***** Jake’s Wayback Burgers *****

I know that some of you guys like to be kept in the “loop.” So, with that in mind…I just heard that “fast-food” hamburger chain–Jake’s Wayback Burgers which currently has 10 Connecticut–9 Delaware–13 Pennsylvania–1 Indiana–1 Massachusettes–2 Maryland–4 North Carolina–5 New York–1 Ohio is planning on opening 2 Florida joints in the next couple of months…4690 State Road 7, Coconut Creek and 8201 South Military Trail, Sarasota.

If you aren’t familar with this chain, trust me, you aren’t alone. Jeff Eats had never heard of Jake’s until last week when I gave its Long Beach, New York outlet a shot. If you want to go further, you can check www.waybackburgers.com for menu/prices/locations.

Now, you know and I know that “upscale” fast food burger joints are literally popping up on every American block. Absolutely no question in my mind, that the day of reckoning is quickly approaching–when the American public is going to tire of most of these joints and tons of franchisees are going to get wiped out. That said, until that reckoning-day arrives, there is no reason whatsoever- why I, Jeff Eats can’t eat myself into a 48 inch pair of pants and a 22 inch shirt.

Jake’s menu has got it all…burgers, franks, fries, onion rings, salads, milkshakes.

For the record, I did a 2-patty cheeseburger, french fries, coffee and chocolate milkshakes…the burger/fries were good-not great. Assuming that the Jake’s “coming” to Coconut Creek is-like the one I tried in Long Beach–I’m not really sure it will be able to “handle” the likes of Five Guys, CG, BurgerFi, Elevation which all have joints near the Coconut Creek outlet. That said, I will tell you, the milkshakes were outrageously delicious.

So for right now, the bottom-line on the Coconut Creek joint…we’ll just have to wait and see “what the story is” after it opens.

Jeff Eats’ real concern with these “new” burger joints is-that a 22 inch neck shirt is rapidly approaching.

Anyway…you guys are now in the “loop.”

***
June 18, 2012…

Just wanted you guys to know, that about a week or so ago–I tried the new Jake’s Wayback Burgers in Coconut Creek…had a double cheeseburger with french fries. The burger and fries were good. Nothing for nothing, they definitely weren’t best of breed-but for sure, I’ve tasted a whole lot worse.

As I’ve told you guys in past burger “stories”–the upscale fast food burger space is being over-loaded with players. Can’t give you a firm date, but in the very near future a ton of these “guys” are going to be folding their tents. I seriously doubt, that the Coconut Creek “area” where Jake’s just opened can successfully support Jake’s, Five Guys, Elevation, BurgerFi, CG–not to mention McDonald’s and Steak N Shake. For the sake of the franchisees involved, I sure hope that I’m wrong–but I don’t think so.

***** Pincho Factory, 9860 Southwest 40th Street, Miami, Florida 33165, (305) 631-2038.

First, let’s give credit to our pals at Burger Beast (www.burgerbeast.com) for turning us onto- Pincho Factory a Latin inspired “fast food” burger/hot dog/pincho joint…before we get going here-the best way to describe a “pincho”-food on a skewer. You can check www.pinchofactory.com for menu/prices…to get a real good “feel” as to what’s going on at Pincho, check the “YELP” site—the last time I looked-Pincho had something like 140 reviews and 109 photos.

Now, I know that what’s “cool” is a very subjective thing…what you may consider cool, I may consider un-cool. Rather than getting into a whole “cool” discussion with you guys, let’s just say that the Pincho Factory was one cool-fast food joint. If you’re really interested in following-up on this column, I seriously urge you to check those YELP photos. Not sure who took them, but they got decor shots and tons of food shots–guranteed after you see the photos, assuming burgers, hot dogs, meat/chicken/seafood grilled skewers, pita bread, fries are your game–you will definitely want to try Pincho Factory. This is a very unique fast food joint…it’s not the standard formica formula.

Let’s talk food…the basic cheeseburger- dynamite, shrimp/chicken/steak skewers-off the chart, basic french fries-on the money, chocolate covered french fries- a homerun, basic hot dog-a knockout, fried cheescake-incredible. Now that I’ve exhausted my Guy Fieri superlatives–let’s just say that Pincho’s food is outstanding and its “toppings” (this is where the Latin influence-kicks in) are literally limitless

I kinda think that you regular readers know that Jeff Eats is a “simple” eater…I like my pizza straight up sans toppings (ok-maybe a drop of sausage or pepperoni here and there), I like my french fries with ketchup, I like my hot dog with mustard & sauerkraut, I like my burger with American cheese-raw onions-ketchup, I like my bagel with plain old cream cheese or butter, I like my Thomas’ English muffin toasted with butter and strawberry jam. The point to be made, believe it or not, I’m really not into food “experimentation.” For you sticklers out there, I know that chocolate french fries and fried cheesecake aren’t “standards” but the Burger Beast himself told me that I had to try them…so I did. Anyway…if you want to put a “different” spin to your favorites, Pincho’s got you covered.

