***** Cannoli Kitchen, 2001 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton, Florida 33431 (561) 338-2929…22191 Powerline Road, Boca Raton, Florida 33433 (561) 955-8880…7720 West Commercial Boulevard, Lauderhill, Florida 33351 (954) 741-3939.

Cannoli Kicthen is “basically” an Italian takeout joint (very limited indoor-outdoor seating). It currently has three locations, 2-in Boca Raton, 1-in Lauderhill. Just so you know, over the years I must have taken-food out from the Boca stores something like 25 times…I have not been to the Lauderhill location.

At this stage of the game, let’s check Cannoli’s website www.cannolikitchen.com for menu/prices/photos.

Cannoli Kitchen’s menu is loaded with appetizers, salads, subs, pizzas, pastas, meat-seafood-chicken entrees. Now get this…Cannoli’s food is probably as good if not better than your favorite “mom & pop” red-sauce joint….pricewise—(now don’t forget we are talking takeout here)probably cheaper than your local favorite’s numbers…for example a veal parm dinner with pasta side -garlic bread is $12.95 and a chicken parm dinner goes for $9.95.

Like I said before, over the years…my family has been a steady customer of the Boca joints. I love Cannoli’s pizza…the veal parm and chicken parm subs are also excellen, same goes for the caesar-chicken salad. Let’s put it this way, this joint has never disappointed.

Let’s call Cannoli Kitchen a niche player…So if real-good “red sauce” Italian takeout is your game, you now know about a joint that is open 7 days a week 11am-10pm for limited eat-in, pickup, or delivery

***** VIVA *****

Last Saturday night (9/26/09) I attended a private “Woodstock” party at the Woodfield Country Club in Boca Raton, something like 280 people were there. The dance music was provided by VIVA a Miami based quartet that covers the hits from the 1950’s-today. Good, would be an understatement. In my day, I have seen a number of legend-tribute-cover rock bands…these guys are right up there with the best. I am telling you, that when they did Joe Cocker, if you closed your eyes, you’d swear that old Joe himself was there. Absolutely amazing Beatles-Rascals-Dion & The Belmonts-Jefferson Airplane-Four Seasons covers. These guys can play anything and play it well.

If this type of music is your bag, I would suggest that you check Viva’s website www.vivarockband.com (for gig-schedule) as they play numerous bars, clubs, restaurants, resorts in South Florida.

***** Taso’s Greek Taverna, 14802 South Military Trail, Delray Beach, Florida 33484 (561) 637-7671.

Let me be up front with you guys…Greek food isn’t exactly “up there” on my-must-eat-list. That said, every so often to keep peace with the family or friends, I’ll do a Greek joint.

The other night I “did” Taso’s Greek Taverna in Delray Beach. Think–Greek diner look with a small outdoor eating patio and you got the decor. Check the joint’s website www.tasosgreektaverna.com for menu/prices/photos/info.

Like I said, not a big fan of this kind of stuff…Taste-test of grilled chicken pita, pork souvlaki pita, grilled sausage pita…not bad, not bad at all…actually, the stuff was quite good. Taso’s menu has loads of appetizers, salads, pitas, wraps, platters.

Just so you know, thankfully, Taso’s isn’t a “table top dancing” joint…nor a “throw the plate on the floor” joint. That’s good…I hate forced-fun. Taso’s is a straight up–no frills– Greek joint with very reasonable prices and very-very pleasant service.

I enjoyed my dinner. Like I said before, I’m not the “go to guy” on Greek joints…don’t care for the cheeses used, most of the sauces used, the over-use of lemon in dishes.

Taso’s is open for lunch Monday-Saturday 11am-3pm and dinner Monday-Sunday 5pm-9pm.

Twin Palms Restaurant at Embassy Suites, 661 Northwest 53rd Street, Boca Raton, Florida 33487, (561) 989-3978.

Twin Palms is located in the lobby of the Embassy Suites…the joint does breakfast, lunch and dinner 365 days a year. If you are a guest at the hotel, the buffet breakfast comes “free” with your room. The lunch and dinner menus are loaded with appetizers, salads, sandwiches, burgers and meat-seafood-chicken entrees.

