This contest started on 8/30/20. This contest has a winner.

* Win A $20 Nino’s Pizzeria & Restaurant Gift Card.

Jeff Eats got a $20 Nino’s Pizzeria & Restaurant Gift Card to give to one of you guys!

The game- the first 20 “reader-comments” received – will be entered in a “blind hat pick”! You can submit as many comments as you’d like but- Please, only 1- reader comment – per day…play fair!

The $20 Gift Card is good at Nino’s Pizzeria & Restaurant, 7120 Beracasa Way, Boca Raton, Florida 33433, (561) 392-9075.

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

Posted on June 1st, 2015.

*****Nino’s Pizzeria & Restaurant, 7120 Beracasa Way, Boca Raton, Florida 33433, (561) 392-9075.

Got this e-mail this morning…

Jeff,
It was a pleasure meeting you and your wife at Friday night’s Morris Day & The Time concert in Pompano Beach. Terrific show.
As I mentioned, my wife and I in late April retired to Deerfield Beach after living our 41 years of married life in Plainview, Long Island. We are just getting organized and as I told you we literally stumbled across your jeffeats.com site while looking for restaurants to eat in. Your taste in both food and entertainment match up pretty close with ours.
You have tons of picks and I was wondering if you could give us a great ‘mom & pop’ Italian joint in the Deerfield Beach area. As you may recall we are living around the Powerline/Sample Road area and we’re looking for that one pizza tee shorts/tee shirt joint to really count on.
Once again, great meeting you.
Joe K
_____
Joe K:

Glad that you enjoyed Morris Day and the Time. It was a great show.

It was nice meeting you and your wife.

Real simple answer to your “request”…just by coincidence, last night- Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats ate dinner at Nino’s Pizzeria in Boca Raton- and I gotta tell you, that this joint for the past 23 years has been one of our go-to-“mom & pops”…never and I repeat-never- a bad meal. Just between you and me, Nino’s makes a veal chop parmigiana and chicken cacciatore/chicken scarpariello both on the bone- that are off the chart. As for New York Style Pizza, the joint’s pies and slices are top-shelf!

Printed down below is a “review” that Jeff Eats did back on 5/19/14…try Nino’s- the bet here, you and your wife will absolutely love it!

Thanks for reading..

________

Posted on May 19th, 2014
***** Nino’s Pizzeria & Restaurant, 7120 Beracasa Way, Boca Raton, Florida 33433, (561) 392-9075.

Way back on March 20, 2008 Jeff Eats told you guys about Nino’s Pizzeria & Restaurant in Boca Raton.

Time for a little update on what is definitely one of the best “mom & pop” red sauce Italian joints in South Florida.

For your convenience the “original” story is printed below…gonna save you the trouble of scrolling around.

Anyway,

Just for background, Nino’s opened for business in Boca Raton in 1983-you mathematicians can do the math–for the rest of you-that’s 31 years ago. In something like 2005, it opened a second location in Delray Beach. Partners fall-out, one gets Boca Raton, the other gets Delray Beach. So now you know, the business angle here.

Now-just so we are straight, we are talking about Boca Raton- here. Absolutely-positively nothing wrong with the Delray Beach location–Jeff Eats (1) lives closer to the Boca joint and (2) Jeff Eats thinks that the food, service, ambiance are better in Boca Raton- but trust me Delray Beach ain’t exactly chopped liver either.

Anyway,

Jeff Eats has never “officially” counted the number of times-I’ve eaten in/taken out from Nino’s–but I’m guessing 70 maybe 80, let’s just say it’s a lot. I want to tell you, that not- even- one- time was the food not right on the money–same for the service. Real simple… its soups, salads, pizzas, calzones, subs, pastas, entrees are all delicious. Off the top of my head, I would match Nino’s veal chop parmigiana ($22 soup/salad, pasta side, garlic rolls), its chicken cacciatore on the bone ($17.95 soup/salad, pasta side, garlic rolls), its chicken scarpariello on the bone ($17.95 soup/salad, pasta side, garlic rolls) and its shrimp scampi ($22.50 soup/salad, pasta side, garlic rolls) up against South Florida’s best “mom & pop” and “upscale” players. While I’m on the subject of food, Nino’s plain pizza is always on the money and the joint makes what it calls an “upside down Sicilian” pie that is a work of beauty–if you go, get it!

