Fork

I lived in NYC for 14 years and coming here after living there was like a taste of what I was used to in NY. The service was professional and attentive. The atmosphere was pleasant, if loud. (What's with the tables of 10?? A restaurant of this calibre shouldn't be catering to the Applebee's crowd.) The food was the best thing of all. If you're up for a sophisticated, well-served dinner in Philadelphia, I highly recommend Fork. It's been good for years and I hope it continues to be so. (Note to the restaurant: the tables of ten or so detract from the overall environment--maybe just the night I was there.)

Pros: Food, service....

Cons: Loud

Posted 07/07/09

We are two Philadelphians who love eating out in Center City. We'd long heard about Fork, but our experience there on Wednesday, 4 March 2009, was less than stellar. The food was good--not excellent--but the service gets a big fat zero. Seated in the back of the restaurant, we had ask someone to take our order. No one came around to our table to re-fill our glasses or give us more bread. At the beginning of the meal, we presented the wait staff with our theater tickets for a 10 percent discount, but the discount did not appear on our check and we had to ask again. The back room was full--about 60 people were seated--and there were a mere two wait persons. Do the math: 2 wait staff for more than 30 people amounts to unacceptable service. Skip this joint, and go down to Bella Vista for superb service at Supper (South Street) or Bistro la Minette (South 6th Street). The couple next to us, in town from North Carolina for the Flower Show, said they thought the place had declined since their last visit.

Pros: Convenient Location

Cons: Inadequate and Inattentive Wait Staff

Posted 03/06/09

First I would like to say that I was looking for somewhere for a nice dinner between my wife and I for our Second Anniversary. She wanted to be surprised, and I being not all that creative or familiar with the city nightlife. I did some research on restaurants, and after narrowing down my options I ultimately chose Fork. The cuisine was American and the atmosphere upscale/casual. Right down my alley. I was not disappointed at all, I had made a reservation online and asked, if possible for a little bit of privacy in my seating location, a request they seemed to honor as they sat us in the front window at a two-seater table with a view of Market Street. Our server was very courteous and attentive. and we had drinks very quickly, and had ordered an appetizer, which came pretty quickly as well. Our Entrees took a bit longer than we expected but our atmosphere and conversation made time seem to pass quickly, Our meals had arrived and we were very happy with the wait. My pork chop(med) was thick and juicy and seasoned perfectly (yum). My wife had the Filet and she had no complaints, she had offered me a sample and i had to refuse cause i was so concentrated on trying to finish my meal, which I could not. We had dessert as well, Crem bru le, and it was perfect, just like our evening.
Sorry for such a generic review but I am not one with creative words to describe taste buds. I know that I had picked this restaurant based on reviews like mine as well as their cuisine and atmosphere and I had an excellent meal, so I am just looking to give The Fork their due... However we had an early reservation, so at the time we were ready to leave, the crowd started in, and being in a front window seat we began to feel isolated/trapped in the window by the people who were waiting for seats. We were unable to view the restaurant at this point and a bit of the atmosphere was lost. Overall a good experience, That I would recommend.

Posted 02/25/09

IF YOU EAT AT FORK, REQUEST NOT TO SIT ALONG THE WALL BENCHES. It almost ruined my experience. I was looking forward to eating at Fork for quite awhile, and when I walked in, I was greeted by a very cordial hostess who took my coat and brought me to my table. Little did I know that when I chose to sit on the bench along the wall, I would be distracted the entire evening by the awkwardness of the posture in which the bench cushion forced me to sit in. Because of the angle and height of that darn bench, I could not for the life of me enjoy my meal...for all the owner and chef put into the detail of Fork's menu and atmosphere, I am begging that they pay more attention to the quality of where their patrons sit as well (knees sticking up above hips and elbows below wrists is not the way to go). That being said, onto the food. The first course, beet salad, was fresh and lively. However, the presentation was a bit disappointing. The chefs could have gone a step further in chopping the beets, avocados, and grapefruits as to enhance the experience of the dish (big chunks=too isolated in flavor). The stuffed pepper was very stimulating and very filling. Best part? DESSERT!!! Incredible presentations, large portions, wholesome choices on the menu. The waitress and service staff was excellent. If I was seated in a half-decent posture, I think I would consider returning to Fork.

