Johnny V opening casual spot on Las Olas

The Chowfather has been a big fan of chef Johnny V dating back to his days at The Astor on South Beach and Johnny V's Kitchen on Alton Rd. I really miss those sandwiches... I really hope the rib meat hoagie makes the menu..

"Chef Johnny Vinczencz of Johnny V Las Olas will add casual and less expensive to his repertoire next month when he opens Smith & Jones Bar and Grill at 1313 Las Olas Blvd., in the old Louie Louie spot.

“This is something that I’ve wanted to do for quite a while,” he says. “When the opportunity came to do something lie this on Las Olas, I jumped on it.”

Nothing on the menu will cost more than $20. The emphasis will be American comfort foods with a chef’s touch. Think house-made sous vide pastrami sandwiches ($10), Philly cheese steak sandwiches that start with shaved rib eye ($11) and nachos made with home-made BBQ chips ($8). "I've also got a great love of barbeque."

The 200-seater will fill the void left by the closing of O’Hara’s with live jazz and blues nightly. Long-time fans of Vinczencz might remember his Johnny V’s Kitchen on Alton Road in Miami Beach. It will serve as a model of sorts for the new place. “That only had 27 seats. It was busy, but we didn’t make a lot of money.”

Vinczencz, whose family name is Hungarian, is calling the new spot Smith & Jones because they are quintessential American names, much like the new menu and concept. He opens to open Nov. 12."

Source SunSentinel