***** Barone’s La Pizzeria, 5632 West Sample Road, Margate, Florida 33073 (954) 968-4396.

Barone’s La Pizzeria is a “Mom & Pop—red sauce” pizza joint located in Margate.
You can check its menu/prices at www.lapizzeriamargate.com.

You know and I know that “Mom & Pop” pizza joints are a dime a dozen-down here in old South Florida. I think the way it works…the strip center landlord first signs Publix, then Walgreens, then a Chinese takeout, then a pizza joint, then a dry cleaners…then a —-(you fill in the blanks)….then half of the businesses go bust…

Anyway, the other evening, I gave Barone’s La Pizzeria a shot- and I gotta tell you, the food is real-good. Jeff Eats’ party did pizza, shrimp scampi, veal parmigiana, meat lasagna, chicken & shrimp alfredo, penne ala vodka—and like I just said, real good!

As you know– over the past few years, old Jeff Eats has eaten-in his fair share of “Mom & Pop” Italian joints…and, to be perfectly honest with you, most of them barely get the job done, but then again, that’s the nature of the beast…”cheap is cheap”….”you get what you pay for”…”one if by land, 2 if by sea.” Trust me on this one, Barone’s La Pizzeria is REAL GOOD…if you live or work near the joint, I highly recommend that you give it a try.

By the way, Barone’s La Pizzeria is right across Sample Road from the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek and is maybe a 3-minute drive (west) from the Festival Flea Market on Sample Road.

Barone’s La Pizzeria is open Sunday-Thursday 11am-10pm and Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm.

***** Sweetness Bake Shop & Cafe, 9549 Sunset Drive, Miami, Florida 33173 (305) 271-7791.

OUTRAGEOULSY- delicious…cupcakes, cakes, confections, gelato—coffees & teas. Order/pickup at the counter.

Hope you aren’t diabetic.

Guaranteed, if you hang around Sweetness Bake Shop long enough, you will definitely need to do business with “SPANX” www.spanx.com…but that’s a whole ‘nother story for another day.

Check www.sweetnessbakeshop.net for menu/prices.

Sweetness Bake Shop & Cafe is open Monday-Thursday 10am-9pm, Friday-Saturday 10am-1am, Sunday 11am-7pm.

***** Mandarin Gourmet Donut Shoppe, Post Office Box 56-1165, Miami, Florida 33256 (305) 323-4999.

Unless- you have been living on the planet Pluto for the past year or so…you know–that GOURMET CUPCAKE STORES have been popping up like crazy all over South Florida.

That said…I like cupcakes, but I LOVE and I do mean LOVE…DONUTS.

Mandarin Gourmet Donut Shoppe is a GOURMET DONUT “maker.” There is no retail-store (rumor has it-that a Miami retail location is in the works for late 2010) but you can order and get donuts delivered (1 dozen minimum order) in Miami-Dade County, 7-days a week, 8am-noon. Menu/prices—www.mandaringourmetdonutshoppe.com.

Let me put it to you this way…I’ll bet you a nickel, that once you eat one of this joint’s donuts…you’ll have a huge problem getting future morning fixes from Dunkin’ Donuts or Krispy Kreme. I recently did a-gourmet glaze ($1.55), dark chocolate custard ($1.99), white chocolate dip ($1.55) and I gotta tell you…absolutely amazing.

Now…the donuts ain’t exactly cheap, but then again, you only live once.

By the way, Jerry’s Famous Deli and the Epricure Gourmet Market (both located in Miami Beach) “retail” some of Mandarin’s donuts…so, if you can’t handle the delivery-game or a dozen is too big of an order…you’ve got another way to go.

***** Carcione’s Pizzeria Italian Ristorante, 1019 West State Road 84, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33315 (954) 530-7948.

You can thank me later for turning you on to this TAKEOUT pizza joint.

Carcione’s makes some heavy duty-delicious pizzas, pastas, subs, calzones, strombolis. On the price front–for example…the 6″ subs go for $4.25 and the most expensive 12 inchers are gonna run you $7.25. The joint also sells $2.35 slices.

I recently did a plain slice, chicken parm 6-incher and a 6″ sausage/peppers/onions…I’m telling you, the stuff is delicious. You can check the menu/prices at www.carciones.com.

This is a real good one. Keep in mind…only a couple of inside seats, so plan on eating-standing up outside, or in the car, or at home.

Carciones is open Monday-Thursday 10:30am-10:30pm, Friday-Saturday 10:30am-midnight, Sunday 11am-10pm.

***** Mario Ristorante Italiano and Wine Bar, 6370 North State Road 7, Coconut Creek, Florida 33073 (954) 420-3100.

$219…dinner for 4 last night. The “delicious” meal— baby mix green salad ($8 shared by 2), lasagna entree ($17 as an appetizer shared by 2), 2 branzino (sea bass) entrees ($33), veal chop parmigiana ($36), grilled veal chop ($35), 1 glass of ice-coffee ($3), 1 tartuffo ($7 shared by 4), tax & tip.

