IN BRIEF

Creative vegetarian/vegan dining in a pretty-as-a-picture setting.

WHY CHOOSE THIS RESTAURANT?

Sometimes it can feel like every menu in town is similar and that nothing entices you enough to force open your wallet. Forest provides the perfect alternative: a menu of plant-based favourites from years of experimentation combined with seasonal specialities and wholesome ingredients that spur the imagination, all served up in a dining room that’s intimate, charming and pretence-free.

ABOUT THE MENU

On offer is a series of sophisticated, beautifully compiled vegetarian dishes: the descriptions are playful but the intent and delivery are serious and artful. We started with a bowl of crumbed olives that married seamlessly with our Marceline méthode traditionelle. We supplemented this with a richly flavoured eggplant dip and then followed up with Forest’s now famous witloof tacos which are delicate and delicious with a quirky bite of spice. A highlight was the deceptively simple, seasonal asparagus, pan-fried and dressed with a sublime sticky radish vinegar. The mint garnish however, like icing on a cake, led to the brightest smile of the meal. The most creative dish was the soft purple kūmara which chef Plabita Florence drizzled with a Marmite cream and then blanketed with a duvet of perfectly prepared peas. This is delicious food that speaks directly to diners of any persuasion and demonstrates what a creative and skilful mindset can bring to a vegetarian table.

ABOUT THE CHEF

Chef/owner Plabita Florence came to Auckland foodies’ attention back in 2018 when she offered up a series of Forest-themed pop-ups. Next came an intimate dining room on Symonds Street where the 3-course vegetarian set menu changed weekly and getting a booking was near impossible. Today’s iteration of Forest feels like Plabita’s culinary coming of age. She and the team seem settled, with a strong yet relaxed sense of direction and a desire to satisfy and excite without compromising her commitment to making vegetables and grains meal mainstays. This is the food of passion and of heart from a chef who is entirely self-taught, a chef who is guided by instinct and her love of all things natural.

ABOUT THE TEAM

It’s a tight team at Forest. Plabita is the anchor in the kitchen assisted by chef Ashleigh Payne while Aoi Sato takes on the barista role.

OF NOTE

Check out the family-created crayon drawings on the walls.

ADDRESS: 243 Dominion Rd, Mt Eden, Auckland
Check website for opening hours
MAINS: $23 – $32
CONTACT: 021 0901 3352
WEBSITE: whatisforest.com