Forte Kitchen in Winchester

Had breakfast here this morning and was very impressed by the menu choices. Sat outside in the little side street and enjoyed our drinks and food. Great voice for vegans as well.

I went to forte for a friends birthday celebrations - where they had booked the whole venue. AMAZING. Lovely service, bubbles flowing all night, delicious canapés and a separate dancing area with DJ booth. Having the two areas separate is particularly good for mixed groups where some people might want to sit and chat while others want to dance! All in all a brilliant evening and I would recommend to anyone planning a party or celebration in the area. Thanks Forte!

We went to Forte kitchen for a private event- my friend’s 30th birthday. It was the perfect space- starting with canapés and then onto a disco with a DJ later in the evening. The staff were super friendly and the food and cocktails were great. I had so much fun!! I’ve also been to Forte for breakfast before and it was great- will definitely return on my next visit to Winchester.

Does everything it says on the tin, great freshly cooked food made from local ingredients. Cooked beautifully and served piping hot. A real treat of a place, yes sometimes you have to wait for a table, but its worth waiting for, great coffee too.

Friendly and attentive staff. Reasonably priced and the coffee was delicious. Would recommend the brownie and the lemon drizzle cake

Amazing. Very good very nice! Very good very nice xd Engaging. Dynamic. Exciting Coffee brilliant, loved the froth!!!

Lovely breakfast visit last weekend. We booked and I’m glad we did as most tables were reserved and the place was very busy - but it was Saturday morning.The staff are so lovely and attentive. Didn’t have to wait long for anything - service with a smile!We both had cooked breakfasts with extras. They ask you which bread/toast you want and give a good serving of butter on the side too. My husband loves Tabasco sauce with everything and it’s rare places have it - they did! He was super chuffed. Coffee and smoothies were really nice. Reasonable prices. Lovely atmosphere. One of my fave places for breakfast and brunch in Winchester and will continue to return for sure. Would recommend to anyone who is looking for a really delicious, hot, good quality breakfast. Everything is spot on!

Great food, at a reasonable price. The cafe is very welcoming and clean. The waitresses were all very attentive. The hot smoked mackerel was amazing.

We stayed in Winchester for 1 night for the Christmas markets and had breakfast here. Lovely atmosphere, yummy food and attentive staff.

Had one of the most delicious breakfast experiences here at Forte Kitchen. I had the vegan breakfast & my partner had the pancakes with Yogurt & fruit. Both tasted lovely! Pros:- Friendly staff who accommodate for dietary needs- Healthy portion sizes - Good quality ingredients - Absolutely no grease on the breakfast plate- Beautiful looking café interior - Fast service (even when busy)- Lovely coffee - they even made me a cafetière which wasn’t on the menu Cons:You can wrack up quite a bill with drinks - but it’s well worth it! :-)Will be returning when we are next over.

Came for lunch for a work meeting, had a hand pressed beef burger was very tasty and French fries , great coffee as well, and very good service

After seeing Xmas market we stopped here for lunch. Luckily booked in advance as place is very popular ! You wouldn’t know it is there as based on the 1st floor . Very friendly and professional staff. Great selection of mains for lunch. Reasonable prices considering such central location. Would definitely recommend

The tearoom is beautifully decorated and light-filled - it's a lovely atmosphere. Breakfast was delicious - corn fritters, poached eggs, smoked salmon etc. The coffee wasn't great, but not everyone's a coffee geek. If your are, there's better coffee to be had elsewhere in Winchester. Service was ok - everything took a bit too long, despite there being a lot of staff. It was a pleasant enough experience but won't be rushing back.

An Oasis in a busy city.Excellent service from very attentive staff who could not do enough for everyone and it was very busy.

Welcoming service and plenty of table space on a wet weekday lunchtime. Very pleasant staff, and the food was great....we both had the smoked mackerel / poached egg combination, and a side order of potato wedges and feta to share, probably the most protein- rich items on the menu ! The cafe is easy to find, just before the crossroads on Parchment Street. The cafe is up a steep flight of stairs, so if stairs are not possible, then you may miss out on a very good place to eat. A warning to tall people using the toilet....try to avoid your head hitting the lampshade over the sink .

