Forest was incredible. Not the biggest portions, which might complicate sharing for a large party (we had 10 people), but the quality was unparalleled. Our server was Vincent and he was delightful -- he recommended items for us to share and had the perfect energy for our group. Highlights: the Brussels sprouts appetizer, the black rice appetizer, the little gem lettuce appetizer, the special truffle pasta (still drooling), and the bronzino entree. read more

There are a few things that had me sold on Forest. The Farm Egg is... I don't know, maybe a top-five egg in my life. You have to get it when you go even if you don't like eggs (wait, what?). All of the food is excellent, but the dessert actually stood out and I'm a dessert enthusiast. The mini Baked Alaska was different enough to be different than most cakes I've ever had and the whipped topping fulfilled my marshmallow desires. Of course, the Cannelloni was as good as expected and the Trout was light and perfectly done. But that egg and the dessert... yeah. Everything else was great; the service, the nice, but not too nice atmosphere. Most of the kitchen is visible from the restaurant and that's a cool touch, though I was seated by the entrance. Great experience any way you look at it. read more

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First time here and I will definitely be coming back. Husband and I wanted to try something new for our anniversary and found the Forest. The staff were super nice, awesome and really helped "sell" the place. Perfect atmosphere as well. The food and drinks were incredible! Highly recommend. my only "complaint" is parking was a huge annoying thing but that's not something they can really control in that area. read more

Tucked away east of Woodward you'll find fine dining at its best. Ambiance? Looked good through the window but no admittance yet due to Lansing's edicts. Ordered short rib wrapped in canaloni, fantastic. Shredded brussel sprout salad was great. Steak frites always a fave was done medium rare as ordered and the " frites" even stayed crispy after the ride home. Can't wait to step inside when I can. Until then utilize their efficient take out and help our local businesses ride out the tough times. 5 stars for Forest? I wood say yes!! Go! read more

With ceiling to floor windows and outdoor dining during the summer, every seat is a good one at this Michigan gem. I was happy to revisit this restaurant on a recent week-end to help celebrate a friend's birthday. Perhaps I was influenced by the chalkboard that announced a Michael Ruhlman dinner (coinciding with his new cookbook launch), but the Farm Egg appeared to be a great choice and it was. The perfectly cooked egg was encased in a fried, shredded potato nest that when "cracked open" allowed egg yolk to stream into the sabayon. It was a pretty sight and a surprisingly light start to the meal. As entrée, I enjoyed short ribs encased in a paper-thin pasta sheet with a light and savory sauce. The mashed potatoes in a thin shell and oh-so-sweet baby onions were delicious. It was definitely a different approach to a classic braised short ribs dish. I could not pass up dessert even though the birthday girl chose a coffee over something sweet. The Opera Cake with its thin layer of chocolate ganache, enhanced with coffee, went well with the chopped pistachios. Service was very good. The restaurant staff responded to our questions and even offered up a sample of an ingredient to help expand our knowledge and help us make a decision. I love that! I cannot wait to return and sample a different, inventive menu. Note that parking is a bit of a problem. Neighborhood parking is best if you prefer not to leave your car with the valet. read more

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Wow! Colossal disappointment! The service was great and the ambience is nice but the food was really really disappointing. I don't know whether this restaurant has declined in its quality because I heard it was good but for the prices we paid the food was maddening. The pasta with truffles was dry and uninspired, the short rib pasta dish was also really bland and the noodles Were hard, The Dover soul was also very bland and the presentation was lonely and sad. Just a really disappointing dining experience especially when the expectations were high. read more

This high end restaurant is definitely date worthy. Service and food were both outstanding! Do yourself a favor and make a reservation. Perfect for dining Al fresco on a summer evening. read more

This was an incredible experience. My fiancé and i came here for restaurant week but naturally we decided to order off of their normal menu. I am dairy free and they were SO accommodating with preparing both the Brussels sprouts salad and branzino accordingly. The fish was HUGE- i actually took the other half home. And i am a proud member of the clean plate club, so this was shocking! My fiancé ordered the short rib which was out of this world. I really wanted to write this review about ASHLEY- our waitress. She was incredible. I asked for a different dressing as i don't like a lot of oil, and she gave me a glass of wine on the house because of the change. Honestly , all restaurants should train their staff the way Ashley was trained. She gave detail to every menu item, responded with enthusiasm, and was happy the entire time serving us. I love people like that. Thank you Ashley, for making our date night even better! We will be back! read more

My favorite fine dining experience in the Detroit Metro! Food is always excellent, and the menu reflects seasons very well. The ambiance is simple but very inviting, and comfortable, not stuffy. Perfect for a date night! read more

Went to Forest for a girls night. Unique menu in a great little spot with easy parking!

