My family and I absolutely love this restaurant! Benjamin's has never disappointed us with their always perfectly cooked steaks and delicious sea food. Their menu has great "lighter fair" options which makes this place good for lunch or a cheap date night. On summer weekends this place is the go to for birthdays or celebrations! They usually have live music and a large grassy outdoor area for the kids to play. Along with their nice patio seating they also have a small bar area indoors that serves unique cocktails. The service at Benjamin's has always been exceptional, in fact, my family has started to develop a relationship with one of the lead servers. Great restaurant, always consistently good. read more

Lynchburg, the Forest area, is not a big bustling city with lots of options and diversity. Finding a place you want to go back to, where the food is done well and you are getting a good value can be hard to find for us foodie types. Benjamin's ticks all of our pick-ish boxes. The food is delicious, the servers are friendly, it seems well managed, they have live music, and they have specials. Their specials are special. Whoever is running the kitchen (the guy with the beard, and that other guy with the beard, and that guy who looks a bit like a steak ninja)really know what they are doing. They come up with a diverse and eclectic menu weekly, and they do so well with it that we rarely order off of the main menu anymore. Actually, if I were to shave points off, it would be on their main menu, mainly because its comparable to a regular surf and turf place. When you go(when, not if, because you should not miss out), order off the board posted as you walk in. You won't be disappointed. The lunch manager does a great job, so you dont have to wait for dinner, and they have a weekend brunch, so try that too! read more

totally top notch!! I brought my girlfriend back to visit my old hometown &, fortunately, a friend who still lives there thought to recommend benjamin's... the food & the service were as good as anyone could hope for. bravo, team!! read more

Love Benjamins. Nothing better than a burger out on the deck in the summer with live music. Great location and atmosphere and food is spot on! read more

Ordered a salad to go for lunch. Grilled Steak Salad $12.00 arugula, baby spinach, blue cheese, bacon, dried cranberries, tomato, cucumber. I subbed smoked turkey for the steak, which turned out to be only turkey lunch meat. There was no arugula, one of the cucumber slices was rotted, barely any bacon or cranberries, and no blue cheese, only a creamed salad dressing. Save money and get a much better salad from the Sheetz convenience store up the street. read more

Blacken fish tacos are the best, had to order an extra three. Friendly atmosphere. Really the best place to grab a beer with a friend, take a girl out or the family. I really enjoyed the hospitality, definitely coming back. read more

Benjamin's - Fish tacos blacken - Seafood Near Me - Forest, Virginia

My parents came into town to visit us yesterday and with it being Mothers Day my husband suggested a nice meal out and to take them here. I looked on their website and here on Yelp, both places said they open at 5 on Saturday and do not take reservations. So we got there at about 430 and the parking lot was already half full. We watched another lady walk inside so we decided to check it out to see if it was already open. When we got inside there were quite a bit of people already seated and the host kind of ignored us for a few minutes which wasn't horrible. We could also see that there were quite a few tables still open. So when the host finally came to talk with us he said he wouldn't be able to seat us because it would "overwhelm the kitchen". His attitude was less than cordial. We were a small party of 5. He said it would be a wait and when we asked how long he said 1 hour. My mom asked "are you actually open because your websites says you don't open until 5?" And he said well we opened early because of Mother's Day and graduation. It seems to me that if you're going to open early and you know it's going to be a busy weekend you would have extra staff on hand just for that. So, we left and ate somewhere else. It's quite disappointing because I've been looking forward to eating here for a while. But I doubt I'll ever go back with the reception we received. I'll also encourage my husband and his friends to eat elsewhere. read more

Had never been until a few weeks ago. Have been three times since - it's that good! I have yet to order from the menu, as the specials have been so tempting each time I've visited Benjamin's. Great apps, great entrees, good beer selection, and the most delicious desserts in the area! Service staff is excellent - friendly, knowledgable, and patient. I plan to be a regular patron! read more

I ate at Benjamin's tonight - the special pasta with shrimp - and it was AMAZING!!!! My server, Luke, recognized me as usual and was nothing but lovely as is always my experience with staff at this fantastic restaurant. They are always eager to tell us where our food is coming from and it's usually locally sourced. Benjamin's is the BEST. read more

My wife and I picked up our anniversary dinner from Benjamin's last night and the food was outstanding! The fried calamari appetizer was some of the best fried calamari I have had. My wife enjoyed the seafood trio and I had the hoof and claw. Everything was just so delicious. We highly recommend it! read more

After 15 minutes of waiting (with other couples seated after us already on appetizers), our waiter finally showed up to take our drink order, with a huge ball of dip in his mouth GROSS! I ordered a rare steak it came out medium well, I sent it back for them to try again, it came back medium rare. My daughters chicken fingers came out burnt and greasy, waiter still put it on the table right in front of her. I asked him to take a look at the chicken his response was "oh yea those are burnt..." Needless to say our family will NOT be back. If I could have left negative stars, it would be -3. read more