… with some nice touches and excellent service. Breakfast all cooked well and nice and hot - thank goodness! Tasty bacon and freshly squeezed orange juice.

Chose to book a table here for a lunch purely on the back of reviews and knowledge that they took Gluten free seriously for Coeliacs.Sadly on the day we visited all GF sweet options (frangipange or chocolate orange cake) were unavailable, I asked if there was anything else they could do and the answer was a straight no without checking with the kitchen, leaving one of our party with just a cup of coffee while the rest of us ate cake!The mains were tasty but on the expensive side and the lemon drizzle cake a real disappointment, dry sponge and white icing, no drizzle!

In a town with lots of (mainly average & over priced) restaurants, Forte Kitchen is nicely different and provided a good venue for an informal business lunch.The main dining area has high ceilings and quirky decor - we understand they have expanded the restaurant into an adjoining accommodation this year, which provides plenty of room for well spaced tables and social distancing.Interesting menu, with adequate choice of small plates and more substantial mains, plus a short wine list that just about does the job.Food and service were excellent and pricing is reasonable for Winchester.Worth another visit when we're next in town.

An absolutely superb family breakfast. The poached eggs were all perfect, the bacon was so amazing that my daughter switched from not liking bacon to loving it, the wife was very happy with the generous helping of avocado on her healthy option and the staff are fantastic. It's also a very stylish place to have breakfast. Can't recommend it enough.

We stumbled across Forte Kitchen when we were in Winchester and looking for a good burger. Well, what a find!! We fell in love with the clean but homely decor and the relaxed vibe and decided there and then that it was perfect for our wedding reception! We hired the black room for our 35 guests and Agne and the Forte team went above and beyond to make sure we had the best party ever! From the set up of the room, to the delicious canapés, and just being so accommodating to our every request, we really couldn’t have asked for anything more perfect to celebrate our Big Day! Thank you again for everything. Robyn and Sally

We’ve wanted to try this place for some time but it’s always so busy but today we arrived early and were lucky enough to get a table. What a lovely place! Beautifully decorated and a warm friendly welcome. We ordered the full English Breakfast and the French Toast which were both absolutely perfect. Excellent quality ingredients and the fluffiest softest French Toast I’ve ever eaten. We’ll definitely be back soon.

I booked this venue on recommendation of a friend who lives in Winchester. I can't thank her enough for the tip off to this little gem. I held my 50th Birthday Do here in the black room. From beginning to end the whole experience was top notch. The event planning, the menu / drinks selection, the decoration (think tea lights, balloons, placards) and then the food, music and vibe of the evening itself. Helped by the "couldn't do enough for you" staff who made the evening run smoothly with the right amount of fun. Memories made that will last a lifetime. Huge fan. Highly recommend.

Brief coffee stop. Good coffee, Friendly welcome and staff. Delicious apple cake! Worth stepping off the main street to find this place.

Great food great service would 100% recommend, really friendly staff and helpful with young kids, check it out for sure!!

Forte Kitchen is an outstanding place to get hearty, tasty and fresh food. With their new venture The Hatch opening during the pandemic, they kept me going with tasty toasties from the takeaway hatch during the winter lockdown. Since full reopening I have had the most incredible and generous smoked trout salad for lunch. Then most recently they hosted a friend’s birthday party in the evening and all of the staff defined the meaning of hospitality in a world and time when many are struggling to do the industry justice. On top of that, the surroundings instead are lovely and the food is some of the best, if not the best, you’ll find in Winchester. Thank you and don’t stop doing what you’re doing Forte Kitchen!

We had a really nice vegan breakfast here which was delicious (they have a normal full English breakfast too). Pancakes and coffee were also excellent. Will go back definitely.

Beautiful little cafe,food excellent, loved all the quirky little extras like tiny milk bottles,tiny salt pot and tiny butter dishes. Staff polite and friendly restaurant was spotless ,however it's a 1st floor cafe with no lift.

I love the interior and chill vibe of the inside and the food and drinks were so nice, quick service and lovely workers:)would recommend

Having been brushed off elsewhere with a disinterested 'too busy' comment we were pleased to find the Hatch with available seating outside. Our breakfast rolls came in good time, the coffee that accompanied them was fine. Staff were attentive and friendly.

