Reviews Forge & Co.

Decided to try forge & co as they accepted my tastecard for 50% off food. And they meant 50% - it applied to starters, sharers, mains, desserts and sides - basically everything but the chateaubriand which is understandable! We had warm flatbread with homous, ratatouille and yoghurt dips and beef croquettes. Both pretty good although fairly on the small side. However the mains made up for that with a huge burger and fries and veal escalope with a side of rocket and Parmesan salad. Very full after and no room for dessert! Menu also had various steak options and fish. Nice atmosphere in the restaurant and have read they do a good boozy brunch at the weekends. Also good attentive service.

I’ve got a bit of a love-hate relationship with Shoreditch. It’s home to so many hidden gems, but my patience is often worn thin by the abundance of the nauseatingly kitsch, and establishments that seem to be trying a little too hard (the new porridge cafe, anyone?). So I was more than a little sceptical when I was invited down to Forge & Co, a new restaurant on Shoreditch High Street that markets itself as ‘a unique social establishment in the heart of Shoreditch’, with a ‘canteen’ and a ‘lounge’ focusing on the ‘artisan’ and ‘urbane’.

Forge & Co located on Shoreditch High St offers a unique new social workspace for interested takers. Across four floors, Forge & Co lends it's offices, hot desks, meeting rooms and event spaces to growing businesses without the burden of overheads. While on the ground floor their Canteen serves a contemporary menu from their British brasserie.

Set in a 1950's Modernist building, their reasonably priced menu focuses on seasonal modern British cuisine that is locally sourced. They dish up a varied menu across breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner menu. There is also a friendly nod to the traditional English Sunday roast offering a selection of roast meats with all the trimmings. They also offer a great selection of share platters and drinks that include bespoke East London cocktails (of course!), a friendly and affordable wine list, and brewery-fresh local craft beers to cater to the after work drinks crowd.

Leek & Caerphilly cheese croquettes (£5.00) melted in the mouth. Beautifully crumbled, they were soft, creamy and cheesy. The mango and peach puree added a lovely sweetness, cutting through the fattiness of the croquettes.

The duck rillettes, toast & cornichons (£7.50) arrived filled with large doses of shredded duck. This was richly flavoured and textured with duck pieces however this was let down with the bread being slightly stale.

The smoked mackerel, potato salad & poached egg (£7.50) was overall a beautifully flavoured dish. The smoked mackerel enhanced the overall flavour of the potato salad, adding that extra depth of smokey flavour to each bite. With the addition of fresh herbs this gave the dish a lovely lift.

The signature Forge ox heart burger (£12.00) is not for the faint hearted. I have not tried ox heart before and I would describe the taste itself as robust, rich and unusually gamey in flavour. This arrived topped with melted mature cheddar, spinach, streaky bacon aioli and hand cut fries. I also asked for extra bacon and egg to be added for an extra £1.50 each.

For dessert, the poached pear, red wine reduction, vanilla ice cream (£5.00) was a perfect winter warmer. The poached pear was deliciously spicy, citrusy and aromatic. The warmth of the pear juxtaposed nicely with the cool vanilla ice cream. We did find that the dessert was rather bare and could have benefited with a pool of that delicious red wine reduction.

Chocolate fondant, vanilla ice cream (£5.00) was decadently rich and delivered on that expectant gooey centre. Well flavoured this was another delicious dessert for the winter months.

Overall, given the location and the quality of food on offer this is very reasonably priced. The service whilst friendly, it felt very understaffed and lead to a lot of errors. Otherwise this was a great little find in the area.

LDN town, you got to love Shoreditch its one of the best places to live in London. This part of town is live all day and night long, filled with trendy fashionistas, the creative cloud of “IT” design companies and coolest people around. There are endless choices of destinations to go to and food restaurants popping up. Forge & Co is just one of the places that’s completely a unique social space, with a Canteen and lounge with a live DJ and bar filled craft beers, urbane cocktails and many more.

Forge & Co has that classic industrial style warehouse look and feel to it, but manages to still feel really cosy, bit of an interior decorating marvel given that it’s pretty spacious inside. There’s a bar to prop up if you’re here later than brunch (or what the hell, at brunch even), couches and some more firm seating as you can also use Forge as a bit of a workspace.

Husband has his priorities bent on a drink and is eagerly perusing the cocktail menu before settling on the Bloody Mary. I opt for the more sedate option of the freshly squeezed orange juice and although mine comes without the fun addition of vodka, we’re both pretty pleased with ourselves. His Bloody Mary is a thing of beauty, spicy, good solid celery to punch on and a bartender who wasn’t afraid of dialling up some flavours. They’ve got Allpress coffee too, but this is pretty much the only nutrition I’ve had all week so I stick to my juice very virtuously.

