RECENT COMMENTS
Real soul at Sarahfran’s
After being open on 25th Street for almost 8 months, Owner E.D.Cox hasn’t rebranded Sarahfran’s so much as refined the restaurant’s focus.
“We spent the last two months creating atmosphere and working on the menu,” he says.
The effort shows. The interior of the restaurant is sleek, with the red wall on one side set against a black bar and the metal of the exposed kitchen on the other. Fresh flowers on the tables soften the edges of the small space somewhat, balancing the light and action of the exposed cooking line.
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Crabcake with mac & cheese and cabbage
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Porkchop with mushroom gravy, collards, and yams
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Sarahfran’s menu is expanded, with the the addition of a number of southern and soul food favorites that may be familiar to fans of Deandre Johnson’s OMG Cafe and Johnson’s Southern Comfort. Porkchops, chicken-n-waffles, meat loaf, shrimp & grits all get served with collards, yams, red beans & rice, or mac & cheese. They also offer chitterlings and oxtails for the more adventurous eaters.
This was supposed to be the announcement of a partnership between E.D.Cox and Deandre Johnson.
“He approached me a few months back” about a collaboration, Cox says of Johnson. “We met and hit it off.”
Deandre poured his love for the business and Church Hill into the restaurant, but it will be up to Cox to make a go of it: the 32-year-old Johnson died of a heart attack on January 9.
The pair brought in Sonya Williams as the Events Coordinator. The vivacious Ms.Williams has big plans for the little space, with DJ nights already on the books for Fridays and karaoke set to begin in February. The joint will likely be hoppin’.
Sarahfran’s has a full bar, with 3 beers on tap. Martini specials are offered on Thursdays, and you can catch the games on Sundays on the tv above the bar.
Sarahfran’s
412 North 25th Street
(804)343-0061
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E.D.Cox
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Been on the fence, but after reading this review I’ll be trying Sarahfran’s. On another note – very sad to hear about the passing of Deandre. His chicken & waffles were divine.
Terrible news about Deandre. Ate at both OMG and Johnson’s and the man could just flat out cook. What a loss to our community.
Been wondering about Sarahfran’s. This is encouraging. Wish they had a presence on line, but I was unable to find one other than an FB page that hasn’t been updated since last summer.
Hello, I’m Sonya Williams and as stated in the above article I’m their new Events Coordinator. We’re in the process of revamping and updating a new Facebook page as well as a website. We have great things coming as we move forward. Thank you and please stop by for a visit!
Thanks John…now all I can think about is that Porkchop with mushrooms and gravy.
Im so very sorry to hear about the loss of Deandre, I didnt know him personally but the loss of a life so young is always difficult.
It pains me to see the Roosevelt and other food establishments with such loyal customers and often driving past SarahFrans being empty, there are not alot of Minority food establishments in the Church Hill vinicity which is a predominately AA albeit rapidly gentrifying neighborhood! Good luck this article and associated food imagery has me planning to attend (this week)…. any thoughts to a Grand-Reopening where the nieghborhood is invited in earnest? maybe half off night or something to incentivize customers… once their in the door youve got them!
Looks like a new place to check out!. Honestly, recently I had thought the place went out of business not seeing people around and looked dark. Nothing has been able to make a go there because of the prison wall and bricked in windows – not being able to see inside. When the building was originally opened in 1936 as the Hollywood Grill, it had full size windows from door top to ground… you can see the brick color change. Need something more inviting exterior wise to let people know you are open and ready for business! But the food looks good and items I grew up with eating.
This effort looks high quality. Can’t wait to try it. Respectfully, and in the most constructive spirit possible in a blog comment, I would encourage management to push the landlord to restore the original front windows as Eric suggests above. Seeing in and seeing crowds begets more crowds!
I agree about the windows. I know it sounds ridiculous but it’s hard to entice people to come in when they can’t get a sense of the environment they are entering. Think of all the people that drive by going to the Roosevelt or one of the other local restaurants and they have no sense of Sarahfran’s at all because there is nothing to see from the street. The place definitely needs some curb appeal. I am going to check out Sarahfran’s in the next couple of weeks – the food looks amazing.
Thank you all so much for your comments. Management and I have reviewed them all and listened. In the upcoming weeks we’ll be adding more curb appeal to SarahFran’s. We’re so excited with the new changes we have in making and welcome you to come out this week to visit. We have Happy Hour everyday from 3pm to 8pm and hired an amazing Mixologist/Bartender. Come check us out.
Sonya, thanks for keeping us in your loop! The solid box building with no windows have always been a death sentence for previous tenants. As others mentioned, you can drive right by and not give it a second glance, especially having been that way for decades. Now is the time as with all other local restaurants, to make the physical window opening change so people can look in and see it is an OPEN and active business and how the interior looks. First impressions are important!
You’re welcome Eric. Keep the suggestions coming. I look forward to meeting you soon on one of your visits!
Sonya, give this excellent find newspaper photo John posted a look. It is of a building that was never built but is a proposal that eventually ended up being your building. The design changed a little but you can see how the windows were as how they were with Sarafran’s building when built in 1936 as an eatery for theatre patrons (hence the original name Hollywood Grill). Was opened the same time as the East End Theatre and has the same architectural roof flair as the theatre and sat between it and the Patrick Henry Theatre which was to the left of your building.
http://chpn.net/news/2013/09/17/what-may-have-been-on-25th-street_28986/
Sorry, brain fart… old age… both? I was saying the building opened in 1936 when it opened simultaneously November 7, 1938 with the theatre. It is in my own article…duh 🙂
Building Permit #24699 6/15/1938
Very cool article Eric. Thanks for sharing!
OMG Cafe was where Sarahfran’s is now and OMG was owned by Mr. Johnson who passed away.
Thanks Eric for the follow up.
gonna try this spot out very soon! this is the 2nd article ive seen in the past week….the food looks and sounds tasty and there seems to be a good spirit and soul about it. cheers!
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you!