The other night- Jeff Eats, Mrs. Jeff Eats and a couple of friends got-up to Burt & Max’s located in the Delray Marketplace for dinner…for our purposes, let’s call this an “American Style” joint.

Burt & Max’s is the latest venture of Rapoport’s Restaurant Group which also owns/operates Bogart’s Bar & Grille (in the Cinemark Palace 20–Boca Raton), Deck 84 (Delray Beach), Henry’s (Boca Raton) and E&J’s Sandwich Shop (Delray Beach).

If you guys want to do some checking, back on February 4, 2009 Jeff Eats gave Bogart’s a glowing review—same for Henry’s on August 23, 2009. Deck 84 wasn’t so “lucky” as Jeff Eats creamed it on June 17, 2012. E&J’s has yet to be visited…so no one (other than the Shadow) knows how that one will turn out!

Rather than dwelling on old news..

Real fast, a few months back a huge new shopping center Delray Marketplace opened in Delray Beach and on February 26, 2013 Jeff Eats “predicted” it would quickly develop into a gigantic white elephant. Just so you know, Burt & Max’s is a tenant in that center.

Okay…now let me tell you about Burt & Max’s!

Jeff Eats, Mrs. Jeff Eats and our friends absolutely loved the joint. It is a gorgeous looking restaurant which has a full bar–indoor/ outdoor patio seating. At this stage, you can check www.burtandmaxs.com for menu/prices/and tons of photos– booths/tables/wooden floors/patio/bar. Trust me on this, Burt & Max’s rustic-décor is terrific—and the beautiful thing-any kind of dress is gonna work there, including your tee shirt/shorts ensemble.

Let’s talk food…

Nothing for nothing, just so you know-Burt & Max’s menu isn’t “huge”– but there are enough appetizers, salads, sandwiches, wood fired pizzas, meat/chicken/seafood entrees and desserts… so everybody is gonna find what to eat.

Ordered items…wood roasted chicken wings (appetizer $11), chopped salad ($9), 10oz cheeseburger/steak fries ($14), margherita pizza ($12), fried chicken & waffles ($19), blackened mahi sandwich/sweet potato fries ($14).

The verdict…the meal was just right. Every item was right on the money, with a special shout-out to the cheeseburger and the blacken mahi. By the way, the service was as pleasant as could be–and my “eye” didn’t catch even one little slip-up—after all, the joint is only a few months old so I was on guard!

Don’t care for Delray Marketplace’s location, layout or tenant mix…but Jeff Eats really enjoyed Burt & Max’s Bar and Grille.

By the way, it seems that Burt & Max’s is already a “hit”—we were there last Friday night and “packed” would be putting it mildly. Think “reservation” on Friday and Saturday.

Burt & Max’s is open Sunday-Thursday for dinner 5pm-10pm, Friday-Saturday 5pm-11pm, for lunch Saturday 11:30am-3pm, brunch Sunday 11am-3pm.

For your consideration, Jeff Eats has reprinted a PR piece that he recently received from Rapoport’s Restaurant Group.

“Esteemed Restaurateur Burt Rapoport, founder of Rapoport’s Restaurant Group, is giving back to the local community and kicking off the summer season in South Florida by celebrating his 2013 ‘Dream Big Small Business of the Year’ recognition by the United States Chamber of Commerce with a fun filled community event for all ages from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 11th at the all new Delray Marketplace Amphitheater.
Headlined by original Beach Boy Founder David Marks and the Surf City Allstars, the charity concert and evening of food, drink and live entertainment will directly benefit two local 501(c)(3) organizations, Boca Raton’s Golden Bell Education Foundation and the Achievement Centers of Delray Beach. The entire community is involved to “Surf into Summer” and enjoy the festivities. This will be the first official concert held at the amphitheater.
The charity concert is a way for Rapoport to thank their loyal customers while giving back to the local community and The Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce. Without their support, Rapoport’s Restaurant Group would not have been nominated and selected one of seven regional finalists out of over 1,000 applicants for the 2013 DREAM BIG Small Business of the Year.”
Contact Rapoport’s at 561.826.1790 for sponsorship opportunities!
For more information, please visit www.rapoportsrg.com/surf
*****
Now I maybe dead wrong here, but when I first read “this”…it seemed to me that Rapoport’s was throwing a FREE EVENT for the community. I figured that, Rapoport’s was really doing “this” to promote its brand new restaurant Burt & Max’s which recently opened in the Delray Marketplace in Delray Beach. Between you, me and the bedpost—it sounded like a great public event and a great way for Burt & Max’s to advertise itself.

