it was a bit light on the meat. Hubby enjoyed the burger me up Scotty although we noticed that the Brioche bun is on the sweeter side. Didn't have the dessert shakes this time but will come back when I need a sugar fix.

As a table of 10 people, I can appreciate the great service we received and accommodating a large group, plus a bubba! The food on the other hand was kind of disappointing. My eggs on toast were average and my haloumi was barely coloured. Kinda chewy and crumbly - not the greatest. Milkshake was tasty and sickly sweet which is exactly what was expected. Wouldn't hurry back to Johnny Pump.

Food 🥘 was delicious we had burgers 🍔 and a chicken 🍗 salad 🥗 😋 shakes were amazing. Staff were very friendly. We will definitely be back.

Wow. Great food. I ordered toast, tomatoes and avocado, which was not on the menu but didn't seem to be a problem.The servings were generous and I love the way the side dishes were actually served in dishes- no soggy bread! The other two had muesli, which was generous and had milk, yoghurt and berry sides.  For drinks we had chai and normal lattes. These were also generous sized mugs and served extra hot. All dishes were presented exceedingly  well. All of the staff were friendly. For what I thought was a hole in the wall, there are plenty of seats, both inside and out. I will be back and am looking forward to it.<br/><br/>17/9/2017<br/>Been back a few times on vouchers. Drinks allowed change depending on the day. Food good but somtimes not so great.

I've visited a couple of times now and am very happy to share my great experiences.  I love that the dessert shakes are only $7 and am somewhat proud to say I've tried every option except the blue heaven & lemon tart (not for long hopefully).<br/><br/>The most recent visit was on a stunning Wednesday afternoon with the weather being perfect to sit outside. We decided to also give the burgers a try and ordered the southern chicken and black angus burgers, accompanied by the strawberry and caramel popcorn dessert shakes. I'm pleased to say the burgers were amazing, we split both of them in half to try each. Every shake I've tried has been fantastic, presentation is spot on, the taste isn't overly sweet which is great (I've found some cafes are overly ambitious and too sweet) and it makes for a great combination with the burgers.<br/><br/>The service is great, staff are always very welcoming and friendly. Johnny Pump is high up on my list of places I'd easily and happily be able to recommend to friends and family. I look forward to more visits in the future!

Ordered warm milkshake (chef special) with burger.<br/>Milkshake tasted like warm water and was extremely sour.<br/>The burger was messy and bland.<br/>Service was good<br/>Would not recommend burgers or *special milkshakes from my experience

I feel terrible leaving this review as the staff were very polite and friendly. My partner and I both ordered burgers, I got the beef "burger me up Scotty" and my partner got the southern chicken burger. It looked delicious, unfortunately is wasn't. The meat was solid and tasted like a rissole, it had a lot of carrot through the beef, I know some may like that but I personally dislike rissoles and so does my partner. I took 3 forceful bites and couldn't stomach the rest. I had a bite of my partners and we both didn't like it, the coleslaw was very watery making the burger soggy, it just didn't taste very good, however did have potential. I did polish off all my chips though and give points to customer service, due to this I will return for a second chance.

I got the veggie burger which was pretty yummy, the party was very big in ratio to the burger. Hot chips were perfect! Then I had the chocolate fudge milkshake; the toppings were great and really fun, but the actual milkshake wasn't that exciting, just chocolate milk. Would be a lot more epic with icecream in it or something haha...there was cream and an actual brownie in it though so it was lovely! Very cute little cafe and good service.

Honestly, after being an avid Insta-follower for a while now, I was a little bit disappointed. Ordered the burger and dessert shake combo ($19) - had the Black Angus burger and the Butterscotch, Choc Chip Cookie and Lamington shake.<br/><br/>The burger was tasty but my local takeaway store can do better, and at half the price. And the tomato relish soaked through the bottom bun so half way through eating, it became impossible to pick the burger up!<br/><br/>The shake was ok, but very icy and definitely not as indulgent as I had hoped. The whipped cream on top tasted like it had come out of a can, which added an extra taste I wasn't expecting.<br/><br/>The service, however, was good and the staff were really friendly and seemed happy to be there, even on a Saturday afternoon!

