One of the best restaurants in Sarasota — especially if you’re looking to impress out-of-town guests who love exceptional Southern soul food — has temporarily closed, but will soon be reopening in a bigger and better location.
Fork & Hen, one of my favorite spots for a gourmet take on fried chicken, temporarily closed earlier this month after nearly three years at its original location in an unassuming spot just off North Tamiami Trail near Ringling College.
“It’s the end of an era — but just the beginning of an exciting new chapter!” reads Fork & Hen’s March 7 social media post, which ends with: “Stay tuned for details on our new location, we can’t wait to welcome you there soon!”
Recently, though, I had the good fortune of talking to Fork & Hen’s owners — chefs Alfonso Duron and Mark Traugutt — inside their new restaurant.
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Where is Fork & Hen’s new Sarasota location?
Fork & Hen is relocating from its original spot on North Tamiami Trail in Sarasota to downtown at 1990 Main St., in the former home of MADE Restaurant, inside the Courthouse Centre building across from the Regal Hollywood movie theater.
Back in December, I had the displeasure of reporting that MADE Restaurant, one of my favorites for upscale American comfort food, had unexpectedly closed following a 12-year run on upper Main Street in downtown Sarasota.
That same location at 1990 Main St., inside the Courthouse Centre building across from the Regal Hollywood movie theater, will soon be home to Fork & Hen, previously located about three miles north at 2801 N. Tamiami Trail.
Beneath the red awning that shields the outdoor eating area from the Florida sun and showers, there’s already a sign for Fork & Hen adorning a lush, square-shaped green wall with a mix of ferns, small-leafed plants, and yellow flowers.
Mounted in the center is the restaurant’s name in stylish, cursive pink neon, standing out vividly against the greenery. The sign is affixed to a white exterior wall near a large glass window reflecting the surrounding urban environment.
While peering through the window and observing boxes and a wooden crate nearby — indicating ongoing setup or deliveries — Chef Traugutt came to the entrance and, thankfully, recognized me rather than taking me for a loiterer or looter.
When is Fork & Hen reopening at its new downtown Sarasota location, and what can we expect on the new menu?
Fork & Hen is relocating from its original North Tamiami Trail location in Sarasota to 1990 Main St. downtown, the former home of MADE Restaurant inside the Courthouse Centre building across from the Regal Hollywood movie theater. This sign marks the new location.
Chef Traugutt and Chef Duron were the only ones in the inviting and spacious new space — complete with a brand-new wood floor, a smartly redecorated bar area, and a more open-looking dining room thanks to the removal of a wall.
Here’s my conversation with Traugutt, with Duron seated across the table from him, which took place on Wednesday, March 12.
When can we expect to see this awesome new location open?
We’re expecting to open within two to three weeks.
For those of us who loved Fork & Hen’s cozy original location — especially the food — what might be the same, and what might be different at this new spot downtown?
Blue Plate Southern Fried Chicken at Fork & Hen restaurant in Sarasota photographed May 31, 2023.
We’re going to keep a lot of the items the same, the classics that people loved, and we’re going to elevate it a little bit even more with just more chef-y things, more farm-to-table ideas, and we’re going to utilize a lot of the local vendors, local farmers. We have some cheesemakers, some mushroom guys, and we just want to put our best foot forward in creating a really beautiful menu that everybody’s going to love.
And you didn’t have cocktails at the original location, but now you have a liquor license?
So we have a full liquor menu. We’re going to have some beautiful artisan-crafted cocktails, utilizing a lot of ingredients we create in the kitchen. We’ll be collaborating with our bartenders and mixologists to craft a unique experience that brings the kitchen and bar together for our diners.
Stay tuned for more information on Fork & Hen reopening at a new location in downtown Sarasota
Yeah, I can’t wait to visit Fork & Hen — which is located dangerously close to the Herald-Tribune headquarters and my home — when it opens. Stay tuned, because first I plan to post something as soon as chefs Duron and Traugutt can confirm an opening date. For more information, visit forkandhenssrq.com or facebook.com/ForkAndHen.
Wade Tatangelo is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and X. He can be reached by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Popular Sarasota restaurant reopening at new downtown location
