Restaurant Updates

Close to a hundred restaurants have been featured on Check, Please! over the past few years.  We thought it was time to give you a chance to send us updates on any restaurants that have changed hands, closed, renovated their building - or their menu...for better or for worse.

Sadly, several of the restaurants that have been featured have closed their doors for good, including Casa Bella of Dania Beach, DeVito's of Miami Beach, and Scorch of North Miami Beach.

Some, like our friends at Josef's of Plantation have closed their restaurants, but have big plans to re-open soon in a new location.  Others, like Pasta And... in Margate, changed ownership shortly after they were featured, but have stayed open in the same location with the same menu.

With all these changes taking place, we'd love for you to be our eyes and ears, feeding us news on our featured restaurants when you hear about it.  So here is a place to leave your feedback.  Loyal viewer, Jack Gilman, recently visited Boston's in Delray Beach only to find a completely renovated restaurant with a few new menu items as well.  His comments can be found below.

Comments

[Lorenzo]

you have to go and try West Avenue Cafe healthy fresh choices in Miami beach, Chef accommodates always your needs!!!!

[CP Producer]

We recently featured the very popular Ft. Lauderdale foodie destination, Valentino's, on the show. The place has now moved to a newer, more spacious location just a couple of blocks away from the original. Here's a review of the new location sent in by one of our viewers:

My favorite restaurant which was featured on your show last year
closed down last year for a few months. The good news is that they
have just re-opened in a new location which is much larger. It is
spectacular and you should review it for the upcoming season.

The review last year was mostly positive but there were some negative
comments regarding the space. Well you should see it now! This is
beautiful and elegant. The food has always been superb and the best I
have ever eaten anywhere. With the opening of the new restaurant they
have brought in some great chefs from New York City who have also
added many wonderful gastronomic delights. I understand a new pastry
chef is on the way to delight with some of the most wonderful deserts
on the planet.

If I were not a bit camera shy I would have requested to be a
reviewer but since that is not a option for me I wanted to make sure
you knew about it. I am sure someone else will write in who is a
regular so if they do don't overlook it.

It is amazing!

Best,

Karen

[CP Producer]

We were ecstatic to receive this e-mail from a viewer about Josef's Table in Boca Raton. Josef formerly owned and operated a restaurant in West Broward and was featured on a previous season of Check, Please! We were sad to hear that he subsequently closed the restaurant, but now we have great news! Thanks to our viewer, Andrew Z., for sending this along:

A new Treasure among Restaurants!!!

My wife and I have discovered a great new Restaurant - We go out to dine and not just to eat. This is a welcome gem!!!

Josef's Table in the Polo Shoppes in West Boca.

In addition to Josef, the other principal is Mel Lechner.

Mel has spared nothing to create an intimate, elegant facility - just sized right .

Josef of course is the Executive Chef who uses his magic and creates selections of variety and tastiness presented by a well-trained, knowledgeable staff.

I would describe the menu as more Continental than anything else...something to suit every taste.

It opened in December. For the summer Josef's has a $33.95 prix fix allowing choices from the entire menu unlike many places that present limited choices.

I have been retired in the Boca area since 1980 and appreciate finding a Restaurant of this quality.

Josef's Table
Polo Shoppes
5030 Champion Blvd
Boca Raton, FL 33496

561-353-2700
www.josefstable.com

[rudy]

just want to let everybody know about this cozy,romantic french elegant bistro in fort lauderdale,located at 2881 e commercial bld, the food is amazing,the service and ambiance is also impeccable, give it a try,some experience you won't forget

[Yamile]

After reading the reviews and checking out the menu and chef’s bio on-line, my husband and I decided to check out Uvas or Uva-69. From the minute we walked in we were not very impressed. The cement floors which had obviously been painted at one time were in much need of a fresh coat. We sat in the terrace and although the weather was perfect for outdoor dinning, the sound of traffic along Brickell killed the ambiance. Once we sat down we were promptly handed menus, but unfortunately mine was encrusted, not only with food, but with a long black hair as well – YUK! I showed our waiter the menu and asked for another, and although he promptly returned with a new one, it wasn’t in any better shape than the one before. The menus were covered in plastic, so you would think it wouldn’t be too difficult to keep them clean as long as they get a wipe down on a regular basis. At this point my husband decided to check out the restroom, a sure sign of a restaurant’s overall cleanliness, unfortunately it did not pass the test. Needless to say we never placed an order and left as quickly as our feet could carry us away!

[Rose C]

I watched the show today and they were reviewing Geronimo's in Davie.
I was a little bit surprised. I went there 2 years ago and will not return due to the fact that one of the bartenders was extremely rude to me and disrespectful. I just want to voice my opinion.

[Andrea]

We went to Pasta And after we saw it on your show. It was fantastic! Have recommended it many many times without a single negative comment to date. Just took friends there this past Saturday and it was the best meal we have had to date. Our friends loved it and we're ready to go back again this week. Changing hands....they didn't miss a beat. Highly recommend it!

[CP Producer]

Sonja, thanks for the info about Village Cafe. We're sorry to hear they've closed. They were featured in the original pilot season of Check, Please about 4 years ago.

[Sonja Davis]

The Village Cafe in Miami Shores has also closed, the place has a For Rent sign on the door.

[Jack G]

We just heard the newly-renovated Boston's on the Beach has officially re-opened!

[Bob]

When did Pasta and... In margate change owners?

[Jack G]

We just came back from Delray Beach and found Boston’s has been completely rebuilt over the last three months. We understand that yesterday, 10/21/2011 was their opening night. We arrived Saturday, 10/22/2011, and found restaurant has been completely updated. Apparently the building was torn down and rebuilt, they kept the same old charm on the downstairs with new bar and new outside first floor area. Also, the upstairs has been completely changed, it now has a very upscale appearance with the same unobstructed view of the beach. The dishes appear to be the same but I understand from our waitress, the menu has had some changes from a Chief from Key West. Did not follow-up on specific changes but they still have their wonderful Crab/Lobster Cakes and Lobster roll.

Jack Gilman