Just the perfect cafe!! Lived in Lyndhurst my whole life and The Forage is the best cafe for lunches and brunches. Highly recommend- really fresh and large portions!
XSJAH
Really well priced good food. Staff are attentive and friendly. We had a veggie brunch late afternoon which was very welcome after a cold afternoon walk. Would have scored 5 but the breakfast tea I ordered was very weak.
10oleksandral
It was amazing brunch with my sister. Very nice service, delicious food. P.S. We will definitely be back ??
NCC0117
This is normally a nice place to visit and we often drop in on our way through. However on this occasion (New Year's Day) we felt uncomfortable and rushed. 3 of us were squeezed in on 1 small square table, as soon as a family next to us started getting ready the staff swooped in and started rearranging tables and chairs, a chair was moved right next to me with no concern for my belongings or dogs, the family getting ready had nowhere to sort themselves out, I had a young child steadying her self on my leg while mum got her coat on. As we finished plates we wisked away, not waiting for the whole table to finish, I had taken my last sip of coffee and we were being asked "Have you finished", As soon as we stood up chairs were moved to other tables. The whole meal was ruined. The staff showed how little value and respect they have for their customers this day. You need to focus on the customers who have paid, before those who haven't. Would it have cost you anything to allow 3 minutes for us to get coats on before sitting others at our table? It has cost you not to allow this as I will not be returning or be bringing friends to your establishment. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants along that street.
Jncben
It’s rare to come across an establishment as good as this, ok so there are plenty of “good “ cafe/restaurants around but this one is exceptionally good ! Slick well oiled team work makes this a excellent place to go, turnover of tables very quick without you feeling hurried, service is second to none and I mean that, it’s hard to find a place that is run like this in the UK, closest I’ve ever seen to this was in Milan. Totally service oriented, excellent choices from the menu, really good food served with a smile and care. Can’t rate it high enough, very busy on New Year’s Day but not showing any cracks or problems with service or food. Ok it’s not Michelin star food but it’s bloody good all the same ! Personally I would like to keep it to myself and friends but I guess The Forage is now known by many !! See you again soon.
GAVIN C
Food was OK. Not exceptional. Burger came well done due to a blend of meat but was pretty dry. We were seated at a table for 6 and mid way through our meal they asked if they could move us. Waiters kept buzzing around clearing plates as we finished making us feel very uncomfortable and rushed. They finally moved us to a 4 seat table. When we asked for a dessert menu the waiter indicated he would have to ask the front of house. At that point we just asked for the bill. Rushed service, average food and wouldn't recommend any friends or family going there.
MollyFluffyMills
Warm welcome when we came in. Fantastic Breakfasts- lots of choice from the traditional English and lots of healthy options. Friendly and attentive staff. Quick service and the food did not disappoint. We will definitely be back.
lodgey1234
Dined here last night and received a friendly, warm welcome from the staff. I had the penne aribiatta, and my husband had the 4 cheese pizza. Both dishes were served super quick and were tasty.
scott a
This was our second visit to the forage and I’ve got to say it was really nice, the first time we visited was just for a couple of drinks but this time we had breakfasts. The place has a nice friendly atmosphere, and the staff are attentive and pleasant. I had a Greek omelette and my wife had blackstone eggs with tea and I had a latte, the quality of the food is very good and the presentation is great. My coffee stayed hot for ages, but that’s because they pre warm the glasses with boiling water which is a nice touch. My wife absolutely loved the tea, in fact she liked it so much she asked the owners for the brand they use. We will definitely be going back as we only live about 20 minutes away, but if you are visiting the new forest anytime soon then I can highly recommend the forage. Total price for our visit was around £26
Mike48
Nice looking place well located in centre of the Main Street. Food seen on other tables looked good. Promptly offered menus; yes they do cream teas (scones, butter, cream and jam) but no they cannot do just scone and butter for some reason!! Decided to have a toasted tea cake and quite frankly it was awful - tasted like cardboard. Should really have sent it back especially as it was £4.50!! Coffee was ok but not up to the standard of other local establishments. Overall 2 coffees and two terrible tea cakes cost £16 which feels very expensive to me. Service was rather unfriendly and certainly not at all flexible Suggest you give this place a miss as you can do better a few doors away
Our first visit and certainly not our last on a day off work to visit the new forest from Brighton , excellent friendly welcome , we had a vegetarian breakfast and a jacket potato , both were excellent , good quality ingredients , piping hot , price was excellent , lovely Christmas decorations and friendly staff , thank you , we have found a gem of a place to eat when we visit the area , wish we had this in Brighton !
