HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - The mid-Wilshire salsa club the Conga Room was livin' la vida Boca Nov. 17 when the venue officially welcomed its next-door neighbor Cuban restaurant La Boca.



"What we wanted to do was expand the ideology of the club that's been successful -- bringing wonderful Latin music to L.A.," explained Conga co-owner Jimmy Smits. "I'm happy that we can bring to L.A. what the greatness of L.A. really is."



And it doesn't hurt to "have one of the best chefs around," said Smits, referring to his success in luring away Asia de Cuba exec chef Eric Basulto to head up La Boca del Conga Room.



"I'm the missing piece of the puzzle," Basulto explained. "They had the music before and now they'll have the food."



Also popping by the party was Smits' former "NYPD Blue" buddy Dennis Franz. "I have never had the chance to go to the club before this, and as you know, I think very fondly of my friend Jimmy," Franz said. "Now I get to have a mini reunion with him."



Conga co-owner Sheila E. was also thrilled about the club's re-opening because "the restaurant will really bring people in and everyone loves food, especially me." Besides, "people in L.A. love to get wined and dined."