*****  Papa Z, 2500 SE Federal Highway, Stuart, Florida 34994, (772) 419-2007.

Got a real good Italian joint for you…Papa Z located in Stuart, Florida. Take a look at its website www.papa-z.com for menu/prices…there are also something like 12 photographs of the joint, so you’ll know exactly what it looks like. Personally, I found Papa Z’s eclectic decor, modern funiture combined with “old world” framed Mona Lisa-type paintings to be a great look.

Now for the food…baked ziti, meat lasagna, chicken francese, veal parmigiana, veal marsala and shrimp diavlo…let’s just say, that I would definitely be a repeat customer. Good service. Neighborhood joint prices.

Papa Z has both a lunch and dinner menu…the lunch one is loaded with appetizers, salads, pizzas, pastas, subs, meat-seafood-chicken entrees…the dinner one, shall we say, is a bit more compact, but there is plenty of great stuff to choose from.

I really enjoyed this joint. Papa Z is open Sunday-Thursday 11am-9pm and Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm.

*****  Bella Cucina Wood Fired Pizza, 4208 North Lakes Boulevard, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410 (561) 799-7779.

Bella Cucina is a casual-moderately priced Italian joint, which plays the “wood fired” card…its pizzas are cooked in a wood-fired oven… and a number of its chicken-meat-seafood dishes are prepared on wood fired grills.

On a recent “outing” I stuffed my face with… ” margharita” pizza, lobster ravioli ala vodka, linguine with white calms sauce, steak pizziola and veal parmigiana. The food is very good. The portions just right. The service is as friendly as can be. The decor, modern pizzeria. The prices, neighborhood pizza joint prices.

I have to tell you, that I especially enjoyed the wood-fired margharita pizza…fresh mozzarella, basil and tomato sauce. Not to thin, not to thick, just right in the “crisp and sweet” department…absolutely delicious.

Just a brief thought…when I was growing up in Brooklyn in the 1950s-1960s, there was no such thing as a “margharita pizza.” It was either a “pie” or a “square or Scilian pie”…never heard the term margharita, ever. Did you?  Now, it seems everyone and their mother has “margharita this and —- that pizza”…what I do know, is that pizza is suppose to be, “dough-tomato sauce-mozzarella cheese” and if you want to get fancy, just maybe you top it with pepporoni, or sausage or meatballs…All of these weird combinations that you see joints serving today, are destroying the pizza-concept. I don’t care what anyone tells me, pineapple doesn’t belong on the top of a slice.

Bella Cucina makes some real-good stuff… the menu has a full lineup of appetizers, soups, salads, pastas, pizzas and meat-chicken-seafood entrees…and like I said before, a ton of items are “wood cooked” which adds a nice change of taste to many of the old standards.

Bella Cucina is open Monday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday 11am-11pm, Saturday 4pm-11pm and Sunday 4pm-10pm…you can wear your tee shirt and shorts’ ensemble.

Bar-B-Q Jack’s, 500 East Oakland Park Boulevard, Fort lauderdale, Florida 33334 (954) 567-4446.

Just had a terrifc lunch at a “roadside bbq” joint called Bar-B-Q Jack’s in Fort Lauderdale. This is a no-frills-order at/pickup at the counter bbq…no waitresses, roll of paper towels on every table. Take a look at Bar-B-Q Jack’s website at www.barbqjacks.com for menu/prices.

 This afternoon’s tast-test…bbq ribs, bbq pulled pork sandwich, bbq chicken sandwich, corn on the cob, steak fries, macaroni & cheese…all right on the money. The stuff is smoked and extremely tender… Bar-B-Q Jack’s lathers on a sweet-sauce that gives the bbq an outstanding flavor.

I absolutely loved the food at Bar-B-Q Jack’s. This joint has a list of reasonably priced “meat only items”…”sandwich combos”…”meal combos”… “sides”…and a “catering menu.” Like I said before, order at the counter…pickup at the counter…use loads of paper towels.

Bar-B-Q Jack’s is open Monday-Thirsday 11am-9pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm and Sunday 11am-8:30pm.

*****  La Borgata Ristorante & Pizzeria, 3227 SW Mapp Road, Palm City, Florida 34990 (772) 288-2121.

Got an absolutely “dynamite” neighborhood-mom & pop Italian joint for you…that is, if you live in Palm City….La Borgata Ristorante & Pizzeria. Check the joint’s website www.laborgataristorante.com  for menu/details…there are also loads of photos, so you’ll know what La Borgat’s inside/out-door dining areas look like.

