This contest started on 1/13/17. This contest has a winner!

* Win A $100 Olive Garden Italian Restaurant Gift Card.

Jeff Eats got a $100 Olive Garden Italian Restaurant Gift Card 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 $100 Gift Card is good at any Olive Garden Italian Restaurant location (check menu, locations, info at olivegarden.com).

Posted on January 19th, 2007

***** Olive Garden Italian Restaurant, 22161 Powerline Road, Boca Raton, Florida 33433, (561) 750-0786.

I am going to assume that everyone “here” knows what an Olive Garden Italian Restaurant is. For those who don’t, Olive Garden Restaurant is an enormous ITALIAN RESTAURANT CHAIN which has “tons” of locations in South Florida, not to mention the United States.

Olive Garden has something for everyone. It has soups, salads, appetizers, pastas, pizzas, fish/meat entrees etc. This joint is a “budget shop,” where you get lots-of-food at very reasonable prices. This joint is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.

I recently had dinner at the Olive Garden Italian Restaurant located on Powerline Road in Boca Raton, Florida and I “must” tell you, that the food was “pretty damn good.” Gourmet stuff? Now let’s not get “stupid” here. That said, the lasagna, meatballs, fettucine Alfredo, chicken parmigiana and shrimp primavera that I “sampled,” were not bad…not bad at all.

I usually don’t recommend chain-joints, but I am going to make an exception for Olive Garden. The next time you feel like having a nice, casual Italian lunch/dinner, without “going for your lungs, keep Olive Garden in mind.

***** DISH OF THE WEEK (Sunday-1/15/17).

One of Jeff Eats’ favorite menu items…

FRITA ORIGINAL
$3.25

El Rey de las Fritas
1821 Southwest 8th Street
Miami
(305) 863-0880
elreydelasfritas.com
Latest Review: 7/28/08

All I can tell you guys is that- this joint’s fritas (and other stuff) are totally-off-the-chart delicious!

There are currently 4- El Rey de las Fritas’ locations (all in South Florida)…

Trust Jeff Eats when I tell you, El Rey de las Fritas is an absolute must try!

El Rey de las Fritas (Miami & Hialeah)
Posted on July 28th, 2008
***** El Rey de las Fritas, 1821 SW 8th Street, Miami, Florida 33130 (305) 858-4223…421 W. 29th Street, Hialeah, Florida 33012 (305) 863-0880…9343 SW 40th Street, Miami, Florida 33165 (305) 223-9944…13720 SW 88th Street, Miami, Florida 33186 (305) 387-5656.

El Rey de las Fritas is a Cuban diner. There are currently 4 South Florida locations. There is counter-only seating. The joints are open Monday-Saturday 8am-10:30pm.

The literal English translation of El Rey de las Fritas is something like “The King of the Cuban Hamburgers.” Keep in mind that I got a “D” in High School Spanish.

Anyway…El Rey de las Fritas makes a hamburger that has to be one of the most delicious burgers that I have ever eaten. The burger is real thin… grilled… covered in onions and a sauce which tastes like a mixture of ketchup-mayo-paprika… the burger is then covered in a mound of shoe-string french fries and placed on a nice soft-hamburger bun. I am telling you, it is incredible.

In addition to the burgers, this joint has all kinds of amazing stuff, like a hoagie-style sliced steak sandwich (pan con bistec) which gives the burger a run for its money…there are tamales, Cuban sandwiches, fresh fruit shakes, hot dogs…trust me, you won’t go home hungry.

This is a joint that you have to check-out. By the way, El Rey’s prices are no more expensive than your favorite fast food joint.

Last night (Friday, 1/13/17)- Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats saw The Martin & Lewis Tribute Show at the Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center in Boca Raton and I gotta tell you guys, the show blew us away! No bs here- for 90 non-stop minutes- backed by a 7 piece orchestra, Tony Lewis (Jerry) and Tom Stevens (Dean) had the- packed house believing that Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin in their heyday- were singing, dancing and clowning on the theater’s stage! The terrific thing about The Martin & Lewis Tribute Show -is that both young and old get to appreciate the genius of Martin & Lewis who were one of America’s most popular and brilliant comedy acts!

