Cheeseburger in Paradise is open

**ShallowsNole** · 09-11-2007, 10:25 PM

and has received ShallowsSquirt's seal of approval.

Yes, it's a chain. And yes, everybody sings the song every twenty minutes or so. Go while it is new and everyone is still happy.

If you go, be certain to get the Chocolate Nachos for dessert. Wesley and I waddled out of there.

**seacrestkristi** · 09-11-2007, 10:36 PM

Chocolate Nachos

Good god oh mighty which way do I steer?

**jodiFL** · 09-12-2007, 06:35 AM

Does this one have the big video screens that play his videos?

**Smiling JOe** · 09-12-2007, 08:23 AM

Speaking of Jimmy Buffet, he is scheduled to be at the opening of his Pier Park restaurant. I, for one, am still wondering if the Outlet Mall or Pier Park is truly Paradise.

**seaside2** · 09-12-2007, 09:22 AM

I guess it depends on how you define Paradise.

**TooFarTampa** · 09-12-2007, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by Smiling JOe

Speaking of Jimmy Buffet, he is scheduled to be at the opening of his Pier Park restaurant. I, for one, am still wondering if the Outlet Mall or Pier Park is truly Paradise.

For those of us who like to shop at Target while in SoWal, yes it is.

**Ocean Lover** · 09-12-2007, 09:41 AM

I Love CIP it's the closest thing to paradise up here. ( Sad I know)

**Smiling JOe** · 09-12-2007, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by TooFarTampa

For those of us who like to shop at Target while in SoWal, yes it is.

I didn't know that one could shop at Target while in SoWal, unless you are on Target.com.

Even if you could, wouldn't Jimmy Buffet's restaurant need to be inside the Target store? ... Cheeseburger IN Paradise...

**30A Skunkape** · 09-12-2007, 11:28 AM

Is there a tire swing bar at CIP?

I can tell you this, one of the better Bloody Marys in New Orleans was at Margaritaville.

**TooFarTampa** · 09-12-2007, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by Smiling JOe

I didn't know that one could shop at Target while in SoWal, unless you are on Target.com.

Even if you could, wouldn't Jimmy Buffet's restaurant need to be inside the Target store? ... Cheeseburger IN Paradise...

Hey, Starbucks is already in there, why not take the logical next step?

I'm sorry, I should have said for those of us visiting SoWal. It's a nice easy drive from the east end. Semantics.

**Smiling JOe** · 09-12-2007, 12:33 PM

TFT, is your avatar the new Auburn logo?

**TooFarTampa** · 09-12-2007, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by Smiling JOe

TFT, is your avatar the new Auburn logo?

No, but I think they're selling the T-shirts at the Alabama bookstore.

**30A Skunkape** · 09-15-2007, 10:07 AM

We gave Cheeseburger In Paradise a test run yesterday. I had eaten lunch but Rapunzy hadn't, so we went at an odd time (4:30). There was already a waiting list for a table, but they told us we could have full service at the bar, so we just sat there. The bar is a HUGE island with many seats. The bartenders were really friendly and it was fun watching them work. It was also nice that we were there at happy hour, and we had 2 for 1 draft beers. There is a whole menu of witty tequila and rum drinks, but we passed on that. I wasn't hungry really, so I got the appetizer portion of mini cheeseburgers-(think Krystals made with real beef). Rapunz got a hamburger. My little cheeseburgers were great. They were served on a tasty little bun and dressed with a pickle and the most finely minced onions I have ever seen. And the beef was real, it didn't have that soy quality you encounter with Krystals. The appetizer portion was 4 of these guys, and I wolfed them down. I didn't look to see if they had a kids menu, but this would be a perfect option for them. Punzy's hamburger was good looking too;she ordered it 'as rare as they would make it' and sure enough, it was cooked as she likes it. Sometimes a kitchen will refuse to serve anything less than medium because they live in fear of food poisoning, so I commend the kitchen for cooking the meat as she requested. I think it came dressed with lettuce and tomato, and you could add all the mayo, mustard and ketchup you wanted. She had to cut it in half to manage it, so that tells you how big it was. I had to eat some of it because she couldn't finish it, and it was very good. In an effort to keep it somewhat sane, she ordered mixed veggies on the side instead of opting for fries, fried sweet potatos, or something like that. I can't comment on the veggies as I didn't eat any, but it looked like your standard broccoli based side dish. We didn't do dessert.
I was a little surprised that they were so reserved on the Buffett theme. They had music playing, but it was mostly classic rock with a Buffett track every fifth song or so. Nobody sang while we were there. The bartender told me Buffett is a minority owner in the endeavor and the food and drink is designed by the Outback Steakhouse clan. If it wasn't for the name and a few subtle touches, you wouldn't know it had anything to do with JB. We got out of there after 4 draft pints and plenty of food for $22! Not too bad, but it was happy hour.
A word to the wise-we left at about 5:30 and the humanity was starting to accumulate heavily outside waiting for tables. I am sure it is a madhouse during peak hours, and it is new so service most likely will be flawed. Otherwise, I think you might like it.

