***** Fusilli Ristorante, 9617 Westview Drive, Coral Springs, Florida 33076, (954) 344-0443.

It’s joints like Fusilli, that year in and year out—destroy my New Year’s resolution to lose weight. Here it is, not even 3 months into the new year and I gotta order some new Spanx tee shirts/briefs. But, you gotta do what you gotta do!

Fusilli Ristorante is a terrific–mom & pop–red sauce Italian joint in Coral Springs. Check www.fusillis.co/ for menu/prices/coupons/loads of pictures. The joint is owned by a guy named Joey Scarfuto (What did you expect, Heshey Glickman?)—take it from me, this guy knows how to run an Italian restaurant.

Now you guys know, or should know by now, that I’ve been in more South Florida Italian joints, than there are chins in a Chinese phonebook. With that in mind, let me tell you, that Fusilli is right up there with the best that I’ve hit during the past 20 years. Just so we are straight, although Fusilli may have white-tablecloths, your tee shirt/shorts/rhinestone flip flop ensemble is gonna work just fine, there. For you folks who are into soup or/salad–garlic rolls–entree–pasta deals, don’t worry, Fusilli’s menu is loaded with them. There are also early-bird specials and a Sunday buffet thing.

A few weeks ago, I did a lunch and dinner—First let me tell you, that Fusilli makes one of the best NY-style pizzas that I’ve had in a very-very long time. An extra large 18″-thin crusted/sweet sauce ran me 14 bucks. Like I just said, this pie was right up there with the 15-cent slices- I use to get on my way home from Erasmus Hall High School 1963-1966. On the dinner front I “did”—penne alla vodka ($15), zuppa de pesce ($26), chicken marsala ($16), veal parmigiana ($17), fettuccine alfredo ($13)…every dish was delicious. Special shoutout to, “$9 appetizer” 1-dozen garlic rolls stuffed with sausage and pepperoni.

Fusilli’s is a winner. Terrific food, nice portions, pleasant service, great looking decor (look at the photos on its website), reasonable prices.

The joint is open Monday-Thursday 11am-9:30pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm, Sunday noon-9pm.

***** Nino’s Of Boca II, 1930 Northeast 5th Avenue, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, (561) 362-8990.

Some guys, really know how to do things right…

Way back when, on March 20, 2008, I told you folks about Nino’s a “mom & pop” red sauce Italian joint with 2-locations, Boca Raton and Delray Beach. Since that “review”—a partnership breakup-had one partner getting Delray and the other getting Boca. To save you the trouble of re-reading that writeup, in a nutshell, I said, that the food was outrageously delicious, with the Boca store a bit stronger than the Delray location.

Anyway…about 2 -weeks ago, the Boca “partner” (I know-that this is getting confusing, but hang in there—I’m almost done) opened a new location, Nino’s of Boca II in Boca Raton. I tried the joint last Saturday night— same great food, huge portions, terrific service. The new location’s GM, Kathy (she worked in the original Boca location for 18 years) has the place running perfectly.

Just so you know, in addition to excellent thin-crust pizza, Nino’s makes a veal chop parmigiana (20 bucks) and a chicken on the bone scarpariello ($17)- which will literally knock your socks off…I can’t recall another “mom & popper” down here, that even comes close on these two dishes.

Trust- old Jeff Eats on this…if I edited Webster’s— under “terrific- South Florida-mom & pop-red sauce-Italian-joints” both of Nino’s Boca locations would be listed.

You can check menu/prices at www.ninosofboca.com.

Nino’s Of Boca II is open Monday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm and Sunday noon-10pm.

***** How To Win Friends And Influence People-Jacob’s Restaurant & Delicatessen (Boynton Beach)

Way back- on July 17, 2009 Jeff Eats did a writeup on a bagel-deli joint…Jacob’s Restaurant & Delicatessen located in Boynton Beach. The review was neither here nor there. Anyway…

Earlier today, I received the following e-mail from Elaine- who is apparently Jacob’s owner.

“JEFF, MAYBE YOU SHOULD COME BACK TO JACOBS DELI IN BOYNTON AND TRY US AGAIN. MAYBE YOU HAD A BAD TASTE IN YOUR MOUTH BEFORE YOU CAME TO EAT. AFTER 15 YEARS IN BUSINESS AT THIS LOCATION MAYBE YOU ARE THE ODD BALL WHO CANT TELL GOOD FROM BAD. WE HAD MANY BUSINESSES IN MANHATTAN AND ONE VERY FAMOUS ONE CALLED THE COURT DELI ACROSS FROM THE BRONX SUPREME COURT AND JUST 2 BLOCKS FROM YANKEE STADIUM. YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW MUCH EXPERIENCE WE HAVE IN THIS BUSINESS AND YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A BLOGGER WHO KNOWS NOTHING EXCEPT WHAT YOU ARE GIVEN FOR A GOOD REVIEW. RUVENS WILL GO JUST AS THE OTHER 3 OR 4 BEFORE HIM IN THAT LOCATION. WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS AND WHO SURVIVES AND YOU WILL KNOW THAT YOUR REVIEWS CARRY NO WEIGHT AT ALL, ALSO, WHAT MAKES YOU A FOOD EXPERT. TELL ME WHAT YOUR QUALIFICATIONS ARE BESIDES BEING FROM BROOKLYN. LETS SEE IF YOU CAN RESPOND TO THAT LAST QUESTION, OTHERWISE YOU ARE A NOBODY IN THE FOOD BUSINESS”

Just wanted to share with you, the perfect example of: “How To Win Friends And Influence People” is done.

