The Forge is a brand new dining experience in the city of Chester. Using sustainable produce, local ingredients and cooking over fire means the food is vibrant and exciting. Adding to that a really knowledgeable front of house team and Chefs you can watch cook your food, as a Wedding Anniversary treat, we adored this place!

I had forewarned the restaurant my husband would require a gluten free menu, but then added dairy free just to complicate things when we arrived. The team were fabulous and printed him a special menu they already had written up from a previous customer with the same intolerances, much to my husbands delight. All were adapted meals from the regular menu.

We began with fresh bread each, Steves being a little crumbly as it was gluten free but mine coming with a fabulously green rosemary butter. As it was our anniversary we each then ordered an Oyster to start, to enjoy with our complimentary glass of fizz. His with Siracha and mine with a shallot mignonette. This glided down delightfully as the the fabulously old fashioned cocktail trolley made its way around to us.

For his starter Steve chose the Wild wood pigeon salad with beetroot, hazelnut and sorrel. This came encased in smoke and was quite theatrical when opened by our waiter. I enjoyed Whipped chicken livers with pickled rhubarb, oats and a toasted brioche.

For his main meal Steve chose the Grilled loin of wild fallow deer. Served with roast bone marrow, chips and deer gravy. He said this may have been the nicest stand alone main meal he’s ever had. Despite it being gluten and dairy free! He raved about the meat and the chips, well, he wants the recipe let’s put it that way.

I fancied the aged beef, kept and aged in fridges you can choose from, but seen as I’m only one person I went for the Cornish cod cooked over charcoal. This came with brown shrimp, a warm tartare sauce and crispy potato ‘rocks’. I also ordered some tenderstem broccoli as a side. This was utterly delicious too. Flaky fish, a beautifully tasty sauce and again, amazing potatoes. How do they do it??!

By this time I was incredibly full and much to my own dismay decided it would be ridiculous to try and squeeze a dessert in too. BUT…… I already know what I’m going to order next time, AND have already booked in again for my transplantiversary next month. Gimme that steak! 😍

Overall, this place was elegant, the staff were incredibly friendly, and the food was fantastic. It’s also excellent that they can cater for everyone. And you know what, the bill wasn’t as much as I was expecting either! Highly recommended!

Find their menus here