Sadly the service was just horrid. Inattentiveness bordering on rude. The food was acceptable but nothing noteworthy. Can't recommend

Honestly like 3.5 overall but I'll round up. Don't like being nearly forced to valet, for the prices it should be complimentary. Service is hit or miss, generally good but not as consistent as it should be for the price point. Food is very good but small portions so get ready to get out that wallet. Also can be very judgmental and give substandard service if you don't drink. Not everyone does and it should not be looked down upon but accommodated if this is a "classy" place. May or may not go back, the menu is good but not inventive, lacks taking creative risk and caters to a part of Birmingham I'm not exactly all that fond of. Honestly for a chef with training at Eleven Madison Park it was kind of a disappointment, it wasn't terrible if that makes sense but I'm not in a huge hurry to go back. The pretentious wannabe Birmingham crowd kind of ruins it for me, as does being run through the service quickly and being pushed out. I understand peak times and reservations but I couldn't relax at all and left feeling semi-hungry and annoyed. I had three courses total that were all the size of my fist. Delicious but horribly, ridiculously overpriced. The complimentary bread was not given to us which would have been nice. When we left we stopped at Taco Bell and I honestly think I received better customer service there. At least after that I was able to feel full. From now on I'll stick to Mabel Gray. Better food, better value, better culinary skill and being in Hazel Park you don't have to deal with the same level of douchebaggery. read more

Forest is easily the best restaurant in Birmingham, and I'd put it in my top three favorite restaurants I'm the detroit/metro Detroit area (along with Takoi, and Chartreuse). My wife and a friend of ours came on a Thursday and it was pretty slow. The decor is modern and sleek, without being sleazy or douchey. I cant recall our servers name, but I came to find out that I work with her husband. She was fantastic and recommended a pasta feature (I cant remember what it was called but it had shaved summer truffles, so I was sold) I expected a few pieces of shaves truffle...NOPE. There was a mound of shaved truffle, and it was one of the best pasta dishes I've ever had. We also ordered the scallop app, the eggy boy app, and the crab salad. Everything was perfect, and honestly, I expected much smaller portions. I'll be honest, the portions were so generous, I was full after the appetizers, and had to step outside to hit the weed pen, so I could continue being a fat pile of crap. Chef sent out some salad, that I didnt particularly care for (it wasnt bad by any means, but I didnt find it great), but my wife loved it. Also sent out the rice dish. It was puffed black rice tossed in what I guess was some kind of miso/gochujang paste thing and served with sashimi sea bream (I think? I was pretty stoned by now), and it was phenomenal. I could eat that baby everyday. Entrees: wife for halibut. Very good, but our least favorite. I got the duck. Carrots were perfectly cooked and the duck breast was perhaps the best I've ever had. Such a large portion on both of those, we couldn't finish. Our friend got the short rib pasta dish. The only thing I can say is what the heck!? That was the best thing I've put in my mouth in a long time. If you go, you HAVE TO GET THAT. Now that I know that their portions are larger than expected, I'll order less next time, but I'm still not mad about hurting myself with food. You guys are doing great, I love all of you who work there, and I'll be back soon. Thank you so much for the fantastic dinner. Xoxoxo read more

I wish I could add anything to my previous review, but my experience at Forest last night was *exactly* what I had come to expect: terrific, in all ways, from the food, service, room, and people. I went and had the Birmingham Restaurant Week menu, starting with the Black Rice, moving on to the Beef Short Rib, and the Almond Cake for dessert. All were great. I even double-desserted, for reasons I won't go into right now. I had the exact same Lemon Tart that I had last time, and again: at no point was I disappointed in any part of it. If they ever take it off the menu, IT WILL BE MISSED. I love that thing. Try Forest out. If you've been before, go back. Very talented group doing things *right*. read more