We are both serious Reese’s fans, so when we heard that Johnny Pump’s fortnightly shake special was ‘Reese’s Peanut Butter Fudge Brownie with Belgium Chocolate and Vanilla Shake’, we definitely had to go and give it a try. <br/><br/>It is a great location – with both indoor and outdoor seating. It is accessible via public transport, with buses, trams and Essendon train station nearby. The interior is set up nicely too. They have a fairly extensive menu with a variety of different foods to try, and they also have a set list of freakshakes and burgers. On this particular occasion we did not get anything to eat, but when we have eaten there in the past the food has been delicious and of a high quality. <br/><br/>All the staff members we have been served by there have been really welcoming and friendly which we think is essential. Our shakes arrived shortly after we sat down and they looked spectacular! The presentation of their shakes is never a letdown. The Reese’s peanut butter fudge brownie was really delicious, and we were informed that it was all homemade. It was lovely and rich but not too heavy. The vanilla shake was nice and creamy, and contrasted well against the richness of the peanut butter and Belgium chocolate. <br/><br/>Even though this shake is no longer available, we highly recommend visiting Johnny Pump as they are a great venue with friendly staff and wonderful food and freakshakes.

love the dessert shakes and burgers..but unfortunatly its not pram friendly. entrance isnt accomating for bigger style prams but will go back by myself for a dessert shake,

We came for dinner and to try the freakshakes.<br/>I had the 3 tapas plates - calamari, meatballs and saganaki- all were cooked really well, in particular the calamari was excellent.<br/>Everyone else had burgers and seemed to enjoy them.<br/>The freakshakes looked amazing, I didn't have one myself because I was way too full but maybe I'll try one next time.

A delicious Sunday breakfast after a workout! Friendly staff & the chef was amazing. Not only was the food delicious but they catered for fussy eaters, foodies & people with food allergies. Great coffee too!

We visited the venue tonight and when we got there it was very quiet. Even though it was quiet we had to wait around 35mins for two burgers and a kids spaghetti. We have been visiting different burger places as a bit of a hobby and heard this place was pretty good so we thought we would give it a try. The milkshakes weren't that great even though they looked spectacular.<br/>Unfortunately, the burgers were disgraceful. The ice berg lettuce was old and was just a big chunk thrown in the burger. Couldn't taste the cheese, and the meat patty was dry and had no flavour whatsoever. The buns were dry and stale also.<br/>The kids spaghetti was nice but the meatballs were dry also. I couldn't help notice a young girl sitting at a table beside us didn't even eat her meat as it looked raw in the middle. Although the staff were friendly when we went to pay and told her we weren't happy, she didn't try to offer to make things right with our bill. We were reluctant to give her feedback as the chef was close by and we didn't want to cause offence.<br/>I can honestly say with so many quality burgers and fine Cafes that this venue needs to step up their game. Definitely does not meet up to expectations given by other places like Dribbles which isn't far from this venue. <br/>This is the first review I have ever written on a venue and can honestly say it's one of the worst meals I have had eating out before.<br/>

Came here with couple of friends at night and I would say we love the atmosphere and vibes there, very comfy. We had the burgers, risotto and all the milkshakes. All of them was satisfying, I love the milkshakes, as well as the risotto. Definitely will come back someday

We were in the area and popped in for lunch as I've always wanted to try this place out. We were after food as we were quite hungry, so it was a shame that I couldn't try their milkshakes (will definitely come back for them!). We had the breakfast bruschetta, as well as the cheese, tomato and ham toastie to share between two, both which were filling. The salad with the bruschetta was refreshing, and even though the poached eggs were overcooked, I still enjoyed it. Staff are friendly and there's also a fireplace at the very back which was cute and perfect for this cold weather!

Have been here before and enjoyed our lunchtime experience so we were hoping to repeat the experience with a larger group over dinner. Unfortunately our dinner experience was not as pleasant. While the ambience was the same and service equally nice (possibly a tad better) the food took almost an hour to come out. The pasta was too watery. Watching from a distance there was a lack of intencity in the kitchen. No sense of urgency given that there were a number of tables waiting for their food. Unfortunately i cannot recommend this place for dinner. Kitchen staff may be good with their craft but need to time manage better.

Awesome place, awesome staff & service. Always get looked after, delicious food and amazing shakes at very reasonable prices! LOVE!

