From the alluring elegance of the decor to the delicious and sophisticated food, Robert Siegler’s third restaurant The Forge is set to become a modern classic.

The Venue
Tucked away on the corner of Garrick Street and Floral Street in Covent Garden, the entrance to The Forge is easy to miss, but distinguished by its understated deep turquoise and silver hanging sign.

Inside, exposed brick walls painted white and a row of windows on to the street give the restaurant a relaxed, airy feel. Turquoise chairs and smart, dark wood tables add to a look that strikes a clever balance between formal and comfortable.

Downstairs, there’s a small, simple but dignified bar made cosy by dark red walls and little tables in intimate corners.

The Atmosphere
The service in The Forge is friendly, attentive and discreet, giving the place an air of sophistication that’s not remotely snooty or intimidating. The restaurant attracts a lot of local, suited business people as well as wealthy visitors to the West End. Already busy, it’s bound to get even more so as its reputation grows. The bar downstairs is also an ideal place to drop into after a taxing day’s work for a glass of one of the huge array of good wines.

The Food
The main restaurant offers a wide selection of classic French starters, mains and sides, including an excellent steak tartare, a delicate beetroot cured Loch Duart salmon and a delicious confit of duck leg. As a lighter option, there’s the rare grilled tuna with aubergine caviar and toasted couscous. Desserts include a wonderful clafoutis with prunes and figs and a vanilla creme moulee with mint foam (like a creme brulee but upside down).

If you want to try The Forge on more of a budget, there’s a set lunch and dinner menu coming in at under £20.

The Drink
There’s a staggering choice of wine available from a range of countries, but the vast majority are from France. The price of a bottle ranges from reasonably affordable to extremely expensive, and of over 500 wines available, 26 are served by the glass.

The downstairs bar is a standard wine bar, serving some cocktails and an appetising bar menu which is available on weekday afternoons and evenings and Saturday nights.

The Last Word
An equally good venue for a business lunch or a pre or post-theatre treat, The Forge is well worth a visit and highly likely to entice you back for more.

venue information venue map view london review user reviews (5) image gallery (7)