Stir Crazy

Price: Affordable

Atmosphere: 3 out of 5

Quality of Service: 3 out of 5

Food Overall: 4 out of 5

Let’s be honest: In today’s society, who DOESN’T love themselves some Asian cuisine? The question is why? What makes our growing desire to consume these delectable concoctions so strong? While everyone has their own reason for enjoying this cultural powerhouse of flavor, we can all agree that when it’s bad, it is horrible, but when it’s good…oh my.

Enter the dragon named Stir Crazy. This restaurant, with its modern art deco feel and slightly elegant appearance, is home to some wonderful Chinese inspired dishes. Their most popular item on the menu is the stir fry that you basically, well, do yourself.

Upon ordering, you choose your noodle (wheat, lo mein, or cellophane) and your meat (chicken, beef, pork, shrimp and even tofu). From there, the wait staff brings you a silver bowl with a side cart in a handy-dandy carrying case.

This is where you get up, take your portable food carrier to the food bar, and load up exactly what you want in your stir fry. The combinations of flavors you can lace together are dizzying: Bean sprouts, bok choy, broccoli, snap peas, garlic, fried noodles, hot peppers, water chestnuts...it’s just a cornucopia of tasty delights.

The little side cart is for your sauce(s). Everything from a soy ginger to traditional teriyaki is here, and you can mix and match any and all of them if you like. Once you’ve made your pile, just head over to the chefs and hand it over.

Several cooks are manning large woks over huge flames, and they toss in your ingredients and sauce, and then your meat and noodle selections. After a few minutes, your dinner is served. And it is just cooked perfectly. The best part is, if it isn’t seasoned properly? Well, that’s kind of your fault.

They also carry regular menu items that are anything but. My personal favorite is the Mongolian Beef (pictured above). Tender flank steak nicely grilled and tossed in a teriyaki sauce with scallions, mushrooms and red bell peppers, and served over your choice of a bed of noodles or rice. It is just delicious.

So if you’re looking for a nice lunch or dinner out, and have a craving for something with an Asian kick to it, look no further than Stir Crazy. Its calming atmosphere, scrumptious cuisine and affordable price make it a definite recommended stop on your food journey through life.

After all, it’s just Da(m)n Good Food.

Boca Raton Town Center

6000 Glades Road #1015
Boca Raton,FL33431Tel:561-338-7500

http://www.stircrazy.com/

Jersey Mike’s

Price: Cheap
Atmosphere: 2 out of 5
Quality of Service: 3 out of 5
Food Overall: 3 out of 5

I first discovered Jersey Mike’s while I was living in North Carolina. I was on my way home from work and trying to decide what I wanted for dinner, and in the little town of Fuquay-Varina, there’s not a ton of choices.

I passed over the train tracks and noticed a little strip mall with nothing in it but a blue and white neon sign with the sub shop’s logo. I pulled up and figured, ‘eh, how bad can it be?’ However, living in small towns in NC, most things are fried or smothered, and I wasn’t in the mood for either. But being as this joint claimed a Jersey address, I’d give them the benefit of the doubt.

And I’m glad I did. If you’ve never been to Mike’s, let me set the expectation: Like I said, it’s a sub shop. The menu isn’t huge, the atmosphere is like any other sub shop you have ever walked into (it is clean, though), and the workers are friendly and usually in their teens.

But who cares, really? That’s just the body, and we know beauty’s only skin deep. It’s the inner workings; the ‘meat’ if you will. Jersey Mike’s has some of the freshest toppings and prettiest cuts of meats I’ve ever seen in a sandwich eatery.

Their famous sub is the roast beef and provolone, and you can get it with whatever you like on top in three different sizes. The bread (wheat or white) is soft and fresh baked on the premises, and it has body that some places neglect when serving their loaves to customers. There’s a sense of ‘care’ here.

But the company’s real passion shows in the meat. The roast beef is a perfect medium-rare, and beautifully red throughout. It’s seasoned well, and they pile it high. The provolone is slightly smoky, and adds a nice creaminess to the sandwich. Both are carved right in front of you to order.

