Spork in San Francisco is my new favorite restaurant. Pat and I went there for dinner after a lovely day in the Mission, checking out all the vintage stores and eating Dymano Donuts. Spork is a place serving old-school classics in a new-school fashion.
They have sustainable-this and local-that versions of slow-food takes
on old classics. And despite the political correctness of their
offerings, everything tastes like it was pan-fried in lard in a steel
skillet by my grandmother. That's a very good thing!
The In-Side-Out Burger ($14) screamed "eat me" from the menu. The beef is fresh from Sun Marin Farms.
Two patties griddle-fried, peppery and crispy on the outside. Moist and
pink on the inside. The concoction towers over the plate. It is a stack
of ingredients as follows starting at the plate: Butter lettuce, tomato
slice, beef patty, bun circle, special sauce, beef patty, tillamook
chedder and a grilled onion topping so sweet it could be applesauce.
The special sauce reminded me of the spicy thousand-island type I make
at home, only no islands. You have to eat this with a fork and knife,
but it doesn't diminish the burger experience.
The Smashed Fries are an interesting idea. Small potatoes with the skins on, are
deep-fried and smashed flat. They are crispy and salty and tasty. Not
your classic fries, but a very scrumptious alternative like everything
at Spork.
Pat
had the pork chop ($23). Big enough to feed a family of four, it was
thick and juicy and perfect. For desert we had the After School Special
($6). Humphry Slocumbe malted vanilla ice cream with chucks of
chocolate covered potato chips and caramel swirls. Enough said.
As for the ambience, the place is in a converted KFC location. Turns out KFC invented the spork,
a combination spoon and fork. The kitchen is in the old freezer. They
have converted the old oven hood to a light fixture. We lucked out with
a table by the window and watched Valencia Street traffic with more
stylish bicyclists than cars. Go. Eat. Spork.
Spork Restaurant – 1058 Valencia St., San Francisco CA 94110 – 415.643.5005.
- Also published on Hoosier Burger Boy