Forrester's is a great local hotel in Surry Hills, having been in the area since 1921, although the new renovations have been completed just a year ago in 2020. Whilst the building retains its old school charm, and inside the structures are the same but with updated and refreshed interiors. A stunning pastel colour palette for its wooden tones, the pub certainly has a lovely aesthetic. It is dimly lit inside making it feel intimate. We have tried to go a few times before but it's pretty busy on weekends, so we visited late one Thursday night, securing a table easily. Head Chef of Forrester's is Jon Barrios has developed a quality pub menu with American influence and food designed to share. We ordered the Free-Range Half Chicken, which was incredibly tasty, the chicken moist inside, roasted in lemon, chilli & oregano, w/yoghurt. We also enjoyed a Char-Grilled Wagyu Rump Steak with Forry's butter 300g and a side of of the amazing crinkle cut fries. Honestly would return for fries alone! Take your fancy of the menu, whether it be barramundi, salad, a burger or even just some wings or empanadas, you'll find something to suit your fancy. Our only criticism is that despite the meals being amazing, they are quite expensive for pub food. As it is a pub, it's hardly surprising they've got a great range of drinks. With an extensive selection of beers on tap, wines and cocktails, the pub is great for a catch up over drinks with friends. The service was extremely welcoming and friendly and the food also came efficiently. We also liked the bistro did table service for both food and drinks. read more

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Did not stay here, but friends had a good-sized party in the bar/semi-private gathering areas that was quite nice. The bar itself was not large but handled our party well, food (bar food, obviously) was solid, and drinks were pretty good. read more

Well, this is another one of those pubs that I found to be pretty cool, though not surprisingly if you land up here are the wrong time (usually a Thursday or Friday night) then you might find it really difficult to find a place to sit down. Then again, that is probably a pretty good thing for the pub. The bouncers weren't too bad, but then again they seem to be getting better in Sydney, or at least the further out you go. I did quite like the pub, though it might be best to avoid the crowds. read more

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Food only review: EFFING AMAZING. Pub food just cannot get any better than this, and we weren't even drinking. Wanted to get in on some incredible deals, which were all over the place, but we were too early for the $10 schnitzels which started at 6. So me and my fellow fogey got ourselves an early bird dinner with the gigantic share platter of bbq pork, chips, Korean salad and dinner rolls. The platter was $30 but well worth it, and I walked away thinking we got a better deal than $10 schnitzel even... The pork: falls off the bone, bbq sauce not my ideal flavor profile but still really yummy and sweet enough to go with everything else on the plate it slipped onto. The meat itself was tender, barely any fat, clearly cooked lovingly by a pro all day long The Korean salad was the surprise on the plate for me...cabbage, bean sprouts, pineapple, and some raspberry-eque vinaigrette that shouldn't have tasted right on it all but really went perfectly. The dinner rolls were crispy on the outside and opened with a puff of steam, really soft and ready for butter on the inside. The crinkle cut chips were good with the extra pork bbq sauce, or with some of the sidebar of sauces in bottles nearby, including sweet chili sauce, among others. By the end of it I was so stuffed, I pretty much had to be rolled down Riley Street to get home. I will definitely be back, for drinks, for trivia, for $10 schnitzel, for other deals, possibly even to stuff my face with the exact same magnificent platter all over again. read more

Forresters Hotel - Behold, the bbq pork platter - Pizza Near Me - Surry Hills, NSW

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Went to this place when it first opened and my gosh these guys clearly know what they are doing. This is the newest additional to a fast growing group which have a collection of inner city bars that are beginning to take over Surry hills/Chippendale. With the focus here a little more on the food (Italian styling' to be exact) You can find your share plate options here something like; meatballs, risotto balls and calamari and then mains focus on pizza, pasta and rotisserie! Interesting menu- seems small but solid, food was way above average for pub grub. As is to be expected, the space is already super busy on a Saturday night which doesn't make it a great option if you want to actually hear your friends. So do what we did- grab some wine, a pizza and a stool then scoff it all down and continue the party in surry hills! read more

