Flip Flops grills up all-American treats
SEAGROVE BEACH - In between some horrendous weather, it was a gorgeous day in Seagrove Beach on a recent Monday. Thin wisps of clouds stroked the cerulean sky. It was the perfect day to dine al fresco.
The mission was to try the burgers at Flip Flops Grill, which boasts the No. 1 burger in South Walton and on County Road 30A.
Flip Flops has been open since 2007 and just reopened three weeks ago after an off-season break.
The food
A large chalkboard dis-played the day's specials, while a permanent menu hung on the other side of the room. That day Flip Flops' special was the Southwest Burger with fries and drink for $7. The Mahi sandwich was also on special.
The Southwest Burger came topped with pepper jack cheese, lettuce, red onion and Chipotle mayo. My lunch date ordered this, and I opted for the Gorgonzola Burger.
While researching Flip Flops on various Web sites, the Gorgonzola was by far the most raved about burger. It comes topped with gorgonzola cheese, applewood bacon, spinach, red onion and mayo.
Though not a huge fan of bleu cheeses, the smooth tanginess of gorgonzola mixed with the crunchy bacon and red onions were a perfect match.
To round it out, the fries also were excellent. Usually, I look at fries as filler and un-necessary. Unless, of course, they are delicious. By the end of the meal, the fries were gone.
My friend loved her South-west Burger as well. She was worried it would be too spicy, but in the end, she said it was just the right amount of heat.
While they tout the burgers at Flip Flops, it's the House Chili Dog that's designated as the House Specialty. It's an Angus beef dog topped with homemade chili and cheese in a toasted French loaf. I saw another patron eating one of these, and it's a monster.
Other offerings at Flip Flops include seafood sand-wiches such as grilled mahi-mahi, fried grouper and fried shrimp; chicken sandwiches, such as the Southwest chicken, chicken salad, fried chicken and grilled chicken; and various baskets, wraps and salads.
For the early birds, Flip Flops also has a breakfast menu.
The atmosphere
Flip Flops Grill fits right in with the beach theme. Bright colors and flip-flop art adorn the walls. There are about a half-dozen tables inside, with three umbrella-topped tables outside.
Though Flip Flops prides itself on not being a fast-food joint, it works like one, with orders being taken at a counter, then food being delivered when the order is up.
On the day we visited, one woman worked as server, cook and cashier. Even though we were not the only customers, she managed to get all of the orders to the customers speedily and cooked to perfection.
The service
As mentioned, the one-woman show at Flip Flops got the job done, and she did it without breaking a sweat.
And, even though we weren't the only orders, she took her time while getting our order and answered what might have seemed like silly questions at the time.
A final word
With a shortage of fast food on 30A, this is about as good and cheap as it's going to get if you are in a real hurry and don't want to break the bank. And, if you're like me and want to take your time and enjoy the blue sky, it's perfect for that, too.
QUICKBITES
Flip Flops Grill
Location
4281 E. County 30-A
in the Grande Isle Building
Telephone
850-231-0022
Hours
Spring and Summer
8 a.m. to 9 p.m., 7 days a week
Off-season
Hours vary
Handicap accessibility
Good
Children's menu
Yes
Price range
Breakfast
$1.50 to $8.49
Burgers
$8.50 to $8.95
Seafood Sandwiches
$9.99 to $11.99
Chicken Sandwiches
$7.95 to $8.50
Major credit cards accepted with a small surcharge
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