***** Capriccio’s Ristorante, 2424 North University Drive, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33024 (954) 432-7001.

Got a really-good “semi” upscale Italian joint for you —Capriccio’s Ristorante in Pembroke Pines. Check www.capriccios.net for menu/prices—there are also loads of photos, so you’ll know exactly what Capriccio’s looks like. On that “semi” thing—white table-cloths etc., but, I think that your tee shirt/shorts ensemble can sneak by… I definitely wouldn’t temp the fates on a Saturday night, with rhinestone studded flip-flops.

I’m figuring, you haven’t-just yet, gone to the above referenced website. So, you don’t know, that Capriccio’s isn’t your standard “mom & pop” neighborhood red-sauce joint—as a matter of fact, there isn’t a pizza, calzone, or stromboli to be found anywhere on its premises. You also don’t know, that its got a full bar, piano player every night and some guy with a violin Wednesday-Saturday.

Let’s talk food… A recent dinner had me “doing”—fried calamari (appetizer $11), linguini & clams in a white sauce ($22), rollatini di pollo valdastano (that’s a stuffed chicken breast- $22), cheese lasagna ($19), double cut pork chop ($25)—everything and I do mean everything, was delicious. Just so you know, meat/chicken/seafood entrees come with salad/pasta side.

Like I said before, this isn’t a “mom & pop” red sauce Italian joint.

Now, I love the pizza joints of this world as much as the next guy…Capriccio’s did a great job in reminding Jeff Eats, that really good Italian stuff- doesn’t have to be drenched in marinara sauce or wrapped in a pizza dough pocket.

I really enjoyed Capriccio’s.

The joint is open 7 days a week 5pm-11:30 pm.

***** Even Little Richard Wouldn’t believe This One *****

Regular Jeff Eats’s readers know, that I am not a fan of the “self serve” yogurt business.

From what I can see, like the “mom & pop” video stores that once dotted America’s landscape, the yogurt business model is a “bubble” that will soon burst. Trust me on this, we don’t need a yogurt store on every corner. For a “few bucks” anyone can get into this business—just like the video stores were 25-30 years ago. That’s the problem, every Tom, Dick and Harry, is opening one of these joints.

Now for the “craziest” story in this yogurt-industry—TUTTI FRUTTI FROZEN YOGURT. As a point a reference check Jeff Eats’ Tutti writeup on November 29, 2010…small chain, currently in 16 states, handful of stores in South Florida.

Let’s make this simple…The business model of this Tutti Frutti, allows the individual store owner to sell whatever type of yogurt that he or she wants. So…that means, that store A or store B or for that matter store Q may-be selling totally different yogurt products. So…that means, if you like the chocolate in store B, you may not like the chocolate in store Q.

The way I see it, the “purpose” of a BRAND is CONSISTENCY. A Whopper in a Miami Burger King is suppose to taste exactly like a Whopper in a Houston Burger King.

Check out Tutti Frutti’s website www.tfyogurt.com—unless, I’m not reading right, essentially all that the “stores” are buying, is the “same” name. Gonna be a big mess with this one, guaranteed!!

In the end, there is going to be a bloodbath in the self-serve yogurt indutry. For sure, there will be a handful of survivors, but there are going to be tons of unhappy players who thought they found a goldmine to open.

***** Boca’s Best Pizza Bar, 119 West Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton, Florida 33432, (561) 367-7227.

Boca’s Best Pizza Bar is a “mom & pop” red sauce Italian joint located in Boca Raton. The joint has been around for about 18 months…it was previously a Big Louie’s (see 7/23/08). Why small-chain Big Louie’s didn’t make it there, is anyone’s guess.

Boca’s Best Pizza Bar is located in a small-dumpy strip center right near the railroad tracks. Parking isn’t anything to write home about. With that outside-out of the way, let me tell you, that this little “Best” (always skeptical when BEST is used in the name) joint surprised the hell out of me…it really serves some real-good food.

A recent dinner had me “sampling”—pizza, penne alla vodka, chicken marsala, chicken parmigiana, meat lasagna, eggplant rollatini. At this stage of the gig, you can check www.bocasbestpizzabar.com for menu/prices.

Boca’s Best is what Jeff Eats calls a hidden gem—definitely a notch or two above the typical mom & pop pizza joint. The joint is open Monday-Saturday 11am-2am and Sunday noon-midnight.

