Forest Side

We came here for the 6 course lunch taster menu. The hotel is stunning and has gorgeous grounds. The food was obviously delicious and the chefs were very enthusiastic when coming to the table to describe the dishes. Our server seemed a little bit fed up (which fair enough everyone has bad days). And the cocktail i had was amazing. We were given a voucher for the restaurant / hotel as a wedding present last year so it was great that we finally got to use it!

Kohlrabi with cured and lightly smoked trout is served with a salsa verde made from garden herbs and cured trout roe. “Beetroots cooked in their own juice all day” might not seem like the kind of dish to set hearts aflutter, but this isn’t any old root veg. The humble vegetable is cooked all day in its own juice before being dehydrated to create a fudgy texture, and served with a chamomile-infused yoghurt. The seven-strong kitchen brigade, led by Head Chef Paul Leonard build complex, though unflashy, and precisely flavour-balanced dishes that are more filling than their small size suggests. Perhaps beef tartare with caviar and smoked bone marrow, a punchy salad of pickled vegetables and walnuts, tiny gnocchi with caramelized shallots and wild garlic.

Great location and service. The food was mostly great but there was one or two courses of the vegetarian tasting menu that were average to poor for a restaurant of this high calibre and price point. We left a scarf there on our visit, and although we called not long after we left they were unable to find it, and it was pretty difficult to communicate with them. Overall I do recommend it if you are after a meal for a special occasion. Nice people, you will be well looked after, and a beautiful setting.

The accommodations at Forest Side were outstanding in every way. The entrance to the lodge is absolutely beautiful and my anticipation as we were driving up was quite high. And then, we rounded the corner, and the Lodge came into view. It was breathtakingly stunning. My stay was perfect. From the beautiful ensuite room, to the delicious food, to the individuals that I was fortunate to meet that worked at the Lodge, I could not have asked for more in any regards. If you are staying in this beautiful area, this lodge is a must. I could easily spend a year there, exploring the beautiful area and relaxing in the impeccable accommodations. My stay....no words.

Food review only. Most worthy of its Michelin star and could work to the next level. We are very used to continental michelin restaurants, and this rates amongst the top 1 and even 2 stars. Outstanding preparation and use of locally grown (own gardens are clearly the pride of the chef) ingredients. Service is as one would expect excellent and also friendly, so not stuffy. In addition, the setting of the hotel and the gardens is beautiful and worthy of our next overnight sejour. The variety and colours used within the dishes were fabulous. The mixture of tastes brings the best out of every dish and not one ingredient let's down any other. We did not take wine, so I can not comment on that. Highly recommended in our opinion.