Smalls Sliders, a fast-growing mini‑cheeseburger chain, opened its first Jacksonville-area restaurant Friday, May 29, in St. Johns County.The highly anticipated restaurant, easily identifiable by its bright “Smorange’ shipping container construction, is located at 1545 County Road 210 W., near The Fountains at St. Johns mixed-use development. The opening comes just over two months after the chain signaled the Jacksonville-area arrival with a celebratory “Can Drop” of the signature “Smorange”-colored restaurant.

Smalls Sliders is known for mini-cheeseburgers cooked-to-order, seasoned waffle fries and hand-spun milkshakes.

Its restaurants are specialized modular 800-square-foot shipping containers — known as a “Can” — that encompass a kitchen streamlined for efficiency. It has a grill, fryer, milkshake machine and food prep area for the popular quick-service restaurant, which boasts both a drive-thru and a walk-up window.

There is also be an 830-square-foot outdoor patio with about 32 seats. There is no indoor seating.

The Saint Johns restaurant is the first of seven Smalls Sliders proposed in the Jacksonville area, franchisee William Cone previously told the Times-Union. The restaurant is the franchise’s fifth location. Four already are open: two in Ocala and one each in Tallahassee and Fort Walton Beach.

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Smalls Sliders, a quick-service restaurant chain known for cheeseburger sliders, seasoned waffle fries, and milkshakes will open at their new location at 1545 W. County Road 210 in St.Johns in late April or early May. [Photo provided by Smalls Sliders]

Smalls Sliders, a quick-service restaurant chain known for cheeseburger sliders, seasoned waffle fries, and milkshakes will open at their new location at 1545 W. County Road 210 in St.Johns in late April or early May. [Photo provided by Smalls Sliders]

The signature Smalls slider is a 100% beef patty, topped with melted American cheese, pickle and signature secret sauce (“Smauce”) served on a toasted bun.

Customers can upgrade their sliders to a Biggie Smalls (double meat, double cheese) or a Biggie Smalls with bacon and a side of queso to dip the burger in, which Cone said is a personal favorite.

The queso as a dip for the burgers and fries is unique to Smalls.

Seasoned waffle-cut fries made from Russet potatoes, soft drinks, and hand-spun shakes — available in vanilla, chocolate or Cookies and Cream flavors — are also showcased on the menu

Smalls Sliders is open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

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Asado Life
Jacksonville Shipyards, downtown Jacksonville waterfront, asadolife.com

Asado Life, a popular live-fire grilling restaurant established in St. Augustine three years ago, is coming to downtown Jacksonville. The concept from Nick Carrera is slated to join the Shipyards project under construction across from EverBank Stadium, Jaguars team owner Shad Khan’s Iguana Investments announced in September. The 140-seat, full-service restaurant with indoor and patio dining will be part of the development’s marina support building located on the Northbank Riverwalk just west of the Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Jacksonville and south of a nearby office building, both taking shape at the site. Diners can expect chef-cut steaks ranging from an 8-ounce Hanger to a 36-ounce Porterhouse; fresh catch seafood; grilled vegetables and more, all prepared on a parilla, a traditional Argentinian barbecue grill. | Read more

(Provided by Iguana Investments)

Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at tstepzinski@jacksonville.com.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Smalls Sliders opens first Jacksonville-area restaurant