This is one of my favorite date night restaurants to go to, the staff is always friendly and the atmosphere is perfect with indoor and outdoor seating, and good music. The food is always good and they often have daily specials, things that they wouldn't normally have. I have had some poor seafood around this area, but this place really knows how to get it done right! read more

Was one of 3 options the hotel front desk recommended. Chose this one because the website said they had crab legs. Drove a little way out of Lynchburg proper to find a low key location with a gravel lot. Walked in to fun, eclectic atmosphere and seated, pretty much, right away. Waitstaff pleasant, dining area clean, and seating nicely spaced. Sadly no crab legs on the menu, huge disappointment! We ordered the nacho app. Which came out huge, but good. Salads followed, I am pretty salad picky, this one was ok. My surf and turf mac and cheese arrived turfless. Waitress was happy to help and arrived a lite while later with a dish of the missing ingredient. The dish was hood before, adding the beef elevated it to next level good. Could not finish the large portion. Only negative was the bread was over buttered and soggy. Hubs enjoyed his ribeye, cooked as ordered with garlic butter and 2 ample sides. Over all an enjoyable meal and experience. Would recommend for a relaxing night out. read more

Horrible as usual for us. We keep giving a try but are always disappointed. If they don't know you, they look right past you. Thought since we had to be in neighborhood we would give local restaurant a try again, especially now. Ordered. Given time to pick-up. Notified it was ready. Strangely had to go inside to pay even though they said they were doing curb side service. Went in to pay. Nobody up front or visible. Then another customer comes in. Someone comes out & speaks to that customer & they pay. Next customer comes in & they call them by name & they take their payment. That was it for me. I left. They can eat their own food. Loss of money & business forever. read more

FIrst time eating here, I would certainly give it a second go, no question. When you walk in, it's very casual, they have a bar and a rather small seating area indoors. There is al fresco dining available, applicable weather pending. They feature local bands and music acts here as well, and as it got later, the bar patrons turned out and the place sort of turned into something reminiscent of a honky tonk. There was live music outside that people could enjoy for a cover charge (Incidentally, we only came for dinner and stayed inside, thus, did not have to pay said fee). As I stated in my quick tip, the cornbread muffins and biscuits are gonna haunt my dreams, so scrummy! I don't know if they're homemade (I repeatedly forgot to ask), but to me, I could have a meal on them alone. Their menu consists of many beef and seafood items (steaks, crab legs, fish specials, sandwiches, burgers etc.). I also noticed a few chicken items as well. I had the Brie & Crab Soup and the Crab Cake Po Boy, both were okay, I liked my sister's Fish and Chips better. Someone else had the Classic Chicken Quesadilla and another had the Crab Cakes. For dessert, I had the Banana Pudding, it was a satisfactory and sweet conclusion. It was good fare, nothing exceptional, but it was filling. I've read others' reviews about the service, and I can see where there are a few examples of bad service here, however, our waitress was very nice and capable. It got slow at times, but we were in no hurry, so I have no gripes about that at the present time. I would certainly go back and give it another go, if not to try their crab legs or one of their pasta dishes. As a pescetarian, plenty of choices abound. I will say, if you're not looking for the bar/pub atmosphere, this might be a place you would like to avoid after 9. It starts to get jumpin' around that point, but if you're looking for some good grub, some tunes and the laid back crowd, you've found yourself a nook! read more

We used to love Benjamin's and made a special trip out to Forest to eat here. The last time we ate here, a weekend night, it was empty- not what we expected. Music was good but loud now that the deck is closed in. We food was pricey but we expected to get what we paid for and we did not ($100 for two people). Tonight we came back with another couple and we all agreed that the quality is not the same. My fries and wayngu burger were cold and others said there food tasted "average". With all the new competition downtown and in the area, I expected Benjamin's to step up there game. Sadly, it's just average. We won't be back until things change. read more

Worst meal I have had in quite a wile! How hard is it to cook a beef filet? I do it all the time, perfectly I might add. Sangria was watered down, calamari was like rubber, steak was raw and cold. The only thing I enjoyed was the service. Our server was attentive, very pleasant and, unfortunately, extremely apologetic for the complete incompetence of the kitchen. How the hell are you gonna give a patron a $10 discount for an inedible meal and stick them with a $110 tab? You should be ashamed Benjamin's! I'll NEVER spend a nickel in your restaurant. As if you give a damn. This is not the first time I've left your establishment feeling robbed but it is definitely the last!! The management didn't give a damn!! read more

Surprised at lower star reviews! I have been eating at Benjamin's for years, and I've never had bad service or a bad meal. Great deck & live music on weekends. I love the spinach salad in particular and enjoy the steaks, coconut shrimp, and cajun pastas. This is a also great place to have lunch--they never rush you out when you linger with friends. Prices aren't low but seem fair. Casual dining atmosphere. read more

Wow. That was unexpected. Order the cow and claws! Steak was wonderful , crab was awesome. The inside was tight but really a great atmosphere! Loved everything about this place! Definitely will come back in the near future! read more

