Prime. One. Twelve. 112 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139 (305) 532-8112.

Prime. One. Twelve. is an “upscale” steakhouse located in “South Beach. For years, friends of mine (who shall remain nameless) have told me that it was an absolutely incredible restaurant and that it was probably the best steak joint that they had ever eaten in. Being the investigative reporter that I am, I and three others gave Prime a shot last night (Saturday)…

Prime. One. Twelve is a an upscale steakhouse that is expensive, even when compared to similar joints like Morton’s, New York Prime and Ruth’s Cris that dot the South Florida landscape… for example…forgetting about the steaks, most sides go for $13. To be perfectly honest with you, the food was just okay…the chef or the owners must own a salt-mine or something, because every dish from the steaks…carmalized onions… mashed potatoes was oversalted. The steaks were passable, but trust me on this, not worth spending what some people make as a day’s pay-for.

Like I said before, this joint is located in South Beach. Last night, it was absolutely packed when we arrived at 8:10pm and still had people waiting to be seated when we left at 10:20pm. This joint is what I call a “scene” joint….People go there to see and be seen. The crowd inside and “hanging-outside” were all pretty sharp looking…Prime isn’t just about the food, so let’s call it a food-scene joint. Take a look at Prime’s website at www.prime112.com for menu/photo/details…by the way, there is a mute button, so you don’t have to listen to Frank Sinatra singing in the background…

My personal take-on this dining “experience” is that this joint which draws the well-heeled/celebrity crowd has location, location, location going for it and not much else.

One final and positive note…joints like this, are usually populated by mangers and wait-staffs that do their best to intimidate customers with their “scripted” menu-knowledge (you know what I am talking about)…last night we had one of the most pleasant, relaxed, personable and efficient waiters that I have come across in years…his name is Chris and Prime. One. Twelve has a real winner in this guy…maybe Prime. One. Twelve should let Chris cook the food and re-price the menu…because for right now, as far as I am concerned, the food isn’t very good and the prices are absurd.

*****  Tropical Acres Steakhouse, 2500 Griffin Road, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33312 (954) 989-2500.

A few reviews ago, we discussed  the never-ending search to find “moderately” priced steakhouses (Manero’s 8/28/08 & Raindancer 8/29/08) that serve great food at reasonable prices and have waiters-waitresses who don’t treat you like crap…say hello to Tropical Acres which has been in business since 1949. Checkout this joint’s website at www.tropicalacres.com for menu/prices/details.

Tropical Acres has terrific food…steaks, seafood, not to mention a handful of Italian dishes. Great wait-staff…and prices that are something like 50% less than those charged by the Robber Barons…they and you know who they are. The joint is just fancy enough to warrant your throwing on a pair of long-pants, but I think that shorts won’t get you “shown” the door.

Like I said before, the joint has been around since 1949, so just maybe it has been doing something right. Tropical Acres is open 7 days a week from 4:30pm-10pm…please note that it is closed on Sundays, July-October.

*****  Tobacco Road, 626 South Miami Avenue, Miami, Florida 33130 (305) 374-1198.

Tobacco Road has “in-one-form-or-another” been in business since 1912…as a matter of fact, it holds the oldest liquor-license in Miami-Dade. Do yourself a favor and go to this joint’s website at www.tobacco-road.com where you can checkout history/menu/prices/details.

Just so we are straight…Tobacco Road is a grungy bar which 7 days a week…upstairs/downstairs/outside has some type of live-music playing…this joint covers everything… rock, latin, funk…you name it. The menu is limited, but the burgers are absolutely terrific and there are always “specials” like “Lobster Night” being run….You go to a joint like Tobacco Road for the “whole package”…decent food, beer/booze, reasonable prices, grungy “ambiance”…and MUSIC.

Unless, you are a real uptight character, I guarantee that you will have a great time at this joint which is open 7 days a week from 11:30am-5am.

*****  Scotty’s Landing, 3381 Pan American Drive, Coconut Grove, Florida 33133 (305) 854-2626.

First let me start by saying, that tee shirts/shorts are considered “formal wear” at Scotty’s Landing.  This joint doesn’t have a website, so picture an outdoor bar/restaurant where you eat and drink under a huge striped awning…the joint is located right on Biscayne Bay, and has enough appetizers, salads, sandwiches and burgers at diner-prices to please everyone. Gourmet food?…now let’s get serious. If you looked-up the word “casual” in your Webster’s, you’d find Scotty’s picture…this joint is all about the weather, the view and eating and drinking outside with no drama!

Scotty’s is why we all live down here in South Florida…take your New York friends to this joint and I guarantee that after they eat, they will run to a real estate broker to find them an apartment or a condo for next “Season.”

Scotty’s is open for lunch and dinner Sunday-Thursday 11am-10pm and Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm.

*****  Boca Pita Express, 7158 Beracasa Way, Boca Raton, Florida 33433 (561) 750-0088.

If glatt kosher fast food is your game, I got a real good joint for you, Boca Pita Express located in Boca Raton. Boca Pita covers all of the bases…burgers, hot dogs, philly steak subs, salads, soups, pita sandwiches, sushi and all kinds of Chinese dishes including honey chicken, sesame chicken and  pepper steak.

