***** 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. 

*****  John G’s–10 South Ocean Boulevard, Lake Worth, Florida 33460–(561) 585-9860

On February 15th 2008 I wrote up  Dune Deck Cafe. Do me a favor and read that writeup and where/when ever I mention Dune Deck Cafe (for this current writeup) substitute John G’s. You now have John G’s review.

John G’s is one of the best joints in all of South Florida to have a casual breakfast/lunch with the Atlantic Ocean as background scenery. The food is great. The service is great.

By the way, it is a toss-up between John G’s and Dune Deck as to which one is better. In any event, both are terrific that’s why there are always long lines waiting to get in.

*****  Mott Street Chinese Restaurant–1295 Hallandale Beach Boulevard, Hallandale Beach, Florida 33009–(954) 456-7555

Mott Street is a good no frills  Cantonese Chinese Joint. You know the drill, soup-appetizer-main dish-rice-dessert—$7.95 (plus or minus).

Mott Street is a neighborhood joint, so “don’t be driving” 15-20 miles to get to it. Over the years, I have eaten at Mott Street numerous times and never had a bad meal. Unless you live in the area, the next time that you are down at Gulfstream Park or the Aventura Mall consider giving this joint a try.

By the way, I especially like Mott’s spare ribs, General Tso’s Chicken and pan fried dumplings.

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

*****  Bagel City South–6006 SW 18th Street, Boca Raton, Florida 33433–(561) 393-5383

Bagel City South makes some of the best New York styled bagels and bialys in South Florida. The stuff is made the old fashioned way, that being hand rolled, boiled and then oven baked.

The joint is open 7 days a week for breakfast and lunch. Great place for appetizing, burgers, deli, eggs and of course those fantastic bagels/bialys.

Sassy waitresses and talkative countermen add to the New York flavor. This is a real good one.

*****  Dune Deck Cafe, 100 North Ocean Boulevard, Lantana Florida–(561) 582-0472

Over the years, I have eaten breakfast in this breakfast-lunch joint at least 20 times. Located directly on the beach, this tee shirt/shorts joint has great food, great service and beach atmosphere which is why we all live down here in South Florida. Don’t miss this one.

*****  Brooklyn Boys Pizza & Pasta, 9967 Glades Road, Boca Raton Florida 33434–(561) 477-3663

Yesterday had two delicious slices and a Coke at Brooklyn Boys. This joint is as close to a neighborhood Brooklyn  pizza joint circa 1950-1960 that you will find down here in South Florida. You order from a counter and the joint has a few tables where you can sit. I try to get over to Brooklyn Boys at least once a month. It reminds me of the days, when I would stop for 2 slices and a large Coke on my way home from Erasmus Hall High School. Of course, back then a slice cost 15 cents and a large Coke was a dime!

You can check meny/prices/info at- brooklynboysboca.com.