We met with Billy Elliott yesterday, one of the newest people getting in on the ever-growing downtown restaurant scene with Elliott's on Congress, which is going in where A Steak in the Neighborhood used to be at 135 E. Congress St.

Elliott, who is opening the restaurant with his wife Valaree, tended bar at Bison Witches for many years and has held a variety of other restaurant-related jobs around town. He says the new restaurant will focus on American fare, although he's adding in some twists and turns to keep it interesting.

"Our menu is definitely bacon-heavy and pretty spicy," explains Elliott, adding that he's shooting for a casual, comfortable place that can offer fast lunch service, an affordable happy hour and cocktails that are interesting, yet approachable.

A look at the preliminary menu shows a selection of interesting burgers alongside novel items like a club sandwich made with roasted duck.

Salads; appetizers ranging from French fries to steamed mussels; and desserts like a deep-fried peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich and chocolate-covered bacon round out the brief but inspired menu.

Elliott says he'll have three or four beers on tap and a cocktail program centered on flavor-infused vodkas made in-house. He's starting with cucumber, jalapeno, horseradish, mint and various fruit flavors, but plans on branching out into others as time goes on.

He says years working in restaurants have taught him that service can make or break a restaurant, so he's putting a lot of emphasis on that. He's also installed a number of new big-screen televisions and is working on rearranging the place to make it a bit more spacious and inviting than the previous restaurant.

He's shooting for an opening this spring.