***** Christina’s Cafe Restaurant, 2201 East Atlantic Boulevard, Pompano Beach, Florida 33062, (954) 782-2160.

I don’t know what it is, but all of a sudden Jeff Eats “got” a huge craving for “Greek” food…Could be the Telly Savales’ “Kojak” cable tv-reruns recently discovered—then again, I haven’t had an overwhelming urge for Tootsie Roll Pops…so, who knows.

Anyway…Got a really good Greek joint for you…Christina’s Cafe Restaurant in Pompano Beach. You can check menu/prices/photos at www.christinas-cafe.com.

Recently did two dinners at this joint…absolutely delicious- grilled lamb chops, gyro, pastichio, grilled salmon, beef kabob, chicken kabob, loukanika, crab cakes, moussaka. To be perfectly honest with you, there wasn’t-one single dish that wasn’t right on the money.

There really isn’t too much more to say about Christina’s…delicious food, reasonable prices, huge portions, super friendly-competent staff.

Christina’s is open Monday-Friday 11am-9:30pm and Saturday-Sunday 4pm-9:30pm.

***** Kosta’s Greek Eatery, 5024 North Federal Highway, Lighthouse Point, Florida 33064, (954) 571-3842.

Got a real-good- casual-Greek joint for you…Kosta’s Greek Eatery in Lighthouse Point.
Check menu/prices/photos at www.kostasgreekeatery.com.

Tried Kosta’s for dinner the other night… delicious, chicken and pork souvlaki–pastitso–moussaka–grilled lamb chops.

I really enjoyed Kosta’s. The food was terrific and the service was as friendly as could be.

Just so you know, Jeff Eats ate there last Saturday night arriving around 8pm. The joint was jammed with something like a (no big deal) 20 minute wait…I did notice, that the staff appeared to “know” many of the customers, so I’m gonna-figure that Kosta’s has a huge local following.

This joint is a winner. If casual-Greek stuff is your game…play Kosta’s Greek Eatery.

Kosta’s is open for lunch Tuesday-Friday 11:30am-2pm and for dinner Tuesday-Thursday & Sunday 4:30pm-9:30pm and Friday-Saturday 4:30pm-10:30pm…the joint is closed on Monday.

***** Yard House, 601 Silks Run, Hallandale Beach, Florida 33009, (954) 454-9950.

Way back when–1/28/08, Jeff Eats did a writeup on an “American Style” joint, Yard House located in Palm Beach Gardens. Think- Cheesecake Factory, J Alexander’s, Houston’s…and you’ll know exactly what this chain’s game is all about. This chain’s “gimmick”- its got something like 8,000,000 different beers. Since that 1/28/08 recommendation, I’ve eaten in the Palm Beach Gardens’ location 3 times and twice in their Scottsdale, Arizona joint.

For right now, there are 3 Florida locations, Palm Beach Gardens, Coral Gables and Hallandale Beach–which I tried yesterday for lunch. At this stage of the review, you can check www.yardhouse.com for menu/other details.

Just so you know, the Hallandale-Yard House is located in The Village At Gulf Stream. The Village, is a large outdoor retail complex connected to the Gulfstream Racing & Casino “thing.”. This complex has a number of restaurants, boutiques and chain operations such as The Container Store and Pier 1 Imports.

Not to bash The Village, but this is a train wreck waiting to happen. Yesterday afternoon, the track and casino were busy. The Yard House was packed both inside and outside on its dining patio…the rest of the complex was like a freaking ghost-town. Mark- Jeff Eats’ words, this “center” hasn’t got a chance in hell…the boutiques all look alike…the merchandise is repetitious…and- every Tom, Dick & Harry Mall in Florida has the same stuff. If The Village doesn’t get a huge movie-complex in there and unique stuff, like an upscale bowling-night club and other retail businesses that aren’t duplicates and clones…the whole joint is gonna collapse.

Now back to the Yard House. Let me make this simple, I love joints like this. Good burgers, fries, onion rings, mac & cheese, decent enough babyback ribs, tv sets, energetic waiters and waitresses, cool classic rock music (maybe a decibel or two-too high), reasonable prices, great looking dark-wood decor, large outdoor patio with tvs, consistency–all of my “outings” foodwise were real-good.

If you like “upscale” sports-bars…you are gonna love Yard House.

Yard House is open Sunday-Thursday 11am-12:30am and Friday-Saturday 11am-1:30pm.

***** Pastrami Princess, 4690 North State Road 7, Coconut Creek, Florida 33073, (954) 968-3020.

On March 9, 2011- I did a “story” on Pastrami Princess. In a nutshell, Pastrami Princess is owned/operated by the same people that owned/operated NYC’s famous Pastrami King and Boca Raton’s Pastrami Queen. Without going into the “politics” of this business, let me just say that if you want-to-eat outstanding New York Kosher Style Deli stuff, you must try Pastrami Princess which opened last Tuesday in Coconut Creek.

For “rave” Pastrami Queen reviews, check Jeff Eats “Pastrami Queen” (12/12/08) and “Real NY Style Delis” (8/27/09)—while you are reading take a look at the enormous number of positive reader-comments that were received.

