A new restaurant serving lunch, dinner and "after hours" bites recently opened in the former Fork & Hen space on Main Street, bringing another nightlife option to downtown Sarasota.
Sarasocial debuted Sept. 15 at 1990 Main St., Suite 112, which spans 3,522 square feet. Though the establishment features the "same kitchen" and "same heart" as Fork & Hen, according to its website, Sarasocial brings new ownership, a new chef and a new "social experience" to the upper Main Street area of downtown anchored by the Regal Hollywood movie theater.
The menu remains rooted in familiar Southern soul cooking, while live music, cocktails and an outdoor hookah space add to the experience. Yamzey Gonzalez, a 40-year-old executive chef and Le Cordon Bleu graduate,
is leading the kitchen at Sarasocial, along with the new owner Bobby Khush.
Dinner entrees include the chef's special Creole ribeye pork chop and Carolina citrus duck, as well as vegetarian options such as truffle mushroom gnocchi; while the late-night bites menu, served until 1:30 a.m. on the weekends, features a hot honey chicken and waffle slider, poblano BBQ pulled pork slider and other small-plate menu options.
"Sarasocial was born from the soul of Fork & Hen on Main — a neighborhood gem whose secret recipes, warm spirit, and commitment to excellence we carry forward with pride," reads the restaurant's website. "We've preserved everything that made it special, and added a few new chapters of our own."
Regular events at Sarasocial include trivia and live music with local band Cuban Son on Sept. 18 and a house music dance party by DJs Cybernate and Nomada on Sept. 19.
"We want people to make this their new place," Khush told the Herald-Tribune.
To learn more about the new restaurant and social concept, visit SarasocialFL.com.
What happened to Fork & Hen?
Following a successful three-year run on North Tamiami Trail, Fork & Hen brought its Southern soul food, often featuring innovative twists, along with a new liquor license to downtown Sarasota. The space, inside the Courthouse Centre building across from the Regal Hollywood movie theater, had previously housed MADE Restaurant for about 12 years.
However, Fork & Hen closed less than 18 months in the new location. In August, the Herald-Tribune reported that Fork & Hen was listed for sale for $39,000 on BizBuySell, with $60,000 in furniture, fixtures and equipment included in the asking price.
The listing, posted by Daniel Jittu of G2 International Realty, said the restaurant had seven employees, monthly rent of $13,701 and a lease running through January 2030.
"Our loss is your gain," the listing reads. "We lost our funding and we need to sell."
Kosmos 5 LLC, doing business as Sarasocial, received a temporary retail beverage license for the downtown Sarasota address on Aug. 7, according to prior Herald-Tribune reporting. The 4COP license allowed the sale of beer, wine and liquor and included a special food service qualification.
Mark Traugutt, former co-owner and chef-proprietor at Fork & Hen, was recently selected to serve as specialty chef at two fine dining restaurants at The Ritz-Carlton in downtown Sarasota, according to a news release. In his new role, he will oversee the resort's seafood restaurant Jack Dusty and its adjacent al fresco concept Rufa overlooking Sarasota Bay.
“The quality of the ingredients is always at the heart of a dish. I’m excited to continue that philosophy at Jack Dusty and Rufa, working alongside our local farmers and culinary team to incorporate seasonal produce and regional ingredients into the menu,” Traugutt said in a prepared statement. “There is so much incredible product here in Sarasota, and I’m looking forward to further highlighting the character of the region through thoughtful, seasonal dishes while upholding the high standards of The Ritz-Carlton.”
Sarasota's downtown restaurant scene on upper Main Street
Sarasocial's opening comes amid a wave of new restaurant openings on upper Main Street in downtown Sarasota, including a second location of beloved Sarasota pizzeria Il Panificio, which replaced Bravo Italian Eatery, along with Bakero and OfKors Cafe, both of which have appeared to be bustling during recent visits.
They join a pair of downtown Sarasota dining institutions on upper Main Street: Mediterraneo, which has been serving pizza and other Italian dishes since 1996, and Main Bar Sandwich Shop, home to some of the region's best handhelds since 1958.
Herald-Tribune archives were used in this report.
Kendal Asbury is the real estate and development reporter for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Have an idea, tip or question about development? Send her an email at kasbury@usatodayco.com. Connect with her on LinkedIn or follow her on Instagram @wordsbykendal, and support local journalism by subscribing to the Herald-Tribune.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: New restaurant and nightspot opens in Fork & Hen’s Sarasota space
