***** That Cool Cafe, 19048 Northeast 29th Avenue, Aventura, Florida 33180 (305) 931-9244.

Let me be up front…That Cool Cafe is NOT my kinda joint—that said, Mrs. Jeff Eats and Daughter Jeff Eats found this yogurt-panini-wraps-coffee-cereal-salad-smoothies-juice bar-joint to be absolutely dynamite.

When you come from a Brooklyn-background circa 1950s-60s where corner–candystores-delis-24 hour diners-pizza joints- were a-way of life, these “healthy” yogurt-panini-wraps-coffee-cereal-salad-smoothies-juice bar joints are a strange animal. Personally, I’d rather have 2 slices and a large Coke, or 2 Nathan’s hot dogs with a large FF any day, than a cup of low fat-low calorie yogurt topped with strawberries–or a large scoop of tuna salad surrounded by a bed of lettuce—but then again, each to their own.

Anyway…if you are “into” eating—–HEALTHY or whatever the pitch is, That Cool Cafe is for you. Like I said, Mrs. and Miss Jeff Eats absolutely loved this order at/pickup at the counter breakfast-lunch-dinner joint. You can check That Cool Cafe’s menu/prices at www.thatcoolcafe.com.

By the way, I kinda liked that vanilla-almond yogurt that they make…but trust me, it’s no match for a DQ chocolate heath bar “Blizzard”…

Lucky Palace Chinese Restaurant, 21659 State Road 7, Boca Raton, Florida 33428 (561) 487-33428.

Lucky Palace Chinese Restaurant is a “mom & pop” joint located in Boca Raton. Let me make this real simple, I found the food to be second-rate. Over the years down here in South Florida, I have eaten my fair share of Chinese food…this was not a good outing.

Yesterday I did..spare ribs, lobster in black bean sauce, steamed dumplings, moo shoo pork—very disappointing to say the least.

The spare ribs were covered in a “sauce” that was absolutely horrendous… the bbq sauce tasted like catsup diluted in water…to be perfectly honest with you, the ribs had no flavor whatsoever. The lobster was fair, nothing I would be running back for. The dumplings were ok…but the moo shoo was beyond terrible…just imagine moo shoo pork floating and I do mean floating in a sea of tasteless sauce.

This joint is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.

BAD News!

***** Johnnie Brown’s, 301 East Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach, Florida 33483 (561) 243-9911.

Back on May 26, 2009, I told you guys about Johnnie Brown’s…at that time, Johnnie Brown’s was “under-construction” and was expected to open in October, 2009. Well!…Johnnie’s didn’t make the October date, but did open this past Wednesday (December 9, 2009). Do me a favor and read that original “review” so I don’t have to waste time typing the same background info…

Last night I ate at Johnnie Brown’s and I will bet you anything, that this “American Style–Roadhouse–Make Believe Biker Bar” joint is a major homerun. This joint has outdoor covered patio seating and indoor seating…to say that this is an easy going joint would be an understatement—your tee shirt/shorts/flip-flops ensemble is perfect. At this juncture, take a look at Johnnie’s website www.johnniebrowns.com for menu/prices.

Johnnie Brown’s has a full outdoor patio bar…a menu loaded with reasonably priced appetizers, salads, burgers, sandwiches, wings, bbq ribs. Last night I did—house salad, beef sliders, bbq ribs, grilled chicken breast, onion rings, french fries, sweet potatoes fries, jalepeno corn bread—trust me on this one, the food is outrageously good. The only item that I didn’t care for– was the jalepeno corn bread which came with the ribs, thought it was kinda bland tasting…the sweet potato fries were easily some of the best that I’ve ever eaten–and over the years, I’ve eaten my fair share of sweet potato fries. On the service side, now remember the joint was only open 3 days, was excellent. Our waitress, Rhonda knew the menu inside and out…the food came out right on time, beers, sodas and waters were constantly attended to—this joint was operating as if it had been opened 30 years.

Johnnie Brown’s “looks-like a biker-bar” (think Pee Wee Herman!)…neon signs—great ambiance. So—great decor—great food—great service—reasonable prices—and live-bands playing nightly and you got HOMERUN.

Don’t miss Johnnie Brown’s which is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.

***** Mondo’s American Bistro, 713 US Highway #1, North Palm Beach, Florida 33408 (561) 844-3396.

Mondo’s American Bistro…let’s call this joint an “American-style” restaurant…very handsome, dark woods, full bar, very reasonable prices. Checkout its website at www.mondos.com for menu/prices/loads of decor pictures.

Mondo’s has been around since 1991 and has a great menu—loads of appetizers, soups, salads, wings, burgers, pizzas, pastas, Mexican stuff, meat-seafood-chicken entrees. As I said before, very reasonable prices, including early-bird and other specials.

I loved this joint…great looking, huge menu, pleasant waitstaff… On this outing, I did a sesame crusted snapper, roast chicken, seafood linguine, bacon cheeseburger, shrimp scampi…all delicious.

Let me make this real simple…this joint is a winner.

