Years ago, the thought of a $3,200 apartment in downtown Rahway was unthinkable.
But amid the city’s renaissance, new luxury apartment buildings have ushered in an influx of New York City commuters eager to utilize Rahway’s easy access to Manhattan while not paying Manhattan prices.
And now, a new, “modern and sexy” restaurant and bar has opened to serve the blossoming area, helping Rahway residents “feel like they’re in New York City,” said Fork eatery co-owner and Hillsborough resident Fisnik Syla.
New American restaurant and bar Fork opened Jan. 16 at 1519 Main St., the former home of Romero’s Tavern, which closed in the summer.
It serves modern fare prepared by Chef Dino Berisha, the former chef at Toca Vez, a Mexican-inspired steakhouse, in Basking Ridge as well as Bistro Seven Three in Bernardsville.
Berisha creates dishes ranging from sushi pizza and cacio de pepe bites to pastas and sirloin steak. Beer, wine and cocktails are also served, such as lychee martinis and white Cosmopolitans.
“We wanted to make Fork a place for someone who has $100 or someone who has $1 million,” said Syla, who co-owns Fork alongside his childhood friend and entrepreneur Everest Mulaj. “It’s a missing piece to the town.”
Inside Fork.
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Residents agree. Even when Fork had yet to hang its sign or post its phone number, it was packed every night.
The 70-seat, trendy space with a 16-seat green and gold bar features an exposed brick wall, iconic prints such as “Tournee du Chat Noir,” and black-and-white photographs of legendary figures chowing down on pasta.
“As the world is changing and dining is changing, people are looking for atmosphere in dining. We are keeping it 2025 and creating something new and different,” said Syla. “We have been to hundreds of restaurants, so we took a little from every restaurant we love to make it feel like home.”
But Syla has been to no restaurant quite as many times as longtime Italian standby Café Emilia in Bridgewater. He worked there since he was 13 years old before opening Fork, his first restaurant venture.
Fare at Fork.
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“I come from a fine dining atmosphere where service is key, and that’s what we’re emphasizing at Fork,” Syla said.
Mulaj lived in Rahway for a decade before he and Syla decided to open Fork.
“A lot of money is being invested into this town,” Syla said. “We have watched Rahway grow tremendously.”
Go: 1519 Main St., Rahway; 732-669-7752, forknj.com.
Jenna Intersimone.
Contact: [email protected]
Jenna Intersimone has been a staff member at the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey since 2014, although she’s a lifetime Jersey girl who considers herself an expert in everything from the Jersey Shore to the Garden State’s buzzing downtowns. To get unlimited access to her stories about food, drink and fun, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. You can also follow her on Instagram at @seejennaeat and on Twitter at @JIntersimone.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Fork, upscale New American restaurant and bar, opens in Rahway
