***** Nexxt Cafe, 700 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, Florida 33139 (305) 532-6566.

This afternoon (Good Friday), I was down in South Beach- playing “tourist” with my wife and two visiting kids…Lincoln Road was absolutely packed. Anyway…I gave Nexxt Cafe an “American style diner with a full bar” a shot…think Cheesecake Factory with indoor and huge-outdoor patio seating and-you got the picture. Check www.nexxtcafe.com for menu.

Nexxt’s menu is loaded with “everything” that your little heart could desire…appetizers, salads, pizza, pastas, mexican stuff, burgers, sandwiches, meat/seafood/chicken entrees. The prices aren’t bad. Service is good. The food is very good. The portions are very-very generous.

For lunch, I sampled…burger sliders (4 for $9.95), orange chicken ($18.95), caesar salad with grilled chicken ($14.95), beef stir fry salad ($13.95). All 4 dishes were very good. I will tell you, that the orange chicken which came on a bed of white rice, was one of the best “orange chicken” dishes that I have had in recent memory. The sauce was extremely tasty and the chicken had a super thin crust. Let me also mention, that the orange chicken dish can easily feed 3 people, samething for the caesar salad, absolutely humongous. The beef stir fry is good for 2 people.

Now, you and I both know, that much of South Beach is nothing but a “tourist trap”…well, Nexxt Cafe gives tourists and “us” locals a great meal for the money.

Just a heads up…a 15% gratuity is automatically applied to parties 5 and under and 18% is applied to parties 6 and over…

The joint is open Sunday-Thursday 11am-11:30pm and Friday-Saturday 11am-12:30am.

***** JP’s Bagel Place, 2649 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, Florida 33020 (954) 921-9483.

On December 12, 2008, I told you guys about JP’s Bagel Place…well, until a few days ago, I hadn’t been back–and things were just as terrific as I remembered.

JP’s Bagel Place in Hollywood is a “bagel-deli-diner”…maybe the joint seats 20 people. Check JP’s website www.jpsbagelplace.com for menu/prices/photos.

I love–and–I do mean love, hole in the wall joints like JP’s…nothing fancy, nothing expensive—just, good food, good service, good prices. JP’s has been around since 1982, so you got to figure…it must be doing something right.

A recent outing had me doing…western omelette (home fries, plain bagel $5.95), cheeseburger & fries ($4.95), chicken parm sub (chips, $6.25), philly cheesesteak sub (chips $6.50). Like I said before, good solid DINER FOOD.

JP’s does breakfast & lunch…Monday-Friday 7am-2pm and Saturday-Sunday 7am-1pm.

***** Porto Bella Italian Restaurant, 9770 South Military Trail, Boynton Beach, Florida 33436 (561) 738-5600.

If you can handle it, I got a real good–casual–reasonably priced-red sauce Italian joint for you…in Boynton Beach. Typical “mom & pop” decor inside…huge outdoor patio seating area. When you check Porto’s website www.portobellaitalian.com for menu/prices– also take a look at the “tons” of photos that are there—that outdoor patio is something a little different than your neighborhood pizza-joint..but don’t-you worry– your shorts and tee shirts are gonna work just fine.

Porto has a real nice menu loaded with appetizers, salads, pastas, subs, pizzas, meat-seafood-chicken entrees. Just so you know, with those entrees, you get a soup/or salad-pasta side-garlic rolls…

At this point of the discussion let me tell you, I really enjoyed Porto. This is basically a neighborhood joint, yet it is REALLY DONE WELL. Good food. Good service. Good Prices. Good–“ambiance.”

The other night I “did” chicken cacciatore (on the bone $18), shrimp scampi ($22), zuppa di clams red sauce linguine ($19), veal parmigiana ($18), eggplant parmigiana ($14), chicken marsala ($19). Like I said before, real-good food.

You know and I know “all about” the red sauce joints that dot the South Florida landscape…seemingly, every strip center has one of these restaurants, come to think of it, sometimes even two or three of them- (you do know that most landlords down here, don’t believe in giving tenant’s “exclusives”…don’t you?) Anyway…Porto Bella is like a breath of fresh air—on a nice Florida night, that outdoor patio is dynamite… throw in the good food, etc. and you got a winner.

Porto Bella is open Monday-Thursday 11:30am-9pm, Friday-Saturday 11:30am-10pm and Sunday 4pm-9pm.

***** Papa Giuseppe Restaurant & Pizzeria, 660 Linton Boulevard, Delray Beach, Florida 33444 (561) 272-8585.

About a week or so ago…I found this real casual-resasonably priced “red sauce–mom & pop” Italian joint in a crap-strip center in Delray Beach. Trust me on this one…from the outside, it looks like a real dump, but inside it’s a really cool looking “pizza joint” with a handful of round tables and booths. Absolutely and I do mean ABSOLUTELY nothing fancy here, so feel free to where your favoirte shorts and tee shirt ensemble.

