***** Greek Islands Taverna, 3300 North Ocean Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33308. (561) 565-5505.

Not exactly sure as to exactly how long Greek Islands Taverna has been around, but Jeff Eats first ate there…some 22 years ago. By the way, back then I wasn’t -Jeff Eats (Mister, does this make sense?- courtesy Jackie Mason 1985). If I recall correctly, I thought that the food was just-ok but definitely nothing special going on at the joint.

In the ensuing 22 years, I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews about this Greek joint.

Nothing for nothing, until last night–that first dinner was the only meal that Jeff Eats had done at Greek Islands Taverna.

Anyway,

Last Sunday night I bumped into an old friend Steve S.–who raved and raved and raved- about Greek Islands Taverna. It was Steve’s raving-that got Jeff Eats to Greek Islands Taverna last night for dinner #2.

Décor-wise…think- a large Brooklyn Greek Diner and you’ll be good.

You can check www.greekislandstaverna.com for menu/prices.

Now- for the “second dinner”…

Greek salad, char-broiled lamb chops, gyros, moussaka- now-nothing for nothing Jeff Eats just doesn’t get it–that’s the rave reviews. The Greek salad/gyros/moussaka were good, but nothing that I can’t get elsewhere–as for the lamb chops, they were so lemony, I had to send them back to the kitchen and get an order sans the lemon.

The call here…Greek Islands Taverna was ok-but for people to be “carrying-on” about how great it is…NO WAY JOSE!- or should I say -NO WAY NICKALAUS!

Greek Islands Taverna is open Monday-Saturday 11am-10:30pm, Sunday noon-10pm.

***** Bruno’s Italian Restaurant, 8556 West Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee, Florida 34747, (407)397-7577.

Do you remember as a kid, spelling Mississippi with just one eye? For some reason Kissimmee-got Jeff Eats thinking about that.

Anyway…

Got a -good “mom & pop” red sauce Italian joint for you guys…Bruno’s Italian Restaurant in Kissimmee.

Now- just so we are straight with each other, nothing revolutionary going on here.

Solid enough- veal parmigiana, chicken parmigiana, pizza, baked ziti, shrimp scamp, garlic rolls… entrées (salad/pasta side/garlic rolls) run $9-$16–large 16″ pizza fetches 13 bucks.

To paraphrase the famous Cuban philosopher-Ricky Ricardo…”the best way to ‘splain'” Bruno’s–a real good place to know about- having already ridden Dumbo-and going for your lungs for 4-1 Day Magic Kingdom Tickets.

In all seriousness, if Bruno’s was in my neighborhood–Jeff Eats would definitely be a pretty steady eat-in/take-out customer.

You can check menu/prices/photos at www.brunos192.com.

Bruno’s Italian Restaurant is open 7 days a week 11:30am-11pm.

* YACHT ROCK Revue.

Recently received this email from SDA…

Jeff,

In 2015 my husband and I will be celebrating our 40th anniversary. Both of us are 64

We are planning a party in Miami for close to 250.

We were wondering if you could recommend a party band that would blow the crowd away?

We are very familiar with a number of wedding/party bands in the Miami area and are tired of the same old same old.

On the price front, we know that good bands can command $15000+.

Your suggestions will be appreciated.
——-

SDA:

Keeping in mind, that I don’t know you or your husband- it’s kind of difficult to recommend bands.

That said, if Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats were throwing a 40th Anniversary Party we would use Yacht Club Revue out of the Atlanta area. Check the band out at www.pleaserock.com.

***** TAP Global Beer Collection, Delray Marketplace–14813 Lyons Road, Delray Beach, Florida 33446, (561) 270-3839.

Yesterday (Sunday) afternoon, Jeff Eats, Mrs. Jeff Eats took a ride to the Delray Marketplace to “see” how things were going…

For you guys who don’t know what the Delray Marketplace is…just check my write-up dated–February 26, 2013.

Anyway, we got there about 4pm. Not sure on the temperature–but it wasn’t cold out there. No rain. Actually, a beautiful day!

Anyway, you guys ever see those old westerns where tumbleweed blows through the street? Other than Cabo Flats (see Review 12/23/13) which was doing some-real nice business, this center was as dead as Kelsey’s nuts. No fooling, it was like a freaking ghost town. The retail stores and streets were literally empty–as for the- parking, all the spots that your car could want.

