***** Flip Burger Bar, 1699 Northeast 123rd Street, North Miami, Florida, 33181, (305) 741-3547.

Let me make this one short and simple…I absolutely loved Flip Burger Bar located in North Miami.

Think- burgers, fries, hot dogs, wings, 2,000,000 types of beers, flat screen tvs
and you’ll have the picture.

My bacon cheeseburger/sauteed onions/mushrooms (8oz-$9.75) and fries (small-$3) were delicious. Nothing fancy-schmantzy in what is essentially a neighborhood “bar.”

Check menu/prices at www.flip-burgerbar.com.

One quick observation, “upscale burger” joints are-now the latest American craze. Eventually this “business” or shall we call it a fad, is going to play musical chairs and a ton of these outposts are gonna fail. As a huge burger-fan, old Jeff Eats will enjoy the game for as long as it lasts…knowing-that no matter what happens, the Five Guys 3-minutes from my house will be around for a very-long time.

Flip Burger Bar is open Tuesday-Wednesday 5pm-10pm, Thursday-Friday 5pm-11pm, Saturday noon-11pm, Sunday 1pm-10pm, closed on Monday.

***** House of Bagels & Bialys, 14449 South Dixie Highway, Miami, Florida 333176, (305) 251-8666.

House of Bagels & Bialys is a “bagel-deli”—the joint is located in Miami—House is open Monday-Saturday 6am-6pm and Sunday 6am-4pm…maybe 10 counter-stools inside-outside maybe 6 tables.

The joint’s menu– breakfast stuff, sandwiches, knishes, salads, NY style deli pastries.

As expected, something like 20 million types of bagels. Absolutely loved the “everything” and “onion.” The joint also makes a real-nice bialy. As for the “tested” pastrami, corned beef, chicken salad—pretty standard goods!

***** Shinju Japanese Buffet, 7875 Glades Road, Boca Raton, Florida 33434, (561) 488-4040.

Shinju Japanese Buffet…small-chain currently with outposts in Boca Raton, Coral Springs, Davie, Pembroke Pines and Miami. Check www.sushishinju.com for menu/locations.

Recently tried its newest location– which opened about 1-month ago in Boca Raton. Terrific assortment of Chinese/Japanese soups, hot/cold dishes, sushi-sashimi, desserts…habatchi and stir fry stations.

Now-I know that this “is” a Japanese buffet—but, I gotta tell you, that the wonton soup was absolutely delicious and the bbq ribs were some of the best that I’ve had in a very long time. I’ll even go as far and say, that these 2 items alone, make the price of admission (figure 20 bucks a head for dinner) worth the price. Just so you don’t think I’m a shill for this joint, the sesame chicken was just passable, same goes for the teriyaki chicken.

All in all… Definitely one of the better Japanese/Chinese buffets that old Jeff Eats has tried.

Shinju is open Monday-Sunday for lunch 11:30am-3:30pm, Sunday-Thursday for dinner 5pm-10pm, Friday-Saturday 5pm-10:30pm.

***** 16 Handles, 1400 Glades Road, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, (561) 672-7649.

With the understanding that old Jeff Eats considers the “self-serve” yogurt business a FAD…let me tell you about 16 Handles which recently opened in Boca Raton.

For starters, 16 Handles is a a “small chain” which currently has 10 locations (1-Florida, 2-Maryland, 2-New Jersey, 5-New York). 16 Handles= 8 machines each with 2 handles/flavors, thus a total of 16 yogurts—plus a selection of fresh fruit/candy toppings.

A recent taste-test had me “trying”…cookies and cream, pistachio, green tea tart, strawberry. Now, I’m not a big yogurt fan– as I’d rather be-eating a Heath Bar Chocolate Blizzard, but I will tell you, that every flavor was delicious. Just so you know, the Boca joint gets 49 cents an ounce—so you gotta watch what you put in the-cup, or you’ll be facing something like a $5 number for the outing.

Kudos go out to the franchise owners of the Boca location. ASSUMING that you folks got a decent rent deal, the location is terrific. This particular joint is located in University Commons which is right across the street from FAU and Boca Raton High School—throw-in center-mates, J. Alexander’s, PF Chang’s, Whole Foods, Jamba Juice, Nordstrom’s, Barnes & Nobles and you guys got a “mix” of folks who will probably-adore your yogurt concept.

You can check flavors/locations at www.16handles.com.

So—if self-serve yogurt is your game, you now know about 16 Handles which serves-up some delicious stuff.

