***** Pellegrino’s Ristorante, 3360 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, (561) 368-5520.

Back on July 7, 2008 I did a “review” on a terrific Italian restaurant—Pellegrino’s Ristorante located in Deerfield. Here’s the original story…

Pellegrino’s Ristorante (Deerfield Beach)
Posted on July 7th, 2008 · Deerfield Beach Italian ·
***** Pellegrino’s Ristorante, 847 SE 8th Avenue, Deerfield Beach, Florida 33441 (954) 418-0611.

Pellegrino’s Ristorante is a white table cloth-hole in the wall Italian joint located in a non-descript Deerfield Beach strip shopping center. This is one of the best Italian Restaurants in South Florida, so make sure that your GPS system is working…so that you can find it.

Take a look at Pellegrino’s website at www.pellegrinosrestaurant.com for menu details. Also take a look at the joint’s history and picture gallery. In the “history” you will find that Bobby Pellegrino (Pellegrino’s owner) is a nephew of the owners of Harlem’s world-famous Rao’s Restaurant. Folks who have eaten at Rao’s have told me that the Pellegrino’s and Rao’s food is very similar as is the total dining decor/ambiance. All I can tell you (having never eaten at Rao’s) is that Pellegrino’s sets the right mood, that being that you are eating at a family run NYC Italian joint circa 1950 by having an old juke box playing doo wop records when you enter the joint.

I have eaten in Pellegrino’s exactly 4 times. The food is absolutely terrific… delicious veal chop valdostano, veal parmigiana, shrimp scampi, zuppa di pesce.

Like I said before, this joint is a hole-in-the-wall, so you are going to need a reservation. As for pricing, this joint ain’t cheap…but “you get what you pay for.”

Pellegrino’s is open Tuesday-Sunday for dinner…closed on Monday.
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Let me update this one for you guys.

Pellegrino’s which originally opened in Deerfield in 1999 closed in April, 2010. About a week ago-the joint re-opened finding a new home in Boca Raton. Last night, I gave the “Boca” Pellegrino’s a try. The only difference between the “versions” is locations and the fact that the Boca spot is a drop larger and has a nice sized outdoor patio for dining. The food like before- was delicious, the service was good, the prices are still a “drop” on the high side–but nothing that’s gonna kill anyone or chase you away. The old juke box wasn’t there, but Bobby Pellegrino assuerd me that in coming days it was going to be installed.

Let me sum this one up for you, Pellegrino’s is one of the best Italian restaurants in South Florida.

Like I said a few seconds ago, Pellegrino’s has only been open a week or so (as a matter of fact, its website www.pellegrinosofboca.com is still basically under-construction)—for sure it’s got a few bugs to workout, but the bet here–there will soon be lines trying to get in.

Pellegrino’s is open Tuesday-Saturday for dinner, closed on Monday.

***** Whole Foods Market, 1400 Glades Road, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, (561) 447-0000.

It just dawned on me, that although I have referenced Whole Foods Market in several “joint” writeups, I’ve never done a writeup on Whole Foods Market. Play along with me, because I seriously doubt that any of you guys don’t know what Whole Foods Market is all about…

The best way that “I” can describe Whole Foods Market is- a national chain of specialty supermarkets…that does an absolutely incredible job-of-marketing its products. The reason I make the “marketing” comment, because give or take a handful of items, Whole Foods’ prices are ridiculously HIGH…for example, a quart of fresh squeezed tangerine juice at Whole Foods $3.99, while a similar quart at The Boy Farmers Market in Delray Beach goes for $2.49. The folks behind Whole Foods Market are real smart—they successfully carved out a niche in the organic food/product business—and you do know, don’t you, that many Americans are really into this holistic/organic/healthy/climate control lifestyle. Personally, I still believe that hiding under my desk at PS 179 in Brooklyn/1955 was enough protection from a Russian nuclear attack.

Just so we are straight, every so often I buy stuff at Whole Foods Market. The primary reason, my local Publix doesn’t carry the item…that fresh tangerine juice is an example.