We had the meatball sub which was ok. Needed a little more tomato sauce to make it great. And the calamari salad which was really delicious. Friendly staff and a cosy atmosphere

Dessert shakes are good, as are the normal milk shakes. Burger was ok, very thick patties and all I could taste was meat... No aioli or cheese, etc. Probably wouldn't order a burger again, wouldn't mind trying the meatball sub. Good location in Essendon.

Came for the mega shakes! <br/>And I was not disappointed, it was delicious (strawberry and banana bread) and I polished it off quickly! <br/>All of the staff greeted and came to check if our meals were okay - which they were! <br/><br/>Breakfast was a real treat: poached eggs, with avocado and feta smash! Yum! <br/><br/>Definitely coming back for lunch to try a burger and a different shake. <br/><br/>For all those saying there is only road side parking: this restaurant is right next to Essendon station which is surrounded by numerous car parks that are at least two hours if not all day. <br/><br/>Downside: for breakfast, the restaurant was too dark for my liking.

Just tried this place for first time and we were disappointed. Found it to be over priced for the quality of the food, didn't even finish my meal.

YUMMMMMM..... Had a caramel popcorn and Oreo desert shake 😋 Best value for money! Next time I would love to try the burger, chips and shake combo for $19! Saw a few and they looked tasty! 😋 will be back again sometime soon!

Came to Johnny Pump because of the hype but left completely dissapointed. In a nutshell the burgers (chicken and beef) were both dry, bland and with stale tasting buns. The two milkshakes looked good but tasted of low quality ingredients. The icecream was crystallized and tasted like the $2 homebrand tub with soggy stale homebrand cake on top. Our tiny table wasn't wiped and we weren't given serviettes. There were ample staff but service was fairly poor. In a competitive burger scene cheap ingredients and old food just don't cut it.

Faarking delish if you ask me. I had the nutella fudge shake and veggie burger deal. Would describe as flavoursome, tasty, appetising, scrumptious, yummy, juicy, succulent, heavenly, inviting, luscious, mouthwatering, good tasting, palatable, saporous, divine, toothsome, and tempting. Decent priced. Bonus. Plus cute waiter. Double bonus. Would come back again :)

Went just for the milkshakes. Pretty nice. They are full on sugary and sweet (if you can't figure that out from all the photos). I don't understand the reviews saying they didn't like them, they are too much. What did you expect?!?!? <br/><br/>It was quiet when we were there, so served politely and promptly. Will go again soon.

Came here with my three kids aged 19, 16 and 8 on our way home after seeing it was rated No.1 on Trip Advisor. Even though we arrived as they were closing they served us! We sat outside and ordered their $19 Burger and shake meal. We ordered a variety of burgers - pulled pork, vege, Angus beef and a plain cheeseburger. All came with fries. We ordered three varieties of shakes - blue heaven & lemon tart, Nutella fudge/brownie and caramel popcorn and Oreo. We all agreed that the whole combo was delicious! We will definitely be returning. The service was great👍🏻

Having held nearly every job in hospitality, here and abroad, over the last two decades I can't help but have an attitude when it comes to eating out. Alas, I was pleased with my Sunday lunch at Johnny Pump so much so that it's restored my confidence in the gastronomically-centred operation of an establishment in an industry with far too many overrated MKR wannabe pop-up cafes in Melbourne. The staff's sincere and knowledgle service married with fresh quality menu items and passionate creativity makes for a relaxing, warm and ultimately satisfying experience. Keepin it real. Respect.

Finally decided to try this place after bombardment of Instagram posts. The location is very conveniently located across from Essendon Railway Station and the tram stop however there is only roadside parking. There's limited seating both inside and outside. The inside was dim and seemed cosy. Price wise wasn't too bad especially when you get burgers, chips and a milkshake (regular or dessert of the week) for $19/20. The regular milkshakes are only $8 too! Certainly cheaper than places like Naughty Boy. Service was good, the waitress was very friendly. First time I went there I got the beef burger with one of their special dessert of the week milkshakes. Burger was decent but nothing special. The chips were over salted. The dessert shake was alright? The dessert sitting on top did taste a bit cheap though, the actual milkshake was again, nothing special. The next day I went with my brother and I ordered their wild berry cheesecake milkshake. This milkshake was a joke. It was watery, there was no flavour at all. It was disgusting. My brother got the choc brownie, same deal. The second experience has totally turned me off from EVER revisiting. They might be pretty but they're not tasty.