16 Handles is open Monday-Thursday noon-11:30am, Friday-Saturday 11am-12:30am, Sunday noon-10pm.

***** Rait Financial Trust *****

Rait Financial Trust is a publicly traded reit (RAS: B-$2.25–A-$2.26).

Do some DUE DILIGENCE on this one. I think that it may-be a very interesting play in the U.S. apartment-rental arena.

As always-with this stock stuff…you gotta do your own research and homework.

Good Luck!

***** Beard Papa’s, 19501 Biscayne Boulevard (Aventura Mall), Aventura, Florida, 32771, (305) 682-8580.

Beard Papa’s…last count 39 locations—fast food… “cream puffs, rice balls filled with ice cream, handful of other desserts. For right now, this small chain has 2 Florida locations, Aventura and Orlando.

You can check menu/prices/locations at www.muginohointl.com.

Not sure how long this “dessert” concept is gonna last…it sort of reminds me of the current cupcake and self-serve yogurt crazes making the rounds.

Anyway, stopped by the Aventura joint and tried chocolate and vanilla cream puffs—also had Japanese rice balls filled with vanilla and strawberry ice cream . DELICIOUS!

To be perfectly honest with you, old Jeff Eats found -Beard Pappa’s to be a real nice change from the standard food court -bourbon chicken and Sbarro pizza.

Beard Papa’s is open Monday-Saturday 10am-9:30pm and Sunday noon-8pm

***** Jack’s Hollywood Diner, 1031 North Federal Highway, Hollywood, Florida 33020, (954) 929-2888.

Jack’s Hollywood Diner—my kinda of joint. A REAL DINER–its been around since 1953 …and it’s open 7 days a week- 24 HOURS A DAY!!! Check www.jacksdiner.com for menu/prices/loads of pictures.

If you are a reincarnated truck-driver like old Jeff Eats is, you will absolutely-positively love this joint. Huge breakfast menu, burgers, french fries drowned in ketchup, onion rings, meat-loaf, daily specials, vinyl booths, formica tables, counter seating…a throw-back to the days when Ike was calling the shots…and Ray Kroc hadn’t yet figured out assembly-line burgers.

Jack’s is open 7 days a week 24 hours a day.

***** Alter Eagles *****

If you like the music of The Eagles…you gotta check-out the ALTER EAGLES a Tampa based tribute band.

I recently saw these guys at a private Boca Raton party—and they were absolutely dynamite. Dead on and I do mean dead on Eagles’ vocals. You’ll swear that Glen Frey and Don Henley are in the house.

The Alter Eagles play all over South Florida—like I said before, if The Eagles are your game, you gotta check these guys out.

You can get further info on the band at www.altereaglesband.com/home.cfm.

***** China Hollywood, 3605 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, Florida 33021, (954) 966-9600.

Literally-every day, old Jeff Eats gets asked…”What’s a really good Chinese restaurant down here.” For those of you who live or work in Hollywood–try China Hollywood.

At this stage of the proceedings check www.chinahollywoodrestaurant.com for menu/prices.

Recently did dinner at this joint–and I gotta tell you, the food was very-good. My outing netted me–egg rolls, bbq ribs, pan fried dumplings, wonton soup, roast pork fried rice, shrimp with black bean sauce, sweet and sour chicken, pepper steak with onions…like I just mentioned, the food was very-good.

I’m gonna go out on a limb here…China Hollywood’s food is probably better, that’s right better–than your favorite neighborhood joint. If this joint was in my neighborhood, it would definitely have me as a steady customer.

As you guys know, what consitutes good food is a very subjective thing. With that in mind, I’m telling you that China Hollywood passed Jeff Eats’ Brooklyn-taste test with flying colors.

China Hollywood is open Sunday-Thursday 11am-10pm and Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm.

Posted on April 12th, 2011

***** Bella Monte Italian Deli, 2688 East Atlantic Boulevard, Pompano Beach, Florida 33062, (954) 946-0333.

Bella Monte Italian Deli is a small “Italian Market”…takeout subs/salads/soups—packaged items/meats. The joint is located in Pompano Beach.

Not sure how you say this…FUGETABOUTIT!! Absolutely amazing subs– Recently “tested” meatball, chicken cutlet parm, chicken salad, hot roast beef.

I am telling you, if you like-love good subs, Bella Monte Italian Deli’s stuff is right up there with South Florida’s best.

Bella Monte is open 7 days a week for breakfast and lunch.