Then there’s the toppings. You can pick and choose, or you can get it ‘Mike’s Way’, which includes: Crisp lettuce, thinly sliced white onions, garden ripe tomatoes, tart pickles, salt & pepper, oil, and a red wine vinegar.

Slap a lid on it and you’ve got yourself a very tasty sub. With all of the other sandwich joints jockeying for your hard earned dollar, it really can be confusing to decide ‘Who deserves it most?’ Trust me: Jersey Mike’s has earned some of that 40 hours you put in.

After all, it’s just Da(m)n Good Food.

Jersey Mike's
Sommerset Shoppes
8903 Glades Rd.
Boca Raton, Fl 33434
(561) 479 - 0003
http://www.jerseymikes.com/

Grand Lux Café

Price: Pricey
Atmosphere: 4 out of 5
Quality of Service: 4 out of 5
Food Overall: 5 out of 5

When this place originally opened, there were many who figured that it was just another ‘Cheesecake Factory’. After all, it is owned by the same company, and the décor has a very similar vibe going on in both restaurants. Even the wait staff dresses the same.

But thankfully, that’s where the similarities end. Now don’t get me wrong: I truly enjoy the Cheesecake Factory, and I think they have some wonderful dishes and out of this world desserts. That being said, I prefer an eatery of its own name to be its own place, no matter who owns what or what it may or may not be a spin off of.

Grand Lux is one of my favorite local joints, even if it is a chain. I try to enjoy the more obscure restaurants, especially because there’s such an exhilarating rush for me to get back to my computer and share my experience with all of you.

But sometimes a chain is awesomely excellent, regardless to the number of buildings it’s linked to. Grand Lux serves up some of the finest, tastiest food I’ve had from any restaurant. The cool thing here is this, kids: They do everything (much like their ‘sister’ company), such as pasta, pot pies, and pork roasts.

From their Sunday spaghetti to their shaking Mongolian beef, it’s all full flavored, rich, smooth and creamy right where it needs to be. It would take me all day to write about this restaurant, so rather than have you drooling all over your keyboard for the next hour, I’ll just cover the three ‘must haves’ that I think are, well, must haves here.

(1)  Rib Eye – This is, hands down, the best rib eye I’ve ever had. Ever. The first time I ordered it was just orgasmic (you always remember your first). Picture it: The waiter places this hefty plate in front of me and my eyes begin to sing a symphony that my taste buds dance the Lambada to.

It’s about a 12oz. rib eye, cooked to a nice medium rare. Next to it is a nice cup of garlic shoestring French fries, and atop my cow slab is a little yellow ball. Upon further examination, I discover that it is a melting chunk of garlic butter. The steak is just seasoned with this, salt and pepper.

I allow it to melt completely, and cut off my first bite. Do you remember that very first time on Christmas morning where you went running downstairs to see the tree all aglow with gifts upon gifts stacked beneath, knowing that 90% of them were from you, and Santa himself delivered them personally?

That’s just bite#1. This steak is money (I accidentally typed ‘this steak is monet and corrected it, but why? It’s like edible artwork ). This is my dinner recommendation for sure. However, if you’re more of a brunch person…

(2)  Sunday, 11:00am-2:00pm is where you want to focus for my next dish: Chicken & Waffles. Now, in Las Vegas, this dish is served 24/7. However, in my neck of the woods, I have to wait for the above mentioned timeframe to indulge my senses.

This item is just like it sounds: A light, fluffy Belgian waffle, with that perfect crunch to the outside, dusted with powdered sugar. The chicken, about 5-6 fat, juicy tenders, is dipped in the waffle batter and fried to a nice golden brown. The waffle batter gives it a unique sweetness.

The chicken is then piled on top of the waffle like a foodie car wreck. The whole thing arrives with a side cart of pecan-honey butter and warm maple syrup. Dump both gravy boats on top of the entire dish and take your tongue to a land I like to call ‘Holycrapthatsfantastic-place’.