Anyway… the two guys who own Papa Giuseppe (Giuseppe-that figures and Tony) really know how to make some delicious stuff. The menu is loaded with appetizers, salads, soups, pastas, pizzas, subs, meat-seafood-chicken entrees. They have plenty of lunch specials and the “expected dinners”–soup or salad–garlic rolls–entree–pasta side.

A recent taste-test had me doing veal parmigiana ($16.95), chicken marsala ($13.95), red snapper marinara ($18.95), penne alla vodka ($13.95), chicken alla giuseppe ($15.95–grilled chicken, roasted peppers, broccoli, melted mozzarella cheese), large pizza ($11.95). Like I said before, the guys who own this joint know how to cook…I absolutely loved the food.

Just so we are 100% straight here, we are NOT talking upscale gourmet Italian food here…we are talking, neighborhood mom & pop–red sauce–pizza joint stuff. To be perfectly honest with you, I could eat stuff like this every night, along with God only knows how many Coke refills.

If you live or work in Papa Giuseppe’s neighborhood…try it. The joint is open Monday-Saturday 11am-11pm and Sunday 1pm-10pm.

***** Rickey’s Sports Bar & Grill, 8389 Pines Boulevard, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33024 (954) 744-4697.

Rickey’s Sports Bar & Grill is a “Sports Bar & Grill” located in Pembroke Pines. The joint has got some great hours for those of you who don’t have to eat by 5:30pm…Monday-Friday 4pm-4am and Saturday-Sunday noon-4am.

Now for sure, Rickey’s ain’t curing cancer here…but I got to tell you- for a “sports bar” this joint’s food is really good. You can check out all of the appetizers-soups-salads-sandwiches-burgers-wings-seafood/chicken/meat entress at www.rickeyspinesrestaurant.com. In addition to a real-good menu-selection, the prices are reasonable, there is a full bar and Rickey’s got the requisite load of flat screen tv sets…does anyone call them color tvs anymore?

I recently did…full rack of bbq babyback ribs ($17.95), bacon cheeseburger ($7.25), philly cheesesteak sandwich ($7.95), 12oz rib-eye steak ($12.95), grilled garlic shrimp with linguine ($10.95), tuna & chicken salad platter ($7.95—everything was real good.

Over the years, I have eaten in tons of sports bars…most of the time, the food in these joints is OK…but nothing to write home about. Now–not quite a first class letter, I’m gonna call Rickey’s a postcard. Enough…with the cute patter…I enjoyed the food and will definitely keep Rickey’s in mind for a second and third visit.

***** Pearl’s New Generation Restaurant, 618 Lantana Road, Lantana, Florida 33462 (561) 582-4366.

In a nutshell, Pearl’s is a “neighborhood diner” with a small sports-bar thrown in for good measure. From what I understand, Pearl who is something like 95, opened this joint back in 1965…and currently runs it with her kids, grand-kids and other family members.

Right up front, if you are looking for “fancy-schmanzy” there is no need for you to read any further. Pearl’s is as basic of a joint that you’ll find. Formica tables, worn stools at the counter…this is not The Cheesecake Factory, J. Alexander’s or Houston’s…I’ll bet you a meal, that when Pearl’s opened in 1965 it looked exactly as it does today…except for the small sports-bar addition, which looks 2000ish.

Anyway…Pearl’s does breakfast-lunch-dinner…with a nice menu of appetizers, salads, soups, sandwiches, burgers, meat-seafood-chicken entrees, desserts….check menu/prices at www.pearlshomecooking.com.

I have eaten at Pearl’s twice…one breakfast and one lunch. Did a western omelete, french toast, pancakes…bacon cheeseburger, philly cheese steak sandwich, tuna melt sandwich. Let there be no mistake here, THIS IS DINER FOOD. Absolutely- positively nothing fancy here…just, good- solid- tasty food at very reasonable prices. Like I said before, the joint does breakfast-lunch-dinner…with dinner featuring an “$11.99 early bird special” soup or salad, entree, potato, coffee, dessert.

I love joints like Pearl’s. They are a throwback to the way America use to be before big-chains took over everything.

Pearl’s is open Monday-Saturday 6am-10pm and Sunday 6am-2pm.

***** Umberto’s of Long Island Pizza & Restaurant, 23001 State Road 7, Boca Raton, Florida 33428 (561) 477-2500.

Way back, on April 25, 2008 I told you guys about a terrific pizza joint that I had found—Umberto’s in Pompano Beach. Over the past 2- years I’ve been to “this” Umberto’s maybe 5-6 times and the pizza has always been terrific. Real NYC styled pizza, thin-crisp-sweet sauce-oil drips out of the slice when pointed down.

If you do some Googling…you will find that there are literally more Umberto’s in Florida than there are Chins in a Chinese phonebook. Sort of like, Ray’s Pizza in NYC, with everyone claiming to be the “original”…

Anyway…since my writeup in April 2008, the Umberto’s that I am talking about, added 3 more locations. I’ll give you all of the addresses at the end of this story.

