* It’s Not Funny!

It happened to me twice-this morning!

***** DISH OF THE WEEK (Sunday- 4/12/15).

One of Jeff Eats’ favorite menu items…

MEATLOAF WITH MASHED POTATOES, VEGGIES & BISCUIT
$7.99

Johnny’s Soda Fountain & Luncheonette
45 Curtiss Parkway
Miami Springs
(786) 953-5553
www.facebook.com/JohnnysSodaFountainandLuncheonette
Latest Review: 5/2/12

Jeff Eats absolutely loves this “faux” 50’s joint/drugstore. The $7.99 meatloaf “special” is an absolute homerun.

Printed down below is my “original” 5/2/12 Johnny’s Soda & Luncheonette story.
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***** Johnny’s Soda Fountain & Luncheonette, 45 Curtiss Parkway, Miami Springs, Florida 33166, (786) 953-5553.

If a 1950’s “looking” diner located in a Miami Springs pharmacy is your game…get ready to play.

Last week I had lunch at Johnny’s Soda Fountain & Luncheonette which is located in the Miami Springs Pharmacy. You can do the Googling here, but back in 1946 a guy named John Stadnik opened a drug store in Miami Springs…and like many of its brethern of the time, it had both a pharmacy and luncheonette in it. To make a long story short, the pharmacy “survived” but the luncheonette closed in 1965. Fast forward to 2010- the Miami Springs Pharmacy is still owned by the Stadnik Family– and Carol, John Stadnik’s daughter decides to “re-open” the luncheonette naming it Johnny’s Soda Fountain & Luncheonette.

So- you know what this joint is all about, the PHARMACY still has the original 1946-look…while-Johnny’s is 1950’s faux-stuff ala Johnny Rockets. For our purposes, this is a mom & pop diner—with an interesting “story” in a really cool location.

Johnny’s menu isn’t huge, but I’m sure you’ll find something to eat…handful of breakfast items–same for salads/sandwiches/burgers/hot dogs/entrees/daily specials/sundaes & shakes. Like I said a few seconds ago, I did lunch…cheeseburger, grilled chicken breast sandwich, french fries, vanilla ice cream/heath bar shake.

Now for the results…I loved the look of the whole joint. The pharmacy and luncheonette are separated by a half-wall divider. Now I know and you know (because I told you)–that the diner decor is a faux-deal, but it’s still cool and real mom & popish…if Johnny Rockets’ decor is a Bentley, Johnny’s is a really used Honda. As for the food, imagine if you made the stuff at home. I appreciate that we may get some-waaaay different results here, but I do make a real good cheeseburger and Mrs. Jeff Eats can muster up a decent enough grilled chicken breast…as for the fries, Johnny’s were ok– like mine- they came out of a frozen package. The shake wasn’t exactly in the league of a Dairy Queen’s Blizzard, but I definitely could handle 2-3 of Johnny’s a week. For the record, over the years Jeff Eats has tried to “duplicate” blizzards at home and has failed miserably.

Johnny’s Soda Fountain & Luncheonette is my kinda of a joint…I’m a sucker for black & white tiled floors, yellow counter stools and red & white checked tablecloths.

Johnny’s is open Monday-Saturday 8am-8pm, Sunday 9am-3pm.

***** G.H. Cretors.

Jeff Eats “heard” about this 130 year old popped-corn company…Jeff Eats ordered online a G.H. Cretors’ Sampler Pack…Jeff Eats received the Sampler Pack…Jeff Eats “ate” the Sampler Pack…

Trust Jeff Eats on this one, absolutely dynamite popped corn!

For info on G.H. Cretors- ghcretors.com.

A GOOGLE SEARCH- will turn up South Florida retailers for you guys.

GH Cretors Sampler Pack
Don’t know which kind of G.H. Cretors popped corn is your favorite yet? Order the sampler where you get 5 full size bags – delivered straight to you!
$19.98 5ct Sample Pack
Qty
Sample pack includes:
• (2) 7.5oz bags of Chicago Mix
• (2) 8oz bags of Just the Caramel Corn
• (1) 6.5oz bag of Just the Cheese Corn
Only Ingredients You Know!
• No artificial flavors or colors
• Made with real cheddar cheese
• Certified Gluten Free Gluten_Free

* SURF CLAY WHERE WE GO.

See the guy in the blue shirt…

On a recent episode of TV’s- Wheel Of Fortune that guy attempted “solving” the puzzle with- SURF CLAY WHERE WE GO.

Now, nothing for nothing- having practiced law for 42 years, trust Jeff Eats when I tell you- that I’ve seen guys- just like the guy in the blue shirt- sitting as jurors on murder trials and billion dollar anti-trust cases.