Now…I am just talking Dinner here. Let’s make this as painless as possible, DON’T. A recent taste test of grilled chicken breast, grilled salmon, shrimp scampi, not good. The food is strictly mediocre hotel food…nothing more and nothing less…throw in, eating in the middle of a hotel-lobby with everyone and their mother walking-bye…enough said!!

***** Happy Birthday Pastrami Queen, 7132 Beracasa Way, Boca Raton, Florida 33433 (561) 391-8989.

Back on September 12, 2008 I told you guys about Pastrami Queen which was a brand-new “NYC-Kosher-Style” deli that had just opened in Boca Raton. Save me some-time and read that writeup and check the joint’s website www.pastramiqueenofboca.com for menu/prices.

My original review was a “rave” review…I absolutely loved the food and NYC deli “ambiance.” Here we are, 1-year later (give or take a few days)…and I have to tell you that Pastrami Queen is not just some some flash-in-the pan…For sure, pastrami, brisket, corned beef, turkey off the bone are all “personal” picks, but having eaten in/taken out from this joint at least 30 times…I’m gonna make a call here…Pastrami Queen is the best South Florida—New York Style Deli that I have been to during the past 18 years. There are some worthy competitors, but the PQ’s amazing consistency gets the nod.

If you check Jeff Eats…I’m no slouch when it comes to eating at bagel and deli joints. Trust me on this…and I really mean it, I know good deli stuff. Pastrami Queen makes outrageously “good everything”…pastrami-corned beef-brisket-turkey-roast chicken-cabbage/matzoh ball/beef & barley soup, corned beef & cabbage, french fries, mandel bread…you name it and it is top-notch.

All I can say, is “Happy Birthday Pastrami Queen.”

***** Big Tomato Market Grill, 8300 Pines Boulevard, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33024 (954) 704-0100.

You guys know, or should know…that I love eating in “mom & pop–red sauce Italian” joints. For sure, some are better than others…but unless the joint is horrendous… I really love loading up (amongst other things) on garlic knots, caesar salad, veal parmigiana, chicken marsala, penne ala vodka, crispy pizza, linguine with white clam sauce and unlimited Coke refills. Sort of like a pig in heaven. Anyway…a week or so ago, I did the “aforesaid” stuff (there were four of us) at Big Tomato Market Grill and I gotta tell you, this is a really good neighborhood joint. It’s probably as good as your local favorite…and its prices and service are neighborhood prices- service…I think the most expense dish we had was like 18 bucks. You can check Tomato’s website www.bigtomatogrillandmarket.com for menu/prices.

Now, you know and I know…there are loads of “mom & pop” Italian joints down here…If you live in Pembroke Pines, you now know about one of the better players.

Big Tomato is open Monday-Thursday 11am-11pm, Friday 11am-11:30pm, Saturday 11;30am-11:30pm and Sunday 10:30am-11am.

***** Boca Diner, 2801 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton, Florida 33431 (561) 750-6744.

If you have been down here for any length of time…you know that one of the great mysteries of South Florida is…Why aren’t there any New York Style diners down here? For sure we-got 24-hour Lester’s Diner on State Road 84 in Fort Lauderdale, but after that, the pickings are reaaaaal slim.

Anyway…let me start by saying, that in all likely-hood, that favorite Bronx-Manhattan-Brooklyn-Queens-Staten Island diner that you left behind, is better than the Boca Diner located in Boca Raton (where else?). Then again…beggars can’t be choosey.

The Boca Diner’s got the booths, the formica, the handful of Greek dishes, the challah bread, the pastries and more breakfast-lunch-dinner “specials” than you’ll know what to do with. The food is decent, fairly priced and the service is “diner-service.”

Now if you squint…you’ll think (for a few seconds anyway) that you are back-up North.

The Boca Diner is a good joint to know about…when you are looking for a change from the bagel-deli joint scene.

The Boca Diner is open Sunday-Thursday 6am-9pm and Friday-Saturday 6am-10pm.

