To be blunt, that was an outstanding meal. My fiancee and I visited this evening and were completely blown away by the new restaurant, the presentation and the food...good lord, the food... The meal consisted of the bolognese for my fiancee, and I had the bronzino. We also shared the roasted vegetables, panisse, octopus and home fries. The bronzino was light and flavorful, expertly complemented by a salad of quinoa, pine nuts, and pomegranate. I was barely able to get any of the bolognese to try, my fiancee was guarding it so jealously. After distracting her with a tossed loaf of bread (excellent crust!) I was able to snake a forkful of possibly the best pasta and sauce in Detroit. It was that good. While the remainder of the meal was outstanding, the panisse stands alone as a wonderful, traditional yet surprising side. Just get it, you won't be sorry. For dessert we shared one of the icecreams that the sous chef had created for the evening: orange dreamcicle, which was creamy, light and a perfect dessert to end the night. read more

Exactly what you are looking for in this location and price point: simple, elegant menu; intelligent and attentive staff; clean, energetic atmosphere. Live like a birminghamster and dine fastidiously. The Forest staff will entertain your every desire. No matter what you get, order a side of black squid pasta to share. A+ cupcake ice cream. read more

Two stars for two reasons: 1. The Bartender 2. Sheer ambiance and intimacy. I had the braised lamb shank and it was juicy, succulent and fell off the bone. One problem, no flavor at all. I had Bollini wine to pair which was o.k.. I loved the upscale Birmingham elegance of the whole place. Perfect for couples, not a meet up spot. Its a hidden gem on the east side of Woodward away from the young and new Birmingham. I am an old head at heart and mind however, the crowd on a Thursday night; average age 55. Hence thee original Birmingham flair. I love the setting and how it is nestled in within the community but the food is---blah. Not worth Birmingham prices. read more

Went to The Forest Grill to celebrate a birthday. Before arriving, I peeked at Yelp! and was overwhelmed by the fantastic reviews. After reading through them and looking at the menu, I was excited to try everything. The ambiance, as previously stated, is simple, but upscale and classy. Service was great (though our server was a mumbler, so I could barely understand a word he said). The bathrooms are oddly located down a flight of stairs and through a dark hallway. As far as the food is concerned, had I ordered the bread pudding alone for my meal, I would have left well enough alone and signed off with a five star rating. About that later. Before I experienced that heavenly dish, I had corn chowder and the pasta of the day. Which is what brings me to the three stars. The corn chowder was quite bland and watery. Really, without several dashes of salt, I would have given up on it after the first sip. My entree was the pasta of the day: homemade ravioli filled with a chicken mixture and sauteed in a light white wine sauce. The chicken mixture tasted...odd...possibly because (I think) it contained liver and other indistinguishable herbs and spices ground into almost a paste. The sauce itself and the pasta was delicate and perfect, but the filling was just off-putting enough to be edible but not enjoyable. To say I was disappointed after reading all of those rave reviews is an understatement. And, if that was the end of my meal there, I might not care to ever return. But, Forest Grill redeemed itself once our waiter placed the bowl of bread pudding in front of us, with a dollop of Tahitian Vanilla Bean Gelato just melting in the middle. If you do anything while you are anywhere near this restaurant, you stop to try the bread pudding. I'm sure other entrees on the menu would have been more appealing to me, but even if I couldn't find a thing, I would still go back for the bread pudding. The bits of melting chocolate throughout the pudding put it over the top. I'm not exaggerating when I say that the bread pudding deserved more that five stars! read more

Forest Grill used to be one of our favorite restaurants, then they had a chef change and things seemed to slide for a while. However they have regained their mojo! My wife and I recently went and took another couple for a birthday dinner and it was one of the best meals any of us had ever had. For apps, the charcuterie plate is a must, as well we also ordered the roasted bone marrow and the farm egg app as well. All were outstanding, but the farm egg app is an absolute homerun. Main courses we ordered were the duck for 2, pork belly and short rib cannelloni. Everything was intensely flavorful. For dessert, all we could manage was to split the apple tart which was perfect. Overall a perfect culinary evening. read more

I went here for the first time on restaurant week and I loved it!! Very classy and I love the special egg dish they do its amazing.

