*****  Mama Mia Italian Ristorante, 1818 South Young Circle, Hollywood, Florida 33020 (954) 923-0555.

Mama Mia is one of my favorite South Florida red sauce Southern Italian joints. Take a look at its website at www.miamigrill.com for menu/pricing and other information.

I am not 100% sure how long Mama Mia has been in business, but my guess is something like 25+ years. This is an extremely popular joint, which is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner from 11am-1am. This joint has indoor and outdoor seating for dining. Over the years, I’ll bet that I have eaten at this joint at least 15 times and every single time it was absolutely packed. Mama Mia is a rather large restaurant, so its always being busy should be telling you something.

Mama Mia does all of the “standard” dishes including pizza extremely well. In addition, its prices are neighborhood joint prices. Just so you know, Mama Mia is a real casual place, so feel free to wear your tee shirt/shorts.

I have been eating at this joint for well over 14 years. Mama Mia a few years ago underwent a decor facelift…rather than going into detail, let’s just say that I liked the look of the old Mama Mia better than the new look…but what is is…The makeover robbed the joint of some of its neighborhood charm…The good news, is that the cosmetic makeover didn’t “change” the food or service which to this day are very-very good.

Mama Mia is a joint that you definitely want to try.

*****  Jack’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant, 14856 South Military Trail, Delray Beach, Florida 33484 (561) 638-5552.

Jack’s is a “mom and pop” red-sauce Southern Italian joint.

A couple of years ago, a number of friends raved about Jack’s New York style pizza…claiming it was one of the best pizzas in South Florida…accordingly, I made a trip to Jack’s and had the pizza, which trust me on this, was far from being a top-notch pie…as a matter of fact, it was just passable.

Anyway…a few days ago, I revisited Jack’s and for what it’s worth, the pizza is still no great shakes…

Like I said before, Jack’s is a red-sauce “mom and pop” joint… check its website  www.jackspizzadelraybeach.com for menu/pricing.

During my most recent “visit” I found some of Jack’s (pizza aside) other food such as eggplant rollatini, shrimp marinara and veal marsala to be quite good.

Jack’s is worth a shot if you live in the Delray Beach/Boca Raton area. It is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.

By the way, the friends who first recommended Jack’s pizza, still swear by the pizza…I say, live and let live.

*****  Tony Dell’s Italian Restaurant, 9846 Sandalfoot Boulevard, Boca Raton, Florida 33428 (561) 482-0555.

Tony Dell’s is the consumate “hole in the wall…mom and pop” Southern Red Sauce Italian joint. Tony Dell’s is located in a miniscule strip shopping center…so I would suggest that (1) you call for directions and (2) make a reservation because the joint maybe has 7-8 tables.

Tony Dell’s has been  in business for something like 30-35 years maybe even longer…its current owner Robert, started as a dishwasher when the joint first opened. Now…don’t get nervous, Robert must have learned his lessons well, because the food he makes is absolutely delicious…he has been the owner for about 20 years.

Tony Dell’s has all of your favorite pastas and meat-chicken-fish entrees…it also makes some very good thin-crusted pizza.

This is a real easy going joint, so tee shirts/shorts are just fine. This restaurant is so-small, that there is usually only one waitress handling orders…and “Tony” (really Robert) cooks the food right in front of you…because his kitchen is part of the dining room…look I told you, that this was a small joint.

Over the years, I must have eaten dinner in Tony Dell’s at least 10-15 times. The food is delicious and is priced like a neighborhood pizza joint.

Tony Dell’s does dinner only…call for days/times of operation…and reservations.

*****  11th Street Diner, 1065 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida 33139 (305) 534-6373.

The other day, Guy Fieri the terrific host of the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins & Dives” program did a segment on the 11th Street Diner. The story that was “told” is that the 11th Street Diner is an old 1948 New Jersey diner that was shipped and re-assembled in Miami Beach in 1992…that in addition to all of the “expected” diner foods, 11th Street Diner “does” many dishes that border on being gourmet stuff…that all of the food is terrific…the ambiance/decor are terrific… the prices are diner prices…and that the joint is open 24 hours a day.

Over the years I have eaten in the 11th Street Diner a total of 6 times…that’s 3 breakfasts, two lunches and 1 dinner…Guy’s reporting is right on the money…

*****  The Big Cheese Of Miami, 8080 SW 67th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33143, (305) 662-6855 6855.

I just did a writeup on Wall’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream…and I was thinking that I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you about a terrific “mom and pop” Southern Italian Red Sauce joint named The Big Cheese which is located directly across the street from Wall’s…this way, you can kill two birds with one stone—eating pizza, pasta etc. and then topping  the meal off with ice cream. If you are dieting, don’t read any further.