A culinary experience that is second to none in Birmingham and pretty much all of Michigan! I have been here 3 times now and forgive my one check in I must have been to eager for the yummy wine and amazing tapas that we get in this establishment. I came here every time with my better half as we have made this our spot. We love the ambiance in this place and the patrons are even better! We meet people in this place that are very outgoing and very friendly. Let's get back on topic in regards to food. I know people read my reviews to get an honest opinion about food. Well here it goes, to me this is one of the best establishments to eat in around! If you want an ever changing menu but want to still see your faves on it the next time you come .... it's this place. What's a hit stays and what's not will never last. Ok, so let's talk about what to get! Duck confit is a must as an app, also you can't go wrong with black rice! The texture alone had me at hello but the taste had me screaming sweet Jesus in a room full of Jewish people! The farm egg is great and a must try. Short rib cannelloni is amazing. I always get the lamb shank and filet for dinner but tried the lentil fritters and salmon for the wife last time because we were there on a friday and we fast on Friday's. All I can say is a lentil fritter is a glorified name for a falafel and Michigan is the most populated state with Middle Eastern people In the U.S. and the best falafel are made here! Sorry to all my spots in Dearborn but wow you need to try these fritters!!!!! The staff is amazing and attentive to your every need. They are all sommeliers in this place as far as pairing for your meal. I have to say I have found vineyards that I wish I met years ago here at Forest. If you haven't been ? Go right away and please keep it a secret read more

Forest - The coolest candle holders - New American Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

Had dinner here with an old friend after too long an absence. Food was outstanding and terrific service by Sarah made it a perfect evening. My wife says you need to try the Brussels Sprouts but I'll remain neutral on that. Ambiance is great and it's actually quiet enough to hold a conversation with your guests. Highly recommend Forest. read more

The Food was absolutely amazing, and the service was super friendly. The manager Brandon greeted everyone with the upmost respect and checked in with every guest. Safe to say i will be coming back ! read more

Food was excellent as usual. My wife and I went there for my birthday. I had the Duck and my wife had several pasta selections. We both had Ceasar salad and all was wonderful. Waitstaff was very attentive and knowledgeable. Our server, Emma was excellent and very friendly. We have been to Forest many times and enjoy the ambiance. Thank you for an excellent evening. read more

Hidden on a side street, in a new office building in the "Triangle District" of Birmingham is the new swanky bistro: Forest Grill. Lets talk ambiance first. It is a very clean and contemporary space. All outside walls are glass and look out onto the street. Most of the tables (well...except for ours...boo) have a view of the open kitchen. Tables are very crisp with white tablecloths and wicker like chairs. I must say...i HATED the chairs. They were extremely uncomfortable and by the end of the meal all I wanted to do was stand up. Please change the chairs!!! Starting off with drinks....they have a very extensive wine list. With not only regular 6oz pours but also 3oz pours in case you want to taste a few different wines OR (like me) you are pregnant and want a small glass of wine with your dinner (don't judge! its totally "Doctor Approved") The menu is chocked full of choices that would please any foodie...with everything being made in house. As far as the food goes there is much to choose from. From bone marrow to fresh brick oven pizza ... me and my fellow dinners stared at the menu for a good 20 minutes trying to decide on what to please our palettes with. Most entrees were within the $20 - $30 range. We ordered up the Lobster and Green Apple Risotto for an appetizer ($18). It was amazing. We licked the bowl clean. I will say it was a bit on the small side for the price but we savored every morsel. For dinner I ordered the Steak Frites, which was an excellent cut with thin fries and a scrumptious bearnaise sauce. My friends ordered the scallops, black cod and the steak. Everyone was very satisfied with their dinner and most of us ate way past being "full". Finally desert...we ordered up a creme brulee and warm chocolate cake. The dessert portions were surprisingly large. The creme brulee was excellent and the warm chocolate cake was to die for. All in all it was a very nice meal. So why the 4 stars? Its more like 4.5 stars ... I think we did have one of the worst tables in the house - by the door and not in view of the kitchen (we did have a reservation)...so that left a bad taste in my mouth. Also those chairs...arg! They were the worst. When I go out to a nice meal i want to be comfortable and enjoy myself but I was always readjusting. To me...wicker does not equal "nice" or "comfortable". Would I recommend it? Definitely! Fine dining in Metro Detroit is few and far between and this definitely fits the bill. I would go again just for that risotto! yummm...I am drooling just thinking about it! read more

