THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Willie Jane

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Willie Jane Restaurant Review:

A new lady has taken up residence on Abbot Kinney in the former home of Lilly's French Cafe & Bar. Willie Jane takes its name from the Georgia-born aunt of restaurateur Brad Johnson, who opened the Venice restaurant with his fellow Post & Beam partner, Govind Armstrong. (Chef Armstrong is also known for his previous projects 8 oz. Burger Bar and Table 8.) There are round tables at the front of the space, then a few steps that lead up to a communal table flanked by the bar. Beyond that, there is booth seating, followed by two covered patios on different levels. Dining al fresco affords a view of "The Chef's Garden," which supplies fresh ingredients for Armstrong's approachable and well-executed take on Southern cuisine. Start off with buttermilk biscuits or share a rack of moist, hickory-smoked ribs. You can't go wrong with the sweet tea-brined pork chop or grilled hanger steak with blackberry romesco. Fried chicken lovers will be delighted by the rendition served here. This is the kind of place where you'll want to come back and work your way through the menu. However, desserts, like the strawberry shortcake and chocolate peanut butter pudding with devil's food cake, don't quite live up to the quality of the rest of the meal. The short wine list is augmented by a selection of classic and signature cocktails, including the Coal Miner's Daughter, made with Bourbon, macerated ginger, lavender honey and lemon juice.