I hadn't been here since Polcyn left, and was apprehensive, but fortunately not disappointed. Chef Janus came through, and the Branzino on Wheatberry with Pine nuts and Pomegranate seeds was nothing short of excellent! Wife had the Filet, which was good but not special which cost the 5th Stars! read more

I had dinner here with my wife and another couple. The food was fantastic! Make sure to call and make a reservation prior, as they do get busy. I had the gnocchi and a side salad. My wife had a chicken dish. We both thought the dishes we had were really good. We had a white wine with our meals and the bottle was great! They also allowed us to take the bottle home and packaged it very nicely for us. I thought that was really cool. The service is amazing, cannot beat it. It's a bit expensive, so this is a once in a while type of dinner. read more

Yes. Everything was good. Way over priced. But honestly, it was really good. Great service and good atmosphere. Good for every occasion.

This place is amazing!! I went there with a friend on a Saturday night. It was busy- I would suggest making a reservation well in advance. I cannot stop thinking about my halibut. I don't know what they did to it, but it was incredible. Our house-made charcuterie was also so delicious. It was a perfect starter for our meal, and they really know what they are doing with the meat. My friend had the duck, which was also amazing. We are not usually dessert people, but we had the Lemon Meringue Creme Brulee- It was to die for. I am a huge fan of lemon meringue pie, and I think I liked this version better than the pie. I will have to go have it again to make sure... My Martinis were perfectly mixed, and the service was impeccable. I simply cannot say enough good things about our meal. I am looking forward to returning to The Forest Grill, it is a wonderful experience. read more

We went here for Valentine's Day and had an amazing meal. They had a Valentine's Day tasting menu and here's what we ate: Charcuterie and Parsnip Pear Veloute for the first course; this was the most delicious charcuterie plates I have ever had. Duck ham with this corn relish, so good. Scallops and Farm Egg for the second course; both were really good. Braised short rib Pappardelle and Seared Beef; not the best course of the meal, but still good. Chocolate tart and Pain Perdu for dessert; both pretty good. Excellent wine pairings as well. I would love to go back and just sit at the bar and eat charcuterie and drink wine. read more

Service was amazing, my water was constantly full, and our server, (i forgot her name but it started with a K) was so helpful and friendly. I got one of the half size pastas, and though it was only half size, it filled me up more than i expected. their house fries and house-made ketchup was nice and seasoned as well. Though i wouldn't come here everyday, it is a nice date spot in Birmingham! the atmosphere was very clean and professional read more

French onion soup excellent. Vegetarian Gnocchi excellent. read more

Forest - French onion soup - New American Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

See all

Did the tasting menu and thought it was phenomenal! Really enjoyed my experience here! They brand themselves very well and sent us home with granola for breakfast the following morning - I loved the touch! read more

Easily the best place in greater Detroit. Food, waitstaff, bar, space, everything. Take my money... Just keep the charcuterie coming! read more

We returned to The Forest Grill on April 16th, and I have to tell you to the food still does not disappoint. We started off with a charcuterie plate, and it was wonderful, especially the duck terrine. The second round, we ate the foie gras, as I have never tried it before. it was amazing, smooth and buttery. Our main course consisted of the Halibut with kalamata, salsify, and orange and the NY strip in ham consomme, with charred carrots and onions. If I had a straw I would have sucked the bowl of consomme dry. The steak was tender, and the charred veggies were the perfect accompaniment. I didn't get to try the halibut, because my co-diner ate it like it was her last meal. We finished with the apple tart for 2, which was the perfect end to another perfect Forest Grill meal can't wait to return read more

See all

LOOKS ARE DECEIVING! Came in with a table for 5 at 8 pm. Reservation was confirmed but they made us wait about 35 minutes. The 2 stars is coming from the beautiful redesigned look but what is the point if the food is far from what it could potentially be. After finally being seated, the menu that seamed to look beautifully organized had many options to be picked but everything we had was very un-seasoned and disappointing. read more

Incredible food and service. Order the duck.

