***** Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill, 21733 State Road 7, Boca Raton, Florida 33428, (561) 852-7870.

Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill is an “American Style–BBQ” joint…it currently has 66 stores primarily located in 17 eastern states. For our purposes, there are a handful of locations in South Florida. You can check www.smokeybones.com for menu/prices/locations.

Just some quick background information– the original Smokey Bones opened in Orlando in 1999…rapid growth “failed” with a number of stores closing…current owner Sun Capital Partners is currently working on a rebranding plan…the chain’s original name was Smokey Bones Barbeque & Grill—the current plan is to down play the bbq “aspect” and make the restaurants more “sports-bar-like.”

Not exactly sure on the date, I’m figuring 7-8 years ago…Jeff Eats “tried” the then newly opened Smokey Bones in Boca Raton…suffice it to say, the food was absolutely terrible. Jeff Eats hadn’t been back “until” last night.

To be perfectly honest with you, Jeff Eats can’t comment on whether or not the Boca Bones that I was in last night has been remodeled—can’t recall what the original store looked like. If I was betting, not many changes, if any at all. Just so you know, woody look, flat screen tvs, bar area…absolutely no problem with the look of this joint. The problem way back when was the food.

Last night Jeff Eats “tried” fried chicken wings in a sweet tangy sauce, babyback ribs, bbq chicken, french fries, corn nibblets, mashed potatoes. The report—the wings were delicious. the ribs and bbq chicken were also in a “sweet” sauce–the ribs were okay but nothing to get nuts over–the chicken was lousy–trust me, the sauce instead of being sweet had a bitter taste. The french fries were good and the mashed potatoes were delicious. The corn nibblets were okay but nothing special.

Very reasonable prices, good sports bar service.

Would Jeff Eats go back? Definitely not a boisterous-booming YES!!! but more of a lower-case “yes”…that’s assuming Jeff Eats isn’t forced to eat the BBQ chicken– it really was that bad!

As I mentioned a few minutes ago, the first time Jeff Eats was there, the food was horrendous. The second outing, the food was a “mixed bag”…

The way to “treat” Smokey Bones’ food…average at best–sport’s bar stuff.

Smokey Bones is open 7 days a week for lunch & dinner.

***** Tap 42 Bar & Kitchen, 1411 Saint Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316, (954) 463-4900.

Now, it’s really not Jeff Eats’ style to bring you guys into his personal-life, but every so often…

Anyway, Steve W. a dear friend for over 40 years has a line that he mutters—“Woof, man these guys went for the cash.” Now for the tie-in…The other night, I gave Tap 42 Bar & Kitchen a “shot.”—and, if Steve was with me, he definitely would have muttered “Woof, man these guys went for the cash.” No question in my mind that the “guys” who own this joint spent some heavy duty money building an absolutely great looking indoor/outdoor patio seating sports-bar. When you check the joint’s site www.tap42.com for menu/prices-you will also find tons of photos-so you’ll have some idea as to what I’m yapping about…or should I say woofing about!

I think, but I’m not really sure- that most of you regular Jeff Eats’ folks know that I’m really an eater not a drinker. If you check, when I talk about bars/restaurants my focus is on the food with an occasional booze mention. Just so you know, Tap 42 Bar & Kitchen’s focus is on beer and alcohol…for sure- there is food, but my gut tells me, that the packed joint I was at, does a hell of a lot more in liquor sales than food sales. I’m gonna let you drink-experts figure this all out, but Tap 42’s name revolves around the number of beers on tap, throw in tons of bottled beers and other liquors and the joint is definitely moving a ton of liquid. You guys may know better, but my money says that beer and wine drinkers are going to love the selection of stuff.

Let’s talk FOOD…like I said a few seconds ago, Tap’s main “gig” is booze, however the joint’s menu has just- enough appetizers, salads, burgers and entrees so us-eaters don’t feel like decorative wallflowers. Jeff Eats’ recent outing had me trying…buffalo style wings, mac & cheese, bacon-cheeseburger, french fries, pan seared Atlantic salmon. Nothing for nothing, the food was real-good. I especially enjoyed the mac & cheese, burger and fries. Just so we are perfectly straight—don’t expect a mulit-page menu of offerings ala The Cheesecake Factory…The prices aren’t sports bar cheap-cheap—but nothing that’s gonna require you to get a second job. Service is sports-bar friendly, whatever that means!