Last night, I “did” dinner at Pastrami Princess. Delicious pastrami, corned beef, roast beef, turkey off the bone, roast chicken, chicken in the pot, stuffed derma.

Once again, if you are looking for real-McCoy deli stuff…Pastrami Princess is for you.

The joint does breakfast-lunch-dinner and is open 7 days a week 7am-9pm.

***** Pastrami Princess, 4690 North State Road 7, Coconut Creek, Florida 33073, (954) 968-3020.

Here’s a heavy-duty heads-up…Pastrami Princess, a New York Kosher Style Deli opened 2- days ago in Coral Springs. Don’t have all of the details, but Pastrami Princess is the “brainchild” of the former owner of NYC’s famous Pastrami King and a former owner of Boca’s- Pastrami Queen which recently closed because of “family problems.”

What I do know, is that Pastrami King and Pastrami Queen were both outrageously good and I do mean outrageously good delis. If Pastrami Princess is half as good as the King and Queen locations were…deli lovers like me, will have a new joint to call “home”…

Check my “Pastrami Queen” review (12/12/08) and my “Real NY Style Delis” review (8/27/09) — and you’ll find that Jeff Eats thought that Pastrami Queen was off-the-charts.

I’ll review Pastrami Princess which is open 7 days a week for breakfast-lunch-dinner—after I’ve eaten there.

***** Fusilli Ristorante, 9617 Westview Drive, Coral Springs, Florida 33076, (954) 344-0443.

It’s joints like Fusilli, that year in and year out—destroy my New Year’s resolution to lose weight. Here it is, not even 3 months into the new year and I gotta order some new Spanx tee shirts/briefs. But, you gotta do what you gotta do!

Fusilli Ristorante is a terrific–mom & pop–red sauce Italian joint in Coral Springs. Check www.fusillis.co/ for menu/prices/coupons/loads of pictures. The joint is owned by a guy named Joey Scarfuto (What did you expect, Heshey Glickman?)—take it from me, this guy knows how to run an Italian restaurant.

Now you guys know, or should know by now, that I’ve been in more South Florida Italian joints, than there are chins in a Chinese phonebook. With that in mind, let me tell you, that Fusilli is right up there with the best that I’ve hit during the past 20 years. Just so we are straight, although Fusilli may have white-tablecloths, your tee shirt/shorts/rhinestone flip flop ensemble is gonna work just fine, there. For you folks who are into soup or/salad–garlic rolls–entree–pasta deals, don’t worry, Fusilli’s menu is loaded with them. There are also early-bird specials and a Sunday buffet thing.

A few weeks ago, I did a lunch and dinner—First let me tell you, that Fusilli makes one of the best NY-style pizzas that I’ve had in a very-very long time. An extra large 18″-thin crusted/sweet sauce ran me 14 bucks. Like I just said, this pie was right up there with the 15-cent slices- I use to get on my way home from Erasmus Hall High School 1963-1966. On the dinner front I “did”—penne alla vodka ($15), zuppa de pesce ($26), chicken marsala ($16), veal parmigiana ($17), fettuccine alfredo ($13)…every dish was delicious. Special shoutout to, “$9 appetizer” 1-dozen garlic rolls stuffed with sausage and pepperoni.

Fusilli’s is a winner. Terrific food, nice portions, pleasant service, great looking decor (look at the photos on its website), reasonable prices.

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

***** Nino’s Of Boca II, 1930 Northeast 5th Avenue, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, (561) 362-8990.

Some guys, really know how to do things right…

Way back when, on March 20, 2008, I told you folks about Nino’s a “mom & pop” red sauce Italian joint with 2-locations, Boca Raton and Delray Beach. Since that “review”—a partnership breakup-had one partner getting Delray and the other getting Boca. To save you the trouble of re-reading that writeup, in a nutshell, I said, that the food was outrageously delicious, with the Boca store a bit stronger than the Delray location.

Anyway…about 2 -weeks ago, the Boca “partner” (I know-that this is getting confusing, but hang in there—I’m almost done) opened a new location, Nino’s of Boca II in Boca Raton. I tried the joint last Saturday night— same great food, huge portions, terrific service. The new location’s GM, Kathy (she worked in the original Boca location for 18 years) has the place running perfectly.

Just so you know, in addition to excellent thin-crust pizza, Nino’s makes a veal chop parmigiana (20 bucks) and a chicken on the bone scarpariello ($17)- which will literally knock your socks off…I can’t recall another “mom & popper” down here, that even comes close on these two dishes.

Trust- old Jeff Eats on this…if I edited Webster’s— under “terrific- South Florida-mom & pop-red sauce-Italian-joints” both of Nino’s Boca locations would be listed.

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

Nino’s Of Boca II is open Monday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm and Sunday noon-10pm.

***** How To Win Friends And Influence People-Jacob’s Restaurant & Delicatessen (Boynton Beach)

Way back- on July 17, 2009 Jeff Eats did a writeup on a bagel-deli joint…Jacob’s Restaurant & Delicatessen located in Boynton Beach. The review was neither here nor there. Anyway…

Earlier today, I received the following e-mail from Elaine- who is apparently Jacob’s owner.

