The Forge

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1. DD

   DanielD

   1 review

   3.0

   1 review

   Dined 3 days ago

   overall3food2service2ambience1

   Pretty average Sunday dinner, not atmosphere as it was 8pm and yes we did book for that time but you could tell all they wanted to do was go home, all the veg for the Sunday lunch was piping hot but was very tasteless, beef a little to underdone, and ordering wine was a nightmare, chefs rude and hole restaurant just wanted to go home.

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2. A

   Andrew

   Cheshire

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on January 29, 2023

   overall5food5service4ambience4

   Fantastic service and Sunday roast, the best in Chester.

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3. PB

   PhilipB

   Cheshire

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on January 29, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   A fine dining experience that didn’t leave you hungry afterwards! Had a fantastic Sunday lunch. The portion size was impressive and the standard of cooking was top quality. Value for money was exceptional.

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4. DM

   DeborahM

   Cheshire

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on January 23, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience4

   The steak was sublime. The staff were very attentive and friendly. The special offer for Monday and Tuesday nights was excellent value.

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5. D

   David

   Herefordshire

   2 reviews

   4.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on January 21, 2023

   overall4food4service3ambience3

   Firstly the food is very good indeed. No problems with that. We ordered a bottle of wine and after about 10 minutes we were told it wasn’t available. So we chose another. Meanwhile our starters arrived and we said we really wanted to have the wine with the starters. Another 10 minutes elapsed before glasses were brought to the table then at least 5 more before the replacement win arrived. Shame!! As the food was so good.

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6. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   South Wales

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on January 18, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Really lovely meal. Great service. Food and wine were brilliant. Lovely relaxed atmosphere

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7. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Orlando

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on January 18, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Luigi was amazing so friendly and knowledgeable, he advised on a lovely wine which complimented the food perfect! Service was outstanding and food was amazing can’t wait to go again

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8. J

   Jack

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on January 13, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Incredible staff, amazing food, 100% will be going back

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9. TK

   TomK

   Cheshire

   1 review

   2.0

   1 review

   Dined on January 12, 2023

   overall2food1service4ambience5

   Starters were ok but very salty Mains were under seasoned. The duck main course in particular wasn’t very nice, I understand it is served pink, but I would still expect the fat to be rendered, it wasn’t which sadly ruined the dish. Risotto main was very bland. One of the dishes was overcharged by £10, thankfully we spotted this and it was amended. However, the meal was supposed be discounted by 20% as a special offer for January, this wasn’t applied. Unfortunately we didn’t pick up on this until well after leaving. The staff were pleasant but unfortunately the unpleasant food and billing errors mean the overall experience was very very poor

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10. JC

    JamesC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 4, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    On a visit to Chester and having read their website we went to The Forge for a midweek dinner. Turned out a brilliant choice. We were greeted with cheerful smiles from Zara but we were looked after throughout the evening by Jack. This was fortunate as he was one of the best waiters we've experienced outside Tom Kerridge's restaurants. This is a waiter who never stopped. He didn't pester us but had an uncanny knack of knowing to the second when we needed attention. His service was helpful, friendly and respectful and that helped us enjoy the amazing food and wine even more. Many thanks Jack and The Forge Team we will definitely recommend.

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11. R

    Raymond

    London

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on January 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    Fabulous looking restaurant, excellent server and the food as well as the choice of wine were exquisite.

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12. AL

    AlisonL

    Manchester

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on December 31, 2022

    overall4food3service3ambience3

    Slow service Food good but not a lot of choice Long wait between courses

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13. S

    Suzy

    Cheshire

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on December 25, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    We had an excellent Christmas lunch, wonderfully looked after by Luigi and the rest of the staff. We will definitely return. Thank you to all the staff who gave up their Christmas day so we could have a lovely time.

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14. RN

    RichardN

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 23, 2022

    overall1food2service2ambience4

    Great starters waited an hour to get main course food poor, service not good

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15. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Manchester

    5 reviews

    3.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on December 22, 2022

    overall3food5service2ambience4

    Let's start with the positives - great concept, great menu, great food. But, and particularly at this price point, why have they under-invested in their service staff...? When you're paying £70+ per head, there are some things I don't expect: I don't expect the waiter to not recognise the cocktails on their own menu. I don't expect that when I engage in a conversation to help choose the right sides to go with our mains that the waiter says 'sorry I normally only work breakfasts' (he did go away and find the answer) I don't expect to have to chase up our pre-dinner drinks when our starters arrive first. I don't expect one waitress to put down cutlery for the risotto main comprising a knife, fork and spoon, only for a waiter to notice that later and remove the knife (ps the waitress was right... it needs a knife... not least to slide risotto onto a fork but also to cut the chicory leaves which adorn it) The staff here are set up to fail by the management team. Perhaps that's typical of a restaurant in a hotel, but why? If they want the restaurant to stand on its own two feet then invest in the best, define processes and train them properly. Don't settle for mediocrity!

