Early this morning, Jeff Eats told you guys about Spadini’s Pizzeria, 134 Northeast 2nd Avenue, Boca Raton, Florida 33432, (561) 826-7420. The jist of that “article” was that Jeff Eats had heard terrific things about this relatively -new pizza joint (it opened in February 2013) and had “plans” to give it a shot in the near future. That original article is down below.

To make a long story short…

Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats decided to take food out tonight.

Items ordered… chopped salad (large $9.50), 16″ plain pizza (Wednesday Night Special $8), chicken parmigiana hero ($9.95), sausage & peppers hero ($8.95), penne alla vodka ($11.95)…and I gotta tell you, everything we had was delicious. A special shoutout to the pizza—let’s just say, that Spadini’s knows how to make a real New York Slice—thin crust, delicious sweet sauce, great tasting mozzarella. By the way, the heroes were big enough to feed two people–and featured a really tasty-lightly toasted bread.

Spadini’s Pizzeria is an absolute “hole in the wall”—a few tables inside and even fewer outside. You order at the counter/you pickup at the counter.

Based on the food that Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats “had”—Spadini’s is right up there with the best “mom & pop” red sauce joints in sunny South Florida.

You can check menu/prices at www.spadinispizzeria.com.

Finally, Spadini’s has a whole bunch of “specials”—like $8- 16″ pizzas on Wednesday and buy 2 heroes and get 1 free on Monday…so “ASK” what “deals” are on the table-before you order…Capice!

*****

Nothing for nothing…

Jeff Eats is hearing amazingly-fabulous-incredible “things” about a relatively new Boca Raton pizza joint…Spadini’s Pizzeria.

Just so we are straight with each other, Jeff Eats hasn’t gotten to the joint yet, but at least 7-maybe 11 or maybe it was 13 people (who have eaten there) told me that this “hole-in-the wall” turns out some of the best New York Style pizza/subs/other stuff that they have had- since migrating down here from Brooklyn, New York– Montclair, New Jersey–Hartford, Connecticut– Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania– Cortland, New York–Chicago, Illinois.

Being a top notch “reporter”- this morning Jeff Eats called Spadini’s Pizzeria and spoke to its owner 31 year old Thomas Sellick. Sellick told me that he has lived in South Florida for about a year and prior to coming down- he learned his “craft” working in his family’s Northport, New York (for those who don’t know, that’s part of Long Island) pizza joints. He told me that he opened for business on February 7, 2013—just so you know, Sellick bought out Mizner Plaza Pizza (reviewed 11/28/12), 134 Northeast 2nd Avenue, Boca Raton… did a drop of cosmetic surgery—and with new recipes and menus in hand re-opened as Spadini’s Pizzeria. Sellick told me that he has the same seating as Mizner Plaza had-that being a handful of tables inside and a handful outside. He also said-the joint works on an “order at the counter/pickup at the counter” system–but if you “want” he or one of his “guys” will bring the food over to your table.

Anyway…

Like I said, Jeff Eats is hearing terrific things about Spadini’s Pizzeria. If you get there before I do, I’d apprecaite hearing your thoughts.

You can check Spadini’s website www.spadinispizzeria.com for menu/prices/photos/other stuff.

Spadini’s Pizzeria, 134 Northeast 2nd Avenue, Boca Raton, Florida 33432, (561) 826-7123—is open Monday-Saturday 11am-11pm, Sunday noon-9pm.

The 64,000 Dollar Question:
Are the opinions of the folks from Montclair, Hartford, Pittsburgh, Cortland and Chicago-to be trusted on what consitutes top-notch New York Style pizza? We “know” that the Brooklyn folks are qualified, but-the others?—Jeff Eats is just asking!

Before Jeff Eats gets started here…let me state without equivocation- I’m not a shill for “gourmet” fast-food burger chain Shake Shack. Unfortunately, I don’t “have” a piece of this deal.

With that out of the way, let me reprint the two articles that Jeff Eats has already run on this up and coming chain.