Found this place nestled away down a side road. Really nice location, and the staff were very friendly and took great care of us. We both had the full English and it was delicious. The coffee was great too! Would highly recommend.

We found Forte to be a very nice, simple but touch of chic, nice ambience, staff friendly and catered to our requests to change our choice of selection without fuss and the cod sandwich on sourdough was fantastic!Price was reasonable and would recommend for a great lunchtime treat!!

Held a family wedding reception here and everything was perfect. Clearly they have gone to a lot of trouble and thought to create a lovely ambiance. The quality of the catering was first class, and the owner and her team’s customer service were spot on in every respect. All requests were carefully listened to and quietly delivered, taking any stress out of the occasion. Even when things got a little boisterous as the night wore on, the odd spill was cleared up discreetly! Would highly recommend for a private function for any occasion. Thank you for such a memorable occasion.

We went into the Hatch part of this restaurant and had a super breakfast and the service was very friendly and efficient. The smell of cooking bacon and the resulting lovely thick slices were well worth it.

We had breakfast as a family of four. Varied menu, great food and prompt service. Would recommend. The french toast with bacon was especially popular, though not a huge portion I didn’t mind as it meant I could try some other items as well.

Such a fantastic trip to Forte Kitchen. We hadn’t booked (which is advised as they were packed!) But even so they were so accommodating and fitted my husband and I and our daughter in happily. We ordered fresh OJ, coffee and a banana milkshake for our little one and we both had pancakes bacon and maple syrup and a side of scrambled egg for our daughter. The staff were brilliant with her, she had a high chair, colouring and a beautiful children’s plate and cutlery which all enhanced the experience for us feeling as parents that we can actually go out somewhere nice with our almost 2 year old and enjoy it! Pancakes were fluffy and delicious and the bacon and maple syrup was plentiful the dish overall is incredibly good value at £8 for the heart of Winchester. It was a really lovely experience and we really appreciated being made to feel so at home when eating out with a toddler can so often be a challenge! Thank you so much to all!

Our first choice in Winchester for breakfast was closed and a local recommended Forte Kitchen. It was so good we came back again. Lovely setting, relaxing music, friendly attentive staff. I had smoked salmon and scrambled eggs. The salmon was plentiful. The full English was good according to my husband who doesn’t dish out compliments easily!! Trying the Avacado and poached eggs today

Fantastic service, amazing food and great setting. Would fully recommend the full English, the pancakes and the French toast. All fresh and tasty and made to order with the staff going above and beyond.

Very friendly and helpful staff, seating inside and outside with a limited but inventive menu. The sister cafe, the Forte Kitchen, next door has a larger menu.We had a sour dough toastie and the soup of the day, both tasty and unusual (the soup was sweetcorn and chorizo), looking at other people's meals I wished I'd had one of the salads (Spinach, Peas, Courgette & Orzo Pasta, Pine Nuts, Goat’s Cheese & Pesto) too! Teas, coffees and juices available

Friendly staff - great location and the best scotch egg I’ve ever had. That would have made the team at Masterchef happy- what an absolute gem of a find

Recently had breakfast here on two occasions, sweet corn fritters one day, french toast the next. Both were wonderful meals but the sweet corn fritters were to die for! Only problem is I live too far away to visit regularly and they’ve set that bar too high! Will definitely be returning at some though.

Visit took place during Covid restrictions prior to 19/7/21. The Hatch was open for seating outside for lunch and drinks. We had a table at a restaurant in the evening so elected for a light bite. With the weather fine we stumbled across The Hatch and ordered drinks and a sourdough toastie, what a brilliant lunch. We had halvesies of each other toastie and the mushroom and spinach took the prize. This toastie beats anything we have had before by miles. Excellent.

Super food! Worth a visit! You cannot see the eating section of this place from the outside but don’t let that put you off. Difficult to go here if you cannot manage steps. Superb food- beautifully presented. Good attentive service. Recommend the mushrooms on sour dough bread, the chips with feta, rosemary and garlic, cod and chips, egg Mayo sandwich. All tasty. The homemade lemonade is delicious. Never been here before but would return.

