Forest in York

We went into Forest for a rather small lunch since we weren’t too hungry to begin with. We decided to go here because of its cozy and unique decor and interior. The food tastes top notch and the environment is bustling and comfortable. Some servers had an attitude, but perhaps that’s due to it being the weekend. Anyway, food was great and the experience was generally quite good.

Excellent place, steak was delicious. Drinks are good & fairly priced. Staff very friendly but not intrusive. Will definitely visit again when we're in York.

We walked in for breakfast this morning. And the person who was at the hall rejected us to give a table even if there were small tables. She said sorry with not-sorry face and tone. I don't want to think that it was because we were Asians, but all of us got the same offensive feeling. Please consider your attitudes. You made my son's day awful.

Fantastic service and food highly recommended

Lovely relaxed meal here last night, walked in on the off chance they had a table as it looked so intimate from outside & luckily they could accommodate. Extremely rapid service, Food was excellent, nice relaxed atmosphere & a lovely bottle of red...a perfect night!

I had fish and chips, and omg AMAZING 😍 Highly recommend

Called in for lunch. Great food and great service. You may need to book in order to guarantee a table. We were lucky as it was quiet at the time of our visit. Will certainly revisit.

Little gem, we were looking for somewhere to have Sunday lunch and came across this great little place. Good sized main course ( roast beef) excellent pudding of apple and winter fruits pudding, washed down with black sheep golden IPA on pump, what more could you want

Bit of a mixed experience. Had the vege roast, which was a caramelised celeriac. It seems a shame that the chef can't find a more creative vegan or vege roast given that many more delicious options are available. We obviously knew what we were ordering, but it was £17 for a plate of roast vegetables and a Yorkshire pud. The gravy was rich and tasty. But there wasn't really that many vegetables and it wasn't particularly hot. Three stars for an okay meal in nice surroundings.

Lovely surroundings and great service. Food mediocre. Everything was lacking seasoning. Dry, bland scrambled eggs, tasteless tomato.

Lovely little place with a nice theme and absolutely amazing food. The burger was fantastic and I’d say that the chips and coleslaw were some of the best I’ve ever eaten. I would highly recommend.

Afternoon Tea was the best yet, superb service too. Would highly recommend. We'll definitely be going again! A few times

This place is perfect choose for any meal. Food is delicious, staff is very nice and atmosphere is so cozy!

Very good gluten free options on all menus. We were staying at the hotel so had a breakfast as well as dinner. The food was excellent and they were able to cater very well to my gluten free diet.

We were staying in York for a few days with our dog and was looking for somewhere to have a breakfast. We happened upon The Forest and although they don't advertise outside that they are dog friendly they certainly are! They made us feel extremely welcome, provided water for our dog and the food was delicious. We ordered a full English breakfast, breakfast sandwiches, which were huge! And pancakes with berries and banana. The staff were very welcoming and friendly and the coffee was really good too. Highly recommend!!

Excellent food at amazing prices considering its fantastic location

Wonderful, friendly service, fresh beautifully presented meals and good value drinks

What a find! Lovely vibe, great staff and fabulous food! Five stars all round. Must visit when in York

This is such a cute little place full of character. We really enjoyed it

Popped in this afternoon, to escape the mean streets of Jorvik during the sales. Tip top service by Rose, who offered to make me a special vegan hot chocolate (their usual has milk powder), using cocoa and caramel syrup; so clever, and delicious! Also had some chips on the side, which were lovely and crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and came with tomato sauce and vegan mayo. Thank you for a lovely little afternoon pick me up :)

The food was amazing, beautiful place and the service was exceptional. I could not recommend this place more

4 of us really enjoyed our meals here with a cheeky cocktail and it’s dog friendly! Loved it

I had the rump steak nice and blu, wow great flavour. The turkey looked fabulous. The whole meal was very well cooked and presented a beautiful meal. The staff were polite and professional. A great place to eat

We had a fantastic experience! My brother, who is vegan, was visiting, and the menu had great options for him as well as for the rest of us. From start to finish, the meal was excellent. We ordered a variety of dishes, including the veggie roast, beef brisket, duck breast, crab, and steak – all cooked perfectly. Starters were also impressive: prawn cocktail, goat’s cheese with beetroot and lentil dal, and pork – each one delicious. Portion sizes were generous, and we enjoyed sharing dishes. The ambience was lovely, with a relaxed atmosphere and great service. Highly recommend!

