***** Fran’s Chicken Haven, 1925 North federal highway, Boca Raton, florida 33432, (561) 395-0781.

Let’s just call this tale a “Public Service Announcement”….

Just a quick observation- You guys do know that most cardiologists know dick-about fried chicken!

In any event…

If you “need” to eat absolutely off the chart-dynamite fried chicken (like Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats needed to do last night), read on…

Posted on December 28th, 2015
***** Fran’s Chicken Haven, 1925 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton, Florida 33432, (561) 395-0781

Let’s just call this- a Jeff Eats’ “Certain Things Bear Repeating” story…

Jeff Eats just has to laugh- when the Sun Sentinel seemingly “year after year crowns” PUBLIX FRIED CHICKEN the best in South Florida! There is an old Irish saying- “Give Me A Fu@king Break.”

Long story short, Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats have been- on and off (see below-as to why “on and off”) “taking-out” fried chicken and “various” sides from Fran’s Chicken Haven in Boca Raton for something like 23 years!- and I gotta tell you -that this joint’s fried chicken/sides are absolute dynamite! Trust Jeff Eats on this one – trying to rank the “best” in the food reviewing game- is a dumb no win game…with that in mind, what I do know, is that Fran’s fried chicken is off-the-chart good and that after you eat it- you will never-want to voluntarily buy or eat Publix fried chicken ever again!

If you want to eat outrageously delicious fried chicken…Fran’s Chicken Haven is a must try.

You can check menu/info at franschickenhaven.com.

______________________

Posted on July 5th, 2013

***** Fran’s Chicken Haven, 1925 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton, Florida 33432, (561) 395-0781.

Got something terrific for you…

That’s assuming that you aren’t a “follower” of NYC Mayor Bloomberg–in that you don’t need “Big Brother” (and no, I’m not talking about Janis’ group) to tell you what you can and can’t eat…

Real fast… from 1964-2000 a woman named Fran (thus the name Fran’s Chicken Haven) and her husband Joe, operated a “hole-in-the-wall” fried chicken joint—Fran’s Chicken Haven in Boca Raton. Maybe 3 tables and 4-5 counter seats. In a nutshell, amazing fried chicken and assorted sides. In 2000 the couple retired and sold the business—for the past 12-13 years Fran’s has had 3-maybe 4 different owners who slowly but surely wrecked the business. Jeff Eats may not be the sharpest pencil in the box, but I do know that when something ain’t broke, you don’t try and fix it…one owner changed the batter-mix and added latin sides, another made the joint a kosher chicken restaurant-closing on Friday nights and all day Saturday—hopefully you get the picture.

Since Fran and Joe sold the joint, Jeff Eats who had previously been a real-steady customer, has maybe picked-up chicken 7 or 8 times in the ensuing years.

Now the news…two brothers- Jake Stuart (aged 19) and Chris Stuart (aged 32) both born and bred—Boca Ratonians—bought Fran’s a month or so ago…and have literally “brought” it back to where it was taste-wise during the Fran & Joe era. How does Jeff Eats know all this? Because…Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats ala Marvin Gaye heard it through the grapevine—and yesterday, picked up an 8 piece fried chicken, French fries, onion rings, fried corn nibblets order—and I gotta tell you, the food tastes just like we “remember” Fran making it…the “boys” told us that the sale/purchase of the business had included all of Fran’s original recipes and that they had visited with Fran and Joe (who still live in Boca Raton) to get a feel on how to run the joint.

Let me leave you guys with this…if you like fried chicken, fries, onion rings, fried corn nibblets—-then you gotta get over to Fran’s Chicken Haven.

One final thought…

Jake and Chris— When the crowds start pouring in, which they will—don’t even think of renaming the joint- Stuart Brothers Chicken Haven or some such variation!

Down below is the original June 20, 2006 Jeff Eats’ review for Fran’s Chicken Haven:

Posted on June 20th, 2006
***** “Fran’s makes some of the best fried chicken that you have ever tasted. This joint has been around something like 40 years and is an absolute hole in the wall. Basically a take-out joint, there are a few tables and a counter for those who want to “dine in.” FRIED is the word here…shrimp, corn, french fries, onion rings. Everything is absolutely delicious.

