Fork N Cork

This was our first time visiting this location of Fork N Cork. Previously, we have visited the Carolina Beach location but it seems that one has permanently closed. We had a great experience. It was a rainy day in Wilmington so it wasn't very crowded. We got seats at the bar right away, and we had great service and enjoyed the feeling of the restaurant. I try to make sure to always visit because the Monte Cristo sandwich is next level delicious. This time, my husband and I split it with a side of brussels (so so good with the dipping sauce especially) and an extra side of fries. It was plenty of food for us! The restaurant is tiny, so I would imagine there could be some really long waits on a more normal traffic day, but I'm thankful we got in for lunch this week!

The food is 5 star. The burgers, Fries, onion rings, Mac & Cheese, Classic & Texas Poutine, Chicken sandwich. Wellington bites and Salads are all really really great. The Duck wings are some of the best wings I have ever tried which was surprising to me. They have some of the best food in Wilmington. If I was rating food alone it is 5 star all the way. The reason my over all score is 4 is because the service and Atmosphere weighed it down one star even know the food is so good. The restaurant is very small which is fine but there can be a very long wait for a table. All of the tables are high with bar level seating. So if you are short or handicap it could be a challenge. There are a very low tables outside. I have been here when the front door is left open and cigarette smoke billows in. I have sat outside once. It was not that great of an experience. On our last visit when we sat outside every time we asked our server for something like a straw, refill napkins etc…she forgot and did not come back. She barely checked on us the entire meal. There were some sketchy people that walked by and lingered. The people on the street obviously does not reflect on the restaurant I am just keeping it real with you so you know it is a possibility if you choose to sit outside. For a very small restaurant you would think the service would be an automatic 5 star but of the 10 or more times I have been there 7 have been not so great service. I have had great service for some of them but more bad than good. With that said I keep going back because the food is so good. The tragic loss of the owner this past year is so very sad and is a huge loss to Wilmington. He clearly was a genius when it came to developing really great flavors. You might assume that burgers, fries, chicken sandwiches, apps etc would be easy to make great but it is actually in my opinion really damn hard because so many places do it well which means you have to go over and beyond to stand out. Fork ‘N’ Cork does that. I dislike writing reviews with anything negative especially about a restaurant I like so much but I keep it real. It is what it is. I waited a long time to write this because I was hoping for the best but after my last visit recently I decided it is time. With all that said if you are still reading this place is a must try if you are visiting or live in the area. I hope you have a visit when all three categories are 5 star and I wish the restaurant all the best.

Other places will tell you they have the best burger in Wilmington... but they would be wrong. Look at the pictures I posted.... LOOK AT THEM! Listen... I've had many gourmet burgers in my day... but this place is for sure in the conversation on the top 3 burger of all time. It's so good we were compelled to tip the cooks. We've been here several times and the restaurant itself is so cool and cozy inside. The servers are amazing. Always a good experience. Other food is good too... the appetizers are solid and the portions are massive. The chicken strips are amazing and our daughter loves them. And their fries? Fuggetaboutit. Their ranch and bleu cheese is fresh and thick. I love their dressings. Really good place. If you haven't been here yet, check it out. Good beer and drinks and excellent service and food. I was sad to learn that the founder of the restaurant recently passed unexpectedly. My condolences to his friends and family. He definitely created an amazing restaurant.

We needed a late night dinner on a Monday and this was the only place open. Due to the the time of night, we had no issues finding parking. You can best describe the interior as a bar with tables. The wait staff were friendly yet you can tell Monday are their slow night. It did appear to be a local favorite as you could tell the people at the bar were regulars. We quickly saw why because the lamb burger I had with homemade tzatziki sauce was great. Even though it says "plain" mac&cheese as a side item, there was nothing plain about it. I was pleasantly surprised by this place.

We went here during a massive downpour, fortunately they allowed us to stand under the awning while we waited for a table, as the outside tables were not being used. Little frustrated that the people inside were simply waiting for the rain to stop, although they were finished eating. We had a longer than suggested wait for a table. We were there mostly to try the duck wings. We also got the Toasted Crab Bread, which I thought was good, slightly different from other crab dip topped breads I've had. The CJ's Smashed Cherry Mojito was really good. The table we sat at had a constant drip from the duct work above, that was unpleasant.

Ever been downtown in a new city you're visiting and think I want to try something different that I haven't seen before but I also want a surein that it'll be good since I'm only here for the weekend? You just found that spot by reading this review! Fork n cork has a formidable drink menu from outstanding cocktails to a good beer list. The appetizers will rock your world but beware, you may end up too full to finish your exquisite meal! My wife and I started with cocktails: the fork n fantastic gin & tonic was unmatchable and worth every dollar. For an appetizer we got fonduta, which really should be called the Fon DUH ta because it is a no brainer with how delicious that cheese combination was, I was still eating it with my entree. We got the duck duck goose and the lamb burgers and shared the two halves. It is truly the best of both worlds and my mouth is watering just thinking about that burger 😋 As a telltale sign the food was so good, there was a 0 out of 1,000,000 chance that we would get dessert because of how full we were! Come on in and enjoy a fantastic meal.