Tomahawk F
This will be one of my shortest reviews in my many years of writing for Tripadvisor, but then my recent visit to this lovely High Street establishment was indeed just a short one...but well worth it! ? In my post-media career, I am lucky enough to now spend a lot of time in Lyndhurst village, the de facto capital of The New Forest National Park..and I always joke that there are 3 main reasons to visit the village..: to take in the famous & heart-stopping Ferrari Garage at the bottom on the Ashurst Road, to peruse the superb Antiques Emporium at the top of the village...or visit the myriad pubs and privately operated eating houses & coffee shops that front the main 'drag'! That said, I'm usually 'on a mission' and so rarely have time to take in a coffee other than my usual rushed cuppa in the village's national chain coffee store..but last week, meeting up with a friend and having more time to linger than is usual, I took her down to The Forage, mid-High Street, which I had always heard great things about..but had never visited, alas! So it was certainly time to correct that wee error and pushing opening the door on a sunny but cold December morning, we were immediately confronted by a large, light & airy room full of happy coffee-takers, and as I started to scan the location for a free table, a very efficient Maitre d' was immediately by our side..and having indicated we would also like coffee, please, we were smoothly & efficiently ushered to a lovely & very comfortable-looking window table with two low arm chairs...perfect! Once comfortably seated and taking in the view of the pretty High Street from our window seat vantage point, our two Cappuccinos appeared almost immediately..and they were fantastic..hot & frothy and just what the doctor ordered..! A happy half hour of nattering ensured and, in between our 'busy' chat, I had an opportunity to take in our surroundings and notice a very clean and well run establishment, with a varied menu offering coffees, snacks & lunches, all of which seemed very popular with both locals & visitors alike..always a good sign..! As for me, our catch-up visit was sadly all-too brief... but based on the efficiency of the service received and the quality of the coffee taken, I shall be back again at some point for a longer visit..and looking forward to it..! ?
GoPlaces424127
A lovely meal . We had a warm welcome from Yvanne. Our meal was exceptional. Fabulous food and all staff were friendly.
AFMAN999
We visited here specifically for the pizza because they have a massive pizza oven we’re everything is wood fired, made fresh right beyond your eyes. There is a good range of flavours to chose from. I had the meaty and it was very flavourful topped with crunchy peppers and lovely Cumberland sausage! The garlic bread with cheese was also very good as were the chips! The waitress was very kind, welcoming and friendly - she even remembered us from last time! It’s a very modern, clean establishment with lots of light. There’s even a garden area where you can sit, drink and dine for some fresh air. The deserts are all showcased in a cabinet which shows of how decadent they look. I definitely recommend the toffee cheesecake: that was very good! Overall, this is a very good restaurant where everything is made fresh and homemade with lots of flavour. The friendly service and nice ambience also makes this a good place to come anytime breakfast, lunch or dinner! I will definitely be back!
Sightseer16102162259
Excellent service, delicious food, friendly and helpful staff. Very aware of the needs of those with different diets such as Coeliacs, Vegans etc.
Just the perfect cafe!! Lived in Lyndhurst my whole life and The Forage is the best cafe for lunches and brunches. Highly recommend- really fresh and large portions!
Really well priced good food. Staff are attentive and friendly. We had a veggie brunch late afternoon which was very welcome after a cold afternoon walk. Would have scored 5 but the breakfast tea I ordered was very weak.
It was amazing brunch with my sister. Very nice service, delicious food. P.S. We will definitely be back ??
This is normally a nice place to visit and we often drop in on our way through. However on this occasion (New Year's Day) we felt uncomfortable and rushed. 3 of us were squeezed in on 1 small square table, as soon as a family next to us started getting ready the staff swooped in and started rearranging tables and chairs, a chair was moved right next to me with no concern for my belongings or dogs, the family getting ready had nowhere to sort themselves out, I had a young child steadying her self on my leg while mum got her coat on. As we finished plates we wisked away, not waiting for the whole table to finish, I had taken my last sip of coffee and we were being asked "Have you finished", As soon as we stood up chairs were moved to other tables. The whole meal was ruined. The staff showed how little value and respect they have for their customers this day. You need to focus on the customers who have paid, before those who haven't. Would it have cost you anything to allow 3 minutes for us to get coats on before sitting others at our table? It has cost you not to allow this as I will not be returning or be bringing friends to your establishment. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants along that street.
It’s rare to come across an establishment as good as this, ok so there are plenty of “good “ cafe/restaurants around but this one is exceptionally good ! Slick well oiled team work makes this a excellent place to go, turnover of tables very quick without you feeling hurried, service is second to none and I mean that, it’s hard to find a place that is run like this in the UK, closest I’ve ever seen to this was in Milan. Totally service oriented, excellent choices from the menu, really good food served with a smile and care. Can’t rate it high enough, very busy on New Year’s Day but not showing any cracks or problems with service or food. Ok it’s not Michelin star food but it’s bloody good all the same ! Personally I would like to keep it to myself and friends but I guess The Forage is now known by many !! See you again soon.
Food was OK. Not exceptional. Burger came well done due to a blend of meat but was pretty dry. We were seated at a table for 6 and mid way through our meal they asked if they could move us. Waiters kept buzzing around clearing plates as we finished making us feel very uncomfortable and rushed. They finally moved us to a 4 seat table. When we asked for a dessert menu the waiter indicated he would have to ask the front of house. At that point we just asked for the bill. Rushed service, average food and wouldn't recommend any friends or family going there.
