Most people know how to eat an artichoke: Using your teeth, you scrape the meat from the bottom of each leaf. 
 
 But Miamian Arturo Carvajal, a doctor with a family practice in Hollywood and a litigant in one of the stranger lawsuits we've ever seen, was mystified by the vegetable. 
 
 "It takes a sophisticated diner to be familiar with the artichoke," says Carvajal's lawyer, Marc R. Ginsberg. "People might think that, as a doctor, he'd know how to eat one. But he was thinking it was like a food he might have eaten in his native Cuba, where you eat everything on the plate." 
 
 In May 2009, Carvajal dined at Houston's in North Miami Beach. He order a grilled-artichoke special. It was a vegetable he had "never seen nor heard of previously," Carvajal claims in court filings. 
 
 The server "fail[ed] to explain the proper method of consuming an artichoke," he says, namely that the "outside portion of the leaf should not be eaten; rather, only the inside portion of the leaf was safely digestible." 
 
 Anybody who's ever eaten an artichoke knows the outside leaves are tough, brittle, and nearly dagger-sharp. But apparently, Carvajal courageously gnawed his way through every leaf on his plate. 
 
 You can guess the rest of the story. Carvajal suffered "severe abdominal pain and discomfort." He went to the hospital, where an "exploratory laparotomy" revealed artichoke leaves lodged within his bowel, he claims. 
 
 Among the alleged consequences of Carvajal eating an entire damn artichoke: "disability, disfigurement, mental anguish," and "loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life." 
 
 This October 27, he filed a lawsuit alleging negligence seeking unspecified damages. We've embedded the complaint below. 
 
 Riptide called Hillstone Restaurant Group, which owns the Houston's chain, for comment but have not heard back yet. A spokesperson for the group called Carvajal's claim a "silly notion," telling Business Insurance: "What's next? Are we going to have to post warnings on our menu they shouldn't eat the bones in our barbecue ribs?" 
 
 Arturo Carvjal sues Houston's Restaurant for not advising him on how to eat an artichoke. 
 
 
 
 Location Info More North Dade Restaurants Map Hillstone's 17355 Biscayne Blvd., Sunny Isles Beach, FL Category: Restaurant 
 
 Sponsor Content ||||| Are restaurants legally obligated to educate their customers about potentially dangerous vegetables? 
 
 That is the contention of a customer of a Florida restaurant, who argues that Houston's Restaurant in Miami should have taught him about the right way to eat an artichoke. 
 
 According to his Oct. 25 lawsuit filed in circuit court in Miami-Dade County against Hillstone Restaurant Group Inc., Arturo Carvajal said he was a customer in May 2009 when he was offered a house special of grilled artichokes, which was not on the menu. 
 
 Mr. Carvajal said he had neither seen nor heard of the dish previously, and his waiter never told him that the outside portion of the leaf is indigestible. 
 
 As a result, Mr. Carvajal began “experiencing severe abdominal pain and discomfort,” according to the suit. An exploratory procedure revealed artichoke leaves lodged in his small bowel. 
 
 Mr. Carvajal alleges that the restaurant and its manager were negligent in failing to train table servers to tell patrons about “the proper method of consuming an artichoke.” 
 
 He is seeking nonspecified damages for bodily injury, pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, aggravation of pre-existing conditions as well as medical expenses, among other charges. 
 
 Glenn Viers, the restaurant chain's vp and general counsel, said while it is difficult to make light of a situation where a guest ends up in the hospital, “It's just kind of a silly notion” that the company has a duty to post warnings against someone eating an entire artichoke. “What's next? Are we going to have to post warnings on our menu they shouldn't eat the bones in our barbeque ribs?” 
 
 Mr. Viers said also the firm will defend the lawsuit “vigorously.” ||||| 37 
 
 2311 S 35th St 
 
 Fort Pierce , FL 34981 
 
 
 
 (772) 466-8303 
 
 I used to frequent the Big Apple pizza in North Palm Beach, so when we were looking for a midpoint place to meet family, we chose this Big Apple Pizza location. When we arrived, it was empty, but there is ample seating available. Their tv's are tuned to sports, and many pictures are on the walls, including one of President Obama visiting there. We got garlic knots which are good, but there are the harder ones, I prefer soft, but they were still good. The salad and dressing was also good. We got a loaded pizza and a plain cheese pizza, both were huge and very good. While this location is off the beaten path, it is worth the drive. 
 
 Great service and a great lunch for a good price. For $9 I got two slices of pizza, a drink, and a large salad. It's about five to ten minutes off the turnpike. They've also got a nice draft beer selection if that's something you're interested in. 
 
 I got to this one because it's close to home. I like the owners and the employees there are very hospitable. No complaints here! 
 
