When Googling “Flanigan’s,” the first question that appears is: “Is Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill a Florida thing?” You’re goddamn right it is. Whether you call it Flanny’s, Big Daddy, Flan, Flan Flan, The ‘Gans, Flan-o-man, or even old-school names like Piranha Pat’s or Laughing Loggerhead, Flanigan’s has been a beloved South Florida institution since 1959. Founded by Joseph “Big Daddy” Flanigan, he started the chain with Big Daddy lounges and liquor stores before teaming up with his son, James Flanigan, to open the first Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill in Pompano Beach in 1985. And the rest is history.
Although customers cannot go wrong with any menu item at Flanigan’s, these ten items are so delicious and synonymous with the local restaurant chain that they cannot be beaten. As a proud Miami native who has frequented numerous Flanigan’s locations since she was young, choosing only ten dishes was a challenge, but it was one that I was honored to take on. From the legendary, fall-off-the-bone, baby back ribs to the fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth garlic rolls, biting into any dish at Flanigan’s is like taking a bite of Florida history. For those visiting from out of town wondering, “What’s the big deal with Flanigan’s?” order any dish from the list below during your next visit to any of its 25 locations across South Florida. You’ll be glad you did…