Got a really good (actually make that a terrific) hole in the wall mom & pop red sauce Italian joint for you…J.R. Pizza Bella in Margate.
Nothing for nothing, Jeff Eats already “GOT” this one- for you way back on January 29, 2013-the writeup is down below.
Real simple story, Jeff Eats hadn’t been back since that 2013 outing…ate there last night with Mrs. Jeff Eats and another couple- and the food/service absolutely blew me away…no ifs, ands or buts, one of the best hole in the wall mom and pop red sauce Italian joints that I’ve eaten in down here in South Florida.
Let me throw some color into the mix here- since Jeff Eats or for that matter Mrs. Jeff Eats weren’t raised in Italian American households-for me to tell you that J.R. Pizza Bella’s food tastes like the stuff our mothers-made, I’d be lying to you…that said, the-food we had last night (pizza, veal parmigiana, veal pizzola, garlic rolls, minestrone soup, chicken scarpariella, mussels marinara, house salad) tasted like it came-out of someone’s home kitchen- and her name wasn’t Anna Goodman or Rhoda Eisenberg. Hopefully you get what I’m trying to say, if not, not!
If you are looking for fancy schmancy, stop right now- but if your game is dynamite food, terrific service, wearing a tee shirt/shorts/flip flop ensemble, big portions, very reasonable prices EAT at J.R. Pizza Bella Restaurant.
You can check menu/prices/other info at jrpizzabella.com.
The joint is open Sunday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm.
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J. R. Pizza Bella Restaurant (Margate)
Posted on January 29th, 2013 · Italian Margate Pizza Subs/Salads
***** J. R. Pizza Bella Restaurant, 7868 West Sample Road, Margate, Florida 33065, (954) 753-1300.
Got a real good “hole in the wall” mom & pop–red sauce Italian joint for you…J. R. Pizza Bella Restaurant in Margate.
Rather than beating around the bush with all kinds of stories—J.R. Pizza Bella has to be ranked right up there with the best of the Italian red sauce “mom & pop” joints Jeff Eats has “tried” down here in sunnny South Florida. Trust me- I know that’s quite a statement for me to make–based on the number of joints I’ve hit, but what is-is! This little joint, really cranked out some delicious stuff.
J. R. has the full-boat of pizzas, pastas, hot/cold subs, seafood/chicken/meat entrees. You can check menu/prices at www.jrpizzabella.com.
Like I said a few seconds ago, this is a “hole in the wall”—handful of tables and booths, that’s it. I know it isn’t really necessary to tell you, but—your shorts/tee shirt ensembles will work well at this joint.
Tried J. R. out for dinner the other night…large cheese pizza ($13.95), veal parmigiana ($16.95), meat lasagna ($11.95), chicken marsala ($14.95), zuppa di pesce ($22.95)—every “item” was right on the money. The joint’s garlic rolls, minestrone soup, ziti with marinara sauce and house salad were also delicious. Good size portions, super pleasant service, reasonable prices—nothing really missing from this outing.
Let me close this one out by saying…J. R. Pizza Bella Restaurant is a winner.
J.R. Pizza Bella Restaurant is open Monday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm, Sunday 11am-10pm.
C.R. Chicks
2240 Northwest 19th Street
Boca Raton (West Palm Beach/Palm Springs/Wellington/Palm Beach Gardens/Jupiter)
2240 Northwest 19th Street
(561) 613-0134
crchicks.com
Latest Review: 9/20/10
There are roast-chickens and THEN there are roast chickens…real simple, C.R. Chicks makes amazing-delicious roast chicken. Just so you know, C.R. isn’t a one-trick pony…in addition to chicken it turns out top shelf soups, sandwiches, salads, pastas, desserts and its meatloaf is a killer! I know that a number of folks “down here” swear by Costco’s roast chicken- some even think that Publix’s is delicious- all Jeff Eats can say is PLEASEEEEEE!-you eat C.R. Chicks’ stuff and you’ll know that you’ve been fooling yourself. Look! Like you I got a calculator in my head- and I know “a bit” pricey when I compute it-the fact, that 2-local guys- Rick Davis and Chris Sallen have 7 of these joints, should tell you-that C.R. Chicks- must be doing something right! By the way, in addition to takeout- all C. R. Chicks have indoor seating where you can enjoy everything you bought at the counter.
