***** Racks Downtown Eatery & Tavern, Mizner Park-402 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, Florida 33432, (561) 395-1662.

Just had dinner at Racks Downtown Eatery & Tavern…a terrific-casual-moderatley priced American-Style joint, which opened in Mizner Park about 3-months ago. Based on this first outing…I will definitely be back for another go-round. Now if you-can…think The Cheesecake Factory with-shall we say–s t y l e…and you got Racks. Better yet, check www.grrestaurant.com for menu/prices/pictures and you’ll get a real good feel for what’s going on at this joint.

First things first. Racks has indoor and outdoor patio seating. There is a full bar and the guys who own this joint—must have spent a fortune decorating inside and outside. Check the photos on its website and you’ll see what I’m belly-aching about.

This evening, Phil was our waiter…and the guy was good. He knew the menu cold—and took our order without writing down one single item…and yes, everything ordered, showed up—cooked right and on time. He also made sure that water glasses, soda glasses, coffees were always filled.

A taste test-in no particular order-of… garden salad, caesar salad, bacon cheeseburger, french fries, crabcakes, macaroni & cheese, wood oven roasted chicken, filet mignon, key lime pie—like I said, I will definitely be back. The food was delicious…absolutely nothing to complain about—-EXCEPT…Racks should know better—the ketchup & mustard which were served in “old” fashioned yellow and red plastic squeeze bottles were COLD. I don’t know about you… but this Brooklyn boy knows…that french fries are suppose to be drowned in room temperature ketchup not COLD ketchup. I also know that sauerkraut on a Nathan’s hot dog is suppose to be hot and that no one in their right mind would ever put ketchup on a hot dog!

I really enjoyed Racks… stylish, yet casual. It’s got a great vibe, but be forewarned, someone in the cd-department loves to play Led Zeppelin and The Romantics…to that someone, you are playing the “music” way and I do mean way—too loud.

Racks is open 7 days a week 11:30am-2am.

***** Jacky Lee’s Chinese Cuisine, 10422 West Atlantic Boulevard, Coral Springs, Florida 33071. (954) 227-8988.

Jacky Lee’s is a takeout-only Chinese joint in Coral Springs.

Based on a recent takeout order…I’ll bet you a buck, that Jacky Lee’s food is better than the stuff- you pickup/get delivered from most of your favorite haunts.

A taste test of… wonton soup, egg rolls, fried dumplings, bbq ribs, honey garlic chicken, shrimp with lobster sauce, roast pork egg foo young—brought me to the above stated conclusion.

Jacky Lee’s is one of the best Chinese joints that I’ve gotten food from down here in old South Florida.

Jacky Lee’s is open 7 days a week.

***** Costello’s Trattoria & Pizzeria, 1209 Main Street, Jupiter, Florida 33458, (561) 776-5448.

Costello’s Trattoria & Pizzeria is a good-casual-reasonably priced- Italian joint…located in the Abacoa Town Center…it has both indoor and outdoor patio seating.

Check menu/prices/photos at www.costellostrattoria.com.

A recent outing had me “doing”– large plain pizza (16″ $12.95), veal parmigiana ($16.95), chicken marsala ($15.95), penne alla vodka ($13.95). By the way, Costello’s menu is loaded with appetizers, soups, salads, pizzas, pastas, subs, calzones, meat/seafood/chicken entrees.

The verdict…Costello’s food is good, but nothing, shall we say- was any better than the stuff that most of the Italian joints down here in sunny South Florida serve…This is a good neighborhood joint. Just so you know, Costello’s entrees play -the soup or salad, pasta side, garlic rolls game.

Costello’s is open Monday-Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm, Sunday noon-8:30pm.

***** Cadillac Ranch All American Bar & Grill, 921 Silks Run Road, Hallandale Beach, Florida 33009, (954) 456-1031.

Got a really good one for you…Cadillac Ranch All American Bar & Grill…located in Hallandale Beach. Just so you know, this American Style joint is located in a huge- new retail complex being built at Gulfstream Racing & Casino–the official name is The Village At Gulfstream Park. So far…the development looks dynamite, but, as I see it– as long as the Seminole’s have a monopoly on table games, casinos like the one at Gulfstream really don’t have a chance…so this retail complex will probably never reach its full potential, because the gaming “draw” just isn’t going to materialize. Politics aside…check www.cadillacranchmiami.com for menu/prices/pictures. To add a bit more color here, Cadillac Ranch is a chain operation…there are currently 11 locations—Hallandale Beach for right now, is the only Florida spot.

