***** JP’s Bagel Place, 2649 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, Florida 33020 (954) 921-9483.

My money says…that every “neighborhood” in America has a joint just like JP’s Bagel Place…for sure, the names are different, but the decor-ambiance-food-service-prices are basically the same.

JP’s Bagel Place in Hollywood, has been around since 1982. This joint is a “neighborhood” diner and seats maybe 20. JP’s does breakfast-lunch, Monday-Friday 7am-2pm and Saturday-Sunday 7am-1pm. Take a look at its website at www.jpbagel.com for menu/prices.

JP’s Bagel is not a “typical” South Florida bagel-deli with 522 types of bagels and 91 different cream cheese spreads…but rather, shall we say, a mini-diner/lunchonette…very similar to those that dotted the United States in the 1950’s-1980’s…long before guys like Starbuck’s arrived on the scene. Guaranteed, this joint’s waitresses will “remember” you after you have eaten there once or twice.

I love joints like JP’s…real easy going atmosphere, terrific wait-staff and cheeseburgers/fries that go for $4.75 and chicken parm subs for $6.25.

If you live in JP’s neighborhood, you now know about a great place for a casual-inexpensive breakfast or lunch.

By the way, as a kid growing up in Brooklyn in the 1950’s-1960’s “my” JP’s were, The Federal Restaurant, George’s Restaurant and Sammy’s Lunchonette…and that $4.75 cheeseburger/fries cost 40 cents…but, that’s a story for another day.

***** Grand Lake Chinese Cuisine, 7750 Okeechobee Boulevard, West Palm Beach, Florida 33411 (561) 681-1388.

I got a Chinese Restaurant that is absolutely terrific. That’s right TERRIFIC.

You have to try…Grand Lake Chinese Cuisine located in West Palm Beach. It’s not fancy, but it’s not as “dumpy” as most of the joints down here in South Florida. So much for decor.

Grand Lake has a very extensive menu…it’s got all of my “1950’s Brooklyn” favorites as well as dishes that I am too scared to try. Throw in something like 50 different dim sum…and you got an “extensive” menu.

Just so you know, there were six of us…wonton soup, roast duck noodle soup, egg rolls, pan fried pork dumplings, bbq spare ribs, roast pork fried rice, sweet and sour pork, general tso’s chicken, honey garlic chicken, shrimp with garlic sauce, t-bone steak, moo shu pork and peking pork chop. Everything was delicious.

Put Grand Lake on your “must try” list. The joint is open 7 days a week 11am-11pm and its dishes are “neighborhood” prices.

*****  The Bronx Wanderers  *****

I recently saw an absolutely phenomenal… Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons/Dion & The Belmonts’ tribute band called The Bronx Wanderers. In addition to featuring the hit-songs of these two legendary groups, The Bronx Wanderers have an enormous playlist of rock ‘n roll/disco hits from the 1950’s-1970’s. If “seeing is believing,” check-out the group’s website at www.thebronxwanderers.com where you will find terrific audio/video of these guys in action.

Watching this 5-member band, was like having Frankie and Dion right in front of the crowd. Amazing covers. Just so you know, these guys are also no slouches when they play the hits of such bands/acts (a partial list, in no particular order) as Jay & The Americans, Johnny Maestro & The Brooklyn Bridge, The Bee Gees, KC & The Sunshine Band, The Monkees, Neal Diamond, The Duprees, The Capris, The Beatles, The Classics, The Village People, Santo & Johnny, The Commodores and The Trammps.

The only “problem” with The Bronx Wanderers is that they are a New York based group. They very rarely get-down to South Florida… as most of their appearances are in New York and New Jersey.

Now for the good news…If you check The Bronx Wanderers’ “schedule”…you will find that the band has a number of South Florida dates in (now get this) January, 2010. I know it’s a long way-off…but if you can swing it, you definitely want to see this group in action.

If you like the music of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons–Dion & The Belmonts…you will absolutely love The Bronx Wanderers.

*****  Enriquesta’s Sandwich Shop, 186 NE 29th Street, Miami, Florida 33137 (305) 573-4681.

Enriquesta’s is an absolutely great Cuban Diner…This joint has been around for something like 30 years and does breakfast-lunch… Monday-Friday 6am-4pm and Saturday 6am-2pm. Its menu is loaded with all kinds of breakfast items-sandwiches-platters. Just so you know, the menu is in Spanish…but…it has English translations for those of you who are “language-challenged.”

