Smith & Jones Started Sour, Got Better, but Closed Anyway

• This was a great place to eat and see some fantastic bands. Most restaurants are too ignorant to bring in live music, they would rather put 4 more tables in the band area. Bands bring in customers, and S & J did that. Whenever we went there to see the Blue Fire band the place was packed. They should have had bands like that every night.

• Toni Bishop and Abraham Lang started the "closing without telling anyone" trend in that spot ten years ago. It's cursed!

• I'm not shocked. Johnny V's sucks as well. The service is awful , the food passable, and the bill outrageous. I have no problem dropping $200-$300 for a dinner for two if it's worth it. The staff were amazingly arrogant; like they were doing us a favor by allowing us to dine there even after making us wait until 10:15pm on a 9pm reservation. What a joke. On a later date, I was having Sunday brunch across the street at the Riverside and my date suggested we try Johnny V's at some point. The Riverside was packed and JV's had one lone table eating outside. As I was telling her how much it sucked, the wind blew a table cloth off a table onto JV's filthy patio. It sat in the dirt for about 10 minutes until a waiter lazed out to pick it up... only to put the soiled table cloth right back on the table securing it with two upside down wine glasses and walking away. Disgusting. I'm glad to hear that these crappy places are failing and the better providers on Las Olas are not. Seems Darwin had a point, eh Johnny boy?

• @ B.W. And excuse the imperfections in my responses; some times you have to take a break from the fun and actually work, so I'm rushed.

• @BW... we went "steady" when we were 5 years old. We knew it wasn't going to work. We have simply been friends/acquaintances ever since. And that is the truth. We grew with one another as children. And I support Ted because I do know what I saw with my own two eyes regarding his working at S&J. Kamin is blatantly lying when he said Ted "should try showing up for work", as well as attempting to vilify him by stating he could take 2 plus 2 and get 4. Kamin's day will come. As for the owner, Karmin, I would say, he has shown us his skills when it comes to a owning a restaurant, and apparently, ditto for his skills as an attorney. I'm reminded of the old say, "those who can do; those who can't "MEDIATE"." For those of you who didn't know, that what this bottom-feeder, Karmin, does. He tries to put "personal injury" as one of his specialities, but I've worked for the top firms in town in that field and have NEVER come across Karmin. He's a mediator/arbitrator . That is what the attorneys who can't cut it as an attorney or become too old to cut it as an attorney. It's like putting them out to pasture and letting them graze. Oh, and P.S., B.W. ditto on the You Tube remark to Ted. I told him the same thing.

• Ted, I love your u-tube performance, but I think you do better eggs benedict, then sing! Your too much, Whos Cher, your X old lady?

• A new location of Rocco's Tacos will take over the space this fall: http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/cleanplatecharlie/2010/07/roccos_tacos_fort_lauderdale.php

• here is my responce, this is what i am passionate about (besides food), enjoy it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joIWcGsHJfg

• Bob Woltin did not close the restaurant on Sunday.Woltin is in Spain with Johnny V and has been there for weeks, getting new idea's for their new restaurant opening in NYC. S&J closed Sunday Night after the dinner hour,and all the employees knew it was coming, except for those employees that dont have a clue about anything anyway. The S&J failure had nothing to do with bad food or the management, It takes time to find a leader, look at the US Government, You think Smith and Jones has issues.NOT!! S&J closed because the owners were not happy,it was simply the economy. As for it copying OHaras, What was there to copy, OHaras held 75 people and it was packed, S&J was able to hold 300 on a busy night. The money is not flowing like it used to, and its time for some new operators to take that great location to a great level.Im sure that Bob Woltin, Carl Karmin, and Johnny V are very content, that so many people had coments about their business. By the way, they do own the best 4 Star Italian Restaurant on Las Olas.The Tuscan Grill, and try to get a Reservation at 4 Star Johnny V Las Olas on a saturday Night at 8 PM, its not happening,

• Find an update to this article here: http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/cleanplatecharlie/2010/07/smith_and_jones_ted_inserra.php

• It's amazing what a girlfriend will say to defend her man... Cher. That holds a lot of credit

• Reed Alenik is the Chef at Suite 100. He has created a wonderful, world infused menu. Alenik has also designed the kitchen and has been involved with creating Suite 100 and the construction for months. Ted is an employee, a valued one at the moment, but at any moment, like anyone else, can be replaced. People need to stop being so spiteful and mind their business and enjoy the food others create for us.

• I've taken down a comment previously posted here. The comment violated our terms of use (click the link below to read the terms), which forbids making libelous comments. At New Times, we love to see a spirited comments field, but please be sure to refrain from libelous or unfair remarks.

• He's a lawyer, Eric. Go to the Florida Bar website and look him up.

• Self-promoting. Hum. I didn't think of that but now that you mention it WHAT A CONCEPT. Sounds like a smart guy to me. Much smarter than hiding behind the moniker "Anonymous", I am sure we would all agree. I always thought of anonymous, when used in this vernacular, to be synonymous with "chicken".

• Anonymous, I tried to contact the ownership but had no luck finding a number for Walton. If you're the owner, or if the owner is reading this now, call me and I'll update this with a response: 954-233-1570.

• "...says the anonymous commenter."

• Several of the claims made in the above article are untrue and were not confirmed with the actual ownership. It's a shame the New Times elected to publish it anyhow considering the content is such a blatant attempt by the quoted individual to self-promote.

• I knew the minute Chef Ted quit the place would fold.

• Chef Ted, You're going to make Suite 100 rock. I wish you the best! I'll be there to suport you. Teri Rios

• Ted-Good luck with Suite 100 in Riverfront. Too bad that's a dying property.

• Its about time that the cowboy go back to the ranch....can you say three strikes your out...lets look at reality...Astor..X one..smith and Jones X 2...and what now the namesake X..3...to be sold at will be a loss from what was put into concept..just another failure for the Carribean Cowboy...maybe this will be the reality check that this talented chef needs to re-tool as its about the food-not the hype....

• ITALIAN/SICILIAN!!!

• I went to Smith and Jones when it first opened... I ran. A friend swore by the food much later and when I went back I was amazed how good it was, although the music was way too loud. Not sure if they were St Louis ribs, but they were phenomenal ....the chef is who--- Inserra--- that sounds Italian...how does an Italian guy learn to cook ribs so good? Are you sure that was his name?

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