***** Randazzo’s Little Italy, 150 Giralda Street, Coral Gables, Florida 33134, (305) 448-7002.

First told you guys about Randazzo’s on September 11, 2008. Jeff Eats doesn’t get to eat at Randazzo’s as much as I would like (Boca Raton where I live-to Coral Gables is a “nice” drive”)- that said, every time I’ve eaten there, I’ve been totally blown away by its food and service!

Long story short, last night Jeff Eats, Mrs. Jeff Eats and another couple “did” dinner- and once again, the joint’s food was delicious and its service as pleasant- professional as can be!

Trust Jeff Eats on this one, you guys gotta try this joint- it’s terrific!

___________
Randazzo’s Little Italy (Coral Gables)
Posted on September 11th, 2008 · Coral Gables Italian
***** Randazzo’s Little Italy, 150 Giralda Street, Coral Gables, Florida 33134, (305) 448-7002.

Got a terrific Italian Restaurant for you to try…Randazzo’s Little Italy. In addition to having delicious food…efficient wait-staff…large portions…reasonable prices…Randazzo’s has an owner who if you piss him off, could actually knock you out…the joint is owned/operated by former cruiser-weight boxing champion Marc Randazzo.

The best way to describe Randazzo’s decor-ambiance is ADRIAN’S…let me explain. Rent yourself a copy of Sylvester Stallone’s latest Rocky film, “Rocky Balboa”…in the film, Rocky is a retired boxer who owns/operates a restaurant named after his late wife, Adrian…Rocky’s joint is decorated with a combination of stuff which includes boxing memorabilia and Rocky walks around the joint “schmoozing” the clientele. Randazzo’s which has a red/white table cloth setup, is decorated with all kinds of photos of “this and that” and boxing memorabilia… it is owned/operated by a retired boxing champion, who likes to “schmooze”…sound familiar?

Anyway…this is a terrific place. It has limited seating and the two times that I ate dinner there, it was jammed with “tons” of folks waiting for tables. This joint has all of the usual dishes and many portions are enough to feed two or more…ask the server when ordering…no need to over-order/over-spend. By the way, if you don’t like the food, keep it to yourself, as Marc had one of the best left-hands in his divsion.

Randazzo’s is open for lunch Monday-Friday 11:30am-2:30pm, Monday-Saturday for dinner, closed on Sunday.

You can check menu/prices at randazzoslittleitaly.com.

* Brooklyn ‘Nut’ Cracker Comedy Tour With Comedian Steve Marshall.

Literally, just this minute- Brooklyn ‘Nut’ Cracker Comedy Tour With Comedian Steve Marshall- was added to the Boca Black Box’s schedule, Saturday- December 19, 2015 (8pm).

Long story short, in mid-September 2015, Steve Marshall played a handful of South Florida dates (theaters/casinos/arenas)- and they were all SRO affairs! Jeff Eats & Mrs. Jeff Eats saw Marshall at the Boca Black Box on September 18th- and he had the audience pissing-in-their-pants! The guy is “blue” very funny! Jeff Eats is thinking- that the Boca Black Box- is figuring that Marshall will do it again, that is- sell the joint out! Between you and me, I think that the Black Box is right on that!- then again, just maybe the NYC based Marshall has a mother who lives in the Boca West Country Club and he was gonna be in Boca Raton anyway- visiting her!

The Skinny:
Saturday Night, December 19, 2015 (8pm)
Boca Black Box
8221 Glades Road, Boca Raton, Florida 33434
Box-Office: (561) 483- 9036
Tickets: bocablackbox.com (by the way, goldstar.com has a handful of $20 tickets listed at $5)

from the bocablackbox.com

This is not your mother’s BALLET!!! There are no sugar plum fairies in Steve Marshall’s holiday comedy show. Instead, listen to Steve complain about being the only Jew in his family, why he sees the glass as half empty, and why you should not make fun of Chinese people that work in a Chinese restaurant. This ball-busting show will have you laughing, relating and plotzing through the aisles. This show is rated H, for honesty…

Comedian Steve Marshall lives by a code, “Don’t Behave.” He’s put this code to work in a system he calls “The Marshall Plan,” and it seems to have worked. Along with performing all over the country, Marshall has been featured on CBS News and CNBC. He’s also been the warm-up act for the show “The View,” wrote the film Driving Me Crazy (starring Mickey Rooney), and was on the NBC show “Dare to Dream.”

