Arts & Central
Welcome to Arts & Central, a Backyard Restaurant, where culinary adventure begins.
The Henson family mastered the art of crafting high-quality, gourmet dishes by using only the freshest locally grown ingredients that will leave your taste buds wanting more. Their Executive Chef Erik is a true artisan, turning fresh, high-quality ingredients into culinary masterpieces. Their menu is a fusion of flavors and inspirations, celebrating the art of taste in every dish they serve. They invite you to embark on a dining adventure that dazzles your senses and elevates your palate. The atmosphere is as laid-back as it is inviting, where friends and neighbors gather to savor mouth-watering masterpieces while enjoying relaxed vibes.
At Arts & Central, their story is a journey of dreams and a testament to family. Their vision for this restaurant has been nurtured over decades, and it’s founded on their commitment to creating a vibrant culinary community. They’ve dreamt of a place where food and drinks come alive with fun, freshness, and a refusal to be confined by any culinary boundaries.
Their story is one of exploration and discovery, a result of the Henson family migrating across the United States, Mexico and the United Kingdom, falling in love with the power of food to inspire conversation, exploration and pure joy. Now, they proudly call Sarasota’s Rosemary District home, a neighborhood renowned for its devotion to local artists, artisans and passionate, caring residents.
At Arts & Central, their menu reflects this journey. They offer innovative shareable dishes, modern interpretations of classics and carefully curated tastings in collaboration with local wineries, distilleries and breweries. It’s a culinary adventure that celebrates the essence of their family’s story, the richness of Sarasota’s artistic community and the joy of savoring life’s simple pleasures.
Come as you are and experience where the extraordinary is served with ease, and where the intersection of flavor and ambiance transforms dining into an art form.
At Arts & Central, they have a deep commitment to honoring the rich heritage of the Rosemary District by actively supporting their local artists and writers. Each month, their menus proudly feature the diverse and talented creations of these community contributors, reflecting their dedication to fostering and celebrating the vibrant artistic tapestry that defines their locale.
Customer Reviews:
“Fabulous restaurant. Fabulous menu. Fabulous food. Fabulous music. Fabulous friends. When downtown, stop and take a five-star chance.” – Todd S.
“First week open and hitting it out of the park. Appetizers were spot on, highly recommend the lamb sliders. Our crew then enjoyed pork chops, salmon, a burger and the pork belly/octopus dinner. All of it came out wonderful. Our waiter Louie was great, he didn’t hover but was very attentive. We sat near the kitchen bar area which is a great view and experience.” – Mitch R.
“What a fun new place in Sarasota! The atmosphere was amazing, the service was top notch, and the food will bring me back over and over. Great place for conversation between new friends and making memories with those you love most.” – Tiffany R.
“A wonderful new venue (opened 2/17/24) at the corner of Central and Blvd of the Arts. There are ten (10) parking spaces in the lot across on Central, otherwise there is street and garage parking all around. This is an expansive place, with seating indoors and outdoors for up to 200 people. There is a huge patio in front, flanking the front entrance, a lengthy side patio on Central and a community shared space to the left. Seating inside includes bar, kitchen, private dining for 10-12, and the main dining area.
The lunch menus have poetry from different authors on the back and dinner menus sport artwork instead. The inclusion of art is intentional. Even bathroom hall – to 5 bathrooms – is covered in poetry and wishful thoughts.
Father & son (Daniel Henson Sr and Jr) teamed up in their first restaurant effort and built this gorgeous restaurant on the site of a former storage facility. Garage doors surround the dining area and bar (5 in total) giving the modern space an indoor-outdoor feel.
Open 7 days, currently serving lunch inside only with dinner inside and out. Plenty of heaters adorn the outside dining in case you feel chilly. The dinner entree menu is different from lunch, with the same set of Shareables and Between the Buns on both. Wine & cocktail list is very nice too!
We tried the Lobster Corn Dog (delicious and filled with lobster), my wife had the steak salad (big and delicious) and I went with the Bahn Mi (also delicious) accompanied by addictive French fries. Service was warm and friendly throughout, and the staff is diligently working through all the surprises that accompany a restaurant opening. The owners are present and involved and hopefully this will be a smashing success!” – Robert C.
Address:
611 Central Ave.
Sarasota, FL 34236
941-306-2356
Website: