*****  Out Of The Blue Cafe, 2426 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami, Florida 33137 (305) 573-3800.

If you know anything about Jeff Eats…you know that I am basically a “truck-driver” at heart. I love diners. I love big greasy hamburgers covered in grilled onions…I love french-fries, onion rings, pizza, philly cheese-steak sandwiches…My game is good food-big portions-reasonable prices… not fancy over-priced joints that are full of themselves.

The other day (November 19, 2008) I told you about a joint named Ice Box Cafe…I called it a “Yuppie” joint. Just so you know, I also consider Panera Bread a “Yuppie” joint. I just don’t get these kinds of joints…The way I see it, they serve mediocre stuff at best and try to pass-off  the “food-ambiance” as being something special. Don’t get me wrong, many people buy into this concept, but like I said before, I just don’t get it…Starbucks is also a “Yuppie” joint…that said, in this wickedly bad economy, many are finding that McDonald’s $1 coffee is as good, if not better than the stuff served at Starbucks.

Anyway…every so often I come across what is basically a Yuppie-joint that is the exception to the rule…say hello to Out Of The Blue Cafe located in Miami. This joint, which does breakfast-lunch-dinner is absolutely terrific. Great omelettes, breakfast sandwiches, waffles, sandwiches, soups, salads and desserts…and guess what?…all at very reasonable prices. For sure, it has that “Yuppie” coffee-house ambiance with the requisite wi-fi, but the great food/reasonable prices made me forget about the “ambiance.” Take a look at the joint’s website at www.outofthebluecafe.net  for menu/prices/and photos which will give you some idea as to what restaurant is all about.

Out Of The Blue Cafe has “Yuppie” joint type hours… Monday-Thursday 8am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 8am-12am, Saturday 9am-midnight, Sunday 10am-5pm.

*****  Lil’ Ole Caboose, 204 South Powerline Road, Deerfield Beach, Florida (954) 428-1597.

Let me start by saying, that my wife won’t set foot in this joint…that said, I absolutely love this fast-food burger joint which has been around something like 25 years. You can either eat inside or on a few outdoor tables. Shaped like a caboose, this joint is as close to White Castle Burgers as you will find anywhere in South Florida. Lil’ also has great french fries similar to the ones that Nathan’s sells.

If White Castle Burgers and Nathan’s Famous French Fries set your heart a flutter, then this joint is absolutely positively for you.

Lil’ Ole Caboose is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.

*****  Shenanigans Eastside Pub, 1300 South Federal Highway, Dania, Florida 33004 (954) 923-3008.

About 5 minutes ago I told you about a real good sports bar named Shenanigans Sports Pub located in Hollywood. Well, the folks that own that joint also own another sports bar named Shenanigans Eastside Pub located in Dania.

The Dania joint like its “sister location” also has tons of flat screen tvs and full bar…the only difference is the MENU. Shenanigans Eastside Pub serves a handful of appetizers, but its game is “wings and pizza.” No burgers…no chicken francaise…no $9.95 “cheapo” steaks…WINGS & PIZZA…this joint makes terrific buffalo and grilled wings…the pizza is also real-good.

You now know the names of two real-good sports bars in the Hollywood-Dania area. By the way, Shenanigans Eastside Pub is open 7 days a week 11am-2am.

*****  Shenanigans Sports Pub, 3303 Sheridan Street, Hollywood, Florida 33021 (954) 981-9702.

Got a real-good sports bar for you…Shenanigans Sports Pub in Hollywood. The joint has been around since 1992 and has the obligatory load of flat screen tvs and full bar. What makes this joint special, is its menu which is loaded with delicious appetizers, salads, sandwiches, burgers, wings, pizza and meat/seafood/chicken entrees.

The joint is open 7 days a week 11am-4am.

*****  Pizza Time, 1001 SW 2nd Avenue, Boca Raton, Florida 33428 (561) 391-9240.

Do me a favor and read the writeup (June 30, 2008) that I did on Pizza Time (Coral Springs). Go ahead, I’ll wait…

Rather than rehashing the details…suffice it to say, that the guy who originally owned the Pizza Time in Coral Springs sold the joint and has now “resurfaced” in Boca Raton (in what was formely Sal’s Italian Restaurant) in a new Pizza Time.

This “newest” Pizza Time is terrific. It is as good as the original Coral Springs’ joint. Great pizza, pastas, meat/seafood/chicken entrees.

Pizza Time is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.

*****  Donut Gallery Diner, 83 Harbor Drive, Key Biscayne, Florida 33149 (305) 361-9985.

This is a real simple one.

