I'm a staunch Darwinian. Evolution. Survival of the fittest. Though after going to Fork, I may have to join the crazies and start believing in Creationism. It's as though the hand of Flying Spaghetti Monster came down from the heavens and touched Fork with his noodley appendage. How else do you explain such a mediocre restaurant being so successful in such a competitive market for so many years? The food isn't bad. It's adequate. It's just expensive for no good reason. Add Fork to the list of places like Glam, Mint and every other monosyllabic foodery that should just go out of business. read more

Our dining experience at Fork was like eating the same meal at two restaurants. Food A+. Service D-. I was really looking forward to dinner, as I had never eaten at Fork, but was aware of the great reviews it's gotten over the years. Our party of five was on time for our 8:30 reservation, but were still asked to sit outside for about 30 minutes. Mildly annoying, but we had a round of drinks. We should have known it was just the introduction to a service disaster. When we were finally seated, it was at a table much too small for five. However, it was that or wait, since everything else was occupied. Our waiter "Ben" introduced himself, gave us menus and water, then disappeared. Half an hour later we flagged down another member of the waitstaff and told her "we need food." A third server appeared in five minutes to explain the menu and take our orders. Then he disappeared. (We later saw him in "civvies" drinking at the bar!) We ordered the "House" menu, which meant that we were somewhat restricted in what we could order (e.g., only two types of small plates per table), but would be served little "surprises" along the way. The food was uniformly excellent, but we had to fight for every course. The "surprises" were okay, not great. Cut to the chase, it took over three hours for the meal to be served and consumed; and that was without dessert, which we refused because we were so pissed off. We made our dissatisfaction known to anyone who would listen including the manager, and the most offered was to comp our drinks, which was barely a good effort for this mess. The restaurant wasn't even that busy, empty by the time we left! After we refused dessert (it was served anyway, but we sent it back), it took another half hour to get our check! The most incredible part of this experience is that the management just didn't get the message no matter how many times and how many members of our party complained. When we looked at the bill, we realized that they hadn't even comped all of our drinks. What a shame to put such a beautiful picture in such a crummy frame. Won't be back. Too many good restaurants that know how to combine good food with good service, and know how to treat a table who were spending upwards of $500 for a nice meal. read more

Fork is consistently among the top destinations for me in Philly. I recently brought guests from Vancouver BC and they enjoyed the restaurant as much as do I. Service (meals all come at once), menu (Cape May oysters) are always on point. read more

The restaurant itself is modern, with a cool cement bar and warm lighting. I'd recommend a reservation, but walk-ins are offered bar seating with the same menu! I ordered the three-egg omelete, featuring branch creek farm spinach, shitake mushrooms and fontina cheese. The omelet, made from local eggs, was bursting with eggy flavor, while the ingredients sat demurely under their bright orange blanket, subtle and refined. The "home fries" were really young potatoes, boiled and delicately seasoned with fresh herbs, and the beautiful edible pansy added a bright splash of color to the plate. I'd already eaten a crusty, seeded bun before the main plate arrived, so turned out to be almost too much food! While drink prices are steep, food is very fairly priced, in a convenient location, and locally sourced! I'll be back. Really though, if you're on a tight budget, go anyway. Just skip the drinks and order one item or from the sides menu (pastries, bagels, etc.) ,and enjoy! read more

For a mind blowing price, I expect a mind blowing experience. Fork doesn't blow, but it doesn't blow my mind either. Sure, there's an element of lameness in giving a mediocre review to a place surrounded by as much hype as Fork is, but what kind of person would I be if I failed to deliver the truth & nothing but the truth? You know you want it. Major points for decor, of course. Totally romantic lighting & warm vibe overall. As nice as the main area is, though, the private room in the back trumps all. You can have it if you have a party of 15+. Buuuuut the waitstaff are nothing to write home about. Exceptional service is what makes a four (or five in Yelpland) star restaurant--awesome decor & food aren't enough, and Fork does not have exceptional service. It's a bit more than mediocre, & that's all, & that surprised me. Like the entire dining experience, my meal contained both lovely and wack elements. Allow me to explain. Tapas: Meatballs, calamari, pickle thingies, smoked salmon, & fish sticks -- all in glammed up form. Despite the glam, nothing makes the mouth water. Entree: Broccoli rabe, salmon, shitake mushrooms, and jasmine rice. Rice, why were you somewhat crunchy? Rabe, you can be a bit bitter, but not to the point of verging on icky. Dessert: Lavender-strawberry shortcake. Translation: A brick of biscuit next to a scoop of gelato next to whipped cream next to strawberries that appeared to come out of a can. Overall, if you're willing to drop this kind of money on a meal, I'd say take your wallet to a place that's really exceptional, either service-wise or food-wise. Fork isn't it. read more