Forest has a very varied menu which is what attracted me to the place. Unfortunately their ability to deliver on that variety is lacking. Had the Squid dye pasta as an appetizer. It was flavorless except for excessive salt. Inedible but the worst part was it sat on the table uneaten until after the entries were consumed without a comment from the waitress. I had the lamb shank which lacked any flavor of lamb. It was coated excessively in a glaze which would have overpowered garlic. A very disappointing experience all around. If you are trying to compare the good reviews on here with mine remember the place is pretentious and people want to like it. Unfortunately if you are objective you will be disappointed. read more

As a Five Lakes Grill fan, hoped for a really fine dining experience. Perhaps it was an off night, and perhaps it was the annoying waiter, but the overall experience was just OK. Given the number of fine meals at Five Lakes Grill, I was initially inclined to think it was an off night, until the tough steak arrived. When the waiter inquired how everything was, and I told him the uneaten steak was tough, his comment was that is how rib eye steaks are, with "grizzle and marbling." Marbling makes the steak tough? Gee, I always thought marbling was desirable and gave steaks their great flavor. Grizzle in a first class restaurant steak? Who knew. To be fair the rest of the table enjoyed their meal as adequate, but it was certainly not the best meal in Detroit. Don't mind the price structure if the quality of the food and the overall experience is enjoyable, but Forest Grill did not meet the expectations. read more

Not bad. Terrific charcuterie offerings. My steak was fine, but nothing to high-five the staff about. My waiter, however, was kind of a nitwit, calling dishes the wrong name, coming out with the wrong silverware. I guess he put in my order okay. Had a nice custard trio for dessert. Good cocktails. read more

OK Brad G and the rest of you, I concur! The Farm Egg is about the best damn foodie invention ever created!! The only thing to rival this simple dish of perfection is Lindsay, our favorite staffer! When she sees us at her table she automatically brings us 2 Farm Eggs, a Forest for me (best drink ever) and an Old Fashioned for my sweetie! My husband and I are hard to please, we are passionate about healthy eating but refuse to give up on taste! We have never been disappointed by a single dish that we have ordered and the chef has always happily accommodated any slight dietary requests. Forest grill just makes me happy! read more

Great service but the food really leaves much to be desired. The ingredients were fresh and top notch but there wasn't a dish that left me hankering for more. We had the farm egg, cauliflower ravioli, and curried black rice and octopus for apps, followed by pasta bolognese and pan fried bronzino for entrees, and a rhubarb deconstruction and Pavlova for dessert. The bill was about $80pp with drinks, comparable to Mabel Gray, go there instead. read more

We had been there once before - fancy expensive place - back for a bday dinner for wife.....service was good but food was really lacking....she got Branzino, was a scrawny not very tasty piece; I got the Duck Breast which was not hot, chewy and unsatisfying; my son got the gnocchi which he liked.....very disappointing compared to last time and compared to the expedition of a $50pp meal with only one person having only one drink... read more

First visit here but it won't be our last! Service was attentive and food was outstanding with only one misstep. Grilled pineapple and habanero margarita was delicious! We shared plates- the farm egg and bronzino were my favorites. Shaved Brussels sprouts salad was very good. Fettuccini bolognese was luscious. Duck confit was everyone else's favorite- the apricot and cherry accompaniment was memorable. Everyone agreed the black rice was very salty. I also felt there was a heavy hand with the sesame oil. Pavlov's was a perfect ending. Great wine and spirit selection as well! read more

This looks like an after work place or a place to bring a client to impress them. I thought the food was unique and enjoyed the experience. Unfortunately the prices are high for what you get. It is definitely not a place to take kids. Save this for a date night or a business meeting. read more

I wanted a steak dinner, but in the neighborhood. We noticed a table and walked in to a comfortable room. I have been here before a long time ago. It seemed more at ease but still intimate. The two of us found it romantic but not high brow. The food was good. The risotto was salty and I would not have it again. The server was friendly and helped make the evening. The clams in pasta was enjoyed and we also had the short ribs (no bones) wrapped in pasta which was a pleasure. Desert was the oil cake. It was a nice change and very tasty the next day from the refrigerator. It was a romantic evening dinner, which was not the intent. read more

