Cricket’s is a “sub-sandwich-salad” joint located in Pompano Beach. At this stage of the proceedings, I could go into the whole Pinocchio story etc., but I’ll save you the agony…kinda boring, trying to be cute all the time.

Anyway…Cricket’s food is absolutely dynamite. Now, it’s literally impossible to rate 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-etc. South Florida’s top sub-joints, but I will tell you, that Cricket’s stuff is right up there with the best in the game.

A recent outing had me doing…tuna sub, chicken salad sub, pork Cuban sandwich, roast beef on rye, Caesar salad—like I said a few seconds ago, the food is absolutely dynamite.

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

I know that this review may-be a drop on the short side…trust me, Cricket’s subs/sandwiches/salads will not disappoint.

Cricket’s is open Monday-Saturday 11am-6pm.

Let’s play a game, Get To A New Joint Before Jeff Eats Does.

Hearing some very nice things about Gimme A Burger…an “upscale” fast-food burger joint, which opened a couple of weeks ago in Deerfield Beach. Sorry, can’t conifrm the “positive” reports because—old Jeff Eats hasn’t been there yet. It’s on my “to try list”…so I’ll soon have the skinny for you guys.

For you folks who might like to beat me to the punch…check www.gimmeaburger.com for info.

Gimme A Burger is open Sunday-Thursday 11am-8pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-9pm.

BGR…for right now, a small “upscale” fast-food burger chain with something like 18 locations–for our purposes, there are currently 3 Florida locations. You can check www.bgrtheburgerjoint.com for menu/locations. Before, I get going here, I understand that this is one “hot” franchise, so look for BGRs to be popping up all over Florida and the rest of the USA.

When it comes to burgers–I know my stuff. That said, some of my favorite South Florida- “burger” blog reads are–The Burger Beast and Burgers By The Beach. Over the years I’ve gotten some real good picks from these guys. While I’m throwing out compliments, the Worst Pizza blog has been a great pizza-source (or is it sauce?) for me. So, if you want more burger/pizza picks-you know what to do.

Now let’s talk BGR. Nothing fancy here. Decor is “record albums/guitars”–I could have sworn that Hard Rock had this theme all sewen up. Anyway…order at/pickup at the counter. Let’s talk food. The joint has beef/turkey/veggie burgers, fries, onion rings, shakes and some other stuff. Let me go on record, absolutely delicious cheeseburger, same for the french and sweet potato fries. What I especially liked here, was that the burgers were “cooked” over an open-flame–and not on a stainless steel griddle. Now, I got nothing against griddle burgers, but BGR’s flame technique was a nice change from the standard fast food modus operandi.

Finally, you know and I know, that “too” many of these upscale-burger joints are opening here in South Florida and around the country. Like the self-serve yogurt joints and cupcake stores- it’s only a matter of time before the game of musical chairs comes to an end. For the non-believers out there…You do remember “mom & pop” video stores, don’tcha? With that public service announcement out of the way…let me wrap things up by saying, if really good burgers/fries are your game, you–definitely want to try BGR.

BGR-The Burger Joint is open Sunday-Thursday 11am-10pm and Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm.

Well, so much for that New Year’s resolution “not to eat bread.”

Tried out Paul’s Sub Shop & Deli a “hole in the wall” sub joint in North Miami Beach…”sampled” a chicken parm sub, philly cheese steak sub, chicken salad sub, tuna salad sub—check www.paulssubs.net for menu/prices.

Let me make this one short and simple, Paul’s stuff was absolutely delicious.

A bit to early in the morning- for me to be opining about the pros-cons of chains like Subway, Blimpie’s, Firehouse…what I do know, is that Paul’s Sub Shop & Deli makes an awesome sandwich.

Paul’s is open Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm, closed on Sunday.

Spot Coffee (for a point of reference, think Starbuck’s) is a small-chain…Delray Beach, Florida– Buffalo (3), New York–Williamsville, New York (wherever the hell that is?)–Rochester, New York– Toronto, Ontario.

Now, I’m not exactly sure as to who likes these kinda joints…Generation X or is it Generation Y–what I do know, is that nothing and nobody is ever going to beat Chock Full O’ Nuts’ lunch counters circa 1960 with their $.10 coffee, whole-wheat-donuts and nut-and-cream-cheese sandwiches—However…

If you are a member of Generation X, Generation Y or like Mrs. Jeff Eats someone who doesn’t dwell on the past—you will absolutely love Spot Coffee’s coffees, breakfast items, pizzas, sandwiches, salads. Today- at the Delray joint had an ice coffee that was perfectly made, a grilled cheese on focaccia bread and a belgian waffle that almost made me forget about Chock Full O’Nuts’ stuff.

You can check www.spotcoffee.com for menu/prices.

You know that I like to keep you guys-up to date on all kinds of stuff related to food and the food industry.

When you get a chance, check-out Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Joint www.unclemaddios.com.

