Restaurant specializes in homemade burgers

In Grapevine, there's one place where everybody knows your name and they're always glad you came. Manager Angela Swank said Flips Patio Grill aims to be like the "Cheers" theme song: a familiar place where the staff knows their patrons on a personal level.

"When a lot of regulars will come in, we'll give them a hug every day, and we already know what they want," she said.

Flips, which opened in 2006, specializes in homemade burgers. The staff preps the food daily, Swank said. The restaurant has a meat grinder for the hamburger meat and slices the deli meat.

"We're able to cook [our burgers] to [the right temperature] because there are no preservatives," she said. "I think the food will speak for itself right off the bat."

Though Flips is known for its burgers, the grill also offers chicken, seafood and steak. Swank said her favorite menu item is the tilapia plate ($11).

"Sometimes fish gets kind of dried out, but this [tilapia] has tons of flavor," she said.

Flips also tries to bring something fun and different to the table through its trivia nights and live music, Swank said.

Trivia night happens every Tuesday beginning at 7 p.m. Swank said the game usually takes place on the patio as long as the weather is favorable.

Restaurant regulars often will get invested in the game to the point of calling ahead and reserving their lucky table, she said.

"It's just something fun because the tables are interacting, and the servers are getting into it," she said. "It's just something different to do."

Bands perform live every Wednesday on the patio. About 10 different bands regularly perform at Flips, including crowd favorites that will perform about once a month, Swank said.

The restaurant went through a remodel earlier this year, adding more tables and providing a lighter color scheme, Swank said.

The bar's draft system was replaced, allowing the beer to pour even colder than it did before the remodel, she said.

The kitchen was also gutted. But despite the renovations, Flips remained open except for one day. Swank said she is thankful for the guests who still came to eat during renovations.

"They came when we had a limited menu or when there was dust or when there were ropes," she said.

Patrons have said they love the remodel, Swank said.

The Flips concept has been so well-received in Grapevine that the owner decided to expand outside of the city. So five years ago, the second Flips location opened in Fort Worth.

Guests may not be walking into an '80s sitcom upon entering Flips, but Swank said she hopes everyone will still feel welcomed.

"Our hope is that they get that family vibe and that family feeling from our staff," she said. "Our staff is incredibly close, and we hope that leaks over into the guests."

Flips Patio Grill

415 W. SH 114, Grapevine, 817-251-9800, www.flipspatiogrill.com, Hours: 11 a.m.–2 a.m. Mon.–Sun.