What in the world– Mario is doing in a crappy-half empty Coconut Creek shopping center is beyond me. Mario and his wife Nadia, 2 1/2 years ago– literally must have spent a fortune designing and building their gorgeous– upscale–top notch service–terrific food– Italian restaurant.

Anyway…if you’ve got the cash, and a couple of hours to eat (this ain’t some neighborhood red sauce pizza joint)– I think that you will really enjoy Mario.

The food is delicious, the joint is gorgeous, the service is as professional as can be.

Take a look www.Mario-Ristorante.com for menu/prices/photos-videos…this way you’ll know what you are getting yourself into.

Mario has a cute gimmick (Deco Drive did a tv segment)…there are 3 flat screen tvs in the dining room which “broadcast” the kitchen. It was kinda fun watching Mario and his staff prepare stuff…and in our-case, try and spot our dishes—now no wise-cracks, but as old Jeff ages I find small pleasures where-ever and when-ever I can.

Mario is open for dinner Tuesday-Sunday.

***** Frankie & Johnny’s Corner Ristorante, 2701 Oakland Park Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33306 (954) 561 0805.

Got an outrageously good–casual–moderately priced- Italian joint for you…Frankie & Johnny’s located in Fort Lauderdale. The joint has something like 6 inside tables—bar seating (when I was there, loads of people were eating at the bar)—outside patio seating. Just a suggestion, have a reservation, as this is a real-tight-small restaurant and apparently has a huge following.

Just so you know, Frankie & Johnny’s doesn’t have a large menu…that said, even you “veal parm” eaters out there, should have no problem finding something delicious to eat. My recent “outing” was for dinner…the restaurant has a certain “vibe” to it…can’t put my finger on it, but I really enjoyed the “people watching” and the “closeness” of the tables. Don’t know why, but the characters of A Bronx Tale would probably feel right at home here.

Like I said before, the food is very good. A recent outing had me doing…linguine in white clam sauce, chicken milanese, gnocchi, clams oreganata, lasagna, chicken/peppers/sausage. Check www.frankieandjohnnys.com for menu/prices/photos.

Something- very different than the “red sauce” joints that dot the South Florida landscape.

Frankie & Johnny’s is open Monday-Friday 11am-4pm for lunch and 7 days a week for dinner 4pm-11pm.

***** Il Toscano, 2282 Weston Road, Weston, Florida 33326 (954) 385-5883.

Great looking- moderatley priced- upscale white tablecloth-Italian joint located in Weston. That said…your “dungarees” will work here (Do they still call them dungarees?) Terrific professional white jacketed wait-staff..

Take a look at www.iltoscanoweston.net for menu/prices/loads of pictures so you’ll know what this joint looks like.

Let me make this one short…Il Toscano is one of the best Italian restaurants I’ve been to down here in old South Florida. It is a great looking joint…the food is terrific and fairly priced…the service is excellent. The joint has indoor and outdoor patio seating—and a full bar.

A recent outing had me doing…spiedino romano ($7.95—fried mozzarella)—veal marsala ($18.95)—chicken parmigiana ($16.95)—shrimp parmigiana ($24.95)—penne alla vodka ($13.95)—gnocchi pesto ($12.95). Entrees come with pasta side…the food is outrageously good. That spiedino romano is worth the price of admission-alone.

Il Toscano is a dynamite restaurant…if you don’t live in the Weston area…it’s worth the schlep.

Il Toscano does lunch Monday-Friday 11:30am-3:30pm, dinner Monday-Thursady 5:30pm-10:30pm, dinner Friday-Saturday 4pm-midnight, dinner Sunday 4pm-10:30pm.

***** Good Eats Grill, 7525 North State Road 7, Parkland, Florida 33067, (954) 575-3287.

Three Times The Charm?

Good Eats is a casual-reasonably priced-American Style joint that opened 2-weeks ago in Parkland. A deli and a diner already “failed” in the location, so just maybe—Good Eats has a shot.

Good Eats is so new, that it doesn’t have a website, yet. Take a look at www.southfloridadines.com…this site “sells” restaurant-discount coupons. If you check, they have a $30 coupon for Good Eats for 15 bucks. In addition, Good Eats’ menu is there as well as a video which will give you some idea of what the joint looks like.

Just a bit of history…like I said before, Good Eats is the third “restaurant-tenant” trying to make a-go of it, in a large shopping center on State Road 7. Personally, I think that the location stinks…I never tried the deli or diner which were previously there, but I know the location…and like I said IT STINKS…the center although relatively new–isn’t all that strong—and Good Eats’ spot is “stuck” in a corner at the end of the center.

Anyway…I recently tried Good Eats and really enjoyed the food. The menu has loads of appetizers, salads, burgers, wings, sandwiches, pizzas, pastas and meat-seafood-chicken entrees. I did a roast beef-melted cheddar cheese-kaiser roll sandwich ($7.95) that was absolutely delicious… the same goes for 1/2lb hamburger & fries ($7.95), philly cheese steak hoagie ($9.95 they call it a hoagie I call it a sub…now I’m sounding like Maurice Chevalier or was it Fred Astaire?), individual grilled plain pizza ($6.95).