***** Palermo’s Bakery, 140 North Congress Avenue, Boynton Beach, Florida 33486 (561) 737-8500.

If you are “on” Weight Watchers, The Hollywood Cookie Diet, Jenny Craig’s, Nutri Systems…Jeff Eats is thinking that-you are probably gonna hate this joint because- (you fill in the blank) ______________!

Palermo’s is a terrific “Italian Bakery” located in Boynton Beach. You name it…cannolis-eclairs-tiramisu- pastries-cakes-pies-breads-rolls-ices…and this joint-got it.

Palermo’s is one of the top Italian bakeries in South Florida.

Its stuff is outrageously good.

If Italian bakeries (I love them) are your game…

Palermo’s is open Tuesday-Saturday 7:30am-7pm, Sunday 8am-4pm, closed on Monday.

***** Latitudes Restaurant, 2809 South Ocean Boulevard, Highland Beach, Florida 33487 (561) 278-2008.

I am now going to tell you about an absolutely terrific “American-Style” joint that very few people know about…that is, unless you are a “real local.”

Now don’t get nervous, but I want you to definitely try—Latitudes Restaurant which is located in the Holiday Inn at Highland Beach. This casual (your shorts/tee shirt ensemble will work well here) restaurant is located right on the Atlantic Ocean Beach and has both indoor and outdoor seating. Like I said, it is real casual…but it is a great looking joint and the water-view is amazing.

Latitudes does breakfast-lunch-dinner. Just so you know, this isn’t some-junky overpriced “in-house” hotel restaurant. I have eaten numerous lunches and dinners and I rate Latitudes right up there with some of the best casual-American Style joints in South Florida.

Latitudes’ lunch-dinner menu is loaded with moderately priced appetizers, salads, sandwiches, burgers, meat-seafood-chicken entrees. I am telling you, that its… French onion soup, sauteed yellowtail snapper, shrimp scampi, broiled pork chops, bacon cheeseburger, grilled chicken caesar salad, crab-lobster cakes are top-notch.

This one is an absolute must try…Don’t let the “in” the Holiday Inn address scare you off.

Latitudes is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner 7 days a week.

Copper Canyon Grill, 2006 Northwest Executive Center Circle, Boca Raton, Florida 33431 (561) 893-8838.

Just had dinner in a brand-new “American-style” joint…Copper Canyon Grill located in Boca Raton. The joint has been open something like 1- week.

The best way to describe Copper Canyon…it sort of looks like Houston’s, J. Alexander’s and J. Mark’s. If you check Copper Canyon’s website www.ccgrill.com you will find menu/photos which will give you some idea as to what the joint is all about.

A moment ago I said that Copper Canyon “sort of looks like…” well that’s where the comparison ends. Houston’s, J. Alexander’s, J. Mark’s all have good-food…sorry to report, Copper’s food isn’t very good.

A taste test of…bbq ribs, rotisserie chicken, prime rib burger ( meat burger topped with sliced prime rib)—found everything and I do mean everything OVER SALTED BEYOND BELIEF…the same went for the french fries, green beans and broccolino sides. Amazingly, even when the dishes were sent back, they “returned” seemingly-more salty than the first time out. Gunga Din would have made a fortune working this joint.

Now let’s talk prices…1-iced-coffee, 1-beer, 2 house salads, 1 bbq ribs entree, 1 rotisserie chicken (white meat only) entree, 1 rotisserie chicken/bbq ribs combo entree, 1 prime rib burger…$140 (tax and tip included). What a waste of money! Waaay Overpriced!…not to mention, the food stunk…let’s not even mention, that there is no bread basket to “get you started.”

Now let’s talk service…the joint is only 1-week old, so being a fair minded guy, let’s just say that it was “OK”…if the service “is” the same 3-4 weeks from now…that “OK”-goes to stinks.

If the guys who own this joint really think that they can compete with Houston’s, J. Alexander’s, J. Mark’s or for that matter The Cheesecake Factory in the S. Florida market, I got a– bridge in Brooklyn that I want to sell them.

Copper Canyon is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.

Let’s make this one-simple…Jeff Eats won’t be back for a second go-round.