Trust Jeff Eats when I tell you, YOU ABSOLUTELY POSITVLEY WANT TO SEE THIS SHOW!

You can catch tickets on-line for the show’s remaining Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center run (1/14/17-1/29/17) at: miznerparkculturalcenter.com and goldstar.com (discount tickets).

* The Martin & Lewis Tribute Show.

Posted on November 25th, 2016
* The Martin & Lewis Tribute Show.

Jeff Eats is hearing some really terrific things about The Martin & Lewis Tribute Show.

Just picked up 2-discount tickets (1/13/17 performance) on goldstar.com.

Not that it really matters, but Jeff Eats will- tell you guys what I “think” right after I see the show!

In the meantime …

Tickets: miznerparkculturalcenter.com goldstar.com (discount tickets).

from miznerparkculturalcenter.com

Come join us for an afternoon/evening of great music and hysterical comedy sketches as Tom Stevens and Tony Lewis, the world’s BEST Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis tribute artists, bring their incredible one of a kind show to our stage for the first time. Performing with a live band, these two amazing performers will have you believing you are watching the actual Martin and Lewis as they’ve never been seen before, incorporating such characters as The Bellboy, The Nutty Professor, The Chinese Chef as well as a few surprises.

This is classic entertainment for the whole family, bringing back…THE MUSIC, THE LAUGHTER AND THE LOVE of the world’s most famous Musical/Comedy duo.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
“I’VE NEVER SEEN ANYONE LOOK AND SOUND MORE LIKE MY DAD.” -DEANA MARTIN

The Martin & Lewis Tribute Show (Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center- Boca Raton)
Posted on November 25th, 2016
* The Martin & Lewis Tribute Show.
Jeff Eats is hearing some really terrific things about The Martin & Lewis Tribute Show.

Just picked up 2-discount tickets (1/13/17 performance) on goldstar.com.

Not that it really maters, but Jeff Eats will- tell you guys what I “think” right after I see the show!

In the meantime …

Tickets: miznerparkculturalcenter.com goldstar.com (discount tickets).

from miznerparkculturalcenter.com

Come join us for an afternoon/evening of great music and hysterical comedy sketches as Tom Stevens and Tony Lewis, the world’s BEST Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis tribute artists, bring their incredible one of a kind show to our stage for the first time. Performing with a live band, these two amazing performers will have you believing you are watching the actual Martin and Lewis as they’ve never been seen before, incorporating such characters as The Bellboy, The Nutty Professor, The Chinese Chef as well as a few surprises.

This is classic entertainment for the whole family, bringing back…THE MUSIC, THE LAUGHTER AND THE LOVE of the world’s most famous Musical/Comedy duo.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
“I’VE NEVER SEEN ANYONE LOOK AND SOUND MORE LIKE MY DAD.” -DEANA MARTIN

——————————————–

“TONY LEWIS AS JERRY BRILLIANTLY CAPTURES THE DYNAMIC JERRY LEWIS…THE ONE LINERS ARE BRILLIANT.” -CHRIS BOYD, HERALD SUN

All Performances

FRI — The Martin & Lewis Tribute Show @ Mizner Park Cultural Center JAN 13
SAT — The Martin & Lewis Tribute Show @ Mizner Park Cultural Center JAN 14
SUN — The Martin & Lewis Tribute Show @ Mizner Park Cultural Center JAN 15
FRI — The Martin & Lewis Tribute Show @ Mizner Park Cultural Center JAN 27
SAT — The Martin & Lewis Tribute Show @ Mizner Park Cultural Center JAN 28
SUN — The Martin & Lewis Tribute Show @ Mizner Park Cultural Center JAN 29

* Orleans with special guest Gary Wright.

Just announced!

Great show!