Low and behold as I later learned…this isn’t a free anything. Tickets are $30, $60, $100, Kids under 12 are $10…with a ticket you do get 2 drinks and some food samplings.

Look, nothing for nothing…Jeff Eats has been in the entertainment/music industry for over 45 years. For what it’s worth, the Surf City Allstars are very good, but trust me, they ain’t The Beach Boys. This group is basically just a TRIBUTE BAND that for this date- is being fronted by David Marks who was an original member of The Beach Boys who was “fired” early on in their career.. What I’m trying to tell you is, that an act like this- (unless some booking agent totally robbed the sponsors of this “event”) is not an expensive band to book. Now, there are all kinds of “booking” considerations—but Jeff Eats has seen Beach Boys’ tribute acts in South Florida who play at the level of the Surf City All Stars (if not better) and they were priced in the $1,250-$2,500 range. Not that it really matters, the members of the Surf City Allstars use various configurations and band names such as Califonia Surf Inc. “cashing in” on their claimed Beach Boys’ connections.

All Jeff Eats can say is…Rapoport’s Restaurant Group you really do yourself a disservice when you write and claim and I quote–”The charity concert is a way for Rapoport to thank their loyal customers while giving back to the local community…”

The way you THANK LOYAL CUSTOMERS and GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY is by throwing a FREE CONCERT…not charging $30-$60-$100-$10 to see a TRIBUTE BAND that- if you know what you are doing can be bought “dirt cheap.”–and you write a decent sized check to the charities you linked up with.

Now, Jeff Eats hasn’t checked the “books”—but my money says that this “event” if all goes to (its) plan—won’t cost the Rapoport’s Restaurant Group one red cent.

One final note…as you guys know–Jeff Eats wasn’t too impressed with the Delray Marketplace (2/26/13 Delray Marketplace)…for the record, I thought that its amphitheater was extremely amateurish looking. If I recall the setup correctly, I am almost positive that you can see the stage without sitting/standing on the theater’s grass. With that in mind, unless Rapoport’s constructs a huge-high barrier around the perimeter, you should, if you want-see the band from the “mall’s” general areas. For sure, you will definitely be able to hear the music from the general areas.

To: Rapoport’s Restaurant Group:
You should be ashamed of yourself promoting this event as being a community event.
Call it what it really is.
You are staging an event to promote your new restaurant…you are charging for tickets…you are tying a charity into the event.
AND “your loyal customers” and “the community” who don’t pay for a ticket CAN’T COME!

I Just Don’t Get It-Do You?

**Between you and me, Jeff Eats GOT IT and I know you GOT IT.

Finally, Delray Marketplace a 258,000 square foot “center” opened in Delray Beach at the intersection of West Atlantic Avenue and Lyons Road.

Check www.delraymarket.com for a list of stores/businesses that includes Publix, Frank Theatres CineBowl & Grille, Chico’s, White House/Black Market, Jos. A Bank and Burt & Max’s Grille.

Here’s a “call” for you guys…the Delray Marketplace will prove to be an absolute “white elephant” and a financial disaster for most of the tenants that took leases.

Just for starters- stop and think for a second…
Do we really need another Jos. A Bank men’s clothing store peddling–buy 1 suit and get 3 suits and 9 ties for free?
Do we really need an upscale candy store named IT’SUGAR where candy sells for “an arm and a leg?”
Do we really need another White House/Black Market a women’s chain which literally has stores in every major American shopping mall?
Do we really need another Chico’s a women’s chain which literally has stores in every major American shopping mall?

Look! Jeff Eats could go on and on–telling you that Delray Marketplace is just like that movie “Groundhog Day”—but I won’t.

Real simple…America’s retail-space is OVERBUILT. In this particular case, Delray Beach–doesn’t need any new retail businesses. Trust me, every one of its residents has seen it-done it.

I’m hearing that some “tenants” are paying 50 bucks a square foot…to be part of what will prove to be Armageddon.

Only time will tell, but my money says that most of Delray Marketplace’s tenants will dread the day that their lawyers said it was “ok” to sign their leases.

The Office…casual American-Style joint in Delray Beach.

Yesterday, Jeff Eats and Son Jeff Eats had lunch at The Office in Delray. Let me start by saying, that it’s a great looking- modern- cool-joint with both inside/outdoor seating. It has a full bar, with loads of beers on tap–the bar is two sided/you can sit inside or outside. You can check menu/prices/photos at www.theofficedelray.com.