Absolute quality meal, Steak was exceptional. Highly recommended.

Excellent food, charming staff and dog friendly. Would visit again

Service really good, very quick. Atmosphere quite nice and chilled, not as cosy as id hoped. Vegan options, Starter of dahl was nice if a little cold. Main of celeriac was alright, a bit one tone, I should have got the cauliflower wings, they looked lush. Overall quite nice.

Had a full yorkshire breakfast, great food in a beautiful place

The Forest has a lovely setting and I am sure our experience was not the norm. It was not busy on Saturday 30.11.24 for our 1930 booking. My partner’s daughter just wanted a burger and bacon in the bun but got just bacon, despite explaining 3 times to the waitress what she wanted. She had to wait another 20 minutes for a burger to arrive by which time we had all finished our food. Her other daughter’s medium/rare steak was well done. My partner and I cannot fault our food but disappointingly there was no real acknowledgement from the staff as to their short comings apart from “Oh sorry”.

Visited for breakfast. Rally great. I have eggs benedct hubby full English. It didn't disappoint

Stunning location and a beautiful setting for a delicious fry up. I spotted this restaurant whilst walking round York. The food and serving were excellent.

Ok so this was our first time here and it is an amazing place. It has a calm rustic appeal - cosy might be a better word. We parked at the Shambles which was about an 8 minute walk and was pretty straight forward. The staff were attentive and the times between ordering, finishing and following up were perfect. You never felt rushed but you also never felt like you had been forgotten either. The food was delicious and well presented, the main portions were generous. Pricing was really good as well, we had starters, main course, dessert and some drinks with the price coming in at a tad over £100 which was really reasonable. We really enjoyed the whole ambience of the place and will definitely come back again. Highly recommend.

18 quid burger with posh chips. Wow, what a rip-off. I wish i had the balls to tell them how bad it was to their face but i have manners, so im doing it online. Posh chips had an awful taste to them, weird, dull, and covered in cheese that didnt melt cause the chips were mild in temperature. The burger i finished, cause 18 quid, you have to. It was bland, dry and only saved by the bacon jam. My partner didnt finish her burger and hid the meat in the chip bowl. Ive never have tried air fried food and i can only guess this was how it was cooked. It was just so weird. Never will return, even if the waitress was an absolute babe.

This was my second time at Forest. I had an excellent time the first time, so was keen to come back again. However, this time whilst the food was excellent. All 3 waitresses working looked absolutely miserable and like they didn’t want to be there. Certainly no service with a smile. When our cutlery was brought to the table it was more or less thrown on the table. We also had a table near the door to the courtyard at the back. We asked if the door could be closed as we were cold, the waitress kindly obliged. But then the door was propped open again shortly afterwards by another waitress. For us, although the food was excellent, the experience was tainted by the service which was adequate but nothing more. I’m not sure I would come back a third time.

Super cute place, good food, and the staff were honestly great

Nice and strange place with interesting decor. Really good food and nice and different. Would recommend and would go again. Food was brilliant thanks very much.

The food was reasonable but nothing too spectacular for the price.

Had a really lovely and chilled brunch at Forest. The place is very unassuming on the out side, but once inside it's very cosy. The food was brilliant and the local beer is really worth trying as well.

A wonderful meal here on a wet Tuesday in October. We were easily able to get a 6.00pm booking but when we arrived there were plenty of other tables occupied. This was in contrast to many restaurants we saw whilst in York. The food options for dinner were pretty good and we ordered the Yorkshire pig/black pudding starter and the lentils and for mains the salmon and house burger. All well presented and tasty. Volume was such that we couldn't manage the sticky toffee pudding. Reasonable prices. The young girls looking after us were really lovely.

I am in LOVE with this place! The food was AMAZING. It’s so cute and unassuming from the outside, but once inside, it’s extremely cozy and welcoming. Every course I ordered was delicious, and plated beautifully. The portion sizes were perfect, well balanced and seasoned. I thoroughly enjoyed everything I ate. The seasonal soup (mushroom soup when I went) was rich and hearty, without being too heavy. The duck breast for my main was cooked to perfection. The sticky toffee pudding (my favorite!) was moist, warm, and decadent. I will definitely be going back the next time I’m in York

Very tasty food we got a coffee, hot chocolate with a pancake stack and a full English it came to around £30 which isn't bad for the quality of the food the restaurant is very cozy with a great atmosphere.

