How Jennifer LeBlanc is ushering in Unforked’s next era as a neighborhood spot

Jennifer LeBlanc and team // Courtesy of Unforked

Unforked has long built its reputation on scratch-made meals, locally sourced ingredients, and a healthier approach to fast-casual dining. Now, its Woodside location is entering a new chapter. 

One that extends well beyond the menu. 

Leading that evolution is chef and operating partner Jennifer LeBlanc. Trained in Southern California, her career has spanned fine-dining steakhouses, sushi kitchens, and more than a decade in Kansas City’s culinary scene. 

After several months consulting with owner Jim Sheridan at Unforked’s Overland Park location, LeBlanc was asked to take the reins at the Woodside restaurant. The opportunity gave her a chance to build on what Unforked already did well while tailoring the experience to the people who call the Woodside neighborhood home.

Jennifer LeBlanc // Courtesy of Unforked

“The demographics here are different,” LeBlanc says. “It’s a lot of professionals who want healthy, clean food. They’re going to the gym, spending time at the pool, then grabbing something quick that doesn’t feel heavy.” 

Her understanding has informed nearly every aspect of the restaurant’s evolution. The menu is being refined to reflect the surrounding community better while preserving Unforked’s commitment to scratch cooking and thoughtfully sourced ingredients. The most noticeable additions, however, are still on the horizon. 

On August 17, Unforked will debut a full-service bar featuring signature cocktails, draft cocktails, and a new happy hour menu. Plans are also underway for a grab-and-go market featuring chef-prepared meals. The concept intends to give residents a convenient option for high-quality breakfasts, lunches, and dinners that fit busy schedules. 

Yet the restaurant’s transformation isn’t centered on cocktails or new menu offerings. At its core is a renewed emphasis on hospitality and creating the kind of neighborhood restaurant guests genuinely want to return to. 

“The biggest thing people remember isn’t always the food,” she says. “It’s how they felt when they were there.” 

That philosophy has become the foundation of the restaurant’s new direction. 

Over the past two months, LeBlanc has focused on reshaping the restaurant’s culture. That work has included regular staff coaching, one-on-one mentorship, and a renewed emphasis on hospitality. 

The objective is simple: every guest should feel welcomed, recognized, and valued the moment they walk through the door. 

She envisions Unforked as the kind of place where regulars are greeted by name, where someone stops in for a quick lunch one day and returns for happy hour the next. 

Courtesy of Unforked

Valuing the restaurant’s relationship with the neighborhood, LeBlanc has worked closely with Woodside residents, property managers, and nearby businesses. Through tasting events, guests have provided candid feedback on new dishes, helping to hone the menu and future offerings. 

Plans are also underway for a neighborhood street fair this fall. Unforked and neighboring businesses will introduce seasonal offerings while gathering additional feedback from the community. 

That collaborative mindset carries into the kitchen as well. LeBlanc has formed her culinary philosophy around seasonality and strong relationships with local producers. As the restaurant’s operational changes take hold, she plans to incorporate more seasonal ingredients while continuing to highlight regional farms and suppliers. 

The approach aligns naturally with Unforked’s long-standing commitment to scratch cooking—a distinction she believes many guests still don’t fully recognize. 

“Most people don’t realize everything we’re doing here is from scratch,” she says. “We’re doing it the hard way.” 

Whenever possible, Unforked sources ingredients from local producers, prefers organic products, and serves Creekstone Farms beef raised in Kansas. And those decisions aren’t simply selling points. They’re an extension of the restaurant’s values and an opportunity to tell a more complete story about the ingredients and the care behind the people who produce them.  

Courtesy of Unforked

In a dining landscape increasingly defined by convenience, Unforked is betting on something different: culinary integrity, thoughtful hospitality, and genuine neighborhood connection. The goal isn’t simply to serve guests quickly. It’s to prove that convenience and craftsmanship can exist on the same plate. 

Success, however, won’t ultimately be measured by annual sales figures. It will be reflected in the familiar faces who return week after week.

“If it’s Tuesday at 5:30 and I know who’s walking through that door for happy hour,” LeBlanc remarks. “That’s success.” 

Unforked has locations in Overland Park, Westwood, and Crown Center.