Don’t tell your cardiologist about this joint.

Fran’s is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.”

* Exclusive Online Presale- Bad Company.

Now- just an opinion here, One of the greatest Rock N Roll bands of all time…

Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats are gonna catch some tickets tomorrow morning!

* A Tribute To The Rat Pack- Starring- William Cintron, Dezhon Fields and Ray Livosi.

All I can tell you guys- I’ve seen the show and Cintron, Fields and Livosi do a top-notch job respectively- impersonating Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra!

Just between Jeff Eats and you guys, one of the tribute artists (not gonna- say which one) is so good- that if you close your eyes while he’s singing- you’ll swear that the “real” legend is on the stage! Like I just said, not gonna say which one – My my!

The Skinny:

A Tribute To The Rat Pack- Starring- William Cintron, Dezhon Fields and Ray Livosi

Saturday, January 12, 2019 (7:30pm)

Mizner Park Cultural Center
201 Plaza Real
Boca Raton, Florida 33432
Box Office: (844)-672-2849
Tickets: miznerparkculturalcenter.com

from miznerparkculturalcenter.com

A Tribute To The Rat Pack- Starring- William Cintron, Dezhon Fields and Ray Livosi

Prepare to experience the best The Rat Pack tribute show you’ve ever seen, A TRIBUTE TO THE RAT PACK, starring William Cintron Dezhon Fields and Ray Livosi – and featuring the hit songs “That’s Amore,” “I Get A Kick Out of You,” “My Funny Valentine” and more!

Ray Livosi as Frank Sinatra

“It’s unbelievable, I thought I was listening to Frank himself.” -Howie Richmond

You will feel “Frank” in the house when Ray Livosi performs his incredible tribute, recreating the voice, mannerisms and big band sounds of Frank Sinatra. Livosi channels Ol’ Blue Eyes at his peak by incorporating songs from Sinatra’s legendary performance at Madison Square Garden.

Acclaimed for his act(s) in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, Livosi offers fans the chance to see “The Chairman of the Board” perform timeless classic such as “Fly Me to the Moon,” “That’s Life,” “My Way,” and “New York, New York.”

Howie Richmond, who published “Fly Me to the Moon,” said of Livosi, “It’s unbelievable, I thought I was listening to Frank himself.”

Dezhon Fields as Sammy Davis Jr.

“Fields is a dead-ringer for Sammy Davis, and when he hits those high notes in ‘What Kind of Fool Am I’, you’d swear the famous song and dance man was back.” -The Windsor Star

Dezhon Fields is an accomplished singer, actor and dancer with more than 18 years of entertainment experience. Dezhon began singing and dancing in school and church at the age of 10. He has since gone on to perform in theatre productions worldwide, beginning with a Tony Award-winning play called CINDERELLA BROWN, where he was a principle dancer in Long Beach, CA. Dezhon is a former ballroom/salsa instructor and trained for several years under the instruction of the National Ballroom/Salsa Champion, Sonya Cortes, in Los Angeles, California.

Having been told he looked like Sammy Davis Jr. most of his life, Dezhon decided to research the great entertainer. After reading the book “Why Not Me” in 2002, Dezhon realized that he identified with Sammy Davis’ style, as well as his passion for entertainment and outlook on life; this is what inspired Dezhon’s passion, and like Sammy, he has danced, sang, and acted his way into people’s hearts.

Dezhon has performed in Las Vegas where he is a member of “Legends in Concert” and has performed throughout the United States, Canada and Ireland. In 2012 and 2013, Dezhon completed a double run at the WestCoast Black Theatre Troupe in Sarasota, FL, starring in the production, SAMMY TONIGHT, a show he wrote and co-produced with Nate Jacobs. As he performed to sold out audiences, one critic said, “Dazzling with talent and bedazzled with Davis’ signature diamonds, Fields casts a magnificent glow as star of the show.”