Pros: great waitstaff, great desserts

Cons: THOSE STUCK IN BENCH SEATS WILL SUFFER ALL EVENING

Posted 01/27/09

My friend had a surprise bridal shower here in one of their private rooms in the back. The menu we had to choose from for brunch was spectacular -- I had a hard time deciding. But everything I had was delicious! I was thrilled with all the food - and the servers were very attentive. We had to wait a while for the bride-to-be to show up, but they never left us with empty drink glasses! Don't miss out on this fantastic little restaurant!

Pros: Delicious, fantastic food. Good service.

Cons: Parking stinks along Market St.

Posted 09/02/08

After reading numerous rave reviews about Fork I was excited to have a great meal. I was sorely disappointed. I was expecting simple food made with fresh quality ingredients. This is what i got, but with disastrous execution. The appetizers were all terrible, and the entrees possibly worse.
My party was seated on the most uncomfortable bench seats.
We ordered four appetizers: mixed bucks county farm greens, crispy duck confit, little neck clams, and baby back ribs. The farm greens consisted of giant pieces of red leaf lettuce drowned in tasteless vinaigrette, an overcooked hard-boiled egg, and some nicoise olives. The crispy duck confit was possibly the worst dish of the night. It was incredibly dry and so salty I could only take one bite. This was served with a side of frisee, drowned in a terrible vinaigrette and what was supposed to be roasted grapes. They were fresh red grapes just sitting on the plate. Maybe I should consider myself lucky no one actually attempted to cook them. The little neck clams were rubbery and overcooked. The clams were served with grilled bread for dipping. It was charred black. The baby back ribs, which had a wonderful texture, were unfortunately saturated in a sickly sweet sticky molasses glaze and served with an unmemorable slaw.
At this point, I am not looking forward to the main courses, but I will humor you anyway. My table ordered the Black Cod, Seared Duck, and Hanger Steak the Black Cod came out looking gorgeous. Unfortunately the skin on the underside was completely burnt black, so any bite tasted like burnt grill. The perfectly seared duck breast was saturated in another sickly candy sweet glaze. The hangar steak came out looking like a masticated mess minus the seasoning.
The chef had gorgeous quality ingredients and destroyed them.
The wine was good, and our server accommodating. That is the only good thing I could say about Fork.

Pros: good wine, pleasant service

Cons: bad food

Posted 06/14/08

Beautiful space, efficient personable service, excellent food. I actually live next door and take great comfort in the fact that one of the city's best restaurants is my cafeteria. Relaxed yet sophistcated and refined without trying too hard. Fork offers some classic preparations, some modern interpretations but always serves delicious food. The owner is there (it seems) 24/7 and it shows. Litle touches, like hand whipped cream in the HUGE Irish Coffee round out this perfect Philadelphioa dining experience.

Pros: Quality food expertly prepared, great service, sheik yet comfortable surroundings

Cons: NONE!!!!!!

Posted 01/09/08

I was really exceited about going to Fork after hearing many great things about the food. As you can tell from the title of this review, I was very disappointed with my eating experience. I ordered the pork chop and it was extremely overcooked and dry. I would have sent it back, but we were not seated until 9:30 for an 8:30 reservation. I was shocked by the lack of quality control...if that were my kitchen I would have never let that piece of meat be served to a customer. My date had the scallops with risotto. The scallops were cooked well, but the risotto was gummy, undercooked, salty and almost inedible. Again, a quality control problem. We also had some appetizers and desserts, none of which were very memorable (I can't even remember what we had). I would not reccomend going here for dinner. If anything go for drinks - the dirty martinis are excellent.

Posted 11/12/07

I had a really great salad to start that had arugula, goat cheese and I can't recall what else but whatever it was it worked?it was simply delicious! So my expectations were high which is why the penne pasta may have been such a big dissapointment. It had fried eggplant, leeks, motzarella and a few other ingredients but it was quite bland despite all the ingredients-the flavors did not really show up in the dish like you would expect. Had a delicious dessert-the flourless chocolate cake which was out of this world. And the service was lovely. I'd go back because I think I just ordered the wrong thing. I sat at the bar and everyone's food around me looked delicious.