Awesome food. Well worth the visit

Wow! Lovely, cosy aesthetic. AMAZING food. We got the Salmon, spicy cauliflower wings and roasted root veg. The salmon was so tasty and the dish was balanced perfectly with veg/potatoes. The sauce was lovely, but maybe a little too salty. Would definitely recommend dining here! If going on a weekend make sure to book, we called at 3 to reserve the evening and got the last table! Good value for money as well

Great food, knowledgeable and great service! Would 100% recommend, I’ll definitely be back to visit, the Crab Thermidor and chocolate fondant is a must! Absolutely delicious

Wonderful service with lovely food in quirky woodland setting. A must eat place when in York. It is actually quite difficult to find this lovely restaurant, the outside present with a wealth of green foliage hides FOREST sign. Once inside, the service is a delight and food is just about perfect. We had the forest sharer for starters; this was simply delicious..I fact we kept the remaining mushroom sauce for our steak - yea there was just to much for the two of us! Our main was the rump steak from the local farm. While the med-well steak was closer to well done and the cheese sauce was a little to rich. Everything else was spot on; pepper sauce had lovely kick to it, the home cooked skin on chips where lovely too. Even the onion rings, crispy yet melt in the mouth. The steak, even though slightly over cooked, was tender and full of flavour and everything just worked. If we were staying longer, I would go again.

Fantastic lunch, the sausage&mash was delicious, my hubby loved the Crab, Perfect friendly service, lovely atmosphere, would return in a heartbeat 🥰

Went here with my wife for some food and will be going back when we stay in York again. Place looks amazing, great staff and to top it off the good is amazing and not expensive considering how good the food is. They even brought pudding with a candle in it for my wife after asking what we were their for that night which I thought was a nice little touch.

Lovely little spot, was disappointed for £4 to receive a Yorkshire pudding from a frozen bag pre bought I was expecting a home made one if it’s on a menu it should be homemade, the cauliflower cheese was also tasteless could use more of a tastier cheese than Motzerella and it was watery. Gravy was good so were chips.

Quite a nice spot for a pre dinner drjnk

Just had breakfast sandwiches but really great food

I've been to Forest a few times now and I have to say, the service has been absolutely amazing every single time! The food is incredible and the atmosphere inside is so lovely and cozy On my most recent visit for Afternoon Tea, one of the people I was with had an allium sensitivity, which we had let Forest know about beforehand, and they were honestly incredible about it! My friend often ends up having to eat around onion and garlic and hoping she isn't going to end up ill, but Forest provided her with an amazing selection of allium free dishes that were just as tasty as what everyone else had! it was truly lovely and inclusive The two other times I've been (both for my birthday), the service and the food was just as incredible. And the price is great too, especially compared to other places of similar quality in York. I rave about this place to everyone who asks me for recommendation in York and I do honestly think this is the best Afternoon Tea in the city (Yes! Including Betty's!!) Love this place, 10/10!!!

Restaurant-pub of the Galtres Lodge Hotel. Very friendly staff, calm atmosphere and reasonable prices.

Came in for dinner with my partner while visiting York for my birthday, around 6pm busier than usual, food was well worth the wait and the staff were lovely, lamb was very succulent and there was gluten free options that were better than most :)

Bit noisy and cramped but food was excellent

I really recommend this hotel the food is amazing hospitality extremely kind people the hotel it's very clean and everything it's amazing I really will be come back again modern five stars definitely 😁😁😁 Very good location

The food was absolutely amazing, so delicous, both of us had the rump steak (medium rare) which was cooked perfectly, compliments to the Chef. The staff were very lovely and the service was excellent and very quick. We would highly recommend Forest. We will definitely visit again to try the rest of the menu, probably the rack of lamb first 😊.

Excellent all round. Friendly service. Great atmosphere and decor - unique and enjoyable setting. Food was amazing. We had the burger, gnocchi, grilled halloumi and cauliflower wings. All brilliant. Would definitely visit again if in York.

Amazing venue to meet for an informal training event - wonderfully attentive staff, fantastic atmosphere - thank you Rebecca & Team!

