***** Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, 520 West Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, (305) 674-8100.

Way back on February 7, 2008 Jeff Eats did a story on Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza. If you like, you can read that story, if not, not!

In a nutshell-back in 2008 I was yapping about a new pizza segment “namely” coal fired pizza and how Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza was developing into a major player in Florida. In that story I also “reviewed” Anthony’s food–really enjoying everything but finding its cheese pizza sauce- bitter -to my taste. I also commented that the pizza was good but far from being great.

Anyway,

Here we are 6 1/2 year later…Anthony’s has loads of restaurants in Florida, not to mention Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

Just so you know, in the ensuing 6 1/2 years Jeff Eats may-be ate in “an” Anthony’s 3-4 times.

To make a long story short,

Yesterday Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats were in Miami Beach visiting family and we decided to give the Anthony’s located at 520 West Avenue a shot…the joint has only been open a couple of months.

Great looking joint with dark wood look. Full bar area. Staff dressed in black looked great and the service was terrific. When we (party of 6) got there about 6:30pm Anthony’s was kinda empty but by the time we left an hour later every table was taken. This location also has outdoor patio seating.

Food ordered…Italian salad, pork ribs with vinegar peppers, coal fired chicken wings, roasted cauliflower, meatballs with ricotta, cheese pizza, white pizza (ricotta, mozzarella, romano), soda by the bottle (forget about free refills).

First let me tell you, service couldn’t have been better…salad, appetizers, pizza…in the right order-and timely done–water glasses were never even close to being empty. Second, this location has a real-good GM (Tolga Ece) who stopped by the table twice during the meal to see how ever-thing was going-I also noticed that he was all over the restaurant checking on tables etc. Third, the salad and appetizers were all- right on the money. Fourth, the white pizza was good. Fifth, the cheese pizza was fair-I found the sauce bitter.

Let’s wrap this up…

All 6 of us enjoyed the meal.

By the way, you can check acfp.com for menu/prices/locations.

Finally, just like 6 1/2 years ago, the cheese pizza just-didn’t do it for Jeff Eats. Goes to show you, if anything, that Jeff Eats and Anthony’s are both consistent!

Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza is open Sunday-Thursday 11:30am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 11:30am-11:30pm.

* MoonPie

I gotta tell you, Jeff Eats has some real good friends…thanks Melanie and Rhea!

Late yesterday-a Fedex truck dropped off a large box at my house…inside the box, 2 cases of MoonPies, that’s 192 chocolate-vanilla-banana- MoonPie “cookies.” For those of you who don’t know what a MoonPie is– two round graham cracker cookies (approximately 4 inches) with a marshmallow filling between them -dipped in a flavored coating. For you guys who have never eaten a MoonPie-I would suggest that you check MoonPie.com and read about-one of most delicious “things” mankind has ever created for itself to eat.

To be perfectly honest with you, until yesterday, I can’t exactly recall the last time I had a MoonPie. I’m thinking something like 11 years ago when I was in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee-would be about right.

By the way, if I’m Googling-right Walmart carries MoonPie…you can also order MoonPie at MoonPie.com.

***** DISH OF THE WEEK (Sunday-7/6/14).

One of Jeff Eats’ favorite menu items.

Cheeseburger-French Fries-Soda.
$9.45

Between The Bun
1035 Gateway Boulevard
Boynton Beach
(561) 735-8820
boyntonrestaurantbetweenthebun.com
Latest Review: 3/27/12

Jeff Eats absolutely loves this fast food joint. Big delicious gas grilled cheeseburger, Nathans French fries, unlimited soda refills–what’s not to like! When you are there, ask Dave (the owner) to let you try “his” home-made corned beef and pastrami-real good.

* Odyssey Road.

If you like Journey- you will like Odyssey Road.

Last reminder, FREE Concert.

Definitely one of America’s best Journey tribute bands.

Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats are really looking forward to seeing this show.

*****
ODYSSEY ROAD (Mizner Park Amphitheater-Boca Raton)
Posted on June 13th, 2014 · Boca Raton Music/Events/Other

* ODYSSEY ROAD.

Way back on November 6, 2009 -Jeff Eats told you about Odyssey Road-one of America’s top Journey tribute bands. That article is reprinted below.

The band just announced a Free concert at Boca Raton’s- Mizner Park Amphitheater, Friday Night-July 11th at 7:30pm. Bring your own chairs and blankets.

I am telling you, if you are a Journey fan- this group is an absolute must see!

November 6, 2009
***** ODYSSEY ROAD *****

Last night I saw a Journey-tribute band…Odyssey Road.

Let me make this short and simple—Odyssey Road, which is based in West Palm Beach, sounds EXACTLY like Journey. Odyssey Road has to be one of the best tribute bands that I have ever-ever seen. This 5-man group put on an an abolutely amazing–2-hour concert, which left the crowd of 300 screaming for more.

Odyssey Road works all over South Florida. You can check its sound-videos-schedule at www.odysseyroadband.com.

If you love Journey’s music–you will love this band.

You will swear that Journey is on the stage.

* Jimmy Stowe & The Stowaways.