I thought this restaurant was GREAT!!! But can't quite give it 5 stars. First of all, I love the space. Wide open with windows all around the room. Also really like the way they open to the patio. We had a group with a vegetarian and some other picky eaters, everyone loved their food. Started with appetizers that we all shared, normally that means for this meat eater getting stuck eating a portion of a bland veggie dish. Not here, everything was sooo tasty. We had the black rice(yumm!!), brussel sprouts, duck egg, a pasta entree that we all shared. Even the asparagus was good. I had the branzino which came with a side dish. The branzino was good, but whatever the side was was delicious!!! Staff was nice, but our waiter left us without water refills for a long time while he fawned over another table. That did bother me as I didn't was thirsty from a hot summer day and it did impact my appreciation of the fine meal. Oh well. read more

Amazing food and great atmosphere !!! Love the branzini and the pastas. Servers are really knowledgeable and friendly. In the summer they open the outside and it's just lovely!!!! And their desserts are really special. read more

First time dining here for a wedding anniversary. Service was excellent right off the bat. Ambiance was nice and dimly lit, well decorated interior. Really great wine and spirits list, as well as an excellent by the glass list. They had taittinger by the glass which I find hard to come by and savored it through my meal. I had the 5 course tasting menu and hubby ordered a la carte. Overall, the food was on point. Great presentation, execution and balance in almost every dish. If i'm to be very critical, there were a couple things that weren't a 10 but they more than made up for it with service. Highly recommend the farm egg app, really delicious. The octopus dish in my 5 courses was the star-- seared crispy on the outside but succulent and soft on the inside and the accoutrements in the dish was perfect. Everything that should have been crispy (black rice, aged duck breast skin) was impressive. Highly recommend and will absolutely be back. read more

Most convenient Dispensary in South OC, Felicia was super helpful and friendly, as well as other budtenders i've had in the past. Definitely will come again. read more

The Forest Grill is one of the top 3 reasons as to why I would want to live in the Troy/Birmingham area. (The other two being Cupcake Station and Somerset, obviously.) TFG exudes a sense of classiness that even some fine dining establishments lack. From the neighborhood to the staff to the food, there are many reasons as to why this place was named Detroit's 2010 Best Restaurant of the Year. The tomato bisque itself warrants that title, if you ask me. Or possibly the lip-smackingly, incredible bread pudding. The prix fixe lunch and dinner menus were designed for those who are new to the dexterity of the two brains behind the kitchen -- Polcyn and Gilbert. While they are amazing deals, I'd strongly suggest giving other items from the menus a try. The foie gras, veal tongue, and sweetbreads aren't exactly for the faint of heart, but one can honestly not go wrong with the gnocchi, halibut, or veal cheeks. For an innovative spin on classic dishes of quality in a pleasant atmosphere, I cannot praise the overall dining experience enough! Now, if only TFG will start serving brunch. read more

The short rib was absolutely delicious. We also ordered the bronzino. But, we weren't fans. The level of char and smoke truly overpowered the fish. We didn't even finish it. But, again, the short rib was phenomenal. read more

My initial reaction of my meal was A+, but after thinking a bit more about my experience, I wasn't set on five stars. Went with my friend who came in from out of town for Birmingham Restaurant Week - not much to risk, money-wise, when the menu is a $25 set price. Our meals were ordered identical (Baby Heirloom Beet Salad, Lake Superior Whitefish and Bread Pudding) and came out identical (Baby Heirloom Beet Salad, Lake Superior Whitefish and Chocolate Pot De Creme). We didn't challenge our desert mix-up because our waiter disappeared. The food was good - portion size like any other higher end restaurant - and I appreciate knowing the menu completely adjusts with the seasons. The wait staff was attentive and polite, but for some reason we were sat in the way back of the restaurant near a cold emergency exit door when there were plenty of tables elsewhere. Glad I kept my coat. Heard the place already hosts its own fixe menu, so I might try again when the occasion is right. read more

Enjoyed a sampling of their desserts. Didn't have the opportunity to eat their food, but the ambiance is great and the dessert and coffee are on point. read more