Store locations are printed below…
The Commons at Town Center
2240 NW 19th Street Bay 611
Boca Raton, Fla. 33431
561-613-0134
Village Commons
731 Village Boulevard, Suite 108
West Palm Beach, FL 33409
561-616-8819
Greenwood Plaza
1718 South Congress Avenue
Palm Springs, FL 33461
561-966-5588
Shoppes at Chancellor
12020 South Shore Boulevard, Suite 500
Wellington, FL 33414
561-296-8855
Gardens Town Square
4234 North Lake Boulevard
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
561-775-9495
You know and I know that Motown Revue Shows- are like Chins in a Chinese phonebook-there are a whole lot of them!
Nothing for nothing, Jeff Eats has seen a ton of Motown Revue Shows, a ton of Motown Tribute Bands, a ton of Motown Cover Bands…all I know is that Westchester, New York based- Shadows Of The 60s is THE BEST that’s right, THE BEST that I’ve seen. Fronted by Dave Revels who just happens to be the lead singer of the legendary world famous acappella group- The Persuasions, Shadows Of The 60s will have you believing that the actual-legends-of-Motown are in the house. Trust me when I tell you, you don’t get to sing lead for The Persuasions based on good looks alone! Revels is a dead-on Levi Stubbs.
Not to talk out of school or nothing, Shadows Of The 60s doesn’t “play” Florida all-that-often…the reason- THEY get top dollar for their show, which precludes-many Florida venues from booking the act. Trust Jeff Eats, Shadows Of the 60s plays-at-a -whole different level…there is an old saying “You get what you pay for.”- Well, when you see-Shadows Of The 60s (all 11 of them) in action- you’ll know that Century Village in Deerfield Beach did-you-a-real-solid! You mathematicians can run the numbers…airfare for 11 group members, hotel rooms/meals for 11 group members, ground transportation for 11 group members, production/sound/lights for Shadows Of The 60s- that’s why your country club/condo/HOA or favorite casino hasn’t HAD THEM FOR YOU!
Long story short, Shadows Of The 60s is scheduled to appear at Century Village in Deerfield Beach on Saturday Night, February 7, 2015 at 7pm…you can catch tickets (residents $12, non-residents $15) at cveevents.com.
Reprinted below a handful of articles that Jeff Eats has done on the Shadows Of The 60s.
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* Shadows Of The 60’s–Still Time To Get Tickets!!!!
Posted on January 10th, 2014 · Music/Events/Other
* Shadows of The 60’s–Still Time To Get Tickets!!!!
On March 20, 2012 and then again on June 28, 2013 I told you guys about- Shadows Of the 60’s- a Motown tribute “show” that was an absolute must see…
Last Wednesday night -at Century Village in Deerfield Beach…Jeff Eats and something like 1,300 others got to see this 11-piece (6 vocalists/5 band) act perform a non-stop 90-minute show featuring the music of such legendary artists as The Four Tops, The Temptations, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye and The Drifters. To say that the audience loved the show-would be an understatement…unless clapping, singing, dancing and yes-screaming in the aisles isn’t what I think it is. The evening was capped off by 25 audience members, that’s right 25–joining the performers on stage for some Motown “style” dancing and vocals.
Look, Jeff Eats has been around the music/entertainment business for a very-long time. I’ve seen the “stars” -all kinds of bands/singers-and all kinds of tribute artists…and I gotta tell you, Shadows Of The 60’s -is one of the best tribute acts that I have ever-ever seen. The ensemble doesn’t use tracks and plays the songs “note for note” exactly and I do mean exactly as they were originally recorded.
Just so you know, Shadows Of The 60’s has 5 “shows” left on its current Florida tour-schedule…January 11th (Delray Beach), January 12th (Sunrise), January 14th (2-Hernando), January 15th (Sun City Center)—so if you like this kinda thing (and who doesn’t?) check www.shadowsofthe60s.com and see if you can catch a ticket.
Printed below are the 3/20/12 and 6/28/13 write-ups…
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Shadows Of The 60′s
Posted on June 28th, 2013
* Shadows Of The 60′s
FINALLY…SOMEBODY LISTENED TO JEFF EATS–
Back on March 20, 2012 Jeff Eats told you guys about a sensational Motown revue show–”Dave Revels Tribute To The Four Tops” that I had recently seen.
The original “writeup” is reprinted below.
Anyway…in that article, I urged you guys to “get” this NYC act down to South Florida-and although it took awhile– earlier this week, Dave Revels advised me- that the act now called “Shadows Of The 60′s” has signed a contract from January 2, 2014- January 16, 2014 to play various South Florida country clubs/condos/venues.
