The chef duo of Donnie Ferneau and Travis McConnell are nearing the grand opening of Good Food by Ferneau and Butcher & Public in the former Argenta Market. While the two aren’t giving out their exact opening date, they did invite a small group of friends, family and food writers to a soft opening Friday night to see the new space and try out some of the dishes.
Those familiar with the old Argenta Market will recognize a few holdovers in the new restaurant. The south wall keeps both the open-air refrigerated shelves and closed-door freezer space, both of which will serve as storage for grab-and-go meals from Good Food by Ferneau, as well as juice from Garden Press and fresh produce. The meat counter is also intact, now filled with offerings from Butcher & Public, including bacon, sausages, pâté and cured meats. The counter will also be stocked with plenty of fresh cuts from Arkansas livestock ranchers.
The former grocery shelves have all been cleared out to make way for restaurant seating. The dining area can sit roughly 60 people for dinner, which will be served on weekends. A new bar seats 12 people and will feature a full offering of wine, beer and spirits. A large lounge will serve as both a waiting area and a trendy spot for evening cocktails. The restaurant is largely adorned in a modern black-and-white theme, featuring subway tiles, a chalkboard menu and a large sound system built into the walls.
We were given an idea of the food that will be served, and if Friday night is any indication, customers will likely be very happy. Ferneau and McConnell each offered one individual course and teamed up on two of the four courses. McConnell’s charcuterie course was a crowd favorite, and Ferneau’s caramelized pear dessert showcased the chef’s ability to infuse deep flavor into simple dishes. A “BLT Salad” featured McConnell’s house-made bacon and Ferneau’s tomato salad, while the chicken course showed off Ferneau’s health-conscious sweet potato hash and McConnell’s vibrant chimichurri sauce. All four courses were expertly crafted and held promise for the flavors made possible by this talented partnership.
As we’ve mentioned above, Ferneau and McConnell aren’t telling us when they’ll open. However, McConnell’s meat share program will begin pick-up on September 24, which indicates the restaurant should be open in the next nine days. Make sure to follow @SoireeEats on Twitter; we will let you know as soon as Good Food by Ferneau/Butcher & Public opens its doors.
For more pictures from Friday’s soft opening, be sure to visit our partner site Little Rock Foodcast.