I attended the soft opening of Forge & Vine, and it was an overall very nice dining experience.
Getting there can be a bit tricky if you're not familiar with the Groton Inn's entrance. The parking situation was also dicey, given there was a function happening the same night. I'm not sure with what regularity the restaurant will compete for spaces. Alas, we made it in...and the place was POPPIN'.
Rustic chic decor - big, warm, and inviting greets you with the sprwaling open concept, flanking the floating bar serving both cocktails and dinner. Speaking of warm greetings, the (whom I assume is) front of the house Manager greeted us almost immediately with a big smile and an authentic eagerness to serve. Very nice attention to detail.
We were seated in a more intimate/siloed portion of the dining room, reserved for larger parties or more private gatherings. For our purposes, I found that a nice repreieve from the bustle of the main dining room. Additionally, there is a small four-seasons porch, complete with rustic fire place, filling the room with heat and rustic charm tucked away to the left of the entrance. Very nice spot for a private gathering or just to chill.
The service itself was quite good. Despite the busy and demanding pace of the crowd, the waitstaff and managers seemed to keep up well. You sometimes don't get that type of chemistry from a staff upon opening, but you can tell that Forge & Vine staffed themselves with seasoned pros. Kudos for that.
Now, the food. While I ultimately enjoyed my meal, I do feel there are some gaps - especially for the vegetarian/vegan crowd. For starters, I personally had the carrot hummus and cheese plate, both of which were quite good. I think the cheese plate could benefit from some whole fruit, like grapes or figs. The carrot hummus was excellent. Others in the group enjoyed the Kale salad (which was really good) and the mussels.
For entrees, the menu is a good size, but still succint. The Bolognese was a crowd favorite, as was the roasted chicken. I think what Forge & Vine can improve upon is their vegetarian entrees. The kale/quinoa bowl was mezza mezza at best, lacking flavor and punch, while the veggie burger was not homemade - but rather the "Beyond Meat" patty, which is not very becoming of the asking price or genre of the restaurant (e.g. the Impossible patty would be a big upgrade, or better yet - craft your own black bean/quinoa, etc.) For the audience being served, adding that niche (especially in today's market) will really put F&V over the top - especially up against the rivaling and neighboring Gibbet Hill. The dessert was excellent, albeit limited. The housemade Aztec Chocolate ice cream was unique and delicious, and the spice cake was killer. Definitely leave room.
The wine list is nice, although the 'by the bottle' options are far superior than the 'by the glass' varietals, something I hope to see expanded quickly for the main opening. Touting as a semi-wine bar, the glass options need a facelift and different price points (there was only 1 red over $10). Otherwise, we stuck to bottles, primarily due to the quality and variety of options.
All in all, Forge & Vine has a ton of potential. Everything was executed very well, especially for a soft opening. Hopefully the menu can be tweaked slightly to really shine in all areas. I will absolutely be back to watch this place grow, progress, and take on new seasonal offerings. Thanks for a great first night. See you soon! read more