NAVARRE, FL - Walking into Johnny Huston's Grille and Bar is something like, one would imagine, walking onto the set of "Tool Time."
   
Shiny metal catches the eye immediately upon entering, glittering from all corners of the room. It's used in a unique, guyish, way to add to the allure of the place.
   
That's only a first impression, though, because the owners of this one-of-a-kind place have designed it to keep a visitor's eye roving around the room.
   
There's the front end of a car hanging over the bar, and TV's scattered all around.

The food
The eatery, off U.S. Highway 98, offers a nice reprieve from the heat and sun. Its mid-day fare is burgers and pizza, but full meal "platters" include ribs, seafood, chicken dishes and a steak of the day. Johnny Huston's Grille and Bar offers patrons the opportunity to "Build your own Burgers" for $8.99 and provides 11 alternative condiments with which to build from.
   
All of the stuff you'd expect (cheese, bacon, chili) number among the 11, and a few items you wouldn't (guacamole, black olives, jalapenos) also appear on the list.
   
For the heartiest of souls, there's the Big Johnny Burger.
   
It's a monster of a meal, with two meat patties served between three slices of toasted white bread.
   
Like the burgers, the pizza is also build your own. One- to four-topping 10-inch pizzas sell for $7.99 and pizzas of five items or more run $9.99.
   
The atmosphere
Johnny Huston's Grille and Bar is named for Johnny Huston Walters, the owner's, Ken Walters, grandfather.
   
And two poster-size photos of the elder Mr. Walters adorn the walls of the restaurant.
   
Johnny Huston Walters, was, Walters, said, something of an entrepreneur.
   
He got his start in pinball machines and ended up owning a restaurant/café, cab service and pool hall in Selma, Ala.
   
Following in his grandpa's tradition, Ken Walters bought the building he's in - ironically enough a former automobile repair facility - with the intention of turning it into what it is today.
   
But by the time he'd gotten all the permitting and other items required to begin renovations, the bottom fell out of the economy.
   
"We did a lot of the work ourselves," Walters said.
   
The service
How can you go wrong with a bartender named Turtle?
   
The wait staff at Johnny Huston's is young and enthusiastic, quick to help and eager to please.
   
Walters said his crew still struggles some to produce "consistent-tasting food" but adds that "when you start with a new staff that's hard to do."
   
He also said "the last three to four months we've had 99 percent positive responses on food."
 
A final taste
A nice stop for a cold beverage, a quick lunch or for dinner and an evening of watching sports. Johnny Huston's Grille and Bar is a neat place to hang out.

QuickBITES
Johnny Huston's Grille and Bar

Location
7634 Navarre Parkway
Navarre
850-936-9900

Hours
11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Wednesday
11 a.m.-midnight Thursday-Saturday
11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday

Reservations
Not necessary

Handicap accessibility
Good

Children's menu
Kids eat free on Tuesdays

Price range
Appetizers
$5.99-$9.99
Platters
$11.99-$16.99
Sides
$1.69-$2.99