I loved this joint…think upscale steakhouse, meets The Cheesecake Factory. meets LongHorn Steakhouse, meets EVERY SPORTS BAR that you’ve ever been in…throw in a mechanical bull to ride—and you should have the picture. The joint has 30 flat screen tvs, 4 bars, indoor and patio seating. Cadillac’s menu is loaded with appetizers, soups, salads, burgers, sandwiches, meat/seafood/chicken entrees, desserts.

A recent outing had me doing—chesseburger & fries ($10.95), full rack of babyback ribs & fries ($24.95), 1/2 roasted chicken with vegetable and fries ($13.95), philly cheesesteak sub & fries ($11.95)…no complaints here. I especially enjoyed the cheeseburger which was served on a kaiser roll and the thick hand-cut fires. All of the “sampled” stuff, was as good, if not better, than the food served by the best sports bars down here in old South Florida.

The beautiful thing about this wild-west decor joint, is that if you want, you can wear your tee shirt/shorts’ ensemble…and after you eat, you can ride the mechanical bull and play-anorexic.

I’m telling you, if you enjoy sports bars–casual dining…you will really enjoy this joint.

Cadillac Ranch is open 11:30am-4am 7 days a week.

***** Joe’s Cafe, 1913 Cordova Road, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316, (954) 760-5637.

Joe’s Cafe is a STOREFRONT DINER-counter-table-booth seating, as opposed to a neon lit-jumbo jet sized-freestanding roadside building. NY and NJ got tons of both. Florida doesn’t. I’m gonna assume you know what I’m talking about.

Anyway…Joe’s Cafe is as close to a “real” NYC diner as you will find. The joint is open 7 days a week 7am-10pm and has a humongous menu that covers every appetizer, salad, breakfast item, sandwich, burger, meat/seafood/chicken entree, pasta, wrap, dessert known to man…Joe’s also has the obligatory or is it mandatory- handul of Greek stuff like gyros, kebobs and souvlaki. You can check the menu/prices at www.myjoescafe.com.

I recently did breakfast and lunch…trying, western omelette ($7.95), french toast ($6.95), chocolate chip pancakes ($6.95), patty melt (toasted rye-swiss cheese-burger-grilled onions/french fries $8.95), triple decker chicken salad sandwich ($8.95). Like I said before this is a d i n e r…and the stuff I had, was as good as the stuff I use to get at George’s-my favorite Brooklyn storefront diner.

For you historians out there… Joe’s Cafe is the second-coming of Joe Belair’s Diner a 1950’s diner which was demolished about 10 years ago to make way for yet- another, very-needed Walgreens.

Like I said before, open 7 days a week 7am-10pm.

If you like diners-and who doesn’t (now I’m sounding like Dice Clay)?– you’ll like Joe’s.

***** Sophia’s Pizzeria Restaurant, 760 Riverside Drive, Coral Springs, 33071, (954) 796-0405.

Sophia’s Pizzeria is a “mom & pop–red sauce” Italian joint located in Coral Springs. Not gonna bother describing the “decor”…cause if you are over the age of 15 days, you know exactly what joints like this look like. Sophia’s is owned by Agostino and Vilma, she runs the front of the house and he’s the cook…excuse me, the chef. How the name Sophia gets into this plot–not sure.

Anyway…if you live or work in Coral Springs, you got a winner in your neighborhood.

I recently did a dinner—veal parmigiana ($16.95), chicken cacciatore ($14.95), chicken scarpariello ($15.95), shrimp scampi (16.95), large plain pizza ($11.95) and the food was very-good. Now, old Jeff’s chicken “preference” is that cacciatore and scarpariello be–on the bone…but I will tell you, that the Sophia’s boneless chicken dishes were standouts. Entrees come with choice of soup or salad, pasta side and garlic rolls.

Sophia’s has a real nice menu. Loads of appetizers, soups, salads, pastas, calzones, strombolis, pizzas, subs, meat/seafood/chicken entrees. You can get details at sophiapizzeriarestaurant.com

Over the years I’ve eaten in so many “mom & pop red sauce” Italian joints that sometimes things get a bit blurry…when I try to remember stuff like who’s got top shelf pizza, calamari, veal parm, garlic rolls, etc. I’ll remember Sophia’s as a real good joint, because it’s owned by — Agostino and Vilma.