As many people know Eli Kulip took over Fork and then won Food & Wine Best New Chef for the region. We have been wanting to try Fork and when he won the award we figured we better get on with it before it became very hard to get a reservation. We were hoping that the whole Peking duck would still be a special but it was replaced by the Terrior tasting menu, at $95 per person it's pricey but you get 8 courses plus 3-4 amuses and our general rule of thumb is that it should be $15 per course or under. One member of our group is not a fan of pork and the restaurant worked with us very well in accommodating her needs. I am going over most of the courses but will leave out most of the bread courses. The menu started off with some dandelion wine with a sugared dandelion stem to stir the drink. Quite tasty, bit of a spirity taste with both sweet and sour notes Next course were oysters with a white vinegar and cucumber purree, these were absolutely knock your socks off fantastic. Buckwheat bagels topped with housemade cream cheese and trout roe, these were awesome and the trout roe was quite mild and not too salty which is something that I was worried about. Followed with some fruit roll ups and some housemade cornbread madelines topped with housemade Old Bay, these were exquisite and the difference in flavors between the two were great and really complimented each other. Apple salad with walnuts and mustard greens. This salad was fantastic, the spheres on the plate were pickled apples and they were just a touch spicy but were the highlight of the plate, everything was smooth and well balanced. Venison carpaccio with greens and oil. This dish again was extremely tasty and well balanced, there wasn't just 1 flavor that took over, everything on the dish worked together to create a new flavor profile and that is just cool. The next dish was paying homage to Pascal Barbot that is the chef at L'Astrance in Paris. The dish entails thin almost filo like dough topped with in Fork's case a sweet potato purree and then topped with extremely thin sliced mushrooms. It is made to order and placed into a glass case and then presented to the table. Once presented to the table it is taken back to the kitchen where it is sliced and then brought back out and served to everyone. This was outstanding in both presentation and taste. Next came brown butter noodles with giancale, topped with peccorino cheese, and at the bottom was an egg yolk. Stirred all together this dish was extremely rich but it was my second favorite dish of the night. I don't know if I could eat an entire plate of this because of the richness but I definitely able to devour this portion. Next was a suckling pork chop with fermented spicy broccoli rabe, au jus, and sharp provolone cheese chips. WOW, that's the only way to describe this, if I had to eat my way through a dozen averages dishes to get to this I would. I have had the pork chop at Locanda Verde in Manhattan and the one here at Fork absolutely blows it away. This was without a doubt my #1 dish of the night. Unfortunately the meal had to come to an end and it ended well and with a bang, with the Shoo Fly pie. This was composed of molasses, tart cherry, rye struesel, and buttermilk ice cream. The flavors were amazing and spot on and we thoroughly enjoyed this, we would have eaten a lot more of this had it been available. All in all this was an incredible food experience and while it was pricey, I would much rather put my money towards these types of experiences than towards things. If you haven't been to Fork yet get there. read more

See all

Came here on a whim for dinner post-Art After 5 at the PMA. I was incredibly impressed. Ambiance is intimate and inventive (like another reviewer mentioned, cool murals and a tree in the middle of the restaurant); excellent spot for a dinner date. Even though it was fine American dining (and I don't usually go for American, usually favoring the more ethnic end of the spectrum when it comes to cuisine), my experience was nothing less than amazing. Perhaps it was the bottle of prosecco talking, or the wispy breeze drifting in through the open window, or the slight buzz you only get from dusky summer nights, but if a foodgasm was possible, I definitely had one. We ordered the muscovy duck special, which was an entire duck plated four ways. First, duck breast with the skin crisped to perfection, with bits of fat still on the ends. Next, duck leg confit with broccoli rabe (this one was slightly underwhelming. Not enough confit, in my opinion), followed by duck prosciutto and duck hearts in a bed of bitter greens. Last came the duck meatballs, which were generously sized and in a robust tomato sauce. Everything was fantastic. The only downside is the price (the special is $44 per person), but if you have a little extra to spend, make a reservation. My date and I were enormously pleased, and I cried a little at the conclusion of the meal--partly due to the blow I'd just dealt my wallet, but mostly because I had finished the food. (The prosecco definitely helped lessen the blunt shock of the bill.) read more

First and foremost Jake is the man. From the get go he recommended awesome dishes and took professionalism to a whole new level. The food? Amazing and I highly recommend the lasagne (best I've ever had) I was so impressed with the service and food that I decided to get breakfast at their sister restaurant (next door) in the morning. Funny enough...guess who I ran into? Jake. We exchanged friendly hello's (the breakfast was amazing too) and then he headed on his way. The kicker, before I got my check...I was surprised with a pastry(compliments of Jake). I mean top service. Top food. Top people.. made both experiences one I'll never forget. Job well done and cheers read more

One point cuz waitress was good. The menu is terrible. Way too avante garde. Almost every dish has something we all never heard of or didn't like. I shared trout with another person. I am not familiar with trout from PA, but not sure it was cooked thoroughly cuz it was pink in places and barely warm.. The couscous was flavored nicely but served in a watery sauce. A few strands of cooked spinach were also on the plate. We then had the carrot cake. More like a spice cake due to its weird ingredients. Why ruin a good thing? Just do a regular carrot cake and stop weirding things out! I ordered the salad with fiddle leaves to be adventurous, and cuz the the other choices were even more bizarre.. I found a live bug crawling in my salad. Gross! That's what I get for getting a dish with ingredients from a forest. I live in a city known for its good restaurants, adding crazy ingredients doesn't make u a good chef, it just makes ur customers confused, frustrated and unhappy. Stick to the basics. read more

