Englewood restaurateurs to open new concept this fall

A high-end steakhouse is coming this fall to Englewood. Chophouse285 will be located at 285 West Dearborn St., and is a concept from veteran restaurateurs Keith and Laurie Farlow, who have owned Farlow’s on the Water on Ainger Creek for more than 20 years.

Their success in Englewood has prompted the couple to expand their portfolio.

“We’ve been surrounded by such a welcoming community over the years,” Laurie Farlow says in a statement. “We saw an opportunity to branch out into new culinary horizons, while continuing to serve the place and the people we love.”

Image via Farlow's on the Water / Facebook

On the menu at Chophouse285 will be classic steakhouse fare and seafood as well as dishes inspired by Southern and Caribbean cuisine, in line the with the Farlows’ backgrounds: Laurie Farlow is from Kentucky, while Keith Farlow grew up in St. Croix.

Chophouse285 will also feature an on-site dry aging room. Executive Chef Austin Davis, who is the executive chef of Farlow’s on the Water, will be overseeing the new restaurant. It will include a state-of-the-art kitchen and custom wood grill from Atlanta-based Grills by Demant, according to the statement.

Before being transformed into Chophouse285, the location was previously the home of Italian restaurant La Stanza. The building was sold by La Stanza for $1.6 million in April 2024 to an LLC with Keith Farlow listed as the registered agent, according to Sarasota County property records.

“The location at 285 Dearborn Street exudes a distinctive character all on its own,” Keith Farlow says in the statement. “Now our job is to honor that character with cuisine and service that lives up to the rich hospitality of our own roots, as well as the history of this place.”