*****  Backstreet Grille, 9101 Lakeridge Boulevard, Boca Raton, Florida (561) 883-2002.

The Backstreet Grille is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner. This joint serves everything from scambled eggs to steaks. The food is very good and the prices beyond reasonable. Backstreet also has a full bar-area which has plenty of large wall-tvs and booth-tvs for the sports crowd. This is a very easy going neighborhood joint, so feel free to wear your favorite tee-shirt/shorts ensembe while dining.

Over the years, I have eaten at Backstreet at least 40 times. In addition, I have had more takeout/deliveries from the joint than I care to remember. The one thing that I can tell you, I have never had a bad meal at or from this joint.  Included in my favorites are “broiled” chicken wings, fajitas, mini-burgers, omlettes and ribs.

My last Backstreet “taste-test” was last night and while packing away 16 honey-mustard chicken wings with french fries, I watched American Idol from 8-9pm on the flatscreen tv which was in my booth.

I am telling you, that if you live in the Boca Raton area, Backstreet is a place that you have to try. Just so you know, it is not your typcial huge sports-bar like the Ale House chain, but rather a small quiet joint that has a great combination of food and tvs without going overboard with  the sports end of things.

Check this joint out!!

*****  Original Frankie’s Famous Pizza, 9118 Bird Road, Miami, Florida 33165, (305) 221-0221

Original Frankie’s which has been around since 1955, is one of the greatest pizza joints on the face of the planet! Frankie’s is ALMOST-STRICTLY TAKEOUT, with 3 small tables outside in its rear parking lot- if you “”insist” on immediately eating your pizza!

Frankie’s sells TWO ITEMS…PIZZA and GARLIC ROLLS…By the way, the garlic rolls are also incredible.

There is absolutely nothing more to tell you about this joint except that you have to try it and that it is open Tuesday-Sunday– Noon-10pm

*****  Frank and Patties, 3800 North University Drive, Sunrise, Florida (954) 749-2424

This afternoon I had lunch at a terrific new 1950’s retro looking fast-food joint, Frank and Patties  located in Sunrise. The menu is real simple…FRANKS-BURGERS-SALADS-CHICKEN BREASTS-MALTS…Frank and Patties  also has other stuff like fries, onion rings, fried pickle chips, chili…

The food is delicous. Think of your favorite sports-bar’s food and I’ll bet you, that this joint’s food is better. The franks (Hebrew National) are served on either a steamy poppy-seed or wheat bun. The burgers can be housed in either a white or wheat bun or a grilled sour dough roll, same goes for the grilled chicken breast. The fries are fresh-hand cut and the onion rings are as big as your fist.  There are 13 different flavored malts. I “sampled” a chocolate one and a peanut butter one and a snickerdoodle one.

Just so we are clear on one thing, Frank and Patties ain’t a DOLLAR MENU JOINT…Figure on spending about $7-10 a head for a meal that you won’t be able to finish.

Frank and Patties has been open about a week and a Sun Sentinel food critic already gave it a great review…so I can’t claim to be Amerigo Vespucci on this one. Open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week…this is a real good joint to know about if you live or in the Oakland Park-University area.

*****  Gianni’s Italian Restaurant, 1601 East Atlantic Boulevard, Pompano Beach, Florida 33060 (954) 942-1733.

I have been stuffing my face at Gianni’s for years. I don’t know how long this Southern Italian Joint has been in business, but my best guess is 20-25 years.

Real simple review…

Gianni’s is an absolutely terrific Italian restaurant. The food is delicious. The service is as friendly and as competent as can be. The prices are no more expensive than your favorite neighborhood “mom & pop” red sauce joint. Just so you know, Giann’s “enormous” garlic rolls are off-the-chart and worth the price of admission alone.

Gianni’s is open for lunch and dinner. If I were you, I would make a reservation, as the joint is always packed in the evenings.

Gianni’s is one of my favorite South Florida Italian Restaurants. Don’t miss this one.

Nino’s in Boca Raton

*****  Nino’s Pizzeria & Restaurant, 7120 Beracasa Way, Boca Raton, Florida 33433, (561) 392-9075—&—13900 South Jog Road, Delray Beach, Florida 33445, (561) 499-3988

Nino’s is one of my favorite “mom and pop” Southern Italian joints in South Florida. I could be going out on a limb here, but I think that after you have tried this joint, you will also become a big fan.

Just so you know, the Boca Raton location has been around for something like 25 years…the Delray Beach location has been in business for about 3 years. Over the years, I have eaten in the Boca location something like 30 times and the Delray location twice…although the menus are almost identical, I like the food, ambiance and service in the Boca restaurant better…call me a creature of habit, but I really feel at home when I enter the Boca joint…from the way I am greeted at the front door, to Nino the owner waving and talking from behind the pizza counter to the customers…the food and service in Delray Beach is just fine, but there is something “special” about the Boca location.

Although Nino’s seemingly “follows” the standard pattern…Soup or salad, garlic rolls, entree with a pasta side…this joint makes some of the most  delicious dishes and pizza that you have ever eaten. I would personally match its veal chop parmigiana—bone in chicken cacciatore— bone in chicken scapriello—shrimp scampi entrees against any Italian restaurant down here in South Florida.