Anyway, took a look at TAP Global Beer Collection which recently opened… here’s how the company describes itself:

“72 taps and over 400 bottle brands, Tapas and appetizers, Beautiful Wood bar with live edge and curved wood bar front plus fabulous 12 foot community tables weighing over 1,000 lbs and made from 350 year old pecky cypress – plus so much more!”

At 4pm- this is what Jeff Eats saw…Inside and outside TAP had maybe- 10 people and I’m being kind, here!

Look! This TAP concept may work where there are loads of 21-35 year olds…but no matter what the real estate developers tell me and for that matter you, Lyons Road/Atlantic Avenue isn’t the place for this beer concept. The surrounding area is jammed with 55+ communities. For sure there are some younger developments, but nowhere- enough to sustain a joint like TAP. I could be wrong, but I don’t see a bunch of 73 year olds running to drink beer. Do you? I see them running to Too Jay’s, 3 G’s, Flakowitz, their podiatrists …not to some beer joint, where you sit around watching tv while drinking beer from “Outer Mongolia.” Some may see this as being “politically incorrect” (whatever that means)–but a ton of the folks who live within 5 miles North-South-East-West of the Delray Marketplace are fressers (some of you may need Google here) not drinkers. Capice!

If you check TAP’s website www.tapgbc.com you’ll find that in addition to serving beer- it offers a handful of “small plates”–TAP also allows customers to consume food purchased from outside vendors. Nothing for nothing… movie theatres don’t allow that, sporting arenas don’t allow that, concert venues don’t allow that. This concept of outside food stinks! Just think of all of the revenue TAP is giving away. Personally, Jeff Eats thinks that allowing a mish-mosh of other food into TAP makes the joint really schlocky!

Let’s wrap this one,

Jeff Eats thinks that TAP Global Beer Collection is going to regret opening in this center. Wrong concept, wrong population, wrong location!

Finally, for you guys who like beer/small plates/bringing your own food/watching tv…

TAP is open Monday-Wednesday 4pm-midnight, Thursday 2pm-midnight, Friday 2pm-2am, Saturday noon-2am, Sunday noon-11pm.

***** Eddie & Sam’s New York Pizza, 203 East Twiggs Street, Tampa, Florida 33602, (813) 229-8500.

Real simple concept…order at/pickup at the counter…pizzas, pastas, salads, heroes. The joint has both indoor and outdoor table seating.

You can check menu/prices at www.eddieandsamspizza.com.

Eddie & Sam’s “bubameiser” (some of you guys may have to use Google-here) is that its pizza is made with water imported from New York.

Anyway…

Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats recently did dinner at Eddie & Sam’s and I gotta tell you, the joint makes a delicious thin crust/crispy/sweet sauce pizza. Just as important, Eddie & Sam’s- Chicken Roll (chicken parmigiana wrapped in pizza dough), Sausage Onion Green Pepper Roll (grilled onions, green peppers, sweet sausage, mozzarella cheese wrapped in pizza dough) and Caesar Salad were delicious.

Let me sum things up for you…Eddie & Sam’s food is real-good and “specials” like 2-slices/Coke for $5.99 are right on the money (pun intended).

Now that you know about a real good pizza joint in Tampa–let me turn my attention to this NYC water thing.

Long story short, there are countless people who “argue” that it’s NYC’s tap water that makes pizza in NYC so good…these same people also claim that NYC tap water is what makes NYC bagels so good…

Now…

Jeff Eats was born in Brooklyn in 1949. Jeff Eats lived in Brooklyn from 1949-1979 and in Manhattan from 1980-1991-and has literally eaten in 100s of pizza joints in Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island, Manhattan and I gotta tell you, that I can distinctly remember eating numerous slices–that were absolutely horrendous-lousy-crappy-terrible-inedible–so just maybe this NYC tap water story isn’t-all that it’s cracked-up to be. Now Jeff Eats could be wrong here–but perhaps- the quality of the dough/sauce/cheese/oil/ingredients/type of oven used/and who the pizza maker is–plays a huge role in how good that slice ends up.

Not looking to burst anybody’s Advertising Campaign or nothing–but this NYC tap water-thing has literally become part of America’s pop culture–sort of like Big Foot, you know–it may exist, but then again maybe not.