**afoodieslife** · 09-22-2007, 09:06 AM

Went last week to CIP and have to say it was not a very good dining experience. Mainly on the service end. Didn't get burger pink with a little red in the middle like was promised. Didn't feel like waiting, so just ate it. Sweet potato chips were soggy, but waitress did fix that. Didn't want to wait on a new burger, which took 45 minutes to get in the first place. It was a Monday night!

Happy hour prices were nice though. Can't remember that last time I paid $3 for a margarita! For my money I will continue to go to Hammerheads in Baytowne for my burger. Best in town, in my opinion.

**ItzKatzTime** · 09-22-2007, 01:38 PM

I usually don't go to a new place until they have been opened for 6-8 weeks. But the girls got to me and I took them. Great place for kids! I wish that had been there when Kalie was younger.

**SGB** · 09-22-2007, 01:43 PM

We went last night with the kids and everyone had a great time. "Smoke" was our "islander" and he was very entertaining and kept the kids smiling. The kids loved the mini-cheeseburgers and I had the island chef salad. It was very good, but perhaps a little too sweet for some. Saw quite a few other local families there having a good time.

**ItzKatzTime** · 09-22-2007, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by 30A Skunkape

Is there a tire swing bar at CIP?

I can tell you this, one of the better Bloody Marys in New Orleans was at Margaritaville.

I've never been inside the NOLA Margaritaville....but it's my favorite place to stop for a cold Strawberry Daiquiri, after walking around the quarter on a hot day....and even on a cool day! They have a little streetside window you can order from....love it! BIG BRAIN FREEZES as Lagniappe

**Hollibird** · 09-22-2007, 04:56 PM

Ate at Cheesburger.. on Sunday evening.. about 5 pm. not really busy yet it took forever to get our food. After the server gave the food, we asked for refill drinks. we didn't see her again. 25 minutes later (we were also waiting for honey mustard.. never got it) we asked another server to ask our server to bring us the bill. As far as the food, the crabcakes were so deep fried, all you could take was crunchy batter. The teriyaki broccoli was pretty good. The chocolate nachos made me want to wretch. The strawberry ice cream was good. The childrens grilled cheese was good. Best advice is to wait until they get it together - service-wise.

**Jdarg** · 09-22-2007, 11:36 PM

Originally Posted by Hollibird

Ate at Cheesburger.. on Sunday evening.. about 5 pm. not really busy yet it took forever to get our food. After the server gave the food, we asked for refill drinks. we didn't see her again. 25 minutes later (we were also waiting for honey mustard.. never got it) we asked another server to ask our server to bring us the bill. As far as the food, the crabcakes were so deep fried, all you could take was crunchy batter. The teriyaki broccoli was pretty good. The chocolate nachos made me want to wretch. The strawberry ice cream was good. The childrens grilled cheese was good. Best advice is to wait until they get it together - service-wise.

According to your other posts, you seem to work for Tommy Bahamas restaurant. A chain. In the Sandestin area. Wouldn't you want the other chains in the area to do well, since you work for a chain?

According to you, Cheeseburger and the place in the Emerald Grand stinks. Tell us why we should frequent your place, Tommy B's?

**ShallowsNole** · 09-23-2007, 08:10 PM

Cha-ching jdarg!

We also ate there (again) about 5:30 p.m. last Sunday evening. Fuzz hadn't been before. He and I split the mushroom/swiss burger, as I had previously wrangled an entire one plus chocolate nachos and spent the rest of the evening on the couch saying "uuuuugggggghhhhh." Drink service was a little slow, but it's not like anybody was standing around doing nothing. The song CIP came on but they didn't sing this time. No empty tables...but still good.

We have ordered lunch for takeout and two of my coworkers' burgers were not cooked through. If Punzy likes 'em rare, she'd have been tickled. Nothing a short time in our microwave couldn't fix.

Two of Squirt's school acquaintances were busboys. That sounds like a good idea. And while I could be wrong, I haven't (yet) encountered anybody with an Eastern European accent waiting tables at CIP.

(Tangent - lest I be mistaken for being heartless, I do feel for the kids sleeping 30 to a house on bare mattresses. I just find it irritating when local teenagers can't even get a response of any sort when they apply for a job at some of our local establishments, but the same places of business have foreigners with a name tag and an apron at work THE DAY AFTER they arrive in the US. Yes, I overheard a conversation confirming this. Grrr.)

**NoHall** · 09-23-2007, 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by Smiling JOe

Speaking of Jimmy Buffet, he is scheduled to be at the opening of his Pier Park restaurant. I, for one, am still wondering if the Outlet Mall or Pier Park is truly Paradise.

Tell my six-degrees-of-fiction buddy I said hello.