The Forge

One of my best dining experiences ever. I had the stuffed maine lobster and it was the best lobster I’ve ever eaten. Huge entrance, gorgeous perfect modern dining room, and separate PDR. AND bar. So much to look at and its a romantic setting. Also had sautéed mushrooms and champagne, service was excellent. Great experience and can’t wait to come back again

This place is is not only has amazing food, it has history and so much style. My husband and I enjoyed our perfectly cooked filet mignon. Especially the ceviche appetizer. YUM! and we had a wonderful waitress named Alexandra, She was so sweet, attentive and not pushy at all. She also gave us a tour of the place. We couldn’t believe how big this place was And how much history it has. We cannot wait to go back!

You cannot leave Miami without eating here ! The service and quality of the food is truly top notch. There are not many places like this in Miami beach, truly one of a kind. Please try the Kale salad, you won’t be disappointed.

Amazing happy hour on Fridays. I had so much fun. They have live music, $ 50 bottles of Veuve and complementary apps at the bar. Our bartenders Richard and Carlos are fantastic! I will be back… with more friends. You have to check this place out. The food is outstanding.

The doors of The Forge’s gastronomic temple open to reveal a sumptuous and sophisticated décor.
Underneath the gilded woodwork and sparkling crystal chandelier, the history of Modern American cuisine continues to be written by owner Shareef Malnick and his talented team.
The Forge enjoys a grand tradition of innovation, excellence, presentation and service. Tonight’s dinner did not disappoint.
We ordered a lot: steak tartare, tuna tartare, truffle Mac and Cheese, Lamb, Pastrami duck, Steaks. Sides of green beans and asparagus. Three deserts: chocolate soufflé, sorbet and fresh fruits.
All great.
All under the watchful and charming eye of Mr. Malnick– making the experience one of the best we have had– anywhere in the world.
It’s amazing– and will we be back?
As soon as possible.

What a beautiful restaurant! The service, ambiance, food, everything was on point. My parents and I took advantage of their $ 75 Veuve bottle special on Friday nights. Ended up ordering 3! We also had some ahi tacos that were so soft they melted in your mouth, jerk chicken, and chicken skewers. They even had a guy singing live and were spinning some pretty good beats. Very upscale place, will have to try their steak next time.

Came here for my 30^th birthday with my boyfriend. The ambiance was great and the food even better. The waitress was very helpful & knew a lot of history on the restaurant. Great experience.

The Forge is a beautiful place! The different types of luxury chairs and couches remind me of Alice in Wonderland for some reason, haha. I love it, though!
Fiancé and I split the ribeye, which was a perfect idea since we also ordered a shrimp appetizer, truffle mac & cheese, and dessert! The shrimp app didn’t mention that it came wrapped in bacon, so that was a nice surprise. We love bacon! The truffle mac & cheese was deliciously good. We had to keep commenting on how good it was with every other bite. The ribeye was just as good, and I think we kept commenting on that, too! Cooked just as we requested, juicy, flavorful.
When we received our entrée, the server informed us that if we wanted one of their house souffles, we’d have to decide at that point in time because it takes 30 minutes to make. As soon as he was done rattling off the flavors, I already knew I wanted the s’mores one. Graham cracker crust, chocolate soufflé, and melted marshmallow. YES.
When our soufflé arrived, it actually didn’t come with the marshmallow, so I was a bit disappointed, but thought maybe he had heard our order wrong and gave us just the plain chocolate instead. It wasn’t a big deal because it still tasted amazing, so I didn’t mention it. I appreciated the fact that our server noticed it and immediately remedied it. It tasted even better with the marshmallow!
All throughout, our service was just as great and considerate. I’m really glad fiancé picked this place for our anniversary date. :)

The forge is an absolutely stunning restaurant. So many selections of wine & drinks! One of Miami oldest restaurants. You must have dessert here! Try a glass of their Moët nectar! The service was amazing and the food to die for

Hands down one of the best dinner experiences of my life!!! Best service, food, atmosphere and experience. Our server Neil made the experience very enjoyable! Must go if you are in the Miami area. Definitely go for a tour after your meal, unbelievable. And definitely get the soufflé

Amazing restaurant! The waitress wasn’t as enthusiastic as I would of liked but she was nice.