Not really sure why Fork only has 3.5 stars. My friend and I were in Philly for the first time and someone told us we HAD to try Fork. Luckily for us, it was a 3-minute walk from where we were staying. Obviously you need to get a reservation. We did not, and ended up being seated at the bar at 10:15pm for our Saturday dinner. That sounds bad but they actually set us up with a tablecloth and beautiful place settings. We got to sit next to each other which was super nice and we got to talk to the different bartenders about their hometown of Philly. We ordered the $3.75 oysters and though small, they were extremely tasty. We each got a cocktail and they were both good. I honestly don't think you can go wrong with their cocktail menu. We ordered a variety of dishes but I think the pasta with seafood stole the show. It had a TON of seafood in it, they're not screwing around. I'm talking multiple kinds of fish, scallops, shrimp, mussels, etc. I especially enjoyed the lighting and decorations. This was fun -- while I was walking to the bathroom the numerous staff people basically jumped out of my way, going on and on about "excuse me, Miss!" They had obviously been trained well. They did the same to my friend. I see mixed reviews below, but if you're in Philly and looking for a nice little dinner at one of the city's best spots, I'd call Fork and get yourself on their list. This was a birthday dinner for the books. read more

I've been here twice, with about 4 years in between. The first time I went I remember loving my entree. I think it was some sort of salmon, shiitake, pasta thing. The last time I went I was there for Restaurant Week, so I know that they were pumping out a lot of the same entrees over and over again. I got the short ribs. I didn't love them. They were pretty fatty. My friend got the salmon and again, it was good. I also got a lemongrass lemonade, which was good, but not particularly lemongrass-y. I guess if you want a good piece of salmon, Fork is your place. read more

Wanting to try Fork, for a long time, my BFF, was in charge of making dinner reservations for our girls weekend. She gave me a few choices, Fork being one of them, and I told her, "whatever you want, dear." Because a true BFF is like your second spouse. She was dying to try Fork too, so, Fork it was. We went at 8:30 on a Saturday night, and while the ambience is kind of hip, but classy, it definitely isn't a place where you want to go on a first date, unless you either have the retirees reservation, or the late late reservation, because it was definitely loud. And honestly, thank god, because when we're together, we make up for the fact that we have kids, and we swear like truckers in prom dresses. We dress up well, but we definitely are the klassy with a K type after a few mixed drinks. One of the best things about Fork is that everything is as local and as fresh as possible. The menu changes daily, so if you really liked something, too bad. You're not going to be sticking with your tried and true next time. If you're a true foodie, this is like your wet dream. One of the drawbacks is that we were sat right next to the kitchen. Again, we're Klassy, so thankfully we could be a little louder and no one was staring at us with disgust, but listen, if I want to see my food being prepared, I'd stay at home. The whole open kitchen thing doesn't appeal to me. I trust that if I'm at a reputable restaurant, you're probably not spitting or releasing other bodily fluids into my food, so put up a wall. Not to Friday's: take the wall down, you're probably spitting in my food. We ordered a crusted shrimp appetizer with greens, and it was amazing. It was lick the plate good. (We refrained. Maybe we have a hint of classy in us, afterall). However, I ordered the smoked duck, and guys, I'm sorry, but it was just, ugh. It was hammy. And very tough. And I LOVE duck with puffy hearts. Everything else that we ordered though, was fantastic. My sister's chicken was succulent. The BFF's veal was like butter. All of our sides were delectable. Dessert was great. The BFF got a cookie spread and was in love with her amaretti and ganache. I made the mistake of dipping my salted caramel (A-EFFING-MAZING) into her ganache and I almost got myself killed. My sister chose the standard creme brulee. Definitely never a bad choice. I definitely want to try Fork out at least one more time. I wouldn't say it was my favorite, but it was good enough to give a second chance. The service was great, our server was a bit weird, but she was a good server nonetheless. Maybe she was just weird because we're so klassy. (Also, it pains me to spell classy incorrectly, as I hate to bastardize words, but honestly, it can't be helped here. We're just rough around the edges sometimes). read more

I hate when one criticizes me when it is not constructive, so here is my advice for Fork: 1. If you are serving cooked food, cook your food. My fish was underdone. 2. If your menu says your creme caramel will come with poached pares, serve the pears. It would be great if you served them poached too! 3. If you're serving creme caramel, make sure you prepare it correctly so the consistency is not watery. 4. If you plan to participate in restaurant week, give patrons a reason to come back and patronize your business. Good Luck. read more

