As its name states, the building which shelters La Forge was, half a century ago, a forge. The authentically decorated vaulted entrance and dining room are simply beautiful. A meal here is visual bliss for fans of old deco and stone walls.
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La Forge is a very popular restaurant in this area, simply because the food is good, the atmosphere pleasant and the price reasonable for the quality of the food.
Staff here are efficient but discreet, making the restaurant perfect for a business meal. I was invited here a couple of weeks ago and I must say that I was rather impressed. It's difficult to know if the service is always this good, or if it was the fact that there were a couple of foreign journalists in our group, that made it really "tip top", as we say here. However, food wise, we did take the standard menu, so I guess the food is of a reliable quality.
Although the restaurant is situated in the heart of town, it is superbly positioned, just off the main street, with a tall gate opening onto a large private car park. The character building opens onto a shady courtyard, where guests eat in the hot season. Flowered wooden wine barrels and palm trees make it a very picturesque place.
In the entrance, there is a bar on the right, and a settee on the left with an impressively huge fire blower, which is now used as a table (see photo). Through a doorway, the dinning room is superbly lit to make up for the few number of windows. A gigantic fire place releases that authentic forge-like ambiance. The vaulted stone ceiling is tremendous! A shear piece of artwork.
We had reserved a table, which was apparently a good idea, as the restaurant was full, despite its large size. The long tables must seat approximately 80 customers at a time. We were cosily sat near one of three windows, on the unique small round table of the restaurant. There was no music, just the chatter of a full house. I'd say the clientèle here was rather retired folk that day, but then it was a Friday midday during the school term.
The service was perfect, once we'd chosen our menu (we all chose the 12€ menu, complete with starter, main course and dessert), and the wine (Faugères AOC local wine of course), the bread arrived along with home made mini sausage rolls and olives to nibble on during our wait for the first course, which was the only longish, but reasonable, wait throughout the meal. We were all served at the same time, which was very nice timing indeed throughout the meal.
Our 12€ menu offered 3 choices for each dish, I chose the salad with melted goats cheese, a beautifully cooked "bavette" steak, and for dessert .... an "assortiment du chef", 5 or 6 different mini cakes (that was the easy choice!). The food was fresh, nicely presented and perfectly cooked.
This restaurant must make a perfect wedding reception choice or a family reunion type of event. As a business meal it was perfect, and the journalists fun, so it left me (and them I hope!) an excellent overall impression. If you get here, just don't forget to reserve a table!
I'd take my mother here!!!!
rasfare, 25/10/2008 18:50 .
