* Howard Stern–THE FLAG!

Just a thought,

It seems to me-that in every episode of tv’s America’s Got Talent- 2014 that judge Howard Stern wears an American “flag” scarf.

Go figure, I thought that there were “official” rules on how to treat the American flag! Now nothing for nothing, everything that Jeff Eats has ever read or heard about the “flag” has never condoned using the American flag as a piece of clothing. Trust me, I’m no prude and a huge believer in freedom of speech and personal rights- but it just seems to me that the “same” flag (or a very close facsimile) that is draped over the coffins of our soldiers and flown at half-staff to honor the 9/11 dead and wounded-shouldn’t be reduced to a silk scarf wrapped around some tv/radio personality’s neck as a fashion accessory. But that’s just me!

I’d love to know if these “scarfs” are generating negative viewer comments to the network and the show’s sponsors?

What do you guys think?

UPDATE-7/21/14…

I just wanted you guys to know that-Jeff Eats read your comments-to add to the discussion I want you folks to know that I also think that “below” photo is another disgusting (wink! wink!) misuse of the red-white-blue.

***** DISH OF THE WEEK (Sunday- 7/20/14)

One of Jeff Eats’ favorite menu items.

Tim’s Mile High Meatloaf (comes with honey glazed carrots and smashed potatoes)
$15-Tuesday Only

Granger’s Bar & Grill
215 Northeast 6th Avenue
Delray Beach
(561) 276-7881
grangersgrille.com
Latest Review: 2/9/08

Jeff Eats loves a good meatloaf. This is definitely one of the best I’ve ever eaten-and trust me, I’ve eaten a ton of meatloaf in my day!

***** Krystal.

Not going to tell you guys where I just ate lunch.

Try and guess!

Jeff Eats’ Krystal-review-July 29, 2008 may give you some idea…

As close to eating-White Castle as is humanly possible down here in South Florida.

$2.99 well spent!

______
Posted July 29, 2008
***** Krystal, 901 W. Sample Road, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311 (954) 524-9994.

Let me make this write-up short and sweet.

There are no White Castles in South Florida. Krystal is as close to being a White Castle as you will find in South Florida. Krystal is a “national” fast-food hamburger chain which has been around since 1932. White Castle has paper-thin- square shaped-burgers called ” SLYDERS” and Krystal has paper-thin- square shaped burgers called “KRYSTALS.” I like “slyders” better than “krystals”…but it’s a close call. Sort of like Coke and Pepsi.

Like I said before, there is one Krystal joint in South Florida– Fort Lauderdale…there is a whole bunch of them in Orlando. Check Krystal’s website www.krystal.com for menu/locations. The joint in Fort Lauderdale is open 7 days a week from 7am-midnight.

If you don’t know what a White Castle is…GOOGLE

<

* Solid Brass (Delray Marketplace-7/18/14).

Check Jeff Eats’-Solid Brass 11/14/13 writeup…

Solid Brass is a terrific 60’s-80’s Rock N Roll horn-cover band.

* Jerry’s Famous Deli Closes!

Back on July 22, 2008 Jeff Eats wrote:

Jerry’s Famous Deli, 1450 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida 33139 (305) 532-8030.

“Jerry’s Famous Deli is an absolutely gorgeous 1940′s retro looking kosher style deli located in South Beach…that has absolutely horrendous-overpriced food. This joint is strictly for the tourist crowd…and for late night clubbers too drunk to know any better.
Stay away.”

Just read in the Miami New Times (story below) that Jerry’s is no more…

Jeff Eats was “early” on this call…

Can’t believe it took people so-long to wise up. AND not for one single minute does Jeff Eats believe the “spin” story that Jerry’s gave for the closing…
*****
Jerry’s Famous Deli has closed.
After over a dozen years serving pastrami to South Beach night owls, tourists, and locals alike, Jerry’s Famous Deli has closed. The restaurant shuttered its doors last weekend.

See also: 100 Favorite Dishes: Matzo Ball Soup at Jerry’s Deli

The first Jerry’s Famous Deli opened in 1978 in Studio City, California, by Ike Starkman and Jerry Seidman. It made a reputation for itself by serving authentic New York deli offerings. The restaurant caught on like wildfire, capitalizing on its location near a host of television and film studios with many New York transplants seeking out a taste of home.

Jerry’s Famous Deli opened the South Beach location in the early 2000s. The Starkman family, with son Jason at the helm, also owns the three Miami-Dade Epicure Gourmet Markets. The deli was named “best late-night dining 2003” by New Times. The South Beach location, much like the California delis, capitalized on the fact that many New Yorkers, both here on vacation and on a more permanent basis, would miss the “mile-high” corned beef, pastrami, and brisket sandwiches made famous by Manhattan institutions like Katz’s and Carnegie Deli.

Jason Starkman issued the following statement about the restaurant’s closure:

“After 14 successful years on South Beach, Jerry’s Famous Deli has decided to close our doors. Our initial lease was up and there was interest from another company who wanted the space. Thank you to all of our customers, staff and friends who have made the last 14 years so amazing. Jerry’s Famous Deli continues in California, so please visit us there.”