Jeff Eats recently received the following e-mail…

Jeff,
Would really appreciate your thoughts if any on south Florida Beach Boys/Buffett/50s-60s party band. Jimmy Stowe & The Stowaways..
Thank you,
LK
*****
LK:

Jimmy Stowe & The Stowaways has been “playing” the south Florida scene for years.

All I can tell you is…a number of years ago Jeff Eats was at an outdoor Summer Party which Stowe was booked to play. About 1-hour into the party there was a flash-rain which had guests scurrying for cover. The band was protected by an over head canvas–and was under a solid cement gazebo (trust me, neither the band nor its equipment got wet). The rain let up within 15 minutes, but when the guests returned, the band had already packed up and left. Suffice it to say that the next 2 hours were music-less. I distinctively recall that many in the crowd were literally speechless- finding that the band was gone. I also recall that the event coordinator “couldn’t” believe that the band had packed up and left. Personally, in all my years “around” bands, I have never seen a band that actually disappeared during an event.

Based on that evening, there is absolutely no way that I could ever see anyone using Jimmy Stowe & The Stowaways.

Now,

Like I said a few seconds ago, that was a number of years ago..and things and players do change, but in my book–Jimmy Stowe & The Stowaways isn’t for me!

***** American Coffee Shop, 41 Northeast 44th Street, Oakland Park, Florida 33334, (954) 772-8850.

American Coffee Shop…American and Spanish food.

Let Jeff Eats start by saying, I loved American Coffee Shop. This joint “is” what JeffEats.com “is” all about…finding the best joints in South Florida… American Coffee shop-a hole in the wall “mom & pop” diner in a bombed out strip center with cool ambiance, delicious food, reasonable prices, terrific owners/staff.

American Coffee Shop is open Monday-Saturday 7am-3pm, Sunday 7am-1pm.

For the record, Jeff Eats did both a breakfast and a lunch at American Coffee Shop.

When you check the joint’s menu at americancoffeeshop.net you’ll find both breakfast/lunch menus. The breakfast menu is loaded with-expected American fare…the lunch menu is loaded with-expected American stuff and is also loaded with Spanish/latin stuff.

On the breakfast outing, the western omelet/farmer’s omelet/french toast were exactly what the doctor ordered. Look! -breakfast is breakfast, but good stuff/friendly service/endless-timely coffee refills/owners who stop by to say hello/cool old diner decor–is what makes joints like American Coffee Shop-winners in Jeff Eats’ book.

On the lunch outing, the cheeseburger/steak fajitas/Cuban sandwich were all delicious. On the second “meal” the same great vibe/decor/service were there, not to mention soda glasses that were never even close to being empty.

Like I said a few seconds ago, Jeff Eats loved America Coffee Shop…this joint is a must try!

* Louis Zamperini.

Tomorrow at that July 4h bbq–remember that it’s because of men and women like Louis Zamperini that every person in this world prays that they were an American…and if they don’t- there is something very-very wrong with them.

Louis Zamperini
Born- January 26, 1917.
Died- July 2, 2014.

* Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza.

Way back on December 29, 2011 Jeff Eats did a story on-the make your own fast food pizza business. If you like, you can read that story, if not, not!

Anyway,

In recent years, a number of “make your own pizza” joints have opened in the United States…you can do the research-there are a ton of franchise operations peddling the concept…right off the top of my head, Uncle Maddio’s, Top That! Pizza, Your Pie, Pie-Ology, Pie-Lingual, MOD Pizza, Pie Five Pizza–if Jeff Eats “gave” it some thought, I’m sure I could up with other-names.

Real simple concept,

You pick your dough, you pick your sauce, you pick your cheese, you pick your toppings…the pizza is “assembled” in front of you at the counter, then cooked and delivered to your table. No brain cancer surgery here, you’ve seen the “assembly line” formula used on subs, yogurt, soft serve, burgers, hot dogs-before.

Just wanted to let you guys know -that Lebron James just invested in a Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza franchise that plans on opening 10 Florida stores…not sure of exact locations, but at least one of these-make your own pizza joints will be in Boca Raton -and plans to be open sometime within the next 6 months. Really know very little about Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizza except that the parent comes out of California and that it currently has something like 25 locations in the western part of the United States with a heavy presence in California.

Can’t resist…I guess that all of that Heat money is burning a hole in Lebron’s pocket.

So,

Let’s keep an eye out for Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza…and see if Lebron knows how to play in the fast food make your own pizza league.

You can follow Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza at blazepizza.com.

* ROC Resto-Lounge & Fashion.

Reprinted below is an article which Jeff Eats just read in the Sun Sentinel…

If I was a betting man, ROC Resto-Lounge & Fashion has absolutely no chance of “working” in Coral Square Mall.

The location stinks, the demographics stink, the concept stinks.

The guys behind this business should “walk away” from this project right now…unless they enjoy losing money.

While Jeff Eats is on the subject of losing money…ROC currently has a location at Delray Marketplace–unless I’m dead wrong on this, that joint has to be a financial disaster. Literally, I have never seen anyone shopping in there on the numerous occasions that I have been in the center.