Excellent!
First off, they serve a bread basket with this divine butter– OMG delicious!
We were a party of three, and all had the Creekstone Farms NY strip steak with the 4 pepper rub/​crust. Also added the ginger Yuzu butter. We ordered the truffle Mac and cheese pot pie (side). Our server, Mary, recommended the haricot vert with szechwan sauce as another side.
The steak was amazing– if anyone in your party wants to try a butter, just get one and share it bc it’s plenty.
Highly recommend the pepper rub!
I personally do not like Mac and cheese at all– yes, you heard that right– but this was amazing! If mac n cheese was made like this all the time, I would’ve eaten it as a child.
The haricot verts were delicious as well– took the leftovers home ;)
Two sides were plenty for the table.
For dessert we ordered the smores soufflé and the blacksmith pie (big enough for 2 – 3, better than the soufflé). My husband had a cappuccino, which was also great.
Attentive service, not too pushy, not too spotty, very helpful accommodating and knowledgable of the menu/​history of the restaurant.
At the end of our meal (around midnight) we mentioned how we had wanted a tour of the restaurant –recommended by a friend. Mary made it happen! It was the cherry on top! Really amazing history and art pieces in the restaurant, you must go and find out for yourself!
Seriously a complete experience at the Forge tonight, will definitely come back next time I’m in town!

Class, indulgence, and stellar service make this experience as beautiful as the restaurant. Gold ceilings and magnificent chandeliers make the interior impossible not to just stare at throughout the entire meal.
From the moment we sat down, the service was on point. From the bread service to the tableside Caesar salad to the main server, it was nothing short of impressive.
My husband and I celebrated an anniversary here and decided to keep it classic. We ordered the tableside Caesar which was authentic and fresh. Also, it was quite fun to watch the salad be constructed in front of our eyes. Not too creamy, and very fresh!
We then split the bone-​in porterhouse. This was 34 ounces of stellar bliss. One of, if not, the best steak we can remember having in Miami. It’s definitely a lot of steak, but that bone adds incredible flavor and The Forge did it quite well! For the side, we ordered the loaded potato which was also delicious, but with all that steak, it was definitely just a sideshow.
Overall, if you’re looking for a delicious meal in a gorgeous setting, don’t skip this classic Miami joint. It’s perfect for a date night, a special occasion, or simply to indulge in a classy Miami scene.

Top place lovely elegant classy taken some adjustment to losing the old place anyway good date place food looks good but not always perfect and service just depends on waiter mostly not that good on wait staff

This has to be one of my favorite restaurants. The servers are so great with people. They make you feel welcomed and go out of their way to make your night memorable. The highlights of my night were the tuna tartar which has to be the best I’ve had. Also, their filet mignon which was outstanding.
The restaurant itself is a work of art. Is so beautiful. Our waiter gave us a tour and gave us the background on everything in the restaurant; from the chandeliers to the amazing, and massive, oak tree table located in one of their private dining rooms. I will definitely be going back whenever I’m in Miami!

The Forge is a Miami classic and an institution that never goes out of style. The place is beautiful, the music on DJ nights is great, the drinks are awesome and the food is great! Whether you go during Miami Spice or on a regular night, this place never disappoints. It’s a good place to have a drink at the bar and watch people or to have a full on sit down dinner. I absolutely love their bathrooms with many mirrors and vanities with chairs. This is a great place to come back to at least once or twice a year.

The service is the best. What you’d expect but sometime expectations aren’t met
Had the vegetable plate. A delish mix of a lot or veggies. Some traditional (squash), some not so (potatoes). Really enjoyed it
As a side we got succotash. If that was all I ate they would have gotten a 5. You must get it. So good
Certainly worth a try
Oh and like all Miami beach restaurants they pre ad a 20 percent tip. Don’t double tip!