You can go with the traditional brunching favourites of eggs or as the neighbouring table, go rogue and order the famed Ox heart burger, but we’re traditionalists and it’s eggs over here thank you very much. Full English for hubby and I couldn’t resist the sound of scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and sourdough toast.

Service is excellent – they noticed Hubby wasn’t eating his Black Pudding (he very pointedly moved it off his plate) so they whisked the offending item away, even chiding him for not warning them so they could have swapped it out earlier and bring over all the condiments our little hearts might desire. My scrambled eggs are well cooked and not rubbery and more importantly taste like eggs and not doused in cream, which while I know makes them creamier, makes for a rather uncomfortably filling breakfast option! If I dig deep for some complaints, it would be that I like my sourdough to be well toasted rather than the more breaded variety that arrived.

I’m barely able to finish my hefty portion and they’re a bit concerned about why I’ve not finished but I have to say it’s simply a lack of space, not any judgement on the excellent breakfast. On previous visits to Spitalfields, I’ve frequented Dishoom for a weekend brunch, but they have some stiff competition in the way of Forge.

I’ve got a bit of a love-hate relationship with Shoreditch. It’s home to so many hidden gems, but my patience is often worn thin by the abundance of the nauseatingly kitsch, and establishments that seem to be trying a little too hard (the new porridge cafe, anyone?)

So I was more than a little sceptical when I was invited down to Forge & Co, a new restaurant on Shoreditch High Street that markets itself as ‘a unique social estalishment in the heart of Shoreditch’, with a ‘canteen’ and a ‘lounge’ focusing on the ‘artisan’ and ‘urbane’.

Never one to judge an establishment by it’s neighbourhood (or, in fact, its website – the best places should focus on what goes on the plate), we went down on a Tuesday evening to see what all the fuss was about.

We were invited down, and had booked our table ahead of time. Forge & Co usually operates a membership policy that’s more than a little perplexing – it can be arranged on your first visit, and is free and available to all. Whether that’s just to create interest and buzz is unsure, but it’s worth popping down just in case the current policy changes to become more exclusive.

We arrived for 7pm, and there were plenty of tables available in the canteen section, though the bar/lounge area was beginning to fill up considerably. The clientele was varied – the usual artsy media types you tend to find around Shoreditch were laughing and drinking away, while on the next table a rather grumpy looking student on her fourth latte seemed increasingly agitated by the growing noise around her.

The atmosphere at Forge & Co is relaxed, and they seem to be getting it pretty spot on in terms of creating a social space for those to work, bring their laptops and plug in, while still being an open environment great for a light dinner or brunch.

The canteen area reminded me of a trendy, modern ski lodge – the copper and clean lines combined with rustic accents like the log piles and exposed brick created an atmosphere conducive to relaxation, a great way to unwind after a long day at the office.

I trusted our friendly and attentive waiter with the wine choice for the evening, and he chose well – I really enjoyed the Australian Malbec (The Listening Station, 2010).

So far, so good – we enjoyed the wine as we turned our attentions to the most important part of the evening – the menu.

The All-Day Menu at Forge & Co is short, sweet and simple, serving locally-sourced produce where possible. It’s an eclectic mix of usual British fare – steaks, rump of lamb, chicken, as well as several dishes where they’ve taken a more exotic or unusual twist on the classics, like their signature ox heart burger, or tandoori tofu salad.

Forge & Co would be a great place to go with a mixed group, as there’s something to please almost everyone – the safe, staple choices for those who are particular about food, while some of the more eccentric dishes are sure to please adventurous foodies.

For my starter, I went for the Dublin Bay prawns with caper butter. I absolutely adore capers, and I’ve never thought of having them with prawns – I usually throw them in with salads, or as part of a puttanesca sauce. My boyfriend went for the roasted beetroot, walnut and Ragstone goats cheese salad.

I thoroughly enjoyed my starter, although not for the reasons I’d originally expected. As informed by my waiter as I ordered, the Dubliners arrived with heads and shells intact, beautifully arranged on sea of sauteed spinach, purple sprouting broccoli and delicately placed avocado slivers which were carefully fanned out on my plate.

Having been brought up by a Japanese mother, I’m most definitely not squeamish when it comes to my seafood, or any type of food for that matter – I’d happily look my food in the face before I eat it (which is probably something that would come up in a Psychopath Test).

The Dublin Bay prawns were somewhat stringy, and not big enough to make it worth fiddling around with the crab cracker for the amount of flesh I was able to retrieve using the utensils I had. This might be because I’ve been completely spoiled from my recent trip to the crab markets in Kep, and I couldn’t help but wish that they’d substituted the prawns for a larger variety.

