Forest Hotel — Restaurant in Sydney

Worst dinner experience ever. Average food with some very rude staff.

I decided to go out with my kids (2 & 5yo) out for dinner without much planning and thought "why not going to the local pub?!"

We arrived without a reservation - Friday 6pm probably not the smartest thing to do - but the lady in the entry was really lovely and told me I could use the table which had a booking for 5:30pm as it was already 6pm and they haven't arrived. "Lucky us" I thought.

Sat down and check the menu. After I ordered (around 6:10pm) the same lovely lady came to tell me that the guests had now arrived. I said I had already ordered the food and she said they were ok to wait at the bar. After our food arrived, she came twice again while I was having my dinner. I said I would be ok to move once we have eaten -there were now 2 tables available 2 meters away. She asked in a very nice way though.

After that the manager came - another young lady, very rude and with bad manners (completely the opposite of the other lady) to tell me I HAD TO MOVE. I told her I would happily do so after we finished eating and asked if she could please leave us to have dinner in peace as this was the 4th time we got interrupted. She said I had to move as the guests wanted this table. I asked why couldn't they have the other table - made sense as they were 4 folks (no kids). She said no as they had initially booked it. I replied "yes but they didn't arrive for over half an hour" and she said that didn't matter. So if you arrive past 30 mins after your reservation time doesn't matter but if you are given a table and are having dinner (mum alone with 2 small kids) can be kicked out of the table while having dinner?

I didn't move and asked again if we could please leave us have dinner as this experience was being very unpleasant.

In summary, we were treated very poorly by the pub's manager. Food is average and very highly priced - $30 for a price of salmon with salad.

BELROSE HOTEL is much better. Has very convenient weekly specials on the menu and a massive playground for the kids. I have never had a bad experience there and we go quite often. Sadly Forest Hotel is our local pub but unlikely we recommend it or come here again...

I and my friends and family had the most awesome Christmas Lunch today 2021. WOW! First of all - the staff were so friendly and welcoming - and you know when it is genuine. We hit the jackpot today. Engaging, smiling, happy and just plain excellent service. The Christmas Menu was amazing.- absolutely no joke here! We started off with the 'starters' - bread/rolls of a variety with butter (and I love my butter), cheese platter with all the condiments of a cheese platter - salami etc etc etc - you get the idea - then the 'entree' - prawns (and big fresh tasty prawns) oysters, rocket/sweet potato salad/ walnut salad, corn on the cob and so on and so on. Every sauce or dip was accompanied with every serving too. We actually thought this was the Meal. But no - the food kept coming. Next: the Main - fresh and deliciously served turkey, lamb, ham and baked veggies - potato, carrots - I cannot remember all the meat and veggies because I was pretty much in a food coma by now hahaha. It was that good. Then......... the dessert - again a variety of small portions of carrot cake, pavlova and chocolate and .........just deliciousness - And a free coffee to polish this wonderfull day off. The wine/beer and cocktail selection was spot on. I have wined and dined across many places in Sydney and I have to say - Thank you. The staff - all of you - deserve a bloody good pay and Management have done an exceptional job - because if your staff are happy and enthusiastic as today showed - you're doing something right. Ohhhhhhhh - the best part was every table were given rolls of alfoil to wrap up any leftover food - from the meat/prawns/bread/cake/ cheese to take home or gift to someone else for the next day. How absolutely wonderful is that! The food was prepped, cooked, baked and served with passion so it is important to not throw away 'leftovers' and share this good fortune. I truly hope you get an abundance of local and travellers to visit and keep that alfoil...

Beer selection is important for me and here they're just ok, they have the usual macro lagers along with little creatures / 4 pines pale / coopers green, no craft beer on tap. It's pretty much identical to the range on offer at the Belrose hotel or the Steyne.

Food is unspectacular and kinda expensive for what it is. I had the salmon which was OK while my partner had the superfood salad which needed a lot more love (the grapes and trail mix gave it children's play lunch vibe). My 12 month old liked the spaghetti and the previously mentioned grapes. It's better than the Forestville RSL but only just and a long way behind the Belrose hotel.

They have an all kids must wear shoes policy so my 12 month old who doesn't walk yet and just had socks on was kicked out of the play area, it didn't really concern me because it's designed for bigger kids but the policy doesn't make sense given that kids are going to lick / touch everything with their hands anyway

The beer garden is really great as are the outdoor eating areas, well done here.

Staff were all bubbly and friendly.

Would I go back? Absolutely! It's a great place for drink (although we're not exactly spoilt for choice around here) but in practice we'll probably go the the Belrose hotel most of the time because the food is lot better and cheaper plus they cater slightly better for...