What is the consummate marriage made in heaven if not the union of creative, perfectly-executed cuisine and unique, exquisitely-baked bread? Such is the matrimonial magic at Fork, where the handsome, pastel dining room, with a gorgeous arboreal painting on one wall, connects to the duly-heralded bakery of High Street on Market, where I've made many joyful bread purchases over the past months. 5:15pm on a Sunday could hardly be called the prime time dinner hour, yet there we were, sidled up to the bar, two among a teeming mass of eager diners waiting to be called for seating. Our enthusiasm was well-placed. At our table, we were simultaneously greeted by a jovial, endearing, and well-informed server and a little gem fresh from the oven: a silver-dollar-sized red onion bialy with hay-infused cream cheese. Though unusually rich for a first bite, I found it a nice touch that flexed the bakery's prowess and the chef's ingenuity. We struggled to prioritize only one of three bountiful salad options that offered kale, beets, or apples as their stars. With an assist from our server-guide, we wisely ordered by the kale, a lavish arrangement of ingredients that included kale in a light ginger vinaigrette, thin slivers of pear, small pieces of crunchy toasted bread, shaved pecorino, and two small roasted onion "cups" filled with ginger creme fraiche meant to be dislodged and spread throughout the salad. We savored every bite, interrupted only by the arrival and alternating consumption of a basket of Tuscan sourdough bread, a masterful balance of warm and chewy inside with a crispy, wood-fired crust. Fork offers a host of dazzling homemade pastas, among which the fennel pappardelle rose to the top. The pasta itself was thick and supple, robustly green color with earthy notes of fennel that were subtle but distinct. The roasted pork ragu with a touch of cream and accented with pollen was a masterpiece. Atop the dish were feathery fennel leaves. In the dictionary, a photo of this dish appears beside the word "rustic." Aside the pasta we were presented with a bread board of remarkable variety: mini-brioche filled with ground beef; dense, hearty Volkenbrot made with juniper berries and accompanied by roasted beet butter; and our favorite, squid-ink "sponge bread" with seaweed butter. The main course was a grilled lobster, its sweetness infused with the faint residue of wood-smoke. The lobster was splayed across a silky pool of polenta, and the dish was bordered by a lively and colorful row of mixed greens, chicories, and thinly-sliced root vegetables. The last few bites of our breads made for a nice chaser to the rich lobster. We chose not to ignore dessert, compassionate as we are. Here we were most lost, with several decadent options nearly jumping from the page. In the end, we landed on the "smoke and roses," a whimsical blend of honey chocolate mousse and black cardamom and cacao nib caramel, topped with crumbled flour-less chocolate brownie, with rose-hips tea poured over it. Sensational, memorable, and one-of-a-kind. read more

Some dishes were fantastic, and some I know I won't remember in a week, but overall Fork is a great place for a nice dinner in Philly. We opted to do the $78 tasting menu. The best dishes were the steak tartare, mushroom risotto, and all of the dessert! I'm not typically a dessert person but I found that I couldn't stop eating them. We came with a party of 6 and the service was great. This probably won't be one of my "repeat" restaurants but it was definitely good to try! read more

This little American bistro has been on my list for a while, and it was truly a great spot. The husband took me for my birthday, in large part because of all the good things we've heard about the wine list and it was perfect. Tons of really interesting bottles for under $40 (our price range), and without some of the typical mark ups of a Philly restaurant. Ok, it was strange that this American bistro had 0 American wines... but letting that slide, we were totally happy. We were bummed about our seats - and no we're not that couple that needs good seats to like a restaurant. They just have about 4 2-tops against the left wall, across from the server station area and right in the breezeway of all foot traffic and cold air whenever the door was opened. I'm 26 - not 66 - this is not something just usually bothers me, but it was cramped and chilly, and the main dining area was no where near packed. We should've spoken up, but I feel like they should've sacrificed those tables once the weather goes bad. Foodwise, this place was pretty great. The American tapas appetizer was delicious, and our desserts were classic but well done (even if they forgot my candle, which bummed the boy out). Entrees. I had the homemade chestnut parpadelle with duck ragu and it was incredible! Husband had the lobster/scallops over linguine in a lemongrass sauce, which he liked, but I wasn't so crazy about. It was a little bland for my palate, but that's why he ordered it and not I. Service was about par for the course, and prices were fine. So. Nicely done, Fork. After we finish off out restaurants-to-try-in-Philly list, we'll be back. read more

We revisited Fork with friends. We heard the exec chef had changed. I saw a big change in the menu as well as I couldn't find things that used be on the menu. I thought perhaps this was a good thing since I wasn't impressed at all the first time we were here. The meal, however, still lacked creativity and the extra flare. The only exception was the gnocchi, which was one of the best, fluffy, light gnocchis I've had. My roast chicken, the skin wasn't crisp. The pork chop tasted a bit oversalted (tasted like it was brined for a bit too long before cooked). The branzino...they really should remove the bones when they serve it (at other places like butter in NYC or raddicchio cafe, they remove the bones). So overall, I would say, it's still "Meh" in my book. read more