It’s rumored that Señor Frog’s might take over the giant 11,000-square-foot space.

We’ll miss the ability to get matzo ball soup and a good slice of cheesecake in South Beach 24/7.”

Don Peppe menu.

***** Don Peppe, Fiorentino’s. New Corner, Embers.

Jeff Eats recently received the following e-mail…
*****
Hey Jeff,
My husband and I moved to Boynton Beach this past November.
We were both born and bred in Cleveland so south Florida is a whole new animal to us.
We came across JeffEats.com in December and have tried a number of your restaurant picks.
Our favorite food is Italian food.
We seem to have similar tastes as we agree with you that Matteo’s in Boca Raton, Nino’s in Boca Raton, La Pizzeria in Coral Springs make delicious food.
We know that you are originally from Brooklyn and based on that we wanted to pick your brain for a few seconds.
Next week we are going to be in NYC for 5 days on business.
We were wondering if you could recommend a few Italian ‘joints’ that we should checkout.
Not looking for anything fancy.
We will have a car so we can do some traveling if necessary.
Thanks for your help.
JNH
*****
JNH:

Just had a chance to ready your email.

Thanks for the kind words.

Here’s some Italian “picks” for you…

1. Fiorentino’s Ristorante…fiorentinosristrorante.com in Brooklyn.
2. Don Peppe…in Ozone Park.
3. New Corner…newcornerrestaurant.com in Brooklyn.

Though you didn’t ask-here’s a steakhouse for you- which is off the char!

4. Embers Steakhouse…embersbayridge.com in Brooklyn.

Just so you know, I’ve been eating at these 4-joints for 25+ years.

Don Peppe is kinda on the famous side–the other 3 are more “neighborhoodish”…trust me, all 4-will blow you guys away…the food is amazing!

Jeff Eats “visited” Don Peppe, Fiorentino’s, New Corner and Embers-in the past 6 months and they are all amazing…

Enjoy!

***** Madisons New York Grill & Bar–$10 Meals.

Real simple story…

Back on January 14, 2014 Jeff Eats told you guys about Madisons New York Grill & Bar which had just opened in Boca Raton. That “story” is reprinted below.

To make a long story short,

Last Spring-Madisons started a promotion where it offered 10 different lunches for 10 bucks. That “deal” is still running.

Anyway,

Last week Madisons “added” to the promotion and now offers 10 meals for 10 bucks for dinner Wednesday-Sunday (3pm-10pm).

Listen very carefully,

Since my initial “writeup” Jeff Eats has eaten at Madisons 6 times. The food and service were right on the money…throw in these lunch/dinner deals- and you get top stuff for ridiculously low prices.

Be smart, give Madisons a shot.

***** 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.

* Wellington Amphitheater (7/19/14).

Check-out the July 19th lineup..,

Zirconia is one of America’s best Neil Diamond tribute acts.
Lazy Bonez is a terrific 80’s cover band.

This should be a tremendous FREE CONCERT.

Throw in some great food trucks…and you got a fabulous night out -in the works.

One final thought, look at Wellington’s flyer…personally, Jeff Eats thinks that whoever prepared this flyer–should have at least spelled Lazy Bonez’s name correctly. But that’s just me!

***** DISH OF THE WEEK (Sunday-7/13/14)

One of Jeff Eats’ favorite menu items.

2 1/2 Chicken Plates includes potato and garlic toast…
$14.49 (eat in/take out with coupon on website)

Shorty’s Bar-B-Q
9858 Clint Moore Road
Boca Raton (there are 4 other South Florida locations)
(561) 487-0024
shortys.com
Latest Review: 10/8/12

Jeff Eats loves this “deal”- I usually get 1-order with french fries and 1-order with a baked potato.

***** Spadini’s Mizner Pizzeria.

Real quick and simple story for you guys…

Back on July 2, 2014 South Florida blog-worstpizza.com did a story on Spadini’s Mizner Pizzeria…the article focused on an upside down pizza that Spadini’s makes. In a nutshell, the site raved about the pizza and gave it 7 out of 8 stars. If you know anything about worstpizza.com, you know that to get any-score even close to “perfection” is a near-impossibility. Now nothing for nothing, you and I both know that “rating systems” are usually meaningless–that said, over the years Jeff Eats has found worstpizza.com to have “tastebuds” similar to Jeff Eats’ buds-so when it-yaps, I make mental notes!

Anyway,

You guys do know that-at heart- Jeff Eats is really a big old Sheep…

So last night, Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats ate at Spadini’s ordering an upside down pizza (sicilian pie/with cheese on the bottom and sauce on top) and I gotta tell you it was amazingly-delicious.

The pie ran $17.95. The pie is huge–I’m thinking it easily feeds 3-4 adults even if they are college football players who haven’t eaten in 24 hours. Just so you know, last night’s pie was “crafted” by pizza maker Mitch–and the crust, sauce, cheese and bake time were-right on the money!

I’ll leave you guys to check worstpizza.com for its “story.”

You can check JeffEats.com for other Spadini’s articles.

In closing, this upside down pie is a must try!