Sushi Simon....fantastic

Ok so I finally went to this little gem after much prodding from a good friend.  I was happy to say I had a chance to dine at this little trendy sushi spot.  Was it the best sushi I have had in Florida? I am not sure but it was close.  The rolls was delicate, creative and tasty.  The fish was super fresh and I got to the point where I wanted to order more and more.  The place itself was so unassuming you would even know if was there or worth trying unless someone told you.  Once inside I almost felt like I was back on the upper West Side of NY in a cozy, comfortable and contemporary restaurant.  One thing that impressed me was that they only had a strictly Japanese menu.  No Thai.  I like this as too many places try to offer too many things on the menu and none wind up being good.   The sake sampler was a great way to start off along with a side salad.  The ginger dressing was perfect.  I would recommend any of the rolls and of course any of the house specials.  Yes there are no prices but it is worth the risk.  The Non name roll was fantastic as was the sexy Tuna roll.  All in all I was very satisfied with the quality of the food, the presentation of the rolls and the freshness of the fish.  On the downside the service was eh and the price for dinner was insane.  It was almost like that they just did not care what they charged for the food and wanted you to think you were at Nobu.  Either way I would give it 4 out of 5 forks and say it is OK to treat yourself to some overpriced and extremely yummy sushi.

Saul says....Park Tavern in Delray Beach

Park Tavern in Delray beach is a cool spot to go grab a drink, have brunch or meet some friend for dinner. Walking in I did not know what to expect as a lot of similar bistro's (Yard House, Old Village Tavern, etc) I have been too seem to be too complicated, overpriced and the food doesn't hit the spot.  None of this is true at Park Tavern.  The ambiance has a great rustic laid back feel.  It blends nicely with the meatball sliders, hot pretzels appetizers and the expansive beer menu.  I was impressed with the menu as it is simple yet really showcases a myriad of tasty treats and good IPA's.  The Ahi Tuna apply is a must and so are the meatball sliders.  I would also recommend the scallops, flat iron steak, burgers or shrimp and grits.  The mac and cheese was some of the best that I have had in a while. You will be happy that the portions are decent and you will not need to take out a small loan to eat there for dinner.  I have seen worse.  I am not sure if it on the menu but there is a dessert that is a must have.  It was a cookie dough candy cake with whipped cream.  After sampling so many different foods at dinner the cake was a perfect way to end the night.

The bar scene seemed to be hopping but then again it was a Saturday night on Atlantic Ave,  Overall I would give Park Tavern 3.5 forks (out of 5).  If you get a chance to go check it out I would say go  have a drink or just get the mac and cheese to go.

http://www.parktaverndelray.com/

http://www.parktaverndelray.com/food-drink

Seafood World oh how I love thee

Seafood World in Lighthouse Point is one restaurant you need to visit.  Whether you are just taking out, cooking at home or you want to dine in and have them roll you out.  Go and dive into the best, freshest seafood gem in South Florida.  They seem to know what they are doing and have been doing it for a long long time.

The place itself is rustic and you almost feel like you are eating on board an old large fishing boat.  The staff is super friendly and always happy to help you.  Maybe the best seafood around does this to people or the lobster bisque is just that good.  You do get what you pay for and dinner can be a little pricey, but it is worth it.  The conch chowder or lobster bisque are the best to start with.  Shrimp, scallops, hog snapper, crab legs, calamari and Mahi are all amazing.  In fact everything on the menu is fantastic and the portions are large.  I do not think I have ever eaten there where I did not need help walking to my care after.  To be honest I have never seen colossal shrimp that big.  Don't take my word for it, go visit them soon.  For lunch, for dinner, for take out or to pick up the best seafood to take home.  They have a market fish counter when you first walk in.  Check out their web site below.

http://www.papahughie.com/

Saul says Sushi Joe.....you need to go

Sushi Joe in Boynton Beach, FL is a great spot for some quality sushi and low key dining.  Bring your flashlight and a translator but you will ultimately enjoy the sushi.  Super fresh, creative tasty rolls.  I was impressed.  Like some places that have become too fusion oriented (Sushi Thai people) Sushi Jo keeps it simple with a good menu of sushi, sashimi and Japanese tasty treats.  There are only about 6 tables in the place so roll the dice and maybe it is me but with the dark lighting and the house music lightly playing the place feels bigger.  Service was good even if it took 5 minutes to order the spicy scallop roll.

Edamame to start is always a good bet.  I would then recommend the sushi pizza with tuna, JB hand roll, and any of the specialty rolls.  You cant go wrong.  With so many sushi spots all over South Florida I would say this one qualifies to be in the top 30%.  Go, enjoy you will be happy you did.

http://www.sushijo.com/beyond-fresh/index.html

Amalfi Grille - Vero Beach FL

Yes I did go up to Vero Beach.  If you are in and around Vero and want to experience some very good Italian food I would recommend Amalfi Grille. http://www.amalfigrille.net/  This warm and inviting restaurant makes you feel as if you were dining in an Italian kitchen at your best friends house.  The service is excellent, friendly and it seems everyone it in tune with your needs.  The owner will come by and make you feel at home while the wait staff always seems to be smiling.  Maybe it is because the food is that good.  First start off with the wine list and you will be surprised at the extensive menu of good reds and white to choose from.  Brunello's and Ripassa's highlight the robust wine list.  This made me happy.  The next part of the meal and the most important part if you ask me was the bread.  Yes I know what you are saying but I am a card junkie and having some fresh baked bread just puts me in a good mood.  The bread was fantastic, fresh, warm and doughy.  It was not the norm for Florida where you will be lucky to get decent bread at any eatery.  After about two loafs of bread we started with the mozzarella buratta with tomatoes.  It was light and hit the spot.   I will also suggest the house salad too only to get to taste the homemade citrus dressing, it was delightful.  What I liked about the menu was its simplicity.  Homemade pastas, seafood, veal, steak and a few chicken dishes.  It was not overdone like so many Italian places you see these days.  I got to taste the penne ala vodka and was impressed by the freshness of the dish while the sauce did not overwhelm you.  In addition we tried the veal parm, this also went down with ease as the red sauce was spot on.  If it was up to me I would have tried every veal dish on the menu but I guess that is for next time.  For dessert you cannot go wrong with any of the homemade desserts they offer.  It is almost like the chef has a personal goal to blow you away with flavor and creativity.  We settled on the neopoliatin cake, it was incredible.  It seems the the owner pays attention to every detail and it shows in the food and service that is offered.

To sum it up I would highly recommend Amalfi Grille.   I had a great time and felt at home.  Can't wait to go back and try some of the other homemade pasta dishes!!!

Ale House did not make me happy

Saul says..............Eat at your own Risk at the Ale House in Boca.

The place is always packed and I am sure the festive atmosphere is great if you want to watch a ball game.  I just would not eat there, the food is awful.  Too greasy, too over or under cooked, too lousy and over priced.  Steaks look like they have been microwaved and never cooked to your liking.  "Yes  i'd like the steak medium rare please" Expect Medium well.  I was amused to see that yes you can screw up a burger!  Also I think the sea food is all frozen and older than the powder blue Buick that cut me off on my way to the Ale House.  How can one screw up bar food, well Ale House took the 2012 Gold medal on this one.  Even sweet potato fries (an all time favorite) are soggy and crappy here.  My 5 year of nephew can make sweet potato fries.  Next time you want a quick bite to eat in the Boca area and want something simple my advice is go to Yard House, Flannigans, Duffy's...just not the Ale House.

What is the best pizza in south Florida?  Not deep dish or coal fire?