Forest in York

Great place for food and a drink

Absolutely delicious food. Great service and price. Will be returning on next visit.

Had a great dinner here! The food was delicious and the service was very quick and friendly. Great vibes as well. Lots of vegetarian options! The small plates/starters were decent sized and delicious!

Found by chance, lovely breakfast and surroundings. Will look to book a room now !

Lovely food, lovely staff, lovely chilled atmosphere. My reason for marking them down is (yes I’m probably being really petty) the ketchup. It’s cheap and vinegary and served in a recycled juice bottle. Nothing wrong with that but it’s clearly just topped up and not cleaned. A breakfast can be enhanced or spoiled by cheap sauces. We’ve always been Heinz people but have recently come across M&S own which is much better and much cheaper. Sorry for the rant - everything else is really lovely 🙂

I was in York for 3 nights. A friend and I had lunch here Thursday .. we shared 4 x starters (3 would have been enough .. but we didn't leave much!) Then on our last night I suggested it for me and my 2 other friends - we were far from disappointed! Food delicious. Cocktails delightful. Wine tasty Service just the perfect amount of attention. A fantabulous last night in York.

Pleasant place to have breakfast. Would highly recommend. Excellent and polite staff.

What a little gem of a place this is, food full of flavour and fresh, staff great and welcoming. Will be back .

Such a beautiful place. We came for breakfast (two days in a row!) and opted for eggs benedict (classic & veggie option which is served with either spinach or mushrooms) & granola/ berry jogurt. The food is very delicious & I can only highly recommend this restaurant, the atmosphere is absolutely stunning & seriously so chill! They also offer rooms (B&B) upstairs and I regretted not booking with them, next time! staff is very friendly and fast (seriously! the food / drinks arrived promptly & they had lots of people to serve). If you are looking for a unique dining option, check this one out!

Booked for an evening meal whilst mini breaking in this lovely city. Monday evening all tables pretty full. Says it all. Quickly seated and friendly greeted. Excellent choice of drinks with simple well priced wine list. Went with the sharing Camembert which comes with plenty of warm fresh bread, nice oil and sweet onion chutney. Perfectly gooey and delicious cheese. For mains I had the braised beef and my wife the mushroom gnocchi. Both brought in a timely fashion despite being quite busy. Both excellent and well presented. Wish I'd had room for pudding as they looked great but not this time. Overall a great experience. Excellent price point and can highly recommend for anyone looking for good quality food and drink in a cosy atmosphere.

Excellent food and service; staff are all really friendly and our meals were delicious! Great value, would highly recommend :)

They let me use the bathroom for free when we needed it which is worth a good review, but also the staff were friendly and the café well-presented.

Rather disappointed with our meal at Forest. While the other reviewers are spot on with respect to the cozy atmosphere and cute decor, the service was definitely slow and the two servers seemed very harried. After a long wait for any server to appear, there was no time for niceties in taking our order and delivering our food and no check on us to see if we wanted anything. Other tables seemed to be in a similar limbo land waiting for their plates to be cleared and checks to arrive. The food itself was not outstanding. We have definitely eaten better duck, pork belly, yorkshire pudding and chips. My buffalo cauliflower wings were very ordinary and the food all came out from the kitchen somewhat tepid. Given the rave reviews, we were expecting much better.

Great food great price lovely location

A first visit here. Had a lovely meal: vegan pasta with red pepper, courgette, spinach plus I added the Forest side salad (the best side salad ever, with olives & pumpkin seeds plus the usual lettuce etc ). My partner had fish & chips. Both meals very well cooked & well presented (I don't say that lightly, my partner has high expectations). The lady serving us was very welcoming. Although it might have been a bit chilly outside, we would have made use of the secret garden, but sadly it was being renovated. We will be back to pay it a visit however!

Absolutely fantastic little place, warm friendly with excellent service and amazing food at very affordable prices! Would highly recommend, Sean and Theresa from Ireland

Lovely place for a drink, or coffee or even a meal. It does have outside sitting but was closed. The place is decorated. Lovely! Will definitely be going again!

A really nice place to have a drink or food. I didn't eat there, but went in each afternoon for a drink. The staff were very friendly and helpful, which is especially good when you're on your own, as I was. I felt quite comfortable, thank you to them.

Avoid the gastro pubs go to this one. It’s beautiful homely charm is like going back in time ( in a good way🤗) meals, drinks and desserts were very tasty. A great little location with great quality served warmly. Veggie food is very nice

Very nice restaurant,good food and very lovely staff.When in York will absolutely have dinner here again.Highly recommended for proper food en friendly service.

Best steak I've had in a many years 😋

Brilliant restaurant in the centre of York ! Great menu offerings and drink selection. Tasty food, friendly staff, well priced. Advise you book a table !!

Turned up without a reservation on a Saturday lunch. Were told we could have a table for 3 if we could be done in 45 minutes. Always like that in a place; they are confident that they could serve us in that time which is perfect for lunch. Good menu that gave us exactly what we wanted The fish (haddock) and chips (skin on fries) was excellent. Super moist with crispy batter. The gardener's breakfast was an excellent vegetarian option. The bill was very reasonable, particularly considering the location.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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!±

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.

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 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.