The Office’s menu is far from being huge…that said, it has enough appetizers, salads, burgers, entrees, desserts to get the job done.

Look! Let me get this off my chest—I thought that that The Office was an absolute RIP-OFF. 1 cheeseburger and 1 bacon cheeseburger (both came with french fries) and a 10 oz bottle of Coke (no refills) shouldn’t cost $46 with the tip. Trust me, Jeff Eats is- no cheapskate…but when we left, I was really annoyed that I had just got bagged. As for the food, Son Jeff Eats thought that his cheeseburger was delicious-same for the fries, while Jeff Eats thought that the bacon cheeseburger was ok-but nothing special and that the fries were pretty decent.

Jeff Eats can’t render an opinion on “other” menu items…because I didn’t try them. Based on the burgers/fries at “tourist” prices—Jeff Eats in all good conscious can’t recommend this joint to you.

Maybe I’m getting old or something, but I was actually offended by the “check.”

If you don’t offend as “easily” as Jeff Eats does or have cash to burn…or your a tourist…

The Office is open Sunday-Thursday 11:30am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 11:30am-11pm.

The other day Jeff Eats got the following e-mail from long time reader Bill from Delray:

From: Bill from Delray
Subject: Great new Chinese Restaurant in Delray
Message Body:
Jeff,
Wife and I have been to the Panda Gourmet restaurant in Delray twice now. The last visit was the acid test… taking my 91 year old mother-in-law with us. The food is fresh and first quality, the prices crazy low and they’ve been publishing 50% off the second entree (including early bird) in the Sun Sentinel a couple of times a week for a while.
The earlybird, by the way, includes soup, egg roll or spring roll and ice cream. Three of us ate for $34 plus tip and the entree size was not reduced because of the earlybird.
Looking forward to seeing what you have to say about this little family run hole in the wall place.
Bill
***
Bill from Delray:
Based on your recommendation I gave Panda Gourmet a “shot” this evening.

Jeff Eats “sampled” wonton soup, egg rolls, fried pork dumplings, bbq ribs, general tso’s chicken, moo shu pork, roast pork fried rice. Now- no kidding around here, EVERY ITEM had absolutely no taste whatsoever. No question about it, some of the blandest Chinese food I’ve ever eaten in South Florida. Now nothing for nothing, but I’m thinking that just maybe the early-bird coupon deals colored your opinion—because this stuff was in no way, shape or form even remotely close to being good.

Well Bill!…That’s what Jeff Eats thinks and based on my maiden voyage, I definitely won’t be returning even though the super-pleasant owners gave me a handful of “coupons” on my way out.

For those of you guys who want to make up your own “mind”…

Panda Gourmet is open Monday-Thursday 11:30am-9:30pm, Friday 11:30am-10pm, Saturday noon-10pm, Sunday noon-9:30pm.

Friends of mine (yes, Jeff Eats has friends!) who recently visited New Orleans “raved” about fast food bbq joint—VOODO BBQ & GRILL.

Anyway, purely by coincidence-this morning I received a press release about this small bbq chain

From what I understand, 3 South Florida locations are “in the works” for 2013 namely, Pembroke Pines, Kendall and Delray Beach.

Thought you guys might like to be the first to know about a “new” franchise headed our way.
***
From: Todd Templin
Subject: ttemplin@boardroompr.com

Message Body:
For Immediate Release

Media Inquiries:
Todd Templin
Boardroom Communications Inc.
954-370-8999 (office) or 954-290-0810
ttemplin@boardroompr.com

Susan R. Miller
Boardroom Communications Inc.
954-370-8999 (office) or 954-294-4973 (cell)
smiller@boardroompr.com