Forresters Hotel - Bloody Italian! - Pizza Near Me - Surry Hills, NSW

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We ventured up to the Forresters Hotel on the corner of Foveaux Street and Riley for a pub lunch. Finding a table in the courtyard under the warm and gentle sun, we each, in turn, approached the bar to order food. Apparently the joint is owned by some ex Rugby League players and they've done quite a good job with it, it's a relaxed and comfortable pub with good food and reasonably priced beverages and manages to avoid the pretence that a lot of modern pubs seem to carry about. Though I will say this, we went to the Forresters because of their cheap chicken/steak and chips, but upon closer inspection the deal was not so fantastic. Yes the food is good, but what they do there, and this may only apply to the lunch special, but if you want to get a sauce on your steak or chicken it's an extra dollar, and if you want to get salad with it as well, it's even more. A crafty little device that is indeed. I also came here once to go the Australian Writers Guild Christmas Party which was a fun event, even if it did take some warming up to get into it, (read: drinking wine). Writers aren't necessarily always the most social and outgoing people and so the first half of the night, when all are sober, is spent awkwardly talking about each others work and being political about the response you give them. The next part, when a little inebriated, involves talking about organising writing groups and reading each others manuscripts to give feedback and to catch up for coffees to discuss ideas. The final part of the night, which extends to the end of time, is the part where you don't follow up on anything you talked about, but rather return to your sober hovel to complete your magnum opus, which in three years time you'll look back on and say, 'That's rubbish, my new magnum opus will be much better.' read more

Forresters Hotel - Pizza Near Me - Surry Hills, NSW

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Trendy casual Surry Hills Pub with great meal specials. We were a group of 6 on Schnitty Trivia night and 5 of us had schnitty's - mexican, German, parmigiana. $12 each, a little light on the toppings but a good deal. Very relaxed vibe and friendly & easy going service. I want to go back to sample more of the menu, a lot of American style options - burgers, wings, mac & cheese etc. read more

Forresters Hotel - World Of Schnitzels - Pizza Near Me - Surry Hills, NSW

I quite like Forresters, despite the fact that it's a little on the pricey side. The reason is primarily because of their awesome beer garden. I love it! It's adorable. There's also a pretty lovely bistro on the ground floor, where you can find anything from chicken parmigiana to a seafood platter. There are private function rooms on the first and second floors, that you can book if you want to have a party or any kind of function that is separate from the general public. The service and waitstaff are awesome, even if they do take a little time to get your order ready. read more

Forresters Hotel - Pizza Near Me - Surry Hills, NSW

I'm all for barebones pubs with a little bit of local flare. Forresters Hotel is located deep in the heart of Surry Hills. If you tend to frequent the busy brothel across the street (no judgement, I swear!), you'll know exactly where it is, right on the corner of Riley and Foveaux. Stop in on a Wednesday and take part in the quiz night (starts at 7:30). It's one of the best in town. Gotta love those multimedia clues!! If you get in early enough, you can even grab yourself a $10 steak, which is far from skimpy. Forresters does meal deals all through the week and drink specials as well. During the cold winter months they did an awesome mulled wine that came served in a tin mug (think Grandma's house). Another thing I just absolutely adore about Forresters is its side / front beer garden, labeled "The Hills." It's colorful and decorated with bric-a-brac, which seems to be the Surry Hills "thing." Another good feature about this place is although it's cool and it knows it, Forresters doesn't have that pretentious feeling one gets up closer to Crown. Hope it will stay that way for a while because it's refreshing. read more

Forresters Hotel - Pizza Near Me - Surry Hills, NSW

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This feels like one of the true American/fusion burger joints in the city. Their menu is basic but arguably that's what makes this place so quintessential. I'll generally go for their burgers, probably the fried chicken with a side of fries and a beer. The Forresters can get quite busy though, creating crazy wait times and means you have to either fight for a seat or just stand. The disappointing part of this venue is that they cripple under critical mass of their own popularity. read more

