***** Tasty Wok BBQ & Noodle House, 1246 East Colonial Drive, Orlando, Florida 32803, (407) 896-8988.

This is a very simple Chinese food “story.”

Jeff Eats recently tried Tasty Wok BBQ & Noodle House in Orlando and it was absolutely dynamite.

Real simple…this is a bare bones “hole in the wall” joint—ducks hanging from the ceiling.

Tasty Wok’s menu will please you-guys who want “real” Chinese food (whatever REAL means?)–and also guys like me who are looking for Brooklyn-Jewish circa 1950’s Chinese food.

A recent outing had Jeff Eats, Mrs. Jeff Eats and a bunch of friends doing:
1. wonton soup,
2. egg rolls,
3. fried meat dumplings,
4. roast pork,
5. sweet and sour pork,
6. general tso’s chicken,
7. shrimp in lobster sauce,
8. pepper steak,
9. roast duck
10. shrimp fried rice

Like I said a few seconds ago…absolutely dynamite. No fooling around here, some of the best Chinese food Jeff Eats has eaten in Florida.

Nothing for nothing, food and decor-wise, Tasty Wok could successfully compete with most of NYC Chinatown’s players. To be perfectly honest with you, I’d match Tasty Wok’s roast duck and roast pork up against NYC Chinatown’s best joints–any day of the week. Those two “items” alone, were worth the price of admission.

You Orlandoians got a homerun going here.

Tasty Wok is open 7 days a week 10:30am-9:30pm..

Just a “suggestion”—check the YELP reviews on this one. There are something like 100 reviews and other than a small handful—most folks loved Tasty Wok. The comments should “give” you some more color about Tasty Wok.

***** Name Your Favorite South Florida Tribute Acts *****

List away!

***** Davide Italian Cafe & Deli, 688 Bald Eagle Drive, Marco Island, Florida 34145, (239) 393-2233.

Jeff Eats & Mrs. Jeff Eats recently “did” dinner in Marco Island. We tried a neighborhood “red sauce” Italian joint…Davide Italian Cafe & Deli and I gotta tell you, we really enjoyed the food. To put your mind at ease, it’s in the requisite strip-center, it has indoor/outdoor patio seating, your shorts/tee shirt ensemble will work well here. From what Jeff Eats understands, every so often the owner’s father entertains–singing Italian stuff, but on the night we were there–he wasn’t, so he didn’t.

Just a quick thought… What’s a Mariachi Band? A Mariachi Band is a group of musicians who if they come over to your table…you give a buck to, to make them go away.

Anyway…back to Davide…

You can check www.davideitaliancafe.com for menu/prices/photos.

The dishes “sampled”—lasagna bolognese, chicken parmigiana panini, margherita pizza. Now nothing for nothing, the food was real good…Can’t really put the items in a pecking order-because they were “equally” good. I will tell you, the pizza- had a nice thin crust with a really good sweet sauce.

Just so there is no misunderstanding between us, Davide isn’t your typical joint…by that, I mean having a menu loaded with all kinds of appetizers, salads, soups, subs, calzones, pastas, pizzas meat/chicken/seafood entrees. When you check Davide’s menu, you’ll find a handful of appetizers–pizzas-pastas-paninis/subs…so forget about those big- entrees that you envisioned stuffing your face with—because, Davide ain’t got them. Jeff Eats survived the “small” menu, so you probably will to, but between you, me and the bedpost—I like bigger menus when I’m doing “red sauce.”

In closing, Jeff Eats really enjoyed Davide. The food was high-quality, tasty, reasonably priced—definitely a step or two above most of the red sauce joints that dot South Florida’s strip center landscape (and yes, Jeff Eats does know that Marco Island isn’t part of SOUTH Florida, so there!).

Davide’s is open for lunch Monday-Friday 11:30am-2:30pm and for dinner Monday-Sunday 4:30pm-9:30pm.

***** Dunkin’ Donuts *****

Just curious, what do you guys think about national coffee/donut chain Dunkin’ Donuts?

***** THE BSTREET BAND *****

Got something absolutely terrific and free for you guys…that is, if you are a fan of Bruce Springsteen’s music, Motown-music, 1960’s-1970’s Rock N Roll…THE BSTREET BAND, arguably America’s #1 tribute band to- Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band.

Jeff Eats has seen THE BSTREET BAND three times (Asbury Park, Atlantic City, Boca Raton) and they are a dynamite “party” band…This Asbury Park, New Jersey based group has been around since 1980 and has performed at hundreds of clubs, arenas and private parties. The band estimates that over 3,000,000 people have attended its live performances.

For our purposes, The BSTREET BAND will be performing “FREE” on Saturday Night- February 23, 2013 at the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek (starting at 8:30pm) and on Thursday-Friday-Saturday Nights (March 7-8-9 2013) at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood (starting at 7pm).