The “game” for me is…the grilled chicken or grilled steak sandwich, both are topped with tomato/grilled onions/cheese/potato sticks. Throw in a large glass of fresh squeezed orange juice and a cafe con leche (two Rolaids) and I am good to go.

Enriquesta’s has counter/booth/table seating and has the obligatory takeout/eat-at window…By the way, those sandwiches run about 5 bucks a piece.

Another great joint…

*****  Pizza Roma Restaurant, 19090 NE 29th Avenue, Aventura, Florida 33180 (305) 937-4884.

Got a good “Southern Italian-Mom & Pop- Hole In The Wall- Red Sauce” joint for you…Pizza Roma which is located in Aventura.

Pizza Roma … has enough tables to seat maybe 50…everything is right in front of you. Like the pizza oven, the guy making the pizza, the soda machine, etc…

This joint’s menu is loaded with appetizers, salads, subs, pastas, pizzas and meat/seafood/chicken entrees. To give you some idea as to pricing…veal parmigiana/pasta side/salad/garlic knots- $14.95…penne a la vodka/salad/garlic knots- $10.95…pizza slice- $2.75. No more expensive, than your favorite neighborhood “mom & pop” joint.

Now…just so we are straight, Pizza Roma’s food is “good” not great. I could probably name 35 “mom & pop” joints that are better and 35 “mom & pop” joints that are worse. Pizza Roma is a good-neighborhood restaurant…if you live in the Aventura area, you can’t go wrong eating in/taking out from this joint.

THERE IS JUST ONE OTHER THING…that $2.75 slice of pizza that I mentioned…maybe one of the best slices down here in South Florida.

You now know about Pizza Roma. The joint is open Sunday-Friday 11am-10pm, Saturday 11am-midnight.

*****  The Grill On The Alley, 19575 Biscayne Boulevard, Aventura, Florida 33180 (305) 466-7195.

The Grill On the Alley is an “American-Style” joint which opened about three weeks ago in the Aventura Mall. Just so we know what we are talking about here, for dinner The Grill gets $41.75 for its 16 oz. Prime NY Steak…$36.95 for its 16 oz. Rib Eye Steak…Crab Cakes $29.95…Pan Fried Dover Sole $42.50…Chicken Pot Pie $18.95…Half-Roasted Chicken $19.50…Side Dishes $4.50-$8.50.

At this juncture, take a look at The Grill’s website www.thegrill.com for complete menu/prices/details.

The food is terrific. The “wood” ambiance/decor is terrific. The service is terrific.

If you can “handle” the prices, The Grill is an absolutely great place for lunch or dinner. Its menu is loaded with appetizers, salads, pastas, chicken/meat/seafood entrees and desserts. A recent  lunch-time “taste test” gave flying colors to the hamburger,  chicken pot pie, rib-eye steak and crab cake.

Now for the relatively “good news”…take a look at The Grill’s “LUNCH MENU”…suprisingly its pricing is more…shall we say, customer-friendly…with a hamburger/fries going for $9.95, chicken parmesan/pasta for $14.50. Not exactly “Subway” prices, but you won’t go for your lungs, either.

The “call” is yours to make. The food-decor-service is terrific. The only stumbling block… could be price.

The Grill is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.

*****  Kim’s Chinese Restaurant, 1245 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, Florida 33139 (305) 672-8822.

Got a real good “neighborhood” Chinese Restaurant for you…assuming that you live in Miami Beach…Kim’s Chinese Restaurant.

This joint seats something like 90 and its decor would give South Beach interior decorators real-bad nightmares…ever see the paintings/rugs that guys sell in front of gasoline stations? 

Kim’s  which has been around for something like 40 years…serves very good Chinese food. A recent “taste-test” of wonton soup, fried wontons, egg rolls, boneless bbq ribs, sweet and sour chicken, shrimp with lobster sauce, roast pork fried rice and pepper steak…made the grade. You can check Kim’s website www.kimschinese.com for menu/prices.

Kim’s prices are “neighborhood” Chinese joint prices…service is very pleasant. Kim’s is open Monday-Saturday 11:30am-10pm and Sunday 1pm-10pm.

*****  Nick’s 50’s Diner, 1900 Okeechobee Boulevard, West Palm Beach, Florida 33409 (561) 471-3155.

Nick’s name says it all…50’s diner…well almost, Nick’s has been around something like 25 years, so you do the math.