My partner and I have previously visited the Fore Kitchen on trips to Winchester and we were not disappointed on this visit, Staff were friendly and accommodating, Coffee and fresh lemonade were delicious. The eggs and smoked salmon was fresh and tasty as was the overnight oats, only critic that I would have would be the portions seem a little small for the price. We felt safe with the covid regulations in place. We would return again in the future. Thank you.

Such amazing food! Four delicious meals, speedy service from The Hatch, and a real indulgence! yummy!

We had lunch with friends and the food was delicious - I had the spinach, pea & feta salad and my husband had the mushrooms on toast. Nothing overly fancy, but very good quality, simple & tasty dishes. Would highly recommend for lunch (not sure if they are open for dinner or not). Really nice staff too.

We were looked after by Grace who was attentive and met our every need. My partner had mushrooms and declared them 'delicious' and my (very local) smoked Hampshire trout (to which I had asked for watercress to be added) was stunning. I wanted it all again.

Had breakfast for two and it was by the far the nicest eggs Benedict I have ever had. The ham was proper, good quality gammon. There was a lovely watercress butter on the muffin. It was honestly just delicious. Definitely worth the visit!

Friends who were in a hurry, as they had a train to catch, discovered Forte Kitchen by chance walking through the centre to meet us. We decided to give it a go as none of us knew it and we were so short of time. What delicious soups we had plus a great sandwich. No time for anything else. All beautifully presented by very friendly staff, would definitely repeat the experience and recommend without hesitation.

Went for breakfast for my mums birthday. Food was lovely, and so were the drinks there was a mix up with my coffee but it was sorted very quickly and staff were really helpful with all our questions. Would recommend x

Congratulations on your opening night of The Hatch Friday night takeaway service. Pre booked and paid for in advance - collected on my way home from work - perfect special Friday night treat. Beautifully prepared, absolutely delicious - no cooking, no washing up - what’s not to like!

Loved our brekkie here, the staff are great and it’s very well run. I had the bacon and maple pancakes they were amazing. The eggs my friends had were perfect.

This used to be THE place in Winch for breakfast but today I wasn’t that impressed. I had a full English which was quite expensive for what you get, the egg was cooked poorly, overall the quality of the food wasn’t what it used to be and the service want that great either.

Très bel endroit où on a été très bien accueillis. Cadre très sympathique et le beer battered code est fabuleux accompagné d’une red stripe. Endroit incontournable

We had a lovely lunch with the family on our way to Heathrow airport. Very friendly service, fresh and tasty lunch options. Recommended. Had the oak smoked salmon, eggs avocado and the Hampshire beef burger. All very good.

Have had breakfast here a few time’s and it has by far the best scrambled eggs in Winchester. Great breakfast venue. Child friendly once you’ve got up the stairs. Def recommend.

I found this place on Google maps and thought I'd give it a try for breakfast. The menu looked great.We climbed the stairs and entered a lovely bright wooden panelled room with large wooden tables and a soothing environment. I ordered poached eggs and avocado on sour dough toast and my partner had a sausage sandwich. Real leaf Winchester tea was served up in a modern tea pot. We were served by a lovely young woman abd nothing was too much bother. Thank you for a lovely morning.

Amazing food, in particular the croque madam and fish and chips. We live in St Albans and find ourselves fortunate to have lots of lovely cafes and restaurants nearby, but we have to say none are quite a patch on this place in terms of quality of food and menu choice. Delicious!

Had a delicious lunch here today. Lovely tranquil environment with a varied menu. I had the scotch egg which is one of the best I have ever tasted. The egg inside was perfect. My husband ordered the croquet monsieur which he raved about. We also had a coffee which was just right. So many places get it wrong! Loved it here. We will be back.

I enjoy this cafe but I do find it a little pricey for what it is. Nice environment and service make up for it and it's always a pleasant experience. It has a loyal following and I can see why, it's just a little straight down the middle for me. Also, no dogs which is a shame if you're often in town with your dog. Stairs very steep and unsuitable for anyone with mobility issues.