 We ordered takeout from here last night When I placed my order we were disappointed because we were told they did not have any soups at that location nor did they have the wedge salad Both were on their internet menu ... We got the sampler dinner... It was very good Spaghetti and sausage.... Not much sauce kind of plain tasting however the sausage was good but nothing exceptional Two slices of pizza... Was ok again not much sauce and the crust was very tough and chewy Their garlic knots were tasty but again very tough and chewy... Fed them to the dogs Side salads were good Canoili was good and the cheesecake was average Maybe it would have been much better at the restaurant but not so much delivery If in the area again I know we would not order takeout again but might give it a second chance and eat dine in Was disappointed but will give a second try 
 
 My husband and I were new to the area and were looking for a good sandwich and pizza restaurant. And we found Big Apple..... great subs and great pizza. Fresh ingredients. Clean. Definitely will go again!!! 
 
 Yes! It is worth it! So a funny thing happened while on another Ocala to Miami drive - Yup, I got hungry!! Was in a rush but just not in the mood for crappy food. -- Yelp-- Benchmarks -- I honestly did not remember why I tagged this pizza shop. I'm not a aficionado, heck, I don't even eat pizza that often. But trusting there had to be a good reason I took a sizable detour from the Turnpike. And IT WAS WORTH IT! Yep. I was very happy with my 2 slices mushrooms, roasted peppers and sausage. Plus a draft of 312 (don't judge me) So while waiting for the order, I went back through the reviews and quickly remember why I wanted to make a visit here. The social brouhaha after the POTUS hugged the owner, the subsequent dirty responses from (XXXXXX) people who have issue with the POTUS, and the noble response from the owner really demonstrated the depth of character of this man. As I pondered the reason why POTUS would "randomly" select here (did the secret service rely on Yelp also?), I also started to notice many of the pictures, T-shirts and letters of Thank you. Very near and dear to my heart, was the letter of from the Local Fire Chief asking patrons to consider supporting MDA and the "Fill the Boot" drive. What is clear, is the person who owns this restaurant has deep relationship with his community from what appears to be a generous heart. The pizza arrived, with these thoughts contemplating in my head. The first bite in and I was rewarded. Of special note, the crust has a special springy lightness, that I have found in only one other pizza shop, who owner comes from Philly. Coincidence? Not sure, but I suspect that when I finally get to Philly, I will be seeking out this special type of crust. In short - just go and enjoy!! 
 
 Wonderful pizza tastes like home! Meatballs were awesome too. Little pricy but wonderful and worth the stop. 
 
 Came in and sat down and waited. Never been here before and I was the only person in here. It took some type before someone asked if I needed something. Wasn't the best pizza just ok. 
 
 This is a great place to go for a quick bite while at the school or in the area. Awesome decor, the employees are very friendly. Food is great and easy . Highly recommend this place 
 
 It's pizza - no pizazz - pizza maker was yelling and using profanity to another person in the kitchen about another worker. Not very professional. Garlic knots gave the worst indigestion that I have had in years. 
 
 We stopped by yesterday, on Labor Day, and were pleased to learn that the Monday-Tuesday special (a large pie for $8.49) was in effect even on a holiday. We added artichokes as a topping for $1.75, and between the two of us we very nearly finished the 16-inch pie. That's especially impressive considering that my wife doesn't usually like pizza. This one she liked. She remembered the place from the early 2000s, back when the restaurant's most famous guest was still in the Illinois State Senate, when she was going to IRCC. (Kids, that's what your mother called IRSC back in the day. She pronounced it 'irk'.) Since then, the Big Apple has gotten bigger, and has completely redecorated. We weren't quite sure whether to expect table service or counter service, since there was an 'order here' sign above the register but we were invited to choose a table and our server brought menus and took our order. Later, I refilled my own diet Pepsi from the fountain, but we also had refills brought to us. Maybe that's because it was dinnertime; maybe it's because my wife was using her crutches. When the pizza arrived, we dug in. The crust was thin and crackled a little bit, like you'd expect from a New York style pie. Artichokes were scattered lightly around, but as my wife pointed out, the amount of artichokes you'd hope for is charged in most other places as a double topping -- so we got a reasonable value for the money. If you want lots of artichoke, you can always order your 16" pizza with double artichokes for an extra $3.50 instead of $1.75. Easy enough. We were saddened that there was no lemon for the freshly brewed iced tea, not even packets of lemon juice. And when it was time to pile back into our car (which we just bought this weekend, and have not yet ruined), we hoped to have a plastic grocery sack to put our clamshell of leftovers into. A place that serves garlic knots really should have a leakproof takeout solution. But even missing those two things, we enjoyed ourselves and heard a great retelling of Big Apple's big day. Our server told the story well for someone who had just barely missed coming in on the day the Secret Service arrived to secure the place. She says the owner himself had even scolded the employee for interrupting his golf game, until he realized he really *did* need to get back to the store within an hour for the photo op of his life. I might not come in off the links just for Big Apple Pizza, especially if I was only shooting 10 above par (per hole -- hey, everyone starts somewhere). But I sure would return the next time I'm hungry in Fort Pierce. 
 
