***** I Just Don’t Get It-Do You? *****

For your consideration, Jeff Eats has reprinted a PR piece that he recently received from Rapoport’s Restaurant Group.

“Esteemed Restaurateur Burt Rapoport, founder of Rapoport’s Restaurant Group, is giving back to the local community and kicking off the summer season in South Florida by celebrating his 2013 ‘Dream Big Small Business of the Year’ recognition by the United States Chamber of Commerce with a fun filled community event for all ages from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 11th at the all new Delray Marketplace Amphitheater.
Headlined by original Beach Boy Founder David Marks and the Surf City Allstars, the charity concert and evening of food, drink and live entertainment will directly benefit two local 501(c)(3) organizations, Boca Raton’s Golden Bell Education Foundation and the Achievement Centers of Delray Beach. The entire community is involved to “Surf into Summer” and enjoy the festivities. This will be the first official concert held at the amphitheater.
The charity concert is a way for Rapoport to thank their loyal customers while giving back to the local community and The Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce. Without their support, Rapoport’s Restaurant Group would not have been nominated and selected one of seven regional finalists out of over 1,000 applicants for the 2013 DREAM BIG Small Business of the Year.”
Contact Rapoport’s at 561.826.1790 for sponsorship opportunities!
For more information, please visit www.rapoportsrg.com/surf
*****
Now I maybe dead wrong here, but when I first read “this”…it seemed to me that Rapoport’s was throwing a FREE EVENT for the community. I figured that, Rapoport’s was really doing “this” to promote its brand new restaurant Burt & Max’s which recently opened in the Delray Marketplace in Delray Beach. Between you, me and the bedpost—it sounded like a great public event and a great way for Burt & Max’s to advertise itself.

Low and behold as I later learned…this isn’t a free anything. Tickets are $30, $60, $100, Kids under 12 are $10…with a ticket you do get 2 drinks and some food samplings.

Look, nothing for nothing…Jeff Eats has been in the entertainment/music industry for over 45 years. For what it’s worth, the Surf City Allstars are very good, but trust me, they ain’t The Beach Boys. This group is basically just a TRIBUTE BAND that for this date- is being fronted by David Marks who was an original member of The Beach Boys who was “fired” early on in their career.. What I’m trying to tell you is, that an act like this- (unless some booking agent totally robbed the sponsors of this “event”) is not an expensive band to book. Now, there are all kinds of “booking” considerations—but Jeff Eats has seen Beach Boys’ tribute acts in South Florida who play at the level of the Surf City All Stars (if not better) and they were priced in the $1,250-$2,500 range. Not that it really matters, the members of the Surf City Allstars use various configurations and band names such as Califonia Surf Inc. “cashing in” on their claimed Beach Boys’ connections.

All Jeff Eats can say is…Rapoport’s Restaurant Group you really do yourself a disservice when you write and claim and I quote–“The charity concert is a way for Rapoport to thank their loyal customers while giving back to the local community…”

The way you THANK LOYAL CUSTOMERS and GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY is by throwing a FREE CONCERT…not charging $30-$60-$100-$10 to see a TRIBUTE BAND that- if you know what you are doing can be bought “dirt cheap.”–and you write a decent sized check to the charities you linked up with.

Now, Jeff Eats hasn’t checked the “books”—but my money says that this “event” if all goes to (its) plan—won’t cost the Rapoport’s Restaurant Group one red cent.

One final note…as you guys know–Jeff Eats wasn’t too impressed with the Delray Marketplace (2/26/13 Delray Marketplace)…for the record, I thought that its amphitheater was extremely amateurish looking. If I recall the setup correctly, I am almost positive that you can see the stage without sitting/standing on the theater’s grass. With that in mind, unless Rapoport’s constructs a huge-high barrier around the perimeter, you should, if you want-see the band from the “mall’s” general areas. For sure, you will definitely be able to hear the music from the general areas.

To: Rapoport’s Restaurant Group:
You should be ashamed of yourself promoting this event as being a community event.
Call it what it really is.
You are staging an event to promote your new restaurant…you are charging for tickets…you are tying a charity into the event.
AND “your loyal customers” and “the community” who don’t pay for a ticket CAN’T COME!

I Just Don’t Get It-Do You?

**Between you and me, Jeff Eats GOT IT and I know you GOT IT.

* PDQ (Oakland Park, West Palm Beach, Tampa).

