***** Walter’s Coffee Shop, 17009 South Dixie Highway, Palmetto Bay, Florida 33157 (305) 232-1235.

Let’s call Walter’s Coffee Shop a “greasy spoon diner.” The joint has been around (in one form or another) since 1965 and other than a flat screen tv…the joint is still 1965!

Walter’s is my kinda joint…big breakfasts, burgers, onion rings, french fries drenched in ketchup. You can booth it or sit at the counter.

A recent outing had me “doing” a bacon cheeseburger/fries/onion rings—tuna on white toast—blt. This is a DINER. Nothing and I do mean NOTHING fancy here.

I don’t know about you guys, but I grew up in Brooklyn in the 1950’s-1960’s on mom & pop joints just like Walter’s. Back then, my favorites were the “Federal” on Cortelyou Road and “George’s” on Coney Island Avenue.

You can check walterscoffeeshop.com for menu/prices/photos/other stuff.

Walter’s is good stuff. Good prices. Good service. It’s a throwback to the way things use to be, before huge chains took over the world.

Walter’s is open Monday-Friday 5:30am-2:30pm, Saturday 5;30am-1pm and is closed on Sunday.

***** Brian Bergdoll *****

Got something a little different to tell you about…Brian Bergdoll, a John Travolta–Mick Jagger impersonator. I saw this guy in action at the Woodfield Country Club on November 14th-15th…and I got to tell you, I have never seen a more dead-on impersonator than Brian. You’d swear that John Travolta and Mick Jagger were singing and dancing right in front of you. What amazed me, is the level of energy that this guy has…he was on non-stop on Saturday the 14th from 7:30pm-12:30pm and then again on Sunday the 15th from noon-3pm.

Brian’s website is www.briantravolta.com.

Just so you know, although Brian is based out of New York City.. he performs at parties,clubs and corporate functions all over the United States. I also understand that Brian’s rates are extremely reasonable.

So…if you want something special for an event…you now know about Brian Bergdoll.

***** Marley’s Island Time Bar & Grill, 800 Palm Trail, Delray Beach, Florida 33483 (561) 243-9924.

Marley’s Island Time…food with a Carribean spin. Eat inside or outside under a covered patio. The menu isn’t gigantic, but there is enough of a choice so nobody’s gonna get pissed.

I really enjoyed this joint…we sat outside. A recent outing had me doing…curried shrimp, Jamaican jerk chicken, ribeye steak, bbq ribs, broiled salmon. Like I said before, Carribean spin…but you can get some basic “American” dishes –like burgers. On the price front…that ribeye will set you back $18.50 and the ribs run $17.25…salmon fetches $18.50. The lunch menu has many of the same dishes at discounted prices. Nice sized portions. Very pleasant wait-staff.

For menu/prices…check Marley’s website www.marleysislandtime.com

Marley’s is closed on Monday…Breakfast–Saturday & Sunday… Lunch & Dinner–Tuesday-Sunday.

Just so you know, the joint’s got white table cloths…but it is real easy and your tee shirt–shorts ensemble will work quite nicely.

***** Bagel Bagel Cafe, 6370 North State Road 7, Coconut Creek, Florida 33073 (954) 427-7912.

Bagel Bagel is a “self-serve” bagel joint…order at/pickup at the counter.

For our purposes, there is a Bagel Bagel located in Coconut Creek…there are also 3 locations in Tallahassee, 1 in Ft. Myers and 1 in Orlando.

Take a look at this joint’s website www.bagelbagelcafe.com for menu details. If you are too lazy to “search” –the menu is loaded with breakfast items, specialty coffees, soups, salads, sandwiches and wraps. Prices are bagel-joint type prices…you won’t need a second job to eat breakfast or lunch at Bagel Bagel.

I like this concept. A recent outing had me “trying” tuna salad, french onion soup, grilled chicken caesar wrap, scrambled eggs with bacon/cheese on a bagel. Good stuff! Fast & Efficent! Reasonable Prices!

A nice change, from the “standard” wait-service bagel place. Real easy going…

Try this one…Bagel Bagel is open Monday-Friday 6am-5pm and Saturday-Sunday 7am-5pm.

***** Deli On Rye, 4311 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton, Florida 33431 (561) 347-1400.

Got a real good “New York Style Bagel-Deli” joint for you…Deli On Rye in Boca Raton. Just as you would expect, this hole in the wall—is located in a non-descript strip center on Federal Highway…so you’re gonna have to look real-hard for it.

Deli On Rye is not and I emphasize the word NOT…in the same league as “real delis” like Pastrami Queen, Pomperdale and Ben’s when it comes to the tradtional deli meats (corned beef, pastrami, tongue etc.)…but for a bagel-deli joint, it is one of the best that I have eaten in… down here in South Florida.

Check Deli On Rye’s website www.delionrye.com for menu/prices. One little thing that caugt my eye, the site says “Chivers Platters Available”…what in the world is a chivers platter?

Deli On Rye’s menu is loaded with appetizers, soups, salads, subs, sandwiches and all kinds of breakfast stuff. A recent outing had me “sampling” chicken salad, tuna salad, corned beef, pastrami, chicken noodle soup…the food was real good. Let’s call this joint a “hybrid”…bagel store meets deli.

Deli On Rye is open Monday=Friday 7am-4pm and Saturday-Sunday 7am-3pm.