Lovely cafe with a varied menu. The warm scones are delicious paired with a fabulous home made jam. Its hidden upstairs just off the main High St but well worth seeking out.

We were pondering lunch in Winchester and looking at the menu outside this restaurant. A local lady passed us by and stopped to tell us that the food was very good here, we were subsequently pleased that we took her recommendation.

Called in for breakfast. Service was slow, but the food was of a high standard. A breakfast sandwich, pancakes, and a pot of tea came to just over £20. For a better value option I would suggest visiting Eighteen 71 at the Guildhall.

Excellent little find. Great Breakfast, both Carnivore and Vegan. Friendly staff. And nice relaxed atmosphere.

Had a few hours to kill in Winchester so looked on line for places to eat and this one caught my eye. When I entered downstairs I half expected to be dining alone or in limited company - what a lovely surprise to open the door and find a buzzing room, filled with diners ranging from teenagers to silver surfers! Wonderful.

Consistently good for breakfast and lunch. Wish they opened for dinner as well! Happy to accommodate gluten and dairy free. Can get busy!

Typical English breakfast with sausage, eggs, tomato, beans and toasts. Very good pancakes. Good cappucciono, ok hot chocolate (but marshamellows fix it and make it good for the luxury version).

So glad I came here with the family for breakfast. Loved the corn fritters with the hot sauce, which luckily was not too hot. We arrived at 9.30 on Saturday but it was packed by 10.

We called in for brunch on a busy Tuesday and good to see that the place was packed and food still great. I had avocado and egg on sourdough which was cooked perfectly. Friendly staff and reasonable prices

I came here last week for lunch with my mum. We both had ham, egg and chips and the food was delicious. Excellent service and very friendly staff. We’ll definitely be back- thank you :-)

Lovely staff, delicious food and a great place to choose for lunch. Does get very busy with limited amount of seating.

Slightly put off by the awkward queue at the top of narrow stairs, trying not to block access to the toilets and the coat rack. Worth the patient wait when a table for three became free. Breakfast was hearty, quick and very good, perhaps only downside was the price - maybe it is a sign of the times

What a find! First time visitor to Winchester for Christmas celebrations and the Christmas market. Such a delightful interior, staff were attentive and nothing was too much to ask. They catered to our celiac needs and didn’t disappoint. The food was delicious and the service first class. To sum up this hidden gem in one word ‘Superb’.

Had to queue at the top of the stairs waiting for a table (we were there between breakfast and lunch sittings) but were seated within minutes.

Myself and 3 friends had breakfast here whilst on a short trip to Winchester.

Right in the city centre this is a great place for lunch. It’s a small place up a short flight of stairs. Lovely attentive service that offers real local quality fare. The mackerel and egg was stunning. I had the burger which was superb. They have a beer and wine list. The portions are more than ample. It does get busy so you may have to wait when busy.

Came here on a recommendation of friends who have made repeat visits. The portions are generous and we had ordered extra fries as well which weren’t necessary. The croque monsieur and croque madame (with a fried egg on top) were great, the mushrooms were delicious and the trout sandwich was enormous but excellent. Staff were lovely and attentive with prompt service and it was a perfect stop for lunch. We’ll be back.

We came for lunch,climbed the steep stairs and as it was just after 12:00 the place was almost empty.Within 10 minutes it was full.I had a cauliflower and cheese soup with bread which seemed expensive at £8 but it turned out to be well worth it.It was simply delicious.My son had a burger which he enjoyed.Great place.

Usually busy, but worth the wait. The food is wholesome, healthy and tasty. The service is polite, friendly and efficient. The best mushrooms on toast I have tasted.

I loved my salmon and hard-boiled egg on granary bread; the greens and a just-right spread on the bread tied it all together. My son had the ham and potatoes with poached eggs and he enjoyed every bite. We had a very pleasant lunch. The eatery is up stairs so accessibility may be an issue for some.

We have eaten at Forte Kitchen previously and have never been disappointed. An excellent venue to meet up with old friends. Unfortunately we missed the breakfast so I had poached salmon and my wife had scrambled egg. Both were of excellent quality, good value and good service.

This little gem of a place is accessed up some very steep stairs but the climb is definitely worth it.