Posted 10/02/07

My first time and Fork and I would never go back. Both my friend and I ordered the same thing (a simple sandwich) and each time it came to the table wrong. When we finally gave up and asked to see the manager, she told our server that she was too busy helping other customers. Our server apologized and explained that their staff in the back do not speak English well and sometimes they have issues with reading/understanding the recipes... If you are like me and do not wish to take a chance biting into a piece of ham becuase their cooks don't understnad English, do not go to this place...

Pros: NONE

Cons: Rude, obnoxious manager

Posted 09/16/07

The food deserves much better service. The organization of the staff at the restaurant is horrible, or maybe we were there on a bad night. Two out of the three times that they refilled our water, they spilled on my husband. The table next to us got consistent good service, we had to request everything from water to bread to ordering dessert to even getting another drink. REALLY BAD SERVICE. Our starter salads were bitter and the main courses were ok. I can tell this place could be good... maybe we were there on an "off" night. Needless to say, we won't go back.

Pros: nice atomosphere

Cons: bad service, average food.

Posted 08/03/07

We had a wonderful time at Fork on a brief overnight trip to Philly. We'd heard the raves, and are usually skeptical--but this restaurant was fantastic! We had a 9:30 reservation, and were expecting it to be dying down, but it was packed straight through to 11:30 when we left! The wine list was extensive, the menu fresh and seasonal, and the waitstaff was accomodating and professional. Everything about fork is thoughtful--right down to the details (all the forks on the table were different designs, ranging from modern to antique). One recommendation: have the bread pudding!!

Pros: the details sprinkled throughout the restaurant

Cons: crowds

Posted 04/17/07

nice interior space -- reliable,good amaerican fare...nice tasting options -- great fresh bread -- good service

Posted 04/13/07

Went here for dinner, and I was so excited to go after reading good things about it. First the good: great service - our waiter was very attentive and welcoming. Also, my dessert was great - an assortment of cookies and chocolate. Delicious! However, the entrees were nothing special at all. And mine was freezing cold - I had to send it back to have it heated up. Again, the server apologized and there was no problem sending it back, but it was not a very professional thing to have happen. Also, the wine selection is not good. We ended up with a $30 or $40 bottle of wine that sounded nice, but when it came out, it had a twist off cap!! And it was not very good. They really need to work on the wine selection. Things are just very overpriced, and most of the stuff is not worth it at all. Fork, etc. next door is also very overpriced, but they have yummy things when you want a splurge. Overall, so dissatisfied with Fork, given the prices and the hype.

Pros: Good service, good dessert

Cons: Below average entrees, wine selection, price

Posted 03/13/07

My wife and I went to Fork for the first time last night. The food was good, not great, but the overall experience was excellent due to the atmosphere and service. Our waitress, Beth, was one of the best, if not THE best, server we have had at any restaurant at any price...very attentive and friendly without being at all intrusive. Atmosphere is very nice - dimly lit, but you can still read your menu easily, and not too loud (could have been a bit quieter, but I'm splitting hairs). Overall, an excellent dining experience.

Pros: SERVICE, cocktails, wine list

Cons: none

Posted 03/03/07

I had a very pleasant dining experience at Fork; a kind, attentive waitstaff and wonderful food. It started with a well-made drink - the bartender was on that evening, producing a refreshing Whippet cocktail. I ordered the lamb and found it highly satisfactory, grilled to my liking. I went for the mousse which I thought heavier in texture than most mousses, but still velvety. For ambiance, this place is romantic and would be great for a tete-a-tete, warm interiors and soft jazz-like music in the background. After dinner I went next door to Fork's take-away, upscale salads and sandwiches to purchase lunch (beets & pear, goat cheese salad) for the next day. Parking would be an issue, there are several restuarants on this block, save on the cab fare and take the Philadelphia blue line subway to the Market @ 2nd stop - half a block away, very easy and convenient.