The space is amazeballs. I love that they have a wee outside area where you can sit and enjoy some food. Except we went in the middle of winter so it was too cold to do so. We huddled inside just before the huge lunch rush. I'm kind of glad we got in early, the place packs out fast. Must be the cheap lunch deals. If you don't mind not hearing yourself think over the level of the music then this is the place for you. It's not that I hated what they were playing, I hated that I had to yell at my lunch companions over the music to be heard. The food came out and was interesting. I see what they were trying to achieve, however being that I love my American, this kinda left me wanting to jump on a plane and fly over there for some decent foods. The burger I got was ok, the chips, possibly all 20 of them were crunchy on the outside. Some friends got sliders and pizza. They said it was ok, not the best they've had either. Atmosphere got a tick, pub drink prices.. uh ouch man! I didn't even have a beer... food is sorta ok. Might have to try other dishes before I decide if it's worth it. read more

Love the menu at Forresters -- really good southern style chicken salad, pulled pork sandwich and reuben. It's a good lunch option in Surry Hills (perhaps not the healthiest though). They have a $10 menu and pizzas as well. I would say typically quick service, but did have one incident where we waited over an hour for lunch. They have an outdoor beer garden that was recently renovated. It closes at 11 pm on the weekends because of the noise, but you can carry on at the indoor bar. Good for groups! read more

Forresters Hotel - Pulled pork sandwich - Pizza Near Me - Surry Hills, NSW

It seems like every time I step foot into a Miller and Wirth pub, "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" begins playing .. You know what to expect when Christmas is around the corner: faux pine trees, candy canes, coal and sleigh bells. Well, if you've been to the Norfolk, Carrington and Abercrombie, you can bet your santa hat you've got a good idea of what's in store: chalkboards with bubble letters, black and white family pictures from the late 1700s, an out of place type of food offering, and hipstaaasss. Hey girl, hey! Now I love the Norfolk, and that's mainly for it's courtyard, which is airy and full of foliage. Forresters has the same sex appeal that the Norfolk does, but unfortunately it lacks this outside escape. There's an "outside room" which is basically an outdoor/indoor smokers chamber that would never apologize for blowing out smoke rings into the rest of the restaurant. We were sitting in the main room off from the hash den and couldn't help but smell smoke in waves ... Either way, the cliche kitsch of the Forresters makes for a good time with friends. They also have good specials one during the week, my personal favorite of which is $10 cider jugs on Thursday! A pitcher purchase also gets ya a spin on the old prize wheel, which kindly dealt me a free cider jug! I'm yet to try the food - not sure if I will considering it's a bit pricey for evening time - but I've heard through the grapevine that their $10 lunches are rockin! Everyone loves Christmas. Everyone loves the Forresters. read more

DO YOU MISS AMERICA? Sometimes I do. Forresters, it seems - feels the same way. They've taken American diner food (aka Dude Food) dedicated their entire menu to the stuff. Tacos, sliders, pulled pork, BBQ, fries, fries with cheese, Hawaiian corn, burgers, grits, southern salad. Basically, it means that when the Surry Hills kids travel to the American south, and sit down in a diner, they won't bat an eyelid when checking out the menu. This sprawling, lovely pub has really done well with its new(ish) fit-out. There's a front veranda, a beer-garden, rooms with booths, function spaces, .... it's a nouveau Americana hipster den, and the punters love it. I mean, they love it so much it can be hard to get to the bar. I should really *love* this place, but I've had a few run-ins with it recently that haven't been so grand. Firstly - and this is more of a licencing thing, not a Forresters thing - there are rules about sitting on the veranda. You can only drink out there if you have ordered a main meal. Apparently tacos do not maketh a main meal. So even if you're eating a big plate of tacos, if you're drinking a beer with it, you're in contravention of the liquor licence, or so says the bouncer. Gah. Second time I came here, it was so crowded that I was pulled under by the crowd, mosh-pit style. Everyone was very nice about helping me up, but really ... it's just a pub, not a music festival. Why all the fuss? After being squished onto the ground by lots of large tall people, the bouncers assumed I was drunk (actually we had just arrived, I was sober), but they were very happy to see us leave. Gah x 2. The third time I came here we got stuck into the food. Sliders, tacos, chilli chips, popcorn squid, pizza. The table groaned under the weight of the calories piled upon it. The popcorn squid was excellent. Everything else, though, was rather bland. We had to go on a hunt for tabasco sauce to liven things up. The sliders were dry and needed sauce, and the fish tacos had little flavour. Nonetheless, I'm sure I will be back - the beer garden is gorgeous, and there is plenty more on the menu to try out. read more