* Justin Willman- Fake Believe Tour.

The super talented magician/comedian’s recently announced “Fake Believe Tour” has 1- South Florida stop:

December 17-20, 2015
The Improv
CityPlace
550 S. Rosemary Ave., Suite 250
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Box Office: 561-833-1812
Tickets: palmbeachimprov.com -(keep an eye on goldstar.com for discount tickets).

Trust Jeff Eats, the guy absolutely kills- and every show will be SRO!

Go see Justin William, you will have an absolute blast!

Justin Willman

Comedian/Magician Justin Willman is a hit in the alternative comedy scene and is currently on tour with his new live show, Fake Believe. Among his numerous TV appearances, Justin has become a regular guest on The Tonight Show, The Ellen Show, and @Midnight on Comedy Central, and his hit web series, Magic Meltdown led to his upcoming Nerdist produced Comedy Central pilot, Sleight of Mouth with Justin Willman, airing March 23. His live performances have sold-out Largo (LA), Moontower Comedy Festival (Austin), Bumbershoot (Seattle), Sketchfest (San Francisco) and he is a staple performer at The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail. His greatest trick yet, however, was receiving a standing ovation from President Obama, following a private performance at the White House. How did he do it? Magnets.

This article first appeared on November 23, 2015.

* Win 2 Tickets To: Good Vibrations- Starring MICKY DOLENZ, FELIX CAVALIERE, MARK FARNER, STEVE AUGERI, JOHN CAFFERTY.

Trust Jeff Eats on this one, you “old rockers” out there will absolutely love this concert!

Real simple game here…

Jeff Eats has 2 tickets for the 40th reader who posts a comment. Just so you know, 1- comment per reader per day- Your IP Addresses don’t lie! Last date to submit a comment, January 6, 2016. If 40 comments aren’t received, #39-38-37-36 so on and so forth- will be the winner!

The Skinny:

Good Vibrations- Starring MICKY DOLENZ, FELIX CAVALIERE, MARK FARNER, STEVE AUGERI, JOHN CAFFERTY

Sunday, January 10, 2016 – 6:00PM

The Pavilion at Old School Square
51 North Swinton Ave, Delray Beach, Florida 33444

Info: (561) 243-7922 facebook.com/events/1041710655862710/

Tickets: ($40, $55, $65, $125) gimmelive.com/?c=67

* This article first appeared on August 17, 2015. Trust Jeff Eats, I know funny- and this guy Sarge is FUNNY! Sarge has been working South Florida for years- and seemingly every show that he does is a SRO affair! The way I figure it- Sarge knows exactly “what” his audience wants to hear- and delivers! If you haven’t yet-seen him GO!- I am telling you, you will laugh your ass off! Sarge is a real-busy guy, so check iamsarge.com for his full schedule which includes The Sarge Chanukah Chutzpah Tour and his “regular” standup show…

Posted August 17, 2015
* The Sarge Chanukah Chutzpah Tour.

Tickets just went on sale!

Go see Sarge, a very funny clean comedian!

The Sarge Chanukah Chutzpah Tour.
Event Date: Saturday, December 5, 2015 at 8:00 pm
Tickets: coralspringscenterforthearts.com

By the way, if Coral Spring Center’s date doesn’t work for you, Sarge has a whole bunch of other- South Florida dates/venues for both his Chanukah and standup shows!

You can check iamsarge.com for schedule/info.

Like Jeff Eats said a few seconds ago, a very funny clean comic!

* Johnny Dee and the Starlights.

A recent e-mail received by Jeff Eats:

Jeff,

Long time reader. Love the Jeff Eats’ site.
I need a great 50s-60s Rock N Roll band for a charity event that I am the Chairperson of. The charity event is in September, 2016 and will be held in North Miami. Expecting around 300 people.
I have seen a number of south Florida 50s-60s bands and although many are very good, I would love to have a band that is really special and if possible not based in the immediate area so that its appearance will be be fresh, in that most if not all of the guests have never seen the band before.

Your help would be greatly appreciated.

Tanya
_____

Tanya:

Got the perfect band for you, Johnny Dee and the Starlights (I know-Joey Dee & The Starliters)!

