LOGAN SQUARE — The owner of the reborn Johnny's Grill vows to serve the most authentic fish and chips in Chicago.
She is, of course, from Ireland, and that heritage is well represented on the new menu at the iconic diner.
"I want to have the best damn fish and chips in the city," said chef and owner Sarah Jordan, who previously worked as a pastry chef in some of the city's top restaurants.
The new grill has expanded into the former Fleur flower shop that was previously next door to the diner.
The new Johnny's is half diner and half bar. The former flower shop side of the business features a full bar decorated with a plant focus while the old diner retains its vintage feel.
The owners plan to open their 70-seat sidewalk cafe this weekend.
The bar portion of the restaurant is located in the former Fleur flower shop. [DNAinfo/Paul Biasco]
The menu at the new Johnny's features many traditional diner items such as a turkey club, a double cheeseburger and a sampling of breakfast items.
It's also filled with a number of Irish items including the fish and chips and a full Irish breakfast (bangers, bacon, white and black pudding, mushrooms, tomato, two fried eggs and toast for $11.)
Johnny's Grill's fish and chips. [DNAinfo/Paul Biasco]
Jordan grew up in Dublin and moved to the United States from Ireland 11 years ago. She has family that run restaurants in Ireland and wanted to represent her homeland on the menu.
The Irish bacon bap is a take on a popular Irish sandwich and includes coleslaw gardinera.
The restaurant reopened over the weekend after being closed for more than a year. The previous owner was pushed out over lease negotiations in 2014.
"You have to pay homage to the diner — an iconic diner at that," Jordan said.
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