Trust me on this one, the food is really good. The service is as pleasant as can be. The prices are just right.

Hopefully, Three Times The Charm—because the folks that own this joint are turning out a real nice product.

Good Eats Grill is opened Monday-Thursday 11am-10:30pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-midnight, Sunday 11am-9pm.

***** Antonino’s Pizzeria & Restaurant, 15964 West State Road 84, Sunrise, Florida 33326, (954) 385-6400.

Antonino’s is a “mom & pop red sauce” Italian joint located in Sunrise. You know the drill here—pizza, pastas, subs, meat-chicken-seafood entrees “come with” soup/or salad, pasta side, garlic rolls.

A recent outing had me doing—chicken milanese ($12.99), eggplant parmigiana ($11.95), veal marsala ($13.95), sausage & peppers ($10.95). large 16″ plain pizza ($12.50). The food is okay—but nothing out of the ordinary….the story in a nutshell—decent enough local pizza joint. You can check www.antoninospizzaonline.com for menu/prices.

Antonino’s is open Monday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm, Sunday noon-10pm.

***** New York Prime, 2350 Executive Center Drive, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, (561) 998-3881.

New York Prime is an “upscale steakhouse” located in Boca Raton.

This is a re-review…the original review July 23, 2008 was a “so-so” finding.

Over the years, I have eaten in this joint a number of times. My last outing was this past Saturday night with an 8:30 pm reservation. Let’s just say, that from the crowd, it appears that the “recession” didn’t hit New York Prime. Wall to wall people…with a 30-minute wait to “honor” that 8:30 pm reservation.

I have mixed “feelings” on New York Prime. The food is delicious and the service is as good as it gets…that said, there is something about this joint which doesn’t sit right with old Jeff Eats. Can’t exactly put my finger on it, but each and every-time I have eaten there, I find the joint surreal…the latest outing had me “defining” the feeling- as “New Jersey Houswives comes to Boca”—a lot of plastic surgery going on here…I’ll leave you guys to figure out what this all means…let’s just say that the crowd to say the least is eclectic.

Let’s talk food…Delicious—-chopped salad ($9.50–enough for 2 people), 22 oz. bone-in-ribeye steak ($39.50), garlic chicken ($23.50), petite New York strip steak ($34), large sauteed onions ($11), large southwestern creamed corn ($11), large hash brown potatoes ($12).

Let me sum up the experience…excellent food, excellent service, prices aren’t too terrible. Loud track/live keyborad music… with people singing along (and I do mean singing along at the top of their lungs to folks like Neil Diamond, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons and Dion & The Belmonts)—if you are looking for a quiet-intimate–or even a dinner where you can hear yourself talk, New York Prime at least on a Saturday night, isn’t the joint for you.)

Take a look at New York Prime’s website www.centraarchy.com for menu/prices. New York Prime is open 7 days a week 5pm-11pm.

Every once and awhile, a joint like New York Prime is a real good place for an upscale steak-seafood dinner. Like I said before, the food and service are top-notch and the prices not toooo bad. The “show” is also something to see.

——
New York Prime (Boca Raton)
Posted on July 23rd, 2008 · American Boca Raton Seafood
New York Prime, 2350 NW Executive Center, Boca Raton, Florida 33431 (561) 998-3881.
This evening I ate dinner at New York Prime an upscale steakhouse…you know exactly what this kind of joint is all about…where a 22 oz. bone-in-ribeye goes for $42…where a baked potato goes for $7.50. Personally, if I closed my eyes and just ate, I couldn’t tell you if I was in New York Prime, Abe & Louie’s, Chops, Morton’s, Ruth’s Chris… as they all play the same tune, give or take a different “note” here and there. As for tonight’s food, it was okay, nothing great…the steak was very fatty…the hash browns bland, your neighborhood bagel-deli makes better ones and doesn’t charge $11…the onion rings and sauteed onions sides were good, but pricey at $8 and $11 respectively.

For information about menu/prices/hours… check this joint’s website at www.centraarchy.com.

Just for fun…Do a bit of homework here…look at the menu prices and figure out what “your” theoretical meal would cost. I think your calculator will show, that unless you eat like a bird… a no alcohol-no appetizer-no dessert meal is going to run you something like 60-85 bucks a head.

Last night, my party of 4 dropped $300+…everyone agreed that the food was just fair and was way overpriced. For that kind of money, you would expect at least one “Boy! that sure was delicious” comment…don’t you think?

I know people who swear by this joint…Personally, I think it’s “a- big- to-do-over-nothing.” The same goes for most of the upscale steak joints in South Florida, with one exception that being the Strip House (see review 5/9/08) in Palm Beach Gardens which doesn’t take itself all that seriously.