You maybe wondering why the sudden “gushing” about Nino’s?

Last night, Jeff Eats, Mrs. Jeff Eats and some dear friends- ate dinner at Nino’s and we got to discussing “various” Italian joints–and like a bolt of lightening–it hit me as to how really good Nino’s stuff is! Just that simple! Real fast-right off the top of you head, other than Nino’s–name a “mom & pop” red sauce Italian joint that does chicken cacciatore and chicken scarpariello on the bone…you do know, that’s the only RIGHT WAY to make those dishes–but that’s just my take-on the-thing!

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

Nino’s Pizzeria & Restaurant is open 7 days a week 11am-10pm.
*****
March 20, 2008
***** Nino’s Pizzeria & Restaurant, 7120 Beracasa Way, Boca Raton, Florida 33433, (561) 392-9075—&—13900 South Jog Road, Delray Beach, Florida 33445, (561) 499-3988

Nino’s is one of my favorite “mom and pop” Southern Italian joints in South Florida. I could be going out on a limb here, but I think that after you have tried this joint, you will also become a big fan.

Just so you know, the Boca Raton location has been around for something like 25 years…the Delray Beach location has been in business for about 3 years. Over the years, I have eaten in the Boca location something like 30 times and the Delray location twice…although the menus are almost identical, I like the food, ambiance and service in the Boca restaurant better…call me a creature of habit, but I really feel at home when I enter the Boca joint…from the way I am greeted at the front door, to Nino the owner waving and talking from behind the pizza counter to the customers…the food and service in Delray Beach is just fine, but there is something “special” about the Boca location.

Although Nino’s seemingly “follows” the standard pattern…Soup or salad, garlic rolls, entree with a pasta side…this joint makes some of the most delicious dishes and pizza that you have ever eaten. I would personally match its veal chop parmigiana—bone in chicken cacciatore— bone in chicken scapriello—shrimp scampi entrees against any Italian restaurant down here in South Florida.

Like I said before, Nino’s has been around for something like 25 years. The Boca Raton joint is jammed for dinner 7-days a week and has a takeout business that seems to be never ending. The Delray Beach spot has also developed quite a following…but my heart belongs to the Boca joint. Both joints are open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.

Great food. Great service. Pizza joint prices…

By the way, Nino and his wife Josephine own Josephine’s Italian Restaurant which is located on Federal Highway in Boca Raton. That’s a story for another day…but Josephine’s is a very good “white table cloth” joint.

This contest started on 8/30/20. This contest has a winner.

* Win A $25 Zinger’s Delicatessen Gift Card.

Jeff Eats got a $25 Zinger’s Delicatessen Gift Card for one of you guys!

The game- the first 20 “reader-comments” received – will be entered in a “blind hat pick”! You can submit as many comments as you’d like but- Please, only 1- reader comment – per day…play fair!

The $25 Gift Card is good at Zinger’s Delicatessen, 7132 Beracasa Way, Boca Raton, Florida 33433, (561) 826-7323. Check zingersdeli.com for menu/prices/info.

Posted on August 26th, 2012

* “Zinger’s Delicatessen–1 Year Anniversay”

About a year-ago, I told you guys about Zinger’s Delicatessen which had just opened in Boca Raton. One year later–some things bear repeating…

Zinger’s Delicatessen is one of the best, if not the best–New York Kosher Style Deli in South Florida.

I have “reprinted” Jeff Eats’ August 18, 2011 review…and it needs “only” three minor changes:
1: Zinger’s is open 7 days a week for lunch/dinner and for breakfast on Saturday-Sunday,
2: Zinger’s “current” potato knishes are as good as the pushcart-ones I mentioned.
3: Zinger’s website is up and running.

If real New York Kosher Style deli is you game, you gotta try Zinger’s Delicatessen!

***** Zinger’s Delicatessen, 7132 Beracasa Way, Boca Raton, Florida 33433, (561) 826-7323.

If, delicious- New York Kosher Style Deli is your game—you absolutely, positively have to give Zinger’s Delicatessen in Boca Raton a try.

For you fressers out there…Zinger’s in a “former” life, was Pastrami Queen (see 9/12/08 writeup)…to make a long story short, family “matters” resulted in Pastrami Queen closing in late 2010. This past Tuesday, Zinger’s opened for business—for our purposes, SAME OWNER!–NEW “NYC” DECOR!–SAME TERRIFIC FOOD!