Just a quick heads-up…Jeff Eats is “hearing” tremendous things about a brand new-fast food chicken chain PDQ which currently has 4 Tampa/1 Oakland Park/1 West Palm Beach/2 North Carolina locations.

Haven’t tried the joint out yet, but some buddies of mine-told Jeff Eats that PDQ (Oakland Park) makes amazingly delicious grilled chicken/fried chicken tenders/turkey/salads/fries/shakes. One caveat, three of those buddies way back when- thought that the Edsel was going to be a homerun and the fourth guy to this very day-claims that aliens abducted him in 1989.

As I mentioned 4 seconds ago, there is one location in Oakland Park…this coming Sunday-May 5th, PDQ is opening a second South Florida location in West Palm Beach.

Check www.www.eatpdq.com for menu/locations.

For what it’s worth–the chain is owned by one of the guys who created the Outback Steakhouse chain. Nothing for nothing, a few quick conversations with a handful of fast food/casual restaurant developers–had them figuring that PDQ had a real shot to develop into a major chain. The consensus was, that PDQ may appeal to a huge segment of Chik-fil-A’s customer base that is looking for a more diversified menu. Throw in 4,500 square foot stores/with drive thrus that are open on Sunday—and just maybe, PDQ has the formula to be a homerun-chain.

Jeff Eats is gonna check this one out…if you get there before I do, let me know what you think.

***** The Last 5 *****

List the last 5 South Florida restaurants that you ate in…

***** Valentino’s Italian Cuisine, 427 South Federal Highway, Pompano Beach, Florida 33062, (954) 545-4881.

Got something really good for you guys, Valentino’s Italian Cuisine…a Pompano Beach- red sauce Italian “hole in the wall” wedged in-between a Starbucks and a Tijuana Flats.

Last night, Jeff Eats really didn’t do a head-count, but I’m thinking about 30 seats inside and 40 seats outside…the outdoor patio which faces Federal Highway is shared by all three restaurants -each restaurant has distinctively marked seating. As for Valentino’s inside décor…the obligatory Goodfellas’ posters, large standard pizza oven, large brass colored cappuccino machine, dark wood tones—no kidding around- a very cool looking joint.

Another no-kidding around- Valentino’s is owned and operated by a guy originally from the Bronx named Rudolph Valentino. For you “youngsters” out there, Rudolph Valentino (not the owner of this joint) was a famous movie actor back in the day–when motion pictures had no sound. Totally off topic, but did you guys know that Fred Astaire Dance Studios still has locations all over the United States? Amazingly, there is one in a second floor loft in east-Boca Raton…For those of you “not following” the Astaire commentary, Fred use to dance with Cyd Charise—but that’s whole nother story.

Anyway…Jeff Eats, Mrs. Jeff Eats and another couple “ordered” 16″ large plain pizza ($12.75), eggplant parmigiana (garlic rolls, soup or salad, pasta side–$9.85), chicken parmigiana sub ($7.50), lasagna bolognese (garlic rolls, soup or salad–$12.95)…and I gotta tell you-the food was absolutely delicious. Trust me on this–every item ordered, was as good as the stuff served by South Florida’s best “red sauce” players. The joint’s portions were large and dirt-cheap. For those of you who like garlic rolls, Valentino’s were dynamite—and a complimentary order of sauteed green-beans (not on the menu) received rave reviews from Mrs. Jeff Eats and her girlfriend Judy. While you guys are still here, let me briefly mention the pizza…From what I understand, there are 3 chefs in the back of the house–but all pizzas are made by Rudy Valentino right in front of the customers. As he explained…”I’ll make you whatever you want, but my signature pie is a thick crust with the rest of the pizza being very thin and crispy.” For what it’s worth, when the pie was delivered to our table it looked “amazing”…just as Rudy said—a thick crust (sort of like a deep dish look) with a fabulous sweet sauce/thin crispy “triangle.”

At this stage of the game, you can check www.valentinositaliancuisine.com for menu/prices.

For a little more “color”—Valentino’s has been open something like 4-months and in addition to pies- sells pizza by the slice. All of its desserts are made in-house. Some of you guys maybe wondering why Jeff Eats & Company didn’t “get” dessert…long story short, literally minutes before eating at Valentino’s we had picked up 2 dozen freshly baked donuts from The Dandee Donut Factory which is right around the corner from Valentino’s, blah blah, blah!