In April 2016, Dezhon received a gracious invitation from Producers, Judi Mark and Mercedes Ellington (Granddaughter of Duke Ellington), to perform in a production called “TRIPLE THREATS” a Tribute to Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Tito Puente, which was performed at the Friars Club in Manhattan, NY. And, in April 2018, Dezhon worked with Broadway & Off-Broadway Producer/Director, Herman LeVern Jones, adapting a sound score for the play, A CLASS ACT, also performing all vocals throughout the production.

William Cintron as Dean Martin

William Cintron is best known for impersonating the superb vocals of Frankie Valli, Dean Martin, Englebert Humperdinck, and The Stylistics.

Cintron originally hails from Brooklyn, NY, and has performed throughout New York City, and Florida (currently performing throughout Central Florida, South Florida, and Southwest Florida). He went on to perform at the Apollo Theatre, winning Amateur Night first place three times. He has performed with bands such as Legend, Sweet Touch, Rhapsody, and Bodacious. William now has his own Frankie Valli Tribute Band called “Sounds of the Seasons” for that authentic Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons sound.

Cintron has also performed and shared the same stage with The Platters, The Temptations, The Delfonics, Chubby Tavares of The Tavares, Larry Chance and the Earls, The New Supremes, The Marcels, The Diamonds, The Coasters, The Drifters, The Mystics, J.T. Carter of The Crests, Eddie Holman, Peter Lemongello, Jimmy Gallagher of The Passions, The Main Ingredient featuring Cuba Gooding Sr., and Ken Brady and The Casinos.

Past performances include The World Famous Apollo Theatre, The Four Century Villages of South Florida, The Villages of Lady Lake, Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Epcot Center, and Universal Studios City Jazz and Motown Cafe.

Cintron sings all the greats such as Al Jolson, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett, Englebert Humperdinck, Tom Jones, and even Elvis. From Frankie Valli, The Platters, Temptations, to The Stylistics and Smokey Robinson, he can hit just about any range.

This article first posted on 4/10/18.

Vic DiBetetto is one of the hottest comedians currently working America’s casino/theater circuit. I am telling you, that the 5 shows listed below – are gonna be SRO, so if you wanna see Vic DiBetetto- don’t screw around and get your tickets NOW!

Posted on April 10th, 2018.

* Comedian- Vic DiBetetto.

Just announced…

If you wanna see one of America’s funniest standup comedians…you gotta go see Vic DiBetetto!

Trust Jeff Eats when I tell you- that the “light blue” National Touring Headlining Comedian- DiBetetto will have you pissing your pants all night long from laughter!

Guaranteed…the five announced shows will be SRO- so if you wanna go…

The Skinny:

Comedian- Vic DiBetetto

Wednesday, November 28th, 2018 (8pm)
Thursday, November 29th, 2018 (8pm),
Friday, November 30th, 2018 (8PM)

Boca Black Box
8221 Glades Road #10
Boca Raton, Florida 33434
Box Office: 561.483.9036
Tickets: bocablackbox.com and goldstar.com (discount tickets)

Saturday, December 1st, 2018 (8pm)

Rose and Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center
3100 Ray Ferro Jr Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33314
Box Office: (954) 262-5480
Tickets: nova.edu

Thursday, April 11, 2019 (8pm)

Coral Springs Center For The Arts
2855 Coral Springs Drive
Coral Springs, Florida 33065
Box Office: (954) 344-5990
Tickets: thecentercs.com

from bocablackbox.com
Vic DiBitetto churns energy, honesty and humanity into nonstop laughter. His pace is frenetic. His material vivid and true. From his first words, to his famous, word-free, mannequin head encore, DiBitetto leaves his audience breathless with laughter.
He is also featured in Kevin James’ movie Mall Cop: Blart 2, featured in a video roll-in segment in the play Italian Bred currently in LA, starring in an untitled prime time Hulu Original scripted sit-com, and a featured performer on the online Funny For Money site (Comedy Central and YouTube venture).

* The Boardwalk Brothers.

WATCH THE VIDEO!

Now, I dare you- to tell me, that you don’t want to see these guys!