I cannot believe I have never written a review for here before! If you are looking for a good date spot, this is where to go. And I should know, I had a first date here three years ago and ended up married to the guy. I attribute this fact mostly to Fork and not to my husbands charms. It's intimate but not in a fussy way. It's got great food but not in a an overwhelming pretentious way. The waitstaff is attentive and nice but won't hover and kill the vibe. The cocktail list is also uber great. Order the one with grapefruit and mint- you will be happy. Every time I have walked out of here, it's been with a smile on my face. It's also in a great location if you want to continue your date with some additional cocktails to keep the fun going. read more

A friend and I dined at the bar. I had to send my drink back--twice--because it was not made properly (In my many, many years of imbibing, I have never had to send a cosmo back. Apparently, there's a first and second time for everything.) My request was greeted by rolling eyes from the servers and sotto voce, snide comments all nite long. They were downright rude, and my friend agreed. Interestingly, the smiles and politesse resumed when it came time for me to "fork" over the tip. On top of the haughty service, the food was just so-so and was way overpriced. Don't see any reason to go here again, with so many great choices in Philly. read more

This was our last meal and Philly before catching our flight and was the perfect way to end our trip. The restaurant is very intimate and has a great buzz. Right out of the gate, they pushed a "brunch cocktail" on us, which always serves to win me over. Fork has a great selection of house cocktails.....so enticing, in fact, that we decided to give a couple of them a try. We both agreed that neither of the drinks was too sweet or sugary.......both were perfectly blended and not too overpowering....they were so good, in fact, that a second round quickly followed. There were a lot of good food choices. The breakfast burrito ended up being the choice for both of us and I'm glad, because if we wouldn't have both ordered it, I would have had to share. Needless to say, there were a lot of enticing choices on the menu. The next time I am in Philadelphia, Fork will be on my list for another meal. read more

My favorite restaurant in Phiily!!! The flavors always amaze me. I love their outdoor space, too!!

I had a really excellent dinner at Fork. The striped bass I ate was absolutely one of the best whole fish I've ever had served to me in a restaurant. It was seasoned to perfection and the whole presentation was right on the money. My friends seemed to enjoy their meals as well, one of them had salmon (which she REALLY liked), the other had steak (although I can't recall which one). The salmon was excellent, but the steak dish was pretty boring. Our desserts were pretty good, but not amazing. We had the lavender strawberry shortcake, which was good, but nothing more special than any other strawberry shortcake, and an Earl Grey creme brulee which was very good. Then again, of course it was. It's freaking creme brulee. The service was pretty solid overall, although we did end up pouring our own wine a couple of times, which I don't honestly give a crap about, but it's worth noting in case you do. The atmosphere was great. Dark, cozy, romantic. You know the drill. All in all, I'd go back to Fork again. It's a little pricey, but I've paid more for less. read more

Great food and service. My boyfriend and I both opted for the House Menu (i.e. two starters each, one entree each, and one dessert each) which was $78 pp. I thought it was well worth it considering the generous serving sizes. For starters we got the Pearl Oysters, Smoked Mussels, Tomatoes & Melon Salad, and the Fluke Crudo; the oysters weren't anything special, but the other dishes were excellent. The Smoked Mussels were my favorite. I ordered the Glazed Halibut as my entree and my boyfriend ordered the Grilled Pork. Both were generous portions and packed with flavor; nothing bad to say about either of them. For dessert we ordered the Java Cherry Chocolate Cake (chocolate cake with chocolate mousse and cherry sorbet) and lemon sherbet. The chocolate dessert was easier the winner here, but the lemon sherbet was light and refreshing especially after a big meal. The service was great and the decor is nice. Would come back again. read more

See all

From the outside looking in this place looked great, but it just wasnt that great. The salad that I ordered was awesome, so I had pretty high hopes for dinner but throughout the night the only good thing we had was the salad. Service was okay, not great but not terrible and the place was pretty busy so I can understand that. The food was where the problem was.There was just nothing special about the food and the prices were pretty high for what we got. With so many good restaurants in Philly I was pretty bummed that we ate here. I would not recommend this restaurant to anybody. It is very average food with high prices. read more

This review is about customer service at Fork, which is personal, attentive, and gracious. We were not satisfied with one dish we ordered at dinner during our visit to Fork. After bringing it to the attention of the restaurant management, we were promptly contacted by a Fork manager. Kevin was extremely attentive to our concerns, gave our friends and us a full refund for the dish, and asked us to contact him directly when we are planning our next visit to Fork so that he can personally make sure that we have a spectacular experience. Truly a class act! read more

