Mediterranean Restaurant Forest Opens in Birmingham

3249

The Mediterranean-inspired restaurant Forest, formerly Forest Grill, reopened this week under its new concept and owner in Birmingham’s Triangle District.

“We wanted to bring a refined, well-executed, beautiful dining experience to Birmingham,” says Samy Eid, owner of Forest and the Middle Eastern restaurant Phoenicia in Birmingham. “It’s fine dining with cutting edge cuisine that’s contemporary European with new American flair.”

Forest, located at 735 Forest Ave., is in a three-story structure called Forest Avenue Development. Nick Janutol, who was the chef de cuisine at Forest Grill, is the executive chef of Forest.

Edi says the menu features small plates such as octopus and risotto, pasta dishes such as boar Bolognese and duck tortellini, and entrees such as lake trout and rib eye. Prices range from about $11 for a small plate to about $30 for a main dish.

Drinks include a mix of wine, cocktails, and aperitifs. Cocktails include a French 75, a Moscow Mule, and a Bourbon Smash, among other drinks.

Eid says the restaurant underwent a full renovation, including the 1,000-bottle wine cellar that’s fully exposed by glass and is temperature controlled.

“We enclosed the kitchen in glass fishbowl so it’s almost like there’s a show going on in the middle of the dining room,” Eid says.

The restaurant is designed by Victor Saroki of Birmingham-based Saroki Architecture.

“(Forest has) white tablecloths, contemporary Danish-style chairs, and beautiful glassware,” Eid says. “We didn’t skimp on anything.”