***** Gusto Fino Italian Deli, 2103 South LeJeune, Coral Gables, Florida 33134, (305) 444-0504.

Tremendous! That’s the best way to describe this “hole in the wall” Italian Deli in Coral Gables. You can check menu/prices/photos at www.gustofinodeli.com.

Just so you know, this is basically a “takeout”…the joint does have a handful of tables. The menu has some absolutely terrific sandwiches, salads, personal pizzas, pastas and entrees. A recent outing had me “doing” sausage & peppers—chicken parmigiana—meatball ciabatta sandwiches…off the chart. I also “did” meat lasagna and a caprese salad…delicious.

I loved this joint.

Nice break from the “typical” $5 sub joints that dot the South Florida landscape.. For those who haven’t yet checked Gusto’s website…sandwiches run $7.95-$8.95 and the most expensive item on the menu are a couple of pasta/entrees that top out at $13.95

Gusto Fino Italian Deli is open Monday 11am-4pm, Tuesday-Friday 11am-4:30pm, Saturday noon-4pm, closed on Sunday.

***** The Stage, 9144 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs, Florida 34135, (239) 405-8566.

Got a really cool “music-dance-eat-drink” joint for you…The Stage located in Bonita Springs.

At this stage of the “story” do me a huge favor and check www.thestagebonita.com…in a nutshell, on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday starting at 4pm The Stage features some of the best original bands, cover bands and tribute acts in Florida. Sometimes the “music” is free and sometimes there is a cover charge. To round things out, The Stage has a full-bar and a menu loaded with very reasonably priced “decent enough” appetizers, salads, burgers, sandwiches and meat/chicken/seafood entrees.

The play here…get a good table and plan on staying awhile. In recent months I’ve been there twice and I had a blast.

***** Between The Bun, 1035 Gateway Boulevard, Boynton Beach, Florida 33426, (561) 735-8820.

I gotta tell you, I must be getting old…absolutely can’t believe- that it took me until today, August 24, 2011 to discover, Between The Bun- a sensational “fast-food” burger joint which has been around since Januray 2011. Too much sun!!!

Order at the counter/food delivered to table…You can check menu/prices at www.boyntonrestaurantbetweenthebun.com.

Let me go on record…Between The Bun serves one of the best “flame grilled” burgers down here in Sunny South Florida. Throw in fries “just like” Nathan’s Famous makes…and they hooked Jeff Eats as a huge fan.

Just so you know, Between The Bun also has other stuff like grilled chicken, tuna salad, tenderloin steak, hot dogs, black & white cookies, …so if burgers and fries ain’t your bag, your still covered.

Between The Bun is open 7-days a week 11am-9pm.

***** NY’s Big Apple Deli, 14432 North Biscayne Boulevard, North Miami Beach, Florida 33181, (305) 940-0128.

Got a terrific— “New York Kosher Style Deli” for you…NY’s Big Apple Deli in North Miami Beach.

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

Two recent lunch outings had me “sampling” pastrami/corned beef/brisket/turkey…some of the best stuff I’ve had down here in sunny South Florida. Also gave the joint’s chicken salad and chopped liver a shot…once again, real good stuff. I also did 2-soups, chicken matzoh ball soup and mushroom barley—both were homeruns.

Let me sum NY’s Big Apple Deli up in a nutshell…this is one of the best New York Kosher Style Delis in South Florida.

NY’s Big Apple Deli is open Monday-Thursday 8am-7pm and Friday-Sunday 7am-3pm.

***** Max Pizza, 15455 Southwest 137th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33177, (305) 235-0825.

Max Pizza…”mom & pop” red sauce Italian joint in Miami. Checkout out maxpizzamiami.com for menu/prices–video.

Tried the pizza…fair.
Tried the meatball sub…fair.
Tried the chicken parm sub…fair.
Tried the sausage & peppers sub…fair
Tried the calzone…delicious.
Tried the meat stromboli…delicious.

That’s this one in a nutshell.

Max Pizza is open Monday-Thursday 11:15am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 11:15am-11pm, Sunday noon-10pm.

***** Kenny Vance & The Planotones *****

If you are a fan of 1950’s-1960’s doo wop/rock n’ roll music…there is a concert scheduled for Saturday Night, August 27, 2011 at the Parker Playhouse www.parkerplayhouse.com in Sunrise that you do not and should not miss…Kenny Vance & The Planotones.

Suffice it to say, that Kenny Vance in a former-lifetime was an original memember of Jay & The Americans, television’s “Saturday Night Live” and films- American Hot Wax, Eddie & The Cruisers and Hairspray musical director.

Over the years, I have seen Kenny Vance & The Planotones in action something like 5-times. Each time, I was amazed at Vance’s vocal range. As many of you may know, Jay Black was the “voice” associated with Jay & The Americans. I am telling you, Kenny Vance’s voice is as good if not better than Mr. Black’s. For you guys who do get to this show, Vance’s songlist often includes Jay & The Americans hits like ‘Cara Mia’ and ‘Only In America’…the show highlights the group’s ‘Looking For An Echo’ from the American Hot Wax film.

Like I said before, if 1950’s-1960’s doo wop/rock n’ roll music is your game…you will really enjoy this Act.

I just checked the Parker Playhouse site and there are some real good seats still available. They range in price from $30.50-$50.50 and every seat is just-fine in that this is a small 1,100 seat venue. Just so you know, at the Parker Playhouse site, there is a video of Kenny Vance & The Planotones–if you want to check this group out before buying tickets.

