Feast for the Eye: Jon and Vinny’s Opens in L.A.

Two years after the much lamented closing of the popular late-night pizzeria Damiano’s Mr. Pizza, a new spot is opening in its place. And there are reasons to be optimistic. Two, to be more precise. The guys behind Jon & Vinny’s are Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo, the buzzy culinary duo also known as “the Animal guys.” When they opened Animal in 2008, the meat-centric restaurant quickly became a foodie staple on bustling Fairfax Avenue, a thoroughfare anchored by the landmark deli Canter’s and packed with kosher markets and hipster skateboard shops. Their latest venture, a 45-seat Italian-American restaurant, brings them full circle to their beloved neighborhood, where they once shared a bachelor pad and have now settled with their own families. “It reminds you of the place that, as a kid, you went to with your family after playing T-ball. Now that we both have children, this is where we’ll bring them,” Shook says. The menu includes comforting classics like meatballs with marinara; tagliatelle Bolognese; plenty of artisanal pizzas, and soft-serve ice cream. But, Shook says, “it’s not necessarily a red-sauce place because we also take advantage of the fresh local produce.” Seasonal small plates contain a farmer’s market bounty, including

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Read More...

from WWD » Jon and Vinny’s Restaurant Opens in Los Angeles http://ift.tt/1IE6klE
via IFTTT