Travel Journal: The Forge

The Forge

The Forge has been a favorite South Florida restaurant of mine since I was a teenager and it is always on my list for out-of-towners when they ask where to eat. It is a Miami Beach icon, the decor is breathtaking, the food, excellent, and the crowd, head-turning.  So, when we were invited to dinner there a few weeks ago with a fabulous couple, we didn’t pass it up. We hadn’t been back since the renovation was completed last year and we couldn’t wait to peek inside.  It was gorgeous. Each piece of furniture was more unique than the next and they were mixed perfectly to compliment each other. Thankfully, the famous stained glass walls were still a-glow and the service was as stellar as always.

The Forge

I was loving the private room that seated 16 people at a square table made of three slabs of wood from the same tree, each weighing 3500 lbs.  Surrounding the table were dramatic white leather chairs with extremely high backs and a wooden bench by the floor to ceiling glass wall. White House Chandeliers hung overhead from the Madison Era.

Once we finally sat down (and calmed down) after touring each room, our dinner choices included:

Lobster, Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich toasted brioche, chopped fresh peanuts, onion marmalade, diced chilled lobster

Crispy Corn Ravioli dusted with parmesan

Lobster Bisque topped with diced lobster & sour cream

Grilled Shrimp Waffle caviar, basil butter sauce

Three Mushroom Risotto roasted shiitake, portabello and porcini, alba white truffle oil

“Coffee And Eggs” coffee crusted ribeye, goat cheese frittata

The Forge Soufflé s’mores flavor

While the Lobster PB&J and the Coffee & Eggs were interesting and quite tasty, I fell in love with the Crispy Corn Ravioli and the Three Mushroom Risotto.  My mouth just watered.  Our wonderful night ended with the s’mores soufflé that was worth the wait.  The Forge, once again, was fantastic.

The Forge originally opened in 1969 and was renovated in 2010 when it was awarded 3.5 out of four stars (Excellent) by The Miami Herald. Shortly after, the City of Miami Beach declared June 8, 2010 as “FORGE DAY”. The Forge has also been awarded Best Chef, Dewey Losasso 2010 & Best Wine Selection in a Restaurant 2010 by Miami New Times, The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences Five Star Diamond Award 2003 -2009, Wine Spectator Best of the Best Award of Excellence 2003-2009, DIRONA Distinguished Restaurants of North America Award 2003-2004, The Chaines des Rotissurs Plate 2 Times, and the American Express Travel Holiday Award 8 Times.

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