Real simple pizza-franchise concept…make your own pizzas. You go to the joint, there is a “huge” selection of pizza toppings etc.—the guy/gal behind the counter puts the pizza “together” for you–and it gets delivered to your table within something like 6 minutes.

Trust me on this one, you will soon see these “make your own” pizza joints popping up all over South Florida, not to mention all over the United States. They sort of remind me of the Yogurt by the ounce joints.

Uncle Maddio’s is just one player in this “new” business segment. There are a number of guys-getting into this business, including publiclly traded Pizza Inn.

For right now–as far as I know, there aren’t any Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Joints in South Florida. Betcha a buck, that sometime within the next 6 months, a version-of-this-concept will be in your neighborhood.

Just thought you guys would enjoy hearing about what the food industry is cooking up for you.

Gonna let you guys in on a little secret…I’ve never met a “sub” that I didn’t love. Now for sure, there are varying degrees of love, some passoniate beyond belief and others where it’s a borderline love-hate relationship. You do know that I’m trying to be clever here, but for some reason it ain’t working…

So, let me tell you about Football Sandwich Shop in Miami…order at the counter/pickup at the counter–indoor and outdoor seating. The joint’s menu has loads of hot/cold subs, sandwiches and salads. The other day I “did” a meatball sub, chicken salad sub, philly cheesesteak sub, chicken parmesan sub and I’m going on- record right here and now, Football’s subs are right-up there with the best I’ve had in South Florida. For those who might be interested-various football terms and Miami Dolphin players’ names find their way into the sandwiches’ nomenclature. For those who might also be wondering “Did Jeff Eats eat all 4 subs?”–There were three of us and I ate the whole meatball sub and sampled the others.

Getting back to that “love” thing I started out with…I absolutely loved Football’s subs.

Football Sandwich Shop is open Monday Friday 8am-6pm, Saturday 9am-5pm, closed on Sunday.

I’m on a roll (pun intended)…just had lunch at Zio’s- a “hole in the wall” fast food joint in Delray Beach. Order at/pickup at counter…burgers, subs, panini, gyros, wings, wraps, salads, shakes & malts. The joint has 17 seats inside and 1 table/2 seats outside. No website, Zio’s is open Monday-Saturday 11am-9pm, Sunday noon-8pm.

Never noticed Zio’s until this afternoon despite the fact that its been around for something like 8-years–is right next door to Jack’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant (review- July 8, 2008)–and it’s located in an end cap of a nice sized Delray Beach shopping center that has a Bed Bath & Beyond…but I did!

Anyway, let’s talk food…I “tried” a philly cheesesteak sub with cheese wiz, cheeseburger, fresh off the bone turkey sub, roast beef sub, tuna salad wrap, french fries. Everything and I do mean everything was right on the money. For those of you “spoiled” by joints that make fresh cut french fries, Zio’s are of the frozen variety–but somehow, I managed to finish a large order drenched in ketchup.

Let me sum Zio’s up this way. I’m sorry I didn’t find this joint sooner.

You regular readers-know by now, that I consider the “retail” cupcake store business to be a FAD…One of these days, like the home-video-rental business, many of these mom & pop ventures aren’t going to be able to pay their rent…same also goes for the yogurt by-the-ounce guys out there. Simply put, there are just way too many stores for what I think are relatively limited markets.

With that in mind…Cupcake Cottage makes some of the most delicious cupcakes that you have ever eaten. Take it from a guy who was raised on Hostess Cupcakes, Twinkies and Ding Dongs—this joint’s stuff is amazingly good.

Cupcake Cottage www.cupcakecottage.net is open Tuesday-Thursday 11am-8pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-9:30pm, Sunday 11am-6pm, closed on Monday.

In my day, I’ve eaten my fair-share of subs/grinders/heros (pick your regional term)—I maybe going out on a limb here, but this 6-seat sub shop which has been around since 1977- has to be right up there with the best-of-all time. Now this isn’t an exact count, but its menu lists something like 100 different hot/cold (6″ & 12″) sandwiches. You can check menu/prices at www.urbanspoon.com.

A recent outing had me “doing”—chicken cordon bleu, philly cheesesteak, bbq steak, bbq pork rib, mushroom cheeseburger subs. I am telling you, some of the best sub-stuff that I have ever eaten. On the price front—no more expensive than your favorite neighborhood joint.

For you-guys out there who don’t get from where I am coming… A Super Subs’ sandwich is a Rembrandt, Picasso, Renoir, Van Gogh (Well, maybe not a Picasso!). Think, your favorite “slice” of pizza matched against a slice from Little Caesar’s…a Volkswagen CC against a Corvette…a 32″ flat screen tv against a 72 incher.

To sum it all…Super Subs Etc. is a terrific sub shop.

The joint is open Monday-Saturday 9am-8pm and Sunday 10am-5pm.