By Sam Settar

Ford’s Garage, a car-themed American restaurant chain, opened a new location in November 2024 in Short Pump. They are most well known for their signature burgers and serve a range of American comfort food. Inside the restaurant, there is a large dining area with a bar in the middle, with stylish decorations inside and outside that include old Ford automobile cars, a gas pump, and tires for the sinks in the bathroom. Ford’s Garage was founded in 2012 in Fort Myers, Florida. They are the only restaurant to display Ford Motor Co. gear, according to their website.

Ford’s Garage has locations in eight states, with this location being the only one in Virginia. Their hours vary: on weekdays they are open until 10 p.m., and on Friday and Saturday they are open until 11 p.m. They offer pickup, delivery, and dine-in, but the best experience, hands down, is dining in. 

The whole atmosphere inside and outside of the restaurant feels inviting. In a Google review, Clint Harding said, “Ford’s Garage is a really cool experience. The vehicles parked outside are a nice photo op, and the detailed decor is really cool. The handles on the door, the bumper and grill benches outside, the silverware wrapped with clamps. The kids will love seeing the cars and decor inside as well.” The Ford brand is present throughout the restaurant, with Ford displayed all over the dining space and the outside. The names of many dishes on the menu also correlate with names related to Ford Motor Company and their cars.

When I went to the restaurant recently with my family, we ordered several items to get the full experience of what Ford’s Garage had to offer. The first appetizer we ordered were the Cheese Curbs, which were $12.50. They are packed with creamy cheddar cheese in a bite-sized cheese “curb” with chipotle ranch sauce on the side, which makes the flavor pop when you first take a bite. We also ordered the Giant Funnel Tower of Piston Onion Rings which were $13.99, and when they brought the Giant Funnel Tower out, it unexpectedly added to the experience. The onion rings were crispy and full of flavor. It was a hit with the whole family, as they were all gone in a few minutes. The appetizers range in price from $10.99 to $17.99. 

For an entree, I ordered the Pulled Pork Mac N Cheese ($16.50). It is a bourbon BBQ pulled pork and cavatappi pasta with Ford’s Beer Cheese and is topped with a mozzarella cheese blend. This mac ‘n’ cheese was extremely flavorful and savory. The cheese was stringy and perfectly blended into the dish, and there was a perfect amount of pulled pork and BBQ sauce to compliment the richness from the cheese. I enjoyed the dish and highly recommend it. My sister Delaney Settar (‘29) ordered a cheeseburger with a side of fries, noting that “the burger was juicy and delicious.” I noticed that the Ford logo was pressed into the top of the burger which was a neat addition. My dad also ordered a cheeseburger and enjoyed it, but instead of fries he got sweet potato tots for a small upcharge of $2.99. The sweet potato tots were served with a delicious caramel dipping sauce that made the tots tasty. 

The service and overall dining experience were amazing. The appetizers came out extremely fast and the food not so long after. I would recommend getting a reservation if you are planning to go on the weekends, especially during dinner time. When I went on a Wednesday night at around 7:30 p.m., we were seated immediately, but the dining area was still crowded.

Overall, Ford’s Garage is one of my new favorite restaurants in Short Pump. The food prices are on the more expensive side compared to other sit-down restaurants, but in my opinion totally worth it. I enjoyed my experience at Ford’s Garage and will definitely be back.

All photos by Sam Settar.