Like I said before, Nino’s has been around for something like 25 years. The Boca Raton joint is jammed for dinner 7-days a week and has a takeout business that seems to be never ending. The Delray Beach spot has also  developed quite a following…but my heart belongs to the Boca joint. Both joints are open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.

Great food. Great service. Pizza joint prices…

By the way, Nino and his wife Josephine own Josephine’s Italian Restaurant which is located on Federal Highway in Boca Raton. That’s a story for another day…but Josephine’s is a very good “white table cloth” joint.

***** Matteo’s Restaurant, 233 South Federal Highway, Boca Raton Florida 33432, (561) 392-0773—&—1825 East Hallandale Boulevard, Hallandale, Florida 33009, (954) 455-4050

Matteo’s is a Southern Italian Restaurant. Matteo’s has 2 South Florida locations. Matteo’s is not cheap, but you won’t go to the poor-house, if you order sensibly. Matteo’s serves both family-style and individual sized portions. Matteo’s food is absolutely sensational. Matteo’s wait-staff is probably the best in all of South Florida. Matteo’s is always jammed.

Check Matteo’s website www.matteosrestaurants.com for menu/pricing/details.

Matteo’s is one of my favorite Italian Restaurants.

End of story.

*****  Dominic’s II, 9834 West Glades Road, Boca Raton Florida (561) 487-6325

Dominic’s is a “small” Southern Italian Chain…it currently has 4 locations in South Florida.

You guys all know the drill…soup or salad, garlic rolls, main dish with a pasta side-$14.99!

I have been eating at Dominic’s II for years. Vito, the partner who manages this location really knows how to run this joint and I have never had a bad meal. The food is Real good!. Rather than naming names, let’s just say that Dominic’s is much better than most of the small chains and “mom & pop” red sauce joints that dot the landscape.

Just so you know, in addition to Dominc’s II, there is Dominc’s I also in Boca Raton, Dominic’s III in Lake Worth and Dominic’s in Boynton Beach. I have eaten in all 4 locations and they are pretty much the same, service-quality wise.

Real good food. Good service. Good prices.

Give this “small chain” a shot, I think that you will enjoy it. All Locations are open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week.

*****  Giovanni’s Coal Fire Pizza, 7625 North State Road 7 (Waterway Shoppes), Parkland, Florida (954) 345-9282

In recent years, coal fire pizza/ chicken-salad joints  have  been popping up all over Southern Florida. In past writeups I have told you about Anthony’s, Red Rock and Coal Mine.

Tonight, I stuffed my face in Giovanni’s which opened about 6 weeks ago. Let me start by telling you, that in addition to coal fire pizza/chicken and salad, this joint has other stuff like pastas, meatballs, chicken parmigiana, all kinds of desserts and a wine list that is seemingly endless.

Now let me tell you the gory details. Tonight I “sampled” the Italian Salad, Caprese Salad, Ricotta & Meatball Pizza, Coal Oven Roasted Chicken Wings and the San Genero Feast (cheese ravioli, meatballs and chicken parmigiana). Sensing that my shorts were starting to feel a bit tight, I reluctantly  passed on the dozen or so desserts that Giovanni’s features.

The food is terrific. The service is terrific. Owners John and Ted eyeballed “every” item that came out of the 3 coal ovens/kitchen. As for prices, no more expensive than your favorite neighborhood Italian restaurant.

The joint is done in brick-walls, black ceiling with an open kitchen. There is a separate bar area and enough flat screen tvs to keep the sports crowd happy. An outdoor patio featuring a gorgeous “man-made” lake was jammed with diners enjoying an absolutely gorgeous South Florida Daylight Saving Night.

This joint is a home-run. Try it…Giovanni’s is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.

*****  Ben’s of Boca Raton, 9942 Clint Moore Road, Boca Raton, Florida 33496–(561) 470-9963

Ben’s is a KOSHER DELI. This joint opened about 2 years ago and every time that I have been there,  there have been lines waiting to dine in and take-out. You native New Yorker’s probably know, that this is the same Ben’s which currently has 6 Long Island locations and 1 Manhattan spot.

DELI is a very funny thing…some people like fatty corned beef and some have to have it extra lean… The point to be made, is that you will have to try Ben’s  and decide for yourself as to whether or not you like-love-hate this joint’s food.

Last night I had a great Rumanian Steak smothered in sauteed onions, a piece of stuff derma and a potato pancake. The derma’s gravy was a bit salty, but everything else that I ordered was delicious.  I also “sampled” a hot-dog with mustard and sauerkrat, corned beef, brisket, turkey off the bone, pastrami and tongue…all absolutely perfect.

Ben’s is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner. Like I said before, “deli” is a personal call, so try this joint and decide for yourself if it’s for you. Personally, I love the joint and try to get there once or twice a month.

*****  Lester’s Diner, 250 West State Road 84, Fort Lauderdale, Florida–(954) 525-5641

Lester’s Diner has been in business for something like a 1,000 years. It is open 24 hours a day 365 days a year. Gourmet food? Now- let’s be serious! This joint “was” made for the truck-drivers of the world. I really enjoy this place for a late night chicken salad sandwich or burger/fries/Coke. This is also a great joint for breakfast.

IF you are in the airport-area it is a great joint to know about.