***** 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.

***** 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.