Posted 02/13/07

I consider myself a bit of a "foodie" i enjoy going out to dinner with my boyfriend for the ambiance and we enjoy eating delicious meals.... i have worked in the restaurant world for years, so I think I have a good opinion.... fork was amazing from the service to the ambiance to the food. we went on a sunday night to celebrate a birthday and felt pampered when we left. the beef carpaccio was TO DIE FOR! we ordered TWO!!! definitely recommend fork to others.

Pros: lighting and beef carpaccio

Cons: if it is busy, the tables are close together....limited intimacy

Posted 02/07/07

I have never been disappointed in Fork's ability to create a meal to remember and the last time I went there was no exception! Working with Ellen to create a small holiday party was great. From the wine choices to our fabulous menu, I could not have been happier. My thanks to their staff for the great work. I highly recommend utilizing their private dining room for any event you are considering- it's a great place to spend an evening with colleagues and friends!

Pros: Ambience, Wine, Menu

Posted 12/10/06

While they may not be splashy like some others, Fork knows how to serve up a good heaping helping of great food. Other restaurants have off days, Fork doesn't. I've been going for over 8 years, and I'm not stopping anytime soon. I've also gotten better service here than at places like Le Bec Fin.

Posted 11/28/06

The little store on the side of this restaurant is wonderful. As far as I know, they're the best (if not the only) place in Old City to get delicious imported French, Italian, and Spanish cheeses and crusty baguettes with which to enjoy them. They also have a variety of crackers and biscuits for serving your cheese course, and many freshly made sides and specialty entrees. For my money, it doesn't get better than the spiced goat cheese on English walnut crackers that you'll find here. If you want a baguette, though, try to go early; they tend to sell out.

Posted 11/17/06

We walked in on a friday night without a reservation in April and were treated very well. Given a great table, and told it had to turn over in an hour and fifteen minutes, which was fine by us as we had to travel anyway.

Service was fine, food was good but nothing out of this world. This was a great experience, but given the hype was not blown away. You will love this place if you come without great expectations. If you expect the best meal in your life, do not come here.

For an Old City experience, come on down.

Pros: Trendy

Posted 11/14/06

I went to Fork this past weekend and I must say the most outstanding was the customer service. I had reservations for 6pm and was about 15 min late. (Parking can be difficult unless you are willing to pay)This was not a problem. We were seated right away and greeted by a pleasant server. She was more than happy to explain certain dishes to us on the menu that we had never tried before. Unfortunately, we were seated in the back right by the kitchen. Some people like to see their dishes being prepared though, my wife isn't one of them. The seating in the entire place is a bit cramped. Not to worry though, the food is incredible. My wife had
the Flautas(I had a taste, they were awesome)I had the "Hunters chicken" with the garlic and onion caramelized potatos. It was great too. For dessert we had the Earl grey creme brulee. Just amazing. Great cappuccinos too! Also I thought for the quality of the food and service Fork is very reasonably priced and not pretentious.
You must get reservations or you will have to stand in line and wait while others with reservations are seated. Fork has a great location and is perfect for a romantic dinner or just entertaining your friends.

Pros: Great food great service great price

Cons: tight space, no parking,

Posted 11/12/06

Serious eating and drinking establishments don't make apple martinis because they aren't real drinks. This isn't Friday's, afterall. Fork is an elegant and sophisticated space that for some reason, doesn't feel stuffy. I go there regularly for brunch. The cocktails are always amazing (bloody mary especially) and the food is always fresh. The hostesses are gems and the service is typically good. Getting good service at the bar can be a challenge, but nonetheless, I'd recommend it to anyone.

I've also had food from their late night menu. What a great place to wind down after a movie at the Ritz or a show at the Arden! Wonderful all around.

Pros: Space, atmosphere, food

Cons: Tables around the bar are tight

Posted 11/08/06

The elegant yet funky decor at Fork was the first thing to allure me. After reviewing an eclectic and extensive wine list, our waiter helped us choose several different wines as members of our table were quite varied in the preference - sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, pinot grigio, and merlot. Our waiter was excellent in helping us pair our wines with our food, which far surpassed my expectations. Fork puts a delightful spin on typical upscale cuisine - incorporating uniquely savorous sides such as Israeli cousous and carrot mashed potatoes. Dessert impressed as well, offering a varied selection such as an incredible peach crostada, and of course the creme brulee. All in all, I was delighted in my experience and Fork and look forward to returning soon.

