Smalls Sliders: Our TikTok-Fueled Foodie Field Trip

Alright y’all, let me set the scene: it’s hotter than the devil’s armpit in Florida, and what do we decide to do? Take a spontaneous (read: slightly dramatic and entirely TikTok-inspired) road trip to Clearwater just to try a place called Smalls Sliders. Because obviously, nothing says “great summer plan” like cheeseburgers and milkshakes in surface-of-the-sun weather.

So what is Smalls Sliders, you ask? It’s a cute lil spot serving up cheeseburger sliders with all the fixings—cheese, pickles, and their signature “Smauce,” which tastes suspiciously like spicy Big Mac sauce with a little extra attitude. They also sling waffle fries, milkshakes, and a queso dip that straight-up tried to fight me. Like… ma’am. Calm down. Not everybody wants their cheese to throw punches.

Full disclosure: I’m a spice wimp. I want flavor, not fire. So that queso and I? We are not besties. The sliders, though? Cheesy, saucy, and bite-sized perfection. The smauce added just enough zing without making me sweat more than I already was from just existing in Florida.

And the shake? I went for cookies and cream because, duh. Taste-wise: yum. Texture-wise: melted sadness. Look, Florida doesn’t play around with the heat. That shake went from frosty treat to Oreo soup in under three minutes. I felt like I was drinking the aftermath of a midnight snack gone rogue.

But here’s the thing: was it worth the hour-long drive? Honestly? Yeah. It was a fun little adventure, the food hit the spot, and I got to say I went somewhere just because I saw it on TikTok. That’s modern-day explorer energy right there.

So if you’re bored, hungry, and have the AC cranked to “blizzard,” go check out Smalls Sliders. Just maybe devour your shake… before Florida does.