VooDoo BBQ & Grill is Set to Bring Its New Orleans Magic To Kendall

Lease is signed for 2,500-square-foot location at The Palms at Town & Country

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – Sept. 27, 2012 – VooDoo BBQ & Grill, the nation’s fastest-growing barbecue franchise, will soon bring its Cajun-Creole barbecue fusion menu to Kendall, FL. Its Florida franchisee group, BBQ Boyz, LLC, has signed a lease for 2,500 square feet of space at 8326 Mills Drive in the Palms at Town & Country shopping center. The Kendall location will feature indoor and outdoor seating for 85 people. Construction will begin in the first quarter of next year, with opening scheduled for March 2013.
New Orleans-based VooDoo BBQ & Grill has been recognized as one of the most successful fast casual restaurant franchises in the industry, with locations opening or under development in more than 56 cities and five states. The very first restaurant opened on Mardi Gras Day in 2002, right on the parade route in New Orleans.
VooDoo BBQ & Grill is known for its mouth-watering, competition-style barbecue that stands out from the rest. It features chicken, ribs, pork and brisket that are all hand-rubbed with authentic Cajun spices and then slow-smoked to perfection. And there are three signature barbecue sauces for diners to choose from. For those who might want something different, the menu offers other Cajun favorites like gumbo, PoBoy sandwiches, and a variety of salads and burgers all prepared with the spice and magic of Louisiana. VooDoo BBQ also features down-home side dishes like Gris Gris Greens, Rattlesnake Beans, Corn Pudding, Zapp’s Potato Chips, Sweet Potato Souffle, as well as a variety of desserts.
“We are looking forward to bringing a taste of New Orleans to South Florida,” said VooDoo CEO Tony Avila. “We know from our research that Floridians love their barbecue and I’m convinced that once they taste our magic, they will be hooked like so many others are.”
“When you think of New Orleans you think of Mardi Gras, parties and fun,” said Jack Flechner, president of BBQ Boyz, LLC. That’s the same vibe you’ll find in VooDoo too. I’m expecting that South Florida will eat it up. It’s something very new and different for the area.”
BBQ Boyz, LLC purchased rights to fund, develop and operate up to 26 VooDoo BBQ & Grill locations in Florida, south of the Panhandle. The first South Florida restaurant will open in Pembroke Pines in November, followed by Delray Beach, Kendall and Fort Lauderdale.
About VooDoo BBQ & Grill
VooDoo opened its first location in New Orleans on Mardi Gras Day 2002. VooDoo serves competition-style barbecue beef, pork and chicken with down-home side dishes, plus salads and sandwiches, in a clean, colorful fast-casual environment. The company is ranked in Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Franchise 500” and is also a recipient of the Franchise Business Review’s “Top 50 Franchisee Satisfaction Awards.” For more information log on to www.voodoobbq.com.
About BBQ Boyz, LLC
BBQ Boyz, LLC is a restaurant development company that is a licensed franchisee of VooDoo BBQ & Grill. The principles have more than twenty five years of collective experience in the restaurant industry and are also licensed attorneys and experienced developers. For more information log onto www.thebbqboyz.com.

Puccini’s Pizzeria…small “mom & pop” red sauce chain–there are currently 4 locations in South Florida.

This evening Jeff Eats picked up a large plain pizza from the Boca Raton joint. In a former life, this particular location was “Renzo’s Pizzeria.” The joint has a handful of tables inside and outside. You can check www.puccinispizza.com for menu/prices.

Like I said a few seconds ago “all” I did was pickup a large pizza. So, Jeff Eats can’t comment on the full boat of appetizers, pastas, subs, calzones, wraps and meat/chicken/seafood entrees this joint dishes out. So…I’m only going to yap about that pizza.

Now on-to the pizza…the pizza had a real nice thin delicious crunchy crust…the cheese was nice and gooey and when the slice was folded and pointed down–the requisite brown drops of oil dripped out…the only problem Jeff Eats had was that the sauce was bland and I do mean bland–actually “boring” maybe a better word…if the sauce had been sweeter, we would be “talking” about a delicious pizza–but it wasn’t, so we aren’t!

You guys remember the Strawbs’ song “So Close And Yet So Far Away”?…

Based on this “pickup”—Puccini’s wouldn’t be Jeff Eats’ pizza “to go” joint…That said, based on the crust, cheese, dripping oil—IF and it’s a big IF, Puccini’s tinkered a bit with that sauce—it has a real shot of turning that pie around.

Like I said before, Jeff Eats only tried the pizza, so I have no idea what Puccini’s other stuff is all about.

In closing, if you guys “hear” or I “hear” that a tinkering has happened, I will try Puccini’s pizza again..

That’s the story here.

The other day in the mail, I got a FREE “discount” coupon book from a Boynton Beach based company named Prestige Coupons, 36 Meadows Place, Boynton, Beach, Florida 33436, (561) 573-8404.

To make a long story short, the coupon book had something like 100 coupons offering discounts at all kinds of businesses in Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Deerfield Beach, Delray Beach, Lake Worth and Lighthouse Point. For our purposes, there were quite a few “restaurant” coupons–and I will tell you, coincidentally-a number of the restaurants had favorable Jeff Eats’ reviews.