You've been to the Flinders, you've been to the Carrington, you've been to the Norfolk, you've been to the Abercrombie, but, have you been to The Forresters? The Forresters is the latest offering in a list of refurbed pubs by those good people, James Miller and Jamie Wirth. By now, these guys have the formula down pat. The Forresters has been lovingly restored and transformed into an old school Italian style joint. The ground floor pub, is divided into sections, which each section themed slightly different to the last. But, it somehow works and creates a warm, welcoming, homely mood. You can't help but feel like you're in the company of old friends here and I think that's exactly the point. This is a place you come to relax and have a good time. Ms R, Mr L and I chose to dine at the 'Sit Down Dinners' restaurant upstairs on this Wednesday evening, and we are not disappointed. We are looked after by an American dude, with thick rimmed glasses and retro style, who is knowledgeable, cheeky, full of suggestions, but not at all pushy. We like him instantly. The menu is Italian, focussing on salads, rotisserie meats, pizzas and pastas. I can't help but notice the Pay Day Pizza on the menu, at $50, with Lobster, Truffle & Truffle Salami. Now, that's a pizza! The same menu is available throughout the pub. We love the 'Feed Me' chefs choice banquet menu, available to groups of 4 or more at $40 per person, in the Sit Down Dinners restaurant, and the $10 lunches Monday - Friday. Now that's good value. After some input from our new friend, we create our own banquet menu. Cut & Fry Calamari Pea & Fetta Salad with Beans, Mint & Pancetta Rotisserie - today's selection is beef Ham, Mushroom & Pecorino Pizza Bucatini Vongole with Flat Head, Diamond Clams, Mussels & Prawns The dishes are excellent, with the standouts being the Calamari and the Bucatini Vongole. We wash it all down with a recommended bottle of 2005 Tinja Sangiovese Merlot Barbera from Mudgee. A worthwhile recommendation indeed. The Forresters is great for groups. It's a relaxed, casual vibe, with great service, great drinks and great food and best of all, all at great prices. We love The Forresters and we can see why everyone else does too. read more

So the ambiance is unpretentious, slightly hipster, shabby-chic Aussie pub. Beers are pricey ($8 a schooey) for the ambiance. Menu is fairly extensive. Had a pizza ($22) which I wanted to love but which was undercooked big time. I almost took it back, but a busy Friday night + couple of beers prior to this = couldnt be bothered. BF had the Wagyu burger ($18) which was massive and tasty with a really nice, soft bun, but the chips were barely cooked. Couple of tweaks to the technique and this place could be easily elevated... read more

Forresters Hotel looks quirky and fun from the outside so friend 'A' and I decided to prop there for a moment and have a end of week bevy. There in the strange little courtyard was a mix of people. Some wino's, some artists, some trendies. I went in to the bar area and I got the feeling I wasn't welcome. It seems like the old pub has been transformed into a hip new bar and the locals aren't happy. This is all speculation mind you, and I could have just been a little self conscious from everyone staring as I entered. People in Sydney do that a lot, I should be used to it. There's some cool art on the walls to keep things looking original and I am sure during the Summer months, this courtyard gets a serious workout. Hopefully spirits from staff and patrons lift in these months and it is a more pleasant place to while away the hours. read more