Warm welcome when we came in. Fantastic Breakfasts- lots of choice from the traditional English and lots of healthy options. Friendly and attentive staff. Quick service and the food did not disappoint. We will definitely be back.
Dined here last night and received a friendly, warm welcome from the staff. I had the penne aribiatta, and my husband had the 4 cheese pizza. Both dishes were served super quick and were tasty.
This was our second visit to the forage and I’ve got to say it was really nice, the first time we visited was just for a couple of drinks but this time we had breakfasts. The place has a nice friendly atmosphere, and the staff are attentive and pleasant. I had a Greek omelette and my wife had blackstone eggs with tea and I had a latte, the quality of the food is very good and the presentation is great. My coffee stayed hot for ages, but that’s because they pre warm the glasses with boiling water which is a nice touch. My wife absolutely loved the tea, in fact she liked it so much she asked the owners for the brand they use. We will definitely be going back as we only live about 20 minutes away, but if you are visiting the new forest anytime soon then I can highly recommend the forage. Total price for our visit was around £26
Nice looking place well located in centre of the Main Street. Food seen on other tables looked good. Promptly offered menus; yes they do cream teas (scones, butter, cream and jam) but no they cannot do just scone and butter for some reason!! Decided to have a toasted tea cake and quite frankly it was awful - tasted like cardboard. Should really have sent it back especially as it was £4.50!! Coffee was ok but not up to the standard of other local establishments. Overall 2 coffees and two terrible tea cakes cost £16 which feels very expensive to me. Service was rather unfriendly and certainly not at all flexible Suggest you give this place a miss as you can do better a few doors away
Restaurantji Recommends
Our first visit and certainly not our last on a day off work to visit the new forest from Brighton , excellent friendly welcome , we had a vegetarian breakfast and a jacket potato , both were excellent , good quality ingredients , piping hot , price was excellent , lovely Christmas decorations and friendly staff , thank you , we have found a gem of a place to eat when we visit the area , wish we had this in Brighton !
This will be one of my shortest reviews in my many years of writing for Tripadvisor, but then my recent visit to this lovely High Street establishment was indeed just a short one...but well worth it! ? In my post-media career, I am lucky enough to now spend a lot of time in Lyndhurst village, the de facto capital of The New Forest National Park..and I always joke that there are 3 main reasons to visit the village..: to take in the famous & heart-stopping Ferrari Garage at the bottom on the Ashurst Road, to peruse the superb Antiques Emporium at the top of the village...or visit the myriad pubs and privately operated eating houses & coffee shops that front the main 'drag'! That said, I'm usually 'on a mission' and so rarely have time to take in a coffee other than my usual rushed cuppa in the village's national chain coffee store..but last week, meeting up with a friend and having more time to linger than is usual, I took her down to The Forage, mid-High Street, which I had always heard great things about..but had never visited, alas! So it was certainly time to correct that wee error and pushing opening the door on a sunny but cold December morning, we were immediately confronted by a large, light & airy room full of happy coffee-takers, and as I started to scan the location for a free table, a very efficient Maitre d' was immediately by our side..and having indicated we would also like coffee, please, we were smoothly & efficiently ushered to a lovely & very comfortable-looking window table with two low arm chairs...perfect! Once comfortably seated and taking in the view of the pretty High Street from our window seat vantage point, our two Cappuccinos appeared almost immediately..and they were fantastic..hot & frothy and just what the doctor ordered..! A happy half hour of nattering ensured and, in between our 'busy' chat, I had an opportunity to take in our surroundings and notice a very clean and well run establishment, with a varied menu offering coffees, snacks & lunches, all of which seemed very popular with both locals & visitors alike..always a good sign..! As for me, our catch-up visit was sadly all-too brief... but based on the efficiency of the service received and the quality of the coffee taken, I shall be back again at some point for a longer visit..and looking forward to it..! ?
A lovely meal . We had a warm welcome from Yvanne. Our meal was exceptional. Fabulous food and all staff were friendly.
We visited here specifically for the pizza because they have a massive pizza oven we’re everything is wood fired, made fresh right beyond your eyes. There is a good range of flavours to chose from. I had the meaty and it was very flavourful topped with crunchy peppers and lovely Cumberland sausage! The garlic bread with cheese was also very good as were the chips! The waitress was very kind, welcoming and friendly - she even remembered us from last time! It’s a very modern, clean establishment with lots of light. There’s even a garden area where you can sit, drink and dine for some fresh air. The deserts are all showcased in a cabinet which shows of how decadent they look. I definitely recommend the toffee cheesecake: that was very good! Overall, this is a very good restaurant where everything is made fresh and homemade with lots of flavour. The friendly service and nice ambience also makes this a good place to come anytime breakfast, lunch or dinner! I will definitely be back!
Excellent service, delicious food, friendly and helpful staff. Very aware of the needs of those with different diets such as Coeliacs, Vegans etc.