I highly recommend that you give this joint which is open Monday-Friday 11am-10pm, Saturday 4pm-10pm, Sunday 4pm-9pm a shot.

***** Aunt Mary’s Bagels, 12189 Pembroke Road, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33025 (954) 432-3339.

Aunt Mary’s is a “bagel-deli” joint…handful of tables. Decent enough bagels, breakfast stuff, sandwiches, deli meats, appetizing.

Let’s call Aunt Mary’s which is open Monday-Saturday 6:30am-3pm and Sunday 7am-1pm a “decent enough” LOCAL-NEIGHBORHOOD bagel deli joint.

***** SlimYogurt.com, 3725 Northeat 163rd Street, North Miami Beach, Florida 33160 (305) 948-8383.

Kinda hard for a guy who loves and I do mean loves, Dairy Queen…to give a fair-call on SlimYogurt.com—an upscale– low-calorie–all natural–0% fat–no cholesterol yogurt joint.

So…we are gonna let Mrs. Jeff Eats, make the call on this one…”ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS.” By the way, “she” (my father use to say, “Who’s she?…when I would talk about my mother) is a big fan of low calorie-yogurts- ice creams-cakes-candy etc…so, I’d trust her call on this one.

You can check SlimYogurt.com’s website www.slimyogurt.com for menu/prices and a terrific video which will give you some idea as to what the joint looks like.

SlimYogurt.com is open Monday-Thursday 11am-10pm and Friday-Sunday 11am-midnight.

***** Makeb’s Homemade Bagels & Deli, 401 South Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401.

Makeb’s Homemade Bagels & Deli…NY style bagel-deli located in West Palm Beach. Check www.makebs.com for menu/prices.

Makeb’s has the full-boat of breakfast stuff, soups, salads, sandwiches. A recent test-run had me sampling tuna salad, chicken salad, pastrami, corned beef, grilled chicken, chicken noodle soup…and of course an everything-bagel and a pumpernickel bagel. This joint is a winner.

Makeb’s is one of the better bagel-deli joints that I have eaten in down here in South Florida. The food is real good and the bagels were just-right—crunchy outside, soft inside.

Nothing fancy. Reasonable prices. Bagel-deli service (whatever that is).

I really like this one…Makeb’s is open Monday-Friday 6am-5pm, Saturday 7am-3pm, Sunday 8am-3pm.

***** Cerione’s Italian Cafe, 6606 Collins Avenue, Miami, Beach, Florida 33141 (305) 861-4877.

I really enjoyed Cerione’s Italian Cafe…a neighborhood Italian joint located in Miami Beach. Check its website at www.ceriones.com for menu/prices.

Cerione’s is a very casual joint. Although its menu isn’t gigantic, there are enough very reasonably priced appetizers, salads, paninis, subs, personal pizzas, pastas, seafood-chicken-meat entrees to keep everybody busy.

I did a “taste test” of fried calamari, meat lasagna, chicken parm, veal marsala…everything was delicious. I will tell you, the fried mozarella (squares) appetizer was worth the price of admission alone.

Cerione’s is open Sunday-Thursday 11am-11pm and Friday-Saturday 11am-midnight.

This joint is absolutely worth a try.

***** La Dolce Vita Pizza, 2717 Southwest 37th Avenue, Coral Gables, Florida 33133 (305) 443-6063.

La Dolce Vita Pizza is a “neighborhood pizza joint.” You order at the counter/You pick-up at the counter. Handful of tables. The joint’s menu has the expected pizzas, pastas, subs, entrees…very reasonably priced.

Tried the pizza…nothing beats 2-slices and a large Coke…and I gotta tell you, thin, crispy, sweet sauce—delicious pizza. Also tried a veal parm sub and the meat-lasagna—good, but I’ll bet you that your favorite neighborhood takeout joint makes better stuff.

So…if you live or work in La Dolce Vita Pizza’s neighborhood, you now know about a joint that makes delicious pizza and “ok” veal parm and meat lasagna.

La Dole Vita Pizza is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.

***** Fresh Harvest at Seminole Coconut Creek Casino, 5550 Northwest 40th Street, Coconut Creek, Florida 33073 (954) 977-6700.

Fresh Harvest is a “buffet” joint located in the Seminole Coconut Creek Casino…Fresh Harvest does breakfast Monday-Saturday 7am-10am, lunch Monday-Saturday 11am-4pm, dinner Monday-Saturday 5pm-10pm, brunch Sunday 7am-8pm.

Like I said before, this joint is located in the Seminole Casino…the food is good and it’s all you can eat. The buffet has a great selection of stuff and coffee and soda is included in the price.

Hey Jeff, is this gourmet food? Of course not…but for a buffet the food is pretty decent. The food and selection are as good, if not better than Golden Corral which has “buffets” all over South Florida.

Just a suggestion, before eating…get yourself a Players Card and a Fresh Harvest Card. There is no charge to get these cards and great discounts come with “membership”…for example, the $12.95 Wed-Thursday buffet costs $9.95 with the Players Card.

Take a look at www.seminolecoconutcreekcasino.com for menu/prices/details.