Super Dave’s Diner (Boca Raton)
***** Super Dave’s Diner, 2166 North Dixie Highway, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, (561) 544-0940.
Every so often Jeff Eats comes across a joint that is an absolute homerun…
Last night, I took-out from Super Dave’s Diner a “hole in the wall soul food” joint in Boca Raton…the order was real simple–fried chicken, bbq pork ribs, chicken wings, mac & cheese, green beans, sweet potato pie, corn bread, cole slaw -and I gotta tell you, every item was absolutely delicious.
A few seconds ago, I called Super Dave’s Diner a “hole in the wall”—trust me on this, Super Dave’s is the real-deal, maybe 4-5 tables and 4 counter seats—throw in that it’s in a bombed out strip center and you got the makings of a special-really cool joint. Nothing for nothing, but the bet here is- if tv’s Guy Fieri of “Diners Drive-in & Dives” or Adam Richman of “Man V. Food” tried Super Dave’s Diner not only would they love its food but they would launch it into “must try” status. Just a quick story, about 3 hours before Jeff Eats got there, Super Dave’s Diner had fed (inside and outside in Super Dave’sparking lot and two adjoining lots) a group of 150 which included a number of New York Jets’ players. Just so you understand as to where I’m going with this, your living room (the bet here-that no matter who you are or where you live) is bigger than Super Dave’s Diner’s entire restaurant. Based on what I heard, Super Dave’s only had 20 minutes notice that the group was coming in…talk about banging out food, the scene in the kitchen must have been wild.
Let me tell you a drop about the food…each bbq rib is something like 7″ long. The ribs are smoked in an outside smoker, basted with Super Sauce a sweet sauce (with a bit of kick to it) and finished off on a gas grill. The wings are lightly battered/fried–I had both honey mustard and Super Sauce covered wings. Let me make this short and simple, the ribs and chicken were some of the best I’ve had….same for the sweet potato pie and green beans. So you don’t think that Jeff Eats is a shill for Super Dave’s Diner, the mac & cheese and corn bread although very good, didn’t quite make the “some of the best I’ve had” category.
For a small joint, Super Dave’s Diner has a good-sized very reasonably priced menu…It’s got all kinds of breakfast stuff (which is served all day long) like pancakes, omelettes…loads of sandwiches, wings, bbq items, sides, seafood/chicken/meat dishes—trust me, you’re gonna have trouble deciding what to eat.
Just in case you find yourself on tv’s “Jeopardy”– Super Dave’s Diner opened in October, 2011 and is owned and operated by Dave Harmon. Dave has been in the restaurant business for 16 years and has worked at such South Florida joints as Ernie’s Restaurant, 5th Avenue Grill, Macaroni Grill, Carrabba’s and Ribs and Things…now for the Final Jeopardy answer…in Jeff Eats’ professional opinion, Dave’s 10 year kitchen stint at a 24-hour New Jersey Diner is the reason he was able to handle 150 people with relatively no notice without even breaking a sweat.
I absolutely loved Super Dave’s Diner.
I highly recommend that you give this joint a try…it’s a rare find.
At this stage of the game check www.superdavesdiner.com for menu/prices.
Super Dave’s Diner is open Monday-Tuesday-Thursday 11am-8pm, Wednesday 11am-6pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm, Sunday 1pm-6pm.
Jeff, found this one purely by accident. If you aren’t looking for it you’ll probably never see it. Small little place. I found it because I was looking for another address and stumbled in.
I had the brisket and it was delicious.
Since that time Ive been back two more times having meatloaf one time and BBQ ribs the other. Also delicious.
Dave know’s he’s got a hole in the wall and is talking about expansion.I cautioned him with the tale of Smokehouse Grill and Wingery which had a great thihg going with their small location on Federal.They moved to a much larger location on Yamato ,lost quality control and soon shuttered.I discovered Dave’s through a coupon in one of those mailer things and absolutely love the place.