The Skinny:

Sunday, March 10, 2019, 8:00 PM

The Boardwalk Brothers

Kings Point-Delray Beach
7000 Atlantic Avenue
Delray Beach, Florida 33446
Tickets: kingspointdelray.com
Box Office- (561) 499-3335

$16.00 Residents • $22.00 Non-Residents

from kingspointdelray.com

The Boardwalk Brothers are a premiere mixed-race, four-part harmony vocal group currently touring… Entertaining fans with their irresistibly catchy, authentic Pop music spectacle! Led by a cast whose credits span Broadway, national and international tours, cruise ships, casino headliners, and more. This company of entertainers and musicians brings the joy, intensity and talent that made these hits skyrocket up the charts and find a permanent place in our hearts. If you can’t get enough of that Jersey sound and can’t resist dancing to that Motown beat, you’ll love The Boardwalk Brothers!

v

***** The Chop Shop, 118 South Kentucky Avenue, Lakeland, Florida 33801, (863) 603-4040.

Got a real good burger/sports bar joint for you guys to checkout- The Chop Shop In Lakeland.

Simple tale to tell- order at counter-food delivered to table, booth/counter/inside and outside table seating, reasonably priced menu featuring burgers/ salads/ sandwiches/ hot dogs/ subs/ wings, beer/wine/full liquor bar, loads of flat screen tvs, pool table, old license plates on the wall decor, open Sunday-Wednesday 11am-9pm/ Thursday-Saturday 11am-11pm.

Last night Jeff Eats, Mrs. Jeff Eats, Daughter Jeff Eats and Son Jeff Eats did dinner at The Chop Shop and I must tell you guys that- we absolutely loved the joint! As a matter of fact, if The Chop Shop was anywhere near our Boca Raton abode, which unfortunately it is not- we definitely would be real steady customers!

Trust Jeff Eats on this one, homerun!

You guys can check menu/prices/info at chopshopburgers.com

***** Charlie’s Mini Donuts & Coffee, 1023 East County Road 540A, Lakeland, Florida 33813, (863) 500-1414.

Got a real good donut joint for you guys to checkout, Charlie’s Mini Donuts & Coffee in Lakeland.

Simple tale to tell, something like 16 different mini cake donuts/coffe/tea menu, order at-pickup at counter, handful of inside tables.

Earlier this morning, Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats “discovered” Charlie’s Mini Donuts & Coffee and I gotta tell you that the freshly baked cake donuts were just what the doctor ordered. For you guys who right about now maybe wondering “Hey Jeff, what the hell were you and Mrs. Jeff Eats doing up in Lakeland-on the Monday morning following the long Thanksgiving Day Weekend?” Not that it’s any of your business- buy Jeff Eats had an early business meeting with Publix’s CEO Todd Jones at Publix’s corporate headquarters at Publix’s Corporate Office, 3300 Publix Corporate Parkway, Lakeland, Florida 33811.

Anyway, like I said three seconds ago, the mini cake donuts were exactly what the doctor ordered, that’s assuming you’re into cake donuts, which Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats happen to really enjoy with our morning hot coffee. Just so you guys and Jeff Eats are straight with each other, if you’re not into cake donuts, Charlie’s Mini Donuts and Coffee is probably not gonna work for you- because there isn’t a yeast-raised donut insight!

Let me wrap Charie’s Mini Donuts & Coffee by saying that the joint is open Tuesday-Thursday 7am-8pm/ Friday-Saturday 7am-9pm/ Sunday 7am-3:30pm/ closed Monday, that you can check menu/prices/info at charlies-mini-donuts-coffee.business.site and that Charlie’s Mini Donuts & Coffee’s- Snickers Mini Donut is worth the price of admission alone!

***** DISH OF THE WEEK (Sunday-11/25/18- Nick’s Pizza).

One of Jeff Eats’ favorite menu items…

BARBECUE PORK RIBS (w/2 sides)
$34

Houston’s

1900 NW Executive Center Circle, Boca Raton
17355 Biscayne Boulevard, North Miami
2821 East Atlantic Boulevard, Pompano Beach
(800) 230-9787
hillstone.com
Latest Review: 2/13/17

Always and I do mean ALWAYS a line out the door to get in- at all three of Houston’s Florida locations…

Posted on February 13th, 2017
* Win A $50 Houston’s Gift Card.

Jeff Eats got a $50 Houston’s Gift Card to give to one of you guys!