Last night I ate dinner at Zinger’s.

Zinger’s is located in the exact-spot where Pastrami Queen was. Gary Zinger who owned Pastrami Queen is Zinger’s owner. The restaurant’s layout hasn’t changed, but the decor has…let’s just say, that stainless steel walls/ceiling and art-deco signage rival the best-deli decor here and in NYC. The joint has 3-flat screen tvs and a takeout counter that will make you want to quit Weight Watchers.

Let’s talk food…

To be perfectly honest with you, I seriously doubt that there is a better New York Kosher Style Deli down here in South Florida. I’ll even go so-far as to say, Zinger’s Delicatessen can easily hold its own with legendary players like NYC’s- Carneige, Stage, 2nd Avenue and Katz’s delis…if you aren’t a native Nooo Yoorker, please feel free to insert your hometown favorite delis’ names.

Just so you know, I was a Pastrami Queen “regular”…so, it was absolutely impossible to eat-at Zinger’s, shall we say incognito. The meal was “on the arm” with Gary Zinger literally having me “try” everything in the joint. Take it for what it’s worth, the pastrami, corned beef, brisket, turkey off the bone are as good as it gets. The joint also makes- delicious, potato pancakes-chopped liver-tuna salad-chicken salad-matzoh ball soup-smashed French fries-Italian beef sub.

Just so we are straight…don’t want you to think that I’m a Zinger’s shill—I’ve eaten better potato knishes—like the ones my father, brother Andy and I use to get in 1958 from the pushcart stationed right outside of Fortunoff on Livonia Avenue in Brooklyn while waiting for my mother to finish shopping.

Trust me on this…Zinger’s is a homerun.

Like I said before, I tried a load of stuff. I will tell you, that the sandwiches being delivered to the tables were nice-sized… I didn’t see one group leave without a doggy bag… and no one bitched to Gary about the service/prices.

Zinger’s website is www.zingersdelicom. The site is currently under construction, so give it some-time to get up and running.

Zinger’s does breakfast, lunch and dinner…The joint is open 7 days a week 7am-10pm.

***** DISH OF THE WEEK (Sunday- 8/30/20- Sweet Melissa’s Ice Cream Shoppe).

One of Jeff Eats’ favorite menu items…

EVERYTHING

Trust Jeff Eats on this one, this Melissa’s is an absolute must try.

Amazingly- delicious hard ice cream/ sorbet/ soft serve/ cones/ cookies/ pies/ other stuff!

All I can tell you guys, if this joint was a whole lot closer to Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats’ Boca Raton abode we would definitely be real- steady customers!

Sweet Melissa’s Ice Cream Shoppe
4445 Bonita Beach Road Southwest
Bonita Springs
(239) 330-4559
bonitabeachsweets.com
Latest Review: 5/6/17

Posted on May 6th, 2017

***** Sweet Melissa’s Ice Cream Shoppe, 4445 Bonita Beach Road Southwest, Bonita Springs, Florida 34134, (239) 330-4559.

It’s joints like Sweet Melissa’s Ice Cream Shoppe in Bonita Springs that make it totally impossible for Jeff Eats to ever again fit into a pair of 34″ waist pants!

Trust me on this one, off the chart delicious- homemade ice cream/ key lime pies/ other stuff!

You guys and Jeff Eats both know that “ice cream” joints in Florida- are like Chins in a Chinese phonebook- that being that there are a load of them! This Sweet Melissa’s Ice Cream Shoppe joint, is one of the best that Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats have “visited” here- in sunny Florida! Indoor table/outdoor patio seating, order at-pickup at the counter, super pleasant service, reasonable prices, big portions, plenty of dynamite “things” to devour!

You guys can check bonitabeachsweets.com for menu/prices/info.

Sweet Melissa’s Ice Cream Shoppe is open 7 days a week 11am-10pm.

This contest started on 8/28/20. This contest has a winner.

* Win A $25 Target Gift Card.

Jeff Eats got a $25 Target Gift Card to give to one of you guys…

The game- the first 30 “reader-comments” received – will be entered in a “blind hat pick”! You can submit as many comments as you’d like but- Please, only 1- reader comment – per day…play fair!