Last night I had a “Grandma” pizza…square (but not as thick as a Sicilian pizza) at the Boca Raton joint. Absolutely delicious. One of the best pizzas I’ve had down here in South Florida.

So…I thought I’d remind and update you guys on where you can get some heavy duty delicious pizza. By the way, Umberto’s does salads, pastas, calzones, and other stuff—but the real game here, is outrageously good pizza.

Now for the addresses:

Boca Raton: 23001 State Road 7 (I know that the address is at the top of the writeup, but I’m making a list here for you guys).

Pompano Beach: 2780 East Atlantic Boulevard, (954) 784-7110.

Fort Lauderdale: 3051 East Commercial Boulevard (954) 776-0258.

Deerfield Beach: 233 Northeast Avenue (aka North Ocean Drive) (954) 421-7200.

***** Village Tavern, 1880 North Congress Avenue, Boynton Beach, Florida 33426 (561) 853-0281.

Last night I gave Village Tavern an “American Style” joint located in Boynton Beach a shot…there is also a Village Tavern in Pembroke Pines—when you check the joint’s website www.villagetavern.com for menu/prices you will find that there are a handful more in several other states.

Village Tavern seats something close to 300. There is a dining room and separate bar area.

The best way to describe Village Tavern’s decor—think Cheesecake Factory, Houston’s, J. Alexander’s and you got the picture.

Last night, this joint was jammed. I will tell you, that an 8pm reservation for 4–was honored.

Now let’s talk food…the menu is loaded with appetizers, salads, pastas, sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, meat-seafood-chicken entrees. This evening I “did” bbq pulled pork sliders (3-with french fries $8.50), bacon cheeseburger ($9.95), grilled talapia ($16.95), grilled chicken & penne ($14.50), shrimp scampi ($15.95)…I enjoyed all of the food, except the french fries which were on the “limp” side.

Village Tavern is a WINNER. Nice sized portions. Very reasonable prices. Pleasant and competent waitstaff.

Village Tavern is open Monday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-11am, Sunday 10am-11pm.

***** Philippe, 2305 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida 33139 (305) 674-0250.

Philippe is a VERY UPSCALE WHITE TABLECLOTH CHINESE RESTAURANT…this joint is 2-floors, seats 400 and is located in the Gansevoort Hotel. You can check www.philippechow.com for menu/prices/photos.

Got some good news and bad news here…first the good news, the food is very good…now for the bad news, the prices are obscene, that’s right OBSCENE. I recently did, wonton soup ($10), 3 spring rolls ($22), spare ribs ($18), 6 pork fried dumplings ($12), sweet & sour chicken (for 2-$44), sweet & sour pork (for 2-$52), roast pork fried rice (for 2-$12), chicken & broccoli (for 2-$44). Like I said before, VERY GOOD.

Now– I don’t know what your favorite South Florida Chinese joint is…but, I’ll bet that Philippe’s food is as good if not better…that said, I’m also willing to bet, that your favorite “mom & pop” is at least half the price per “dish”– and that you get a whole lot more food for your money.

By now it should be obvious, that Philippe isn’t your typical “Special $7.95”–appetizer-soup-main dish-white rice-dessert… neighborhood Chinese joint. That said, Monday-Saturday from noon-4pm you can get soup/or appetizer, entree, white rice, dessert for $20.10…not exactly a bargain basement type deal, but a vast improvement over the dinner-menu prices.

So…do we spend the cash at the upscale joint–or do we stay with the neighborhood joints? I say, what the heck, you only go-round once, so give Philippe a shot…but not too often, now!!

Philippe is open for lunch- Monday-Saturday noon-4pm…for dinner- Monday-Saturday 6pm-midnight & Sunday 3pm-midnight.

***** New York New York Restaurant, 11011 Southwest 104th Street, Miami, Florida 33176 (305) 595-8000.

Let me start off by saying, that New York New York is my kind-a of joint…other reviewers have labeled it a “New York Style Deli”…personally, I’d call it “New York Style Deli Meets New York Style Greek Diner.” The joint has been around since 1978 and if you check its menu at www.newyorknewyorkrestaurant.com you will find that it literally has everything from bagels & cream cheese–to pastrami on rye–to blackened grouper– to fettuccini alfredo–to shrimp creole. That my friends says NY DELI-GREEK DINER.

Anyway…the food is very-very good. If I lived near this joint, I’d be there at least twice a week and end up weighing around 527. Then again, I could always buy one of those “Spanx” undershirts and eat there every day. New York New York does breakfast-lunch-dinner. A recent outing had me “sampling”… pastrami on rye, chicken salad on white toast, bacon cheese burger, rumanian skirt steak, stuffed cabbage, potato pancakes, matzo ball soup, chopped chicken liver. Special mention goes out to the potato pancakes and the chicken salad…outstandingly delicious.

New York New York is open Monday-Thursday 7:30am-11pm, Friday 7:30am-midnight, Saturday 8am-midnight, Sunday 8am-11pm.