Let me leave you with this thought. When I was a kid, my parents would let me and my brother “look” at the toys at FAO Schwarz in Manhattan…they- then bought us “our” toys at Toy R Us or a local store in Brooklyn for much less. For sure, every so often FAO Schwarz had a unique toy here and there, but then again my parents weren’t buying me a $1,000 battery powered car to drive on the sidewalks of East Flatbush—for some perspective here, in 1955 (just to pick a year!) pizza was $.15 a slice, a gallon of gas ran $.26, a small Coke went for a nickel and a haircut was 50 cents

Whole Foods Market is open 7 days a week 8am-10pm. You can check store details at www.wholefoodsmarket.com.

***** Cupcake Cottage, 11051 Southern Boulevard, Royal Palm Beach, Florida 33411, (561) 793-5110.

You regular readers-know by now, that I consider the “retail” cupcake store business to be a FAD…One of these days, like the home-video-rental business, many of these mom & pop ventures aren’t going to be able to pay their rent…same also goes for the yogurt by-the-ounce guys out there. Simply put, there are just way too many stores for what I think are relatively limited markets.

With that in mind…Cupcake Cottage makes some of the most delicious cupcakes that you have ever eaten. Take it from a guy who was raised on Hostess Cupcakes, Twinkies and Ding Dongs—this joint’s stuff is amazingly good.

Cupcake Cottage www.cupcakecottage.net is open Tuesday-Thursday 11am-8pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-9:30pm, Sunday 11am-6pm, closed on Monday.

***** The Breakfast Shack, 3469 West Boynton Beach Boulevard, Boynton Beach, Florida 33436, (561) 735-3594.

The Breakfast Shack is a “mom & pop” breakfast-lunch joint in Boynton Beach. The Breakfast Shack has a website www.thebreakfastshack.com– but as far as I’m concerned- it’s totally worthless as it has no menu/prices/photos.

Real simple, tons of breakfast stuff, burgers, sandwiches, salads.

The joint is open Monday-Friday 8am-2pm and Saturday-Sunday 7am-2pm.

Despite the crap website–I really enjoyed the joint. Delicious western omelet, banana waffles, french toast.

The Breakfast Shack is a nice break from the bagel-deli gigs playing all over South Florida.

**** MONEYSAVER *****

I recently came across MONEYSAVER—www.moneysavercouponsonline.com. Real simple “situation”—go to the website, “type” in a business type or business name, type in your location/or zip code, click “search now”—the site will list various discounts/coupons, you print-out what you want. No cost to the user.

Thought you’d might like to know about this service.

***** Kiki’s Asian Bistro, 71 South Federal Highway, Boca Raton, Florida 33432, (561) 338-7888.

Kiki’s Asian Bistro…”takeout/delivery” Chinese/Sushi joint in Boca Raton.

Let me make this one short and simple, this joint’s food is some-of-the-best-around. A recent outing had me “doing” wonton soup, egg rolls, bbq ribs, fried dumplings, general tso’s chicken, pepper steak, shrimp with lobster sauce, sweet & sour pork, roat pork fried rice.

Like I said before, takeout-delivery only-unless 2 small tables and a 3-seat counter are your style! Prices are what you’d expect from a neighborhood “hole in the wall” joint.

You can check men/prices at www.kikisasianbistro.com.

If you live or work in Kiki’s neighborhood, you now know about a realy-really good takeout joint.

Kiki’s is open Monday-Saturday 11:30am-10pm and Sunday 5pm-10pm.

***** Super Subs Etc., 6380 Bird Road, Coral Gables, Florida 33155, (305) 665-0990.

In my day, I’ve eaten my fair-share of subs/grinders/heros (pick your regional term)—I maybe going out on a limb here, but this 6-seat sub shop which has been around since 1977- has to be right up there with the best-of-all time. Now this isn’t an exact count, but its menu lists something like 100 different hot/cold (6″ & 12″) sandwiches. You can check menu/prices at www.urbanspoon.com.