Yelp should have a new listing for Fork in some ways, since the new chef has really upped the ante here. Fork is a 3-bell, "hot" restaurant in Philadelphia now and it really delivers. First off, the ambiance is super cool and the maitre'd and staff are welcoming and very pleasant. The decor is well appointed; it's got a hip, yet upscale vibe. The restaurant was warm and inviting on a bitter-cold night. There is a larger bar area in the front where some hip, art-y types were having cocktails and light meals, then you come to main dining room, where in the back you can watch the chefs at work. I opted for a la carte, since my DP did not want to do one of the larger degustation menus, although Fork is known for the latter, especially sharing a whole Muscovy Duck. 1) Seasonal Oysters (5/5) -- I did a half dozen, and they absolutely delicious with their shallots, vinegar, and touch of olive oil 2) The Roots Salad (5/5) -- This is one of Fork's standout dishes and is named after the Philadelphia band. You're going to have root vegetables artfully prepared and presented with a celery reduction. Beyond tasty. Sunchoke truffle was very interesting 3) Spruce Smoked Yellow Beets (5/5) -- Extremely fresh beets with one of the most inventive sauces (poached oyster, horseradish for bite, and green juniper for vegs). Awesome dish. The table next to me ordered this too and I heard them oohing and aahing 4) Charred Octopus (4/5) -- Served with crispy potatoes, which were a nice accompaniment. The octopus itself was tender but not on the same level as I had had recently at Kanella. The dish was very creative, overall 5) Cheese Plate (4/5) -- Very appealing cheese plate. We ordered all 5 cheeses, which included one hard, two goat cheeses, one cow's milk brie, and one blue cheese (yummiest). Served with honey and pecans. Loved it really, but the cheese was not quite at the same level that you'd have at a full-out French Laundry type restaurant (okay, that bar may be unreasonably high, but I felt I was giving too many 5s) I will definitely be back. The wine list is quite good, and they have a good range of whites and reds by the glass. I should mention that the bread is outstanding here. You are served two bread courses. One up front has a little more saltiness to it, and the second bread is more of an Italian type of bread with a hard crust but oh so lite and airy on the interior read more

See all

There are gonna be a lot of "maybes" in this review... maybe my expectations were too high, maybe we should have ordered an entree or the house menu, maybe it was an off night... Overall, my first visit to Fork last night was a bit disappointing (minus the appearance - the restaurant is pretty and I love that there are forks everywhere). For some odd reason, we had to wait almost a half hour before being sat even though we had a reservation and there were multiple tables for two open. Not off to a good start since it was already after 8 and we were starving. The stracciatella toasts were probably my favorite thing we ordered and they were only tiny pieces of toast with cheese and eggplant. Oh, and the onion rolls with homemade cream cheese were really good too (free). We also ordered the spring greens salad as a starter, which was pretty tasty. I had the burnt grains pappardelle with wild boar ragu pasta and it was okay, but just okay. Nothing to write home about. My boyfriend was also under-thrilled by his black & white seafood pasta. There are definitely lots of better places to go for pasta in Philly (Amis, Amis, Amis...). Overall the quality of the food and the pretty slow service was definitely not worth the price. I am hesitant to give any place that was voted by philly mag to be a top 50 restaurant two stars (they haven't steered me wrong yet in our quest to try all 50), but "Meh. I've experienced better." sounds about right in this situation. read more

I went to Fork when visiting Philly because I wanted to go to a James Beard-nominated restaurant that was known for accommodating single diners. I was welcomed to sit at the bar with the full menu, per my request. Wyatt, the bar tender, made my experience. He let me taste every wine before pouring it and gave an impeccable recommendation to pair with my dinner, the duck and duck sausage, which I would call a flavor bomb. It was delicious and came promptly. I also asked Wyatt for an order of demi baguette after having a bit of my entree. He checked up on the kitchen twice to expedite this order. Wyatt was charming, friendly, conversational, and a great performer behind the bar counter. I couldn't have asked for a better solo dining companion. He deserves the James Beard equivalent for bartenders. read more

After having to walk out of a restaurant across the street that had terrible service, my group of starving, hung over brunch patrons was in need of a great restaurant, and we found it at Fork! Amazing service, great food and reasonably priced. It was definitely a littler classier than we had been looking for the morning after a wild wedding party - but we were all glad we went. One of the best meals I've ever had for brunch! read more

Deeply disappointed - where to start? I don't mind shelling out big bucks when it's worth it. This, however, was not. First, 4 hosts for the place and we still had to wait 30 mins to sit with a reservation. Once we were sat we waited a full 20 mins to be greeted and not one apology! Menu had not one appetizer we thought was worth the cost (16 for cheddar and cauliflower soup? - no thanks). We got steak that was $50 but tasted like the Outback special. And again with desert , sometime there is "too out there" and we love to try new things. Overall, mediocre at best and we won't be coming back. read more

what a rip off. We booked the 7lb Moscovey duck for 2. If we got 4 oz it was a lot. When the big beautiful duck was brought out, I asked the waitress were we really going to be served that or was it like Peking Duck where you only get tp peek at it. After she showed us the duck, we got a small salad with 1 oz or slivers. Then 2 meatballs of mystery meat. Then 2 oz each of duck breast. Don't advertise that you are serving a 7lb duck if you are only serving 4 oz.. I don't know what it is about duck. Everyone seems to advertise that they are serving the whole thing and they only serve ounces. read more