Orleans with special guest Gary Wright.
Tuesday, February 28, 2017 (8pm)
Tickets: mgfl.com

Orleans – Best known as the 70s Pop/Rock band that brought you the iconic hits “Still the One”, “Dance With Me” and “Love Takes Time”, “Let There Be Music,” “Forever” and more, Orleans has produced a body of work spanning 16 albums and several DVDs. Co-founders John Hall and Lance Hoppen are joined by longstanding members brother Lane Hoppen, Fly Amero and Charlie Morgan.

Special Guest Gary Malcolm Wright is an American singer, songwriter and musician, best known for his 1976 hit songs “Dream Weaver” and “Love Is Alive”, and for his role in helping establish the synthesizer as a leading instrument in rock and pop music.

***** La Empanada Loca, 4820 North Dixie Highway, Oakland Park, Florida 33334, (754) 200-6151

With the understanding that in the 12th grade at Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, New York- Jeff Eats received a final grade of 65-in Spanish…I got an absolutely dynamite Puerto Rican restaurant for you guys- La Empanada Loca in Oakland Park!

Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats recently did lunch at La Empanada Loca and I gotta tell you, the food absolutely killed! Like I said 2 seconds ago, a “D” in Spanish- but I do know when something tastes absolutely off-the chart delicious! By the way, for those of you who maybe wondering, Mrs. Jeff Eats “took” French at Midwood High School (Brooklyn, New York) so the 75- that she got in her senior year was of no help whatsoever at La Empanada Loca!

Bilingual or not- this La Empanada Loca joint is a winner!

You can catch menu/info at laempanadaloca.com .

La Empanada Loca is open Wednesday-Sunday 11:30am-8pm, closed Monday-Tuesday.

This contest started on 1/10/17. This contest has a winner!

* Win A $100 Laurenzo’s Italian Center Gift Card.

Jeff Eats got a $100 Laurenzo’s Italian Center 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 $100 Gift Card is good at Laurenzo’s Italian Center, 16385 West Dixie Highway, North Miami Beach, Florida 33160, (305) 945-6381. Check laurenzositalianmarket.com for further info.

Posted on October 23rd, 2014

***** Laurenzo’s Italian Center, 16385 West Dixie Highway, North Miami Beach, Florida 33160, (305) 945-6381.

Like Perry Como, Jeff Eats gets letters, well in this case, an e-mail.

Got this one-from new reader Harry Rose…
*****
Love the blog glad I found it
October 21, 2014 at 6:02 AM

Just stumbled on your blog and I need your help. Right now I am having trouble adjusting back to EST so I have an extra 2.5 hours each mourning. Just got back from my first trip to Italy. Rome, Tuscany, Florence. While walking through Siena I came across the place below. I know it is too much to ask for a place like this in SF. But I basically had fresh meats and cheeses every day for over a week. I am already jonesing for a fix Jeff Eats where do I go?

BTW a plate of meats and cheeses with wine of course, for two, was 52 euros served on a cutting board with paper. They had no tables or place to eat you walked back out on the street and sat wherever. It was enough for four as I did not realize everyone else was getting a serving for one. I had it wrapped up and we ate it for the following two days as well.
——————–

Harry Rose:

Glad you found Jeff Eats.

Your e-mail doesn’t tell me exactly where in South Florida you live…so I’m shooting in the dark here!

That said, checkout Laurenzo’s Italian Center in North Miami Beach.

Jeff Eats’ review from 10/25/12 is reprinted below.

Nothing for nothing, but I’m thinking that- Laurenzo’s will get the job done for you. You can play Italian all-day-long in this joint…it’s sort of like Toys R Us, its got every base covered at reasonable prices!

Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats have been shopping/eating at Laurenzo’s for years and it has never disappointed.

Finally, if Laurenzo’s doesn’t work geographically for you…I’d suggest “looking around” Jeff Eats- there are a number of other South Florida Italian joints listed- that-will also fit the bill.

Thanks for reading.

