*****  Anthony’s Runway 84, 330 West State Road 84, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33315 (954) 467-8484.

The owner of Anthony’s Runway 84, is the same guy who in recent years has been “rolling out” Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza  joints literally all over South Florida.

Anthony’s Runway 84 is a white-cloth-upscale Italian Restaurant…This joint’s decor is Tony Soprano-Christopher Moltisanti-Paulie Gualtieri circa 1970. Anthony’s has an enormous-legendary following, so don’t even think about going to this joint without a reservation…(more on reservations later).

Just so you know…over the years I have eaten at Anthony’s Runway 84 at least 15 times…to be perfectly honest with you, I don’t know if I like or don’t like  this joint…I know that sounds nuts, but that’s the truth.

Anthony’s is notorious for not honoring reservations…over the years it has gotten a reputation for being a joint that hand-picks who gets seated and when they get seated…in the past, sometimes I was timely seated and sometimes I sat in the bar (for the longest period) trying to figure what the hell was going on…

Anthony’s is notorious for having an erratic kitchen…sometimes the food is absolutely incredible and sometimes it produces absolute garbage…in the past, I have had  great dishes, good dishes and garbage.

The one thing that has always been consistent at Anthony’s is the wait-service. Absolutely top-notch. By the way, Anthony’s prices are nothing  too terrible…you get a ton of food for the money.

The perfect Anthony’s Runway 84 experience is an “honored” reservation with great food…I have had such evenings… then again, I have had “honored” reservations with garbage…I have also had reservations “not honored” with great food…and reservations “not honored” with garbage.

Let me put it to you this way…eating at this joint is an absolute crap-shoot. Based on my having eaten in this joint something like 15 times, I must be a gambler and glutton for punishment all rolled up in one.

My suggestion is that you give Anthony’s Runway 84 at least one try…if the stars line-up for you, you will have an an absolutely fabulous dinner. When (if) it comes together, the combination of decor/ambiance/attitude/food/service is fantastic.

Anthony’s is open Tuesday-Sunday for dinner.

GOOD LUCK!!!!

*****  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.

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.