Jeff Eats maybe going out on a limb here, but I’m gonna assume that you guys know what Houston’s is all about…For you guys who don’t, 1. Where- you been? and 2. American-Style casual-joint with a limited menu- but you’ll definitely find what to eat, delicious food, separate full liquor bar, solid-very attentive service, “could be” cheaper prices- but you won’t need a second job to pay the bill, always a wait to get in, 3 Florida locations and 14 more in other states!

The game- the first 15 “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 $50 Gift Card is good at any Houston’s location (check menu, locations, info at hillstone.com).

This article first appeared on 10/17/18. Just checked the box-office (poprockdoowopp.com) and there are just a handful of tickets left- so, if you wanna go and haven’t yet bought tickets, time to make a move on the ticket front!

Posted on October 17th, 2018.

* Pop, Rock & Doo Wopp Live!

Tickets just went on sale…

Pop, Rock & Doo Wopp Live!

Saturday, Mar 23, 2019 at 7:30 PM

Pop, Rock & Dopp Live!

Carole & Barry Kaye Auditorium at FAU
777 Glades Road
Boca Raton, Florida 33431

Box Office: (561) 297-6124

Tickets: poprockdoowopp.com

from poprockdoowopp.com

Pop, Rock & Doo Wopp returns to FAU for the 7th consecutive year starring some Boca debuts and some of your favorites who are back by popular demand! Starring… Lou Christie (“Lightning Strikes”, “I’m Gonna Make You Mind”, “Two Faces Have I”, “The Gypsy Cried”), Rock & Roll Hall of Famers The Flamingos (“I Only Have Eyes for You”, “Lovers Never Say Goodbye”, “Mio Amore”), The Belmonts (“A Teenager in Love”, “Where or When”, “I Wonder Why”, “That’s My Desire”) and The Leaders of the Pack – four original lead singers live on stage, all together, for the first time – Larry Chance of the Earls (“Remember When”, “I Believe”), Vito Picone of the Elegants (“Little Star”), Emil Stucchio of the Classics (“Till Then”) and Joey Dee of the Starliters (“Peppermint Twist”).PLUS – due to overwhelming demand from last year’s audience and so many fans who could not get tickets for our last show, we’re bringing back Jay & the Americans for an encore performance – all the hits you remember in an all-new show (“This Magic Moment”, “Come a Little Bit Closer”, “Cara Mia”, “Walkin’ in the Rain”, “Only in America”, “Some Enchanted Evening” and more!) All acts feature original members. Presented by Praia Entertainment Group.

This contest started on 11/19/18. This contest has a winner.

* Win A $20 Bagel Twins Gift Card.

Jeff Eats got a $20 Bagel Twins 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 Bagel Twins, 5130 Linton Boulevard, Delray Beach, Florida 33433 (561) 499-1925. Check bageltwinsdelraybeach.com for menu/prices/info.

Posted on July 11th, 2008

***** Bagel Twins, 5130 Linton Boulevard, Delray Beach 33484 (561) 499-1925.

The guy who owns Bagel Twins is a smart guy.

A few years ago, when Bagel Twins was getting ready to open in a shopping center directly across the street from Poppie’s Restaurant & Delicatessen (see review-7/11/08) literally a Delray landmark… I remember commenting to a group of people that, Bagel Twins a bagel-deli joint would have no chance against Poppie’s and would die a fast death…Well low and behold, it’s now years later and Bagel Twins not only survived, but is one of the most popular bagel-deli joints in the area.

Since it opened, I have eaten at Bagel Twins at least 5 times…it does both breakfast and lunch. The joint does an enormous eat-in and take-out business. Its stuff is pretty good.

Just so you know, Bagel Twins is located in a shopping center which is right next to Delray Medical Center (Delray Hospital)…I got a sneaking suspicion that many of the doctors/ nurses/ workers employed by the hospital/or have offices in the shopping center and their patients are “supporting” Bagel Twins. I never figured, that crossing a little street named Military Trail (that’s what separates Bagel Twins and Poppies) was such a big deal, but I guess that it was/is.

Give Bagel Twins a try…the guy who owns it, makes some good stuff and is real smart.