The food at this joint is terrific. A recent outing had me stuffing my face with fettuccini alfredo, cheesesteak stomboli, ham & cheese calzone, pizza, shrimp scampi, veal piccata and chicken parmigiana…all at neighborhood joint prices.

I think by now, regular readers know that I “frequent” a ton of Italian restaurants …for sure, I have eaten my fair share of veal parmigiana and countless garlic knots…and I got-to-tell you, that La Borgata food is heads and shoulders over most of the neighborhood-joints that I have “taste-tested.”

If you live near La Borgata, you now know about a Italian Restaurant that you defintely want to try.

La Borgata is open for lunch Monday-Friday…and dinner 7-days a week

*****  Dockside Sea Grille, 766 Northlake Boulevard, Lake Park, Florida 33408 (561) 842-2180.

Dockside Sea Grille is a “real-casual very-reasonably priced seafood restaurant”…the joint’s menu is loaded with all kinds of  SEAFOOD appetizers, salads, soups, sandwiches and entrees. If meat-chicken is your game, there are enough choices… like burgers, ribeyes, grilled chicken and pork chops, so you won’t starve.

Dockside has indoor and out-door seating. As for decor, I expected Blackbeard himself to come strolling through the joint at any moment. Your tee shirt and short’s ensemble is just perfect for this joint.

Let’s talk food…dynamite crab cakes, lobster rolls, fried oysters and shrimp, hamburger, grilled pork chops.

Dockside is open Sunday-Thursday 11:30am-9pm and Friday-Saturday 11:30am-10pm.

*****  Del Vecchio’s Italian Fishery, 246 South Powerline Road, Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442 (954) 571-9700.

Del Vecchio’s is an Italian Restaurant that “offers” a nice-change of pace, from the “neighborhood-mom & pop-Italian joints” that dot the South Florida landscape. Nothing too fancy here…but the Del Vecchio’s does have white-table cloths and is “uncramped” like most of the joints down here. When you check Del Vecchio’s website at www.delvecchiosif.com you will see a photo which will give you some idea of the physical layout-decor…the site also has menu/details.

A recent taste test…veal chop parmigiana, shrimp fra diavolo, shrimp scampi, chicken marsala, lobster ravioli, mozzarella in carrozza, caesar salad…found everything just right…the food is as good, if not better, than your favorite neighborhood joint. The service is just fine. The portions on the large size. The prices are neighborhood joint prices.

De Vecchio’s is not a pizzeria…It’s menu isn’t gigantic…but, there are enough appetizers, salads, soups, pastas, seafood/chicken/meat dishes…so, everyone will find something to eat

Del Vecchio’s is open Monday-Friday 11:30am-11pm, Saturday 4pm-midnight and Sunday 4pm-11pm.

*****  Ferrara’s Pizzeria & Restaurant, 445 Lantana Road, Lantana, Florida 33462 (561) 533-1600.

Fuggedaboutit!! Got an absolutely great “mom & pop” red-sauce Italian joint for you…Ferrara’s Pizzeria & Restaurant in Lantana.

Neighborhhod joint prices. Neighborhood decor. Neighborhood service. Off the chart-food.

A “taste test” of gnocchi ala vodka, veal marsala, shrimp fradiavolo, pepperoni pizza, fried calamari, and chicken parmigiana… received an “A”…nothing more to say, except this joint’s menu is loaded with appetizers, salads, soups, subs, pizzas, pastas and meat/chicken entrees…

Ferrara’s is open Sunday-Thursday 10am-9pm and Friday-Saturday 10pm-10pm.

*****   Memphis BBQ & Blues Restaurant, 1225 Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401 (561) 832-8774.

BBQ “anything” is a tough call…It seems that everybody likes their bbq a “certain way.” Personally, I like Chinese-style ribs…but every so often I get in the mood for “smoked” stuff.