(3)  Finally, if you want dessert, you’ll need to order it before your meal. That’s because they bake it fresh while your lunch/dinner is being prepared. The key is to order a dessert worth waiting for.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you: The Beignets. These are fried balls of hollow dough, so airy and delicious you’ll want to bring your momma to slap her. Covered in powdered sugar, these fritters are just what the sugar shack of your brain ordered.

But wait, there’s more! If you order now (meaning ahead of your meal), you’ll also receive three carts of dipping sauces, including the richly dense chocolate ganache, the tart and tangy raspberry coulee, and last but certainly not least, the Jack Daniels cream sauce, with that meld of vanilla and whiskey that makes you want to bathe in it.

So there you have it. I’ve given you your selection. I’ve provided my opinions, in detail et ad nauseam. It’s no more expensive than the Cheesecake Factory, but that can get pricey depending on your tastes. Regardless, you need to try it out if you haven’t already.

After all, it’s just Da(m)n GREAT Food.

Landlubbers Raw Bar & Grill

Price: Cheap/Affordable
Atmosphere: 3 out of 5
Quality of Service: 3 out of 5
Food Overall: 4 out of 5


Everyone has a favorite ‘bar & grill’ that they go to. Whether it’s to watch the game, meet with friends or just to have something fried, smothered or otherwise doused in some sort of cheese product, the B&G restaurant has become a staple to the American’s repertoire.

Landlubbers Raw Bar & Grill in Plantation, FL (there are several chains; this is the one I frequent) is probably my favorite of the B&G hangouts. I’ve actually been coming here for over 15 years on and off. But why, you ask? What makes this place so special?

I guess that depends on your preference. For me, when I hit up a B&G, I require three things: Noise, a ridiculous menu with way too many choices, and service that is decent enough, but when it gets slammed, it may take a minute to get to you.

So why is that good, exactly? The camaraderie. The time away from the wait staff and with the ones you love and laugh with. Basically, this is a place to get loudy and rowdy with your peeps, lovers and family types.

But enough about the B&G aspect; if you’ve been to one, you’ve been to them all in terms of atmosphere. At Landlubbers, the menu is just 2 pages, yet they cram about 100 items on there for you to select from. And being as I’ve been going for a while, I’ve had most of them. And they’re all done right.

A favorite of mine is the Buffalo Chicken sandwich. Sounds typical, I know, but the breast is fried nicely, without being greasy or oily, the breading is thin enough to know it’s fried, but not to the point where you feel a stop at the gym is necessary afterwards.

And the breast is fat and juicy. Choose your heat level, throw in some crinkle cut fries and coleslaw, and have at it. The best part about this meal? Well, if you get there in time for lunch, it’ll only run you 5.99 (drinks are separate).

And they have an entire list of daily lunch specials ranging from 5.99 – 6.99: Cheeseburgers, Brats, Fish sandwich, Delmonico steak…the list goes on and on. Their other specials are worth checking out as well: At the time of this writing, they have a ½ rack of ribs, 10 wings and waffle fries (w/ slaw) for about 11.99.

And don’t let the ‘sale’ price fool you: Neither quality nor quantity are skimped on here. The ribs are tender, fall-off-the-bone style, the bratwurst is massive and seared perfectly on the grill, and the Delmonico steak is marinated in a mojo and served on a bed of black beans and rice.

As I said, the food here is very good no matter what you decide. But the wings. Oh my good man/woman…the wings. I want to start by mentioning that my favorite food on the planet is teriyaki chicken wings. I could be dropped on a deserted island and as long as I had those to eat, I’d be happy.

As per usual with B&G’s, you can get them traditional, plain, teriyaki (and I think there are a few other sauces to choose form). But the teriyaki here can’t be beat. I don’t know what it is: Maybe it’s the thick glaze that clings to the fried drummettes and ‘flats’. Perhaps it is the richness of the sauce that goes down like a tangy, sugar waterfall of joy. Or it could be that when you finish the bowl, your entire mouth is tingly and numb from the tart and sweet all at the same time.

