Tucked into the end of a strip mall on Brightside Drive, Fork N Spoon could easily be one of those blink-and-miss-it spots. But, at midday on a Friday in August, the breakfast and lunch joint is bustling.
The first hint that the eatery is busy is a sign on the door warning that the restaurant is already sold out of grits, gravy and steak. Another reads that it is closing at 1 p.m. to restock. Inside, almost every table is occupied with patrons feasting on breakfast or lunch comfort food.
Between the packed dining room, steamy aromas coming from the kitchen and the scorching August weather outside, the air is a little warm in the restaurant today. Despite this, customers stay and chat well after polishing off their meals. There are minimal crumbs left on plates.
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After about four years of operating the business—and a viral visit this summer from TikTokker Keith Lee—Fork N Spoon owner and chef Kristen Abshire has won the hearts and stomachs of her patrons. And though she says her breakfast bowls are top sellers, the packed handhelds like the Classic Melt, French Toast Melt and Maple Melt are a close second.
“The French Toast Melt is our second-best seller out of everything,” she says. “It’s something I ate in my childhood that my parents would fix us all the time, so I just carried it over to the menu.”
It’s the kind of sandwich to eat with a fork and knife, with fluffy eggs, melted cheese and a hearty protein sandwiched between sugary French toast slices and sides of sticky syrup and fresh berry compote. Abshire says plenty of patrons order breakfast sandwiches for a convenient on-the-go meal for their morning commute—but with this one, things can get deliciously messy.
At Fork N Spoon, playing with your order is encouraged. Yes, all of its breakfast sandwiches—and most of the menu—can be customized. Abshire dresses up her Classic Melt by adding spinach, avocado and garlic aioli and encourages customers to take the Maple Melt to the next level with maple cream. But, she insists one component is key for all breakfast sammies.
“The melt,” she says. “That cheesy, melty goodness. Everybody loves cheese. That’s why a lot of our breakfast sandwiches actually have ‘melt’ in the name, because they’re very cheese focused.”
Before ordering, customers can consult a chalkboard with 20 handwritten pro tips that hangs at the counter. Whether you want to stuff your Classic Melt with toppings or add an egg to a lunch sandwich, there are few limits.
Guess you can have it your way over at Fork N Spoon.
Power breakfast
Start your day with handhelds from these local spots
Simple Joe Cafe
3057 Government St.
Get eggs, cheese and your choice of protein on a biscuit, bagel or croissant. Or go big with the Big Joe Sandwich’s double eggs and meat.
Rouge Rabbit
8550 United Plaza Blvd., 103B
Hop on over for fluffy, scrambled eggs, American cheese and your choice of meat piled onto thick-cut toast or an English muffin.
New York Bagel
Multiple locations
Get a taste of the Big Apple via packed and schmeared bagel sammies.
La Divina Italian Cafe
3535 Perkins Road, Suite 360
In true Italian fashion, this cafe has a freshly pressed panini, the Frittata on Ciabatta, on its morning menu.
Beignet Baton Rouge
Two locations
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Try a Bacon, Egg and Cheese Croissant or Breakfast Panini, or get the best of both worlds with Beignet Sliders, handhelds with sausage, egg and cheese on warm beignet buns.
This article was originally published in the October 2024 issue of 225 Magazine.