First set your GPS because this one isn’t the easiest joint to find.
Second don’t plan on eating there. It’s very small and when I was there it didn’t seem to be air conditioned.
Third when you do your to go order make sure that you get the wings with Dave’s sauce and the BBQ ribs with Dave’s sauce. Both are delicious. Also get the sweet potato cobbler and cornbread they were excellent.
No ifs and buts this is a hole in the wall. A real mom and pop operation.
Super Dave’s makes some of the best soul food I’ve had.
Jeff,
Think you should rexamine your call on the corn bread andmac & chesse. I thoroughly enjoyed both.
For those planning on try Dave’s, make sure you get the wings. Lightly fried and the special sauce is sweet and sharp at the same time. Loved them.
Jeff, i’ve never steered you wrong before if you think this place is a home run than you must try Blue Willies BBQ IN FT. Lauderdale on se 1st ave and 6th St. Right across from the the court house. It’s a permanent food truck. This place is not a home run it’s a GRAND SLAM. Will is the owner and he makes the absolute best bbq around. Go on Thursday and they have the best pastrami you have ever tasted. Jeff try this place you trusted me in the past trust me now…you won’t be disappointed.
I’ve had Dave’s ribs, mac & cheese and sweet potato fries. Very good food.
Tried Super Dave’s Diner today and won’t be going back…I ordered the brisket sandwich and it was the fattiest brisket I’ve ever seen…the cole slaw was browning at the edges….also ordered the fried chicken dinner…all that came were 3 whole wings…very dry…the greens and sweet potato fries were good….but no cornbread was served and when asked for never came….my wife ordered an omelette that was so runny she couldn’t eat it….hash browns were burnt…now Dave wasn’t there…whoever he had doing the cooking kept getting things wrong…the lone waitress working had to serve tables answer the phone and take to-go orders…the results were food orders that sat getting cold while she dealt with phone orders…sandwich was served without sauce which took quite a while to materialize while she again was tied up on the phone…she was trying her best but was overwhelmed….and this was at lunch time with a full house…not worth another visit.
terrific wings and ribs.
really a takeout joint.
My wife and I have lived in Boca for over 30 years. We eat out a lot and are familiar with restaurants all over South Florida.
We really enjoy good wings and bbq ribs.
We heard about Super Dave’s by reading Jeff Eats last week.
This evening we picked up ribs, wings, corned bread, sweet potato cobbler, sweet potato fries and mac & cheese. Jeff was so right on this one. The bbq and super dave sauce wings were terrific same for the super dave sauced ribs. Right up there with the best weve had. We also thought that the all of the sides were delicious.
The restaurant is very small and if you dont look carefully for it you will drive right by it. There are maybe 4 tables. When we picked up at 7:15pm there was one party of two eating there.
As Jeff indicated its really a takeout restaurant that seats maybe 16.
We highly recommend Super Dave’s.
I guess my husband and I are the rare birds that have actually eaten there. We were there the other night. I had the fried chicken with mac & cheese and corn bread. My husband had ribs with mac & cheese and sweet potato fries. The food was very good. No problem with the service as there are only a few tables. Not sure what others complained about but wegot our food fast without any problem.
We will definitely be back and will recommend to our friends.
I recently has Super Dave’s chicken wings. The sauce on the them was Super Dave’s Special Sauce. One of the most delicious sauces/wings I’ve ever had.
You definitely want to get these wings they are really that good.
Jeff:
By far and away one of your best finds. In 10,000,000 million years I would never have ever seen or heard about Super Dave’s. It is in a really crappy small strip center with minimal at best signage.
I did a full rack of bbq ribs for $21 and they were smoked with a great sauce. I also had mac & cheese and sweet potato fries. They were also very good. Although the fries could have been crispier. Also had the corn bread it was okay but could be a drop sweeter and have more firmnest too it, it was kind of on the crumbly side.