Service - This was undoubtedly the worst aspect, we were in there for nearly 75 minutes for 2 sandwiches, a cup of coffee and an orange juice. Even waiting for the bill was nearly 10 minutes after a waitress ignored 2 of my partners previous attempts to get the bill. As a result we we're late to our first activity of the day. If there was more staff I'm sure this aspect would improve. Food & Drink - The food and drink was very nice and cooked well. Atmosphere - The name is very apt. The forest theme spreads throughout the original beautiful Victorian building and due to the design rooms we're nicely divided meaning we never felt cramped or impeded by others. Overall - Nice food in a wonderful setting, just be prepared to wait until they have more staff. Do not recommend if you have booked activities.

Really lovely lunch in a nice environment. We had the eggs and smashed avocado and the heritage tomatoes- both excellent.

Really nice place, cool decor, food was spot on and represented a fair price for the quality. We will def go back

Visited 8 August 24 for dinner, after watching Gary's eats on Utube, excellent steak, wine and beer, efficient and charming service, great evening THANKS

Dirty glasses. Most miserable waitress. Had to ask 3 times for a drink and the waitress handed over the bottle without taking the lid and said " you can just use the same glass, " . Using the same glass is fine but we were a little surprised by the surly and rather rude attitude.

Even though the atmosphere is amazing and looks like a fairy village the food is pretty awful and in small portions not worth your money. We got the pancakes (awful and couldn’t finish) & the eggs Benedict (the flourentine one was just sponge that started to make me feel queeze & felt like a spit to the face of ppl wanting a non meat option lol). The staff showed an absolute lack of interest when we went and there was hardly anyone there in the early morning. Go to the scone place around the corner if you want an amazing atmosphere and actually good food, anywhere but here unless you just want coffee in a cool looking place. Maybe dinner or lunch is better.

Absolutely fantastic. Our party of 8 and a dog were well accommodated in a fantastic venue. Our server, Nina, was attentive, genuine and one of the funniest people I’ve ever met in this industry. The food was delicious, can’t really say more in that regard. If you have any doubts about coming here, just give it a go, you’ll love it

Best food great place to eat and drink 🍻 stake was so good and cauliflower buffalo wings were amazing

Best steak and dessert had in ages very nice defo go back hats off to the chef food very nice spot on

Excellent food setting and staff highly recomend

We walked in off the street to discover a gorgeous restaurant, with a delightful rustic and foresty atmosphere. We shared three starters, a good wine and the service was just right. Vegetarian options are imaginative. We would not hesitate to return - thank you!±

The Forest Cafe and Bar in York is a delightful spot that combines a cozy, rustic ambiance with a diverse menu, making it a popular destination for both locals and tourists. Located in a charming part of the city, this establishment offers a relaxed and inviting atmosphere, perfect for a casual meal or a leisurely drink. Upon entering, patrons are greeted with a warm and welcoming interior that features wooden furnishings, lush greenery, and subtle lighting. This decor creates a serene environment that feels like a tranquil retreat from the bustling city outside. Whether you’re looking for a quiet corner to enjoy a book or a place to catch up with friends, the Forest Cafe and Bar provides a comfortable setting for all occasions.

Lovely breakfast, relaxed comfortable atmosphere. Docking a star for half a slice of black pudding rather than a full slice!

The Forest was a great little find in York, decor inside is unique, but charming. There is a lovely secret garden outdoor space. We went for breakfast and we wasn't disappointed, service was very good and quick. Looking forward to coming again.

Lovely little restaurant with plenty of seating inside and a few outside tables in a courtyard. Prompt service and delicious food.

Looked like a nice place for breakfast but was turned away by a surly front desk saying it was for hotel guests only. Edit: Well, you can see the reply from the restaurant and I hope that steers your decision whether to stay there, or the hotel. One thing's for sure my description of 'surly' fits beautifully and the response just confirms my first impression. Well done Forest, I've done many reviews and this is the first that has proved me correct first hand 👍

Come here each time we go to York. Love the filled Yorkshire puddings.

Very nice dinner! Very good family address! We recommend

The food was bland, even the cocktails. The chair I was on was creaky/wobly, and I asked for a change, but there wasn't one, I sat very still!! As the tables became empty, it was left to a companion to find me a replacement chair. People were nice but they were students about to move on and weren't invested.