***** ODYSSEY ROAD *****

Last night I saw a Journey-tribute band…Odyssey Road.

Let me make this short and simple—Odyssey Road, which is based in West Palm Beach, sounds EXACTLY like Journey. Odyssey Road has to be one of the best tribute bands that I have ever-ever seen. This 5-man group put on an an abolutely amazing–2-hour concert, which left the crowd of 300 screaming for more.

Odyssey Road works all over South Florida. You can check its sound-videos-schedule at www.odysseyroadband.com.

If you love Journey’s music–you will love this band.

You will swear that Journey is on the stage.

***** The Duck Tavern, 5901 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton, Florida 33487 (561) 998-8288.

The Duck Tavern is a “real neighborhood pub”…located in Boca Raton. If you are a fancy shmantzy—don’t bother reading the rest of this review, because this joint isn’t for you. Then again, if you are a regular-person who enjoys the simple pleasures of life…good-reasonably priced unpretentious food and drink, The Duck Tavern has a full bar and a menu of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, wings, pizzas and meat-chicken-seafood entrees that do the trick.

Check The Duck Tavern’s website www.theducktavern.com for menu/prices.

A recent food taste-netted me, sausage peppers & oinions sub ($7.25), chicken parm sub ($7.25), 1/2 lb cheeseburger ($7.25), 8 0z rib eye ($11.95), shepherd’s pie ($9.95)…like I said before, reasonably priced and delicious.

This is a neighborhood joint…if you are a REGULAR PERSON (you decide), I think that you will really enjoy The Duck Tavern

The joint is open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week.

***** Quickie’s Burgers & Wings, 1000 South State Road 7, Hollywood Florida, 33023 (954) 981- 9464.

Got a really good “fast food burger-wing” joint for you…Quickie’s Burgers & Wings located in Hollywood.

You can checkout Quickie’s menu/prices at www.quickiesburgersandwings.com.

Just so you know, we are absolutely-positively not talking McDonalds-Wendy’s-Burger King here…this is not a $1 menu type of joint. If you think top-quality Five Guys’ type burgers, you will appreciate what Quickie’s is all about.

Quickie’s menu has burgers, wings, chicken and mahi-mahi sandwiches, fries, onion rings…A 1/3 lb burger is gonna run you $3.99 and a 1/2 lb burger will set you back $5.29.

In a recent outing, I did a 1/3 lb bacon cheeseburger, french fries, onion rings and chicken wings. The burger which had a charcoal bbq taste was really good and right up there with the best fast-food burgers that I have eaten in South Florida. The fries and onion rings were okay–but nothing to go nuts over, the naked chicken wings with that golden bbq sauce were delicious.

Like I said before, this is a fast food joint…order at the counter, pickup at the counter. Nothing fancy here, but I am telling you that for fast food this is really good stuff.

Quickie’s is open Monday-Saturday 10am-9pm and Sunday noon-6pm.

The Capital Grille, 444 Brickell Avenue, Miami, Florida 33131 (305) 374-4500.

This evening, I had dinner in the “upscale-white tablecloth steak-joint”…The Capital Grille located in Miami.

Just so you know, The Capital Grille which has something like 32 locations in the United States is owned and operated by publiclly traded Darden Restaurants which also owns/operates Red Lobster, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze and Seasons 52 restaurants. The Capital Grille is Darden’s UPSCALE STEAKHOUSE CONCEPT.

At this juncture of the review you can check The Capital Grille’s website www.thecapitalgrille.com for menu/prices/locations.

Using a $50 gift card from American Express which also included 2 free desserts, I still managed to run-up a $250 tab for dinner for—4.

I’m not going to bother you with details…let’s just say, that the food isn’t very good…my Delmonico steak was salty and McDonald’s has better french-fries…

This joint is a rip-off…overpriced crap.

One good thing to report, we had a waiter, David M. who was outrageously good. He knew the menu inside and out…provided outstanding service and even gave me a full-walking tour of the kitchen.

The Capital Grille does lunch- Monday-Friday and dinner Monday-Sunday.

Don’t waste your time.

***As a postscript to the above…two days after eating at The Capital Grille, I contacted Darden’s corporate offices and advised the President’s Office of what a lousy meal I and my party had had. Various information was exchanged and I was assured that the individual who oversaw the South Florida Region would personally contact me to discuss the matter. Just wanted to let you guys know, that it is now July 20, 2015 and to date, I have not recieved a phone call, letter or any form of communication from anyone at Darden. Obviously, this public company couldn’t give a rats-ass about what I think about their operation. This…should give you a heads-up about what this chain’s customer service may-be all about.

***** Stop Burgers, 1793 Bell Tower Lane (Weston Town Center), Weston, Florida 33326 (954) 349-4556.

If you live in the Weston area, I got a good fast-food burger joint for you…Stop Burgers. You can check this jont’s website at www.stopburgers.com for menu/prices.

I’m gonna take a shot here…but I think that the owners of Stop Burger were “thinking” Five Guys when they “conceived” this joint. For sure the menu has more stuff than Five Guys like chicken and onion rings…but for me at least, the Five Guys vibe is there.

I enjoyed the cheeseburger. I thought that the curly fries were just okay.

Stop Burger…better than Wendy’s, Burger King…not in the same league as Five Guys.

Stop Burgers is open 7 days a week 11:30am-10pm.