The $25 Gift Card is good at any Target location (target.com for locations/info).

This contest started on 8/25/20. This contest has a winner.

* Win A $20 China Gardens Restaurant Gift Card.

Jeff Eats got a $20 China Gardens Gift Card to give to one of you guys!

The game- the first 25 “reader-comments” received – will be entered in a “blind hat pick”! You can submit as many comments as you’d like but- Please, only 1- reader comment – per day…play fair!

The $20 Gift Card is good at China Gardens Restaurant, 14400 Military Trail, Delray Beach, Florida 33484 (561) 498-5226.

You can check menu/prices delraybeachchinagardens.com

Posted on February 9th, 2019

***** China Gardens Restaurant, 14400 Military Trail, Delray Beach, Florida 33484 (561) 498-5226.

A recent e-mail received by Jeff Eats…

Hey Jeff,
You beat me and my husband down to Florida from Brooklyn by 27 years. We just moved into the Saint Andrews Country Club in Boca Raton. We are looking for a really good Chinese joint in the area that serves up delicious (as you call it) Brooklyn Jewish American Chinese Food. How about a name or two? By the way I’m a graduate of Midwood HS class of 67 and my husband graduated from Lincoln High School in 1964.
Thanks,
Laura Solomon

———
Laura Solomon,
Welcome to sunny south Florida.
Checkout:
China Gardens
(561) 498-5226
delraybeachchinagardens.com

Thanks for reading…
Jeff Eats

Posted on March 17th, 2009

***** China Gardens Restaurant, 14400 Military Trail, Delray Beach, Florida 33484 (561) 498-5226.

A number of you guys e-mailed about a “mom & pop Chinese” joint…China Gardens Restaurant, telling me about how good the food was, blah, blah blah. Anyway… last night I gave this joint a shot and “right-you-were”…the food is absolutely delicious.

China Gardens Restaurant is as you would expect, a “hole in the wall” located in a non-descript small South Florida shopping center. Guaranteed (unless you are a recent arrival from Mars) you know exactly what the decor is…what the menu is…and what the price-points and “specials” are.

Now let’s talk food…like I said before, DELICIOUS. Now for the official-results of my “taste test”….wonton soup (A), egg drop soup (A), hot & sour soup (A), egg roll (B+), pan fried dumplings (B+), sweet & sour pork (A+), chicken egg foo young (A), sizzling steak (A), shrimp with vegetables (A), shrimp with lobster sauce (A), roast pork fried rice (B+)…

Now I may-be going out on a limb here, but…my money says that China Gardens Restaurant is probably better than your favorite neighborhood-Chinese joint. Let me go one step further, China Gardens could “make it” in New York City’s Chinatown.

Based on my first outing, I will definitely be back for a second round.

China Gardens Restaurant is open Monday-Saturday 11am-10pm and Sunday 2pm-10pm.

* Democrat/Republican/Conservative/Liberal/Independent- You Know You’re Chuckling Under That Mask!

This contest started on 8/24/20. This contest has a winner.

* Win A $20 Pizza Panz & Salads Gift Card.

Jeff Eats got a $20 Pizza Panz & Salads Gift Card for one of you guys!

The game- the first 25 “reader-comments” received – will be entered in a “blind hat pick”! You can submit as many comments as you’d like but- Please, only 1- reader comment – per day…play fair!

The $20 Gift Card is good Pizza Panz & Salads at 6250 Lantana Road, Lake Worth, Florida 33463, (561) 651-9397. Check pizzapanzpizza.com for menu/prices/info.

Posted on July 9th, 2018

***** Pizza Panz & Salads, 6250 Lantana Road, Lake Worth, Florida 33463, (561) 651-9397.

Got a real good pizza joint for you guys to checkout- Pizza Panz Pizza in Lake Worth.

Real simple concept…inside counter & table seating/ handful of outside tables, plastic utensils/cups-plates, reasonably priced pizzas/ salads/ wings/ some other stuff, open Sunday-Thursday 11am-9pm/ Friday- Saturday 11am-10pm.

Long story short, Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats found the-joint a couple of days ago (or is a couple of nights ago?) for dinner – and trust me, Pizza Panz & Salads’ food absolutely killed! No bs here- four of the best Sicilian pepperoni slices we’ve had in a-long time. By the way, the joint’s garden salad/ deep dish breadsticks/ glazed breadsticks were like the pizza, right on the money. The next time we eat there- Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats got plans to checkout the joint’s wings!

