Independent Publishing

BENT FORK New Southwest and Italian Restaurant in St. George
Friday, 09.25.2009, 06:45am (GMT-6)
Lily Staats-Ofcarcik

The Bent Fork is a brand new restaurant in St. George that opened its doors just this month.  Housed in what used to be the Slice of Tuscany digs on North Bluff Street, the interior has been completely redecorated using more subdued lighting, modern mahogany-colored tables, cozy booths, warmly painted walls and Mediterranean landscape paintings on the walls.  The unpretentious atmosphere is warm and friendly, with a bit of urban edge.

With an attentive staff who have a good sense of timing (very important in the restaurant biz), you are never left waiting to order, nor rushed during a meal.  Meals are served in courses – appetizers, soups, salads, entrees, dessert – at a leisurely pace, giving the diner time to savor each one. 

The Bent Fork is open for lunch and dinner, and the menu is the same at both hours.  The owners – Jayson (who is chef) and his wife Shelly Bonino – have been in the restaurant business for 25 years. Formerly of Phoenix, they both quit their jobs and found St. George the perfect place to open their own restaurant and raise their family.  So far, the restaurant has relied on word-of-mouth to let people know its doors are open, and the word is definitely spreading around town.

This evening I dined alone and enjoyed excellent service.  I ordered the grilled chicken pasta, with a choice of soup or salad.  I ordered the salad, but the waitress was kind enough to bring a small sample of the delicious creamed zucchini and spinach soup du jour (house-made).  The soup was hot and flavorful with a hint of mushroom background.

The salad of spring greens, grated carrots, cucumber sticks, red cabbage and tomato pieces was served with the house-made red wine vinaigrette dressing and was accompanied by a slice of brochette (French bread slice, buttered and put under a broiler to give the crust a little crispness).  The brochette was a nice touch.

 Next, I enjoyed a good-sized platter of grilled white chicken pieces and spaghetti with creamy, house-made Alfredo sauce – thick and flavorful – with sun-dried tomato pieces and spinach leaves.  All were gently tossed together and served hot. It was tasty and had a lot of visual appeal, served with two fresh basil leaves as garnish.  Portions are generous.

The dessert menu offered a wonderful array of sweet choices: tiramisu, Italian crème torte, gelato trio, double chocolate cheesecake and chocolate truffle torte.  I ordered the tiramisu – one my favorite sweets. I know the ingredients have to be authentic or it’s just not top quality.  In this case, I had no worries with that.  The first scrumptious bite is like eating a creamy chocolate cloud.  If you just want to stop by for dessert and a beverage, this is your place, but I would recommend you experience an entire meal, since it is all very tasty.

The dining experience was made even more pleasant when the chef took time to greet each customer and make sure everyone was happy and satisfied.  I love that personal touch, and it’s a smart way for him to get instant feedback.

The Bent Fork’s unique menu is an interesting mix of Chef Jayson’s favorite foods, so you will notice Southwestern food as well as Italian flavors.  The appetizers offer a good selection from fresh-baked chips and salsa, to sliders and the flavorful chile calamari (very popular: breaded calamari with chipotle aioli sauce and fresh tomato).  There is a good choice of salads and homemade dressings.   The soup menu will be so welcome when the cooler weather comes around. The seafood chowder and chicken tortilla soups are served each day, and there is also a soup du jour. There is a good selection of sandwiches if you come in for lunch, the most popular being the Bent Fork Club sandwich with grilled chicken, avocado, chipotle mayo, bacon and oven-roasted tomatoes on foccacia bread. Sandwiches are served with seasoned fries or house salad. 

On the Signature Entree and Pasta menu, there is nice variety: I came back to the restaurant and tried the green chile lasagna, with smoked chicken, house-made pasta, Italian cheese and green chile sauce.  This dish is a winner, and one the favorites among guests. There are many other pasta dishes that are equally tasty.   For meat-lovers, the grilled New York steak, with roasted corn and avocado salsa, jalapeno and onion fritters and chile mashed potatoes; or the bacon chile-stuffed meatloaf.  Those preferring fish will enjoy the grilled king salmon served with seasonal vegetables.  Every item offered is prepared with care and gourmet-quality visual appeal and flavor.

The Bent Fork is willing to cater to vegetarians and vegans, too.  Just mention your preferences to the waitress, and the restaurant will customize a platter for you.

There are enough selections at this restaurant that diners will find something new on the menu each time they return to The Bent Fork.  And by the way, if you’re wondering how the restaurant got its name, ask the owner.  It’s a sweet story, thanks to Grandma.

BENT FORK

757 North Bluff Street, St. George

Phone   (435) 673-2755

Hours: Monday-Thursday 12:00 pm-9:00 pm; Friday & Saturday 12:00 pm-10:00 pm