Before I get carried away with praise, I have to admit that context is important. I visited this restaurant with a long-time regular who knew the entire waitstaff and the chef. So, I may have had a unique experience. That said, my experience was fantastic. We started the evening with the bartender's special--the gimlet. This was a true gimlet made with freshly squeezed lime juice, none of the Rose's stuff. It was a perfect pre-dinner drink. Next, we had the seafood platter appetizer. It was a conglomeration of the freshest catches of the day including lobster, mussels, clam, crab, king shrimp, and oysters. Great presentations, and phenomenal finish. Moving to the salad. I had the Yellow fin ahi tuna salad. This was a solid ahi tuna salad, but I have certainly had better. It was a quality presentation, but it lacked any distinctive flavor. My entree was a specially prepared cedar-planked salmon with capers. The fish was infused with a great cedar taste, and the capers really livened up the dish. But the coup de gras was definitely dessert. I had the Boston Creme Pie Donuts--the signature dish. Un-be-lieavable. One of the best desserts of my life. Dark chocolate smothering a freshly fried doughnut filled with fresh boston creme goodness. It was childhood revisited. Pair it with a nice cognac, and you will rival any dessert. I also had a bite of the bread pudding, which was excellent. But if you have anything on the menu, it must be the donuts. Kudos to Kevin for being such a good waiter! read more

Big fan of Brian Polcyn and really excited that I do not need to drive all the way to Milford to taste his cooking. Love the atmosphere, menu and service was excellent. I will definitely be back. Recommend the tomato bisque and bread pudding. read more

The good: Unique food choices (like duck, octopus, real truffle and Wagyu beef), and nice location. The bad: Valet is overpriced and just silly. Paid valet fee with a ten and the dude simply kept the change. Also, he left our car about 20 yards down the street and our party had to awkwardly walk to it. Should have parked on the street as there was absolutely no added value. The restroom is located outside of the restaurant and (at least the men's) fits one person. Yes, an extremely small restroom for the entire restaurant...Similar to the restrooms, the portions are ungodly small. It's truly a disappointment how small they are and how expensive each dish is. My duck was delivered cold. Like room temperature cold. I had to waive down our server and get it fixed. She was polite, but a different server literally plopped my plate down (reheated) and rudely shouted "hot plate" and walked away. No apology, no waiting to see if I was satisfied, nothing. It was embarrassing. Also, considering the small portions and the delicate nature of duck, it was unacceptable that my plate was not tossed and remade. After all, the room temperature bite I initially took was an eighth of my portion. However, the duck ended up being pretty delicious and had a very unique flavor profile. It's a shame that the experience was mired by the amateur service/chef decisions. I wonder how enjoyable it would be if it was not slightly over cooked due to the reheat. The tables are literally on top of each other, it was extremely difficult to walk by without crowding over some other person's dinner experience. The capacity should be decreased by 20 percent. Management also requires a credit card for a larger party...I understand the need I guess, but it's just kind of another awkward hoop to jump through to have dinner. read more

Ate here in the beginning of this month and was outstanding. Probably the best place in MI I have been too since moving here. Atmosphere and service was great. Highly recommend eating the green eggs and ham risotto. The veal cheeks were amazing. Never ate veal so tender that I only needed a fork to cut it. The bread pudding was the best I ever had. Prior to this experience I always had so so bread pudding, but this gave me new life to this. Would definitely dine here again on a special occasion. read more

Mediocre and overpriced food. Here are some examples/reasons I would not recommend this restaurant: - The vegetarian entree was so small that it confused my 90 year-old grandmother who kept referring to it as an appetizer - vegetarians are better off getting a bunch of sides - The beet salad was a salad with some beets in it - The pizza was mediocre (you are better off going to Buddy's or Anita's Kitchen) - I asked for a side of pesto & the chef said there was not enough pesto to give me a side for my food - The menu online differed from the menu in the restaurant - Make sure you order a ton of things - portion sizes are extremely small The only thing that was good about this restaurant was the service and the presentation of the food (though most of the food lacked significant taste). Unless this restaurant changes to its menu, portion size and/or prices, it won't probably be around in a year or two. They need to take some tips from their sister restaurant, Town Tavern. If you are thinking about eating here, just go to Town Tavern. read more