Often, the best things are born out of necessity. In the case of The Good Fork, Red Hook locals Ben Schneider and Sohui Kim simply wanted a good place to eat in the neighborhood. There wasn’t much around when the couple moved there, shy of hard-drinking establishments and a few mediocre cafes. While they didn’t have much in the way of pocket money to open a restaurant, they both had the right skills to make it work. Sohui was an accomplished chef and Ben was a talented carpenter. With a bit of determination and a kind landlord, they built The Good Fork in 2006. Turns out, it was just what Red Hook needed.
The Food
The cuisine is inspired by the well-known chefs that Sohui has worked with in the past. Taking clean flavors and sustainability from Dan Barber (Blue Hill), bolder Asian ingredients from Anita Lo (Annisa), seasonal freshness from Peter Hoffman (Savoy), and sophisticated techniques from Michael Anthony (Gramercy Tavern). In spite of the variations, Sohui does not want her cooking classified as fusion. Not matter how you classify it, it works really well.
The menu has an eclectic mixture of choices, including dumplings, a po boy sandwich, gnocci, a burger and their signature dish the "steak and eggs" korean style: grilled skirt steak, kimchee rice, and a fried egg. The dumplings are a must-try - Sohui has become famous for them as a result of beating Bobby Flay in one of his TV Throwdowns.
No Longer Just Locals
Ben and Sohui describe Red Hook as small town USA. Not in a white picket fence kind of way, but as a close-knit, supportive community However, it’s not just neighborhood folks coming to dine at The Good Fork anymore. With the critical acclaim they’ve received over the past few years, the restaurant has become destination dining, that is in spite of the difficulties getting to Red Hook.
Sohui and Ben may have opened up The Good Fork as a place they wanted to dine at, but now Van Brunt Street has turned into a mini-restaurant row, including Fort Defiance which was opened this year by St. John Frizell, a former bartender at The Good Fork.
The Good Fork is small, just 40 seats when the garden is closed. So plan ahead and make a reservation.
Chef’s Recommendations
Eat | Red Hook
Fort Defiance in Red Hook
Photo Credit: Find. Eat. Drink.
Fort Defiance
For coffee, lunch, dinner, and cocktails.
[See details.]
Eat | Brooklyn
Pizza at Roberta’s | The Grocery | Palo Santo
Photography courtesy of: Roberta’s | The Grocery | Palo Santo
Al Di La Trattoria
For Italian.
The Grocery
For the food that chefs / co-owners Sharon Pachter and Charles Kiely put out.
Hunan Delight
For the chicken wings.
Palo Santo
For South American food.
Roberta’s
For pizza.
Taro Sushi
For sushi.
[See details.]
Eat | Manhattan
Ramen at Minca and Ippudo
Photo Credit: Find. Eat. Drink.
Ippudo & Minca
For Ramen.
[See details.]
Eat | Queens
Jang Tuh Sutbulgui
For Korean BBQ.
[See details.]
Recommendation Details
Details of Ben and Sohui’s recommendations for restaurants in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens.
City Guides
- Red Hook, Brooklyn: Download
- New York | Brooklyn: Download
- New York | Manhattan: Download
- New York | Queens: Download