Sophia’s is open Tuesday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-10:30pm, Sunday noon-9:30pm, closed on Monday.

***** Big Foot Gyro & Subs, 2970 Griffin Road, Dania Beach, Florida 33312, (954) 961-1160.

This joint’s name…Big Foot Gyro & Subs- should give you a “hint” as to what this order at/pickup at the counter- free standing-hole in the wall restaurant is all about.

Check www.bigfoot4u.com for menu/prices/photos.

Big Foot has the expected full-boat of hot/cold subs…the kicker, it also has a load of Greek salads-plates, gyros and pita sandwiches.

A recent outing had me doing…chicken salad sub (large-$7.49), meatloaf sub (large- $7.49), gyro sub (large-$8.50), chicken gyro on pita bread ($6.99), steak/onion/peppers sub (large-$8.49)…every sandwich was delicious. Great fillings and fresh baked bread.

This is one of the best sub joints that I have been in–down here in old South Florida. Throw in the Greek “spin” and this joint is a big-winner.

Big Foot is open Monday-Friday 7am-7pm, Saturday 7am-3pm, closed on Sunday.

***** Kona Bay Cafe, 310 East Ocean Avenue, Lantana, Florida 33462, (561) 429-3606.

Kona Bay Cafe is a super casual-beachy decor “breakfast-lunch” joint…that has counter & inside table /outside patio seating. Check www.konabaycafe.com for menu/prices and pictures that will “tell” you exactly what this joint looks like. Bathing suits are considered dresswear.

On the food front…nice, but not overly large-selection of breakfast-stuff (which is served all day). The lunch menu (like the breakfast menu, not overly large) has salads, wraps, sandwiches. A recent breakfast had me doing…a short stack of apple cinnamon pancakes ($4.95), a short stack of chocolate chip pancakes ($4.45), strawberry stuffed French toast ($6.45), western omelete ($7.95)—everything was just right.

Kona Bay is open 7 days a week for breakfast & lunch.

***** S & S Diner, 1757 Northeast 2nd Avenue, Miami, Florida 33132, (305) 373-4291.

S & S Diner is a REAL DINER…the joint has been around since 1938, has no booths or tables…customers sit at an 18 seat horseshoe counter. This is a cash only joint. The only thing that “tells” you that it’s 2010 is a flat screen tv…and of course the prices—no 5 cent coffee.

The way I figure it, if a joint has been around for something like 72 years, just maybe it’s doing something right–don’t ya think?

S & S does breakfast, lunch, early dinner…pleny of breakfast stuff, sandwiches, burgers, salads and “daily specials” like meatloaf and turkey.

Like I said before–real diner. Nothing fancy here…just solid good diner food.

S & S is open Monday-Friday 6am-6pm and Saturday-Sunday 6am-2pm.

***** Corelino’s Coal Oven Pizza & Cucina, 6346 Lantana Road, Lake Worth, Florida 33463, (561) 968-8200.

Last night, I had dinner at Corelino’s Coal Oven Pizza & Cucina…the joint is brand new–it just opened last Wednesday night. Corelino’s seats something like 160, with both indoor and outdoor patio seating. You can check menu/prices at www.corelinoscoaloven.com.

Let me make this one simple…I thought that Corelino’s was absolutely terrific. The food and service were outstanding…the prices super reasonable.

Over the years. I’ve eaten in tons of coal oven and “regular” pizza joints. I gotta tell you– Corelino’s ranks right up there with the best of them.

Last night I did a house salad ($6 enough for 2), plain large pizza (16″- $11), coal oven wings (10-with french fries-$8.50), philly steak hero ($7.50-with french fries), jojo pollo (2 grilled chicken breasts with vegetables/roasted potatoes-$13), dessert sampler (mini pastries & cake-$10) and the food was absolutely delicious.

Trust me on this one, the food is right up there with the best stuff served by your favorite coal oven/Italian joint. Of note, all of the desserts are made in house. The mini pastries were right on the money and the chocolate cake could prove to be addictive.

There really isn’t too much more to say…give Corelino’s a try, it really is that good—and the joint is open Sunday-Thursday 11am-10pm and Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm.

Oh! almost forget to mention…Corelino’s garlic rolls—SENSATIONAL- if my wife wasn’t sitting there, I probably would have eaten 10 of them.