Great looking joint. Great vibe. Drinkers and non-drinkers a-like will love Tap 42 Bar & Kitchen.

Tap 42 Bar & Kitchen is open Monday-Tuesday 11:30am-1am, Wednesday-Thursday 11;30am-2am, Friday-Saturday 11:30am-3am, Sunday 11am-midnight (people do have to go to work the next day!).

***** Knucklehead Burgers *****

There are things in life that are “certain.”

1. When Jeff Eats buys a stock, the next tick is down.
2. After someone celebrates his or her 100th birthday-the next piece of news about that person ain’t gonna be good.
3. People worry about things happening and most of those things never even happen.

Anyway…

A new fast food burger joint- Knucklehead Burgers, opened this week at 4900 South University Drive, Davie, Florida 33328, (954) 434-0013.

Jeff Eats’ buddies at Burger Beast (www.burgerbeast.com) already-got to Knucklehead Burgers and gave the 40 seater a rave review. Based on Burger Beast’s review, Knucklehead’s cool name/decor (www.knuckleheadsburgers.com) and a 20 minute phone conversation with Adam Knucklehead’s operations manager—Jeff Eats is gonna go out on a limb here and…green-light this joint for you.

Now-only certain things in this life are for certain…but Jeff Eats is feeling real good about Knucklehead. Now of course if Burger Beast’s stellar track record proves not to have been as stellar/certain) as I thought it was, Jeff Eats will have to further scrutinize Burger Beast’s picks a whole lot closer in the future.

I’ve got Knucklehead Burgers on my “to try” list.

If you get there before I do, let me know if my “gut” call on this joint was right or wrong.

Your input will certainly be appreciated.

***** Coffee District, 325 Northeast Avenue, Delray Beach, Florida 33444, (561) 455-0541.

Let’s describe Coffee District as…a 1600sq foot Starbucks type joint with a full boat of wines & beers– breakfast sandwiches, pastries, panini, salads and karaoke starting at 8pm every Friday night.

At this stage of this game check www.mycoffeedistrict.com for menu/prices/events/photos.

As many of you guys know–as hard as I try–Jeff Eats still can’t get his “head” around the concept of a $4-5 cup of coffee…I still remember Brooklyn’s Garfield Cafeteria’s 5 cent-cups —and yes, I know that Rudy Vallee is dead, that Maris hit 61 homers, that Roger Clemons didn’t use steroids and that gas isn’t 29 cents a gallon. Let’s just say, that some things just die-hard.

Anyway…last week I gave Coffee District a shot and I gotta tell you this hybrid coffee-wine & beer concept is very interesting. You coffee drinkers, wine drinkers and beer drinkers will be like foxes in a hen house…the joint has all kinds of coffees, wines, tap and bottled beers. For the “eaters” like me Coffee District’s got a handful of- breakfast sandwiches, pastries, panini, salads, appetizers…not a huge selection, but I will tell you, that the roast beef panini, bacon cheddar flat bread melt, grilled chicken pesto panini were delicious…with a special shout-out to that flat bread melt.

Just so you know…One of the highest compliments that Mrs. Jeff Eats has every paid me and I quote…”You eat like a reincarnated truck driver.”

With “truck driver” being the operative words here—Jeff Eats’ game really is- big greasy burgers, french fries covered in ketchup, pizza, beer battered onion rings, pan fried dumplings, bbq ribs, glazed donuts…not- sitting on a couch nursing a cup of coffee or glass of wine, wi-fiing away, waiting for amateur singers to take center stage. That said, I do appreciate when a CONCEPT is well executed and Coffee District absolutely-positively has the “local non chain-coffee/wine/beer relaxed neighborhood meeting place” concept down to a tee.

The best way to sum Coffee District up…a really good joint to enjoy a casual cup of coffee, beer or wine—and maybe-even bump into Jeff Eats as he has another one of those bacon cheddar flat bread melts.

For the record, Jeff Eats does a mean version of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.”

Coffee District is open Monday-Thursday 7am-10pm, Friday 7am-midnight, Saturday 8am-midnight, Sunday 8am-3pm.

***** Crumbs Bake Shop, Inc. *****

Wanna see how people get “sucked” into a stock?

Crumbs Bake Shop, Inc. (NASDAQ: B-$3.41-A-$3.42).

Crumbs owns and operates 50 or so cupcake stores…33 of those locations are in the NYC metro area.
The Company was founded in 2003.
Based on Jeff Eats’ due-diligence- Crumbs’ business is an absolute disaster…lousy sales and definitely in the “wrong business.”
Since going public on June 15, 2010 Crumbs’ stock has traded in the $2-$16 range.