Ate here this afternoon, customer service was really good !! Awesome milkshakes !! Burgers were good.

❤️ loved it ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😍😍😍😍😍🌚💞💞💞💞💞💞💞❤️ small and quiet. Great service nice atmosphere. Great food. The drinks were awesome

I honestly can't believe the variety of gourmet food that's on offer here. Famous for it burgers and shakes but has so much more to offer then what its famous for. The atmosphere and vibe are so relaxed. Staff are super friendly too. Perfect place for brunch I'd say. Yummmmmmm 5/5 very single time👌🏽

Amazing service and the milkshake didn't taste bland compared to naughty boys , 10/10 to johnny pump will be returning for some more delicious burgers and milkshakes 😍😍😍😍

Came here for the well known Melbourne freak shakes and was glad to say it was worth the trip despite the mixed criticism! This hidden cafe in the streets of Essendon is buzzing and welcoming. The waiters were exceptionally nice, welcoming us with big smiles and often coming up to ask if we needed anything. My partner and I had a hard time deciding what flavour shake to choose as each and every flavour seemed delicious but after a huge debate we ended up ordering the Nutella Fudgy Brownie and the Butterscotch, choc chip cookie& Lamington one, along with a Black Angus burger deal for a total of $26. The $7 shake was just like the photos, generously topped with whipped cream and decorated with extra cake. The presentation was outstanding. The taste was pretty good too! Not amazingly delicious but good, especially considering it's a cheap price of $7 for a big jug full of milkshake! The burger however was not as nice as I expected. The bread was rather tough and a bit stale, making it hard to cut into half but the meat, and stuffings inside were all flavoursome. It would have been nicer if it was served hot! The waiter was extremely kind to help us grab another plate when he saw us struggling to cut the burger in half. The chips were nice too, but I thought that both the burgers and the chips were overshadowed by the milkshakes! Overall, a fantastic experience! Welcoming service and must try milk shakes! Definitely worth the long trip here and I probably would sacrifice my time to try out another one of Johnny Pump's special drinks :)

Came here for the first time, did some intense 'Google searching' to find Melbourne's best 'freak shakes' before I begin a 10 week fitness challenge so why not say goodbye to bad food (temporarily) by having a rad burger and shake?<br/><br/>I love my burgers, and that's why I'm no longer as fit as I used to be - however with that said, I've had my fair share of massive burgers from around Melbourne so this place was on my bucket list to get to eventually...<br/><br/>The burger itself wasn't great, the bun didn't melt in the mouth like other brioche buns I have had before did and seemed like it was stale. I got the chicken burger and chucked in a beef pattie also which was quite filling, solid beef pattie I might add. The chip quantity was sufficient but came out abit cold, however they still tasted good.<br/><br/>The shake was good, I won't say amazing, but better then other places I've been to that have attempted to jump on the band wagon... My partner and I got the Nutella brownie shake and one from the specials board which was a honeycomb Nutella brownie shake. awesome value, too bad about the fake cream - but again at the price it is you can expect much more then whipped can stuff...<br/><br/>Overall - probably wouldn't return specifically for johnny pump, I came and experienced johnny pump and it was ok and I'm happy to tick them off my bucket list.<br/><br/>Great special with the burger / shake deal - well worth it. <br/><br/>Staff were very friendly and helpful, especially when rolling up with a pram into such a small establishment.

Service was good and fast. The burger was extremely tasty. Nutella fudge brownie shake was extremely yummy so overall an excellent place for lunch/dinner

Went here for the first time and it was amazing! The last time I ventured to This establishment was when it was Fletchers Pasta Bar some years back! I ordered a beef burger meal and a choc fudge brownie dessert shake....incredible! The burger was extremely tasty and fresh, and the dessert shake was just so much fun! I will most certainly be coming back here!

Cute cafe, set out was a bit odd (we didn't even realise there was an option to sit inside until we paid because it was tucked away behind the kitchen!) but staff were lovely! Service was super efficient, waited not even 10 minutes for our food! We ordered the great value monstershake and burger combo, $19. The shakes looked amazing and tasted delicious, although the actual milkshake could have done with a bit more flavour! we chose the pulled pork and Angus burger which were fresh and delicious. I would definitely recommend, the cheapest monster shake I've had and quality was still great!

