On Wednesday, May 28, Flanigan's Seafood Bar & Grill teased fans with a cryptic Instagram post hinting at a new Florida location opening on Thursday, May 29, and the internet promptly lost its collective mind. The post shows a video montage of multiple cities, including Tampa, Orlando, Cutler Bay, Key West, Key Biscayne, Fort Myers, and Coconut Creek, with the caption, "Where will we go next?"
Over the past 40 years, the Florida staple has famously only been located in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties, so any talk about a West Coast opening or a northern Florida location would be breaking news in the Flanigan's "Flanatic" world.
Naturally, the comments section became a battleground of hopeful speculation. Fans from Tampa to Key West chimed in, each convinced that their city was the chosen one. One user pleaded, "Please be Orlando! We need some Flanigan’s love up here!" while another declared, "Cutler Bay deserves this. It's our time!"
The frenzy even led to a resurgence of the age-old debate: Is Flanigan's a South Florida exclusive, or should it expand statewide? One commenter mused, "Flanigan's is a Florida thing, but it's time the rest of the state gets a taste."
The "Award Winning Baby Back Ribs" is the dish that started it all at Flanigan's back in the late 1980s.
Flanigan's photo
Homestead: Already Confirmed
While Flanigan's has yet to officially announce this new location, Flanigan's has already confirmed that they are opening in Homestead. According to a representative from Flanigan's, the company is in the initial stages of planning a new restaurant next to the former city hall in Homestead. This development aligns with the brand's commitment to expanding within South Florida, ensuring that more locals can enjoy their signature dishes without venturing too far from home.So, Where's This One Opening?
As someone who grew up with Flanigan's as a staple of Friday night hangouts and post-boat day dinners, I understand the passion. The thought of enjoying those legendary baby back ribs and garlic rolls in a new city is enough to make anyone giddy. (Finally, those in Jacksonville or Tampa won't have to drive across the state to try "Firecracker Shrimp!")While Flanigan's has yet to reveal the exact location of the new restaurant, the anticipation is palpable. Whether it lands in Tampa, Clearwater, Key West, Cutler Bay, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, or Orlando, one thing is certain: Flanigan's fans will be in for a treat. Stay tuned, fellow "Flanatics." The big reveal is coming, and I'll be the first to break the news (with an iconic green Flanigan's cup in hand).