Forest - New American Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

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After watching Chef Brian on Anthony Bourdain and reading about Chef David in Hour, I've been waiting to try this restaurant. Waiting for what? That's what I'd like to know. I waited way too long, and so have you if you haven't tried this place yet! Unable to get a dinner reservation when I was in town, my friend and I went to lunch. We'll call her Half-Pint, because she's small. Half-Pint has tried pretty much everything on the menu (which changes seasonally, so that's a lot!), and she's been impressed over and over again. But don't take her word for it, take mine! I'm the one yelping here! We started off with the tomato bisque en croute. This is probably the moment I fell in love. I know what you're thinking. That's too soon. That's just infatuation. Normally I'd agree with you, but as we moved through our courses my feelings didn't change. They still haven't changed. If it's possible to have a relationship with a dining experience, I did. The tomato bisque is creamy and delicious and the puff pastry on top was the perfect accompaniment. It was so satisfying to pop that bubble. Next came my lobster melt and Half-Pint's lobster tacos. Slightly sweet bread, lobster, brie... I'd say this is the perfect melt. It comes with perfectly executed french fries (crisp but not greasy). I had a bite of the tacos as well, and they were fabulous with a lot of interesting flavors. I don't normally have a glass of wine with lunch, but as I watched Monica (manager extraordinaire) and her master sommelier prepare for a wine tasting, I couldn't help myself. Monica suggested a bold California Chardonnay (Morgan 2008) with a beautiful, oily finish. Very interesting mouth feel, if you're into wine you should give this one a try. Speaking of wine, they have quite an extensive, interesting wine list. Then to my favorite part of any meal: dessert! They have a separate menu for dessert, which is exciting in itself. Plus, these are not your ordinary desserts. I went with the ginger root & Tahitian vanilla creme brulee, and they nailed it. The right consistency and the top wasn't burnt, which happens all too often at too many places. There are few things more satisfying than cracking that top layer. I even had Half-Pint try it herself. We could crack creme brulee tops all day long. Half-Pint went with the warm blueberry coffee cake & hazelnut semifreddo. Honestly, that was the only dessert on the list that didn't sound very exciting to me. Boy, was I wrong. It is delicious, and that semifreddo (topped with foam from steaming milk) really made the dessert. It is texturally interesting and not like any coffee cake I've tasted before! So as you can see, I really am in love. And this was only lunch! If you are looking for a different kind of dining experience, something quality and unique, try the Forest Grill. You'll like it. And in the words of Chef Brian, "I'm from Detroit. You don't like it, I'll burn your car." read more

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One of the best restaurants I've been to in Michigan. We've been here for a few special occasions and the food and ambiance here was perfect. It's a seasonal menu so we've experienced a lot of different food here. If they ever have duck on the menu, get it, you will not be disappointed. If they have the squid ink linguine, get it. It's a quiet little restaurant and I hope it stays that way, the food is exquisite and I cannot day enough about it. You will not regret bringing your significant other here! read more

Sigh...what happened Forest Grill?? I really hate having to write a bad review update for a place that is supposed to be delivering quality food 100% of the time. However, after last night's meal, I couldn't come away not mentioning how awful the meal was. It wasn't even about service or ambiance. Those were all still fine, but the food...FOOD! It was so shockingly bad that I almost felt like pinching myself, as if this was a dream. It was our anniversary dinner, and everything from the bread to the pizza to our entrees were not on par with our last experience. I saw our waiter take a loaf of bread past our table and outside to the patio, and shortly after, he came right through the door and gave us the same loaf of bread. I thought it was odd. The bread was stale and dry and looked like it had been sitting around for a really long time. Even the butter that they provided didn't help with the dryness of the bread. Normally, with hot fresh bread, when you pull it apart, it'll flake off. Instead, each fiber of the bread broke off in chunks! I kept on keeping an optimistic outlook on things, but Husband was already foreshadowing the negative. We ordered their Pizza Margherita ($16) and out came a soggy and sloppy mess. The slices of tomato weren't even properly dried out, so all the liquid from it went into the crust and subsequently made each slice fall apart. There was no sauce, as it was just mozzarella cheese with tomatoes on top with a few pinches of basil. I realize that this is probably their take on the Italian classic, but the least they could have done was get the liquid out so it didn't water down the mozzarella and crust. Shortly after the pizza arrived, our entrees came. I ordered the confit lamb shoulder ($28) and Husband ordered the Prime Steak Frites ($34). When my lamb shoulder came out, it looked a little sloppy in presentation, not to mention the meat looked overcooked. I started to cut away the meat and it did cut very easily, but certain parts of it were dry (namely the end parts and tips). I mean, I've had confit of lamb shoulder before at other places, and never has it been dry. My only guess is that either the meat had been slow cooking for too long, or it was old meat that they simply reheated. Either way, it wasn't as appetizing as it could have been. The cippolini onions were nothing to rave about, but the olive tapenade was okay, just too oily. The disaster of the night was with Husband's steak and frites (see photo). Poor guy! He requested medium rare, and out came medium well to almost well done. Because it wasn't what he requested, back into the kitchen it went. A place like this should have no problems cooking a steak medium rare! Luckily, the waiter was understanding and said they would cook him a new one. About 2 minutes afterwards, another steak and frites came out. We were crossing our fingers that this one would be better. Unfortunately, it wasn't. In fact, it was worse than the first one. The cut of meat was clearly smaller than 12 oz., and there was a thick layer of fat surrounding the outside and it was so tough that Husband couldn't even cut through it with the steak knife provided. He tried to cut through it and it was impossible. :( Our waiter came back to ask how it was, and Husband had to be honest. We felt bad in telling him so, but we had to. Apologetically, the waiter offered to have him choose something else from the menu, or another cut of beef. By this time, Husband had already had enough of disappointment and didn't want the kitchen to waste anymore food. Right around the same time, I had eaten what I could from my lamb shoulder with a little bit to spare for Husband. Something else I have to mention. Throughout the entire meal, I saw executive chef looking over at our table. Whether it was out of embarrassment or being ticked off, he didn't once come over to our table to apologize. We felt bad that our waiter had to do his dirty work. It's not even his fault. Truthfully, had the chef come over and showed some form of responsibility, we probably would have been more forgiving and try something else. Not doing so made us feel that he shows no form of accountability for his actions. In a restaurant, that is unacceptable, especially if you're the executive chef. As a last ditch effort to save the evening, our waiter offered us complimentary pot de creme. It was a nice gesture, even though we both didn't want it. It was tasty and not super dense, but would have been nice if there was actual cream on top of it. Anyway, this is getting long, and I appreciate anybody who's read this far. I don't know if what happened to us was just us, but based on more recent reviews, it seems like there's a pattern going on here. For such a well-known restaurant, even on a Wednesday night, there should have been more people here than just 5 tables worth. For such a special occasion, I hope that if anybody else chooses to go here, doesn't experience what we did. read more