The rack of ribs was meaty and this was a full rack as enough for 3 people to eat from.
Super Dave’s is a hidden gem.
small hole in the wall.
fabulous brisket and fried chicken.
not that easy to find.
Some of the best smoked ribs that Ive ever eaten. Great sauce.
jeff, love good ribs and dave’s are fabulous. same for wings.
Some of the best chicken wings Ive ever eaten.
Lightly breaded and fried with Dave’s sauce.
You got to try them they were really exceptionally good.
fabulous wings.
Great wings, ribs and brisket.
A real hole in the wall gem!!!
I love wings and Dave’s are sensational. Right up there with the best that I’ve had anywhere.
Those lightly breaded fried wings are addicting. The brisket is also delicious.
Have to agree, the wings are delicious, sweet with just a bit of a kick to them.
I also love the ribs and brisket,
I know that many don’t think about it, but the lightly breaded fried catfish is amazingly good.
Super Dave’s is a hole in the wall gem.
JEFF:
I TRIED DAVE’S ABOUT A WEEK AFTER YOUR FIRST MENTIONED THE RSTAURANT. BECAUSE IT ONLY HAD A FEW SMALL TABLES I TOOK FOOD OUT. THE RIBS, WINGS, BRISKET AND VARIOUS SIDES ARE TREMENDOUS. SINCE THAT OUTING IVE BEEN BACK FOR TAKEOUT 4 MORE TIMES.
YESTERDAY I STOPPED IN FOR TAKEOUT AND LOW AND BEHOLD DAVE HAD GOTTEN RID OF THE TABLES AND HAS 4 MAYBE 5 BLACK LEATHER BOOTHS FOR SEATING. NOW PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY EAT IN.
JUST WANTED TO UPDATE THE SEATING STORY HERE.
FOR THOSE OUT THERE WHO HAVENT TRIED DAVE’S IM TELLING YOU THAT IF YOU LIKE GOOD SOUTHERN COOKING YOU WILL LOVE SUER DAVES.
FROM WHAT I CAN TELL IN MENTIONING DAVE’S TO MY NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS VERY FEW OF THEM HAVE EVEN HEARD OF THE RESTAURANT.
FOR RIGHT NOW DAVE’S I A HIDDEN GEM.
HOBO MIKE:
Just had a chance to read your comments.
No question in my mind, Super Dave’s Diner has delicious food. Since my review appeared- I’ve taken out 5-6 times. You are right, those tables were not the most inviting “seating” arrangement. I haven’t eaten “in” yet—but I have seen the new black leather booths and they definitely make eating in–a viable option.
You are correct in that very-few people know about Super Dave’s. Now no promises here, but if guys like you and I “talk up” Dave’s the word is eventually going to spread…and Dave’s has the “goods” to backup our claims.
Thanks for reading…
Jeff,
This is right up there with your best picks.
I have eaten wings in countless places and Dave’s are some of the best that Ive had.
Now that Dave’s has what sounds like decent seating, I’m going to try eating there rather than treating this as strictly a take out place.
Tried Smokey Bones in Boca. Wings were good. Chicken and ribs fair at best.
Love Dave’s food.
Bring on the next contender or shall I say pretender
Dave keep up what you are doing.
Great wings, brisket, ribs.
Super Dave’s has excellent food, a great menu and a nice staff. I love it. By Gregg L. Friedman MD, Psychiatrist, Hallandale Beach, FL
From: Jane
Subject: Restaurant closings….
Message Body:
Do you ever write about restaurant closings??? Did that Jamaican restaurant “Rocksteady”close?
Drove by “Vivo” last night as well, closed! (not that I care about that place.)
Just have to say that Dave’s on Dixie is always awesome. Love it
—
didn’t care for their brisket.
Super Dave’s wings are some of the best that I’ve ever eaten. the house sauce is amazing.
closed
loved this place. too bad it closed.