October 25, 2012
***** Laurenzo’s Italian Center, 16385 West Dixie Highway, North Miami Beach, Florida 33160, (305) 945-6381.

Let’s call Laurenzo’s Italian Center an “Italian Specialty Supermarket”…terrific selection of fresh fruits/vegetables, wines, cheeses, pastas, fresh meat/seafood/chicken, baked goods, prepared foods. You can check http://laurenzositalianmarket.com for full details.

I’m gonna let you in on a-little secret, Jeff Eats loves joints like Laurenzo’s…great selection, top quality stuff, reasonable prices, hustle-bustle atmosphere. The bet here is that Laurenzo’s “must” be doing something right…its been around for something like 60 years.

Laurenzo’s also has a really-cool “cafeteria” type setup going on right in the middle of the joint…a handful of checkered oil-cloth covered tables—recently tried the joint’s brick-oven pizza, sausage & peppers sub, chicken parm sub—delicious.

Laurenzo’s Italian Center is open Monday-Saturday 9am-7pm, Sunday 9am-5pm

This contest started on 1/11/17. This contest has a winner!

* Win A $100 Mimi’s Ravioli Gift Card.

Jeff Eats got a $100 Mimi’s Ravioli 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 $100 Gift Card is good at Mimi’s Ravioli, 6714 Johnson Street, Hollywood, Florida 33021, (954) 983-3823. You can check mimisravioli.com for info.

Mimi’s Ravioli (Hollywood)
Posted on March 16th, 2015
***** Mimi’s Ravioli, 6714 Johnson Street, Hollywood, Florida 33021, (954) 983-3823.

I can’t believe that this Italian market- has been around for something like 40 years and yesterday afternoon was the first time that Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats set foot in the joint!

No fooling here, after shopping in Mimi’s Ravioli- Mrs. Jeff Eats wanted to become an Italian ( I’m thinking that-right about now my mother-in-law is turning over in her grave)…

Anyway,

Mimi’s literally has every ITALIAN FOOD known to mankind!- breads, pastries, cakes, pastas, cheeses, wines, soups, groceries, sauces, prepared hot/cold foods, frozen prepared foods, salads. olive oil- the list goes on and on!

Think I’m fooling? Here’s a list (from Mimi’s website) of just its frozen prepared meals…

Pasta Dishes
Lasagna Cheese
Lasagna Meat
Lasagna Spinach
Lasagna Vegetable
Stuffed Shells w/sauce
Ravioli w/sauce
Manicotti w/sauce
Baked Ziti
Ziti with Broccoli
Ziti with chicken broccoli
Fish
Baked Clams
White Clam Sauce
Red Clam Sauce
Clam Chowder Meat Dishes
Meat Balls
Turkey Balls
Chicken Parmesan
Chicken Marcela
Chicken Françoise
Chicken Cacciatore
Chicken Gordon Blue
Chicken Rollotini
Chicken Saltimbocca
Chicken Scaloppini
Chicken & Mushrooms
Chicken & Peppers
Chicken Scaparellio
Veal Parmesan
Veal Marcela
Veal Françoise
Veal & Peppers
Veal Saltimbocca
Sausage & Peppers
Stuffed Peppers Meat
Tripe Genovese
Beef Bracciola
Pork Bracciola
Beef & Peppers
Vegetable Dishes
Eggplant Rollotini
Eggplant Parmesan
Mozzarella Marinara
Stuffed Peppers

Now nothing for nothing, you and Jeff Eats both know, that if the stuff Mimi’s is selling ain’t good- having all the “stock” in the world isn’t gonna help…trust Jeff Eats, the meat lasagna, eggplant rollotini, chicken scaparellio that we had for dinner last night- were right on the money. Between you and me, we got a big freezer in the house, so we got- veal & peppers, veal parmesan, chicken cacciatore, stuffed shells w/sauce and veal marsala still-to-go!