Whatever it is, these wings are GOOD. Truth be told, whatever you order here is GOOD. When a place can hold on to recurring customers (especially the picky ones like myself), it deserves your attention and money.

So grab the lads, lasses and Lassie and head over to your local Landlubbers. Order up some wings/burgers/fried clams and kick back with a brew and enjoy the game. Join in on the conversation. Laugh loud and hearty, for you are among friends. And please, eat well.

After all, it’s just Da(m)n Good Food.

Landlubbers Raw Bar & Grill
1851 North Pine Island Road
Plantation, FL 33322
(954) 473-2884
http://landlubbersrawbar.com/

Don Ramon's Restaurant

Price: Affordable
Atmosphere: 4 out of 5
Quality of Service: 3 out of 5
Food Overall: 4 out of 5

Cuban food: It’s my people’s contribution to the American public since way back when. Well, that and Ricky Ricardo. But Cuban cuisine, although loaded with some complex dishes, follows a basic recipe of a few staple ingredients.

Italians have tomatoes, garlic, olive oil and basil. You can make a perfect authentic sauce out of those 4 things. Cuban food is pretty much the same way: You can create most Latin inspired meals with the base of: Garlic, onions, cumin and limes.

Enter Don Ramon’s, an eatery located in West Palm Beach that is hidden in a clean and updated plaza. However, walk in the restaurant and it feels like you’ve entered one of those small cabanas you happen to see in the movies, when the actor is vacationing in Cuba or another Spanish location.

It’s got about 20 tables, if that, and it’s quaint and old-world feeling. The prices follow suit, especially considering what you get for your dollar. The missus and I stopped in after a show, and were greeted by a basket of hot Cuban bread, garlic-buttered and dusted with parsley flakes. At that moment I had a feeling this would be an authentic experience.

We ordered the plantain chips with mojo to start with: Thinly sliced, fried crispy and served with a real mojo, comprised of like 20 cloves of garlic, vinegar and olive oil. It was heavenly. Their special for the evening was a ‘Cuban Combo’ ($17.99), and we both decided that we’d give it a shot.

The food arrives, and I have to be honest…anywhere else in Boca, this would cost twice the price. There was a mound of steamed white rice, with a side bowl of salty black beans that had this amazing creaminess to them.

Next to that was about 4-5 fat, sweetened plantains fried up to order. These things literally hit your tongue and were content to simply dissolve; no chewing necessary. And then the main dish: The Cuban Combo.

This thing had a 6 oz. flank steak, 6 oz. Chicken breast, and about 8-10 oz. of shredded pork and onions. The steak was seasoned very mildly, and I appreciated it. Why? Because the char-grill flavor really had a chance to shine here, and it was one of the best pieces of meat I’ve ever had.

The chicken breast was pounded super thin, with grilled onions over the top. It was marinated in the sour orange that is common with Cuban food, and it was cooked to perfection; juicy and tender.

The shredded pork was a knock out: Soaked in that famous mojo concoction, and simmered with the sautéed onions and parsley. Just moist, tasty porkiness that had you coming back for more until it disappeared from your plate.

A Cuban coffee and tres leches to complete the meal and it was a home run for me. I highly recommend making the trek out here if you’re in the mood for just excellent Spanish eats. Attentive staff, inviting atmosphere and, well…

…Da(m)n Good Food.

Don Ramon's Restaurant
300 Clematis St.
West Palm Beach, Fl. 33401
(561) 832-5418
http://www.donramonwpb.com/

VEGAS, BABY!! – The Foodie Tour – Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill

Price: Affordable
Atmosphere: 3 out of 5
Quality of Service: 4 out of 5
Food Overall: 4 out of 5

Our final stop before hitting the airport and heading back home was at Harrah’s Hotel & Casino, at the longest name for a restaurant that I’ve ever heard. Honestly, it’s like the acclaimed country star tried to write another song in the title alone. Whatever happened to simple eatery titles? ‘MEAT’. ‘YUM-YUMS’. ‘FRIED EVERYTHING’.

