Experiencing Ford’s Garage Restaurant in Sarasota, Florida

Previously, I reviewed our visit to the Edison/Ford Winter Estates in Ft. Myers to learn about two of America’s earliest “royal” families.  These families were a big presence in south Florida and have left quite a mark on the area.  Some people admire Henry Ford’s ingenuity and choose to show ingenuity in their own profession or field of study.

For example, in 2012 a restaurant called Ford’s Garage opened up in Ft. Myers.  The intention was for this to be your neighborhood beer & burger joint.  Not fancy food, but good food that you can enjoy with friends.  They also specialize in comfort food (like meatloaf, chili and mac & cheese).  If something from the bar interests you, they focus on American craft beer brands, but of course, you can get just about anything you want.

Ford’s Garage was a hit and quickly expanded to 16 locations in Florida.  Their newest location is in Sarasota.  Even though it is a chain, it seemed worth a try since it has a unique Florida connection.   Here’s to Saturday Treat Day at Ford’s Garage!

Since Ford’s has a focus on burgers, it seemed logical that one of us try a burger.  My husband jumped at that chance.  He selected the BBQ Brisket Burger, which is exactly what you would expect from the name.  It is a burger with brisket on top.  I ordered on the non-traditional side and tried the Chicken Henry.  This is a grilled chicken breast topped with goat cheese, basil, sundried tomatoes and drizzled with a Chardonnay lemon sauce. Sounds ridiculous, right?  Grab me a napkin because I am already salivating!

We were both surprised to see Buffalo Chicken Dip on the appetizer list.  This is one of our very favorite game day foods.  We don’t see it on restaurant menus very often, so this was a no-brainer.  We added it to our order as well.

We enjoyed our meals and ate more than we should have, I am sure.  The menu here is a little bit familiar and a little bit unique.  But, the big reason to visit is the experience.  The true ingenuity of this restaurant lies in the special atmosphere that has been created.  Their website even encourages patrons to take pictures.  I can see why!

Eating here is a bit like eating lunch in an antique car museum.  An antique car greets you at the front door.  Mechanics’ lifts have been used to raise antique vehicles overhead in the spacious dining room.  Servers grab menus out of drawers that are actually tool chests.  My napkin was a shop cloth wrapped in a hose clamp.  It is important to note that this restaurant chain operates under a special licensing agreement with Ford Motor Company, therefore, they are able to use the real Ford logo.  They do use it everywhere you look: on the table tops, on the burger tops and on the officially licensed apparel that you can buy.

Kids would get a special kick out of this place if you ask me.  Keep them entertained by asking them to find as many car-related things in the room as they can.  They’ll be distracted with that for hours.

When a place comes up with a fun theme, that can really add to the dining experience.  I have written before about the final test of this (in my opinion).  I often go to the restroom in places like this to see if they had the courage and creativity to carry the theme all the way into the bathroom.  If you missed my article on dinner in Greenville, SC where the restaurant bathroom did not disappoint, you can read that here.

Ford’s Garage passed this test with flying colors! The sinks are made from tires.  The faucets and the door handles are made from gas pump handles!  This place is like Disney World for mechanics and gearheads.  Yes, it’s a little silly but that’s okay. 

There is outdoor seating, so grab your mask and some friends and go have a burger and a beer.  Bonus points to the friend who can name the make and model of every vehicle on display.  (Side note: Don’t bother trying to compete against my Dad at this game.  He’ll get 100% faster than you every time.  The guy’s an encyclopedia).

Special note to my event planning colleagues: If you have events scheduled for any of the cities where there is a Ford’s Garage Restaurant, consider making it a location for post-meeting networking.  This idea works even better if your meeting attendees are from overseas. 

After all this excitement, you might need a nap.  Find your perfect hotel here.

Have you been to a hotel or restaurant that did a great job with theme?  Tell us about it in the comments.