Anyway…check Nick’s website at www.nicks50diner.com for menu/loads of pictures and you’ll know exactly what this joint is all about.

Nick’s is a great place for a “diner” breakfast or lunch. Nothing fancy…good food-good prices-pleasant wait-staff. The menu is loaded with breakfast-stuff, salads, soups, burgers, sandwiches, meat/seafood/chicken entrees, shakes/malts/ice cream/desserts. My personal favorites, grilled cheese with bacon, chicken fried steak, double cheeseburger and the meatloaf.

If 50’s-diner “look and food” is your bag (it’s mine)…you will really enjoy this joint. Nick’s is open for breakfast-lunch… Monday-Saturday 7am-3pm and Sunday 8am-2pm.

*****  MAO Columbian Fast-Food, 8438 SW 40th Street, Miami, Florida 33231 (305) 551-0506.

I am not sure if I should even tell you guys about this one…MAO Columbian Fast-Food.

Mao is a “hole in the wall” Columbian fast-food/take-out joint…order from the counter…six stools to sit on. Basically there are 3 things to order…hamburgers, hot-dogs, arepas.

I only tried the hamburger…the beef patty in a bun (unless you stop the counter-guy) is topped with ham, french fries, mayo, fried egg, lettuce, some “unknown sauces” and a pineapple sauce. I know it sounds real scary…but once I bit into the thing, it was pretty-good…Now don’t get me wrong, I’m still…a burger-grilled onions-ketchup guy…but I had to try it. 

Like I said before, I only tried the burger…but I did see two guys eating hot-dogs that were covered with “God only knows what.”

MAO is not for everyone. By the way, when you eat one of these burgers you should consider wearing a bib…messy, messy, messy.

MAO is open Monday-Thursday noon-1am, Friday-Saturday noon-5am and Sunday 7pm-1am. It is absolutley amazing what lengths I will go through to find joints for you guys.

*****  J. Mark’s Restaurant & Bar, 1490 Copans Road, Pompano Beach, Florida 33062, (954) 782-7000.

Last night I had dinner at J. Mark’s which is an “American-Style” joint located in Pompano Beach. Take a look at J. Mark’s website at www.jmarksrestaurant.com for menu/prices/photos…so you will have some idea of what I am yapping about.

 J. Mark’s reminds me of Houston’s which has five South Florida locations (Palm Beach, Boca Raton, North Miami Beach, Coral Gables and Winter Park) in decor/menu…so, if you are a fan of Houston’s or know anything about it, you now have a point of reference to work with. By the way, J. Mark’s menu-prices are far more reasonable than those charged at Houston’s

Now let’s get down to brass tacks…I think that J. Mark’s is an absolutely terrific restaurant. J. Mark’s is a very handsome looking joint, doing the “stone-wood” look… bar area, dining room, out-door patio for dining. This joint is not a sports bar, but there are enough flat screen tvs to keep you updated on your favorite team.  On Saturday nights a small jazz band works the joint.

J. Mark’s menu is loaded with appetizers, salads, pastas, burgers, sandwiches, meat/seafood/chicken entrees and desserts. Now for the taste test…fabulous, no make that sensational mini-cheeseburgers, delicious baby back ribs-roast chicken-orange chicken and grilled tuna steak. The shoe-string french fries were okay, but nothing to write home about. As for service, Clint our waiter was terrific and didn’t miss a beat.

Just so we are straight…over the years, I must have eaten in Houston’s something like 10 times. I consider Houston’s and for that matter The Cheesecake Factory to be the “middle ground” between the “just borderline passable” T.G.I. Friday’s-Applebee’s-Duffy’s-Ale Houses and the “upscale-over priced-pretentious” steak/seafood joints like New York Prime- Morton’s- Ruth’s Cris-Abe & Louie’s.

The bottomline is this…J. Mark’s is a terrific restaurant. It looks upscale, but tee shirts/shorts are just fine…the food is very good, the service is excellent…and the prices are extremely reasonable…appetizers run $7.95-$10.95, salads $8.95-10.95, burgers-sandwiches $8.95-$9.95, entrees $10.95-25.95. By the way, those sensational mini-cheesburgers that I previously mentioned, run $9.95 for 4 with french fries…each burger is topped with cheddar cheese-ketchup-pickles-fried onion ring and they are not to be missed.

You now know about J. Mark’s. Give this joint a try…I really think that you will enjoy this restaurant. By the way, J. Mark’s is open Sunday-Thursday 11am-10pm and Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm.