Review
Smalls
Total Score
50/60
Star Rating
★★★★☆
Reviewed by
Susan and Peter Martin
Grand openings can be unpredictable. The excitement is high, the crowd is curious, and a team that has only recently begun working together suddenly has to perform in front of a very public audience. When we pulled into Smalls Sliders on County Road 210 in St. Johns, the drive-thru line was already close to twenty cars deep. That could have been our signal to circle back another day. Instead, it became the first clue that this opening was worth watching. We have reviewed everything from white-tablecloth dining rooms to roadside counters, and we evaluate each restaurant according to what it is trying to be. Smalls is not a traditional sit-down restaurant. It is a fast, focused drive-thru concept built around sliders, fries, dipping sauces, and shakes, with a small outdoor seating area for guests who want to eat on-site. The promise is simple: make the experience convenient, keep the menu approachable, and execute the food well enough that people want to come back. What impressed us first was not the burger. It was the operation. The line kept moving, team members stayed engaged, and the grand-opening crowd never appeared to push the staff into chaos. That kind of composure matters. Fast food is not only about speed. It is about systems, timing, consistency, and the ability to deliver a hot meal when dozens of people are asking for the same thing at once. We also learned that former NFL quarterback Drew Brees is connected to the brand. We have always respected his leadership and community involvement, so that association added another layer of curiosity. Still, celebrity ownership can only create initial interest. The food has to make the second visit happen.
Ambiance and Décor
Smalls is best understood as a drive-thru experience rather than a dining-room destination. The building has a compact, contemporary look, and the limited outdoor seating gives guests an option to stop and eat without changing the concept’s primary identity. The atmosphere comes from the energy of the operation, the branding, and the excitement surrounding a new opening more than from interior décor. Because we took the food home, our experience was shaped mainly by the arrival, the line, the staff interaction, and the way the location handled traffic. On opening day, that operational environment became its own form of ambiance. There was anticipation in every car, staff members were moving with purpose, and the entire scene felt like a community event. For this category, we considered whether the design and setup support the restaurant’s mission. They do. Smalls is not trying to create a candlelit date-night setting. It is trying to make ordering easy, food portable, and the experience recognizable. For a fast-food concept, the format is clear and functional.
Menu and Drinks
The menu is intentionally focused. Smalls is not asking guests to study several pages of choices. The core experience revolves around sliders, fries, sauces, queso, and shakes. That simplicity can be a real advantage because it allows the kitchen to concentrate on repeatable execution. We ordered broadly enough to understand the concept: a Biggie Smalls with bacon, a regular slider combo, fries, queso dip, special sauce, and milkshakes. The Biggie Smalls immediately corrected one of our assumptions. Based on the name, we expected something closer to a tiny White Castle-style slider. What arrived was far more substantial, with double patties, double cheese, and bacon. The portion had enough weight to turn a quick snack into a satisfying meal. The queso dip added another option for guests who want something beyond ketchup or the house sauce. It was creamy and flavorful with a noticeable pepper-driven kick. Families with younger children should know that it carries some heat, while adults who enjoy a little spice may consider that one of its strengths. The special sauce produced one of those classic Culinary Duo disagreements. Susan enjoyed it. Peter found one flavor more dominant than he preferred. We actually like when that happens because it demonstrates how personal sauces can be. The best recommendation is to order it on the side during a first visit and decide for yourself. The shake program gave the menu its most memorable moment. The Key Lime Milkshake tasted unmistakably Florida, which made it feel especially well suited to the St. Johns location.
Food Quality
The fries announced themselves before the rest of the meal had a chance. We intended to take everything home for a proper tasting, but by the time we arrived, nearly half the fries were already gone. They were crisp, properly seasoned, and exactly the kind of fries that encourage one more bite until the container is mysteriously empty. The burgers were larger and more filling than the branding led us to expect. The Biggie Smalls delivered a strong combination of beef, melted cheese, bacon, and soft bread. It was rich without feeling carelessly assembled, and the double-patty format gave it enough substance to satisfy someone expecting a full burger rather than a miniature slider. We ordered more than we needed because we misjudged the portions. That turned into a win for Apollo, our 120-pound German Shepherd and resident Culinary Canine, who was very interested in helping with the leftover-burger portion of the review. His enthusiasm was not subtle. The Key Lime Milkshake became the clear standout. It was creamy and smooth, but the defining quality was balance. Key lime can easily become too sharp, too sweet, or too artificial. This shake held onto the bright citrus personality of the flavor without becoming heavy or sugary. It was refreshing enough for a warm Florida afternoon and distinctive enough that we continued talking about it after the burgers were gone. That memorability is why the Key Lime Milkshake receives our Best of the Best Dish Award. We reserve this recognition for items that separate themselves from the expected experience. A milkshake at a slider restaurant could have been an afterthought. This one became the reason we would tell someone to make a special order.
Service
Opening-day service is a difficult test because the restaurant is facing maximum attention before the team has had months to build rhythm. Smalls handled that test well. The drive-thru line was substantial, but it continued moving, orders were processed efficiently, and the staff maintained a friendly presence throughout the rush. We never had the sense that the team had lost control of the operation. That matters as much as the actual speed. Guests are generally willing to wait during a grand opening when they can see that a system is working and that employees remain attentive. The most important service achievement was consistency under pressure. The food arrived in good condition, the order gave us the variety we expected, and the team’s execution supported the excitement surrounding the opening rather than diminishing it.
Value and Pricing
The portions created better value than we anticipated. The word “sliders” can suggest a meal that requires several items before it feels complete, but the burgers were substantial. The Biggie Smalls in particular delivered the size and richness of a full meal. The focused menu also makes ordering easier. Guests can decide how much food they need without navigating an oversized list, and combo-style ordering supports the quick-meal purpose of the concept. Our only caution is that first-time guests may overorder if they assume the sliders are tiny. We did exactly that. Considering the burger size, fry quality, and the strength of the shake, the experience felt fairly priced for a modern fast-food concept.
Overall Experience
Smalls Sliders gave us what we hope to find during a grand opening: energy, operational competence, food that matches the concept, and at least one item that creates a reason to return. The experience was not built around an elaborate dining room or a long menu. It was built around convenience and execution. We would return for the fries, another Biggie Smalls, and especially the Key Lime Milkshake. We would also order with a better understanding of the portions. The next visit will require fewer burgers, although Apollo may disagree with that strategy. For families on the move, commuters traveling County Road 210, teenagers looking for an easy burger stop, or anyone craving a quick meal without settling for something forgettable, Smalls is a useful addition to the St. Johns dining landscape. The strongest compliment we can give is that the location handled a difficult first day and still allowed the food to become the story. The line was long, but the operation moved. The burgers were bigger than expected. The fries barely survived the ride home. And the Key Lime Milkshake earned an award we do not give casually.
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