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One of my favorite restaurants in Birmingham. Great food & atmosphere. I enjoying watching food prep, since kitchen is visible through glass wall. Service is great,too. read more

Forest - Cauliflower Ravioli. I highly recommend! - New American Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

This restaurant is leagues above many others in Detroit. Here's why: 1. Quality ingredients, often local too which is a plus. 2. Preparation & Execution is nothing short of top notch. Every dish we had was expertly prepared & plated. 3. TASTE! The flavors in each dish were delicious and deceivingly simple. The true chef has mastered hiding the complexity under the veil of simplicity. Polcyn does this astonishingly well. 4. Uniqueness in the dish offerings! Thank you, for not submitting to the typical menu options! This restaurant is hope that creativity is still alive in the culinary world. Charcuterie Plate consisted of prosciutto, lardon & one other I can't recall what it was. (I blame the wine! ;) ) As expected from the expert of Charcuterie himself, Brian Polcyn, the Charcuterie is all made in house. The prosciutto was by far the best. I've had softer, more melty lardon at Toasted Oak Grille (http://www.yelp.com/biz/toasted-oak-grill-and-market-novi-2#hrid:8AVadf2ZFrnqyZotIG3eeQ) The Foies Gras came next. It was on top of a brioche french toast, with metled cheese and all was swimming in a delightfully fresh pomegranate consume. The Foies Gras was so light, SO fluffy, with a slight taste of char from being grilled. I don't think I've tasted anything with such an airy consistency that still bursts with such a bold flavor. Then you bite in, and with a slight crunch and *pop* of the pomegranate and the bread soaked in egg and cheese...it was so perfect...such a treat for the taste buds...I'm salivating right now just thinking about it! I could have stopped there and gone home ecstatic. For my entree, I got the Veal Cheek. I enjoyed the dish but had quite a bit of dish envy. My husband got the Roasted Duck Breast with Foies Gras & Sweetbread Sausage...or as the waiter called it Foiesauge...ha. The duck was roasted so expertly, I tried it and had major major dish envy. I am sorry Yelpers, but for once your #1 entree recommendation of Veal Cheek has been trumped! The succulent duck slices laid on top of a fresh bed of chantarelle mushrooms & asparagus. The Foiesauge was light and delicate compared to most sausages. It had a slight hint of rosemary along with the smoky pork & soft fluffy foies gras. I couldn't recommend this dish more! My husband had to fend me off with his fork! I cannot end this lengthy review without mentioning, gushing, swooning over the bread pudding at Forest Grill. They take brioche, bake it, top it with bits of dark chocolate and vanilla bean gelato...and there it is: the warm, sweet, crusty brioche swimming in a delicious pudding, little nibs of chocolate melting in the mix with the cold contrast of the vanilla bean gelato...words cannot fully express the delight of this dessert. The wine list: vast & full of great choices. The service: impeccable. Non pretentious, refreshingly expert & friendly. The atmosphere: simple, modern, classy. Watch out Roast, you have some competition in the D! If you want to impress someone, this would be the place. You listening, fellas? ;) read more