 I have been traveling a lot, so I have been eating out a lot. Usually I am looking for something simple, quick and tasty. This place was recommended by a person at the place I was auditing and they were not wrong. Coming from Chicago, my expectations are high and I was not disappointed. Lovely, lovely food. Got the Big Apple White Pizza...very nice balance of cheeses and tomatoes. Also ordered some Sicilian slices with sausage that was amazing. I love a good sauce and this place does it right. My co-worker got the Big Apple Sampler Meatball Sliders. Sliders and wings were nice but the garlic knots were too much for me but I am not big on mega garlic. Co-worker thought they were great. What I will say though they were tasty with a nice buttery flavor. Will be my go to place when I return in 4 months for a follow up audit. 
 
 Coming back from a weekend road trip Fort Pierce was the right distance in which to stop to get some grub. Kinda of in the mood for some tasty pizza, we launched Yelp and it pointed us to Big Apple Pizza. It was just ok. Here's the run down... We ordered a large pizza, 1/2 mushroom and 1/2 sausage. We ordered a small Antipasto salad. 1) 2 garlic rolls came with the salad. They weren't fully baked and in fact almost cold. 2) Salad was decent, and we ordered the house dressing (which was good). What threw me for a bit was that it was a pre packaged (ie commercial type) dressing, but it had big apple pizza's name on it. This made sense now that I remember seeing on the menu that you could take a bottle of dressing home. The impression it left me however was that stuff was made a long time ago, not fresh in the kitchen today or yesterday. Just my perception, but not a good one however. 3) They used canned mushrooms. We are a bit of stickler on this. Mushrooms shouldn't be green'ish. 4) I liked the sauce on the pizza. Sauce to me is the most important factor. 5) The cleanliness and upkeep of the restaurant was so so. Bathroom was decently clean, yet no soap. The soda machine was a bit broken. The buffet serving center looked a little run down. Good enough for the pass through. 
 
 The wings here are amazing. Pizza is fantastic. Screw these negative reviewers. Yelp is not the place for political BS. 
 
 Really liked this spot...the server was the owners daughter, not sure if she is always there, but I like when family works together at a restaurant. We had just got done moving to PSL, and after a week of hell, we were hungry and stumbled into this pizza joint... Very friendly server, and after ordering, the owner came and introduced himself, asking if we would like to try the vodka sauce over some penne...umm, cha...and so happy we did...best I have ever had. Then, the food came...wedding soup was top notch...garlic knots were right on...spag and meatball were very good, might have been a box pasta but very good sauce and meatball...and the cheese pizza was tasty as hell, very thin and foldable, just like a New York pie should be... Then, the owner came over and invited us to meet up and ride sometimes, I think because he knew we were new in town, and it was a very genuine offer...which we are going to take him up on... Our one regret, is that we did not save room for the cannolli...this time...I mean, since we will be back! 
 
 Pizza was absolutely delicious. Just like I get in NY. Great antipasto salad and calzone was delicious. Highly recommend. 
 
 I have been here several times. The canoles and strombolis are very good. The pizza is okay. One of the young ladies (I am not the best at descriptions) that works there has a bad attitude and seems indifferent, like she could care less whether you were there or not. When I go there, I always hope she isn't there so I will have a better dining experience. The owner seems to have the opposite attitude, I wish he could see she is not good for business. 
 
 I stopped by on my summer family vacation this year. I was surprised to find a pizza joint that actually has the new york flavor and being from the Bronx, I know what am taking about... Pizza was good, staff equally and prices were affordable. A family of 4 bill came to $25 and we were all stuff... Will definitely recommend it and return next time am in town.. 
 
 Decent food with a typical pizza shoppe look. Maybe it's because of the time we came to eat or the dishes that we ordered, but it wasn't exactly what we expected when going by the yelp reviews. The egg plant was definitely fresh but it was not cooked all the way through and my girlfriends chicken was somewhat chewy. Aside from the food, I respect what the owner is doing for his local community! I give him two thumbs up for that!
– Just because Arturo Carvajal is a doctor, that doesn't mean he knows how to eat an artichoke—and he's suing a Miami restaurant for not instructing him on the proper method. Carvajal ordered the grilled artichoke (a vegetable he had "never seen nor heard of previously," according to court filings) and proceeded to eat the entire thing, rather than scraping just the meat off of the leaves. He later found himself experiencing abdominal pain, and doctors found artichoke leaves lodged in his bowel. He filed a suit seeking unspecified damages last month, the Miami New Times reports. In it, he complains that the server failed "to explain the proper method of consuming an artichoke." His lawyer explains that Carvajal thought "it was like a food he might have eaten in his native Cuba, where you eat everything on the plate." The restaurant's lawyer begs to differ: "What's next?" he asks Business Insurance. "Are we going to have to post warnings on our menu they shouldn't eat the bones in our barbecue ribs?" Click here for more wacky lawsuits.