If you want to eat delicious burgers/hot dogs/fries/meat-chicken-seafood fast food, then you gotta try the Pincho Factory.

Pincho Factory is open Monday-Thursday noon-midnight, Friday & Saturday 11am-2am, Sunday 11am-10pm.

***** Maoz Vegetarian, 6000 Glades Road (Town Center Mall), Boca Raton, Florida 33431, (561) 393-6269.

As I mentioned the other day, last Sunday afternoon I killed some time at Town Center Mall–while Mrs. Jeff Eats searched for “who knows what.” Of course during my “stay”—I visited the mall’s recently reconfigured-rebuilt food court. Suffice it to say, the court looks great, but in my humble opinion–there aren’t enough fast-food outlets–and there is too much “duplication” with the outlets that are there. That said, I did come across an “interesting concept” in the fast-food business…Maoz Vegetarian, which- if I was a betting man, will be a “homerun” in the reconfigured Town Center Mall food court. Before I give you the skinny on Maoz Vegetarian, I gotta tell you that the folks behind Forever 21 (a national budget chain of women/men’s clothing & accessories) have to be genuises. Forever 21 just opened a gigantic 2-story location in the back of Town Center Mall’s food court and at 3pm last Sunday the store was jammed and I do mean jammed with people. Not to go off on a tangent here, but Mrs. Jeff Eats and Daughter Jeff Eats swear by this chain–trust me, these girls are professional shoppers. Anyway, let me get back to Maoz Vegetarian…

Maoz Vegetarian is a small fast food chain that does falafel…real simple concept- pita bread filled with falafel/salad (you pick combinations/dressings)—the joint also does belgian and sweet potato fries. You can check www.maozusa.com for menu/prices/prices. Just so you know, there are currently 13 Maoz locations in the United States (I told you it was a small chain)-the Boca outlet is the only Florida location. For the record, I did “one” of these pitas with sweet potato fries and it was delicious…real nice change from the burgers, pizzas, bourbon chicken that I usually get while killing time in malls.

Now nothing for nothing…but during the 20 minutes or so I was in the food court, Maoz had the longest and steadiest lines. Trust me, I know “20 minutes” isn’t long enough for a scientific study to base any conclusions on– As I told you a few seconds ago the food was delicious–and in doing some due diligence (talking to several security guards, mall/store/food court employees) it seems that since the food court’s re-opening a few months ago, Maoz has been doing some real nice business. For the record, if memory serves me correctly… the food court has a pretzel joint, salad joint, pizza joint, Chinese/Japanese joint, Earl of Sandwich joint, Chick-fil-A joint (which was closed on Sunday), yogurt joint—one other thing, in the bay next to the pizza joint there was an “opening soon” sign for another pizza joint–what’s that all about?

Let me wrap Maoz Vegetarian up for you…

I have eaten more food court “meals” than I choose to remember. Not going to list them all but, I’ve been fed by the “best” of them…Nathan’s, Subway, Panda Express, McDonald’s, Burger King, Auntie Annes, Earl of Sandwich, Wetzels Pretzels, Tutti Frutti Yogurt, Dairy Queen/Orange Julius, Saladworks, Kohl’s Frozen Custard, Tossed, Sbarro’s…I’ve devoured more free bourbon chicken toothpick samples than you can shake a stick out. Now, I may be going out on a huge and I do mean huge limb here, but…I am going to predict that itsy bitsy tweeny weeny Maoz Vegetarian is going to grow into a huge brand. The concept is simple, relatively new and has “yet” to be exploited on a national level…plus the food is fresh, delicious and its $5-$10 price points are reasonable…there is one caveat to my prediction—unless the Simons (mall owners) of the world decide that food courts can “handle” more than one falafel joint at a time.

One final observation on Maoz (now, I’m not 100% sure on this)–I think that the Boca Raton “store” is the chain’s first food court location. I believe that the other outlets are much larger and incorporate self-serve salad bars into the concept. If my thinking is correct on this, Maoz Vegetarian has two layouts that make the game even more interesting for potential franchisees.

The next time you are in Town Center Mall give Maoz Vegetarian a shot.

The joint is open, Monday-Saturday 11am-9pm, Sunday 11:30am-6pm.