If smoked-ribs, pork, chicken, brisket is your game, I got a real-good bbq joint for you… Memphis BBQ & Blues Restaurant located in West Palm Beach. This is a relatively new joint…that’s been in business for less than a year and is “housed” in what use to be the famous Tom’s Place. Rather than rehashing history, Tom’s was a bbq joint that started out in Boca Raton something like 30 years ago and had various “machinations-reincarnations” over the years. Anyway… Memphis BBQ & Blues give or take a few new wall-decorations, looks just like Tom’s last spot did…nothing fancy, just loads of tables and chairs and tons of bbq/and southern-style stuff being served. At this juncture, take a look at  Memphis BBQ & Blues’ website www.memphisbbqandblues.com for menu/prices.

Like I said before, smoked-isn’t really my game… but I have to tell that I did enjoy  a “taste-test” of, baby-back bbq ribs, pulled pork sandwich, bbq beef brisket,  bbq chicken, seafood gumbo, fried shrimp, macaroni & cheese and collard greens.

If you like smoked-bbq, you’ll really enjoy this joint. The menu is packed with all kinds of  reasonably prices bbq dishes…not to mention fried stuff galore. Memphis is open 7 days a week from 11am–“until late in the evening.”  By the way, various blues-musicians play during lunch-hours.

*****  Bogart’s Bar & Grille, 3200 Airport Road, Boca Raton, Florida 33431 (561) 395-4695.

Got something “unique and different” for you…Bogart’s Bar & Grille which is an “American Style” joint…located in Muvico Palace 21…that’s right, this “almost” semi-upscale joint is located in a movie theater.

Just so you know, you don’t have to “go to the movies” to eat in this joint…That said, my best guess, is that most people who eat in Bogart’s eat there before or after a movie. Now…I called this an “almost” semi-upscale joint, but for “our” purposes think-Cheesecake Factory and you’ll have a real-good idea as to what this joint is all about. Take a look at Bogart’s website www.bogartsofboca.com for menu/prices.

The other night, I caught that Clint Eastwood film “Gran Torino” and then had dinner in Bogart’s. I had a reservation…and would suggest that if you plan on trying this joint, that you also have one…a ton of people already know about Bogart’s. By the way, I didn’t care for the picture, but that’s a story for another day.

Now let’s talk food…the menu is loaded with appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, meat/seafood/chicken entrees and desserts. The “taste-test” (there were 6 of us) of pork potstickers, chicken lettuce wraps, meatballs, onion straws, french fries, macaroni & cheese, caesar salad, beef sliders, fried chicken, shrimp florentine, grilled porkchops, chocolate cake & vanilla ice cream…worked-out just fine. The food-portion size-service… is Cheescake Factory quality. The prices are a drop higher than Cheescake’s, but nothing too terrible. By the way, I checked the “lunch menu”…it is a limited menu, but the prices are “very” reasonable, more in-line with T.G.I. Friday’s price-points or your favorite neighborhood bagel-deli.

Like I said before…although, Bogart’s is located in the theater, you don’t have to buy a movie ticket to eat in this joint…it has its own entrance. The food is really good…I am assuming that you have eaten in a Cheesecake Factory as a point of reference…handsome-casual decor, good food, large portions, good service, reasonable prices.

One other observation…based on what Muvico gets for a large Coke and a large popcorn, Bogart’s is actually a BARGAIN.

Bogart’s does lunch Monday-Friday 11am-3pm and dinner 7 days a week.

*****  De Pietro’s Pizzeria & Restaurant, 2550 Okeechobee Boulevard, West Palm Beach, Florida 33409 (561) 697-4992.

Got a  real-good NEIGHBORHOOD “mom & pop–red sauce Italian” joint for you. Let me send you to De Pietro’s website www.depietrospizzeria.com  so you will know what its menu/prices are all about. Nothing fancy here, so your tee shirt and short’s ensemble will work well at this joint.

Just as you would expect, De Pietro’s menu is loaded with appetizers, salads, pastas, soups, chicken wings, subs, pizzas and meat/seafood/chicken entrees. Now for my taste-test (don’t get “sick here” there were six of us)…fried ravioli, pizza, calzone, veal parmigiana, shrimp fra diavolo, eggplant parmigiana, fried calamari, penne alla vodka, meatballs and spaghetti…everything was right on the money.

De Pietro’s is a “neighborhood” joint…the bet here, is that De Pietro’s is probably as good, if not better than most of the joints in the area…So, if you live near De Pietro’s…give it a try and just- maybe you’ll have a new Italian restaurant to eat-in/take-out from.

De Pietro’s is open Monday-Saturday 11am-10pm and is closed on Sunday.