Nice small cozy atmosphere all fresh food farm to table, great staff and excellent specials priced fair. Go here if nearby read more

Ate at Benjamin's last night. The Crab cakes were great, as was the Seafood Mac and Cheese. The spinach salad was excellent as well, with just the right amount of blue cheese. Service was very nice as well. read more

Excellent steaks and crab cakes. Top-notch atmosphere; rustic (few frills) but extremely comfortable. Staff make for an enjoyable evening, always ready to make your stay the best it can be (and they even laugh at my lame jokes). No A-1 served or needed - steaks have a delectable seasoning that makes them almost melt in your mouth. #1 in my book. read more

Food is great with nice chef specials. Tables are too small and most nights service is a joke. If they had any consistent ok service I'd give a 4 star. read more

Easily my favorite place to eat. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, with the inside being more of a pub/tavern style and the outdoor deck having a relaxing, fun feel. They always have great music, and the food is the best around. They not only strive for high quality meals, but they also know how to feed you. Their steaks are ridiculously delicious. I highly recommend Benjamin's to anyone and everyone. read more

Horrible service!!! Manager doesn't care how their employees treat the guest. Waited too long for food. Server was absolutely disrespectful due to them knowing they will get a tip regardless of how the service was. Manger didn't care at all when it was brought to their attention. It's too bad especially since the other reviews were pretty good, but it also makes me wonder how many are truly accurate. I feel going out to eat should be a treat, this was more of a horrible experience! Save your self some time and have a good time somewhere else. read more

Over-cooked shrimp ...old bread ...dirty coffee mug ..the smell of cow poop as I ate my brunch. To top it off ..they served me what tasted like a 2 week old dessert ..freezer burnt & disgusting, then refused to take it off my bill!! Never Again!! If you're considering this place..rethink! The T-Room has better food & service than this disappointment. read more

My husband and I decided to try out the place on a Sat. evening. We arrived about 4 or 5 pm and were seated inside right away. Our service was poor with our drinks empty during the meal and the food was mediocre. I ordered a burger that cost a lot more (Kobe type beef) and wasn't as good as the Brauburgers place across the street. Not sure what the draw is for this place. Their sign frequently states they have live music and I did see where there is a deck in the back. read more

When their busy, service can be a little inconsistent, but they have a really great, simple menu that focuses on the quality of the ingredients. Tip: Get the hangover hash for brunch! read more

Excellent place to have great food and fellowship. Went with a party of 7 and sat on the deck. Seafood was fresh and delicious. Solid menu options. read more

After 3 years back to this restaurant and at a reasonable price I got really good cheeseburger and fish&chips. Recommended!

Worst excuse for fish and chips I have ever seen. Comes out looking like a bad over-sized country fair corn dog. Who has round fish?? The batter to actual fish ratio was about 4:1.0. Took it home and the birds seem to enjoy it. read more

The food, service, and atmosphere are all fantastic! The specials are plentiful and constantly change, so there is always something great and new to try for regular customers. I really enjoy their filet, chicken Chesapeake, and salmon from their menu as well. Definitely one of my absolute favorite spots! read more

Live music is always nice...have seen some interesting bands here. Good variety of craft beers. Food is always delicious. It's great that we have this gem in our little community. read more

The service here is a joke, ive had kids serve me playdoh spaghetti and be professional. By far my worst resturant experience!

The absolute BEST Angus cheese burger that I have ever had in the 12 years I have lived in Lynchburg!! Cooked perfectly-char just right-so tender it is hard to find the words! Being a very picky person who rarely eats a burger out because he makes is own-all I have to say is my hat is off to you ! Awesome ! Thank you for blowing my mind and taste buds! read more

Had dinner for a special occasion with family and we really enjoy coming to Benjamin's!! The food is great and the staff are very friendly, providing a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Shane is our favorite, we always request him, he is such a treat and always remembers what we like. Ask for him, he's the best!! The specials are very nicely executed and I look forward to dinning at Benjamin's time and time again!! read more

I have finally found the place where they make the most tender juicy steak, tasty crab cakes and scallops!!!! The the mixed berry cheesecake dessert exploded in my mouth with every bite. You have got to try this place. Service was top notch!!! read more

The food and service are great, and prices are fair for the dishes they offer. Seating and service keeps me from rating this higher.

Benjamin's is one of my favorite restaurants in the area. So far I have never had a meal there that was less than stellar. All dishes have tasted great and delivered to the table at the right serving temperature. I really like that they feature local or Virginia producers, such as the farmstead cheese tray appetizer I had on my last visit. Unfortunately I do have to agree that sometimes the service is less than stellar - I think they are trying to work with too few people. However the food and the atmosphere have made up for any lacking in the service I've experienced so far. read more

I have been here many times and it is a great place for any special occasion. It's in a very good location with very good food. Though the service is bad at times, usually the waiters are friendly and welcoming. read more