The Twisted Fork does breakfast and lunch daily, but it is only open for dinner on weekend nights. At first, it looks more like a diner than a place for fine dining because it’s tucked away in a small Leicester strip mall. When you are inside, it feels more like a local eatery than a gourmet restaurant.
Chef Jay and his wife Nancy certainly add to that feeling with their outgoing and quirky personalities. And, once you eat the food, there is no denying that the Twisted Fork is indeed serving upscale food with advanced technique and love behind it.
I started dinner with a lovely little Caesar Salad served in a Parmesan bowl. The bowls are made fresh for each salad and hold just enough salad to be a good-sized appetizer without filling you up. This dish can’t be shared but it’s plenty big enough for one. The homemade dressing was creamy without being too thick while the parmesan bowl was absolutely delicious.
For my entree, I had the Seared Sea Scallops over a parsnip puree with blood orange oil and Brussel sprouts. The scallops were cooked to perfection–tender and very flavorful. The slightly earthy parsnip puree grounded the scallops nicely and the blood orange oil provided a brightness to the dish with its slightly sweet and tart flavors. The scallop’s serving size was a little on the small side though. If I hadn’t had the salad as an appetizer, it might not have been enough food for me. Overall, the dish was delightful.
Our server for night night was Chef Jay’s wife, Nancy. She was not only knowledgeable of the menu and wine list, but her fun, outgoing personality was the perfect addition to our group. She genuinely seemed like she enjoyed spending time with us. She was around often enough to refill beverages and bread as well as joke with us.
This scratch kitchen (meaning nothing is pre-made, everything is made from scratch) made every dish to order. As a result, the dining experience is slower than most places but it was worth the wait. If you’re looking for a relaxed meal with a truly engaging chef and staff that is both reasonably priced and delicious, this place is for you. The Twisted Fork will be in our rotation for a while!