This is the third ina series spotlighting various restaurants and chefs in Flagler County.
Kirk Keller is pretty picky when it comes to food. The former host of the cooking show “Wanna-Be Chef” dines out most days either with clients or friends, but one lunch date with a near standing reservation is Tuesdays at the Beach Front Grille for their $5 burger.
It’s become almost like folklore among residents in Flagler and Volusia counties as they travel along A1A to the restaurant with a million dollar view of the Atlantic Ocean and one of the biggest burgers beachside, according to Keller.
Started as a promo a little more than three years ago, BFG owner Jamie Bourdeau, a retired law enforcement officer, wanted to draw business to his location on a slower day of the week and created the $5 burger concept.
There’s even an oversized display on the wall of the hamburger-eating “Wimpy” cartoon character touting the Tuesday burger.
Serving up the thick all-beef patty with a side of fresh cut French fries and a dill pickle spear, general manager Dan Leonard says there are no wimpy crowds as they serve up 250-300 hamburgers on any given Tuesday.
Keller knows how he likes his and he isn’t shy about stacking it up.
“I get it loaded up with onions, tomatoes, everything on it and actually spend the extra dollar and get the cheese put on it. And it’s not just American cheese – I get cheddar cheese, sometimes provolone, and my favorite is Swiss,” Keller said.
Adding toppings to the famous burger for just a dollar each – bacon, jalapenos, mushrooms, onions, the list goes on and on, Leonard said customers really like to pile it on.
“It adds up quick, that’s for sure,” he said.
So well received has the promo been that when COVID-19 hit and the restaurant transitioned to a to-go operation for a few months, BFG expanded the offer to make the burgers affordable and available for local families seven days a week.
“We had this idea that we’d have cheap, easy burgers every day of the week for everybody to feed the community and give back a little bit,” said Leonard, who thinks it’s more than just the food that keeps people coming back for more: “The burgers are awesome, but we have the greatest staff.”
Now Leonard welcomes customers like Keller for a burger anytime, whether the rest of their party comes to order a batch of fish and chips, a prime rib or a slab of baby back ribs.
“My goal is to provide the best possible service for people when they come here and have them full and happy when they leave here,” said Leonard.
After a long day at work, Keller is happy for the flexibility and quality food he finds at Beach Front Grille.
“I love it because there are times I struggle to get out there for the $5 burger on Tuesday because of my work schedule but now I know I can go by there any time for lunch or dinner and get the $5 burger,” he said.
