***** One Of The Bests Bialys In South Florida *****

You can do the formal- research…for our puposes let’s describe a bialy as—a round chewey baked flat yeast roll with a depressed center filled with chopped onion.

If you check…over the years, I’ve “given” you guys-loads of joints that make terrific bagels. To be perfectly honest with you, up until 5 days ago, I hadn’t found a “GREAT” bialy down here in sunny South Florida. For sure, joints like Sage (Hallandale Beach), Bagel City (Boca Raton), Gramercy Bagels (Delray Beach) make a “nice” bialy but not a “GREAT” one. Anyway…like I said, 5 days ago I found a great-bialy.

Here goes…

One -of the best bialys in South Florida-can be found at The Boys Farmers Market, 14378 Military Trail, Delray Beach, Florida 33484 (561) 496-8123— You can read my May 6, 2009 writeup about this grocery-market for background info on this joint.

Now, you and I know that a bialy has to be toasted. The Boys sells a 6-pack of bialys in its bakery area for $2.89. I am telling you, that at first-glance they (the bialys) don’t look too impressive…but when you get home and pop one of these suckers (I squashed mine- so that they fit right into my toaster without cutting them) into the toaster, the bialy that pops out is absolutely sensational.

Now you know…

***** Ft Lauderdale Pizza & Pasta, 2100 East Oakland Park Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33306 (954) 566-5226.

Ft Lauderdale Pizza & Pasta is a ” neighborhood-red sauce–mom & pop” Italian joint. You can check www.ftlauderdalepizza.com for menu/prices.

Now, let’s not over think this one…it’s a NEIGHBORHOOD joint, that gives you a nice bang for the buck.

I recently did dinner (you know the drill—soup or salad, garlic rolls, entree, pasta side) “sampling” chicken parmgiana ($11.95), veal marsala ($13.95), penne ala vodka ($10.95), zuppe de clams over liguine in white clam sauce ($13.95), veal marsala ($13.95), large plain pizza ($10.50)…and I gotta tell you, that the food wasn’t half bad. Have I had better? Sure! That said…

Now-Key word here–NEIGHBORHOOD…so, if you live or work in Ft Lauderdale’s neighborhood, you now know about a relatively inexpensive joint where you can get- a real casual-decent enough Italian meal.

Ft Lauderdale Pizza & Pasta is open Monday-Saturday 11am-10pm and Sunday noon-10pm.

***** Buttercream Cupcakes, 1411 Sunset Drive, Coral Gables, Florida 33143 (305) 669-8181.

Call it a fad…call it a craze…call it whatever you’d like…gourmet cupcake stores are popping up all over South Florida (not to mention the United States).

Real simple concept— freshly baked cupcakes and coffee.

To be perfectly honest with you, I think that this concept will prove to be a short-lived fad but in the meantime, I checked-out Buttercream Cupcakes in Coral Gables…order and pickup at the counter—inside and outside seating—cupcakes run in the $2.75 neighborhood—at least 8 different flavors. A recent outing had me “sampling” chocolate, vanilla oreo, vanilla peanut butter, chocolate coconut. Let me make this real simple, really good stuff…an absolutely delicious product.

Just so we are straight…this recommendation is coming from a guy who can devour 8 glazed Dunkin Donuts while in the car on the way home— and to this very day…actually buys Hostess CupCakes (chocolate cake with white creme filling, chocolate icing/white squiggle icing) at Publix.

Like I said before, Buttercream Cupcakes are delicious. The joint is open, Monday-Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm, Sunday noon-9pm. You can check www.buttercreamcupcakes.com for “cupcake schedule.”

***** Pizza Kitchen, 12715 South Dixie Highway, Miami, Florida 33156 (305) 256-9459.

This is a follow-up to Jeff Eats’ Pizza Kitchen story dated 10/6/09.

Pizza Kitchen is a mom & pop neighborhood “takeout pizza” joint…no tables inside and 3 little plastic tables outside, so don’t plan on eating “there.” Also- don’t plan on paying with a credit card, because it’s cash only. By the way, back on October 6, 2009 I did a review on Pizza Kitchen…just checking to see if this joint is as good as I originally thought…and it is.