Forest - Brioche Bread Pudding w Chocolate Bits and Vanilla Gelato - New American Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

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The owner is very friendly and he is always available Interesting menu good food but you have to like to try different food otherwise is not a place for you read more

Been going to Forest since it opened. Always great food, great service and atmosphere!! The bar is perfect and so is the outdoor seating in the summer! read more

Truly Wonderful! You know how people ask what your last meal on earth would be...I'd want the chef's tasting menu from here! I've been waiting years to return here so I could leave a current review, and since I had occasion to give this a second try for my birthday my wait is up. I really can't say enough about the Forest Grill. Both times I've been here I've had the chef's tasting menu and both times I've enjoyed one of the two most memorable and religious meals I've ever had the pleasure of. The service is wonderful and the food is not only complex in flavor and conception but also technique. Quite honestly I'd wash dishes here for a week if it meant I could stodge here for a day or two just to learn from these chefs. Simple sabayon, velvety veloutes, and punchy gastriques...these are a few of my favorite things. Add to that amazing cider glazed sweetbreads, carrot roulade, a pork shoulder or a veal cheek braised to perfection and I know where I've landed. I rarely have the opportunity to sample anything that's raising my appreciation for the food I eat but Forest Grill will, given the chance. Their food is magic and while I'm sure some would disagree I have to say that this is easily one of the best restaurants in Metro Detroit and definitely my favorite of any I've had the pleasure of trying. I'm already looking forward to the next time I return. Lastly, a big thank you to Rory and Joseph for their attentive hosting making for another amazing evening here. read more

I have dined at many restaurants before but none like this. As an aspiring chef and restaurant owner I pay attention to every little detail at a restaurant. With that being said, the experience I had at Forest Grill was remarkable. It's restaurant week in Birmingham and the Forest Grill is offering up a three course pre fix menu. My girlfriend and I wanted to try as much as possible and before the actual three course meal we decided to have the charcuterie board which consisted of delicious chorizo, salmon mousse, and porchetta. After this tasting, I was already satisfied. We moved onto the pre fix menu where my girlfriend had the romaine salad and I indulged in the farm egg. Although it was rather decent, the romaine salad felt a little short for me but nonetheless tasted pretty good. The farm egg was excellent. I was thoroughly impressed with the taste of the chorizo from the charcuterie board but the farm egg was by far one of the highlights of the meal. Next up were the entrees. My girlfriend had the chicken breast and I had the short rib cannaloni. The chicken breast was perfect and the spinach angel hair pasta that accompanied it was great! The short rib was perfectly cooked and delicious but could have benefited from at least one more element or ingredient. Simply put, the desserts were to die for. The almond gateau and bonet just ridiculous. The bonet was easily one of the best desserts I've ever eaten I just wanted more of it. With the three course meal being finished, I still had a little room left and I wanted to eat more of the Forest Grill's excellent food. We ended up ordering the beef carpaccio after all, and it was a great choice. Perfect flavor combinations and it just tasted good to be honest. The service here was spot on, I couldn't have asked for better service. For starters, my water glass never reached below the half way point. Also, our waiter did a terrific job coming to check up on us just the right amount of times and explaining each dish to us. The decor of the restaurant is very beautiful and the entire feel of the place just made me feel comfortable, as opposed to those fancy restaurants that have waiters and bus boys running around in suits and ties checking up on you every 2 minutes. The meal I had here was the best I've ever had. Every little detail, from the front of the house to the back of the house was absolutely perfect. Kudos to the staff at Forest Grill and it was even my pleasure to meet Chef Nick as we left the restaurant. Our meal was worth every penny and I will definitely be returning here. Great job to Chef Brian Polcyon for putting together such an incredible restaurant. read more

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We ate here on a Thursday night, having heard about the regime change. Reservations for 6:30 and we were seated promptly. Drink orders taken and delivered promptly, a good T&T and an even better Moscow Mule. The appetizers were creative--a black bean and cobia dish and brussels sprouts with feta were both great. Loved those. Main courses were Short Rib Cannoli and Halibut-- again both just great. Super flavorful and perfectly prepared. Desert was vanilla pot de creme. This was just ok and it was obliterated with a huge dollop of lime sorbet. The sorbet had a strong flavor that over- powered the pot de creme . Lose the sorbet and double the vanilla pot de creme portion! Service was very prompt, but stiff and impersonal. Prices were very, very fair--moderate by Birmingham standards. All in all this was a very good meal, and a better experience than places like Mabel Gray. The food at Forest is equal to Mabel and the prices are more fair. I had Halibut at both places, for the same menu price. At Forest it was better prepared, tasted better and was a 3 times bigger portion. Try it out. read more