What Jeff Eats found particularly interesting, was that Valentino’s is open Sunday-Thursday 11am-midnight and Friday-Saturday 11am-2am…apparently, Mr. Valentino is looking to build a late night crowd.

Valentino’s is a real good one…do yourself a big favor and give it a shot. The bet here, is that you won’t be disappointed…

Jeff Eats does have one “bitch” about the joint…on both its menu and website, Valentino’s prominently features the saying “You’ve tried the rest…now try the Best!”- hey Rudy, for crying out loud-that saying is as worn as my 89 year old Aunt Joanie’s house dress…I know I ain’t got no skin in this game, but I’d lose the phrase. You got a spanking new -great looking joint with terrific food and YOU got me thinking about my Aunt Joanie’s house dress- capice!

Finally…

For you tourists out there–your tee shirt/shorts/flip flop ensembles will work perfectly at Valentino’s Italian Cuisine.

***** Okey-Dokey Grocery Markets *****

If you’re like Mrs. Jeff Eats “grocery shopping” in South Florida is basically Publix, Target, Costco and Brothers Farmers Market in Boynton Beach. As far as she is concerned, Winn Dixie…too shabby-dirty looking. Walmart…too “bright-sterile looking. Whole Foods…too expensive and full of itself.

If you “are” on the same page as Mrs. Jeff Eats I got something that may interest you…Okey-Dokey Grocery Markets. A year or so-old chain with stores that run about 7,500 square feet. For those non-builders out there your “small” Publix probably runs about 30,00 square feet…

For right now, Okey has 11 South Florida locations…with 10 more scheduled to open in the next few months.

You can check www.okeydokeymarkets.com for locations/products/daily specials.

I’m not going to kill time telling you guys about how compeitive/small margined the grocery business is. If you are interested you can “search” Okey-Dokey Grocery Markets and you’ll find a billion articles about this “new” chain and the Russian billionaires who are behind the business.

Now assuming that these “guys” aren’t washing-money or doing some other nefarious things…

Jeff Eats absolutely loved the “small” grocery store concept that he and Mrs. Jeff Eats just happened-into in Hollywood, Florida the other day. Now nothing for nothing, Coca Cola 2 liter sodas $.97 vs. Walmart’s Deerfield Beach store’s $1.38…Blue Bell chocolate ice cream 64oz. $4.99 vs. Walmart’s Deerfield Beach store’s $6.28.

Now, Jeff Eats knows and you know that…you get way more products into 30,000 sq. feet than you do in 7,500 sq. feet…and you get even more products in those “billion” sq. foot super stores that help make up the Publix, Walmart, Target, Costco empires—the point of this exercise, is that there is an alternative to the huge-box stores where you can find very competitive prices.

On a final note…Jeff Eats hasn’t yet figured out how this “newcomer” plans to successfully challenge the major grocery chains in South Florida. This one should be interesting to follow…

By the way…The savings on the above mentioned items almost paid for a 1/2 gallon of gas… You guys can run the numbers!

***** Internet Sales Tax *****

I was just reading an article on the AP Wire that the United States Senate with the backing of the Obama Administration is working on a bill which will require internet vendors to collect state sales tax. You- the customer will be charged a sales tax rate based on where you reside. According to the article, businesses that gross $1,000,000 or less will be exempt from having to collect the sales tax. It’s anyone’s guess if this bill will get through the Senate and if it does-through the House of Representatives.

What do you guys think of internet purchases being subject to sales tax?

***** Sushigami *****

Yesterday afternoon Jeff Eats was in Sawgrass Mills, 12801 West Sunrise Boulevard, Sunrise, Florida 33323 and came across a fast food concept that I thought you guys might like to know about…Sushigami (954–835-9070). For you folks out there who don’t know what Sawgrass Mills is…just imagine every regional mall and discount outlet in the world under one roof. For a point of reference Sushigami is located right in front of the Forever 21 store.

Anyway…

While walking around this seemingly endless mall, Jeff Eats spotted Sushigami a fast-food sushi joint and it “blew” me away…Picture a huge oval counter with seating—in the middle of the oval is an open sushi kitchen where you can “see” the prep work…running along the entire counter is a conveyor-belt system which delivers various sushi/food items to seated customers…customers pick what they want by removing item(s) from the conveyor belt…the items’ plates are colored coded and there is a wait-staff that roams the perimeter billing customers based on the number of plates selected and the plates’ respective colors.

