Owner of beloved Lantana diner opens new café in downtown Lake Worth Beach
After running the much-loved Jo-Jo's Café in Lantana for 28 years, owners Darryl Goldberg and Barbara Milo have now opened Over EZ's Café in Lake Worth Beach.
Living 56 of his 61 years in Lake Worth Beach, Goldberg said he'd always wanted to have a restaurant in the downtown area and be a part of the scene.
Though he said he wasn't really looking to open a new place, when Goldberg found out that the location at the corner of Lucerne Avenue and J Street was available he knew he had to act.
He signed the lease to take over the space, previously home to Roxie's Place, on June 11.
Goldberg said he had initially considered running both Jo-Jo's and Over EZ's, but when a longtime Jo-Jo's customer offered to buy him out he decided to sell.
Focused solely on their new endeavor, Goldberg and his wife Barbara got busy cleaning, decorating and getting Over EZ's ready to open.
Over EZ's debut couldn't come soon enough, judging by the number of Jo-Jo's customers who endlessly asked when Goldberg's new spot was going to open. The pressure was so intense, Goldberg opened the place day ahead of schedule on Monday, July 17.
Though the food from Jo-Jo's got excellent reviews, some his customers' devotion likely runs even deeper.
In 2004 and 2005, when hurricanes respectively pummeled the region, most restaurants shuttered, unable to operate without power and amidst assessing structural damages.
Not Jo-Jo's.
Luckily undamaged, Goldberg became somewhat of a 'hurricane hero' when he hooked up several generators and got the diner up and running.
The morning after Wilma, Jo-Jo's opened at 6:30 a.m. offering a steady line of customers $3 fried egg sandwiches, pancakes and $4 omelets.
He said the grill, stovetops and oven ran on gas (which was still working) and he used the generators to power the lighting, make coffee and a few other things.
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Goldberg said he just wanted to make sure people could get a hot meal.
Hopefully no hero cape will be required this season. And loyal customers can certainly toss any concerns that their fave Jo-Jo's meal will be lost when Goldberg pivots to Over EZ's Café — he's keeping the menu he previously offered at Jo-Jo's.
So whether you're craving Darryl's made-from-scratch biscuits and gravy, or sloppy joe, or have an appetite that can be satisfied only with a hungryman breakfast (three eggs; bacon, sausage or ham; homefries or grits; half order of biscuits & gravy or short stack; and orange juice), Over EZ's has you covered.
Goldberg said he is really looking forward to being part of the downtown in the city where he grew up.
More: It's all about eggs at this new restaurant in downtown WPB
Over EZ's Café
What: Over EZ's Café
Where: 15 N. J St., Lake Worth Beach
Hours: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Friday; 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Information: 561-444-3698
Eddie Ritz is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at eritz@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Jo-Jos Cafe owners open Over EZs Cafe restaurant in Lake Worth Beach
