***** 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.

***** Ryan and The Rockers *****

If classic 1950’s-1960’s Rock N’ Roll is your bag…I got an absolutely great– local cover-band for you…Ryan and The Rockers

I recently caught these guys in action at one of my favorite English pub joints…John Bull English Pub in West Palm Beach (see review: Other: 1/24/09) and they are absolutely sensational. Great–Beatles, Elvis, Holly, Righteous Brothers’ covers.

Check Ryan’s website myspace.com/ryanandtherockers1 to see some real good video and to check their calendar.

Ryan and The Rockers works all over South Florida…bars, restaurants, hotels, private clubs. Lead by Ryan (that makes sense) these 4-guys will take you back to the 50’s-60’s. Great dance band.

Like I said, if 1950’s-1960’s Rock N’ Roll is your game…then you definitely want to catch Ryan and The Rockers.

One final thought…when groups like Ryan and The Rockers work bars-restaurants…there are usually no cover charges to watch them.

***** Restaurant.Com *****

I recently came across Restaurant.Com (restaurant.com).

This company sells “discount” dining certificates. There are loads of South Florida restaurants listed and my “checking” has found that the company is 100% legit. There are all kinds of “deals” offered…with most saving you at least 50%…you know, buy $50 for $25.

Check this site out.

***** Bagels & Co., 11064 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Florida 33161 (305) 892-2435.

I-now do you a solid–one of the best bagel-deli joints in all of South Florida…Bagels & Co.

Take a look at this joint’s website www.bagelsandcompany.com for menu/prices/photos.

Now, we could sit and debate “who” makes the best bagels in South Florida…and never ever agree. Is it Sage? Is it Bagel City South? Is it Way Beyond Bagels? Is it???????

What I do know…if a bagel ain’t hand rolled, boiled and then baked…it absolutely-positively can’t be considered “best” of anything.

The bagels at Bagels & Co. are hand rolled, boiled and baked. Now, I am not saying they are the best…but they are RIGHT UP THERE WITH THE BEST!!!

This is a terrific joint. Great bagels. Really good “NYC Jewish Style” deli meats, appetizing. Just so we are straight, this is “still” just a bagel-deli joint, so I don’t want you to confuse it with the top-notch DELIS out there like, Pastrami Queen, Pomperdale’s, Ben’s, Pastrami Club. But…Bagels & Co. does a real good job, in the bagel-deli “arena.”

I am telling you, the bagels alone make this joint…which just happens to be open 6am-4pm 365 days a year…a must try.

***** Duffy’s Diner, 925 Cypress Creek Road, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33334 (954) 491-3584.

By now, you guys know or should know, that I love diners…for sure, some diners are better than others, but nothing beats, that formica look—those greasy burgers, fries covered in ketchup, omeletes-sausage links-bacon, open faced roast beef sandwiches and glass cabinets filled with huge chocolate cakes and cigar-pastries.

Got a real good one for you…Duffy’s Diner in Fort lauderdale. The joint’s menu is loaded with breakfast stuff, salads, soups, sandwiches, entree specials.

The “only” problem…this joint doesn’t do dinner. Duffy’s is open Monday-Friday 6:30am-3pm, Saturday 6:30am-2:30pm and Sunday 6:30am-1:30pm. Doesn’t anyone down here eat breakfast after 3pm? I know that I do.

Anyway…the joint serves breakfast “all-day”…perfect diner food. As far I am concerned, Duffy’s can hold its own against -NYC diners, of course that all ends at mid-afternoon.

This one is a keeper…If you are looking for a DINER, Duffy’s is for you.

***** Hash House Diner, 1602 South Cypress Creek Road, Pompano Beach, Florida 33060 (954) 788-6388.

Got a really good “mom & pop” diner for you…Hash House Diner in Pompano Beach.

From what I understand, this 45 red/white checkerboard table-cloth seater started out 2-years ago as a Hungarian restaurant…then, in April, 2009 a fellow who goes by the name “Chef Quinn” bought it and converted it into a DINER.

Anyway…this fellow Chef Quinn sure knows what he is doing. I did both a breakfast and lunch “outing”…and I got to tell you, the food was really-good.

On the breakfast visit…I sampled a western omelete ($6.49), 2 scrambled eggs-2 pancakes-2 strips of bacon-hash browns ($5.99)…For lunch I “did” 1/4 lb hamburger ($5.99), caesar salad (7.99), chicken parm sub ($6.99). Like I said before, really-good.

I don’t know about you, but I love finding these “strip-center” hole in the walls…the help is great, the prices just right…I think that the most expensive thing on the menu is 11 bucks…and the food “takes me back” to Brooklyn circa 1960.

I definitely want you to try the burgers…The joint does 1/4-1/2-1lb burgers… and I am telling you — the 1/4 pounder I had was diner-perfect. You diner-fans out there, know what “diner-perfect” means.

Hash House has a real nice menu…it isn’t huge, but it has enough breakfast stuff, soups, salads, sandwiches burgers, wings, and dinners…so nobody’s gonna starve.

One thing that needs “correcting”…no way, no how do you serve Hunt’s Catsup…it’s Heinz allll the waaay!

Hash House Diner is open Monday-Saturday 7am-8pm and Sunday 8am-3pm.

If neighborhood diners are your game, this joint will be right up you alley.

***** Teal Bistro Americana, 1103 East Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301 (954) 712-8933.

Let me start by saying…shorts/tee shirts ain’t gonna work at this semi-upscale-white tablecloth “American-Style” joint. At this juncture, check Teal’s website www.tealbistro.com for menu/prices/photos.

Teal’s is a great looking joint. Save me the trouble of trying to describe the decor and just look at the photos on the website. To my taste, the menu is kind-of limited, but there are enough appetizers, salads and entrees…so no one is gonna starve…At first blush, the prices look a-bit high, but based on how delicious the food is…and how professional the service is…you get your money’s worth. Don’t worry, you won’t need a second job, to pay the bill.

Teal only does-dinner…7 days a week starting at 5pm.

I recently “sampled” the house-chopped salad, aruguela salad, crab cake appetizer, grilled salmon, grilled lamb chops and bone-in rib-eye steak. Every item was delicious. In particular, that 14oz cowboy rib eye, was as good as I have eaten down here in S. Florida… and I thought that the cheddar smashed potatoes that came with it, hit the spot…the $36 price-tag was a bit up there.

This joint has a full-bar…and like I said, a great looking semi-upscale decor. Vibrant crowd…and a terrific hustle-bustle to it, that just adds something to the whole dining experience…

If you can get past the “no shorts” bit…I did…then you definitely want to give Teal Bistro Americana a shot.