Trust me on this one, this Sushigami “thing” was really cool…at 4pm on a Sunday it was jammed with people waiting to get a counter seat. Jeff Eats didn’t count the seats- but I’m gonna guess that there were at least 75. Rather than my knocking myself trying to fully explain Sushigami– take a look at www.simon.com/mall/sawgrassmills/stores/sushigami there are a whole bunch of photos and you do know what they say about one picture, don’t you?…For those who don’t–and I quote…”One picture is worth a thousand words.”

Let me close by saying…

Jeff Eats- eats and has eaten all over South Florida. I’ve been to all kinds of food joints…I’ve heard and read about countless restaurant business concepts…

I just want you guys to know, that Sushigami was one of the most creative-dynamic fast food businesses I’ve seen in a very long time. For sure, this concept can’t be plopped down just anywhere, but in the right high-traffic location- this business will find a gigantic customer base.

Just so you know, Jeff Eats didn’t “try” Sushigami’s food… I briefly look at its color-coded menu–but in all honesty, it was the joint’s physical layout and creativity that really caught my eye.

One final caveat, Jeff Eats is smart enough to know that…

If Sushigami’s food isn’t good and priced right…no matter how cool the stainless steel conveyor-belt looks, it will end up as scrap metal in some yard-somewhere!

***** Massage Haven *****

Just got back from the Sawgrass Mills Mall in Sunrise, Florida…and I want to tell you guys about something that I saw…

Around 3:30pm Jeff Eats was in the malls’ The Market Food Court and noticed that right in front of the Auntie Anne’s Pretzel and Haagen Daz “stands” an Asian massage “parlor” named Massage Haven had setup shop…with 5 back-rub chairs and 2 lounge chairs for foot massages. Three of the back-rub chairs had customers and both lounge chairs had customers getting sock-less foot massages.

Look! Jeff Eats has long been a subscriber to the “5 Seconds Rule”…that being, if you drop food on the floor–and pick it up within 5 seconds, you can still eat it and don’t have to throw it away. The point being, for me to have found those foot massages to be DISGUSTING must mean that they were DISGUSTING.

To the owner of the Sawgrass Mill Mall:
What the Hell is wrong with you? People eat in that food court. Nobody (I think) after picking up a couple of Nathans hot dogs and a large order of french fries wants to be forced to watch some 57 year old Swedish guy from Switzerland get his dirty calloused feet rubbed by some Asian guy.

In all seriousness, this massage “thing” in a food-court should be a non-starter.

***** Shake Shack, 1400 Glades Road, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, (561) 923-0847.

Before Jeff Eats gets started here…let me state without equivocation- I’m not a shill for “gourmet” fast-food burger chain Shake Shack. Unfortunately, I don’t “have” a piece of this deal.

With that out of the way, let me reprint the two articles that Jeff Eats has already run on this up and coming chain.

***August 1, 2010
Shake Shack… “order at/pickup at counter”…burgers, fries, hot dogs, custard, shakes.
There are 5 Shake Shacks in New York City…1-in Saratoga, New York…1-in Miami, Florida.
This is “fast food” at its best.
Check www.shakeshacknyc.com for menu/prices/locations/pictures.
The next time you are down in South Beach, this joint is an absolute-must-try…Just so you know, Shake Shack has a cult-like-following…so don’t be surprised by some heavy duty crowds and lines.
Shake Shack is open Sunday-Thursday 11:30am-midnight, Friday-Saturday 11:30am-1am.
***August 12, 2012
Back on August 1, 2010 Jeff Eats told you about Shake Shack which had just opened in South Beach..
In that “review”–I told you guys that Shake Shack a fast-food burger joint was “fast food at its best.”
Regular Jeff Eats readers know, that there is no doubt in my mind- that the fast-food burger “business” is totally oversaturated with players—that one day, in the very near future-this gigantic game of musical chairs is gonna end very badly for most of them. There is also no question in my mind, that when all is said and done, Shake Shack will be one of the few players left standing.
————–
This evening, Jeff Eats, Mrs. Jeff Eats, and another couple “attended” a “Friends & Family Practice” at the newest Shake Shack which is scheduled to open in Boca Raton at 11am this coming Monday–April 22, 2013. We were there roughly from 6:45 pm to 8pm and I would guess that something like 150 got to try Shake Shacks’ stuff… being a party of four, we made sure to order all types of “items”— double cheeseburger, french fries, cheese french fries, grilled hot dog, chocolate custard cone, coffee shake, chocolate toffee “concrete” (think Dairy Queen’s Blizzard and you’ll be on the right page), grilled chicken dog,

Let Jeff Eats make this as simple and as clear as possible…Shake Shacks’ food is delicious. That said, to give you guys a fair shake (pun intended)-the only item that needs improving are the french fries…Shake Shack uses a “frozen” product which is good but it’s definitely not on the same level as the “fresh” cut fries that competitors like Five Guys and BurgerFi turn-out.

