Status: CLOSED (March 2024)
Forks and Flavors in Kennesaw, Georgia was a married couple’s dream that couldn’t sustain its post-makeover success. Despite a 35% boost in productivity and profits after Restaurant Impossible, this New American spot closed in March 2024, with the owners pivoting to events catering.
From Catering to Restaurant
David Wilmott and Darnell Morgan are a married couple with complementary talents. David worked as Executive Chef while Darnell brought his big personality to the front of house. They started with a catering business and a retail line of spices before taking the leap into restaurant ownership.
In June 2020 – perhaps the worst possible time to open a restaurant – they launched Forks and Flavors. By 2022, they were struggling. The owners had never taken a paycheck for themselves and had accumulated $150,000 in debt.
The Episode (Season 21, Episode 3)
Title: “My Way or the Highway”
Air Date: May 12, 2022
Location: 2920 George Busbee Pkwy, Kennesaw, GA
Robert Irvine found a kitchen in conflict. David ran his domain quietly while struggling under Darnell’s larger-than-life personality. The husband-and-wife dynamic that worked in marriage wasn’t translating to business partnership.
The restaurant needed both operational improvements and relationship rebalancing.
Initial Success
Restaurant Impossible delivered measurable improvements:
- Productivity and profits up 35%
- Three new dishes became best-sellers: Georgia Peach BBQ Short Rib, Korean Fried Shrimp, and Miso Crusted Flounder
- Kitchen efficiency improved
- Front-of-house operations streamlined
For a time, Forks and Flavors seemed to have found its footing.
The Closure
Despite the improvements, Forks and Flavors permanently closed in March 2024. The reviews had been mixed, with many customers complaining about the $30 brunch price point in a market that wasn’t ready for premium pricing.
The couple has pivoted to their original strength: events catering. Sometimes the restaurant industry teaches you where your skills are really best applied.
Lessons Learned
Forks and Flavors highlights a common Restaurant Impossible pattern: makeovers can improve operations, but they can’t fix fundamental market fit issues. A $30 brunch in suburban Kennesaw faced headwinds that no amount of efficiency improvements could overcome.
The good news is David and Darnell are still cooking together – just in a format that works better for their skills and their market.
Former Location
Address: 2920 George Busbee Pkwy, Ste 109, Kennesaw, GA 30144
Closed: March 2024
Cuisine: New American
Forks and Flavors reminds us that restaurant success requires more than great food and good operations – it requires finding the right format for your market.
Last verified: January 2026
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