You haven't lived until you try a "feast meal" from Chef Eli Kulp at Fork. This season's big feast is the Peking Style Whole Muscovy Duck Feast, a tantalizing tummy tickling culinary adventure that is sure to please every foodie out there. "It will take over an hour to prepare," our hostess warns. My friend Chris W and I shrugged. The best thngs come to those who wait! We started our evening with the Vitello Tonnato, a variation of a veal carpaccio dish that has surfaced on other menus throughout the city. This version had raw Ahi tuna and marinated cucumbers. Chris and I agreed that the dish should focus solely on the veal and omit the tuna. "The veal should stand out on its own," Chris commented. Criticism aside, it was a beautiful presentation and our server mentioned that it was one of Fork's most popular dishes. After a scant half hour, a server presented us with a giant whole roasted duck on a rustic wood serving board and described how every part of the duck will be used to create our four dishes. "Are we getting the liver? I want the liver," I said to him. "Oh, yes, the liver will be used in the meatballs," he replied. Sweet. And so we waited another half an hour or so for our meal to be prepared as we dicussed the merits of eating whole animals and not wasting anything. Our expectations of this much-lauded meal were increasing by the minute. When the dishes finally arrived, we were in awe at the four totally different preparations. Chris and I were each presented with a plate of the most beautifully sliced pieces of breast meat. The meat was unbelievably tender and the crispy skin was so delicious it was a joy to eat. The honey glaze, cream, candied garlic, and duck jus accompaniments made our tastebuds dance. "Oh, my God... a non-Chinese person made this!!!" I screamed silently to myself as my eyes widened and I couldn't stop chewing each succulent, juicy morsel of meat. As a Chinese person, it somewhat pains me to say that this is simply the best Peking duck I've ever eaten and that includes my many New York and Philadelphia Chinatown duck house experiences. Chinese roast duck is comfort food, much like duck confit is to a Parisian. The meatballs were the best I've ever eaten at a restaurant and many of you know I know my meatballs! The spicy tomato sauce contained hearty chunks of mushrooms and red peppers. So good! The duck confit salad contained delicate, melt-in-your-mouth meat pulled right off the bone. Even the duck heart salad, something I know many of you would cringe at, was prepared in a completely accessible way. Duck hearts, when prepared this well, are tasty little morsels of meat just like tongues, livers, and sweetbreads. The pears were a delight to eat and I can't stop thinking about the candied almonds. Chef Kulp took the concept of roast duck to a whole new level with this feast. It's so good I'm left speechless. Kudos goes to the chef and the impeccable service at Fork. We had no less than four servers working our table and all were polished professionals. read more

Fork - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A top fav in my book! First off, upon entering Fork, I was entranced by the chic, understated decor. The hostess was very welcoming and friendly. I was a little bit cold, so we were seated next to the doors that lead to their patio in the event that I wanted the doors cracked for some warmth. Fork had a quiet, buzzing energy that allowed my guest and I to have an intimate conversation without feeling the need to talk too loud or too low. For starters, we shared the summer bean salad and smoked beets. Both dishes were simply delicious. I particularly loved how they paired the beets with oysters. It presented a very unexpected and surprising taste. For our main course we had duck breast and country time pork. The duck was marvelous; prepared medium rare, with a crispy skin and topped with smoked oats. For dessert we had the mint chocolate and zucchini cake. The thing I love best about being a foodie is getting to experience the intricate combinations of food and the ascetics and details paid to the presentation of my meal. I will say that Fork has captured my heart and I will be back for more. read more

The best steak I have ever had in my life. Hands down. This restaurant liked a post on my husband's Instagram... and so we looked into it and decided to have my birthday dinner here. Amazing. The service was outstanding. I can't even explain how much I enjoyed my food. And the atmosphere is beautiful. Scott was absolutely fantastic. Harry was down to earth and fun, and knows how to read people. He is an asset. I hope to be back soon!! read more

Fork - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

A solid American-contemporary restaurant that will go into my "I don't know where to go--what are you in the mood for?" fall-back category. Nice ambiance, nice cocktails, fun appetizer selections (we had tapas offerings), good service, yummy entrees. Nothing spectacular (hence 4 stars) but all were delicious. Wait, I take that back, my drink was phenomenal--vodka, grapefruit juice, mint and something else that made it sooooo smooth and fantasmagoric in my mouth. read more

Went here for brunch with my folks on a Sunday. About half the party ordered the huevos rancheros, and it was lackluster. It was a layered presentation, and the bottom layer--black beans--weren't done. The waitress also forgot 2 drink orders. However, others in the party ordered other items--pasta, biscuits and gravy, and quiche (served lukewarm) were better. The panna cotta was excellent. read more