If you are a fan of Motown music…I am telling you–you don’t want to miss this act when they are here in South Florida. No fooling around–Dave Revels’ “singers” are as good-if not better than the guys-girls currently starring in the smash Broadway hit “Motown The Musical.”
Check the group’s website www.shadowsofthe60s.com and see if your social director or your friend’s social director or your cousin’s social director was smart enough to book “Shadows Of The 60′s” for their respective communities.
***** Dave Revels Tribute To The Four Tops *****
Posted on March 20, 2012.
I am a huge Motown fan…Just so you know, Smokey is my favorite singer and I absolutely love The Four Tops. Now with that in mind—
I recently caught an 11 piece act..”Dave Revels Tribute To The Four Tops” that absolutely blew me away. I’m telling you– You’d swear, that The Four Tops (Levi, Duke, Obie and Lawrence) were in-the-house circa 1965. Dead on and I do mean dead on versions of the group’s greatest hits.
To be perfectly honest with you, over the years, literally- I have seen countless cover bands and tribute acts down here in South Florida. No fooling around, “Dave Revels Tribute To The Four Tops” was right up there with the best that I’ve seen, anywhere. Terrific staging, costumes, music, dancing—this group had it all covered. In addition to The Four Tops’ tribute, the act also did amazing covers of such 50s-60s-70s artists as The Drifters, The Platters, The Supremes, The Miracles, Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell.
The reason that I am mentioning “Dave Revels Tribute To The Four Tops” is that the New York based group is currently scheduling a number of 2012-2013 Florida appearances. So… if this type of “entertainment” is your bag–be on the lookout for advertised performance dates.
Just a little heads up…the leader of the group- Dave Revels ain’t exactly a rookie in the entertainment business. Years ago, he was a member of Charlie Thomas’ Drifters and is a current member of the legendary acapella group-The Persuasions (who by the way, tore the house down this past Sunday night at The Broward Center). To say that this guy can sing, would be an understatement. He does a Levi Stubbs and Marvin Gaye—that would have the originals thinking that- they were singing on stage.
Like I said, “Dave Revels Tribute To The Four Tops” is something you gotta see—you can check schedule/audio/video at www.daverevels.com & www.standingintheshadowsofthefourtops.com. You can also You Tube–Dave Revels and you should come-up with a ton of videos.
One final thought, I’m sure that a number of you guys live in condo communities, country clubs, etc…that have entertainment directors/committees. “Dave Revels Tribute To The Four Tops” would be an absolute homerun–so maybe you should make an introduction
***** Volo Di Ragazzi’s Italian Ristorante & Pizzeria, 7119 State Road 54, New Port Richey, Florida 34653, (728) 816-9733.
You guys know and Jeff Eats knows- that “ranking” restaurants is really a silly thing to do…what I like, you might hate- what I find sweet you may find bitter…so forth and so on!
With the above in mind, if I had to rank Volo Di Ragazzi’s Italian Ristorante & Pizzeria it would rank as one of the best “mom & pop red sauce” joints that I’ve eaten in down here in sunny Florida… But Jeff Eats doesn’t do rankings, so…
A recent dinner-outing of, fried mozzarella, plain pizza, Caesar salad, meat lasagna, eggplant rolatini, veal marsala, fried ravioli, chicken cacciatore- made me a huge Ragazzi’s fan.
Look! Nothing for nothing…Jeff Eats has eaten in his fair share of Florida red sauce joints- and I’m telling you, that the stuff Ragazzi’s is pumping out is as good if not better than 93.89% of the joints that I’ve tried.
Since I don’t do “best” or “pecking order” lists- I’m not gonna name names, but believe Jeff Eats when he tells you-that Volo Di Ragazzi’s Italian Ristorante & Pizzeria is a huge winner!
You can check menu/prices at ragazzispizzeria.com.
The joint is open Monday-Thursday 11am-9:30pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-10:30pm, Sunday 11am-9pm.
Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats are totally-convinced that comedian Taylor Williamson should have been the winner of NBC’s- Season 8- of America’s Got Talent. Between you and me, I knew going into the final round that Williamson would lose to Japanese performance artist Kenichi Ebina because (now follow my logic here) Obama had NBC in his back-pocket and wanted to make “amends” with Japan for “us” having dropped two atomic bombs on “their head” in August, 1945-so Obama rigged the final vote-count in favor of the Japanese performance artist. Don’t buy Jeff Eats’ reasoning? Well, let’s stay “friends” and just leave it at that!
