The Good Fork Pub

We learned at its namesake tavern back in February that going to Red Hook is a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. The hustle and bustle of Manhattan, only 3 miles away, could not seem further from this industrial “sea village.” You can taste the salt in the air. Red Hook can feel like an oasis for us self-hating city folk (I live in Philadelphia) looking to spend a few hours doing something “different.” Aimlessly wandering like lost tourists through the streets. Pointing out the various vibey bars and restaurants. Embracing the peace and quiet. Only to leave, head home, and tell your friends about how “cute” or “timeless” the place is. This meal at The Good Fork Pub was a glimpse past that superficial outer shell and into a proud community that’s about ~12,000 strong.

Our server Barry - also a part owner of The Good Fork - has been a member of this community for the past ~25 years. He previously owned and bar-tended in the Red Hook institution Bait and Tackle before it closed in 2017. The Red Hook that Barry knows is still scarred from deep wounds inflicted by Superstorm Sandy. Back in 2012, the storm caused $19 billion in damages to New York City broadly, but Red Hook in particular was completely underwater after bulkheads along the coast proved unable to hold back the storm surge. The Red Hook that Barry knows is full of neighbors, coworkers, and friends that genuinely want to help each other. It wasn’t just water that flooded into The Good Fork back in 2012, but also volunteers helping in the cleanup efforts.

According to Barry, a restaurant works best when nobody has an ego. When people come in, understand their roles, and “fuckin’ do them.” It seems to me that Red Hook is full of these types. Their purpose is to preserve the place that they all know. We’ve been joking that the Served chain of favorites will end here because the waiters just love Red Hook too much. Riya recommended only Red Hook restaurants. Barry too. He said there’s just no real reason to venture into Manhattan - despite the fact that he works at Walker’s in Tribeca for a few days every week.

So far, this wacky idea has taken us to a lot of places that we never would otherwise have gone to. One of them is a cute, timeless little sea village in Brooklyn. I’m excited to keep getting to know Red Hook.

Served,

The Supper Club