Pros: Food, Wine List, Ambience

Cons: -

Posted 08/09/06

great food, alittle crowded, nice atmosphere, we found the wait staff good could have been
alittle faster with the food

Posted 08/07/06

I held a party in their private room and it was excellent. Everyone commented on how beautiful the room and mural in the room were. The food was delicious and the staff was wonderful. I would recommend this restaurant to hold a party and would hold my next party there.

Posted 05/21/06

I went during RestaurantWeek, and was disappointed. The menu we were given, the menu on their website, and the menu on the Week website (that's 3 menus) were all different, and then they were out of an entree and all veggies! After ordering, we found out that another entree had run out, and was replaced with an entree that had partial substitutions! It is hard to understand how a restaurant with filled reservations doesn't anticipate ordering enough food! Service was slow, something had burned in the kitchen, and when dessert finally came there were more substitutions in flavors - a poor decision in general, and especially without informing the customer. After over 2.5 hours in the restaurant, poor service, and numerous substitutions, we were given a bill with an automatic 18% gratuity (which isn't written anywhere)! I see RestaurantWeek as an opportunity for restaurants to showcase themselves, and Fork failed...

Pros: good food

Cons: substitutions, slow, bad for groups

Posted 02/22/06

Fork is smart about restaurant week - it presented our group of four with some of the best food we've ever had in Philly, we all left very full, the martini list and wine list were reasonably priced and delivered excellent selections (they don't over-sweeten their cocktails which is very refreshing and they seem to use fresh-squeezed citrus juice, an effort which is appreciated in a restaurant that does not claim to be a high-flying bar/club). Needless to say, we will return. I am still dreaming about the ribs, spinach and smashed sweet potatoes, but I will never forget the pate - served with quince, sweet gherkins, mustard and crostinis...the most delectable I've ever had. And dessert. God, dessert - I had enough leftover to take some home - not the tinsy portions one expects from such locales. Service was prompt, friendly and professional. You must go!!!

Pros: cocktails, FOOD!!!, big homemade dessert

Cons: a little crowded

Posted 02/21/06

We went to Fork during restaurant week expecting good food, but what we got was a very long wait and a moody waitress. The service was beyond terrible. We sat in a back room for over two hours and only got out of there because we took food to-go. The food was good, but the overall experience wasn't worth it.

Cons: Poor service!!

Posted 02/18/06

I was very excited to try Fork as it was highly rated in the 2005 Zaget guide. However, I was extremely disappointed with the service and set up of the restaurant. I went with a group of four males, and the table was so small and close together that we were unable to fit our appetizers, bread, and drinks on the table all at once...not to mention that our knees were consistently hitting each other. As for the service, our waitress was boring at best. Not once did she smile or give us any details about the menu. After a friend ordered the Porterhouse, I asked which she would suggest between the Porterhouse and Striped Bass...She said the Porterhouse is not very good right after someone had just ordered it....weird. Fork did not live up to the hype, and the food was average for the price.

Pros: Location

Cons: Service, Crammed tables

Posted 07/25/05

Beautiful decor and trendy, eclectic clientele make Fork a great place for good food and drink while enjoying the refined and hip, but casual, ambience. Interesting and tasty dishes, great bar. I got a tour of the private rooms in the new addition, and they are remarkable spaces for a small party or a business dinner. Overall, very nice, and very reasonable.

Pros: ambience, scene, decor

Posted 07/24/05

fork is one of the best dining experiences we've had. on a particularly busy saturday nite, we were promised a table in 10 minutes. 15 minutes had gone by and no table. the owner ellen yin had been circulating the room and came over to see if we had been waiting long. when she found out we were supposed to be seated 5 minutes ago, she apologized profusely, got a table ready for us and gave us a complimentary bottle of wine! we have been regular patrons ever since. like any good restaurant, there are ups and downs, but ellen always makes sure you feel welcome.