Pizza Kitchen makes absolutely delicious NY-style pizza…in addition to pizza there is a handful of subs and salads, but the game here is–pizza. That said…the joint also makes garlic bread-sold by the loaf which is absolutely dynamite. By the way, Pizza Kitchen in addition to pies also sells individual slices.

I recently did a plain old pie…slice was thin, crisp, sweet sauce and when folded-pointed down dripped oil…I am telling you, this joint could easily compete with most of the pizza joints in the 5 boroughs. Also did a garlic bread topped with mozzarella…suffice it to say, it was a 3-Tums night. Like they say, “no pain no gain.”

Pizza Kitchen has been around for something like 20 years. Big, loyal following. I wish this joint was in my neighborhood, but the 111 mile round trip was worth the gas which I got for the bargain price of $2.73 a gallon.

Pizza Kitchen is open Monday-Friday 11am-9pm, Saturday noon-9pm and Sunday noon-5pm.

***** V & S Italian Deli Subs and Pasta, 2621 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton, Florida 33431 (561) 395-5206.

V & S is a small Italian takeout-deli located in Boca Raton. The joint has been around since 1985-and has the full gamut of cold and hot subs/sandwiches/salads/Italian entrees/pasta dishes. On the sub price-front, figure on spending $6.50-$8 depending on whether you get small-or-large.

A recent outing had Jeff Eats and Mrs. Jeff Eats “sampling” some subs and I gotta tell you guys- absolutely top-shelf! Delicious fresh baked hard crust bread stuffed with great “fillings”- just that simple!

Like I said two seconds ago, V & S is basically a takeout (handful of wall counter seats) so don’t plan on staging big weddings, bar mitzvahs or baby namings there!

The joint is open Monday-Friday 9am-6pm, Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 10am-3pm.

***** Gabriel’s Cafe & Grille, 12793 Forest Hill Boulevard, Wellington, Florida 33414 (561) 793-0675.

Gabriel’s Cafe is a “neighborhood diner.”

I absolutely-love joints like Gabriel’s…Gabriel’s is where you “go” for big hearty-reasonably priced breakfasts—not to mention, burgers-tuna salad on rye toast, chicken noodle soup. Nothing fancy. Nothing pretentious. Nothing chain-like. No-50 different types of bagels. No-287 kinds of cream cheese. Just a throwback to the 1950’s-60’s, when all we “had” was small neighborhood diners serving us GREAT eggs-pancakes-waffles-burgers-soups-tuna sandwiches-meatloaf.

Gabriel’s is a homerun.

Gabriel’s is open Monday-Saturday 6am-3pm and Sunday 7am-2pm.

***** Uncle Mick’s Bar & Grill, 6671 Indiantown Road, Jupiter, Florida 33458 (561) 743-8330.

Uncle Mick’s Bar & Grill is a terrific joint “if” you are looking for real solid bar food-bands-poker-dancing. Take a look at Uncle Mick’s website www.unclemicks.com for menu/prices/entertainment calendar/photos.

Uncle Mick’s is my kinda joint. Casual-reasonable prices-good food—tried the grilled cheese/bacon/tomato sandwich,wings, bacon cheeseburger, french fries, onion rings, philly cheesesteak sandwich– throw in line dancing for my wife and her girlfriends (I and my male counterparts remained seated)…and Uncle Mick’s made for an unpretentious evening of fun.

Uncle Mick’s Bar & Grill is open Monday-Saturday 11am-2am and Sunday 2pm-1am.

***** The Green Owl Restaurant, 330 East Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach, Florida 33444 (561) 272-7766.

The Green Owl restaurant on “yuppie” Atlantic Avenue is a NEIGHBORHOOD DINER. Absolutely nothing fancy here…formica tables-counter seating…very beach-townish look…maybe-seats 35-some outside.

The joint is open Monday-Friday 7am-3pm, Saturday 7am-2pm, Sunday 8am-noon.