***August 1, 2010
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.
***August 12, 2012
Back on August 1, 2010 Jeff Eats told you about Shake Shack which had just opened in South Beach..
In that “review”–I told you guys that Shake Shack a fast-food burger joint was “fast food at its best.”
Regular Jeff Eats readers know, that there is no doubt in my mind- that the fast-food burger “business” is totally oversaturated with players—that one day, in the very near future-this gigantic game of musical chairs is gonna end very badly for most of them. There is also no question in my mind, that when all is said and done, Shake Shack will be one of the few players left standing.
————–
This evening, Jeff Eats, Mrs. Jeff Eats, and another couple “attended” a “Friends & Family Practice” at the newest Shake Shack which is scheduled to open in Boca Raton at 11am this coming Monday–April 22, 2013. We were there roughly from 6:45 pm to 8pm and I would guess that something like 150 got to try Shake Shacks’ stuff… being a party of four, we made sure to order all types of “items”— double cheeseburger, french fries, cheese french fries, grilled hot dog, chocolate custard cone, coffee shake, chocolate toffee “concrete” (think Dairy Queen’s Blizzard and you’ll be on the right page), grilled chicken dog,

Let Jeff Eats make this as simple and as clear as possible…Shake Shacks’ food is delicious. That said, to give you guys a fair shake (pun intended)-the only item that needs improving are the french fries…Shake Shack uses a “frozen” product which is very good but it’s definitely not on the same level as the “fresh” cut fries that competitors like Five Guys and BurgerFi turn-out.

As I mentioned 3 seconds ago, this “practice” session was held in the new Boca Raton store. Talk about a great location—Shake Shack’s free standing building (which has both indoor and outdoor covered patio seating) is located right across the road from FAU’s campus and is in walking distance of Boca Raton High School, a half-dozen hotels, Boca Town Center and loads of office buildings. At this stage of the conversation check www.shakeshack.com for menu/prices/locations and loads of photos that will give you some idea as to what this really cool joint looks like.

Normally on his sojourns, Jeff Eats doesn’t sit/stand around talking to a joint’s management…that said, the “Friends & Family Practice” presented an opportunity to chat with Zachary Koff (VP of Operations), Greg Waters (Manager, Marketing & Communications), Josh (Boca’s Assistant General Manager), Dustin (Boca’s General Manager) and Peggy (Director of Training)…suffice it to say, those conversations made it quite obvious why Shake Shack is such a well-run business. No crapping around here, these folks know the fast food business inside and out and seem to have one single goal–that being to present the guest with an outstanding dining experience. Secure in the fact that I’m not a Shake Shack shill—Jeff Eats is telling you that my fast food operations background with Hardees, Discovery Zone and Johnny Rocket’s—kinda gives me a real good point of reference on how things are suppose to work…and Shake Shack comes as close to operational perfection as I’ve seen on the fast food level.

Let me end this thing by saying…

If you like burgers/hot dogs/fries/shakes and haven’t been to a Shake Shack (which currently has… 9 New York, 2 Connecticut, 3 Florida, 2 Washington DC, 1 Massachusetts, 1 Pennsylvania locations) you now have 3 South Florida locations to try and— find out if Jeff Eats knows what he’s talking about or is just a blabbering idiot.

***One final note, to Shake Shacks’ management do Jeff Eats a huge-gigantic favor and add a chicken burger to the menu…so he can get Mrs. Jeff Eats off his ass. Thanks,

Do you know what the saying “Dead on Arrival” means? Sure you do!

Last night Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats went to Boca Town Center to “try-out” Butcher & The Burger a new “gourmet” fast food burger joint which opened a couple of days ago in the mall’s food court.

For color, Jeff Eats was following up on a “tip” from Son Jeff Eats who had recently eaten in the Butcher & The Burger located in Chicago. Son Jeff Eats had reported delicious burgers/hand-cut fresh French fries/shakes. For the record, Butcher & The Burger has 1-free standing store in Chicago and the Boca outpost is its second outing.

Now, you guys know that Jeff Eats is a simple guy (I know what some of you are now thinking)…anyway-I was looking for a cheeseburger/French fries/Coke. According to the joint’s sign-board, that trio would have cost Jeff Eats $8.95 for the burger, $4.25 for the fries (small order) and Coke—throw in 6% sales tax and Jeff Eats’ meal would have run $13.99—Mrs. Jeff Eats’ turkey burger-side salad-Diet Coke would have run $13.78 (she has always been a cheap date). The owners of this joint must be kidding! For crying out loud, this is a food court fast food outing—$27.77 for this meal is absurd.

Just a word to the wise, if Jeff Eats thinks that Butcher & The Burger’s prices are too high—go to the bank-that most folks walking around that food court are gonna think the same thing.

DOA!!!