Pros: great food, friendly service

Cons: hard parking

Posted 07/21/05

The intimate aura that Fork exudes makes it a perfect date resteraunt. Elegant, but casual environment provides a comfortable place for enjoying a great meal with a special someone. I had the steamed whole white bass. Perfectly cooked and incredibly tasty. She had the free-range chicken which she thoroughly enjoyed. Portions were sizeable for being a part of the old city restaurant scene.

Pros: Delicious Food, Romantic, Great Service

Cons: too small for groups

Posted 07/04/05

Sorry, I just don't understand the rave reviews of this place. I found the wait staff rude and unattentive. Even if we had the best waiter/waittress in the world the food was uninspiring. Everything is LOADED with garlic and butter to mask the shortcomings of the chef/s. On the bright side it seemed like a great place to grab a martini and do some people watching. Otherwise...go somehwere else. THere are plenty of nice places nearby.

Pros: Bar

Cons: Food, Rude Waiter/s

Posted 06/06/05

We ended up at Fork after much internet research on other restaurants in the Old City area. I was pleasantly surprised by the space-intimate, but lively enough to encourage conversation and a feeling of festivity. Service was good, but not outstanding. The food, however, was wonderful. The oysters had a lovely sauce that was perfectly paired with a sparkling wine-a delicious combination. The true highlight for me was the duck with the duck confit and wild mushroom sausage. It was absolutely stunning. The dessert was a fantastic bread pudding with vanilla gelatto. Delicious and in a great location-try it!

Pros: Ambiance, Dessert, View of kitchen

Cons: Wait almost too long

Posted 06/01/05

Service was really excellent here. Extremely attentive without ever seeming like they were hovering. Striped bass was well-prepared and fresh. The salad was the same.

Posted 02/27/05

We had a great lunch one past tuesday afternoon. Our server was downright gracious and the food was nothing short of phenomenal. I highly recommend anything from their dessert list, our pecan crusted passion fruit cheesecake with gingered pineapple was borderline life changing.

Posted 02/11/05

I had spoken to the "large party coordinator" for the restaurant in order to make a reservation for a party of 15 one month ahead of time. He had said that they cannot accomodate large parties until after 9pm, which was understandable due to the size of the restaurant. When I requested to make a reservation for after 9pm, he responded unregrettably that he cannot accept my reservation at all, with no reason. He had contradicted his own statement and was dishonest. This occurred the day after I had spoken to a hostess from the restaurant who reassured me that if I spoke to the "large party coordinator", I would be able to make a reservation because of the numerous availabilities.

Cons: , Unaccomodating

Posted 06/25/04

The food was wonderful, service was excellent, a little tight space but it wasn't too much to deal with. The Bar seems to take up a lot of space, but we were there on a Saturday night and the smallness wasn't too bad. The food was AWESOME and our server so polite. He recommended a wine, and was absolutely correct to do so.

Definitely make a reservation, because there is literally NO waiting area and you'd probably have to wait outside!

Pros: Food, service, wine

Cons: , only one bathroom

Posted 06/09/04

Fork is a great restaurant. The atmosphere is great, but you could serve that food in a basement and I'd still rave about it. Everytime I go there (the menu is seasonal, so you never have the same thing twice) I feel as if the recipe was created just for my pallatte. Last time I was there the dessert was the highlight of the meal: A warm pecan torte with vanilla ice cream served with cranberry compote. I'll never be able to eat another dessert again.

Pros: the dessert!

Posted 03/29/04

The location is great and the atmosphere is good but they need improvements on the food and service. The hostesses were friendly but our waitress took entirely too long to address our table. Not to mention that they were out of certain items. My french toast was runny and I've had better. I must admit that my mimosa was great.

Pros: Friendly hostesses, Drinks

Posted 03/19/04

We chose Fork on a whim during a recent trip to Philly from Boston. The menu was so interesting and it was so difficult to choose. The food was absolutely delicious from start to finish. Can't wait to go back.

Posted 03/14/04

Excellent food, nice atmosphere, great service...looking forward to our next visit.

Cons: Parking, Parking, Parking

Posted 12/04/03

For a restaurant that is touted for it's good bar scene they should be able to make an Apple Martini.

Go for the food and ambience- it's good. But the martini's/ Yeah not so good

Posted 11/15/03