Another great find in Birmingham, and a place ideal for a special treat. This place probably has the best gourmet food in town and some of the best service to boot. I went with some work colleagues mid-week for a meal. Our server was friendly, relaxed and incredibly knowledgeable about the menu. I appreciated his ability to recommend different dishes on the menu (but you really can't go wrong with any of them) and describe the combinations of flavors in the dishes. He also knew the wine list and had recommendations on what to pair with our meal which worked out beautifully. To start we shared the short rib and scallop (this is a must, so tasty), risotto, and the tuna tartare. All were excellent. We did not try the charcuterie plates, but they are supposed to be excellent and all locally sourced. For main, I had the duck breast which was perfectly prepared - the skin was crispy, the duck itself was pink and tender. A hard dish to get right, but they really hit the mark. I was pleasantly surprised to also see they have a small bar area, so next time when I'm in town and in search of solo dining I might try coming back here. All in all, if you haven't been here recently, definitely recommend giving it a try. read more

I think service was absolutely wonderful and attentive! Took the husband here for his bday dinner. Yay! A meal without crying kids. It was a Wed night so it was very empty. Small cozy dining area. Food was good but i dont know I wasn't blown away. We had the charcuterie and then my husband had the filet mignon medium with foie gras. It came out well done but the foie gras was the same size as the steak! Gigantic! Really good and melts perfectly. I had the bone marrow with confit of pork. Yummy in my tummy. Loved marrow on crusty bread and chorizo. Dessert, my husband had the bday chocolate something. I had the trios of custard! So good and the presentation was amazing! 3 hollowed out eggshells filled with yummy flavor of the season. Pumpkin was my favorite. Like everyone said, this place has an amazing BOOK of wine. Our guy picked ours out for us...which turned out wonderful as well. Although we enjoyed our experience there...I really miss Tribute. That was our favorite place for bday/anniversary celebrations. read more

Forest - Trio of custards for the Fall menu - New American Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

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This was a tough one to rate, but I have to go with 4 Stars: "Yay! I'm a fan." I loved it and I'd go back in a second - probably will very soon. Some of the dishes were spectacular: - the seafood cocktail is without peer - just perfect - the duck confit - also perfect - I had it as a main course - the fries are great The beet salad was really nice. I love that Forest Grill makes their own charcuterie - I own (and have used) B. Polcyn's book. We ordered the charcuterie plate AND the house prosciutto. Both had too much truffle oil for my taste. For me, the truffle oil overpowered the meat. The pizza with sausage had, this is hard for me to say, too much sausage. I've rarely uttered that phrase. The wine list is well chosen _and_ really well layed out - something that Five Lakes Grill also did well. There's a good breadth of wines - new and old world. I think they could benefit from a wine steward - there's just no way a server can know about a wine list as big as this. Although our server could broadly tell us about a wine should be like, he clearly didn't know the individual wines particularly well. I'm OK with that but just tell me that. Having someone who really knows the list would be a win, in my opinion ----- and, hey!, this is Yelp and it's just my two cents. Overall the service was very good, but seemed to drag at odd times. Some good teamwork by the maître d' and other servers kept things moving quite well. Odd moment 1: ============ Not sure if it was an odd mannerism or tongue-in-cheek, but I didn't get our waiter calling my wife "madame." Oh, and odd moment 2 (first one really): ============================== The hostess asked only HALF of our party if we wanted to check our coats... and also brought white and black napkins to the table (thoughtful). Unfortunately she gave everyone white napkins - including those wearing all black. read more

Forest Grill manages a rather incredible balancing act. Its food is artistic but not stilted, elegant but not intimidating, simple but not basic. There are veg and non-veg options in the courageously short menu. In a world where the word "signature" is abused, this is one place whose dishes warrant it (incidentally they do not use it). The farm egg bird's nest was unique in my experience, a subtle blend of crunch and runny that should be tasted rather than described. All of this happens in a comfortable room under the auspices of an attentive chef and staff. He made us a special dessert (delicious and not on the menu). Our waiter made us feel comfortable throughout. If you enjoy true food prepared with creativity and care in an atmosphere that never makes you feel small, this is the place for you. read more

