***** Bella Napoli Restaurant & Pizzeria, 1443 Alton Road, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, (305) 672-1558.

You want good–cheap “mom & pop” red sauce Italian?..checkout, Bella Napoli in Miami Beach.

A recent outing had me doing—chicken parm sub ($5.95), veal parm sub ($6.50), sausage & peppers sub ($4.75), large 16″ plain pizza ($10.50), linguini with clams-white sauce ($7.50), garlic rolls (1 dozen $3.00). The stuff is GOOD and DIRT cheap. Special mention goes to the garlic rolls–loved them–loaded and I do mean loaded with garlic and oil… and the pizza which was thin crusted-sweet sauce. Operative words on Bella, GOOD & CHEAP.

This is a no-frills joint. Like I said before, good stuff, real cheap…very pleasant staff. You can check menu/prices at www.bellanapolisouthbeach.com.

Bella Napoli is open Monday-Friday 11am-11pm and Saturday-Sunday noon-11pm.

***** Uncle Louie G, 330 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401 (561) 429-6925.

Let’s see…assuming that our recent cold-spell is over—–I got a really good “ices-ice cream” joint that you might want to checkout…Uncle Louie G in West Palm Beach.

Uncle Louie G is a “small chain”– with something like 30 stores in NY-NJ-CT-NC-MD…I think that the Clematis Street joint is its first Florida location…it’s been open for about 3 months… Order at-Pickup at Counter.

Absolutely delicious ices and ice cream…Recently “sampled” pistachio ices/vanilla chip ices/lemon ices…cookies n cream ice cream/strawberry ice cream/coconut ice cream…I wish that this joint was closer to my house, because I would be a regular.

Check Uncle Louie G’s website www.unclelouiegee for flavors/locations.

Uncle Louie G is open Sunday-Wednesday 11:30am-8pm, Thursday-Saturday 11:30am-11:30pm.

***** Pasquale & Son’s Pizza Company, 5609 Coral Ridge Drive, Coral Springs, Florida 33076 (954) 510-0703.

Pasquale & Son’s is a “red sauce” Italian “order-at the counter/pickup-at-the-counter” joint. It is a very modern looking restaurant, with flat screen tvs with plenty of table and booth seating.

Before we go any further, the same guys who own Pasquale & Son’s have another joint, Pasquale’s Pizza & Subs, 10337, Royal Palm Boulevard, Coral Springs, Florida 33065 (954) 341-0707…same concept/menu/prices/hours/website (pasqualeandsons.com).

Pasquale & Son’s is my kind of joint. Take a look at its website www.pasqualeandsons.com for menu/prices/photos—and you’ll get some idea of what I am yapping about. Straight-up…real casual, good stuff, reasonable prices.

The other night I did—chicken parm sub ($7.95), penne ala vodka ($12.95-comes with 4 garlic rolls and side salad), large plain pizza ($15.95), sicilian pizza ($18.95), calzone ($8.50 mozzarella & ricotta), stromboli ($8.50 mozzarella-pepperoni-sausage-peppers-onion) and I gotta tell you, the food is right on the money. Like I told you before, you are your “own” waiter/waitress (got to be politically correct here)…this is one-easy going-casual joint. I have to single that stromboli out for- special kudos, sorry- I didn’t order a large one for $18.50, it was really that good.

Pasquale & Son’s is open Sunday-Thursday 10am-11pm, Friday-Saturday 10am-midnight.

***** Randazzo’s, 7456 Royal Palm Boulevard, Margate, Florida 33063 (954) 975-0029.

You guys know that there are probably 1,012,576 “mom & pop” red sauce Italian joints in South Florida…and that I have eaten in a ton of them. Some of them are good, others not so good, some outstanding (very few of these) and others absolutely stink. If you get a “GOOD” from old Jeff Eats, you are doing just fine.

Well…I’m gonna give Randazzo’s a GOOD…I did veal parmigiana ($16.95), sausage & peppers ($12.95), veal marsala ($16.95), shrimp oreganata ($16.95), penne alla vodka ($13.95)…entrees come with–surprise surprise, garlic rolls-soup or salad–pasta side. I enjoyed the food. I enjoyed the Randazzo Family who own the joint… I will definitely be back for another meal.