The Forresters is a local neighborhood hangout with a lively patio, a fun crowd, and great food. The cheeseburger is amongst the most popular items and features cheddar, pickles, onion rings, mustard, mayo, and a sesame bun. The burger is tender, flavorful, and has a good mouthwatering effect. A grilled bun, melted cheese, and the fried onion rings are the stand out ingredients. The beef is a bit dry but not enough to take much away from the burger. A side of quite tasty parmesan fries is also included with the burger. While it's not the best in Sydney; the Forresters fun atmosphere and solid burger make it worth a visit. read more

Forresters Hotel - Forresters Burger - Pizza Near Me - Surry Hills, NSW

Great spot for a few afternoon beers. Although $10 a pint is a little steep. Haven't tried the food yet, but the menu looks pretty intriguing. There's also $5 steaks on Mondays and a Spit Roast and Beer special on Sundays. read more

LOVE this place. It has a very relaxed and open feel to it. There is indoor seating, a partly outdoor patio, and even upstairs areas to sit. The beverage and food options are both great and the hippie ambiance is great for hanging out. read more

Forresters Hotel - Awesome place! - Pizza Near Me - Surry Hills, NSW

Forresters on Fouveaux St is a large, old-school pub with a new school twist. The decorated walls are cool and easy to get lost in, making for a sweet backdrop to some fantastic photos (who needs photoshop?). The food here is pretty good too - steaks for only $5 and potato wedges with the perfect balance of fluff and crisp. The Forresters' atmosphere is fun and you can't help but want to hang around as long as you can. Drinks are cheap and the beer garden is the perfect place to enjoy them, to the chilled soundtrack of indie and hip hop beats. There's nothing pretentious about this gig and unlike at some of the trendier pubs in Sydney, the staff here are friendly rather than vested with self-importance. The only sad point? If you do want to dance, you're gonna have to head elsewhere as there's no dancefloor - at least, one hadn't sprung up by the time I left at 10pm. read more

In the heat of the summer most people just want to kick back in a nice garden with a beer, Forresters understands this only too well! It's got a really spacious beer garden and a really kookily decorated cool interior for making the most of your weekends. You'll find the other customers are equally chilled out and friendly, giving this place a really great atmosphere. Stay on in the evenings to experience one of their quiz nights, or even later when the bar fills up with the rowdier types and you wouldn't be out of place busting a few moves! If you're in need of sustenance there's a great menu of bar food too, the steaks are only $10. Though you might find vegetarian options are a bit thin on the ground. read more

One of my favorite spots in the summer months is that front deck with a few tacos in the afternoon sun and who can turn down a $5 steak

Came here for a quick drink and it's a nice place. Lots of different rooms to suit your fancy of type of bar.

This place is aces! However if you're a vegetarian the menu is pretty terrible - just sayin'. There wasn't even the de rigueur haloumi burger option! I had a tofu hotdog with a sprinkling of cheese and it was enormous but also cost me $18. Now that I have that off my chest, the positives (and there are a lot of positives)! The space is awesome: an old-school corner pub with lots of rooms and stairs and wood finish, it makes you feel like you're clomping around a mate's house. There's a cute beer garden to the side, and out front a bench runs along the length of the pub so that patrons can perch there and shamelessly eye up passerby. The bar staff are unhurried (in the best take-your-time kinda way; not the I'm-over-here-talking-to-my-mate kinda way) and the guy who served us offered up good suggestions re. food choices (at his recommendation my friend had the Korean chicken burger and really enjoyed it) and booze (he suggested the $10 jug special since pints were $9.50 anyhow). The vibe was relaxed and everyone was in high spirits. We're keen to check out Queenie's, the Caribbean restaurant upstairs, so will definitely be back! read more

Stopped in for a cider, was going to get a $10 margaritas but it wasn't 6pm yet and they're happy hour only starts at 6pm. It's $16 normally. read more

I've only visited on Monday nights for $5 steaks! It's still a good deal even considering the recent changes, no onion ring on the top and the steak only comes with chips instead of a choice mash potatoes or green beans. Not sure if the price for drinks change on Monday nights too but it was about $9 for apple cider which is basically what one would pay for a cider anywhere else nearby. The place itself is actually pretty big, great place to meet up and catch up with friends. read more

This used to be the place to go for the most fabulous happy hour in five Dollar steak. Now it's just close!