The Forge has one of the best filet mignons I’ve ever had. My favorite is with the peppercorn rub. It was simply amazing. Very tender and melts in your mouth. The rub wasn’t salty but just right. The ribeye was ok though. The tuna tartare and beef tartare were delish. Service was great. The ambiance is also perfect. There was also a little performance that night. I really love the interior/​décor and the presentation of the dishes. Will definitely come back next time I’m in Miami.

Overall a great place with good service and very nice and decorated ambience. We were celebrating a our second anniversary. So we got there with a reservation for 10:30 pm on a sat. Place has good music loud, but you can listen your conversation and a singer that did one song and left. We started with ceviche, very tasty but very small portion, then butternut squash Ravioli that was very good and ended with a delicious sea bass accompanied with sweet potato side to die for! Dessert was a gran marnier soufflé and a macchiato. We got 2 gin and tonic and two martinis. Price with tip Included $ 240. Fir one special night I guess its ok. Good place to try.
Enjoy

Don’t waste your time or money. Beyond disappointed. Please read complete reviews for details.
Did some research online to pick which would be the last restaurant to try while in Miami.
I forget which website had The Forge listed as the number one restaurant in Miami, but with that being said I made a reservation.
After being greeted by the host we were taken to our table.
Fairly crowded for a Sunday night, very trendy music playing.
Table bread came. Very warm which I like… with butter that was creamy and easy to spread.
Waitress was attentive and came right over and helped us with all our questions.
Had another staff member assist us with wine choices which the two glasses we had were spot on.
We decided on:
Premier Raw bar Tower. Subbed out the oysters for additional shrimp.
I would avoid. First off very over priced for mediocre seafood. Shrimp that large (waitress said U-​2) are hard to cook perfectly. These were over cooked. Dipping sauces weren’t explained to us what they were and VERY mediocre.
Tuna Tartare and Ceviche didn’t look too appetizing… being served in little metal bowls. No wonton crisps to even enjoy with Tuna Tartare if I wanted to try it. Lobster eh. King crab legs eh. I hate when seafood isn’t properly thawed. They don’t have dish down, and as I have said avoid.
Cesar Salad (table side presentation).
Avoid!!!
I was curious as to why they have a Caesar salad on the menu that is $ 18 per person with a two person minimum. I’m thinking $ 36 for a beautifully presented Caesar Salad made table side must be amazing… It was a major fail.
The young man who came out to prepare the Cesar Salad visually wanted to be anywhere else. I hate that. Don’t like your job? Fake it or QUIT! After only asking if we like anchovies, he began preparing the dressing with out explanation of ingredients or any enthusiasm. So I’m praying that at least it’s going to blow my taste buds away… Until he added what looked like way too much lemon juice… And then violently mixed the dressing causing it to splatter onto my jacket I had on an empty chair. More on that later.
The young man was having such a hard time getting the egg yolk without the whites. If you’re not an expert at it, have a chef do it in the back! Don’t have the customer watch you nervously try to remove the yolk from whites. It’s like it was his first time handling an egg.
Finally he adds the lettuce… Missing a portion of the lettuce that at least he was smart enough to discard and not mix in the dressing.
We asked for more croutons on top of the salad… hoping they were going to be magical… they might as well have been from a box!
Plates are served and I thought it was me, but the dressing tasted awful. I am not one to complain but the dressing was AWFUL and way over powered by lemon. After my fiancé had one bite and confirmed it tasted AWFUL we explained and said we would prefer the Wedge Salad instead…
We were eventually served two Chopped Salads. The waitress noticed that they were the wrong salad after I already ate mine… I wasn’t going to have them make another salad…
OVER ALL FAIL!
Again I can not stress enough that the Caesar Salad is a waste of money and a complete failure. The chef would be wise to have it removed from the menu.
«Super Steak» — NY Strip steak, which has been called one of the best steaks in America.
Fail! Peter Lugers (Famous NYC Steakhouse) makes this NY Strip taste like a joke. $ 59 for a 16oz hunk of gristle. Flavorless. Avoid!!!
Black Truffle Mac and cheese Pot Pie
Helped in me deciding on two stars and not one for my review. This was one of the best things I tasted in Miami. The Truffle flavor added to the pasta and cheese sauce really worked. The puffy pasty looks clumsy but it just works. Crack it open over the Mac and cheese for the breadcrumb finished taste but with Puffy Pastry texture. Very good — Highly Recommend.
So we go to leave and my Fiancé notices dressing on my jacket. She walked out because she was so mad. I’m not one to make a big deal over accidents but this was avoidable if the young man making my salad would have taken a little care to not just get the presentation over with and mixing the dressing like maniac. They removed $ 20.00 from the bill. My $ 400 jacket will be garbage if the dry cleaners can not remove the stain. We will find out.
Around $ 280 bill with discount and tip included. Not worth it. Not worth it at all.
I’ve been told be many people The Forge used to be the place to be, but that it not the case anymore.
Side bar: It’s Sunday night… I understand it’s Miami, but random Singers taking turns throughout the night??? Really? I thought it was Karaōke Sunday for a minuet, very awkward.
2^nd side bar: our main waitress tried her hardest. Nothing was her fault. Very sad that we couldn’t have enjoyed the meal better because she made us feel very welcomed.

