Flanigan’s Seafood Bar & Grill photo
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In South Florida, news from Flanigan’s Seafood Bar & Grill is treated with the same weight as a local election. (Honestly, South Floridians might even follow Flanigan’s news more closely.) This is why the chain sent South Florida fans into a minor frenzy by announcing a new addition to the menu: the “Shrimp Joe Boy.”
For those unfamiliar with Flanny’s menu (here are the best Flanigan’s menu items ranked), the “Joe Boy” is the restaurant’s signature sandwich. This new version swaps out the usual protein for 12 hand-breaded, deep-fried shrimp. It is served with lettuce, tomato, and housemade Cajun tartar sauce for a bit of heat.
Flanigan’s Seafood Bar & Grill photo
The Limited Rollout
While a new menu item is usually cause for statewide celebration, this release comes with a major caveat. Right now, the “Shrimp Joe Boy” is only available at two locations, Davie and Doral.
The limited availability has already sparked a wave of “why God why” comments on the restaurant’s Instagram page. Fans from Hialeah to Coconut Grove are already demanding that their local outposts get the sandwich next.
However, Flanigan’s fans are also famously vocal about their preferences. Within hours of the announcement, the comments section on Instagram filled with suggestions for improving the sandwich. One popular request is to swap the standard bun for Cuban bread to give it a more Miami feel.
Other regulars were already debating whether this new seafood option could actually compete with the “Chicken Chipotle Stack. (It has long been a fan favorite.) There is also a small but loud contingent of diners asking for a “Firecracker” version of the shrimp to be used in the “Joe Boy” format in the future.
The Flanny’s Factor
The reason a sandwich announcement generates this much buzz is tied to the brand’s cult-like status in South Florida, which has legions of adoring fans throughout the Tri-county area.
If the testing phase in Doral and Davie goes well, Shrimp Joe Boy is likely to expand to the rest of its 20-plus locations across South Florida. For now, if you want to be an early adopter, you will need to head west.
Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill. The “Shrimp Joe Boy” is available in Davie at 2190 S. University Dr., Davie; 954-577-7223, and in Doral at 8695 NW 12th St., Miami; 786-845-9366; flanigans.net.
