Fords Signature burger with bison, Tillamook sharp cheddar, applewood smoked bacon, Bourbon BBQ sauce, chopped romaine, tomato and red onion on a brioche bun. Photo Courtesy of Fords Garage.

Few things represent the American spirit like the automobile and the hamburger. At Ford’s Garage, these two cultural icons unite. “Ford’s Garage is your neighborhood burger and brew joint inspired by the heritage of the Ford Motor Company. Founded in 2012, the original Ford’s Garage opened in Fort Myers, Florida, less than a mile from Henry Ford’s winter home,” says Tom Jones, Garage Partner for Ford’s Garage Sarasota, located in University Town Center. “Today, as an official licensee of the Ford Motor Company, the restaurant pays tribute to America’s most iconic automobile brand by offering a truly historic dining experience, right down to the nostalgic auto shop uniforms and the hand-hammered copper bar top at each of the locations.”

Even if you’re not a car enthusiast, you’ll enjoy the playful and creative touches in the restaurant’s design. “Ford’s Garage is designed to transport guests to a 1920s service station. The restaurants are decked out with unique memorabilia, like vintage vehicles, fixtures, gas pumps and a Model A car suspended above the center bar. Playing further into the theme, servers wear mechanic shirts, blue shop towels are used as napkins and the door handles are made from fuel pump nozzles,” Jones adds.

Against this backdrop, guests enjoy tasty burgers made with Black Angus beef, bison, or a vegetarian option. The burgers come topped with delicious sauces, aged-cheeses and other toppings, and their artisan buns are branded with the Ford’s Garage logo. Jones recommends sampling one of the 12 Burgers of Fame, each named for a different influential member of the local community. Don’t miss the Jiffy Burger, which honors Dustin Dahlquist, the principal of Lakewood Ranch High School, and features American cheese, applewood smoked bacon, chopped romaine and creamy peanut butter. The American Standard Burger, named after Sarasota Ford Owner Matt Buchanan, is also a crowd-pleaser and includes American cheese, chopped romaine, tomato, red onion and pickle planks. Both burgers are served on a fluffy brioche bun.

Whether you stop in to ogle the vintage Model A over a burger and fries or pass the time chatting and eating with loved ones, Ford’s Garage is a terrific pit stop. “Nostalgia brings diners to Ford’s Garage,” says Jones, “but it’s the menu that keeps them coming back.”

Ford’s Garage Sarasota, 295 N. Cattlemen Road, Unit #1, Sarasota, 941-803-3673, fordsgarageusa.com.

Fords Signature burger with bison, Tillamook sharp cheddar, applewood smoked bacon, Bourbon BBQ sauce, chopped romaine, tomato and red onion on a brioche bun. Photo Courtesy of Fords Garage.

Fords Garage