Regardless of the lengthy moniker, this joint carries with it some tasty vittles. At Toby’s, it’s one of those 'Americana with some kick' type of places. Country music in the background and posters of himself everywhere, it feels pretty much like a Roadhouse or Ale House.

Fresh hot rolls as you are seated, beverages served in Mason jars...just a semi-noisy hodown kind of restaurant…well, Bar & Grill. My wife had ordered the BBQ chicken with mac & cheese, and I had the meatloaf with mashed potatoes.

The meatloaf was moist and very flavorful, topped with a thick and meaty gravy. The mashed potatoes were creamy and whipped up nicely (no lumps, so sorry to you lump fans).  Her BBQ chicken (to which I am not usually a fan) was incredibly tasty, juicy and had a nice peppery tang from the sauce.

The mac and cheese was nice and velvety without being drastically heavy. You knew you were eating a bowl of cheese with some noodles tossed in for good measure, but it didn’t FEEL like you shouldn’t be eating this.

I would definitely go back here to try some of their other dishes. I witnessed other patrons ordering flat iron steaks, humongous salads and ribs a plenty, hanging off the plate. The service was friendly and it had that honky-tonk bar feel. I probably don’t share Mr. Keith’s ‘love’ for this Bar & Grill, but I did like it enough to stop back in for a quick meal if I’m ever back ‘round those parts.

All in all, it was a great vacation. You should definitely hit LV for the fun, shows and excitement. It’s just a magical town, really.

And don’t forget…there’s plenty of Da(m)n Good Food out there, while you’re out there.

VEGAS, BABY!! – The Foodie Tour – Harrah’s Flavors Buffet

Price: Affordable
Atmosphere: 3 out of 5
Quality of Service: 3 out of 5
Food Overall: 3 out of 5

So far we’ve covered breakfast. We’ve talked about lunch. We delved into the wonderful world of dinner. But throughout this Vegas tour- de-food, we haven’t tapped into that underrated ‘4^th meal’. No, I don’t mean Taco Bell.
I’m speaking of course about brunch, that meal between your first and second that incorporates both for the late risers. It’s a little breakfast, it’s a little lunch. And done right it’s a lot awesome. On our last day in LV, the wife and I woke up late and headed to Harrah’s Hotel & Casino.

We heard their buffet wasn’t bad, and we wanted something to hold us over until dinner. At Flavors, you can have the brunch buffet (about $17.00/pp) or for $4.00 more, the champagne brunch with constant refills (after 10:00am.)

My bride opted for the booze; I just wanted the eats. As it was brunch, I hit the trough and hooked up some waffles, fried chicken, eggs and bacon to start. Now with buffets, the usual fare is the usual fare. It relatively tastes the same from place to place, so I’m going to cover the unique dishes I’ve encountered.

The fried chicken, for example. Yes, it’s typical for most buffets. But this one wasn’t greasy, and didn’t taste like it’s been soaking under a warming light for 4 hours. It was hot, crispy, juicy and well seasoned. Oh, and it accompanied the fluffy, slightly crunchy waffle beautifully.

She of course tackled the crab legs and was happy. I decided to try various flavor combinations (I mean, I WAS in a joint called ‘Flavors’), such as a salty and sweet carved ham, rare prime rib, and scooped to order ice creams in a waffle cone.

Here, my friends, is the unique part. They have cotton candy. On a stick, at the ready. What? Yes. That’s what I said. I’ve never seen it, never even would have thought to find it here, yet it makes perfect sense. The ultimate carnie food, as much as you want (or until your Diabetes kicks in). My father I believe is planning a trip to Sin City for that reason alone.

As I said, it’s got your usual buffet foods you’d expect, but a few things are done just better than ‘usual’, and if you wake up late and need to get your grind on, this is quite the deal. It’s affordable (and one of the cheaper ones on the Strip), it’s quality, and..

Well, it’s just Da(m)n Good Food.