The way I see this “one”- When Crumbs went public, everyone and their mother thought it was going to be the next Starbuck’s. I guess the thinking was…it sells coffee, cupcakes and other types of pastries…so it’s the next Starbucks. Anyway…since its public debut, you could say the lustre wore off…

Yesterday morning- CRMB which was was trading around 2-bucks a share announced that it had inked a deal with Starbucks to sell Starbucks’ coffee in its stores. That announcement resulted in the stock trading up from $2 to a day high of $3.57.

Personally, I don’t think that the Starbucks’ deal is worth very much. I’ll bet you a nickel that those 33 NYC metro stores are all near an existing Starbucks store. For sure, sales may increase a drop, but if I was a betting man—not that big of an increase to turn a “bad” business into a good one. In addition, I seriously doubt that Starbucks as many are obviously hoping- will buy Crumbs out.

Right now as I “type” CRMB is trading at $3.42.

Regular Jeff Eats readers know that I consider the retail “cupcake” store business to be nothing but a fad. Like a real good game of musical chairs, there aren’t going to be too many winners, if any- when the music stops playing.

The bet here, Crumbs isn’t going to be one of the winners.

If this type of stuff interests you…do some reading-searching…

Crumbs is definitely an interesting read-NOT a stock buy.

***** Slices Pizza & Pasta *****

In recent days Jeff Eats has received 3 extremely favorable e-mails about an Italian joint named Slices Pizza & Pasta, 13750 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Florida 33181, (305) 949-5588—www.allyoucaneatpizzapasta.com. Sounds like Slices might have a very interesting concept going on–sort of like Brazilian “rodizio” which has the waitstaff in an all-you-can-eat deal bringing around 50 different pizzas and 15 different pastas.

To be perfectly honest with you, this is the first time Jeff Eats has heard about this type of “service” in an Italian restaurant setting. Of course-“novel” service doesn’t guarantee that the food is any good.

Anyway…I got Slices on my “to check” list.

If you get there before Jeff Eats does, give me the skinny and I’ll pass it along.

***** Buon Appetito Cafe, 6314 Corporate Court, Fort Myers, Florida 33919, (239) 433-0117.

Last week Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats were visting some friends in Fort Myers-and they took us to dinner at Buon Apetito Cafe…a small, mom & pop, red sauce Italian joint. AND we are really glad that they did. First of all, my buddy picked-up the check and secondly all four of us had a terrific meal.

When you check Buon Appetito Cafe’s website www.buonappetitocafe.com you will find menu/prices/tons of photos and a video.

Buon Appetito is a “rarity” in that it does Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner…When was the last time you saw an Italian joint do-breakfast? Buon Appetito is open Monday-Saturday 9am-9pm, closed on Sunday.

Let’s talk food…large plain pizza ( 16″ -$12)–veal parmigiana ($15)–grouper piccata ($16)–sausage & peppers ($13), penne ala vodka ($13), chocolate cannolli ($2.50). First things first, Buon’s menu isn’t exactly huge, but no question in my mind, everybody in your party is gonna find something real good to eat. The pizza was absolutely delicious. It “looked” like it was coal fired but it wasn’t. It was made on a pizza stone, was well done/thin crusted/crisp/sweet sauce—one of the best pizzas I’ve had in a very long time. The veal parm was real good and only a fork was needed to cut it. The grouper piccata and the sausage & peppers were good but not in the veal or pizza’s league. The penne ala vodka was delicious up there with best of breed. The entrees came with a house salad, a pasta marinara or choice of vegetable… The salad was good and the spaghetti marinara side was really-good. The joint serves a delicious home-made ciabatta and it was perfect for sopping up the penne ala vodka sauce. As for the chocolate cannolli, Jeff Eats never met a chocolate cannolli that he didn’t like…suffice it so say, I loved this home-made one.

If I have my facts straight here, the joint has two owners…Alex Cervasio and Gabe Ermmarino. From what Jeff Eats could tell, they greet every customer coming through the front door and make it their business to stop by every table during the meal. Just so we are on the same page here, this isn’t a gourmet fancy schmantzy joint. It’s small and your tee shirt/shorts/flip flops ensemble will do well here. Nothing for nothing, but when Jeff Eats was there, it seemed like the owners “knew” everybody in the joint. Now, Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats “knew” that we had never been there before—the friendliness and easy-goingness of the owners and staff makes for a real-pleasant time.