The caper butter, however, was devastatingly good. The salty tartness of the caper butter, combined with the buttery texture of the avocado and the flavour of the garlic used to saute the greens completely saved the dish for me. I would eat the greens with the caper butter as a starter alone, it was that good – and completely made up for any disappointment I’d felt after grappling with the prawns.

The roasted beetroot and goats cheese salad was visually stunning – the warm golden beetroot was served with toasted walnuts and drizzled with a balsamic reduction. The heat from the roasted beetroot warmed the goats cheese through, making this a perfect winter starter ideal for recreating at home.

For my main course I opted for one of the more unusual dishes on the menu – the seared tuna with charred rocket and okra, served with a ponzu sauce. Ponzu is one of my favourite condiments – a Japanese combination of soy sauce and citrus juice, such as lemon or yuzu which is perfect with meat, fish and tofu.

Still riding high on my New Years Resolution (to eat more vegetables), I ordered the main with a side of brussels sprouts with Camarthen lardons.

The tuna was seared perfectly for my tastes – rare enough in the middle to remind me of aburi (broiled) sashimi, which is one of my favourite ways to eat tuna. This dish also rekindled my love of okra, the almost nutty and sticky texture was excellent charred, particularly with the lemony ponzu.

The brussels sprouts were also delicious – I only wish these had been around during the dreaded Christmas dinners of my childhood. The combination of my main dish and side, however, was rather odd – although lovely on their own, I wouldn’t go for this bizarre combination again, and should’ve opted for the winter greens (or the chips, if I’m being honest).

Andrew went for the Forge Ox heart burger – as Forge & Co’s signature dish, he didn’t really have a choice in the matter. The Forge Ox heart burger patty consists of the spey side of beef and the ox heart, garnished with spinach, mature cheddar, streaky bacon aioli and chips. Optional extras included avocado, egg or bacon. Andrew got his with extra bacon, and the Forge Ox burger was served on a brioche bun topped with a tiny gherkin.

I sampled the patty, which was moist, and liberally seasoned – a little on the salty side, which I adore, but could divide opinion.

For pudding, we were brought an adorable looking chocolate fondant. It tried making eyes at me, but I managed to resist its charms.

Once it was ripped into, the chocolate filling started bleeding everywhere, sparking off gleeful quotes of “it’s ******* molten” (apologies for the language, but we’ve only just managed to watch Chef).

Due to its lack of platelets the fondant managed to make a mess of the table, which only served to revive Andrew’s one man crusade against food being served on slate slabs (which, to be fair, isn’t the wisest choice for a melty, runny, chocolatey dessert).

After our delicious meal we made a beeline for the bar – an aesthetically pleasing and gorgeously lit set with copper accents. The Clover Club cocktail, a delicious blend of tart raspberry with Tanqueray, lemon and made foamy and almost creamy by the addition of egg white was the perfect ending to a pleasing sensory dining experience on so many levels – both visually and orally.

The Forge & Co exceeded all my expectations, and is a wonderful space for dining, working, socialising and relaxing in general. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal, and will definitely be popping down with my laptop in the future.

An unassuming Friday invitation takes me to Forge and Co- a place I've passed many a time on strolls through Shoreditch and always appears to be humming with life. Super friendly staff take us through to a great table. There's just enough buzz to have atmosphere but not to overwhelming that a conversation isn't possible. We quickly order drinks (a lovely carafe of light crisp white) and peruse the menu. I'm immediately drawn to the beef and oz heart burger that I've been told about. No questions about what I'm going to order. My pals orders the steak. The vibe is great, long tables, an industrial vibe but with s touch of class. Perfect spot for a night out with friends- the kind of place that feels more expensive than the menu actually is (always a win!). There's a bar at the front with couches and perches. Great if you just want to drop by for a drink, but when the food catches your eye you'll be wanting a table! The burger looks small but mighty. A tower held together by a stake through the middle. The steak seems to be cooked to perfection- not too far over or under done on the requested medium rare. We tuck in and grab a carafe of Zinfandel- perfect paring with the burger. And an amazing drop. The burger is delicious and melts in my mouth. The fries could be a little crisper but round out the meal. The steak as I mentioned was cooked to perfection- and we somehow manage to tuck it all away and order dessert. I have the poached pear with a red wine reduction. It's amazing. The right mix of crunch and softness which so many places get wrong. We roll on out of Forge and Co delightfully filled to the brim with tastiness. I'll definitely be heading back soon- that burger is not something you can only have once!!

With digital and creative professions on the rise, freelance and small-business-owning Londoners are increasingly looking for places to settle down, plug in, and work for the day. Forge & Co does a terrific job of combining a co-working space with a "canteen" and bar area for socializing when all the work's done.