Anyway,
The guy who should have won is set to appear at the Fort Lauderdale Improv January 15th-18th, 2015.
Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats are planning on seeing Taylor Williamson on the 18th and you now-know why we’ll be seeing an America’s Got Talent runner-up and not the $1,000,000.00 winner with a Las Vegas casino-headliner contract!
You can catch tickets/info- at ftl.improv.com. Also check goldstar.com as it has a bunch of $20 tickets going for $7.
TICKET PRICE:
$20.00
RESTRICTIONS:
21 & OVER
TWO DRINK MINIMUM
ALL SHOWTIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
TICKETS: fil.improv.com
Taylor Williamson
Hi I’m Taylor. I’m a comedian and the recent SECOND PLACE winner of AMERICA’S GOT TALENT! I started performing stand-up comedy while I was a senior in high school in Del Mar, California. I now live in Los Angeles and travel the globe (if you don’t count countries other than America and Canada) telling jokes. I’ve performed at the prestigious JUST FOR LAUGHS COMEDY FESTIVAL in Montreal, Canada and I was the youngest comedian to ever perform on THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH CRAIG FERGUSON. I’ve also appeared on MTV’s TRL, COMEDY CENTRAL’S LIVE AT GOTHAM, and I was a semi-finalist on the final season of NBC’s LAST COMIC STANDING.
Nothing beats- beautiful weather and getting to see the same paintings, sculptures, chazari- that you already saw and will undoubtedly see again- at street-fairs in Delray Beach, Jupiter, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Coral Springs- so on and so forth.
For what it’s worth, Cynic Jeff Eats and She Thinks She’s The Boss Of The Family Mrs. Jeff Eats will be at the 28th Annual Boca Fest on Sunday, January 11, 2015 around 2:30pm. I’ll be the one wearing the sandals with black mid-calf socks!
You know and Jeff Eats knows, that Meatball Room’s game is to get you to eat & drink…with that in mind, the joint has a real good- “FREE” comedy show set for Friday Night, January 9, 2015 at 8pm…so do the right thing!
How do I know that the show is gonna be “real good”?…
Jeff Eats has seen all 3-comedians and they are all-strong…
To give you some idea as to what to expect…Jeff Eats dug-up a 9/15/12 “story” I did on comedian Peter J. Fogel who is on the bill…
***** PETER J. FOGEL *****
Last night Mrs. Jeff Eats and I saw the “Coco Burlesque Cabaret Show” at The Pavilion located in the Seminole Coconut Creek Casino in Coconut Creek (www.seminolecoconutcreekcasino.com)…it’s a terrific variety show priced at 25 bucks and currently “plays” Friday nights at 9pm.
The shows’ “master of ceremonies” is Delray resident—Peter J. Fogel who has to be one of the funniest comics that Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats have seen in a very-very long time. Last night Fogel’s “clean” act had the crowd of 1,250 literally in stitches and screaming for more.
I’ve found in life, that many times, some of the best things are right in your own backyard. Over the past 5 years or so, Jeff Eats has seen Fogel live-something like 7 times in local South Florida comedy clubs (such as the New York Comedy Club in Deerfield Beach)…I’ve also seen him a number of times on local South Florida television programs.
The interesting thing about Fogel, every-time I’ve caught him he has had new material—and the “old stuff” is so funny that I often find myself wiping tears from my eyes even though I already know the punchlines…this guy cracks me up.
Trust me on this one, Peter J. Fogel is good–real good.
Here are two suggestions for you guys…
Catch Fogel in the Coco Burlesque Cabaret Show–or catch his “full” 45-60 minute set at a local comedy club. In any event- if you like to laugh—make it your business to see Peter J. Fogel.
Now, be nice- and don’t bust Jeff Eats’ balls here (and yes, I know this is a family-type-blog site!) but yesterday, I ate lunch at KFC (360 Linton Boulevard, Delray Beach) and I “ordered” one of “its”- Chicken Pot Pie $5 FILL UPS and the chicken pot pie was off the chart…delicious!
Now, you can do whatever you’d like with the info…all I know, is that I had “me” (you’all do know, that we’all be living down here in the South!) a terrific pot pie, fountain soda and pretty decent chocolate cookie for 5 bucks plus tax.
The Amerigo Vespuccis out there, can check kfc.com for a location near you.
My name is Jeff. I was born and bred in Brooklyn, New York. Since 1991, I have lived in South Florida and have eaten in so many restaurants down here, that I now consider myself to be a food expert.
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