One quick observation, on its website Eddie & Sam’s says-that New York water is used–it doesn’t say NYC tap water is used. Capice! You can call me Ray and you can call me Ray Jay, but don’t call me Eagle Eye Jeff Eats!

To wrap things up…

Eddie’s & Sam’s New York Pizza is a winner–no matter what- water it uses!

The joint is open Sunday, Tuesday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm, closed on Monday.

* Could’a, Should’a, Would’a!

The other day in Delray Beach I saw some kids-maybe they were 14 or 15 years old and two of them were wearing -Ramones tee shirts. That sighting- got Jeff Eats to thinking, that I’m probably one of but a handful of people who actually saw the Ramones play live at CBGB’s and Max’s Kansas City in 1974 or for that matter at any time during the band’s career.

That sighting also got Jeff Eats thinking about one of my -“could’a, should’a would’a” opportunities…namely to have become affiliated with the guys who signed Blondie in 1974 to a personal management contract- but choosing instead, to affiliate with the guys who took on a punk rock band named The Miamis.

The above posted advertisement ran in the Village Voice on December 1st & 2nd 1974. Notice who got top billing!

Suffice it to say, Could’a, Should’a, Would’a!

***** Saucy ‘Stache, 4882 Southwest 75th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33155, (786) 245-3683.

First things first…Saucy ‘Stache is a “food truck”–so you need- www.saucystache.com to know where/when the truck is.

Real simple concept…

Choose A Protein.
Choose A Side.
Choose A Sauce.
The 3-combination is then put in a plastic bowl.

Proteins…
stuff like: grilled steak, chicken breast, grilled shrimp.
Sides…
stuff like: macaroni and four cheeses, cheesy bacon mashed potatoes, brown jasmine rice.
Sauces…
stuff like: honey mustard, honey pineapple bbq, ninja garlic.

Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats recently caught up with the truck “trying”-
grilled steak/macaroni/ninja garlic and
grilled chicken breast/cheesy bacon mashed potatoes/honey mustard.

I gotta tell you, the food was really-really good.

Just that simple…really-really good.

Like I said earlier, you’ll need www.saucystache.com for times/locations.

One final thought, Jeff Eats kinda knows-that most if not all of you- aren’t going to be-making a special trip to hook-up with some food truck…so for our purposes “just” file the name in your memory–you never know when/where you might spot the truck which works 7 days a week all over South Florida.

* 700 Sundays (On HBO).

Look!

Jeff Eats is no Clive Barnes (some of you may need Google here!)–but I do know, that Billy Crystal’s 1-man show 700 Sundays currently airing on HBO–is something that you-want to see. Actually, 700 Sundays is something that you have to see!

Now, not to get all mushy with you guys…but, if Crystal’s “autobiographical” story- about growing up in Long Beach-NY, the death of his father and other personal matters—doesn’t make you laugh and cry…there is something definitely wrong with you.

Over the years, Jeff Eats has told you about a ton of stuff…trust me–my observations about this slice of pizza, or that hamburger, or that soft serve chocolate cone- really don’t amount to a hill of beans in the real-scope of things. The minute after you eat that slice, burger, cone–it’s done, over, finished with–and on to the next project.

I am telling you, watch 700 Sundays–it will make you see LIFE a- bit differently.

Gotta run, got a food truck I want to try out for lunch!
***
I thought you guys might like to read Playbill’s write-up on the show.
——————————————————————————–
Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays Will Premiere on HBO in April
By Andrew Gans
and Michael Gioia
05 Feb 2014
Billy Crystal’s Tony Award-winning play 700 Sundays, which ended its return Broadway engagement Jan. 5, will make its debut on HBO April 19 at 9 PM ET.
The two-hour special was taped live Jan. 3 and 4 at the Imperial Theatre.
“Billy Crystal has been a beloved member of the HBO family for more than three decades,” said Michael Lombardo, president of HBO Programming, in an earlier statement. “It’s thrilling to us that he decided to let us film this legendary theatrical event.”
The limited nine-week engagement officially opened at the Imperial Theatre Nov. 13, 2013, following previews that began Nov. 5.
700 Sundays is performed and written by Crystal with additional content by Alan Zweibel and direction by Des McAnuff.
“700 Sundays has, without question, been the most satisfying experience of my career,” said Crystal in a previous statement. “When we originally opened on Broadway, all I knew was that I had a story that I was compelled to share. Now that I’ve performed my play across the country and internationally, I’m gratified to know that the love of family, through joy and pain, is perhaps the most universal story. I’ve now decided to tell this story one last time in my own backyard, where it all took place. It is a privilege to return to Broadway to say goodbye to one of the greatest thrills of my life.”
The autobiographical 700 Sundays is described as “an original two-act play in which Billy plays numerous characters that have influenced who he is today. It deals with his youth, growing up in the jazz world of Manhattan, his teenage years, and finally adulthood. It is about family and fate, loving and loss.”
700 Sundays was produced by Janice Crystal, Larry Magid and Face Productions and featured scenic design by David F. Weiner, lighting design by David Lee Cuthbert, projection design by Michael Clark and sound design by Steve Canyon Kennedy.
The show won the 2005 Tony Award for Special Theatrical Event and both the 2005 Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Outstanding Solo Performance.