A recent outing had me “doing”—chicken cordon bleu, philly cheesesteak, bbq steak, bbq pork rib, mushroom cheeseburger subs. I am telling you, some of the best sub-stuff that I have ever eaten. On the price front—no more expensive than your favorite neighborhood joint.

For you-guys out there who don’t get from where I am coming… A Super Subs’ sandwich is a Rembrandt, Picasso, Renoir, Van Gogh (Well, maybe not a Picasso!). Think, your favorite “slice” of pizza matched against a slice from Little Caesar’s…a Volkswagen CC against a Corvette…a 32″ flat screen tv against a 72 incher.

To sum it all…Super Subs Etc. is a terrific sub shop.

The joint is open Monday-Saturday 9am-8pm and Sunday 10am-5pm.

***** Marcella’s Restaurant & Pizzeria, 12305 Pembroke Road. Pembroke Pines, Florida 33025, (954) 433-1522.

Marcella’s Restaurant & Pizzeria…”mom & pop” red sauce Italian joint, located in Pembroke Pines.

Just so you know, I “originally” talked about this joint way back on July 13, 2009. Hadn’t been back since then. Got good news for you guys and “them.” I liked Marcella’s in 2009…I still like Marcella’s in 2011-and actually think that the food is even better than it was 2- years ago. Then again, I’m getting up there in years, so maybe…Anyway, Marcella’s is a real good one.

You “know” the drill here—pizzas, calzones, subs, entrees come with soup/or salad, garlic rolls, pasta side. Tee shirts/shorts/sneakers-flip flops-sandals— dress of the day.

Let me make this a quickie for you…if you are looking for reasonably priced really good red-sauce stuff, Marcella’s will definitely get the job done for you. A recent outing had me trying–pizza, meat lasagna, veal parmigiana, veal marsala, clams oregenata, spaghetti & meatballs—everything was A-OK.

To sum it up, I enjoyed Marcella’s…everything- shall we say “sampled”- was as good if not better than most of the stuff served at the 100,020,004 “mom & pop” red sauce joints that seemingly inhabit every strip center in South Florida.

Marcella’s is open Monday-Saturday 11am-10pm, Sunday noon-10pm.

***** GreatDealsInMyCity.com *****

Recently came across a very interesting website that I thought you guys might like to take a look at…www.GreatDealsInMyCity.com.

This is a real easy one—type in your zipcode and the site gives you a list of businesses/services which have discount coupons that you can print out. For our purposes, there are a ton of South Florida restaurants listed—and a buck is a buck!

***** Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, 590 Northeast 167th Street, Miami, Florida 33162, (305) 949-6135.

As I’m sure- most of you know that Krispy Kreme Doughnuts is a “national-international” donut chain with stores in the United States and abroad. Really don’t have the time or inclination to go into detail, but the chain- which has been around since 1937 found its “growth” stunted a few years ago, when its management was caught-up in a public accounting/business scandal. Suffice it to say, many think (me included) that the new management, installed just a few short years ago, has turned Krispy Kreme Doughnuts’ business around. Now, I could be wrong here, but I think that Krispy Kreme’s stock currently selling at $6.39 (KKD) is an absolute steal. Do your on own DUE DILIGENCE. You can get details on Krispy Kreme at www.www.krispykreme.com.

As for Krispy’s donuts…a recent outing to a Miami location convinced me that its hot-glazed donut is one of the most delicious “things” known to mankind. To be perfectly honest with you, Dunkin’ Donuts’ coffee is better, but Krispy’s donuts are better. Just so you know, my taste test also included, cake and cinnamon twist donuts–also delicious.

For the record, I bought KKD yesterday. Like I said before, I think that “new” management has finally gotten a firm hand on this turnaround situation. I also like the fact, that huge foreign expansion plans appear to be in the works.

By the way, the Miami location listed above, is open 24/7.