By TIM SLIVINKI
Chances are really pretty good that many of you who are reading this did not grow up in South Florida. Many of you, like me, are transplants from the Northeast, the Midwest, or even the West Coast. Many of you also probably take for granted one of the key elements that brought you here as a permanent resident: the beautiful beaches.
Sure, we all know they are there, but how often do we take the time to remember how fortunate we are to live in this tropical paradise with its gorgeous ocean beaches? Flip Flops is a place to go that will make you remember. Located on the Intracoastal, its very name suggests beach.
When you walk into Flip Flops, you are greeted with wide open doors that allow fantastic views of the Intracoastal. The restaurant is dotted with Florida pastel colored tables with silver chairs snuggled up to each one. Even if you take the furthest table back, the view is still impressive – I dare you to ignore it. Ceiling fans whir above your head, and reggae music completes the entire beachy feel of the restaurant.
Offering full bar service as well as beer and wine, Flip Flops’ atmosphere almost makes you want to order something with an umbrella in it just so you can fit in to the whole scenario. I didn’t, but it was awfully refreshing to sip a cocktail on a warm Summer evening as I pondered the menu and watched the boats meandering by. Complimentary fried pita chips — crispy and very yummy — are delivered to the table, accompanied by a slightly spicy salsa verde sort of dip offering a little heat to contrast with the chilled cocktail. The menu offers an eclectic array of starters, and my partner and I decided that an order of spinach-artichoke dip sounded good. It arrived nicely browned and bubbly and, instead of the more common tortilla chips, slightly crisped pita triangles surrounded the dip. We really liked that touch as we eagerly dipped them in the gooey, warm dip.
Dinner selections at Flip Flops can be a sandwich, a wrap, an array of appetizers as well as a selection of entrees. My partner was intrigued by a dish on the menu called “iyaca.” It is a tamale that is wrapped in a plantain leaf and filled with pulled pork and chicken. He proclaimed it delicious and said that the seasonings used in the meat filling gave it a sort of Moroccan flavor profile. A crisp jicama slaw as well as more traditional cole slaw rounded out the plate. He liked the contrast of the spiciness of the tamale with coolness of the slaws. Feeling beachy due to the surroundings, I decided on a fish entrée. I selected mahi-mahi and chose to have it blackened, although diners can choose from grilled or teriyaki preparations as well. From an impressive list of side dish options, I decided upon mac n’ cheese (big surprise!) and cole slaw, as I felt I needed something crunchy. The mahi was wonderfully blackened with a spicy crust that tasted as if it may have a slight touch of molasses in it, because I detected just a tinge of sweetness in the heat of the spices. The fish itself was deliciously moist and juicy under the spicy crust. The crock of mac n’ cheese was warm and gloppy, as any good mac n’ cheese should be. Both of us liked the fact that the cole slaw was not made with an overly sweet dressing, nor was it overly runny. It was fresh and crisp, as any good cole slaw should be.
After relaxing over cocktails and dinner, we were offered dessert but neither of us had room. We sat back and watched as the sky darkened and lights appeared on the buildings across the waterway on the boats gently going north under the Oakland Park Boulevard bridge. If you feel the need to reclaim the beachiness you may have lost when you moved here, try a dinner or lunch at Flip Flops. It is a place to relax and ponder all that is good about living in South Florida. And yes, feel free to wear your favorite flip flops!
Flip Flops Dockside Eatery
3051 NE 32nd Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL
954-567-1672