On Genesee Street in Auburn, Spoon and Forks quietly serves some of the best sushi in the Finger Lakes — a claim that might sound like faint praise in a region better known for Riesling and fried fish, but the back-to-back FLX Finest Silver awards for Best Sushi suggest this kitchen is doing more than just filling a niche. The restaurant bills itself as Thai and Asian cuisine, and the menu spans a wide arc from pad Thai and curry to sashimi platters and specialty rolls, giving mixed tables plenty to work with.

The sushi rolls are carefully constructed with fresh fish and clean presentation that stands out in a part of New York where sushi options are limited. The broader pan-Asian menu covers noodle dishes, rice plates, and stir-fries with enough range to satisfy both the adventurous eater and the person who just wants reliable chicken teriyaki. Online ordering is available for pickup, which is worth knowing since the dining room is modest in size. For Auburn residents and visitors passing through on the way to Owasco Lake or the Harriet Tubman sites, Spoon and Forks is a welcome departure from the usual pub-and-pizza circuit — a legitimately good Asian restaurant in a town that needed one.