Great value breakfasts with quality ingredients

Ambience is nicely done. Secret garden covered with camouflage tent

This was a really nice restaurant that I have been wanting to visit for a long time. It is very nice decor and the food was excellent. I had the goats cheese croquettes for starters and a steak for the main. Very good quality and I would highly recommend visiting. The service was excellent as well.

Went here on the back of a Gary Eats You Tube recommendatio. Wasnt dissappointed . Had the steak which was very very nice.

Went for two cocktails. Shown to very small table close to other twosome tslking loudly. Asked to move to another of many empty tables. 'NO'. One cocktail returned as horrible. Replaced with no charge. Fine. Other cocktail fine. Witnessed customer after customer being turned away 'fully booked', when place was clearly empty. Not a smile from any staff. Cocktail bartender girl was pleasant. Others cold distant and clueless. Avoid.

Lovely Sunday roast, generous portions, all perfectly cooked. Prawn cocktail to start was delicious. Great service, highly recommend

The staff are wonderfully polite and accommodating but the food and cocktails are bland beyond totally tasteless. I have allergies so was delighted to feel confident that I wasn't going to be poisoned (that's a genuinely BIG deal!!!) but I was extremely disappointed that the food was so utterly insipid. The "posh" prawn cocktail was defrosted straight out of the (supermarket value line?) freezer with a wack of pre-prepared mayo/tomato sauce and little gem. Totally tasteless. The chips didn't have any flavour from truffles at all; despite the menu's description. The cocktail that I ordered (cosmopolitan) was super-syrup-sweet (yuk) and lacking any of the major core ingredients or nuance (where was the Cointreau?) and their essential flavours; quite joyless; which is the only point of a cocktail! I would add that the wines are nothing to write home about either but some are tolerable. We actually had a good evening despite the food that we ate failing to contribute to our evening's enjoyment.... honestly; not a great strapline for a restaurant.

Amazing breakfast. Stunning surroundings. Friendly excellent staff. I had egg with soldiers.. brought back memories of breakfast as a kid. Partner had a bacon sandwich which again thick cut bacon on a toasted bap. recommended 5* Will be returning when next in York.

Gorgeous food, luscious wine. Loved it.

Popped in for drinks and could have been tempted into having dinner here but it took over 20 minutes to get one cocktail at 4pm, staff just seemed to be milking around the place wasn't busy at all. When we finally got seen and served we just drank up and left sadly never to return. Had higher hopes but service just lets it down, plenty of competition in York to avoid this level of disappointment.

First night in York and stumbled across this place. I must say, it has genuinely been the BEST meal I have ever had. The lamb was absolutely incredible and my husbands burger was fantastic. Service was first class, even opened the door when they noticed I was too hot. I live 5 hours away but will drive back here again purely for the food. Wish I could rate it higher!

Great find in York . Lovely food. Steak was perfectly cooked

We really enjoyed our meal at Forest. The food, service and interior decor were all great. Would recommend the 'whole hog' starter (pork 3 ways with an apple sauce) and the Sunday lunch beef roast. Good portion sizes and the roast was reasonably priced (£18). Would definitely go back!

Delicious breakfast in a very cosy cafe. The service was very friendly and attentive.

a real gem of a place, food was delicious and service was excellent, highly recommend

We stayed at the hotel next door, Galtres Lodge which is the same business, so we just went down stairs for meals. The food is excellent, service really good, the staff are very friendly and helpful. We enjoyed our stay very much and hope to return some day. York is a beautiful place to visit, with some lovely shops etc. Highly recommend Galtres Lodge and Forest Restaurant.

Food was delicious. The restaurant decor is great.The table we had was a wee bit small however it was a last minute booking.

Friendly staff and good food. Really nice feel to the place so great atmosphere.

This restaurant is very charming and cute with friendly staff. The pesto pasta I had was overcooked (mushy) and pretty bland. It's a pretty basic dish so it should have been easy to execute well.

Like a forest inside, food amazing and reasonably priced. Serves alcohol too 👍🏻

Lovely place - excellent food with a great relaxed ambience and friendly staff.

World class food, brilliant atmosphere, can’t fault forest, consistently brilliant!

The food was delicious and the staff were very friendly. Deco was what made us book it !