Have been really happy every time I've come here. <br/>Standout dishes include the saganaki cheese, the arancini balls and the terracotta gnocchi! Not to mention the awesome milkshakes! Every shake I've tried from there has been flavourful but not too sweet. Good balance and nice presentation also. <br/>Was not too impressed with the mushroom burger, it was really heavy and too juicy and messy. That was just a personal preference. Flavour was okay.<br/>Service is friendly and prompt, great place to go with friends.<br/>Overall happy with my experience and will be coming back! <br/>Milkshakes and tapas are a must try!! 👌

Nothing special about this place. Very basic clean food that I can cook at home, including the shake. Poor facilities, place is old and you can smell the grease at the door.

Major major major disappointment. Burgers were dry taste was pretty bland. Milk shake however was pretty good. reckon the burgers could use abit more sauce

There shakes keep bringing me back. <br/><br/>So delicious although they use Coles brand cakes most the time.. Still yummy<br/><br/>I like that they do a burger and shake deal it works out to a good price, quiet reasonable.<br/><br/>I recommend you go try it, especially there shakes, they're always coming out with new flavours :)

Was looking foward to this place and it did not disappoint. Food was good, and the shakes (although some were served with room temp milk) were over all good.<br/>I would come back with a group for a good ol burger, chips and shake!<br/>Food is presented delishiously :)

Joining in with the new milkshake craze I had to try Johnny Pump, I did this with my cousins on a girls night out. I have to say, the hype wasn't really worth it. The milkshake was incredibly sweet and literally made me sick from the amount of sugar in it, unfortunately I didn't get a photo of it, but it wasn't much to look at. The burger I had was the pulled pork which was more of a roll than a burger as it had rather dry pork with what they claim is coleslaw, I found it to be a long, chunky, buttery mess. I wouldn't come here again, for the simple reason that it is below standard and not too plesent.

Came here with a mate as we like to try new places out. We were drawn here by the shakes we saw on Facebook. The place is awkward to get into it looks like a takeaway place from outside and we weren't even invited in we had to go to the counter before someone asked us what we wanted... Umm a shake?? So that was a bit awkward but we got a seat and waited the longest wait I have ever waited for a shake. But I though they must be damn good! Wrong. They were actually disgusting to put it nicely. They were just a milkshake with homebrand syrup and some stale cheesecake on top , my mates was a brownie one, stale as well but not as bad but still stale. Very unimpressed I didn't even complain because I thought if this is what they are okay with serving then they don't even deserve some constructive criticism. I gave 1.5 rating because there was a park out the front which was free.

Johnny pump milkshakes are over rated and the milkshakes are simply milk with a sweet Ontop :-( also if you would like to be electrocuted, simply go to the women's bathroom!: a sign in the bathroom say you have to turn the switch for the hand dryer on and off..... Meaning, after you wash your hands THAT ARE WET Onto the power point! Speaking of bathrooms, They happen to be next to the food store room..... Knowing where my food is coming from is not great. The inside is dark and dingy and smells. Overall, I will never go back. ( 1.5 rating is for the brownie I got on my milk)

Came here on a Sunday around 2.30. Was pretty busy, had to wait about 5 minutes for a table then another 5 mins for our menus, then another 10 minutes to be served. The waiter was extremely nice and apologetic about it as they were very busy. I ordered a ham, cheese and tomato toastie ($10) just for something light to eat before I got the nutella and fudge instashake ($7). It wasn't bad but it looked much nicer than what it was. Brownie was delicious and soft, however the actual milkshake was literally just straight milk with fudge at the very bottom. My boyfriend had got the special cookies and cream with cookie dough and maple bacon ($8), his milkshake was much thicker and nicer. Overall bill came to $25, but I found it very average. In saying that, I'd still like to come back to try their meatball sub and chicken burger, as they both looked delicious

Ordered Southern Chicken with side of chips and a divine Caramel & Popcorn milkshake. Burger was average, nothing too great compared to the latter of other chains/stores. Believe fries should be accompanied with some sauce at most. The milkshake however takes the crown and was a delight to drink. Recommend their milkshakes however not so much on the burger side.