***** BrushFire BBQ Co., 2745 North Campbell Avenue, Tucson, Arizona 85719 (520) 624-3223.

You guys gotta indulge me here…I know Jeff Eats is suppose to be all about South Florida joints, but I got to tell you about BrushFire BBQ Co. in Tucson, Arizona…because it’s that good.

I was recently in Tucson to “consult with” a new “off campus meal plan” which was started in 2009 by two-University of Arizona undergraduates. These guys, about 6- months ago created a company called ZonaBucks (www.zonabucks.com) and contracted with various Tucson restaurants, national chains and basic need merchants to “feed and service” students at the University of Arizona. From what
I can tell, The U of A has a “food court” on campus which isn’t very appetizing or diversified, so ZonaBucks quickly found a huge student- following in that its network has the restaurants-supermarkets-drugstores-haircutters that students frequent. Although it is relatively-new, the company received inquiries from all over the United States to “nationwide” the concept…and the students are now planning to “rebrand” as CampusBucks with national expansion plans. Checkout the website as it is really amazing how “kids” came up with a better student meal plan than the bureaucrats at the U of A did…but then again, we have all heard about Bill Gates and Michael Dell, haven’t we!!

Anyway…on the ZonaBucks network, is a fast-food bbq joint named BrushFire BBQ Co. You order at the counter and the food is then delivered to your table.

Now here’s the story…this little hole in the wall joint…serves some of the best bbq that I have ever tasted. I did bbq beef ribs, bbq pork ribs, bbq chicken, french fries, corn on the cob, mac and cheese, fried chicken wings…incredible. The joint works with 6 sauces (I tried– sweet molasses and honey mustard) so your “order” can be flavored anyway that you like. Checkout BrushfFre’s website www.brushfirebbq.com for menu/prices. The prices are neighborhood sports-bar type prices…real reasonable. How this joint puts out such “high quality” stuff- so cheaply is a mystery to me.

Brushfire is open 7 days a week from 10am-9pm.

So…if you ever get to Tucson, you now have a “must try” place.

***** Henry’s, 16850 Jog Road, Delray Beach, Florida 33446 ( 561) 638-1949.

Got a real-nice “American-style” joint for you…Henry’s, which is located in Delray Beach.

We can make this one real simple…check the joint’s website www.henryofbocaraton.com for menu/prices/photos.

The joint has a beautiful menu…nice selection of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, entrees. Not bad prices–Plenty of specials and price fixe dinners ($19.95 range). Real good waitstaff

Let’s talk food…did a turkey meatloaf, bbq ribs, chicken marsala, veal parmigiana, crab cakes. Absolutely nothing to complain about.

This is a real good joint to know about, when you are looking for “old style” comfort food. Now keep in mind, this isn’t some roadside dump-diner (which happens to be old Jeff Eats’ establishment of choice) but rather, a nice looking but not too fancy joint…if you check that website, you’ll see photos that will tell you the whole story in about 1 second.

Henry’s does lunch Monday-Friday 11:30am-2:30pm and Saturday noon-2:30pm and dinner Sunday-Thursday 5:30pm-9pm and Friday-Saturday 5:30pm-10pm.

***** Gary Woo Express, 9874 Yamato Road, Boca Raton, Florida 33498 (561) 483-4889.

Let me be straight-up with you guys…years ago, Gary “Woo” was a neighbor of mine…best friends, nope, but I know the guy. I remember when he opened his first joint- China Dumpling (Boynton Beach), his second joint-Gary Woo’s Asian Bistro (Boca Raton)…if you check, I rated China Dumpling one of the best Chinese restaurants in South Florida. To date, I have not reviewed the Asian Bistro.

Anyway…a few months ago a new strip center opened in Boca Raton…Gary Woo Express is the Chinese “anchor”…this is a takeout -only joint.

Let me start off by saying, that the food that this joint is cranking out is top-notch. Now, in most likelihood, I haven’t gotten stuff from your favorite neghborhood haunt, but based on 2-takeout outings…I’m gonna bet that Gary Woo’s food is better than the food you have been schleping home.