Let me wrap this one up for you…

Butcher & The Burger may have delicious food…but this meal didn’t “happen” because of price. One other thing that caught my eye, Butcher & The Burger’s shakes run $6.50—while Chik-fil-A (in the next-door booth) gets $3.69 for its shakes (yes! I know that you can’t get Chik’s shakes on Sunday)…

Butcher & The Burger is opened 7 days a week during mall hours.

You can check menu/pries at www.butcherandtheburger.com.

Just got back from having “lunch” at Pummarola…which is a relatively new Italian fast food joint located in the food-court at Boca Town Center.

Let me start by saying–Pummarola’s food was fabulous.

The joint’s menu is real simple—personal-sized wood fired pizza ($5.50-$8.50), panuozzo (pizza crust bread with fillings–$8.50), calzones ($8), pasta ($7-8), handful of sides ($3), handful of desserts ($3.50). At this stage of the conversation-you can check www.pummarola.us for full menu/prices/photos.

Now nothing for nothing, over the years- Jeff Eats has literally eaten in tons of Italian fast food mall joints…and I gotta tell you, that Pummarola’s food ranks right up there with the best that I’ve ever had…I’ll even go so far and tell you folks, that Pummarola’s food is as good as most of the stuff served at the best “mom & pop” red sauce Italian joints here in South Florida and elsewhere…I’ll even go on record and tell you, that Pummarola’s food is as good if not better than the stuff served at most of South Florida/elsewhere’s “upscale” Italian joints.

Right about now, some of you guys may-be saying…”Jeff has lost his mind or something.”

Trust me on this one…the “sampled” margherita pizza, chicken milanese panuozzo, fettuccine bolognese, gnocchi alfredo, spaghetti & meatballs, eggplant parmigiana–were absolutely positively delicious. Like Jeff Eats said 14 seconds ago, this joint’s food could easily go head to head with the best Italian stuff out there.

If I got my facts straight, Pummarola has only been open a few months…During the half-hour (3pm-3:30pm on a rainy Saturday) that Jeff Eats was in the food court–the joint did a nice steady business, but I definitely didn’t see long lines at the counter. The real concern that I have with Pummarola is that the guys who own it aren’t business-men…food guys yes!–business-men no! The reason I say this, is that Pummarola is located in a “double space” in the food court…and my pencil to napkin calculations tell me that the rent has to be something like $35,000 a month—and $35,000 a month is an enormous load of pizza/panuozzo/calzone/pasta. In addition, the space “features” a Fiat-car as a decoration…talk about pissing away valuable real-estate! I sure hope Jeff Eats is wrong here-because the food is tremendous…but I really think that Pummarola’s owners might have bit (pun intended) off too much to chew.

Putting “finances” and a car aside for a moment…

I’m telling you guys that you gotta check this joint out.

Pummarola is open 7 days a week during mall hours.

***** May 7, 2013 UPDATE

Just a quick update…

Since Jeff Eats’ April 13, 2013 “review” I and Mrs. Jeff Eats have eaten twice “at” Pummarola with the last outing being this evening—and I gotta tell you that my first impression still holds—the food is absolutely dynamite. Just wanted to mention that after you have finished eating this joint’s pizzas, pastas and sandwiches—give its tiramisu, cannoli and crepes a shot…I sampled all three this evening- and they are as good as the stuff turned out by South Florida’s best Italian bakeries.

Trust me on this..Pummarola is something very special.

A real short story for you guys…

Jeff Eats recently attended a big charity event…the kind, where on the day of the event- you play Zelig and hope that your tuxedo fits!

Anyway… for dessert, the event’s-sponsors had an enormous buffet of cakes, pastries, ice creams, pies—and 10 different types of cupcakes.

Being the public servant that he is, Jeff Eats “sampled” all 10—chocolate cheesecake, chocolate mint, pecan pie, espresso, banana cake, almond cake, triple chocolate, vanilla, strawberry cake, lemon cake…and I gotta tell you, these mini-cupcakes were sensationally delicious.

After the event, I learned that a small-hole-in-wall bakery, Jodi’s Cupcakes & More was the responsible party that had Jeff Eats dieting the next day.

Look, I’m no expert on cupcakes…with that in mind, what I do know—is that this joint turned-out some of the most novel-delicious flavored cupcakes that Jeff Eats has ever eaten.

You can check flavors at www.jodiscupcakesandmore.com.

Jodi’s is open Tuesday-Friday 9am-6pm, Saturday 9am-5pm, closed on Sunday-Monday.

Got one for you…Zinburger Wine & Burger Bar.