***** Bernie’s Bagels, Deli & Cafe, 1420 Coral Ridge Drive, Coral Springs, Florida 33071, (954) 340-7730.

Got a real good bagel-deli joint for you Coral Springsians—Bernie’s Bagels, Deli & Cafe. Check www.berniesbagels.net for menu/prices/photos.

Bernie’s is open 7 days a week 6:30am-3pm and Tuesday-Thursday 4pm-9pm.

Bernie’s menu is loaded with breakfast stuff, salads, sandwiches, wraps…the joint makes its own bagels.

I recently did 1-breakfast and 1 lunch at Bernie’s. “Sampling” included, western omelete (8.95)–challah french toast ($6.95)–corned beef on rye ($9.95)–pastrami on rye ($9.95)–tuna salad on onion bagel ($8.95)…like I said before, this is a “real good” bagel-deli joint.

To sum this one up, Bernie’s definitely gets the job. If bagel-delis are your “game”—you’ll like Bernie’s.

***** Hobo’s Gourmet Kitchen, 421 Northlake Boulevard, North Palm Beach, Florida 33408, (561) 841-8305.

Let’s call Hobo’s a “neighborhood” diner…the joint has been around for something like 11 years. Check www.hobosgourmetkitchen.net for menu/prices. Table seating for about 100 and a small counter that handles 6.

Absolutely-nothing fancy going on here…as a matter of fact, absolutely-nothing gourmet going on here, either. That said, this is exactly the type of joint that old Jeff Eats loves to eat in. Think “short order” and you got Hobo’s number…loads of breakfast stuff, salads, grilled burgers, sandwiches—throw in a $7.95 “all you can eat” salad bar-and-for an extra buck-you can slurp all of the soup that you’d like.

Just so you know, I have eaten 2x at Hobo’s and have yet to see anyone wearing a tuxedo or for that matter a gown (nowadays gotta be politically correct), then again 1-meal was breakfast and 1-meal was lunch, so that may-be why? Really-good 1/2 lb cheeseburger/fries ($7)–grilled reuben/fries ($7.95)–western omelet ($5.95).

Like I said before, I got a special “place in the heart” for the Hobo’s of the world. It’s joints like this, that make eating out a worthwhile endeavor.

If you like diner-food, you’ll love Hobo’s.

Go figure!!…Hobo’s is open Monday-Friday 7am-3pm and Sunday 8am-2pm. The joint is closed on Saturday, like I said, Go Figure!

Shanghai City Chinese Restaurant, 7860 Glades Road, Boca Raton, Florida 33434, (561) 482-1321.

At the suggestion of a few of you guys…Jeff Eats gave this Chinese joint a shot.

Mediocre Chinese food at best.

What really pissed me off…one of the dishes ordered- “Seafood Hot Pot” ($19.95) was to “contain” shrimp, scallops and lobster meat. When the dish arrived, the kitchen had substitued cubes of T-O-F-U for the lobster. When questioned, the waitress after checking with the kitchen said– “The kitchen was out of lobster, so they put tofu in instead.”

This joint won’t ever see Jeff Eats again.

***** Ruven’s, 13800 Jog Road, Delray Beach, Florida 33484, (561) 499-9003.

Bingo!— Home Run!

If you are looking for a terrific-New York Kosher Style Deli—your wish has been answered. Say hello, to Ruven’s which opened last Wednesday in Delray Beach. For right now, the joint is open 7 days a week from 8am-3pm—look for “dinner” to be added sometime in late March.

Just some background info… “this” Ruven’s is owned by Steve Ratinetz who in the mid 1990’s-2003 owned/operated Ruven’s in Plainview, New York—which was an absolutely terrific kosher deli. My January 25, 2011 Ruven’s of Long Island writeup- has more “history” if you are a history-buff.

You know and I know, that South Florida has more bagel delis than you can shake a stick at…just for the record, Ruven’s is not and I repeat the word NOT, a bagel deli. For sure, it has the requisite “500” types of bagels, bialys and onion boards—that said, this joint is all about pastrami- corned beef- brisket- turkey- stuffed derma- potato pancakes- blintzes, chopped liver-stuffed cabbage-fried kreplach-matzo ball soup—that rival the best stuff served in NYC, Chicago…or for that matter, anywhere that you formerly called home.

If there is one thing that Jeff Eats knows—it’s good deli.

This afternoon, in no particular order– I did a “taste test” of pastrami, corned beef, brisket, turkey off the bone, matzo ball soup, cabbage soup, stuffed derma, potato pancakes, chopped liver. fried kreplach…absolutely delicious.

Based on Jeff Eats’ “maiden outing”—I’m putting Ruven’s right up there with South Florida’s best New York Kosher Style Delis. Throw-in huge portions at reasonable prices…and I can’t see Ruven’s not quickly developing an enormous following.

You now know about a terrific deli—this one is a keeper!