Randazzo’s is a casual joint…menu– loaded with appetizers, subs, pizzas, pastas, meat-seafood-chicken entrees. Nice sized portions. Early bird specials. Reasonable prices. Pleasant wait staff. You can check the joint’s website www.randazzosrestaurant.com for menu/prices/photos.

Randazzo’s is open Tuesady-Friday 11am-10pm, Saturday 4pm-10pm, Sunday 4pm-9pm, closed on Monday.

***** Rock N Roll Ribs, 4651 State Road 7, Coral Springs, Florida 33073 (954) 345-7429.

Rock N Roll Ribs is a “bbq joint”…it opened about 3 months ago…one of its co-owners is Nicko McBrain, the legendary drummer of the metal-band Iron Maiden…by the way, Nicko lives in Boca Raton. So, you now know— how “it” probably got the name Rock N Roll Ribs. The joint, has videos of bands playing, records on the wall, hanging guitars and a drum set as its decor. Rock N Roll Ribs is located in a shopping center on State Road 7…I think there are more empty stores than going businesses. Personally, I think that the spot stinks, but hey, it ain’t my dime! The joint isn’t all that big, maybe 80 seats. From what I understand, although Nicko is one of the owners and hangs out there- when he is in “town” (he wasn’t there, last night), it is run by “Moby” Rick Baum who according to the joint’s “pr” has an extensive background in developing/opening/running restaurants—the guy also plays guitar in Nicko’s (other band) McBrain Damage… What I can tell you, based on last night’s meal, this guy Moby Rick knows his bbq.

At this stage of the concert, check www.rocknrollribs.org for menu/prices/photos.

Now let’s talk food…tried- baby back ribs, bbq chicken, pork sandwich, cheese burger, french fries, garlic toast—this is some of the best bbq that I have had “down here” in South Florida. This joint’s bbq is not heavy-smokey, but rather “sweet” grilled stuff, that is right on the money.

On the pricing front—very reasonable…a full rack of baby back ribs with garlic toast and 2 sides goes for $15.95…a 1/2 chicken with garlic toast and 2 sides $12.95.

On the service side—very pleasant and efficient waitstaff.

Like I said before, 80 seats, looks better than a Hard Rock Cafe, real good food, real good prices, real good service, lousy location. Hey! Nicko and Rick, you got a great concept here…I just hope that people “find” you.

One final thought, you might like to check www.ironmaiden.com and www.myspace.com/mcbraindamge and read about Nicko and Rick’s music and bandmates. Just so you know, Nicko-is considered by many, to be one of the top rock drummers of all-time.

I really enjoyed Rock N Roll Ribs.

The joint is open 7-days a week 11am-10pm.

***** Surf Road Taco, 101 Northeast 3rd Street, Hallandale, Florida 33009 (954) 239-0128.

Surf Road Taco is a cheap-super casual- “hole in the wall” and I do mean “hole in the wall”—“MEXI-CALI” joint. Order at counter, pickup at counter. Help yourself salsa bar. You can check its menu/prices/photos at www.surfroadtaco.com.

Talk about casual…your shorts/tee shirt/flip-flops ensemble…some of the patrons will consider that get-up, formal wear.

I love finding joints like Surf Road. Recently did, grilled mahi taco, grilled shrimp taco, tortilla soup and some guacamole. Now, just for the record, this MEX-TEX-CALI -whatever they call it, isn’t my most favorite food…but if I got to eat it…it should taste like Surf Road Taco’s stuff, absolutely delicious.

Like I said before, super casual-hole in the wall-very reasonable-real good food. Surf Road is open Monday-Friday 11am-9pm, Saturday noon-9pm, closed on Sunday.

***** Packy’s Family Sports Grill, 11379 West Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton, Florida 33428.

Packy’s Family Sports Grill…is a sports bar, but you already knew that, didn’t you?. Take a look at its website www.packyssportsgrill.com for menu/prices/photos.