***** Johnny’s Soda Fountain & Luncheonette, 45 Curtiss Parkway, Miami Springs, Florida 33166, (786) 953-5553.

If a 1950’s “looking” diner located in a Miami Springs pharmacy is your game…get ready to play.

Last week I had lunch at Johnny’s Soda Fountain & Luncheonette which is located in the Miami Springs Pharmacy. You can do the Googling here, but back in 1946 a guy named John Stadnik opened a drug store in Miami Springs…and like many of its brethern of the time, it had both a pharmacy and luncheonette in it. To make a long story short, the pharmacy “survived” but the luncheonette closed in 1965. Fast forward to 2010- the Miami Springs Pharmacy is still owned by the Stadnik Family– and Carol, John Stadnik’s daughter decides to “re-open” the luncheonette naming it Johnny’s Soda Fountain & Luncheonette.

So- you know what this joint is all about, the PHARMACY still has the original 1946-look…while-Johnny’s is 1950’s faux-stuff ala Johnny Rockets. For our purposes, this is a mom & pop diner—with an interesting “story” in a really cool location.

Johnny’s menu isn’t huge, but I’m sure you’ll find something to eat…handful of breakfast items–same for salads/sandwiches/burgers/hot dogs/entrees/daily specials/sundaes & shakes. Like I said a few seconds ago, I did lunch…cheeseburger, grilled chicken breast sandwich, french fries, vanilla ice cream/heath bar shake.

Now for the results…I loved the look of the whole joint. The pharmacy and luncheonette are separated by a half-wall divider. Now I know and you know (because I told you)–that the diner decor is a faux-deal, but it’s still cool and real mom & popish…if Johnny Rockets’ decor is a Bentley, Johnny’s is a really used Honda. As for the food, imagine if you made the stuff at home. I appreciate that we may get some-waaaay different results here, but I do make a real good cheeseburger and Mrs. Jeff Eats can muster up a decent enough grilled chicken breast…as for the fries, Johnny’s were ok– like mine- they came out of a frozen package. The shake wasn’t exactly in the league of a Dairy Queen’s Blizzard, but I definitely could handle 2-3 of Johnny’s a week. For the record, over the years Jeff Eats has tried to “duplicate” blizzards at home and has failed miserably.

Johnny’s Soda Fountain & Luncheonette is my kinda of a joint…I’m a sucker for black & white tiled floors, yellow counter stools and red & white checked tablecloths.

Johnny’s is open Monday-Saturday 8am-8pm, Sunday 9am-3pm.

***** Sweets From Heaven & Fuzziwig’s Candy Factory *****

Got something here that I can’t exactly wrap my arms around…Sweets From Heaven & Fuzziwig’s Candy Factory.

To make a long story-short…

Yesterday, I killed some time in Boca Town Center–while Mrs. Jeff Eats roamed the mall looking for God knows what…For one solid hour I entertained myself- checking out people (most had no packages) and “thinking” about stuff like-how poorly the mall’s new food court “mix” and lay-out was–and what a goldmine the Apple Store was.

Anyway…right near the food court is an “upscale” candy store named Sweets From Heaven. I’m gonna assume that all of you guys have been to big regional malls and have seen and been in “some version” of an upscale candy store. For the record, Sweets From Heaven is a small national chain with a number of franchised locations in the United States. Not sure why, but in some malls the “store-concept” is called Sweets From Heaven and in others it’s called Fuzziwig’s Candy Factory. You can check the chain’s website www.sweetsfromheaven.com for locations/details. For our purposes, there is 1-Sweets From Heaven in Boca Raton, 1-Fuzziwig’s in Fort Myers, 1-Fuzziwig’s in Orlando.

Now, I may be giving you guys too much credit here, but I don’t think so… but, when you saw these “candy stores” which look like amusement parks/candy factories– loaded with bulk candy and kids’ novelty items- didn’t you say to yourselves, “Boy! I wish I was a kid, but man, this stuff costs a fortune.” Well, if you didn’t…I did—and as I walked around the store I couldn’t believe the prices that this joint was getting for the most basic of candies.

Now, if I recall my basic PS 179 math, there are 16 ounces to a pound. To be perfectly honest with you. I don’t recall the exact “brands” or exact ” $-amounts” but Sweets From Heaven was hitting up customers for something like $7.95–$14.95 lb. Like I said a few seconds ago, the brands may not be exactly the same, but I kinda think that I know what, M & M–Twizzler Licorice–Good & Plenty candies look like. Now, nothing for nothing, but on many standard candies- guys like Walmart, Target, Costco are fetching something like 23-30 cents per oz. I’m gonna let you guys do the math. By the way, this morning before writing this piece I checked my cupboard and visited a Walmart and Costco to make sure I wasn’t talking out of my hat.

