Chef Ira Mittelman has returned to Little Rock with a new eatery called Forkcoming, located directly across West 3rd Street from the state Capitol building in the former Mar Y Tierra site.
With Ira’s Park Hill Grill in North Little Rock and, for a brief time, Ira’s Restaurant in the historic Rose Building on Main Street before it changed its name to Allsopp & Chapple, Mittelman established himself in the Central Arkansas dining scene. In a 2018 article, The Arkansas Times referred to Ira as a downtown gem in Little Rock. After the city’s voters overturned a nearly 50-year ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages in a 2013 special election, Mittelman said that Ira’s Park Hill Grill served the first mixed drink in the historic North Little Rock neighborhood in decades.
In a recent interview, Mittelman characterized Fork as a casual, high-end eatery that will include his three F’s: flavor, freshness, and a dash of flair.
According to a press release from Mittelman, Fork will combine Italian, New American, Southern, and New World cuisine to produce dishes that are distinctive, daring, and approachable. We anticipate that Fork will become the next dining destination in Little Rock when you combine it with our expertly chosen wine list, handcrafted cocktails, and regional brewers.
Mittelman said his mother was an amazing baker and caterer, so the food sector was a natural fit. A master gardener, his father was. He claimed that food was always a major concern.
He intends to serve a Prime ribeye with grilled shiitake relish, a catfish Reuben, a grilled peach salad with ginger vinaigrette, and a fried green tomato BLT at Fork.
According to Mittelman, he intends to employ as many regional ingredients as he can, such as Dunbar Gardens produce. According to him, the pub will serve regional specialty beers and spirits from the Rock Town Distillery in downtown Little Rock. The restaurant features a pleasant patio area with a view of downtown to the east.
According to Mittelman, this will be an entertaining environment. From his declaration regarding the new project:
The lunch menu, which is available Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., will include a selection of fresh salads, sandwiches, and pastas, as well as a daily rotating soup and a variety of colorful, sharing appetizers that are perfect for quick and delectable lunches for State Capitol and other downtown employees. Dinner will provide a nice dining experience with a wider range of appetizers and will be served Tuesday through Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m.
The planned opening date of Fork is Monday, August 18. Mittelman stated, “That gives me enough time to get in a couple bike rides.”
On Monday, workers were hard at work painting the building’s outside. The lobbyists Ted and Julie Mullenix of TJM Properties own the property. As part of the Rose Creek Station development project, TJM has been purchasing property on the north side of Thirdalong Bishop Street across from the Capitol for a number of years.
Former Republican state lawmaker Ted Mullenix told the Arkansas Times Monday that work on a new two-story office building, which he expects will be completed by Labor Day, is almost complete just up the hill from the prospective Fork restaurant to the north. Mullenix stated that a nearby parcel that looks out over the hill and down to the train tracks near Bishop Street would be perfect for condos. Along with the land that had housed Olde World Pizza, which was demolished last year, TJM also owns a parcel down the hill where he plans to build a shopping mall. According to the statement, more land with views of the state Capitol and access to it is available for investment.
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