This joint’s name…Big Foot Gyro & Subs- should give you a “hint” as to what this order at/pickup at the counter- free standing-hole in the wall restaurant is all about.

Check www.bigfoot4u.com for menu/prices/photos.

Big Foot has the expected full-boat of hot/cold subs…the kicker, it also has a load of Greek salads-plates, gyros and pita sandwiches.

A recent outing had me doing…chicken salad sub (large-$7.49), meatloaf sub (large- $7.49), gyro sub (large-$8.50), chicken gyro on pita bread ($6.99), steak/onion/peppers sub (large-$8.49)…every sandwich was delicious. Great fillings and fresh baked bread.

This is one of the best sub joints that I have been in–down here in old South Florida. Throw in the Greek “spin” and this joint is a big-winner.

Big Foot is open Monday-Friday 7am-7pm, Saturday 7am-3pm, closed on Sunday.

Kona Bay Cafe is a super casual-beachy decor “breakfast-lunch” joint…that has counter & inside table /outside patio seating. Check www.konabaycafe.com for menu/prices and pictures that will “tell” you exactly what this joint looks like. Bathing suits are considered dresswear.

On the food front…nice, but not overly large-selection of breakfast-stuff (which is served all day). The lunch menu (like the breakfast menu, not overly large) has salads, wraps, sandwiches. A recent breakfast had me doing…a short stack of apple cinnamon pancakes ($4.95), a short stack of chocolate chip pancakes ($4.45), strawberry stuffed French toast ($6.45), western omelete ($7.95)—everything was just right.

Kona Bay is open 7 days a week for breakfast & lunch.

S & S Diner is a REAL DINER…the joint has been around since 1938, has no booths or tables…customers sit at an 18 seat horseshoe counter. This is a cash only joint. The only thing that “tells” you that it’s 2010 is a flat screen tv…and of course the prices—no 5 cent coffee.

The way I figure it, if a joint has been around for something like 72 years, just maybe it’s doing something right–don’t ya think?

S & S does breakfast, lunch, early dinner…pleny of breakfast stuff, sandwiches, burgers, salads and “daily specials” like meatloaf and turkey.

Like I said before–real diner. Nothing fancy here…just solid good diner food.

S & S is open Monday-Friday 6am-6pm and Saturday-Sunday 6am-2pm.

Let’s call this one a “diner.” There is both inside and outside patio seating.

Check www.wiltonmanorscourtyardcafe.com for menu/prices.

This joint has some heavy duty extensive hours. Sunday-Wednesday 7am-3am, Thursday-Saturday 12am-12am (that’s 24 hours).

Let’s talk…huge menu- loads of breakfast stuff, appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, salads, meat-seafood-chicken entrees, desserts. Very reasonable prices. Plenty of “specials.”

Is Shawn & Nick’s the best diner that I’ve ever been in? Nope!…that said, the bacon cheese burger/sweet potato fries ($7.75) was pretty decent…same for chicken salad wrap/french fries ($7.75), raisin French toast ($3.75). I thought that the “The Mess” (2 scrambled eggs mixed with bacon, sausage, ham, American cheese) was outstanding ($5.95).

So…you now know about a diner, that has reasonable prices, decent enough stuff and is open when most other joints are long dark.

Got something really terrific for you…a wholesale/retail bakery & a wholesale/retail bagel-deli store. Same owners, right next to each other. This is strictly a takeout operation.

Guaranteed-absolutely-positively, that if I didn’t tell you about this joint, the chances are that you would never-ever find it. Crazy-crazy location…the joint is located in the “back” of the Hillsboro Antique Mall which is “housed” in the Festival Marketplace on Sample Road. There are 2- long retail counters (one for each business) and a huge bakery–kitchen operation where the stuff is made.

S & I and Gourmet make outrageously delicious—bagels, bialys, cakes, cookies, breads, salads, knishes, deli meats. The stuff is so good, that it is wholesaled to numerous restaurants, markets, bakeries, country clubs from Homestead–Jupiter, Florida.

Today, I brought home a mixed dozen bagels/bialys and I gotta tell you that the—everything, onion, plain were right up there with the best that I’ve had down here in South Florida. As for the bialys, as good as it gets…I kinda think that The Boys Farmers Market in Delray Beach (see reviews–6/1/10–May 6, 2009) which has great bialys– gets those bialys and many of its other terrific baked goods from S & I. Now-to continue my story, I also picked-up, potato-kasha-sweet potato knishes, which were absolutely delicious. My takeout order also had me doing, marble chiffon cake, chocolate rugalah, almond horn, apple turnover…excellent. I also did a pound of brisket, pound of corned beef, pound of pastrami—Now you guys know that I am very particular about my deli meats…that said, today’s “find” now has me “knowing” another joint (and there aren’t too many down here in South Florida) where I can get a really good NYC style deli sandwich.

For anyone not familar with the Festival Marketplace…it’s something like 400,000 square feet and has more watch stands–perfume stands–jewelry stands–shoe stands–cosmetic stands–sunglass stands–than any one person should be forced to walk by on a Sunday afternoon. From what I understand, S & I–Goumet Bagel have been in this flea market for over 10 years and were part of the “famers’ market” section which recently closed. It is now part of an antique mall surrounded by a ton of antique stands–which makes no sense whatsoever. Think of it logically, when was the last time that you went out to buy a dozen bagels and a 1952 Howdy Doody poster at the same “location”?