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16. F

    Foodie

    London

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 22, 2022

    overall3food3service3ambience3

    The service took over 2hrs for a lunch time. One of the starters was raw and had to be sent back and another was written down wrong. The food when it was cooked and arrived was actually lovely. Although the overall experience would put me off returning. We waited a whole hour before any food was served. The staff were very helpful and tried to rectify everything quickly and were super polite but unfortunately I wouldn’t recommend or return due to the reason I mentioned however I wouldn’t avoid either if there were no other options.

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17. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    London

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on December 21, 2022

    overall4food3service5ambience5

    This isn’t the first time we have been to The Forge and this experience wasn’t nearly as good as the first. The service was great (thank you Luigi for your great service again) but the food was rather a let down this time. Everything was OK but not as special as previous experiences. My starter was slightly overcooked and charred, our chips arrived when we had amount finished our main meal as had been forgotten by the kitchen, the duck was over cooked etc. As it put me off ? No - I will definitely go back as I have alway had a great experience in the past but if this had been my first visit I don’t think I would be going back.

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18. S

    Sundance

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 20, 2022

    overall4food3service4ambience5

    Had the £99 steak dinner special. We chose the sirloin which came quite well cooked but was charred on one side & much less so the other. Ordered medium but it came medium rare. Pepper sauce was outstanding - fresh & tangy. The sides were disappointing (hispi & onions, chips, parsnips instead of carrots) as were uninspiring and like the rest of the meal, served barely warm. Overall it was ok but not outstanding especially considering the price £120 including one dessert & the compulsory service charge)

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19. CJ

    CharlotteJ

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 17, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Outstanding food, great service, Luigi was great! Wonderful atmosphere, would highly recommend and we will definitely be returning again soon.

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20. D

    Disappointed

    Yorkshire

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 16, 2022

    overall2food2service2ambience2

    Lovely looking venue, Very long wait between courses, with tables seated after receiving their food before us. Drink service slow too. Great ingredients but unfortunately not done justice underwhelming and under seasoned.

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21. TM

    TonyM

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 16, 2022

    overall5food5service4ambience5

    Enjoyable meal in very pleasant surroundings. Would go again.

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22. GI

    GINGER

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 16, 2022

    overall4food5service2ambience4

    The food is excellent here - wine was also first class if a little pricey. The experience is let down by service - we should not have to chase to get wine served etc.

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23. JP

    JohnP

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 12, 2022

    overall4food4service5ambience4

    An excellent evening. The food was lovely and the paired wines worked really well. Have a nice conversation with the chief which made it all extra special.

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24. BJ

    BrianJ

    Manchester

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 11, 2022

    overall2food2service1ambience4

    An off day? Staying at the hotel indigo we decided to eat at the attached restaurant The Forge , after reading the previous reviews and an alleged Michelin recommendation we were looking forward to an excellent meal and great service, unfortunately this was not the case, the only menu offered on a Sunday was the 2 or 3 course menu at £38.95 if you have 3 courses, now for a Sunday dinner I think that's quite expensive so I think you should expect the best Sunday dinner and great service, this was definitely not the case, we were seated by a very helpful and friendly waitress and assumed this level of service would continue, we did not see her again she must have gone off shift mores the pity, thr complimentary bread and butter were lovely, for starters my wife had the trout and I had the onion tartlet both were very good, now for the main event hmmm can only be described as mediocre at best we had both chosen the beef well I'm certainly glad we had steak knifes the beef was tough and tasteless the Yorkshire puddings were overdone due to being warmed under a salamander you could see the yorkshires piled in a bucket through the kitchen door the roast potatoes were at best luke warm the spouts where bitter as they had been charred in a pan the beef also needed salt so we asked for salt for which we had to get up to do so as all the staff seemed to spend most of their time gatherd round a till or at 1 point 1 of the staff was leaned on the reception desk scrolling through his phone! , the salt was not forthcoming so we had to get up again and ask despite asking it for 2 mins before they said we will bring it over we said just pass me the cellar as it was right in front of them!! A waitress did then come over and apologise mumbling something about staff ringing in sick we asked her if they had horseradish again it had not been offered, to which she replied "oh yes loveley fresh homemade" you do wonder why this was not just brought with the beef but despite saying was

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25. NC

    NigelC

    Toronto

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 9, 2022

    overall3food2service4ambience4

    Little bit of a shame. Underwhlemed was the general feeling. My venison wellington loin was actually cold in the middle, and on complaint almost had to argue with the waitress that it was cold! Did get replaced, and was very good. My partners Xmas turkey roast was genuinely on a par with a Toby's, undercooked Pigs N blankets, no sauces, bland. Just no real effort in the flavour. Service and ambience exceptional. For a Friday night in December it was very quiet.