***** Shindig Irish Restaurant & Pub, 464 Southwest Port Saint Lucie Boulevard, Port St. Lucie, Florida 34953, (772) 785-6202.

Got a good Irish pub for you…Shindig Irish Restaurant & Pub in Port St. Lucie.

A recent dinner had me “trying”…braised short rib sliders, bacon cheeseburger, shepherd’s pie, fish & chips, corned beef & cabbage. Nothing to get hysterical about “foodwise” here…but the stuff is decent enough. Do like-I did…hit this joint on either a Friday or Saturday night when it features live bands. For “small” money (the most expensive item on the menu is the flat iron steak-$21.99), you’ll eat and drink good and have a blast listening to some of the better rock bands in the area.

Check menu/prices/entertainment schedule at www.shindigpub.com.

The joint is open 7 days a week, 11am-2am.

***** Zinger’s Delicatessen, 7132 Beracasa Way, Boca Raton, Florida 33433, (561) 826-7323.

If, delicious- New York Kosher Style Deli is your game—you absolutely, positively have to give Zinger’s Delicatessen in Boca Raton a try.

For you fressers out there…Zinger’s in a “former” life, was Pastrami Queen (see 9/12/08 writeup)…to make a long story short, family “matters” resulted in Pastrami Queen closing in late 2010. This past Tuesday, Zinger’s opened for business—for our purposes, SAME OWNER!–NEW “NYC” DECOR!–SAME TERRIFIC FOOD!

Last night I ate dinner at Zinger’s.

Zinger’s is located in the exact-spot where Pastrami Queen was. Gary Zinger who owned Pastrami Queen is Zinger’s owner. The restaurant’s layout hasn’t changed, but the decor has…let’s just say, that stainless steel walls/ceiling and art-deco signage rival the best-deli decor here and in NYC. The joint has 3-flat screen tvs and a takeout counter that will make you want to quit Weight Watchers.

Let’s talk food…

To be perfectly honest with you, I seriously doubt that there is a better New York Kosher Style Deli down here in South Florida. I’ll even go so-far as to say, Zinger’s Delicatessen can easily hold its own with legendary players like NYC’s- Carneige, Stage, 2nd Avenue and Katz’s delis…if you aren’t a native Nooo Yoorker, please feel free to insert your hometown favorite delis’ names.

Just so you know, I was a Pastrami Queen “regular”…so, it was absolutely impossible to eat-at Zinger’s, shall we say incognito. The meal was “on the arm” with Gary Zinger literally having me “try” everything in the joint. Take it for what it’s worth, the pastrami, corned beef, brisket, turkey off the bone are as good as it gets. The joint also makes- delicious, potato pancakes-chopped liver-tuna salad-chicken salad-matzoh ball soup-smashed French fries-Italian beef sub.

Just so we are straight…don’t want you to think that I’m a Zinger’s shill—I’ve eaten better potato knishes—like the ones I, my father and brother Andy use to get in 1958 from the pushcart stationed right outside of Fortunoff on Livonia Avenue in Brooklyn while waiting for my mother to finish shopping.

Trust me on this…Zinger’s is a homerun.

Like I said before, I tried a load of stuff. I will tell you, that the sandwiches being delivered to the tables were nice-sized… I didn’t see one group leave without a doggy bag… and no one bitched to Gary about the service/prices.

Zinger’s website is www.zingersdelicom. The site is currently under construction, so give it some-time to get up and running.

Zinger’s does breakfast, lunch and dinner…The joint is open 7 days a week 7am-10pm.

***** Red The Steakhouse, 119 Washington Avenue, Miami, Florida 33139, (305) 534-3688.

Got an absolutely tremendous upscale steakhouse for you guys…Red The Steakhouse in Miami.

If, you don’t mind going for your lungs, you gotta give Red a shot. You can check menu/prices at www.redthesteakhouse.com.

At this stage of the proceedings I’m gonna rank Red The Steakhouse right up there with the best steak joints that I’ve ever been to. A recent outing had me “sampling”…22 oz. bone in ribeye ($49), 13 oz. filet mignon ($47), 16 oz. veal chop milanese ($42), linguini clams/white clam sauce ($31.90)—garlic fries ($8.90), sweat onions ($8.90), creamed spinach ($9.50). Simply put, hip/modern decor (the website has photos)—outrageously delicious food, attentive and very-very professional service.

Like I said, right up there with the best steakhouses going.

Red The Steakhouse is open Sunday-Thursday 5:30pm-midnight, Friday-Saturday 5:30pm-1am.

***** Bella Vita Pizza & Restaurant, 11010 Wiles Road, Coral Springs, Florida 33076, (954) 345-7001.

Bella Vita Pizza & Restaurant…”mom & pop” red sauce Italian joint in Coral Springs.

I’m gonna make this one short and real simple…Bella Vita Pizza & Restaurant is right-up there with the best-of-breed. I thought that its pizza, veal parmigiana, chicken marsala, shrimp marinara, sausage & peppers and penne ala vodka rivaled the best “mom & pop” stuff that I’ve had over the years down here in sunny South Florida…really that simple.

You can check menu/pries at www.bvpizza.com.

Bella Vita Pizza & Restaurant is open Monday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm, Sunday 3pm-10pm.

If deal-coupons are your game, www.southfloridadines.com got a $15 gets you $30 deal going. Bella Vita’s website also has some coupons that you can print out.