When I *visited the Canteen on Monday, I was impressed with the enthusiastic and friendly service (virtually unheard of in London) and, especially, the interiors: designed as an entirely open-plan space, the bar area is denoted with soft chairs, low tables, and a beautiful long bar of glittering spirits. The Canteen section houses several long, communal tables and more intimate seating designed for two people, while artwork hangs on the walls.

We asked for cocktails (non-alcoholic for me, since I'm participating in dry January - ugh) instead of the bottle of wine we were generously offered and were immediately accommodated. The bar manager knocked up the most delicious berry cocktail I've had as of late, which tasted like a Starburst - amazing.

Then we turned our beady eyes to the menu: it's varied (from sharing plates to salads), traditional (corn and herb fed chicken), and even brow-raising (Forge & Co are well known for their Ox heart burger).

To start, we settled for the Dublin Bay prawns with caper butter, as I've been really missing Pacific Northwest seafood lately. When they arrived, I was surprised at the size of the prawns (it's known a the Norway lobster) but excitedly cracked the first one open. Unfortunately, it was undercooked. So much so, that we (rather embarrassingly) had to ask for it to be sent back to the kitchen (which I never do!). When they're done, prawns should have a meaty, whitish texture (prawns this big taste almost like lobster, hence the Norway lobster tag). This was transluscent and tasted strongly of the sea (read: fishy).

But Forge & Co. dealt with this brilliantly - we were quickly offered another choice, with the chef agreeing that they were undercooked. Again, virtually unheard of in London restaurants (usually the customer is blamed, as I was at the upscale Trullo in Islington, when I asked for the over-salted samphire to be replaced ... only to be rebutted with, "Madam, samphire is *naturally* salty." Sigh). So, I was thoroughly impressed.

Our mains of 28 day Speydside ribeye steak arrived with chips and salse verde sauce for me, bearnaise sauce for him. While I wasn't completely wild about my salse verde or the steak itself (and my husband thought his bearnaise tasted "off"), the brussel sprouts we ordered as a side were absolutely delicious. They were the perfect accompaniment to the steak, actually, and the salty lardons offset the bitterness of the sprouts well.

After having a huge hit (the cocktails) and a couple of meh-misses (the prawns and the steak), our dinner was suitably redeemed by a gorgeous chocolate fondant, served with a scoop of chestnut ice cream - a winning combination that you really can't go wrong with. The chocolate was perfectly melted in the middle, and the plating was so pretty, I felt a little bad digging into it.

Although the food has, perhaps, a bit of room for improvement, I wouldn't hestitate to return to Forge & Co for drinks after work, snacks or dessert, or to use it as a place to work during the day. I love that you can drop in and out as you'd like, and that the space was really designed with the user in mind.

A fun evening.

*I was generously hosted by Forge & Co. and Zomato UK (thank you!) but all opinions are my own.

Love the atmosphere and the food. Service not so great. Trendy place. Great for brunch. I had the avocado toast with poached eggs.

Was in a hurry so wanted a quick bite to eat. Was in and out within 20-30mins. Ordered soup as I figured that'd be quick to serve, and the server recommended the sweet potato in addition. I am always one for an up-sell, and this was 100% worth it. Perfectly cooked, delicious with a yoghurt topping. One of those delightful moments where you bite into something and think "Woah.". Was initially concerned as there was a rowdy table of Irish lads, but overall nice vibe, servers were great if not a bit slow as it was only 30% full.

The brunch was one the best meals I have had anywhere. The coffes, beer and cocktails were also really good. We were a party of six and all of us were really happy with it. Staff were really friendly as well. I wish I had taken a picture of the brunch to add here. I highly recommend. Anders

A lovely, trendy bar and restaurant. Food was fab, staff were lovely and attentive. The venue had a nice atmosphere, spacious and background music played by a DJ but not so loud that you can't hear each other. I'd recommend and will be visiting again soon!

Delicious brunch, had the eggs royale and the fried egg with sweet potato hash and pulled pork. The second dish was particularly good. Got there around 11:30, this was a good time to go on a Saturday, it got much busier and quite noisy later. Nice decor and feel, clean bright and airy space. Possibly a bit overpriced but tasty all the same

Never mind the workspace (which I’m sure is fantastic) but go for the food!! The restaurant is serving absolutely banging small plates of perfectly executed food, steak that was perfection, crispy crockets, charred broccoli, fiery grilled king prawns, truffled Mac n cheese, what a discovery. You might be thinking these plates aren’t anything new but you won’t find them cooked like anywhere else.

surprisingly good food - simple and very tasty. Friendly staff - seen a lot of reviews here about speed of service but never had issues when I've been there, and ultimately, this is shoreditch and not the city or tourist west end so what's the rush? If the food is good, and the service is great and the space is lovely then relax. Enjoy.