Recent taste-tests of…wonton soup, egg rolls, bbq ribs. pan fried dumplings, roast pork fried rice, sweet sour pork, general tso’s chicken, shrimp in lobster sauce…top-notch. I couldn’t find one item to really complain about.

At this stage of the game…checkout Gary Woo Express website www.garywooexpress.com for menu/prices.

I do have one problem with the joint…some of the prices are off-the chart…waaaaay tooo expensive.

So…you guys now know about a top-notch Chinese takeout joint.

Gary Woo Express is open Monday-Friday 11:30am-10pm and Saturday-Sunday 3pm-10pm.

***** Slice & Ice, 3024 Southwest 27th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33133 (305) 461-9190.

Let me take you back to Brooklyn circa 1965…15 cents slices, 5 cents Cokes, 10 cents single scoop of Italian ices…now if that isn’t heaven, I don’t what is…or shall I say, was.

Slice & Ice is located in Coconut Grove…not sure how long this freestanding hole in the wall Italian joint has been around, so I’m gonna guess 20 years. Order at window, pickup at another window. You are not going to be eating-in at this joint.

Slice & Ice has a “what you would expect menu”…the game here is PIZZA & ICES.

Great slice of pizza…crispy with a real nice sweet sauce. Handful of different flavored ices. Almost Nirvana…but the slices arent 15 cents…the Coke isn’t 5 cents, the ices aren’t 10 cents.

Don’t worry, you won’t need a second job to pay the tab.

The next time you are in the Grove, grab a slice and ice…and enjoy the “people traffic flow”…The joint is open, Monday-Thursday 11am-1am, Friday 11am-4am, Saturday noon-4am and Sunday 11am-11am.

***** Orient Diner, 1725 South Federal Highway, Delray Beach, Florida 33483 (561) 243-2688.

Orient Diner is a “mom & pop” Chinese joint…aren’t they all? I know all about P. F. Chang’s …this is a relatively new 28-seater having opened in March, 2009. Modern decor, with a glass wall that let’s you watch your food being prepared. Neighborhood prices and service.

Now…I’m a bit confused as to its owners’ “history”…some kind of connection to the Oriient Palace Restaurant that use to be in Delray Beach—the Orient Palace (takeout) in Boca Raton—5 Spice Asian Street Market in Boca Raton …anyway, you sort it out, but the Orient Palace Restaurant had real-good food, the Orient Palace (takeout) has lousy food and 5 Spice Asian has horrendous food.

Anyway…first things first, check Orient Diner’s website www.orientdiner.com for menu/prices. Now, let’s get down to the “taste test”…wonton soup (good), egg rolls (good), pan fried dumplings (good), bbq ribs (good), general tso’s chicken (very good), moo shoo pork (very good), shrimp in black bean sauce (very good), roast pork fried rice (good).

As I mentioned before, something like 28 seats…so it’s a real small joint. I think the “plan” here—as it is in most Chinese joints—lots of takeout.

So my friends, if you live in Boca Raton-Delray Beach…you now have a decent-enough Chinese joint to do business at. China Diner is open Tuesday-Friday 11am-9:30pm, Saturday noon-9:30pm, Sunday 4pm-9:30pm, closed on Monday.

***** Hong Kong Noodles, 1242 Northeast 163rd Street, North Miami, Florida 33162 (305) 956-5677.

Hong Kong Noodles is a “mom & pop” Chinese joint…you know exactly what its decor is/price points are/service is…so I won’t bore you with details. This joint is an interesting combination of…”Brooklyn-style/Jewish Chinese food” and “Real Authentic Chinese food.” Regular Jeff Eats’ readers know that old Jeff really isn’t a fan of fried chicken feet-roasted pig head…so, I can’t tell you how this stuff tasted, because I didn’t taste it. What I can tell you, is that… the “Brooklyn” stuff was very good. I did a roast duck that was dynamite…same goes for bbq spare ribs, wonton soup, roast pork fried rice, shrimp in black bean sauce.

Nothing fancy here…roast ducks and pigs hanging decorations…

I really liked this joint. Hong Kong Noodles is open 7 days a week for lunch-dinner.

***** The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co., 14451 South Military Trail, Delray Beach, Florida 33484 (561) 455-7491.