Like I said 3-seconds ago, Pizza Panz & Salads is open Sunday-Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm.

***** DISH OF THE WEEK (Sunday- 8/23/20- Valento’s Pizza & Hoagies).

One of Jeff Eats’ favorite menu items…

MEATBALL HOAGIE
(Half 6″ $7.45) (Whole 12″ $12.75)
4oz meatballs/ red sauce/ mozzarella cheese/ garlic butter.
Half toasted hoagie has 1 jumbo meatball, the whole toasted hoagie has 2.

Valento’s Pizza & Hoagies
21 9th Street South
Naples
(239) 304–9935
valentos.pizza
Latest Review: 4/4/18

This is a real good Italian joint to know about. Absolutely killer pizza, subs (excuse me- hoagies), salads and other stuff!

Posted on April 4th, 2018

***** Valento’s Pizza & Hoagies, 21 9th Street South, Naples, Florida 34102, (239) 304–9935.

Found a real good pizza joint for you guys to checkout- Valento’s Pizza and Hoagies in Naples.

Real simple concept at work here, order at the counter/food delivered to tables/booths, reasonably priced appetizers/ pizza/ pasta/ salad/ hoagies/ wings/ desserts, open Monday-Thursday 11am-10pm/ Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm/ Sunday 4pm-10pm.

Yesterday- Jeff Eats, Mrs. Jeff Eats and another couple did lunch at Valento’s Pizza & Hoagies and I gotta tell you guys, everything we ordered was right on the money! Just so you know, Valento’s menu is kinda limited, but all things being equal- everybody in your party is gonna find what to eat! Check valentos.pizza for menu/prices/info.

Let me wrap Valento’s Pizza & Hoagies up for you guys-by saying that Jeff Eats, Mrs. Jeff Eats and our friends really enjoyed the joint- and if it was closer to our respective Boca Raton homes we definitely would be real steady customers! C’est la vie!

This contest started on 8/21/20. This contest has a winner.

* Win A $25 Doris Italian Market & Bakery Gift Card.

Jeff Eats got a $25 Doris Italian Market & Bakery Gift Card to give to one of you guys…

The game- the first 25 “reader-comments” received – will be entered in a “blind hat pick”! You can submit as many comments as you’d like but- Please, only 1- reader comment – per day…play fair!

The $25 Gift Card is good at any Doris Market & Bakery location (1-Sunrise, 1-Coral Springs, 1-Boca Raton, Pembroke Pines, 1-North Palm Beach). Check dorismarket.com for locations/info.

Posted on May 21st, 2009
***** Doris Italian Market & Bakery *****

The other day, I told you guys about a terrific “market”…The Boys Farmers Market (5/6/09) located in Delray Beach.

Now let me tell you about another terrific “market”…Doris Italian Market & Bakery which currently has 5 locations… Hollywood, Plantation, Coral Springs, Boca Raton and Pembroke Pines…another spot in Sunrise is scheduled to open in the very near future. For full details/addresses check Doris’ website at www.dorismarket.com

Just so you know, Doris started out in Hollywood in 1947 as a neighborhood Italian meat-market. Today’s locations, are probably 7,500-10,000 sq. ft and have a full range of meats, seafood, baked goods, fresh produce, prepared foods and grocery items. Although it calls itself an “Italian Market & Bakery”…Doris’ baked goods and prepared foods are not limited to Italian “style” food…unless stuff like bbq ribs, tuna salad, shrimp salad, egg salad, chocolate chip cookies are Italian food.

Over the years, my family has shopped countless times at Doris’ Boca location…and I have to tell you, that its baked goods and prepared foods…are outstanding. This joint’s cakes, breads, pastries are top-notch…its Italian “dishes” are as good, if not better, than the stuff served by your favorite neighborhood pizza joint.

The way I look at Doris…outstanding joint for baked goods,”take home” food, fresh meat-seafood…by the way, Doris makes a chicken salad which is one of the “best” that I have eaten…As for produce and grocery items, your local Publix is better…Prices?— local supermarket prices.

Doris is open Monday-Friday 8:30am-7pm, Saturday 8:30am-6:30pm, Sunday 8:30am-5pm.