Now, I know that businesses like Sweets From Heaven rely on “impulse buying.” It just seems to me, that there is impulse buying and then there is IMPULSE BUYING.

Like I said at the top of this discussion, Got something here that I can’t exactly wrap my arms around.

***** Cosmos Cafe & Pizzeria 536 Tamiami Trail, Naples, Florida 34102, (238) 262-8181.

First, who here remembers Cosmo Topper?

Cosmos Cafe & Pizzeria…a good “mom & pop” red sauce Italian joint in Naples. Check www.cosmospizzanaples.com for menu/prices—you’ll also find a handful of pictures that will “tell” you what Cosmos’ indoor/outdoor patio setup is all about.

Recently did dinner at Cosmos…the joint’s menu is loaded with all types of pizzas, salads, appetizers, pastas, meat/chicken/seafood entrees. Tried, 16″ plain pizza, fried calamari, meat lasagna, penne a la vodka, chicken marsala, filet of sole. For the record, the pizza was thin/crisp/sweet red sauce—just like Jeff Eats likes it. The fried calamari was ok-but nothing to get nuts over. The meat lasagna and penne a la vodka were delicious-the chicken marsala and filet of sole were good but I’ve had better, but then again, I’ve had worse.

Let me sum Cosmos Cafe & Pizzeria up this way…a good “mom & pop” red sauce joint. Nothing outrageously great going on here. That said, I loved the indoor decor and the outdoor patio setup–service was as friendly as could be–reasonable pizza joint prices–all-in-all, the kitchen definitely “got” the job done.

Cosmos Cafe & Pizzera is open Monday-Saturday 11am-close, Sunday 4pm-close.

***** Lily’s Cafe, 8031 South US Highway 1, Port Saint Lucie, Florida 34952, (772) 237-5549.

Lily’s Cafe is a “mom & pop” neighborhood diner that does breakfast/lunch Tuesday-Friday 7am-3pm, Saturday-Sunday 8am-2pm, closed on Monday. You can check menu/prices at www.lilycafefl.com. The site also has a handful of pictures which will “tell” you as to exactly what you are getting into here. Not really sure how to explain this, but there are mom & pop diners and then again, there are MOM & POP diners. For the record, Lily’s Cafe is a MOM & POP…remember- those movies from the 30s and 40s where some kids would yell, “hey, let’s put on a show”?

Anyway…Lily’s is a fabulous joint, imagine your mom and your aunts making and serving the stuff. For you wiseguys out there, my mom was a tremendous cook and my aunts though not in her league also got the job done. Just to go off on a tangent for a minute–when I see restaurant signs/menus boasting “home cooked” food, my mind always says whose “home.” All I know, is that back in Brooklyn in the 50s and 60s I had a friend Michael R. whose mother was the worse cook maybe in the world, well at least Brooklyn—I guess that’s why Michael R. use to “run away” from home so often.

I recently ate at Lily’s…the menu isn’t huge-but there is enough breakfast stuff, soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, wraps, pies/muffins–so nobody’s gonna go without eating. I tried the french toast, western omelet, chicken salad wrap, patty melt (burger, swiss cheese, grilled onions–on rye toast), french fries. Trust me here, everything was delicious. If I had to put the stuff in-pecking order…the french toast was terrific, the omelet-wrap-melt were also terrific but not as terrific as the french toast was, the french fries were good but weren’t terrific. Now if memory serves me correctly, my mom’s french toast didn”t come close to Lily’s, same for her chicken salad (mom use to add chopped dill pickle to the mix, never really liked that!)–mom never made western omelets- but she did make a mean scrambled eggs with American cheese/ham, her patty melt was as good as the one Lily’s dished up, Lily’s and mom’s french fries were a total tossup (too bad Nathan’s wasn’t my mom or dad or whatever!).

The final result, “assuming” that there really is a Lily back in the kitchen–Lilymom, I’m home from college!!

Lily’s Cafe is a homerun!

***** how do you roll? *****

The next fast food “craze”—sushi!

You know and I know-that at times us-Americans can over do a good thing. You do remember “mom & pop” video stores, don’tcha? If you don’t think that current food crazes…self serve yogurt, cupcakes and upscale burgers aren’t headed for a serious day of reckoning, you might like to think again. For sure, there are going to be a handful of survivors, but I’m willing to bet you a lunch of your choice, that in the next couple of years there are going to be a ton and I do mean a ton of very-very unhappy franchisees. Seriously folks, do you really think that Jeff Eats’ 1-mile square Boca neighborhood- needs something like 14 self serve yogurt joints, 9 upscale burger spots, 23 mom & pop red sauce Italian restaurants? Hate to sound like a quiz-master here, but do you know what overkill is?