“JEFF, MAYBE YOU SHOULD COME BACK TO JACOBS DELI IN BOYNTON AND TRY US AGAIN. MAYBE YOU HAD A BAD TASTE IN YOUR MOUTH BEFORE YOU CAME TO EAT. AFTER 15 YEARS IN BUSINESS AT THIS LOCATION MAYBE YOU ARE THE ODD BALL WHO CANT TELL GOOD FROM BAD. WE HAD MANY BUSINESSES IN MANHATTAN AND ONE VERY FAMOUS ONE CALLED THE COURT DELI ACROSS FROM THE BRONX SUPREME COURT AND JUST 2 BLOCKS FROM YANKEE STADIUM. YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW MUCH EXPERIENCE WE HAVE IN THIS BUSINESS AND YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A BLOGGER WHO KNOWS NOTHING EXCEPT WHAT YOU ARE GIVEN FOR A GOOD REVIEW. RUVENS WILL GO JUST AS THE OTHER 3 OR 4 BEFORE HIM IN THAT LOCATION. WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS AND WHO SURVIVES AND YOU WILL KNOW THAT YOUR REVIEWS CARRY NO WEIGHT AT ALL, ALSO, WHAT MAKES YOU A FOOD EXPERT. TELL ME WHAT YOUR QUALIFICATIONS ARE BESIDES BEING FROM BROOKLYN. LETS SEE IF YOU CAN RESPOND TO THAT LAST QUESTION, OTHERWISE YOU ARE A NOBODY IN THE FOOD BUSINESS”

Just wanted to share with you, the perfect example of: “How To Win Friends And Influence People” is done.

***** Capriccio’s Ristorante, 2424 North University Drive, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33024 (954) 432-7001.

Got a really-good “semi” upscale Italian joint for you —Capriccio’s Ristorante in Pembroke Pines. Check www.capriccios.net for menu/prices—there are also loads of photos, so you’ll know exactly what Capriccio’s looks like. On that “semi” thing—white table-cloths etc., but, I think that your tee shirt/shorts ensemble can sneak by… I definitely wouldn’t temp the fates on a Saturday night, with rhinestone studded flip-flops.

I’m figuring, you haven’t-just yet, gone to the above referenced website. So, you don’t know, that Capriccio’s isn’t your standard “mom & pop” neighborhood red-sauce joint—as a matter of fact, there isn’t a pizza, calzone, or stromboli to be found anywhere on its premises. You also don’t know, that its got a full bar, piano player every night and some guy with a violin Wednesday-Saturday.

Let’s talk food… A recent dinner had me “doing”—fried calamari (appetizer $11), linguini & clams in a white sauce ($22), rollatini di pollo valdastano (that’s a stuffed chicken breast- $22), cheese lasagna ($19), double cut pork chop ($25)—everything and I do mean everything, was delicious. Just so you know, meat/chicken/seafood entrees come with salad/pasta side.

Like I said before, this isn’t a “mom & pop” red sauce Italian joint.

Now, I love the pizza joints of this world as much as the next guy…Capriccio’s did a great job in reminding Jeff Eats, that really good Italian stuff- doesn’t have to be drenched in marinara sauce or wrapped in a pizza dough pocket.

I really enjoyed Capriccio’s.

The joint is open 7 days a week 5pm-11:30 pm.

***** Even Little Richard Wouldn’t believe This One *****

Regular Jeff Eats’s readers know, that I am not a fan of the “self serve” yogurt business.

From what I can see, like the “mom & pop” video stores that once dotted America’s landscape, the yogurt business model is a “bubble” that will soon burst. Trust me on this, we don’t need a yogurt store on every corner. For a “few bucks” anyone can get into this business—just like the video stores were 25-30 years ago. That’s the problem, every Tom, Dick and Harry, is opening one of these joints.

Now for the “craziest” story in this yogurt-industry—TUTTI FRUTTI FROZEN YOGURT. As a point a reference check Jeff Eats’ Tutti writeup on November 29, 2010…small chain, currently in 16 states, handful of stores in South Florida.

Let’s make this simple…The business model of this Tutti Frutti, allows the individual store owner to sell whatever type of yogurt that he or she wants. So…that means, that store A or store B or for that matter store Q may-be selling totally different yogurt products. So…that means, if you like the chocolate in store B, you may not like the chocolate in store Q.

The way I see it, the “purpose” of a BRAND is CONSISTENCY. A Whopper in a Miami Burger King is suppose to taste exactly like a Whopper in a Houston Burger King.

Check out Tutti Frutti’s website www.tfyogurt.com—unless, I’m not reading right, essentially all that the “stores” are buying, is the “same” name. Gonna be a big mess with this one, guaranteed!!

In the end, there is going to be a bloodbath in the self-serve yogurt indutry. For sure, there will be a handful of survivors, but there are going to be tons of unhappy players who thought they found a goldmine to open.