Yesterday morning a new “fast-food” bagel joint opened in Delray Beach…its name, The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. If you check its website www.brooklynwaterbagels.com you will find menu/prices. The “opening” garnered quite a bit of local interest, with both the Sun Sentinel and Palm Beach Post doing “cover stories” on the opening. Just so you know, the Delray Beach location is a “prototype” store for a planned franchise-chain, which is owned/operated by Steven Fassberg and Larry Feldman. You guys should also know, that I personally know both Feldman and Fassberg…Fassberg is an extremely knowledgeable restaurant man having owned a number of delis in New York and South Florida…Feldman is a “major player” in the enormously successful Subway chain. I’ll leave you guys to “Google” both Fassberg and Feldman if you want more info on them.

The Original’s “hook” is that it claims to have a patented technology that can convert “local water” into the same consistency as that of Brooklyn’s public water supply. I really don’t have the time or inclination to get into it, but many believe that “it’s the water” that makes New York City’s bagels so great. Over the years, I’ve heard more “Brooklyn water” stories than their are stories in the Haftorah (for the non Jews out there, ask your Jewish friends for a translation). Anyway, your guess is as good as mine, as to The Original Brooklyn Water Co.’s water claims.

Now…let’s talk about the important stuff, decor-service-food.

Like I said before, this is basically a “fast food” operation…order at the counter and your food is delivered to the table. The decor, is Wendy’s-Burger King-McDonald…one whole side of the 3,000 sq.ft space has a see-through window, where you can watch the “water-treatment” plant and bagel baking operation. To be personally honest with you, I found the watching-through-glass “deal” to be on the gimmicky side.

Now let’s talk food….the menu is jammed with all kinds of bagels, bialys, soups, salads, sandwiches, cream cheeses, butters, smoked fish…trust me on this, the selection is outrageous, you absolutely-positively will not be disappointed. After 4pm the joint also offers $9.95 “dinner specials” which include- entree, potato, vegetable, beverage and dessert…the entrees are–fresh turkey, roast beef, roast chicken, chicken cordon bleu, chicken francese, corned beef with cabbage.

Yesterday…I “taste tested”…everything bagel, sesame bagel, pumpernickel bagel—scallion cream cheese, tuna salad, chicken salad, ham & cheese omelet, . Now for the results…the bagels were very good–were they the best that I have had down here in South Florida? No!..but they were very good. The tuna salad and chicken salad were delicious…the chicken salad was exceptionally good with big chunks of chicken–the omelet which came with a bagel and french fries was done just right.

As for prices and service… let me ballpark this for you, omelets run $5.45-$6.45, bagels with cream cheese or butter go for $1.69-$2.99, sandwiches $4.95-$6.95…the most expensive item on the menu is a nova-whitefish-baked salmon salad at $10.95. As for service, keep in mind that you order at the counter and food is delivered to your table…so there is “no tipping”…for a brand new joint, everything ran smoothly when I was there.

I really liked The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co…it has a great menu, reasonable prices, very good food. Like I said before, the “water treatment” angle seems a bit hokey to me. I will also tell you, that Fassberg-Feldman couldn’t have picked a worse location for the first store. It is located in a miniscule-non-descript shopping center on Military Trail…if you weren’t looking for the joint, you probably wouldn’t even notice it.

Based on Day-One,The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. has a shot to run circles around other “self-service counter” bagel joints like Einstein Bros. and Offerdahls Cafe. The joint is open 7-days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

***** Gramercy Bagels and Deli, 15200 Jog Road, Delray Beach, Florida 33446 (561) 496-5400.

The folks in Delray Beach, Boynton Beach and Boca Raton just got real lucky…About 2-weeks ago a “New York Style” bagel-deli joint named Gramercy Bagels opened in the Atlantic Plaza Shoppes…and I gotta tell you, based on today’s-lunch this place is going to be an absolute homerun.

At this juncture, I would suggest that you check Gramercy’s website
gramercybagels.com for menu/prices/photos.