If coupons are your game, it may pay to give Prestige Coupons a call or contact at it at www.prestigecoupons.net and have your name put on its mailing list for future coupon books.

Last night, ate at this Delray Beach “American Style” joint- which has both indoor and outdoor patio seating–on the Intracoastal.

Do you know what a waste of time and money is? Well, if you don’t…eat dinner there and then you’ll know.

Over the past year or so, Jeff Eats has been “hearing” mixed thoughts on Deck 84. Unfortunatley for me, Mrs. Jeff Eats and another couple decided to find-out for ourselves what the skinny was.

Overpriced! No way that 3 salads, 2 hamburgers, 2 crab cake sandwiches, 2 Cokes and a glass of house wine should cost $152 (with tip).

Very limited menu–and I do mean limited. Don’t belive me? If you check www.deck84.com you’ll see what I am talking about. For 152 bucks-you would kinda think that the burgers and sandwiches would have been “hot” and not luke warm. You would also think, that the sweet potato tater tots wouldn’t be cold and taste like something right out of Publix’s frozen food shelves—same for the boiled greenbeans that came with the crab cakes. By the way, forgetting about their “temperature”–the food was okay, but nothing that anyone would go running back for.

The service is okay–sport’s bar quality.

You would also think, that the outdoor patio “right on” the Intracoastal would be a dynamite place to sit—and wouldn’t have a “gasoline” smell from the various boats docked at the restaurant. You would also figure with an out door bar, there might be a band or dj “cranking out” something…not dead-silence at 8pm because, some woman living next door- got the City of Delray to enforce a noise ordinance which only allows the joint to play outdoor music from 2pm-6pm.

What I’m thinking here is-with enough beers in you on a nice Sunday afternoon, Deck 84 might work for some of you guys from 2pm-6pm sitting outside. Notice the operative word here is “might”–personally, I don’t think that my bladder could handle the number of beers it would take to convince me that this is a good joint.

My call here is- I think that Deck 84 is a big waste of time. If you are smart, you’ll — Stay away!! Leave this one to the tourists.

Last Saturday night I and Mrs. Jeff Eats ate at HiWay Burger in Delray Beach. First of all, I absolutely loved the look of this red/white 1950ish looking “hole in the wall” joint. When you check HiWay’s website for menu/prices at www.hiwayburger.com there is also a photo of what HiWay looks like, so you’ll know exactly what the deal is here.

Just so you know, HiWay has a real small menu… flat-top grilled burgers, french fries, shakes, sodas, ice tea. So if you are into a vegetarian game-I don’t think so!

Now for the taste-test. I did a double cheeseburger with french fries and a Coke—both the burger and fries were right up there with the best of breed.

I really enjoyed the food.

HiWay Burger is open Sunday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 11am11pm.

***** HiWay Burger *****

Got something that you “burger” folks might like to checkout…HiWay Burgers, 12 Southeast 5th Avenue, Delray Beach, Florida 33483, (561) 243-6460.

Two weeks ago, I and Mrs. Jeff Eats were “strolling” Atlantic Avenue…and low and behold- we spotted HiWay Burger, a brand new “hole in the wall” fast food burger joint with a “Coming Soon” sign in its window. Looking in, there were a handful of 50′s style booths and a small counter to order at. Just so you know, this thing really is a “hole in the wall”—the menu board listed— BURGERS, FRIES, SODAS, SHAKES period. Now nothing for nothing, but based on color scheme/decor and menu– my money says that, Hiway’s owner is trying to “emulate” the hugely successful and cult favorite In-N-Out Burger chain. Now for our purposes that’s a good thing, because if my assumption is correct, then it’s a safe bet that the owner “knows” what a top-notch fast food burger joint-should be. Of course, knowing and executing are two whole different things…so, we’ll just have to see how this all plays out. I will tell you, that from my brief “peek” the joint looks really cool.

To rap this up, yesterday- I bumped into my old friend Glenn who owns several Atlantic Avenue buildings…and- he mentioned to me that HiWay Burgers had opened and that the cheeseburger, french fries and chocolate shake that he ordered were terrific. For the record, I think that Glenn knows his fast food burger “stuff” because he’s also a huge fan of Five Guys, BurgerFi and Shake Shack–but then again, he’s a Red Sox fan, so I can’t really swear for this guy!

Anyway…I’m gonna get up to HiWay Burger in a few weeks and “taste” for myself. If you get there before I do, let me know what you think. By the way, the joint is so new that its website www.hiwayburger.com has yet to be fleshed out