Let’s make this one simple, THIS IS A SPORTS BAR…tvs, decent food, booze—recent outing had me doing, bacon cheeseburger ($8.25), philly cheesesteak sub (8.95), chicken parm sub ($8.95), rack of ribs ($15.95) like I said before- decent—actually, its stuff is better than what most of its South Florida brethren are dishing out.

If you live or work in Packy’s neighborhood, I’d give this joint a shot.

Packy’s is open Sunday noon-10pm, Monday-Thursday 11:30am-11pm and Friday-Saturday 11:30am-midnight.

Lilly’s New Cuisine, 451 East Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton, Florida 33432 (561) 362-0208.

Lilly’s New Cuisine is an Italian-semi upscale joint…Lilly’s has been around for something like 21 years and has an extremely loyal following…don’t believe me?– try and get a table on a Friday or Saturday night. Lilly’s has both indoor and patio seating.

I have been hearing about how terrific Lilly’s is since 1991. For some strange reason, last week’s dinner was my first “try” of this joint.

To be perfectly honest, I don’t know what all the screaming was-is about. I found–snapper franchese ($20.95), veal parmigiana ($24.95), zuppe di pesce fra diavlo ($28.95), chicken-ziti-broccoli ($18.95) to be okay, but nothing that I couldn’t get at almost any half-way decent Italian joint down here. For sure Lilly’s is a pretty place…it’s got that European chalet look (whatever that is), but like I said, okay food, but nothing to get nuts about. On the service front, okay, but don’t expect some 50 year old guy with an Italian accent to be taking your order—think, waitresses at Cheesecake Factory and you’ll be in the ballpark.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed my meal, but it wasn’t “anything” that I would go running back-for.

Lilly’s is open Monday-Friday 11:30am-3pm and 7 days a week for dinner 5pm-10pm.

***** Outrageous Bagel Company, 8843 Southwest 107th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33176 (305) 595-0188.

Order at the counter—Pickup at the counter.

Outrageously (pun intended) good bagels, spreads, breakfast stuff, sandwiches…fancy-schmancy coffees and smoothies. Think bagel…this joint’s 24 (types) bagels are twice the size.

Recent outing had me doing… “everything” with tuna salad, “pumpernickel” with chicken salad, “onion” with egg salad. Like I said before, outrageously good stuff.

Check www.outrageousbagels.com for menu/prices.

The joint does breakfast and lunch 7 days a week.

Rosarios Ristorante, 145 Southeast Mizner Boulevard, Boca Raton, Florida 33432 (561) 393-0758.

In one word…DON’T.

This Italian joint use to be called La Viola…it’s now called Rosarios, but the owner is the same guy, Rosario Lanza. Not going to go into the history of Rosarios but it started out as La Viola, got sold and the old owner is now back with a new name for the joint.

Tried… house-salad, rigatoni alla vodka, grilled chicken, filet of sole francese and eggplant parmigiana. Other than the sole and house salad which were good, the food is second rate. The chicken-pasta-eggplant were as bland as could be. Your local pizza joint serves better stuff—much better stuff. Rosarios serves 1/2 portions (for one person) and full portions (for two people)…portions are very skimpy and everything is ala carte. Some soggy-shoe leather garlic bread comes with the meal. On the pricing front—rigatoni-$13.95-$22.95, chicken (only full portions available)-$29.95, filet of sole-$18-$30.95, eggplant-$12.95-$20.95. The house-salad only comes in full-portions at $13.95 a pop.

Let’s talk service…HORRENDOUS. Food was ordered at 7:35pm and the salad arrived at (approximately) 8:15pm and everything else at 9:05pm. ***Our waiter blamed the slow food-delivery on the “kitchen” telling our party that the restaurant was very busy. What absolutely amazes me about lousy waiters is that they don’t understand that the customer couldn’t give a rat’s ass about why the meal is a disaster. All I know… I “pays” my money and I “wants” my food…and the waiter’s problems, the owner’s problems, the kitchen’s problems, shouldn’t be my problem. I personally had to ask the waiter 6 times for a water-refill, before “mission accomplished.” My requested ice-tea refill, despite 3 requests…never appeared. Dirty dishes, were left to pile-up.

This joint is bad news. You can check www.rosariosristorante.com for menu/price/photos but you really would be wasting your time.