Trust Jeff Eats on this one, the band is amazingly-good!

Jeff Eats is thinking (actually I’m knowing) that your crowd will go absolutely nuts over Johnny Dee and the Starlights- as they put on a great show! I’m also thinking, that because Johnny Dee and the Starlights is based out of Orlando and seldom plays- Dade/Broward/Palm Beach Counties- that most of your guests- will not have seen the band before!

Like I said before, the band is amazingly good!

You can check the band out at johnnydeeandthestarlights.com.

Thanks for reading…

from johnnydeeandthestarlights.com

Calling themselves “your time machine back to the early days of rock ‘n’ roll,” this Florida band features music made famous by Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, and Elvis Presley, among many others. Songs include classics like “Runaround Sue,” “Only the Lonely,” and “Unchained Melody.” Come hear the hits of yesteryear played the way they were meant to be played!

MORE ABOUT JOHNNY DEE AND THE STARLIGHTS
Johnny Dee and the Starlights play the music of the ‘50s and ‘60s with such passion, intensity, and authenticity that you’ll swear you’ve been transported back in time. Much more than your average cover band, Johnny Dee and the Starlights are out to change the way you think about tribute performances. Featuring popular actor and musician Andy Matchett as Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Hank Williams, and his own alter ego, Johnny Dee – along with a five-piece band, including the lovely Starlettes – this is a performance you will not want to miss!

***** Bamboo Wok, 9181 Glades Road, Boca Raton, Florida (561) 218-6003…12040 South Jog Road, Boynton Beach, Florida (561) 742-0123…4660 West Hillsboro Boulevard, Coconut Creek, Florida (954) 427-1888.

This morning at the intersection of Jog Road and Lake Ida Road in Boynton Beach, Jeff Eats saw a humongous tractor-trailer unloading a ton of cars with New York and New Jersey license plates. To save those “car owners” the time and effort of writing to Jeff Eats…printed down below is Jeff Eats’ July 6, 2008 “review” of Bamboo Wok!

Posted July 6, 2008
***** Bamboo Wok, 9181 Glades Road, Boca Raton, Florida (561) 218-6003…12040 South Jog Road, Boynton Beach, Florida (561) 742-0123…4660 West Hillsboro Boulevard, Coconut Creek, Florida (954) 427-1888.

Bamboo Wok currently has 3 South Florida locations…Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Coconut Creek.

Bamboo Wok is a take-out-only joint.

Bamboo Wok’s food is excellent. The food is as good as your favorite South Florida Chinese take-out…in fact, Bamboo Wok’s food could compete quite nicely with most of NYC’s Chinese eat-in/take-out joints. A few of my favorite dishes are…boneless bbq spare ribs, pan fried dumplings, moo shu pork, beef with mixed vegetables. Trust me on this, if a Bamboo Wok is in your neighborhood, after you order food the first time, you will make this your regular take-out Chinese joint.

Check out Bamboo Wok’s website www.bamboowok.com for menu/pricing details. Bamboo Wok is open 7-days a week.

***** Gramma’s Bakery, 14466 S Military Trail, Delray Beach, Florida 33484, (561) 496-0185.

Got an absolutely terrific bakery for you guys, Gramma’s Bakery in Delray Beach.

Gramma’s is owned/operated by The Boys Farmers Market- which is one of Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats favorite “markets” to shop in…Jeff Eats got a whole bunch of Boys’ “reviews” if you’re interested!

Gramma’s is a hole-in-the-wall retail joint. The “baking area” is in the back of the store. Jeff Eats is thinking (actually knows) that many of the items carried in The Boys’ bakery- is baked at Gramma’s which is a 2 minute walk from The Boys and vice versa (that’s how it usually works!)

Trust Jeff Eats when I tell you that Gramma’s baked goods are absolute dynamite- and super-reasonably prices. The joint’s selection covers the full gamut…cakes, cookies, pastries, breads, so on and so forth…The odds are, that you will find what you came for and leave with “it” and other stuff- that you didn’t come for!-happens to Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats each and every time!

Gramma’s Bakery is definitely one of the best bakeries in South Florida.

Gramma’s is open 7 days a week 9am-5pm.

One final thought, for you Brooklyn guys out there who might be “missing” Ebinger’s Bakery…for sure it’s not the real deal- but trust Jeff Eats, Gramma’s chocolate cake will- get you through the day quite nicely!