A world-class restaurant like Fork really doesn't need my 5 star review, so I'll keep it brief. We were in the neighborhood on the second night of the Democratic National Convention 2016, and thought we'd call to see if they might have a table available. Sure enough, yes, so we walked right over, and were immediately seated. But then for an ominous 5 minutes, nothing happened. No water, no waiter, nothing. We were able to study the manner in which the table rocked back and forth. Then, suddenly our waiter appeared, apologizing for the delay. He then took such good care of us, it was amazing. And this was on a day that they had opened at 7:30 AM for some DNC private parties (normally they're not open in the AM), so the staff had been going at it for well over 12 hours. They were as professional and pleasant as could be. The stand-out entree for me was the charred cauliflower "steak," but face it, I don't think you can go wrong with anything they serve. Finally, a real test is whether a restaurant can make good coffee, and here they certainly do. Check out the French press coffee selection. read more

Fork - Charred cauliflower "steak" (yes, it's underneath) - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Went here after a show at the Arden on Friday. Beautiful space, great service and cocktails (I enjoyed the sparkling wine cocktail and my cousin had the one with egg white; both were great!). Loved my chocolate dessert, which was a cross between a mousse and a denser, ganache-like cake as well as the delightful DOC Genzano sourdough. Wasn't a fan of the potato gnocchi, however. The sauce was almost great: pasta water, breadcrumbs (just like grandma uses!) and pecorino. But the onions: it was just bathed in them to the point at which it overwhelmed the dish. I also can't eat a lot of onions (which I should've mentioned to the sever), so it really detracted from my ability to enjoy the dish. So, four stars for everything but the onions. Just too, too many. read more

If you're a carb loader or bread-lover, go to Fork. And I mean this in a loving manner. Seriously, Fork is like a gourmet bakery course disguised in a gourmet meal. If you want to eat the House Menu, which we did, get ready to eat a lot of bread! This involves you choosing individual appetizers, entrees, and desserts, and the whole table had to agree on a pasta to share amongst all members (which came after the appetizer and 2nd bread course). Despite not being the type of people to heavily indulge in complementary bread, the servers at Fork explained the intricacies of each rolls in such detail that we were compelled to at least have a bite of all types of bread provided. The complementary breads included: - rustic olive roll, cheese-stuffed Philly pretzel bite (before the appetizer) - baguette loaf to share (before the pasta) - squid ink sourdough spongy bread, sunflower seed/vegetable roll, a beef-fat brioche (after the pasta, before the entrée) - at the very end after dessert, a complementary mini-donut. Any donut cravings I had beforehand--FULFILLED! All of these tiny rolls were about a bite large, but thanks to the variety, that was quite enough when added to the sumptuous meal presented before us. And each bread came with a butter/jam that particularly complemented each type of bread. SERIOUSLY, bread at Fork is SERIOUS BUSINESS. Uh, the pasta, appetizers, entrees, and desserts were amazing, too. But you can read about them in someone else's review. No, this review is... *~*\\an ode to bread//*~* (...Well, I have to recommend the eggplant cake for someone who doesn't have a huge sweet tooth but still loves smoky goodness.) read more

Fork has been around a long time, and from what I have heard, it has been all over the map in terms of food and service. Well, I am pleased to report that its current incarnation is top-notch. Fork is in my top five restaurants of Philadelphia. Chef Eli Kulp is doing really inventive, fun things without being too fussy or pretentious. Portion sizes are, for example, great! No skimpy haute cuisine portions here! We each had a specialty cocktail, both were great. None of them have names, so I um, can't remember what I had! The bartender, however, was a real sourpuss. The wine list was interesting and had a lot of unconventional things on it. Our waitress was very warm, friendly, intelligent about the whole menu, the wine, and a whole lot more. Service was paced perfectly. Several different people took care of us, which is the mark of a serious restaurant. Decor: very sophisticated and very cool. A tree in the middle of the restaurant, original murals on the walls. Beautiful. Food: Grilled carrots with ramps, yogurt, coriander. Beautiful to look at, excellent marriage of tastes and textures, and nice and large. It made you actually like carrots! These are not your mother's carrots! Ramp gnudi. Wow. Hurry and get this because ramps are about done for the season. Beautiful, subtle flavors, and and although there were a lot of elements that I had never had together before, it just gave the sense of familiar comfort food. Razor clams with radish and apple. Very good. Tasty tender clams. Fun to eat. This was our first time here, and since we were enjoying everything, the waitress said we HAD to have the duck feast special. They only do 2 of them per night! Wow, we made a great choice. Duck done 4 ways! Confit with broccoli rabe, salad with duck prosciutto and duck hearts, duck meat and duck liver meatballs, and finally, duck breast with a simple reduction sauce. Wow. Wow. Wow. Stuffed to the gills! All of the 4 duck preparations were great, but here's the kicker: Earlier this evening I went to Zahav for a cocktail, and I tried a few appetizers too. One of them was their duck hearts! Wow, I've never even HAD duck hearts and I had 'em twice in one night! And now, the comparison: Fork's duck hearts completely blew away Zahav's. Much more tender and possibly because they were smaller. (and better cooked) Wow. Wow. Wow. Folks, if it's been a while, get back here. Now. read more