From what I’m hearing and seeing, the next fast-food craze about to hit America…SUSHI!. The best way to describe this “concept”—think Subway, Blimpie’s, or your favorite sub shop…you know the deal, you tell the guy/gal behind the counter how to construct your sub-sandwich in this case it will be your “roll.”

Checkout a small company—how do you roll? at www.howdoyouroll.com. For right now, how do you roll?–has a total of 11 stores in 6 states. I know-that with only 11 stores this “chain” is a mere-blip on America’s franchise map. By the way, for our purposes, how do you roll? currently has 2-Florida locations–Gainsville and Jacksonville. For the record, last week I was in a –how do you roll? store which literally just opened in Tucson, Arizona right next door to the University Of Arizona. Wanna talk jammed? During the 3 days I was “out there” I saw a constant and steady line waiting to get in…Now I’m no expert on sushi, but a gut feeling tells me that this fast food sushi concept is going to be huge “around” college campuses–and there are plenty of college towns in America.

Mark my words…fast food sushi joints are the next craze. Now, how do you roll? may not emerge as the dominant player–but my money says, that the “concept” is going to spread like a wildfire…and of course, like yogurt, burgers, cupcakes will eventually get over-done.

***** New Hong Kong, 1303 C Southeast 17th Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316, (954) 728-8897.

New Hong Kong is a Chinese takeout joint in Fort Lauderdale…it has a handful of tables for those of you who want to “eat out.” You can check menu/prices at newhongkong.com. New Hong Kong is open Monday–Thursday 11am-10:30pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm, Sunday noon-10:30pm.

The other day I got some stuff from New Hong Kong…wonton soup, bbq ribs, egg rolls, pan fried dumplings, roast pork fried rice, sweet & sour pork, general tso’s chicken (no spice), shrimp with garlic sauce, pepper steak. Now, just so we are straight…I took the “stuff” home to Boca Raton–so there was about a 30-minute lag from wok-to-table (actually, tv room couch)…trust me, I know that nothing beats real cold Chinese food (maybe pizza does) right from the frig-the next morning—but I have “factored” in a drive-sogginess quotient for this restaurant’s review.

Let me go on record, sogginess and all—New Hong Kong’s sweet & sour pork and general tso’s chicken were delicious. I’ll even go out on a limb here and tell you, that the sweet & sour pork was right up there with the best that I’ve had in South Florida. The other “items” were A-OK, but not in the same league as the general tso’s chicken and definitely not the sweet & sour pork’s… By the way, if I knew that the dish was going to be that good, I would have taken home some fried wontons…sopping up delicious sweet & sour sauce with fried wontons can become quite addictive.

To wrap things up here…

New Hong Kong is right up there with the best South Florida Chinese takeout joints that I’ve tried.

***** Mr. Nick’s Sub Shoppe, 901 South Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316, (954) 462-1913.

Got a real good sub-joint for you, Mr. Nick’s Sub Shoppe in Fort Lauderdale. Freestanding building, order/pickup at window–tables outside under a canopy…not exactly the fanciest joint going. You can check menu/prices at www.mrnickssubshoppe.com. Mr. Nick’s is open Monday-Friday 8:30am-6pm, Saturday 9:30am-3pm, closed on Sunday.

Like I said a few seconds ago, this is a “real good” sub joint…

Mr. Nick’s has all kinds of hot/cold subs (6″ & 12″), sandwiches, burgers, franks, salads.

For the record, Jeff Eats forced himself to “try”–philly cheesesteak sub, chicken parm sub, chicken salad sub–now trust me here, the subs were all delicious, with a special shoutout to the philly cheesesteak which came with cheese-mushrooms-grilled onions-green peppers. Now I know-we could debate sub/hoagie bread here all day long…some of you guys like hard crust and some of you guys like a real soft outside— as for “me” I like it both ways–just as long as it tastes good. For the record, Mr. Nick’s goes with a delicious soft sub.

By the way, did you hear about the guy who ordered a turkey sandwich at a lunch counter. The waitress told him that they were out of turkey, so he ordered a chicken sandwich. The waitress replied, if we had chicken I would have brought you a turkey sandwich.

Anyway…If you’re like me and enjoy eating a sub under a roadside canopy…Mr. Nick’s Sub Shoppe is for you.