* December 2015- Delray Marketplace Music Fest.

The Delray Marketplace (www.delraymarket.com, 9025 West Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach, Florida 33446)- takes another “shot” at drawing crowds- to its ill-conceived power shopping center.

Down-below, the Delray Marketplace’s- December, 2015- FREE CONCERT SERIES LINEUP!

If only “someone”- during the center’s planning stage (2010-2012)- had stopped and figured out a DECENT TENANT MIX, the Delray Marketplace wouldn’t be scrambling to draw “visitors” on Thursday Nights in December. That said, “someone” didn’t- so you guys get to see some really good bands- for FREE! To be perfectly honest with you guys, to this very day Jeff Eats still can’t figure-out how the Delray Marketplace actually thought that retailers such as Jos. A. Bank, Chico’s, GNC and Yankee Candle would draw people to an outdoor center! Oh well, not my money!

Its loss, your gain! Enjoy the bands!

This article first appeared on October 30, 2015.

* Win 2-Tickets To: Dark Star Orchestra.

Real simple story…

Dark Star Orchestra-one of America’s premier Grateful Dead “tribute bands” is coming to the Pompano Amphitheater on Friday Night- February 12, 2016.

Jeff Eats has 2 tickets for the 50th reader who posts a comment. Just so you know, 1- comment per reader per day- Your IP Addresses don’t lie! Last date to submit a comment, February 9, 2016. If 50 comments aren’t received, 49-48-47-46 so on and so forth- will be the winner!

If you aren’t the “lucky” winner- you can cough up the cash and buy tickets at pompanobeacharts.org.

from pompanobeacharts.org

Dark Star Orchestra
Friday, February 12, 2016
Concert: 7:30pm | Doors: 6:30pm
The Amp (Pompano Beach Amphitheater)
Tickets: pompanobeacharts.org

“The Dark Star Orchestra re-creates Grateful Dead shows with a flashback-inducing meticulousness.” – The New Yorker

Performing to critical acclaim worldwide for nearly 15 years and over 2000 shows, Dark Star Orchestra continues the Grateful Dead concert experience. Their shows are built off the Dead’s extensive catalog and the talent of these 7 fine musicians. On any given night the band will perform a show based on a set list from the Grateful Dead’s 30 years of extensive touring or use their catalog to program a unique set list for the show. This allows fans both young and old to share in the experience. By recreating set lists from the past, and by developing their own sets of Dead songs, Dark Star Orchestra offers a continually evolving artistic outlet within this musical canon. Honoring both the band and the fans, Dark Star Orchestra’s members seek out the unique style and sound of each era while simultaneously offering their own informed improvisations.

Dark Star Orchestra offers much more than the sound of the Grateful Dead, they truly encapsulate the energy and the experience. It’s about a sense of familiarity. It’s about a feeling that grabs listeners and takes over. It’s about that contagious energy… in short, it’s about the complete experience and consistent quality show that the fan receives when attending a Dark Star Orchestra show.

Dark Star Orchestra has performed throughout the United States and Europe. They continue to grow their fan base by playing at larger venues for two and even three night stands as well as performing at major music festivals including Bonnaroo, All Good Festival, Gathering of the Vibes, Mountain Jam, Summer Camp, Wakarusa and 10,000 Lakes. In addition, Dark Star Orchestra hosts its own annual gathering, Dark Star Jubilee, where they headline three nights and are joined by a mix of established and up and coming national touring acts.

Fans and critics haven’t been the only people caught up in the spirit of a Dark Star show. The band has featured guest performances from five original Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann, Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, Vince Welnick, Tom Constanten and even toured with longtime Dead soundman, Dan Healy. Other notable guests have included Mike Gordon and Jon Fishman of Phish, Keller Williams, Warren Haynes, Steve Kimock, Peter Rowan, Ramblin’ Jack Elliot and many more. Visit their website- darkstarorchestra.net.

Parking directions:
From I-95:
Take I-95 and get off on Atlantic Blvd. and head east. Turn north onto N. Dixie Hwy / 811. Take a right onto NE 10th St. Follow concert signs.
From US-1:
Take US-1/N. Federal Hwy to NE 10th St. and head west. Follow concert signs