I cannot rave enough about what an amazing dinner I had at the Forge! I went there for my friend’s 30^th birthday. We were warmly greeted by the hostess, and then greeted by our server, Neil. I was with a party of four, and everything during dinner was executed out perfectly. The restaurant had a dimly lit, dark ambiance to it which I loved. The décor was classy and upscale. Just beautiful.
We started out with a bottle of champagne, and a few appetizers. The portions were perfect since we did not get full and it was a tease to the main entrée. During the whole dining experience, there was a feature singer in the background for amazing entertainment as well.
The food was excellent… everything tasted fresh, and cooked to our liking. Neil was very attentive and made us all feel like princesses!
I can’t wait to go here again, I had such an amazing dinner !

First off, I commend the host and hostess for the warm welcome that we received when we arrived and for accommodating us with my request so graciously considering my reservation came from a third party. Also, for giving us one of the best seats of the house, very good that I feel quite apologetic that we missed the show.
As you walk into the place, it gives you that intimate and romantic vibe. I definitely liked the ambience and how they decorated the place. It is beautiful in its simplicity and not at all pretentious. As stated earlier, we were ushered to one of the best seats of the house and every person on the waiting staff was very attentive and quick.
Our main server of the night was Javier Perez (Captain) and we definitely commend his attitude and personality while waiting on us. He was very knowledgeable on food and really knows what he is doing. I cannot really tell if he really loves what he does or he definitely knows how to put on a show. But he was great, he held our hands from the moment we sat down, all the way to the end of our meal.
On to food, everything on the menu sounded amazing but we had to pick only a couple of items off of it. Because of Javier’s recommendation and our slightly adventurous palate, we settled with the following:
Appetizer:
Charred Spanish Octopus (Saffron Risotto, Green Olives, Sunflower Seeds, Smoked Paprika Rice Crispies) — I wasn’t too impressed with the texture of the accompaniment but I think it was just out of personal preference. The octopus was amazing, it was cooked to perfection — not chewy nor smelled funky at all.
Main Courses:
16oz Dry Aged Prime NY Strip «Super Steak» accessorized with Duck Egg & Smoked Bacon
14oz Bone-​In Filet Mignon accessorized with Duck Egg & Smoked Bacon
Both with Black Truffle Jus
Both steaks were cooked to perfection. They do take their steaks seriously. I probably would try the Rossini if or when I get the chance to go back. The truffle jus was divine and gave a light kick to the perfectly cooked steak. We had no complaints on any of the main entrees.
Side Dishes:
Creamed Spinach
Crispy Baked Potato Loaded with Chorizo, Fried Egg & Manchego Cheese
Both were good but I definitely recommend the Creamed Spinach, it I not too heavy and best pair for their serving of steak.
Dessert:
The Forge Soufflé (Combination of Chocolate and Grand Marnier = «Smores»)
Definitely a must-​order. It is so good. Also, it may take a while for this to be made as they make it as you order it. If you want your meals timed, you have to give this desert time to be prepared. On the menu it says 30 minutes but I would definitely order it as you order your entrees. Thanks to Javier for the great hint.
Desert Shots:
Baby Expresso
Avion Espresso, Licor 43, Baileys
S’more Shot
Vanilla Vodka And Godiva Chocolate Liqueur Shot With A Baked Graham Cracker And Toasted
Marshmallow Meringue Cap
The table favorite was definitely the Baby Expresso and take the as shots, trust me on this.
Wine Pairing:
Clarendelle Rosé — we aren’t wine enthusiasts and we weren’t too sure on what we were going to eat so I settled with a rosé since it is between red and white. I love this wine, a perfect blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc.
All in all we had a good time, awesome service, fantastic food, fabulous presentation and recommendation. The only thing I regret was again, missing the live show but all in all, we had a fantastic time. If per chance I find myself in Miami celebrating an event, I’m sure The Forge will be first on the list.
Also, PLEASE, as much as this place puts itself well together, I just feel that it would just be as courteous and respectful enough to dress well for the place.
Also for parking, they do have valet but we used Über.
Thank you so much for a very magical evening.

