Spork Restaurant
(415) 643-5000
1058 Valencia St
San Francisco,
CA
94110
37.7558
-122.4211
Neighborhoods: Central East, Mission
What People Are Saying About Spork Restaurant
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
The Scene
The name of this trendy restaurant aims to lightheartedly elevate the reputation of the underappreciated dining utensil and give a nod to KFC, the space's previous inhabitant. The décor is reminiscent of an old-fashioned diner with clever details such as water poured from clear plastic coffee pots. Vinyl booths and pop art are warmed by candlelit tables and a lively Mission crowd clearly out to have a good time.
The Food
An inventive menu features modern takes on classic comfort-food dishes. Appetizers steal the show with bright, sparkling flavors including an indulgent gnocchi gratin smothered in sheep's milk mozzarella and served with a contemporary spork. Yellowtail sashimi topped with a dollop of citrus custard proves how amazingly tasty raw fish, lemon curd and wasabi vinaigrette can be. For a creative entrée, the inside-out burger comes with a lone bun sandwiched between two small meat patties topped with Tillamook cheddar.
User Reviews
sweetfe2
February 17, 2008
I checked this place out with a few friends. We ordered 8 to 10 different dishes. The menu was interesting. The ingredients fresh. Presentation was very good. The interior in trendy - funky in a good way. The service was excellent. Everyone was friendly and helpful. Unfortunately they have a heavy hand when it comes to salt. I tend to be sensitive to that, but after the meal I asked the other less salt sensitive co-diners and they all agreed everything was way too salty. If they could curb the salt this place would be a keeper.
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utastelikebbq
December 11, 2007
I have been to Spork twice now. First time I ordered every appetizer on the menu. That's just how I roll. I suggest anything with cheese. The goat cheese in particular was perfection. Next time, I got this delicious noodlely thing. The waiters were great and the food was great. Great and great.
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missionlocal
May 17, 2007
I have lived right around the corner from this spot for 10 years and had high hopes that something good would happen here once the dreaded KFC finally flapped its greasy wings and flew the coop. No more chain restaurants on all of Valencia! How cool is that? I did a little snooping around before they opened and found out that chef Bruce Binn, a graduate of the California Culinary Academy, had worked at some of the best restaurants in San Francisco (I'm talking Delfina, Slow Club, Bix, Citizen Cake, Postrio) and had just returned from a stint in New York working alongside David Bouley who for the uninitiated is one of the absolute top chefs in the country. Needless to say my expectations for the food immediately shot up the charts but I have to admit that I was a bit concerned that with a pedigree like Binn's this could end up being another one of those great restaurants (i.e. Range, Bar Tartine) that was largely out of reach to many of the neighborhood folks. So it was with a mixture of excitement and trepidation that I paid my first visit to Spork on the night they opened. Would the food be as good as the chef's resume suggested? Would it be the kind of place that I would want to visit on a regular basis as opposed to a destination restaurant catering to big spenders? Would the design, service, and vibe fit the surroundings? In a word:Yes! Yes! and Yes! So what makes Spork so great? Well first and foremost is the food. The inside out burger is destined to become a classic (think In 'n Out burger on heroin), the meat & potatoes is the apotheosis of refined comfort food, and the sea bass is moist, delicate & delicious. In addition to completely nailing the food part of the equation, the Spork crew has done just about everything else right as well. The decor is invitingly minimalist, the staff is super friendly & professional (and cute as hell), the prices are fair and the whole place is effortlessly hip without an ounce of pretension. Spork rocks!
read full reviewThe Details on Spork Restaurant
Parking:
The best bet for parking is the lot on 21st Street between Mission Street and Valencia Street.
When to Go:
Since Spork does not accept reservations, patrons should arrive early to avoid a wait.
Know Before You Go:
While bread is not served with the meal, dinner rolls with warm honey butter can be ordered as a side dish.