Like I said before, Jeff Eats did “dinner.” A review of the breakfast menu finds breakfast sandwiches and omelets—interesting no bagels! The lunch menu is loaded with pizzas, subs, wraps and salads.

If I got one bitch with Buon Appetito Cafe it’s that it isn’t by- my house…kinda a big schlepp to Fort Myers from Boca.

To -all of you folks who live or work in Buon Appetito Cafe’s neighborhood…this joint is a winner…and I’m jealous!

***** Salt Life Food Shack, 2660 North University Drive, Coral Springs, Florida 33065, (954) 340-7258.

Got a really-good casual “American Style” joint for you, Salt Life Food Shack in Coral Springs. Just so you know, the original Salt Life Food Shack is located in Jacksonville and according to the company’s website a third-outpost will soon open in Stuart, Florida.

Last night Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats ate dinner at Salt Life…the Coral Springs joint has been around for something like 4 months…like I said a few seconds ago- a real casual looking restaurant that plays up the “nautical” theme…big fish decorations, outdoor patio/indoor seating. The joint has a full bar and a menu loaded with reasonably priced appetizers, sushi, salads, wings, sandwiches, burgers, meat/chicken/seafood entrees. The menu is “heavy” on seafood stuff, but the selection is so broad—that everybody in your party will find something really good to eat. Check www.saltlifefoodshack.com for menu/prices/tons of photos.

If I got my facts right, Salt Life in Coral Springs is about 6,000sq feet—it use to be a Longhorn Steakhouse. Not sure on the number, but the owners went for some heavy duty cash “building” this joint…check the websites’ photos, it’s a really cool looking joint. Like I said before, real casual, so your tee shirt/shorts/flip flops ensemble will do well here.

Last night Jeff Eats “sampled”…fried chicken wings in a sweet & sour sauce (5 for $4.99), crunch roll (tempura battered tuna-$7.49), 8oz cheeseburger & french fries (Sunday Special $4.99 for the burger and $1.99 for the fries), 1/2 roast chicken with corn on the cob (Sunday Special $9.99), soft shell crab blt ($8.99). No fooling around here…every item was delicious. Really not going to waste my time or yours putiing the “stuff” in some type of pecking order…everything was right on the money. Speaking of money, the prices were very reasonable– especially if you take advantage of the “daily specials” like Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats did last night.

I really enjoyed Salt Life Food Shack… the food is very good, it’s a great looking place, prices are right and the “help” is as pleasant as can be…and for you sports folks—its got a ton of flat screen tvs for you to watch. Just a quick thought, I’m not too thrilled with this year’s Olympics. When I was a kid, we use to root against the Russians, East Germans—but without a Cold War our enemies just aren’t the same—now let’s be serious here, what’s Iran gonna win anyway?

One final thought, when Jeff Eats eats—he watches all kinds of things. Like are the bathrooms clean…just between you and me and the wall, I kinda like to hold things in, if I can- until I’m seated on my own throne…maybe I’m sharing too much information with you—anyway, I noticed that Ian the joint’s GM seemed to vist with every table checking on how things were going. Finally our waitress Erin who-to date has completed 1-year of Nova Law School–made sure that our order came out perfect and that my Coke glass was filled 4-times.

Salt Life Food Shack is open Sunday-Thursday 11;30am-11pm and Friday-Saturday 11:30am-midnight.

***** Silver Pond, 4285 North State Road 7, Lauderdale Lakes, Florida 33319, (954) 486-8885.

Back on December 13, 2006 Jeff Eats did a “story” on Silver Pond a Lauderdale Lakes Chinese joint…suffice it to say, I absolutely hated the food. Well! Almost 6-years have come and gone since that initial-review and during that time Jeff Eats-received numerous positive written and verbal comments about Silver Pond. Many who corresponded, insinuated that Jeff Eats was crazy and that Silver Pond was one of the best, if not THEE BEST Chinese restaurant in South Florida…I will tell you included in THEE BEST group was Brother Jeff Eats and Brother Jeff Eats’ wife, Sister-In-Law Jeff Eats. Now nothing for nothing, Jeff Eats is one tough-cookie…despite that “toughness” last night I finally gave-in and gave Silver Pond another try.