Forresters sucked today. Menu is average, they got our order wrong, they're disorganized and vague about the food, the twat behind the bar kept calling me darling, no American soda's like they have at Norfolk...not up to scratch. Not terrible, just not great. read more

Just moved into the neighborhood and was very happy with this place. Nice outdoor seating and great $10 pizza on Wed. I'll be back for sure! read more

Just had lunch there, worst salad i have ever had. I'm not kidding! Advertised on the menu as - Southern Style Chicken salad with Corn kernels, southern style chicken, etc etc. This is what it actually was, a bowl full of grated lettuce (lettuce turning brown), three 2cm pieces of dry chicken, a sprinkling of corn kernels and that is it. In addition to that we waited 30 minutes for it! I also saw some of the chicken schnitzels that were delivered to the table next to us and they were burnt to the point of being black around the edges. They didn't look happy either. Surry Hills has much better places when it comes to beer and food for lunch. Only a short walk up to Crown St and you'll find some outstanding bars and hotels. read more

Came here around lunch time. The food was affordable, and tasted ok. The garden beer area was quite dirty & dusty; flies were everywhere; & the cutlery tray, as well as the sauces, were dirty. read more

This place has great meal and drink specials AND free popcorn with seasoning on it. I was here on Monday when the special is $5 steak. I didn't actually have one, but almost everyone else in my group had one - some more than one - and everyone liked them. It's a great happy hour place: a busy enough place but not too busy. You can't beat a $10 jug in Sydney. I would definitely come back. read more

Really really awesome place. Came here with mates after work on a Thursday $10 jugs you can't go wrong! $12 burgers were amazing, classic American diner style. Very impressed will totally come back! read more

I attended Forresters in Surry Hills on Friday, 30 January 2015. Upon arriving I purchased some food, enjoyed by a party of four. I then followed this up by purchasing the first beverage of the night being a bottle of wine to be shared outside. Before I even had a chance to have a sip of the glass of wine I poured for myself, a bouncer approached us and told us that if we were not eating we would have to go inside. I told him we had just finished our meals and we would finish our drink then go inside. A few minutes later a second bouncer came up to us and reiterated this a second time. I confirmed we understood. About five minutes later a third bouncer came up and removed my drink from the railing (fair enough) placed it on the table and repeated the same instruction. By the fourth bouncer coming up to us and beginning the same routine, I interjected and said that we were being harassed by the bouncers and we just wanted to enjoy our drink without interruption. He immediately said, "I think you've had enough, and you can leave". I said to him, "I just purchased the wine. Either you can have the manager come over and I will chat with him or her or you can refund me the amount paid and I will leave". As he left, he made a remark, "finish your glass and then you're out". I replied, "whatever" and he immediately came back and bridged up. I told him again, "I will finish my drink and then I will leave". He went off and spoke with the security manager and we were left alone. This was until I was going inside, still with the drink in hand (no more than 5 minutes later) and I was stopped at the door by the security manager telling me I was not to come in because I had been rude to staff. I attempted to discuss this with him and he immediately said, "don't play the sympathetic card" and I said, "I am just explaining what happened". I gave him the opportunity to speak and shortly after when I attempted to explain what happened, "he said, no you're done" and gave me a 50m warning card (intended for unruly and aggressive patrons) and said if you come within 50m of the venue he would call the police and have me taken away. We left and had a much better night at the Clock Hotel around the corner. Terrible customer service, horrible stupid crowd controllers and overall, something the bar manager should be very aware of. Visited January 2015 read more