Take a look at The Big Cheese’s website at bigcheesemiami.com for a full “explanation” of its menu/pricing. Absolutey delicious pizza, pastas, subs, entrees all at very- very reasonable prices. This joint been around for something like 25 years and has an enormous following.

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

*****  Wall’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream, 8075 SW 67th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33143 (305) 740-9830.

Wall’s is literally Ice Cream Heaven…if you don’t like ice cream, then Wall’s is not for you. This free standing 1950’s “looking” take-out joint with its outdoor red/white umbrella-tables features something like 40 different flavors of premium quality home made ice cream.  For sure, its got yogurt and fat free stuff, but ice cream is the king at Wall’s.

Do yourself a favor and check Wall’s website wallsicecreamfl.com and see if you can honestly  tell me (after looking at its menu/photos) that you don’t want to go there RIGHT AWAY.

This a great place. Once again, if you don’t like ice cream Wall’s is not for you.

Wall’s is open 7 days a week.

*****  JB’s on the Beach, 300 North Ocean Boulevard, Deerfield, Beach, Florida 33441 (954) 571-5220.

JB’s is located right on the beach in Deerfield Beach…there is inside and out-door dining. This is a “semi-upscale” joint, but you will look just fine in a tee shirt/shorts. Take a look at JB’s website at www.jbsonthebeach.com.  The menu is loaded with appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers and entrees. The food is excellent as is the service and your dinner bill will probably run you something like  $7-$10 more a head than your favorite “ale house” tab  does. This is a jumping joint…if you check its entertainment schedule,  a line-up of live bands, singers and djs perform inside/outside most days. There is no cover-charge for the entertainment and some of South Florida’s top party bands like Gypsy Lane work the joint regularly.

JB’s is open 7-days a week for lunch and dinner. This joint is always busy… just so you know, finding parking can sometimes be a real pain for those who don’t want to “go” for the valet charge.

This is one of my favorite “semi-upscale” joints in South Florida.

Don’t miss this one.

*****  The Cove Restaurant & Marina, 1754 SE 3rd Court, Deerfield Beach, Florida (954) 421-9272.

Let’s make this review real simple…take a look at The Cove’s website at www.thecoverestaurant.com. ..review its menu/pricing and all of the photos of the joint. Go ahead, I’ll wait…

Now you tell me one person who wouldn’t enjoy eating in a gorgeous joint like this in a tee shirt/shorts ensemble …personally I can’t name one.

The Cove is located right on the Intracoastal…It has a menu loaded with appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers and entrees…trust me on this, everyone will find something to eat at this joint. The food is good…not gourmet stuff, but far superior to the stuff that your local “ale-house” serves. The prices are just fine, maybe a buck or two more than that local-ale-house of yours.

The Cove is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner. Just so you know, on the weekends it is usually packed with people eating inside the restaurant and its marina is loaded with other folks eating on their boats.

Like I said before, check The Cove’s website…the photos (didn’t someone once say, “that one photo was worth a 1,000 words” or something like that?) will tell you what this joint is all about.

I love taking out of town friends to The Cove for lunch…its joints like this, that make living in South Florida special.

*****  Hamburger Heaven, 314 South County Road, Palm Beach, Florida 33480 (561) 655-5277.

Hamburger Heaven has been in business since 1945. It’s got booths and a horseshoe shaped counter for seating.

This joint is open Monday-Saturday 7:30 am-8pm. It is closed on Sunday.

This is one of my favorite places for a “nice” greasy cheeseburger/french fries/Coke. Hamburger Heaven has loads of toppings for its burgers…This is also a great place for a diner-type breakfast. For those of you not into the burger scene, this joint also has a full-lineup of salads and sandwiches.

*****  Marcello’s Italian Ristorante, 718 South Federal Highway, Deerfield Beach, Florida 33441 (954) 427-4909.

Marcello’s is a white-table cloth Italian Restaurant located in Deerfield Beach.  You can check menu/pricing at its website  www.marcellositalianristorante.com. I am not sure how long Marcello’s has been around, but my best guess would be something like 20-25 years.

Marcello’s food is excellent. Over the years, I must have eaten at Marcello’s 10 times and always enjoyed the food/ambiance/and the service. This joint does a great job with all of the usual stuff like veal parmigiana, veal marsala, shrimp scampi, chicken cacciatore…but my favorite is Joe’s Steak which is a 1 1/2 lb  New York Cut Steak broiled and covered in sauteed green peppers-onions-mushrooms. This steak is as good as that found in South Florida’s finest steakhouses.

Marcello’s is open 7 days a week for dinner. As for pricing, a few bucks more than your favorite neighborhood pizzeria joint, but nothing too terrible.