Just so you know, Zinburger hasn’t opened yet–it’s coming to Boca Town Center in Boca Raton…it’s going to be a few “doors down” from the Stir Crazy Fresh Asian Grill. Since Jeff Eats isn’t in the construction business, my best guess based on what I saw at its site—is that it will probably open sometime in the next 4-5 months. You do know that the City of Boca Raton isn’t the easiest “group” to deal with when opening a new restaurant, don’t you?

Zinburger is a very small-full service gourmet hamburger chain…it’s got a few locations in Arizona and a few in New Jersey.

You can check menu/prices/locations/photos at www.foxrc.com.

Jeff Eats is very familiar with Zinburger. I’ve eaten in its Tucson joint something like 5 times and I gotta tell you that it turns-out some of the most delicious burgers, fries, salads, shakes that I’ve eaten.

Now nothing for nothing…if the Boca Zinburger is anything- even close to what the Tucson outpost is—this joint will be an absolute homerun.

You guys now know about a new joint—before most of your friends do!

Got an absolutely terrific Chinese-takeout joint for you…Gary Woo Express in Boca Raton.

Just so you know, Jeff Eats originally “reviewed” this joint on August 19, 2009…suffice it to say, I loved its food back in 2009. Anyway, about 8 months ago new owners took over and to their credit, the food they are “banging-out” is even better than the original stuff. Trust me on this one, Gary Woo Express is right up there with the best Chinese restaurants that Jeff Eats has tried down here in South Florida.

When you check menu/prices at www.garywooexpress.com- in addition to loads of Chinese stuff you will find a huge Japanese menu. For the record, Jeff Eats, didn’t try any of the Japanese items, but if the Japanese food is as good as the Chinese stuff was—Gary Woo Express will be a joint where you can get both-delicious Chinese and Japanese takeout. Just so you know, Gary Woo Express has a couple of tables inside and a handful outside—but this joint is basically a takeout.

Applying Jeff Eats’ 1950′s Brooklyn Jewish Taste Test…sampled items included— won ton soup, tomato egg drop soup, egg rolls, pan fried pork dumplings, bbq ribs, general tso’s chicken, sweet & sour pork, pepper steak, shrimp in lobster sauce, chicken lo mein, roast pork fried rice. The result…Gary Woo Express is one of the best Chinese-takeoout joints that Jeff Eats has tried down here in South Florida. No kidding around, every item “tried” was delicious. To be perfectly honest with you, Jeff Eats’ original plan was to put the “dishes” in some sort of pecking order- but they were all dynamite–so I’ didn’t bother. For you wise-guys out there, No!–Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats didn’t eat “all” that food all by ourselves in one sitting…The fact of the matter, the taste test was conducted in 2-parts…some of the food was picked-up on a Thursday night and some was picked up on Saturday night—so there!

If I got one bitch here, I found the prices a drop- on the high side. No big deal–no second job needed…but the prices were definitely higher than the local competition.

Before I run…if you decide to try Gary Woo Express–when you get to the joint, you’ll find a “menu-rack” outside the front door. The takeout menus in the rack–have coupons and you can use them “right away”— Now that I’m thinking, the coupon that I used saved me 10% off my entire order. The point of all this yapping—use the coupons to off-set the higher-prices I detected.

Gary Woo Express was a “huge” find.

I am telling you, this joint is right up there with best of breed.

Gary Woo Express is open Monday-Friday 11am-10pm and Saturday-Sunday 2pm-10pm.

Just a quick update…last night, Jeff Eats “picked-up” a 20″ plain pizza at Manhattan Joe’s Pizzeria.

To close this story out…The pizza was OK!–Was it outrageously delicious? Nope! The thin crust had potential but was “undercooked”…the sweet sauce a drop on the bland side. That said, with just a drop of tinkering-and the joint’s owner could have something working here.

For the record, when I picked up my pizza, the joint had about 8 people eating in. I did notice some really nice looking salads and subs being “consumed.” As Jeff Eats just mentioned, I did a pizza pickup–so no opinion on the other stuff that this joint makes.

One final observation, while waiting for my order–Jeff Eats noticed a livery cab stop in front of Manhattan Joe’s with a guy jumping out from the backseat-running into the joint for a pickup order and then hopping back in the cab. Apparently, “somebody” really likes the joint’s food.

For our purposes, let’s call Manhattan Joe’s a work in progress.

***** Manhattan Joe’s Pizzeria *****

I need you-guys’ help on this one! Not to sound conceited or nothing, but because of Jeff Eats wit, good taste and style, Jeff Eats has kinda-large readership. No-bull, every day, Jeff Eats receives a number of e-mails “inviting” him to try this restaurant or that one…believe it or not, there are only so many hours in a day, bucks in Jeff Eats’ wallet and gallons of gas in his car—I just can’t get to “all of them”—but I do my best, for you guys.

Anyway…

A few months ago, Manhattan Joe’s Pizzeria- a “hole in the wall” pizza joint opened at 5030 Champion Boulevard in Boca Raton, (561 ) 995-6563. To date, Jeff Eats hasn’t had a chance to try the joint -out. From what I understand, Manhattan Joe’s Pizzeria is an order at/pickup at the counter operation…14 different pizzas, 6 different salads, 6 different subs, handful of other items like calzones and chocolate cake. Handful of tables inside/handful outside. The joint does slices during the day/full pies at night.

Do me a favor and check this one out for me. I promise, I’ll eventually get to it…Just so you know, this past weekend- 3 different people mentioned the joint to me—and all three raved about how delicious the pizza/salad/subs were. By the way, —one of the “ravers”- I think, really knows his pizza and if he says its a dynamite New York slice–then, the joint is probably making a dynamite New York slice.

Like I said a few seconds ago, Jeff Eats has Manhattan Joe’s Pizzeria on its “to do list.” Based on the real possibility that this joint may-be a “homerun”—I owe it to you guys to get you there, ahead of others.

I need you-guys’ help on this one! Not to sound conceited or nothing, but because of Jeff Eats wit, good taste and style, Jeff Eats has kinda-large readership. No-bull, every day, Jeff Eats receives a number of e-mails “inviting” him to try this restaurant or that one…believe it or not, there are only so many hours in a day, bucks in Jeff Eats’ wallet and gallons of gas in his car—I just can’t get to “all of them”—but I do my best, for you guys.

Anyway…

A few months ago, Manhattan Joe’s Pizzeria- a “hole in the wall” pizza joint opened at 5030 Champion Boulevard in Boca Raton, (561 ) 995-6563. To date, Jeff Eats hasn’t had a chance to try the joint -out. From what I understand, Manhattan Joe’s Pizzeria is an order at/pickup at the counter operation…14 different pizzas, 6 different salads, 6 different subs, handful of other items like calzones and chocolate cake. Handful of tables inside/handful outside. The joint does slices during the day/full pies at night.

Do me a favor and check this one out for me. I promise, I’ll eventually get to it…Just so you know, this past weekend- 3 different people mentioned the joint to me—and all three raved about how delicious the pizza/salad/subs were. By the way, —one of the “ravers”- I think, really knows his pizza and if he says its a dynamite New York slice–then, the joint is probably making a dynamite New York slice.

Like I said a few seconds ago, Jeff Eats has Manhattan Joe’s Pizzeria on its “to do list.” Based on the real possibility that this joint may-be a “homerun”—I owe it to you guys to get you there, ahead of others.

Got a real good, “mom & pop” red sauce” Italian joint for you…Mizner Plaza Pizza in Boca Raton.

If you wanna talk “hole in the wall”…talk, Mizner Plaza Pizza. The joint is located in a strip center-right across the street from Mizner Park—maybe the joint has 6 tables inside and 4 tables outside. For a bit of color—I think this crap location had two other pizza joints before Mizner Plaza decided to test its luck in the spot.

At this stage of the game–you can check menu/prices at www.miznerplazapizza.com.

Let’s talk food…

The other night- Jeff Eats, Mrs. Jeff Eats and another couple tried Mizner Plaza Pizza out for dinner. We ordered a chopped salad, large plain pizza, veal parm sub, meat lasagna, sausage/peppers/onion sub—everything was right on the money. I will tell you, that the pizza which was thin/crisp/sweet sauce was absolutely delicious.

Just so we are straight with each other, Mizner Plaza Pizza is a “pizza joint.”…Nothing fancy going on here—so your shorts/tee shirt ensemble is the dress of the day.

Let me wrap this one up for you, Jeff Eats really enjoyed Mizner Plaza Pizza. The food was very good. The prices were neighborhood pizza joint prices. The no frills atmosphere was cool.

Mizner Plaza Pizza is open Monday-Thursday 11am-9:30pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-10:30pm, Sunday noon-8:30pm.