Scary…

Thank God this guy doesn’t have a food blog!

* Burger-Palooza: Taste the Best Burgers in Town.

Literally, just this minute, Jeff Eats got this “deal” from goldstar.com.

Personally at $70 & $150 I think the event-sponsors are pushing their luck…but at $35 and $75 this “thing” sounds like a pretty decent “deal”- but I would like to know who the burger-players are!

If you want to go…you can catch tickets at goldstar.com.
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Burger-Palooza: Taste the Best Burgers in Town

 Burger – Palooza , Behind the Presbyterian Church (609 Brickell Ave. Miami, FL 33131)

Thursday, June 18, 2015.
$70 Tickets: 6pm-10pm
$150 Tickets: 5pm-10pm

Full Price

$70.00 – $150.00

Our Price

$35.00 – $75.00*
Buy Now

Any burger lover knows there’s a lot that goes into crafting the ultimate burger — the patty, the bun, the toppings, the condiments — it’s a veritable symphony of tastes that has to be orchestrated. So finding the ultimate burger can be an elusive pursuit. Luckily, there’s Burger-Palooza, a festival of music, drinks and, of course, the best burgers around. You’ll have the opportunity to sample eight different burgers and two beers from over 20 Miami-area restaurants, and then cast your vote to crown the best burger. Spring for VIP tickets and get unlimited burger and drink samples, plus early access to all the great eats. After you see how the pros do it, you can pick up some of the special sauces, grilling utensils, gourmet meats and more that they use, so you can make your own masterpiece.
* Additional fees apply. No coupon or promo codes necessary to enjoy the displayed discount price.

***** Chinatown, 534 East Woolbright Road, Boynton Beach, Florida 33436, (561) 737-2121.

Got a real-good Chinese take-out joint for you guys…Chinatown in Boynton Beach. Operative word here TAKEOUT so don’t be planning a sit down- High School Graduation Party there!

Long story short, last night- friends of Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats had us over for dinner-egg rolls, pan fried dumplings, bbq spareribs, wonton soup, beef fried rice, General tso’s chicken, chicken lo mein, sweet & sour pork, shrimp with mixed vegetables and I gotta tell you-that everything was right on the money.. No fooling here, definitely one of the better American Chinese Takeouts down here in sunny South Florida.

Now you guys know that Jeff Eats really isn’t into “pecking orders” because- you do know, what I like you may hate and vice versa…that said, I thought that the bbq ribs and General tso’s chicken were spot-on and that the weak link in the chain- was the shrimp with mixed vegetables…but hey, I thought that the Edsel was going to be a huge seller-so what do I know!

Let me wrap this up for you, if China Town was closer to my Boca Raton-home, I would definitely be a steady customer.

You can check menu/prices at boyntonchinatown.wix.com.

Chinatown is open Monday 11am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-10:30am, Sunday noon-10pm.

Finally, down below the-4/8/15 Sun Sentinel advertisement that our friends used- to save a few bucks!

* Debate Over!

***** Madisons New York Grill & Bar, 2066 Northwest Executive Center Circle, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, (561) 994-0808.

Jeff Eats is gonna label Madisons New York Grill & Bar- one of the best American-Style joints in South Florida!

Just had lunch at this American-Style joint and I am telling you that the food-service-prices were all-right on the money!

The full-rack of bbq baby-back ribs (with a baked potato) that I had- was absolutely delicious…Mrs. Jeff Eats’ Caesar salad and cheeseburger/French fries were also delicious.

Jeff Eats first told you guys about Madisons on 1/4/14…somethings bear repeating- so here goes…

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January 4, 2014
***** Madisons New York Grill & Bar, 2066 Northwest Executive Center Circle, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, (561) 994-0808.

Last night, Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats and a couple of friends gave “American-Style” Madisons New York Grill & Bar in Boca Raton a shot–and I gotta tell you, the joint literally blew our socks-off. No fooling around here…Madisons food and service were terrific!

Real quick, Madisons is a Canadian based restaurant chain that currently owns/operates 14 restaurants in Quebec, 1 in Boca Raton and has 1- under construction in Pompano Beach. If you think–Houston’s, J. Mark’s and J. Alexander’s you’ll be on the right décor page. The Boca Raton joint opened about 1-week ago, in a completely renovated building that at one time or another housed California Pizza Kitchen, Wolfie Cohen’s Rascal House, Copper Canyon Grill and Stephane’s Steak & Seafood. The restaurant has both indoor/outdoor patio seating and a separate full-bar area with something like 9 flat screen tvs.