Ate here for lunch with my Mum and Brother Wednesday lunchtime. Not being local, I chose Forte based on TripAdvisor reviews and we were not disappointed. A little gem tucked away upstairs near the High Street, this place had a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. We waited with a drink for some time as one of us was travelling some distance to get there, but we weren't hurried. We can recommend the soup, scotch egg, bruschetta and ham egg & chips. Good selection of wines, teas, coffees and soft drinks. Quality of food meant we felt we got good value for money. Would happily recommend this for lunch time. If we were in Winchester longer we would be back in there to try breakfast!

came here for a brunch. the place is nice and clean. the staff are also good and polite. food was tasty.

Quick fish, chips and minted pea purée with great tartare sauce! Couldn’t fault anything - light beer batter, very crispy chips, even the pea purée which I don’t normally like was delicious! Friendly staff, very relaxed atmosphere - definitely will be back!

We went to this restaurant due to high TripAdvisor rank, however it was a total failure.

Very nice place, staff really professional and helpful. A must to visit for brunch or lunch ! Definitely recommend !

We had an appointment at 09:00 nearby so popped in for a quick coffee at around 08:30 to kill time more than anything. The latte was one of the nicest I've ever had so we quickly decided to come back at 10:30 for breakfast. Good decision!

Lovely breakfast and all freshly cooked. Slightly overpriced at £10.50 per breakfast but could make up for this by adding an extra sausage!! Superb coffee.

We were looking for a pleasant venue and an unpretentious light lunch. We found it. The room is bright and attractive and the tables are very well spaced. The menu offers a range of choices from the most basic traditional to the slightly more contemporary. So, my partner strongly approved of his ham, eggs and chips - excellent chips, impeccably fried eggs and generous portion of gammon - and I was equally satisfied by my well-seasoned crushed avocado on toasted sourdough with perfectly poached eggs and a generous serving of smoked salmon. The service was friendly and prompt. If we're in Winchester again, we'll certainly return.

An afternoon date with my beautiful lady.

Lovely little cafe with delicious food. I had the smoked salmon with spinach, poached eggs and tomatoes on sourdough.. lovely. Friendly, attentive service, staff go out of their way to make you feel welcome. Avoid the big chains and try this!

Went here with my husband for breakfast. I am not a vegan, but really fancied the sound of their vegan cooked breakfast. It consisted of a range of well prepared and cooked fresh ingredients such as wilted spinach, crushed avocado , field mushrooms, potato rosti , baked beans and sourdough toast. My husband had the full English, which he said was very good, though he would have liked another sausage. The freshly squeezed orange juice was delicious and although we were the only people in the restaurant it had a good feel to it. Our two meals plus two juices, a coffee and a pot of tea came to just over £30. Staff were friendly. Definitely worth a visit.

Went in the morning for breakfast and had the english breakfast food was good and staff were very polite and courteous. Well worth a visit and would return

What a nice experience. We tried to book a table for Sunday brunch but they don't take reservations. We popped in with crossed fingers hoping for a table and there were a few spare.

Recently visited for an evening meeting. Hence am sure a very different experience to paying customers in daytime. I am sure food standards and dishes are completely different.

This has got to be the best place in town for a breakfast. The service is great and food cracking, all at a very fair price point. Certainly worth a visit!!

A Great place for breakfast. The food is high quality and well prepared. There are varied choices including vegetarian and healthy options. The portions are well sized and we came away full. The staff were pleasant and helpful.

Oh my goodness, what a find this cafe was.

The day we visited was hot and busy. This didn’t phase the staff. They pulled up some stools for us and a small table. As soon as a bigger space became available they offered to move us. We didn’t bother moving because the atmosphere

Having just had some wonderful news we thought we'd treat ourselves to an early lunch at Forte Kitchen,working in the afternoon it needed to be a light lunch we have used this establishment many times and knew it would be suitable for our requirements, drinks order was taken promptly by the very helpful waitress and the menu choices were explained to I was drawn to the curried scotch egg and Jackie had chicken caesar salad which was just lovely too ,we both enjoyed our quick lunch and would highly recommend this restaurant.