***** Foster’s Grille, 11071 Southern Boulevard, Royal Palm Beach, Florida 33411, (561) 333-6720.

Foster’s Grille…small franchised fast food “burger” chain with locations in Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland–currently 3 in Florida

Real simple menu– char-grilled burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs, fries, onion rings, salads, shakes, beer. Order at the counter/food delivered to you. Booth, table, counter seating.

A recent lunch had Jeff Eats “doing”- cheeseburger, Philly cheesesteak, French fries, onion rings, chocolate shake. The “verdict” good-stuff.

Now, you know and I know that the “upscale” fast burger segment is starting to get really crowded down here in South Florida…Foster’s cool-southern diner decor made my meal that more enjoyable!

You can check www.fostersgrille.com for menu/prices/locations.

Give Foster’s a try…

Foster’s Grille is open Sunday-Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm.

* House of Dog.

A “glatt kosher”- hot dog, burger, salad, wrap, craft beer joint is coming to Boca Raton.

According to Boca Magazine- The House of Dog which already has a joint in Miami is set to open in Boca Raton in late 2014.

Nothing for nothing, House of Dog’s new Boca Raton location is about 6 minutes from Jeff Eats’ home. In any given week, I must drive-by the-spot something like 20 times. From what I can tell, the construction is “doing” but its got a drop more “doing” to do. Now I’m no building or permit-expert, but I’m thinking maybe another week or so–and this joint will be ready to go.

To date, Jeff Eats has not eaten in the Miami Beach-joint, but I will tell you, that I’ve heard nothing but terrific things about it.

By the way, in addition to the Boca Raton joint- House of Dog is set to open a Jacksonville location sometime in the next few weeks…

Never would have figured-Jacksonville for a glatt kosher town!

When the Boca Raton location opens, Jeff Eats will “taste test” it for you guys…and you’ll know what’s what from my perspective.

You can check House of Dog’s websiste www.houseofdogmiami.com for stuff.

One final note, printed below is a recent article that Jeff Eats read in Boca Magazine…check it out-as it adds a drop more color to the- House of Dog story. The one thing I can’t figure–Boca Magazine in one breath says that the joint is going to be kosher, yet in another says that House of Dog serves and I quote “applewood-smoked bacon”– Mister does this make any sense to you? (courtesy, Jackie Mason 1985).

Just call me Old Eagle Eye Jeff Eats…(just between you, me and the lamppost, Jeff Eats knows its “fake” bacon)…
*****
House of Dog to Make Home in Boca
Apr 21st 2014
A former burger joint in West Boca is going to the dogs. Hot dogsThat bit of whimsy comes courtesy of House of Dog, a kosher hot dog joint set to debut by year’s end in the old Boardwalk Fresh burger palace on Powerline Road. The Boca Dog is the first pup in the litter of the Miami mama, where the dogs aren’t just boiled in beer (before being griddled), they’re injected with beer.
Though you won’t get any cheese or dairy (it is kosher, after all) you will get plenty of beer, with as many as 50 artisan brewskis said to be on the menu.
That menu, btw, doesn’t dog it when it comes to dogs, with weiners tricked out every which way, from Reuben and Chicago style to Trashy Lassie (chili, applewood-smoked bacon, cole slaw, onion rings and Buffalo sauce) and Ninja (portobello mushroom, pineapple, teriyaki sauce and wasabi aioli). Also on the menu will be burgers and wings, Belgian fries and soups ‘n’ salads.
When I get more info you’ll be the first to know.