Anyway…you now know about a really good bakery-bagel-deli operation.

S & I Bakery and Gourmet Bakery Exchange are open 9:30am-5pm 7 days a week.

One of life’s simple pleasures…walking around the Festival Marketplace eating a sour pickle on a stick…don’t knock it till you’ve tried it…and it only costs 60 cents, 2 for a buck.

New York Pickle Co. is a “stand” located in the Festival Marketplace. The joint has been around for 18 years and has some of the most delicious sour–half sour–tomatoes–sauerkrat–peppers–olives in all of South Florida. The stuff is shipped in weekly from New York City and is sold from “old fashioned” barrels.

For you “old time” New Yooorkers…New York Pickle Co. is as close to Guss’ Pickles as you are gonna come. By the way, Guss’ which was around for close to 100 years (on the lower eastside) closed a few years ago.

Like I said before, one of life’s simple pleasures. Personally, I’d rather walk around a flea-market with a sour pickle on a stick than a cup of yogurt, any day of the week.

Trust me on this one—to paraphase Mikey’s brother…”Try it, you’ll like it.”

New York Pickle is open Monday-Friday 9:30am-5pm and Saturday-Sunday 9:30am-6pm.

Mr. M’s…order at/prickup at the counter sub shop…plenty of indoor seating.

Mr. M’s Sub Sandwich Shops makes outrageously delicious subs. Check www.mrmssubs.com for menu/prices.

A recent outing had me “doing” tuna salad sub, chicken salad sub, philly cheese steak ,chicken parmesan sub…like I said, outrageously good. The joint has the full gamut of hot and cold subs– sandwiches and salads.

This is one of the best sub shops that I’ve been to- down here in South Florida.

Mr. M’s is open Monday-Saturday 8am-8pm and Sunday 11am-6pm.

Shake Shack…”order at/pickup at counter…burgers, fries, hot dogs, custard, shakes.

There are 5 Shake Shacks in New York City…1-in Saratoga, New York…1-in Miami, Florida.

This is “fast food” at its best.

Check www.shakeshacknyc.com for menu/prices/locations/pictures.

The next time you are down in South Beach, this joint is an absolute-must-try…Just so you know, Shake Shack has a cult-like-following…so don’t be surprised by some heavy duty crowds and lines.

Shake Shack is open Sunday-Thursday 11:30am-midnight, Friday-Saturday 11:30am-1am.

Let me make this one short and simple…

Stephen’s with its formica tables–and formica counter seating has been around for something like 60 years. Sort of like entering a timewarp…NYC diner/NYC deli circa 1950′s-60′s.

Stephen’s which is open Monday-Friday 7am-3:30pm has the full gamut of breakfast dishes, sandwiches, burgers, deli meats-plates, “blue plate specials” like meatloaf–but only on Tuesdays.

I recently did lunch “trying” pastrami on rye, corned beef on rye, brisket with potato pancakes…and I gotta tell you, if I squint my eyes, I’m at… Sam’s Candy Store & Deli, Cortelyou Road & East 8th Street, Brooklyn, New York— 1957. I absolutely loved the food and “the place.”

I don’t know about you, but joints like Stephen’s hold a special place in old Jeff’s heart (now I’m going all sentimental on you)…

Got a rare bird for you…an “American Style Grill” that has delicious food, reasonable prices, great decor, excellent service—Joe’s American Bar & Grill located in The Mall at Wellington Green—a few feet from the food-court.

Just so you know, Joe’s is a “chain operation” with a handful of locations in CT, MA, NH, NJ, RI—the Wellington joint is its only Florida location. You can check menu/prices/locations at www.joesamerican.com.

The other day I did lunch at Joe’s…mac & cheese ($7.99), cobb salad (12.75), plain wood-fired pizza ($9.99), 1/2lb hamburger w/fries ($8.95), babyback bbq ribs w/fries & cole slaw (1/2 rack $13.50–full rack $17.99)—I am telling you, whoever is “running” Joe’s has the game figured-out—the food was delicious. Assuming you haven’t checked the lunch-dinner “menus” yet, Joe’s which has a full bar–dark wood decor has loads of appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, meat-seafood-chicken entrees, desserts.

Over the years, I have eaten in my fair share of– sports-bars, American grills, diners, steakhouses down here in South Florida…I am telling you, Joe’s is one of the best joints that I have tried. Another beautiful thing about Joe’s, it’s super casual so your tee shirt/shorts’ ensemble will work there day or night.

Like I said before, Joe’s is located in a mall–that said, when the mall is closed, there is a separate entrance that allows Joe’s to keep different hours than the mall schedule. There is also an outside patio, so if that’s your game, Joe’s has you covered.

This joint is a winner. If TGI Friday’s, Houston’s, J. Alexander’s, Ruby Tuesday, “You Name In Sports Bar” are some of your haunts, I think that you will really enjoy Joe’s American.

Joe’s American Bar & Grill is open 7 says a week for lunch 11am-4pm and dinner 4pm-11pm.