Today, I did lunch…first off, Gramercy Bagels is 5500 square feet…for the non-carpenters out there, that’s big. When you enter the store, there is an enormous and I do mean enormous area for takeout stuff…soups, salads, sandwiches, meats-smoked fish, pastries, bagels, bialys…you name it and its probably there. There is also a dining room which seats 155. To give you some idea of what we are talking about here, the owner Andy Hopta told me that all 26 types of bagels, bialys, breads, flagels, salads, soups…are prepared in-house. Just so you know, the bagels are made the “right way”…boiled and then baked.

Anyway…if you check Gramercy’s website you will find a handful of photos which really show the joint-off. Let’s just say, that this is one of the most attractive-looking bagel-deli joints that I have been to. When you look at the takeout-cases, you’ll be like a kid in a candy store…you are going to want to try everything.

As for the old food-test…matzo ball soup (A), pastrami (B), corned beef (B+), chopped liver (A), chicken salad (B+), potato salad (A), cole slaw (A), macaroni salad (A), Israeli salad (A), cucumber salad (A), french fries (B+ only Nathan’s gets an (A), everything bagel (A), pumpernickel bagel (A), rye bread (A), raspberry ruglah (B), cinammon ruglah (B+), coffee (A). For you weisenheimers out there, I just “tasted” a-drop of everything and there were 3-of us at the table. Also note, the (A) for coffee…one of the best cups I have had in a long long long time.

Prices are neighborhood bagel-deli prices. Service, you’d never know that this joint has only been open 2-weeks…real smooth operation.

There are a ton of bagel-deli joints in South Florida. This is one of the best ones that I have eaten in.

Gramercy Bagels is open 7 days a week 7am-4pm.

***** Cafe Italia, 3471 North Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33306 (954) 561-3900.

First things first…no shorts.

Under normal circumstances, that “no shorts” thing would put the old kabash on this joint…but a couple of you guys so highly recommended Cafe Italia that I made an exception to my-rule.

Let’s call Cafe Italia a “semi-upscale” Italian joint. Nothing really ultra-fancy here, but it is definitely-not a neighborhood pizza joint. The prices aren’t terrible, figure 15-20% higher than the local talent that “we” usually frequent. Service is real good. By the way, the joint is located in the lobby of an office building.

Cafe Italia’s menu isn’t huge…but you’ll find something to eat. Checkout its website
cafeitaliaristorante.com for menu/photos.

Now let’s talk food. You “recommenders” were right on the money…the food is absolutely delicious. I did a veal marsala, eggplant parmigiana, penna alla vodka and meat-lasagna and this stuff holds its own–against the best that I have eaten down here.

Cafe Italia is open 7-days a week 5:30pm-10:30pm.

***** Hot Pie Pizza & Bar, 123 South Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach, Florida 33416 (561) 655-2511.

Let me start by saying that I heard about Hot Pie Pizza & Bar…by reading the Sun Sentinel’s- Judith Stocks’ “Dining finds” column (8/6/09)…and from a post that I received from Jim H. on 8/6/09 in the “comments-section” of “The 9 Best Coal Oven Joints In South Florida which was a writeup that Jeff Eats ran on May 22, 2009.

Okay…credit given.

Hot Pie Pizza & Bar is a “coal oven pizza-wing” joint…which happens to make some absolutely delicious pizza and wings. If you check the joint’s website www.hotpiepizza.com you will find a menu that in addition to pizza-wings also has 3-appetizers, 3-salads, 3-sandwiches, 3-sides, 4-entrees, 1-dessert (root beer float).

This evening I did a small wings (10-$8.95), large plain-old-pizza ($13.95), house salad (for 2-$7.95), penne with bolognaise ($11.95)…everything and I do mean everything was really-good.

Hot Pie Pizza & Bar is a winner…modern looking, pleasant service, reasonable prices and great food. Another beautiful thing about this joint, is that it has “just enough” of a selection, so that if coal oven pizza-wings aren’t your game, you won’t go home without eating…As for only having 1-dessert–let’s just say, root beer floats, don’t float my boat. I’m more a cannoli kinda guy.

Like I said before, back on May 22, 2009 I gave you guys 9 of my favorite “coal oven” joints…let’s just say, that if I had eaten in Hot Pie before I concocted that list, it would have been on it. Oh Well!

Hot Pie is open 7 days a week from 11am-11pm.