Forest is off the main strip in Birmingham. It's a smaller space but very cute inside. Very limited menu. The pasta dish I got was quite delicious. My sister who is a vegetarian got the cauliflower ravioli and it only have 6 raviolis for an entree so she was still very hungry. It was a nice meal but wasn't anything in particular that wow'd me enough to make me go back. read more

Forest - Black Truffle Pasta - New American Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

Crispy rice shareable, Brussels sprouts and feta mmmm and the Gatsby cocktail. This is one of our favorite restaurants in Birmingham. They're always changing the menu but have a few signature items that don't change (farm egg, Black rice, pastas) - the atmosphere is relaxed and upscale and the service is impeccable. Definitely work it into your weekend routine! read more

Forest - New American Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

I chose Forest for my birthday dinner - had not been there under the new ownership / chef. I wasn't sure what to expect, and I have to say, we had an overwhelmingly positive experience. I was expecting decent food - everything I ate was outstanding! I ordered a signature cocktail, which was very good (and strong). The bread was actually worth the indulgence. I had the grilled octopus app, which was great. One of us had the peach gazpacho, which was also great (and a great idea). Dad had the signature app - the farm egg, which he enjoyed. Dad & I had the Bronzino with quinoa and pomegranate which was one of those courses where you wonder how they could make something that tasty! His girlfriend had the duck breast, which she raved about. My honey had the lamb shank. It was huge (see photo). He's picky, and he liked it - it just fell off the bone. We ordered the baked Alaska for the table - it was sublime! Not too sweet, with some flourless chocolate layer inside. read more

Forest - Lamb shank on a bed of spiced chickpeas. - New American Near Me - Birmingham, Michigan

This is s classy restaurant that's perfect for intimate dinners with friends and family. They have an open facing window which opens to the street and patio and is lovely during the summer. They also have a glass wall so you can see directly into the kitchen. The food is not 5 stars it's 4, but it's still very good. They have many different pasta dishes with a twist and our table tried them all! The short rib was the favorite. However the food wasn't a 5 because they were all a bit cold and the spices could be better. I am rounding up because service was excellent. read more

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2nd visit on a Tuesday night and disappointed. We dined at this restaurant about a month after it reopened and were impressed so this review is a combo of both Dining Experiences. The first 4 stars and this one 2 stars. First visit was a Friday night and close to perfection. The carrot soup was so tasty and complex, octopus was cooked to perfection, and cauliflower pasta was so delicious. The only negative was table was on main aisle. This time everything was perfect from arrival to server intro until....Carrot soup to start, not the same as first visit. Not as tasty, less butter maybe. Fresh bread would have been nice with soup, sadly it arrived after the soup course. The cauliflower feel short too. I had the Halibut and cooked well and nice taste although more sauce. My wife had the Bronzino and this has to have been the most unappealing and ugly plating next to IHOP, looked liked corn beef hash...just with an insanely expensive piece of fish. Because of my previous life as bartender in the French Quarter I didn't penalize the server and she poured a nice glass of wine. Good service not great. I thought I overheard the chef was off so mate that's the reason for the not so good food. Consistency is the key to master class dining so not sure if this one will get a third try soon. Too many places to try in the area. Chi Chi read more

Visited last Friday with friends sand had a mixed experience, not up to previous visits. The problem was a "special" of the evening, the veal chop. (Ordered after being told that the duck breast was gone at 7:30 or so.) It arrived shaped rather like a pumpkin bread... and it was easily the toughest piece of meat I've ever had in a restaurant. Anywhere. I've never had a veal chop before... so I've no idea of whether or not this is a meat that is unusually challenging to prepare. But this piece, for sure, was difficult to cut with the serrated knife provided and difficult to chew as well. The sauce it arrived in was fine. But that was it. Mentioned the toughness to the waiter when he asked if I wanted the uneaten part wrapped to go (declined) and he said he'd tell the chef. Positive note... the gazpacho was excellent. Service was fine most of the night... got slow before dessert arrived as nearby tables filled. The result was no charge for the dessert, a nice closing touch. The wine list overall is good but a few more bottles of red under $100 would be appreciated. Most were well over that amount. read more

I mean the food is definitely not amazing. The ambience I like very much. Bar tender Dave has a nice welcoming smile moving past the unfriendly hostess situation. All in all if your a foodie you may want to go elsewhere. To be fair sometimes the steak is cooked "ok" and sometimes is awful. Hit or miss to be honest. Not impressive at all! read more