Boca Pita is an absolute hole in the wall…maybe 25 can eat inside and 10 outside…order at the counter-pickup at the counter.

Tonight I “sampled” a hamburger, spicy sausage pita sandwich and General Tso’s chicken…all were delicious. As for pricing, the burger was $4.79, the spicy sausage $8.99 and the General Tso’s chicken with a fried rice side and egg roll $14.99.

Like I said before, if glatt kosher is your game, Boca Pita is a place that you should know about. The joint is open Sunday-Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday 11am-3pm…

*****  Casa L’Italien, 9101 Yamato Road, Boca Raton, Florida 33428 (561) 852-9290.

This joint is for those of you who live in Boca Raton.

Casa L’Italien is a “mom & pop” red-sauce Italian joint located in a small strip center…actually, I don’t know if there really is a mom or pop here, but you know what I am talking about.

Anyway…this joint makes a real nice pizza and has better than average soup or salad/garlic rolls/entree with a pasta side.

Now, no one is telling you to make a special trip to eat here…what I am saying is, that if you live in the neighborhood you could do far worse on takeout/or grabbing a quick relatively cheap meal.

Like I said before, the joint makes a pretty decent pizza.

Casa L’Italien is open Monday-Saturday 11am-10pm and Sunday noon-10pm.

*****  Raindancer Steak House, 2300 Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard, West Palm Beach, Florida 33409 (561) 684-2810.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve had it with these “upscale” steakhouses…you know the ones, Morton’s New York Prime, Ruth’s Cris, Chops, Abe & Louie’s (just to name a few), that cost you an arm and a leg and have servers that make you feel as if you are an idiot.  You know exactly what I am talking about…These are the joints, where nothing and I do mean nothing, comes with the steak/entree and salads and sides cost you a day’s pay…

If you are in the mood for a real good steak or some top-notch seafood, give Raindancer Steak House a try. The joint has been around since 1975… Real easy going (tee shirt/shorts do just fine here), no white-table cloths, great food, great “attitude-less” wait-staff. Take a look at Raindancer’s website at www.raindancersteakhouse.com for menu/prices/details.

Just so we are straight, Raindancer isn’t some $9.99 salad/steak/side joint. Just off the top of my head, a “soup to nuts” steak-meal is going to run you something like 50 bucks a head, give or take a few dollars. This joint’s seafood is as good as its meat game. Another beautiful thing about Raindancer, is that all entrees come with a potato or rice pilaf side and a fantastic salad bar…don’t think Shoney’s, or Golden Corral…

You now have a great steak-seafood house, that’s not going to break you. The joint is open, Sunday-Thursday 5pm-10pm and Friday-Saturday 5pm-10:30pm.

*****  Andiamo!, 5600 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Florida 33137 (305) 762-5751.

I got a terrific pizza joint for you…Andiamo!…which is located in Miami. I had dinner in this joint last night and I have to tell you that Andiamo! makes one of the best brick-oven pizzas down here in South Florida…absolutely delicious. This joint also serves terrific salads, sandwiches and desserts.

Take a look at Andiamo!’s website at andiamopizzamiami.com for menu/prices/other details.

Andiamo! is a modern-decor pizza joint…the location is a converted gas station. The joint is open Sunday-Thursday 11am-11pm and Friday-Saturday 11am -midnight.

The food is absolutely terrific. If you live in the “area” you don’t want to miss this one.

The best way to describe Manero’s…diner meets upscale steakhouse. Check Manero’s website at www.maneros.com for menu/prices/details.

Manero’s is an unpretentious steakhouse. Tee shirts/shorts do just fine at this joint. The menu is loaded with steaks, but seafood “lovers” will absolutely find something to eat. Unlike the “upscale” joints, you won’t go for your lungs at Manero’s as most steaks “go” for less than $25 and include a gorgonzula salad and side dish…The really beautiful thing about Manero’s is the lack of waiters/waitresses who think that they are smarter than you are…If being talked down to, is your game, I can furnish you with a nice long list of South Florida steakhouses who are full of themselves.

Just so we are straight…Manero’s is a very good “no-frills” steakhouse. If you are looking for “fancy”…this joint ain’t for you.

Manero’s is open 7-days a week for dinner 5pm-9pm and for lunch 11:30am-2pm Tuesday-Friday.

*****  Little Anthony’s Diner, 7010 East Broadway, Tucson, Arizona 85710, (520) 296-0456

I know that this site is dedicated to finding the best joints in South Florida. That said, last week I had lunch at a joint named Little Anthony’s Diner located in Tucson, Arizona. Check this joint’s website at www.littleanthonysdiner.com.  Everything that you need to know about this joint is listed.

Absolutely perfect…Great decor. Great food. Great big portions. Great and I do mean great wait-staff. Great prices.

It’s just too bad that this joint isn’t down here in South Florida.

Anyway…if you ever get out to Tucson, you now have an absolutely great joint for breakfast-lunch-dinner.