Applying my Brooklyn-Jewish-Chinese taste-test circa 1959…I “sampled” wonton soup, roast pork fried rice, bbq ribs, pan fried dumplings, sweet & sour chicken, sweet & sour pork chops, general tso’s chicken, lobster in garlic sauce, roast duck…

Here’s my “current” take on Silver Pond…the wonton-soup was good, but not great—the roast pork fried rice was good, but I’ve had better—the bbq ribs were delicious, right up there with best of breed—the pan fried dumplings were delicious—the sweet & sour chicken was very good—the sweet & sour pork chops were delicious—the general tso’s chicken wasn’t too good—the lobster in garlic sauce was delicious—the roast duck was delicious.

Would I go back? Absolutely! Can’t really give you an answer as to why my 2006 and 2012 “opinions” are so diametrically opposed. What I do know, is that when I ate there in 2006 the food stunk…I also know, that last night’s meal was very-very good. Go figure!

I think, actually I know that if you do a simple Silver Pond “search”—you will find numerous “comments”—that the joint has 2- menus, one in English and one in Chinese—that this is a “real” Hong Kong Style Chinese Restaurant—that this is an “authentic” Chinese restaurant not some Cantonese fast food joint—that the joint is always jammed with Chinese people eating there…for what it’s worth, Jeff Eats learned a long-long time ago that South Florida is loaded with balmalochas (for those who don’t know, balmalochas is the sarcastic yiddish term for “experts”)! For what it’s worth, most people (Jeff Eats included) don’t have a clue as to what good Hong Kong Chinese food is all about. Hell! I can’t even figure out how to use a pair of chopsticks. What I do know, is that my Brooklyn sensibilities tell-me, that I enjoyed almost every dish I had, the prices were “mom & pop” Chinese restaurant reasonable, there was a ton of food, the service was just fine, that I enjoyed eating with my family and that Brother Jeff Eats picked up the check!

In closing, Jeff Eats is really glad that he was “talked” into trying Silver Pond again.

Silver Pond is open Monday, Wednesday-Friday 11:30am-midnight, Saturday-Sunday noon-midnight, closed on Tuesday.

***** 1st Street Deli, 5550 Northwest 40th Street, Coconut Creek, Florida 33073, (954) 977-6700.

The 1st Street Deli is located inside the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek in Coconut Creek. Great looking joint, with table/booth/counter seating…looks like a NYC “kosher style” deli circa 1960…in addition, part of the “store” has an- The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Company outlet (check Jeff Eats 8/11/09 review for Delray Beach location).

Just so you know, Jeff Eats always treats casino “restaurants” with a jaundiced eye…is the food any good? are the prices outrageous? is this just a tourist trap?

Got some good news for you on 1st Street Deli…

Tried 1st Street Deli the other night for dinner…matzo ball soup (bowl-$4.95), potato pancake appetizer (3 pancakes $5.95), pastrami on rye (with french fries $12.95), salad trio (1-scoop each of chicken salad, egg salad, tuna salad-$10.95), 8oz cheeseburger with french fries $11.95)—everything was A-OK! As a point of reference, I know a lot of you guys eat in Too Jay’s Gourmet Deli…the food at 1st Street Deli is better than Too Jay’s stuff (see Jeff Eats’ Too Jay’s review 3/28/09)…as a matter of fact, 1st Street Deli’s food is as good as the stuff served at most of the better bagel joints and New York Kosher Style Delis down here in sunny South Florida. For the record, although very good, 1st Street Deli’s food isn’t quite in the same league (although not by much) as TOP delis like the Pomperdale, Zinger’s or Ben’s (if you like, you can check Jeff Eats’ reviews for these 3 joints, if not, not!) On the pricing front, maybe a “drop” higher here and there-than your favorite bagel joint, but nothing that’s glaring…besides, if you spend the money on food, you won’t have to waste time “losing” it playing the slots—in any event, the Indians are gonna get the cash no matter how you slice it.

Check www.seminolecoconutcreekcasino.com for menu/prices.

One final thought, if you checked my review on The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Company you’d know that it makes some real-good bagels. That said, I think that a bakers dozen at the Casino’s location fetches something like 14 bucks—now that’s a rip-off. One other thing on The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Company, the casino’s website says that the “bagel” store is open from 6am-11pm–but when I was there at 9:30pm it “appeared” to be closed and its bagel display bins were totally empty…not good!

1st Street Deli is open 7 days a week 11am-11pm.
The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Company is open 7 days a week 6am-11pm.