Got breakfast stuff up the wazoo,, salads, burgers, sandwiches. Not exactly bargain basement prices, but nothing that that will cause sticker shock…maybe a buck– here and there higher than a bagel-deli joint…and the food is probably better than your favorite bagel-deli joint… By the way, I “did” banana pancakes, chocolate chip pancakes, sausage & American cheese omelete—liked I said, “probably better than your favorite bagel-deli joint.”

I really enjoyed Green Owl.

***** Capri Ristorante, 39 Southeast 1st Avenue, Boca Raton, Florida 33432 (561) 391-8044.

Today is “Mother’s Day 2010″…What do you call Mother’s Day without presents…”Father’s Day.”

Anyway…last night, I had dinner at a really good Italian restaurant, Capri Ristorante- which opened in Boca Raton about 3 months ago.

Just a drop of background info…Capri Ristorante is a “small chain”…it has been around since 1985–there are currently 6 locations-5 in Chicagooo-1 in Boca—5 brothers own “the whole magilla” —the Boca joint is run by brother, Joey Capri who is no Fredo—the guy built a gorgeous 170 seat-semi upscale joint-has an attentive waitstaff-real good food-reasonable prices-and is as personable as can be, as he visits every table and cooks some “signature” dishes right out on the dining-room floor.

Let me send you to Capri’s website www.capriristorante.com for menu/prices/photos/locations. Just so you know, the Boca menu/details aren’t up yet, but give or take a handful of items and a buck or two pricewise—the Chicago info/look is pretty much what Boca is all about. For our purposes, think your favorite mom & pop’s prices and your in the ballpark.

I call Capri “semi upscale”…its got whitetable cloths-dark wood-full bar-private party room—that said, your tee shirt/shorts ensemble will work here. Just so we are straight, Capri is not your “typical” red sauce pizza joint…as a matter of fact, it doesn’t have pizza-subs-calzones. But you veal parmigiana afficianados won’t be disappointed with the menu’s appetizers, pastas, meat-chicken-seafood entrees. Don’t see something on the menu, I kinda think that if you ask, Joey will have his kitchen make it for you.

Let’s talk food test…house salad, veal parmigiana, roast chicken, eggplant parmigiana, penne ala vodka, Chilean sea bass—like I said before, real good food. Gonna give the vodka sauce a special commendation here…one of the most delicious that I’ve had in a very long time.

Let’s sum Capri up this way…in the middle–not exactly your mom & pop red sauce joint and not exactly your upscale go for your lungs Italian joint. Now nothing for nothing, but I think that Capri has a real shot to become a major niche player in Boca.

I really enjoyed Capri. Give it a try.

Capri is open Monday-Saturday 5pm-10pm. For right now, it is closed on Sunday…but I’ll bet, that “come season” Capri will also be open on Sunday.

***** Bamboo Wok, 9181 Glades Road, Boca Raton, Florida (561) 218-6003…12040 South Jog Road, Boynton Beach, Florida (561) 742-0123…4660 West Hillsboro Boulevard, Coconut Creek, Florida (954) 427-1888.

If you do some homework, you will find that back on July 6, 2008 I did a writeup on a Chinese “take-out only” joint named Bamboo Wok…there are currently 3 locations, Boca Raton, Coconut Creek and Boynton Beach.

Since that July 6th “story”…I must have picked up food from the Boca location something like 35 times–5 times from the Boynton Beach joint and 1 time from the Coconut Creek store. The store designs are all the same…order at counter—you can see the food being prepared—in an assembly line setup. Not 100% sure on this, but there are 2 brothers and a sister—she owns the Boynton Beach spot and the other two stores are owned by one of the brothers. The food- menu-prices-portion size—are the same at all locations.

If you live or work near one of these stores, you gotta try the food. I’m gonna go out on a limb here, but the food is OUTSTANDING…this is as close to NYC Chinatown joint food as you will come down here in Florida. I am telling you—off the top of my head—the wonton soup, boneless bbq spare ribs, egg rolls, fried rice, fried pork dumplings, moo shu pork, sweet & sour chicken, general tso’s chicken, shrimp with black bean sauce…are delicious. The portions are “huge” and the prices are neighborhood takeout prices.

These 3 joints are winners.