Donut Gallery has been around for 35 years. Donut Gallery has a counter and 24-stools to sit at. Donut Gallery doesn’t have donuts. Donut Gallery is a great “hole in the wall” breakfast/lunch joint which is open 7-days a week 5:30am-3pm. Donut Gallery’s “house special” is a toasted buttered English muffin topped with bacon, ham, American cheese, egg and tomato…that is not to be missed.

You can check menu/prices/info at donutgallery.com.

Donut Gallery is my kind of joint! It does have one fault it’s- Cash Only!

         Ice Box Cafe, 1657 Michigan Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida 33139 (305) 538-8448.

I really don’t know if I like this joint or not.

Ice Box Cafe is what I call a YUPPIE joint, that serves brunch-lunch-dinner…Strike #1, Oprah Winfrey recommended this joint’s cakes. Strike #2, the menu has items like “Stuffed Croissant French Toast-filled with guava and cream cheese topped with butterscotch sauce $13″… Are you guys feeling me yet?

Take a look at Ice Box’s website at www.iceboxcafe.com for menu/prices/photos which should give you some idea as what this “hole-in-the-wall” joint is all about.

On this one, you guys are going to have to decide for yourself…As far as I am concerned, Ice Box is a bit-too South Beacheeee for this Brooklyn boy, but then again the cakes that it makes sure run circles around Entenmann’s stuff.

Ice Box is open 7 days a week.

*****  Manny’s Steakhouse, 300 South Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Florida 33131 (305) 938-9000.

Let me start by saying that Manny’s is an “upscale” steak-restaurant that serves some of the best steaks and seafood that I have ever eaten. Besides having outrageoulsy terrific food, the joint’s service is as polite/helpful/and attentive as can be, the portions are enormous and the decor/ambiance just the right combination of white table-cloth stuffiness/and South Florida casualness…Now for the “bad news”…Manny’s is NOT a bargain basement joint…to give you some idea as to what I am talking about, appetizers are priced $13.95-$19.95, starter-salads $8.95-14.95, steaks $39.95-$87.95, seafood $26.95- $85.95, sides $5.95-$13.95. Nothing comes with nothing…

Let me send you to Manny’s website at www.mannyssteakhouse.com where you will find menu/prices/photos that will give you a crystal clear picture of what this joint is all about.

Like I said, Manny’s food-service-decor/ambiance are  about as good as it gets. If you can (or want) to handle the prices, this is an absolutely great joint to know about. Manny’s is open 7 days a week from 5pm for dinner.

*****  Wagons West Restaurant, 11301 South Dixie Highway, Pinecrest, Florida 33156 (305) 238-9942.
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I am going to guess that Wagons West has been in business for something like a 1,000 years…This is an absolutely terrific joint if “diners” are your game. Wagons West has counter and booth seating and has a menu loaded with all kinds of breakfast items, soups, salads, appetizers, sandwiches, burgers, chilis, meat/fish/chicken entees and desserts. Nothing fancy here…good solid food,  large portions,  reasonable prices, very pleasant wait-service. A couple of grilled pork chops with a potato and vegetable goes for $10.95 and a bacon cheeseburger with french fries runs $7.45. If I counted right, the joint has 17 different omelettes for consumption.

I love joints like Wagons West…which is open Monday-Saturday 6:30am-9pm and Sunday 6:30am-4pm.

*****  Romeo’s Ristorante, North US Highway 1, Jupiter, Florida 33477, (561) 741-4345.

Got a terrific very-moderately priced “Southern Italian Red Sauce” joint for you…Romeo’s Ristorante, located in Jupiter, Florida.

Romeo’s menu is loaded with all of the “standard” appetizers, salads,  soups, pastas, meat/seafood/chicken entrees…but, unlike most of the joints that dot the South Florida landscape, Romeo’s food is absolutely delicious. A recent “taste test” of veal parmigiana, chicken on the bone cacciatore, clams casino, rigatoni ala vodka and shrimp fra diavolo made me wish that this joint with its blond-wood table tops was in my neighborhood. Large portions…Terrific food…Good service…Prices no more than your favorite neighborhood joint.

Now for the kicker…Romeo’s in addition to terrific food has all kinds of musical entertainment covering the 1940’s-70’s. Some of the performances require reservations and the purchase of “dinner packages”…while others like Ryan & The Rockers a South Florida 1950’s-60’s rock n’ roll cover band  which is scheduled to appear on November 15th and November 29th are free.

Romeo’s is open Monday-Friday 11am-9pm…Saturday 3pm-9pm and Sunday 4:30pm-9pm. If the “music” angle of this joint is of interest, I would suggest giving Romeo’s a call for a complete schedule.