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26. A

    Angie

    Cheshire

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 4, 2022

    overall2food1service2ambience2

    Very disappointing. Served flat champagne (Anniversary) did change. Starter delicious (shallot tart). Main course, Sunday roast, was barely warm apart from the potatoes which looked as though they had been reheated in a fat fryer. Would have sent back but we had already waited an hour and a half since arriving and we were hungry. Quality of food good but badly prepared and presented. An expensive mistake.

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27. D

    Davet

    Cheshire

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 2, 2022

    overall1food1service2ambience1

    No grill due to ventilation issue and therefore no steaks or a la crate menu. Only festive menu available . Venison wellington was cold . Turkey roast was awful . Embarrassing visit as we were with friends who we had previously highly recommended this restaurant. Will not visit again

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28. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 2, 2022

    overall2food3service1ambience3

    Very poor service. Long waits. Having to ask multiple times for drinks.

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29. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Charleston

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on December 2, 2022

    overall4food3service5ambience5

    The restaurant had a great atmosphere with pleasant surroundings. Service was excellent and well staffed (thanks, Helen, you did a great job). The cost was reasonable for the food, but service was included which I find somewhat irritating. The food was OKish (we had the Festive Menu). Starter and dessert were good but the turkey dinner was not up to scratch with watery/flavourless bread sauce, no stuffing and vegetables which were so al dente that there was a danger of chasing the sprouts around the plate. In defence of the restaurant, there were technical issues in the kitchen that night.

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30. DH

    DavidH

    Cheshire

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 26, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Superb service and exceptional food. Loved the theatre of the place, attentive, knowledgeable staff. Love to go back again

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31. BL

    BenL

    London

    4 reviews

    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 26, 2022

    overall3food5service3ambience4

    Service a bit chaotic (multiple servers, plates not being cleared away etc.) but food quality was excellent. Wine choice was ok but expensive (£50 a bottle).

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32. MP

    MarkP

    Cumbria

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 26, 2022

    overall4food3service5ambience3

    This is a busy restaurant which means it is loud when full. The seating is well organised, so you don’t feel squashed in. The service was excellent, and the staff did their best despite the limited availability of wine and certain dishes, as there had been a supply issue. There is an emphasis placed on their cooked to order steaks, but be mindful that the weigh of steak you purchase will be quite different to that you actually eat as these have a fair proportion of bone or fat attached. The desserts are ok, but nothing that impressive, and one of ours wasn’t set properly so was returned. It is quite a limited menu overall, so best to check ahead of your visit.

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33. AS

    ASH1

    Cheshire

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 26, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    A really special evening. Food and drinks were of high quality as was the service. It's a must if you visit Chester!

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34. LF

    LaraF

    London

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 19, 2022

    overall4food4service1ambience2

    Service was very very slow although looked like there was plenty of staff around. Menu is bit heavy on the starters.

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35. RJ

    RobinJ

    Cheshire

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on November 18, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    The four of us enjoyed a great evening to celebrate an anniversary. We were upgraded to the chefs table and enjoyed a fantastic meal. Service was excellent, good wines and a superb Ribeye to share. Venison tartare to start with was the weakest dish we enjoyed. Amazing triple cooked fries and a wonderful dirty mash. would recommend the cabbage side dish. Great front of house team.

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36. GS

    GarethS

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 18, 2022

    overall4food5service4ambience4

    We went for the steak. We wanted t-bone or sirloin but they had none cut to our size in the dry age fridge. All were too large. The only suitable size was ribeye, which was still delicious. Staff were polite and knowledgable.

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37. BW

    BrianW

    Cheshire

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 17, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    The food quality was fantastic. Steaks done to perfection

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38. WC

    WilliamC

    Cheshire

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 17, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Excellent new eatery in Chester food was superb and service excellent Had lunch menu and had good choices and good value

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39. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Staffordshire

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 13, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Food and service all great, recommend for special occasion dining

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40. RM

    RebeccaM

    London

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 13, 2022

    overall4food4service5ambience3

    A lovely meal with great staff who doted on our daughters. Would go again for sure.

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