Since Jeff Eats has no skin in the ROC game- whether it does well or not is of no concern to me. Here’s wishing its owners good luck with this latest project, but I just don’t see anything even remotely promising about it.

In all honesty, Jeff Eats can’t figure how anyone-including ROC executives, Real Estate executives- would even consider Coral Square Mall for such an elaborate and upscale concept. The only difference between ROC in Coral Springs and the Titanic is that the Titanic had a band.

Like I said before, good luck to ROC-
*****
ROC Resto-Lounge & Fashion combines dining, drinking and shopping
By Miriam Valverde, Sun Sentinel
5:36 pm, July 1, 2014
No more driving from place to place if you want to eat, drink and shop.

Gaston Garcia, a Weston resident and retail veteran, is building a complex at Coral Square Mall in Coral Springs where he plans to combine a restaurant, store and nightclub under one roof — a first for South Florida, retail experts say.

Garcia is calling it ROC Resto-Lounge & Fashion and expects to open it to the public by mid-September.

“It’s a lifestyle concept, sort of what we already do on a regular basis,” said the 36-year-old Garcia, founder and chief executive of ROC.

He said he’s approaching the concept from the point of view of millennials.

“If you look at their tablet or phone, they have four to five apps running at the same time,” Gaston said of millennials, typically defined as those aged 18 to 33. “It’s a big benefit to have many things in one space, and that’s exactly what we are bringing to life at ROC.”

Late-night crowds will be able to grab drinks and enjoy live music and entertainment at the ROC nightclub and lounge, and if they get hungry or feel the need to shop, they can wander to the retail and restaurant areas.

The restaurant’s menu will feature American fare “with Asian and Latin twists.” Dinner choices will include entrees starting at $15. Lunch crowds will be able to grab meals ranging from $4 to $12.

The shop will feature apparel and accessories priced around $35, as well as designer clothing. Gaston also envisions fashion shows where people can use a ROC phone app to buy clothes they see.

“The whole concept is affordable luxury,” said Larry Hotz, marketing director for ROC Resto-Lounge & Fashion. “Accessible to all people who already go to Coral Square Mall.”

“We are super excited,” said Xiomara Fraga, director of marketing and business development for Coral Square Mall. “The cool thing is they have fashion, apparel, restaurant and entertainment all in one location.” ROC will fill 10,000 square feet once occupied by three different retailers. It will open at the west entrance of the mall, near the men’s Macy’s, Fraga said.

People in the mall will have access to a “community annex” — a smaller, casual section with snacks, seating and charging stations for mobile devices.

“It’s absolutely unusual for South Florida, and particularly Coral Springs, which is primarily a middle-class, family-oriented demographic,” said Lisa Ferrazza, a retail specialist in Broward and Palm Beach counties and vice president at CBRE, a commercial real estate services firm.

Some are skeptical it will work in Coral Springs.

“I think it’s an interesting concept, but I don’t get it at all for that location,” said Barry M. Wolfe, vice president of investments at Marcus & Millichap, a real estate firm in Fort Lauderdale.

The concept is trendy and different, a seemingly natural fit for South Beach or SoHo in New York, Wolfe said. But Coral Springs is more of a family neighborhood and not necessarily a destination city, he said.

“Unless they can make people drive from outside Coral Springs, I just don’t see it,” he said.

ROC’s pricing and accessibility are what make it right for Coral Springs, said Hotz, ROC’s marketing director.

The developer also said Coral Square Mall presents an opportunity for ROC to establish a relationship with Simon, the mall’s parent company, which has retail properties throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

“They’re coming to a good, strong community,” said Fraga, who works at Coral Square Mall. “It could become a destination.”

mvalverde@tribune.com, 954-356-4526, Twitter @MiriamValverde

***** Michael’s Pizzeria, 1156 East Hillsboro Boulevard, Deerfield Beach, Florida 33441, (954) 426-1515.

Got a real good “mom & pop” hole in the wall-pizza joint for you, Michael’s Pizzeria which opened April 1, 2014.

Nothing fancy going on here…order at/pick up at the counter–handful of tables inside/handful outside.

Michael’s menu has the full boat of expected appetizers, subs, pastas, pizzas, salads, entrees.

You can check michaels-pizzeria.com for menu/prices/other stuff. When you’re checking…not sure how long this-all lasts, but Michael’s got- 15% off any $25 order, buy any sub and get the second one 1/2 off, large cheese pizza $7.95 on Tuesday, 2 dinners for $19.99 and other specials running!

A recent outing had Jeff Eats “trying”- slice of pizza ($2.25), chicken parmesan sub ($7.25), baked ziti with ricotta and mozzarella ($11.95-includes salad and garlic knots), sausage peppers onion- roll ($8.95) and I gotta tell you, Michael’s stuff was dynamite. Absolutely loved everything.

Just so we are on the same page, joints like Michael’s Pizzeria are right up Jeff Eats’ alley. I’m looking for no frills, delicious food, reasonable prices-and Michael’s -is right on the mark.

Let’s wrap this up…

I highly recommend that you give Michael’s Pizzeria a shot.

Michael’s Pizzeria is open Monday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday-Saturday noon-11pm, Sunday 1pm-9pm.