As I mentioned 3 seconds ago, this “practice” session was held in the new Boca Raton store. Talk about a great location—Shake Shack’s free standing building (which has both indoor and outdoor covered patio seating) is located right across the road from FAU’s campus and is in walking distance of Boca Raton High School, a half-dozen hotels, Boca Town Center and loads of office buildings. At this stage of the conversation check www.shakeshack.com for menu/prices/locations and loads of photos that will give you some idea as to what this really cool joint looks like.

Normally on his sojourns, Jeff Eats doesn’t sit/stand around talking to a joint’s management…that said, the “Friends & Family Practice” presented an opportunity to chat with Zachary Koff (VP of Operations), Greg Waters (Manager, Marketing & Communications), Josh (Boca’s Assistant General Manager), Dustin (Boca’s General Manager) and Peggy (Director of Training)…suffice it to say, those conversations made it quite obvious why Shake Shack is such a well-run business. No crapping around here, these folks know the fast food business inside and out and seem to have one single goal–that being to present the guest with an outstanding dining experience. Secure in the fact that I’m not a Shake Shack shill—Jeff Eats is telling you that my fast food operations background with Hardees, Discovery Zone and Johnny Rocket’s—kinda gives me a real good point of reference on how things are suppose to work…and Shake Shack comes as close to operational perfection as I’ve seen on the fast food level.

Let me end this thing by saying…

If you like burgers/hot dogs/fries/shakes and haven’t been to a Shake Shack (which currently has… 9 New York, 2 Connecticut, 3 Florida, 2 Washington DC, 1 Massachusetts, 1 Pennsylvania locations) you now have 3 South Florida locations to try and— find out if Jeff Eats knows what he’s talking about or is just a blabbering idiot.

***One final note, to Shake Shacks’ management do Jeff Eats a huge-gigantic favor and add a chicken burger to the menu…so he can get Mrs. Jeff Eats off his ass. Thanks,

Butcher & The Burger, 6000 Glades Road (Boca Town Center), Boca Raton, Florida 33431, (561) 416-5554.

Do you know what the saying “Dead on Arrival” means? Sure you do!

Last night Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats went to Boca Town Center to “try-out” Butcher & The Burger a new “gourmet” fast food burger joint which opened a couple of days ago in the mall’s food court.

For color, Jeff Eats was following up on a “tip” from Son Jeff Eats who had recently eaten in the Butcher & The Burger located in Chicago. Son Jeff Eats had reported delicious burgers/hand-cut fresh French fries/shakes. For the record, Butcher & The Burger has 1-free standing store in Chicago and the Boca outpost is its second outing.

Now, you guys know that Jeff Eats is a simple guy (I know what some of you are now thinking)…anyway-I was looking for a cheeseburger/French fries/Coke. According to the joint’s sign-board, that trio would have cost Jeff Eats $8.95 for the burger, $4.25 for the fries (small order) and Coke—throw in 6% sales tax and Jeff Eats’ meal would have run $13.99—Mrs. Jeff Eats’ turkey burger-side salad-Diet Coke would have run $13.78 (she has always been a cheap date). The owners of this joint must be kidding! For crying out loud, this is a food court fast food outing—$27.77 for this meal is absurd.

Just a word to the wise, if Jeff Eats thinks that Butcher & The Burger’s prices are too high—go to the bank-that most folks walking around that food court are gonna think the same thing.

DOA!!!

Let me wrap this one up for you…

Butcher & The Burger may have delicious food…but this meal didn’t “happen” because of price. One other thing that caught my eye, Butcher & The Burger’s shakes run $6.50—while Chik-fil-A (in the next-door booth) gets $3.69 for its shakes (yes! I know that you can’t get Chik’s shakes on Sunday)…

Butcher & The Burger is opened 7 days a week during mall hours.

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