As I mentioned 16 seconds ago, Madisons’ food and service were terrific…no ifs or buts, but the guys who own Madisons-know how to run a restaurant. Every dish that hit our table was exactly as ordered, glasses were continuously refreshed by Dave “The” Waiter-and during the evening we were “visited” by GM-Charles, Front Of The House Manager-Juan and Owner-Steve. Just so you know, Jeff Eats’ eagle eye caught- that every table in our section got the exact-same management treatment.

Let’s talk food…

Real simple menu–8 appetizers ($8-17), 6 meal salads ($15-$20), 5 sandwiches/burgers ($14-$18), 12 entrees ($16-$37), handful of salads/sides ($4-$8), handful of desserts ($5-$8).

Our table “had”–Three Cheese Garlic Bread, House Salad, Mykonos Style Greek Salad, Quinoa Caprese Salad, Cheeseburger With French Fries, Crab Cake Sandwich, Baby Back Ribs, Key Lime Pie, Brownie With Vanilla Ice Cream…everything was delicious. Just so you know, the garlic bread appetizer easily fed 4-people, the salads and desserts large enough for 2-people to share.

For you-guys who like more “review detail”…the French fries weren’t as delicious as everything else–but Owner-Steve told me, that fresh-handcut fries would soon be replacing the frozen product being used. I must tell you-that the garlic bread appetizer topped with melted Monterey Jack/cheddar/parmesan cheese was off-the-chart. To be perfectly honest, 2-orders of that garlic bread with a 2-liter bottle of ice-cold Coke and Jeff Eats could do some serious damage to himself…a definite must order.

Look! I could go on and on–as to how the ribs were basted with a delicious sweet bbq sauce, or how the crab cakes were loaded with crab (what else?) with virtually no filler, or how the cheeseburger which came on a lightly toasted bun-was topped with shredded lettuce/tomato slice/pickles spears and a mustard/ketchup/mayo dressing, but I won’t.

At this stage of the game, you may want to check www.madisonsnewyork.com for menu/prices.

The truly amazing thing about Madisons was that the service was impeccable…to be honest with you, Jeff Eats went into this thing-thinking a hiccup or two, afterall it was a brand new joint…but au contraire (hey! I told you that the chain is out of Quebec!)—the food and service couldn’t have been better.

Let me wrap this all up for you,

Madisons is going to be a huge winner. Mark these words–perfect for the business lunch crowd–perfect for the happy hour crowd–perfect for both Boca Raton’s young families and its 55+ crowd.

No question in Jeff Eats’ mind, Madisons can definitely hold its own against local “American Style” players–The Cheesecake Factory, Houston’s and J. Alexander’s.

A cursory “menu-look” found Madisons’ price-points $2-$5 lower than its “next door” neighbor Houston’s…..Hey! I already told you- The guys who own this joint know how to run a restaurant.

One final thought, a little bird told Jeff Eats that Madisons owns the Boca Raton property/building–so, to paraphrase poet Ernest Henley – Madisons is the master of its fate, captain of its soul (I know, I know a bit dramatic).

Madisons is open Monday-Sunday 11am-11pm.

* Blue a Bell Lemonade Pops.

While your listening to the great music, check out Blue Bell Lemonade Pops…absolutely delicious and only 50 calories a pop!!

Caught mine the other day at Publix -2 boxes for $6- regular price $3.39 each. While Jeff Eats is on the subject of “math”- you know and I know, that when Publix advertises 2 boxes for $6, you could if you wanted to just buy- 1 box for $3…so why does Publix advertise 2 boxes for $6 and not 13 boxes for $39? Just curious!

***** Pho 79, 6451 Stirling Road, Davie, Florida 33314, (954) 797-9700.

Got something real-good for you guys…Pho 79 a “mom & pop” Vietnamese restaurant in Davie. Strip-center location (what-else!), handful of tables and maybe a dozen booths…

The other night, Jeff Eats, Mrs. Jeff Eats and another couple- gave Pho 79 a shot…egg rolls, springs rolls, rice vermicelli with bbq pork, pho (chicken breast), pho (eye round rare steak), pho (eye round rare steak & meatballs), rice platter with pork chop & egg sunny side up and I gotta tell you that everything was right on the money.

For you guys looking for a real-good Vietnamese joint…this would be a good choice!

Not sure if it means anything- not looking to get myself in trouble here, but the “crowd” the other night was something like 85% Vietnamese…yeah- I know, how do you know that “they” were Vietnamese?…

Anyway, delicious food (just so you know, the pho comes in small-medium-large…the medium is “big enough” for 2), very pleasant service, super reasonable prices…

Jeff Eats will definitely be back for another-round!

You can check menu/prices/info at pho79davie.com.

Pho 79 is open Monday-Saturday 10am-10pm, Sunday 10am-9pm.