Check the band’s website www.thebstreetband.com for further details.

***** Best Chicken Wings In South Florida *****

Kill some time for me–while I get a “new” restaurant story together for you guys…

What are your best CHICKEN WINGS picks?

Thanks,
Jeff Eats

***** El Balcon De Las Americas, 7932 West Sample Road, Coral Springs, Florida 33065, (954) 346-4590.

Got something really-really good for you guys…El Balcon De Las Americas—a joint that does Columbian/Latin stuff.

Just so you know, there are 4-locations…Jeff Eats “did” lunch at the Coral Springs’ restaurant.

You can check menu/prices/locations at www.balcondelasamericas.com.

The Coral Springs location has both indoor/outdoor patio seating. Not 100% sure on this, but when Jeff Eats, Mrs. Jeff Eats and another couple were there last Sunday afternoon around 3pm, it-seemed that we were the only customers “speaking” English. The joint was jammed packed and I’m gonna figure that at least 75 people were eating. Now you “scared-e-cats” don’t worry, the waiters and counter folks spoke English, so Jeff Eats, Mrs. Jeff Eats & Company had no problema what so-ever ordering. Based on the fact that Jeff Eats was a straight “D” student in high school/college Spanish–the bet here is that everyone else was speaking Spanish…but then again, what does a “D” student know? Putting two and two together, I’m thinking that a Columbian-Latin food joint “warrants” Spanish speakers, but then again, Portuguese sounds like Spanish to me, so I could have been dead wrong.

Anyway…this joint is one cool restaurant. Real easy going–can’t exactly explain the décor…let’s “say” a neighborhood diner with Latin flair.

El Balcon De Las Americas’ menu has a handful of breakfast items, appetizers, salads, soups, meat/chicken/seafood entrees, desserts.

Let me tell you that the arepa de cholo ($1.75) and beef empanadas ($.99) were dynamite…Our “party” also had, chuleta calena (thinly pounded/breaded/deep fried pork tenderloin-$8.99), carne asad (grilled flat steak-$10.99), chicken fajitas ($12.99), pargo rojo (deep fried red snapper-$13.99)…every item was delicious, the portions were enormous—and the prices were very-very reasonable.

Like I said before, think–neighborhood diner with a Latin flair and you’ll be on the right page.

It goes without saying, shorts/tee shirt ensembles are the dress of the day.

El Balcon De Las Americas is open 7 days a week for breakfast-lunch and dinner.

Just got the following press release from the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek…

Take a read—sounds like a great way to “watch” this year’s Super Bowl.

*****

** CALENDAR ANNOUNCEMENT **

TAILGATE-STYLE EXTRAVAGANZA AND WATCH PARTY WITH PROFESSIONAL FOOTABLL PLAYERS AT SEMINOLE CASINO COCONUT CREEK ON FEB. 3

WHAT: Party in style and watch the two hottest teams in football compete for the winning title. Watch the big game with Miami Dolphins Hall of Famer Larry Little along with Keith Sims, Vernon Carey and Troy Dayton at Seminole Casino Coconut Creek’s super tailgate party. Other professional football players attending include Lamar Miller (Miami Dolphins), Chris Clemons (Miami Dolphins), Terrelle Pryor (Oakland Raiders), Sam Shields (Green Bay Packers) and Steelers great Leon Searcy. Football fans will also enjoy complimentary drinks, food and entertainment, included in their ticket purchase.

At Super Score Sunday, players can win up to $25,000! Players can earn free Super Score Sunday scratch-off cards by playing their favorite slots. For every 500 points earned, players will receive one scratch-off card and one free entry into the Super Tailgate Party. Earn points between 7 a.m. on Wednesday, January 31 and 6:15 p.m. on Sunday, February 3. Players will also receive a U-Spin bonus of up to $100 in Free Play for every 15 minutes of active play from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on February 3.

WHEN: Sunday, February 3 from 6:15 p.m. to 11 p.m.

WHERE: Seminole Casino Coconut Creek – The Pavilion
5550 NW 40th Street
Coconut Creek, FL
Located at the corner of 441 (State Road 7) and Sample Road

COST: Purchase tickets at the door for $25 a person.

WHO: Presented by Seminole Casino Coconut Creek

INFO: For more information, please call Seminole Casino Coconut Creek at 954-977-6700, visit www.seminolecasinococonutcreek.com or www.facebook.com/seminolecasinocococreek and follow us on Twitter @SemCasinoCoCo.

# # #

***** 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.

*****

***** BEST SUSHI IN SOUTH FLORIDA *****

Between you, me and the bedpost, Jeff Eats isn’t a real-big sushi fan.

With that in mind, help out your fellow readers…

What are your favorite sushi joints in South Florida?