Like I said 6 seconds ago, Mimi’s has been around for something like 40 years- so you gotta figure that it must be doing something right! One beautiful thing, as good as the food maybe- like many other restaurants and markets- Mimi’s owners can’t spell worth-a damn. Right off the top of Jeff Eats’ head- Veal Marcela and Chicken Gordon Blue need some work!

Mimi’s is an absolute must try…

You can check menu/prices/info at mimisravioli.com.

Mimi’s is open Tuesday-Saturday 8am-6pm, Sunday 8am-2pm, closed Monday.

* The City Of Pompano Beach Presents: Winter Concert Series.

The other day, for 14 bucks a ticket (plus a service charge of $1.69 per ticket)- Jeff Eats went for the cash and bought 2-tickets for the whole-series!

If you want to be a “big player” just like Jeff Eats- eventbrite.com and pompanobeachfl.gov.

* Boca Fest at the Town Center Mall.

Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats “did” this one last year- if you catch some good weather, it’s a good way to kill an hour-or so!- and you’ll probably bump into a few of your “next door” Florida neighbors who have never-ever invited you into their homes!

DESCRIPTION
Howard Alan Events is excited to announce that Boca Fest will return to The Town Center Mall at Boca Raton. The Town Center is one of South Florida’s top luxury shopping destinations and one of Boca’s main attractions. The show will be located in the parking lot of The Terrace, a recent expansion near Bloomingdales, The Blue Martini and Gap. The Town Center is located right off I-95 and Glades Road. The show offers a convenient location with over 200 national artists and plenty of parking, including valet!
Venue: The Town Center Mall of Boca Raton on Glades Road in Boca Raton, FL
About the Festival
When:
Saturday, January 14th, 2017
10:00am to 5:00pm
Sunday, January 15th, 2017
10:00am to 5:00pm
Where:
6000 Glades Road in Boca Raton, FL
Cost:
Free Admission

This article first appeared on 10/14/16. The other day- Jeff Eats picked-up 4 discount tickets on goldstar.com. Just between you guys and Jeff Eats, this national touring Everly Brothers’ tribute “act” is absolute dynamite! I’m thinking that SRO is in the cards for tonight’s Boca Black Box show, so if you wanna go- it’s probably (actually, it’s definitely) time to make your move on the ticket front!

Posted on October 14th, 2016 · Boca Raton Music/Events/Other
* The Bird Dogs: The Everly Brothers Experience.

The Bird Dogs: The Everly Brothers Experience is an absolutely amazing show!

The national touring “act” fronted by brothers Dylan and Zachary Zmed (sons of “T.J. Hooker” star Adrian Zmed) has Standing Room Only casino/festival/theater/private event audiences swearing- that Phil and Don are on that stage!

The Skinny:
Thursday, January 12, 2017
8221 Glades Road #10
Boca Raton,FL 33434
Box Office: 561.483.9036
Tickets: bocablackbox.com, also check goldstar.com for discount tickets

from bocablackbox.com

The Bird Dogs: The Everly Brothers Experience- Set to perform at the Boca Black Box in Boca Raton!

The Bird Dogs: The Everly Brothers Experience” tribute show brings the famous two-part harmonies of the popular, country-influenced rock ‘n’ roll duo to the Boca Black Box, Thursday-January 12, 2017 (8pm).

The Bird Dogs: The Everly Brothers Experience” is a celebration of Isaac Donald “Don” and Phillip “Phil” Everly’s music, starring the Zmed brothers, Dylan and Zachary.
The Everly Brothers, whose musical career lasted more than 30 years, finished with 35 Billboard Hot 100 singles, including 26 that made the top 40. In addition to charting multiple songs, the brothers’ music has inspired some of the biggest names in rock ‘n’ roll, including The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel and Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards. The duo was also among the first 10 artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.

The Bird Dogs: The Everly Brothers Experience” captures the soulful, two-part harmony that made the original Everly Brothers famous. The Zmed brothers transform into Don and Phil, performing all of The Everly Brothers hits, including “Wake Up Little Susie,” “Bye Bye Love,” “Bird Dog,” “Cathy’s Clown” and more.