I wrote this review on another site a while ago and thought I should share it here since a great meal is hard to find even in the super competitive Miami market.
I haven’t been to The Forge in a few years (not since the makeover) and every bit of the experience at The Forge I recently had was more than just a pleasant birthday surprise. The Forge reminds you that there is so much more to Miami Beach than hip, flash in the pan, trendy dining experiences, something that cannot be duplicated.
The attention to detail in the ambiance, service and dishes I experienced were akin to me saying, «why the hell did I wait so long to come back?»
I knew that The Forge brought in a new master chef and I was wowed by every dish that my palette was fortunate enough to taste. The tuna tartare was no doubt the best I ever had, the short ribs were light and fluffy and melted in my mouth. The coconut sashimi I cannot completely describe, it was beyond refreshing you must try it and I promise you won’t be disappointed.
I had the pleasure of meeting the master chef since it was my birthday and I wanted to personally thank him for making my birthday very memorable. He was a great down to earth new yorker who told me that every dish that leaves the kitchen he has eyes on. He is dedicated to making The Forge the best. In my book he has done it. Thanks, Chris.

11 on the scale of 10
Watched the game at the bar with dinner
Excellent steak and Stone Crabs
Bar tender is hottie and more all around

Went for dinner a few weeks back… got a Gilt deal.
The décor gets 5 stars… the staff gets 5 stars… the food was 5 stars as well! I mean it was just great!
The problem with the place was the random performances that happened during dinner. We were eating and then the lights dimmed… and a spotlight comes on with a saxophone player randomly playing, then you’re back to eating…30 minutes later a girl pops up behind you belting out tunes… then a guy somewhere else across the restaurant. It was too much. It was NOT cool… if they ditch that we would have a perfect place.

An amazing fine dining experience in the heart of Miami Beach. Everyone should get an opportunity to dine at The Forge. The wait staff was class A and the manager even greeted us by name at our table. Nice touch! The food was phenomenal!

Made reservations here for a very very special celebration so needless to say we had very high expectations.
First, The bread basket was so overly complicated. Albeit, there were some tasty bits in there — there was not one normal piece of bread.
The «Market Ceviche» is not ceviche at all. It really should be called a «crudo». It was raw (uncured) fish on a large white plate. We ordered ceviche and got sushi instead.
We were a party of four. Our order was very simple. Four rib-​eye steaks, and one order of the duck. All three steaks were not properly cooked. The «medium» steak was black/​charred on the outside. The «medium-​well» steaks were still cold in the center. Our server took all three plates back. Shortly thereafter, they came back to the tables and proceeded to serve the incorrect steaks again (they shuffled them around!). By this time, I was already done with my duck and all the side dishes were cold.
Lastly, I decided on ordering a bottle of wine to split with a girlfriend. I selected a modestly priced bottle of Pinot Noir ($ 38). As soon as the Sommelier brought a screw top bottle to the table, I knew I was in trouble. The wine tasted fine to me — but we saw it later that night at Walgreens for $ 8.99. Why on earth would a place with a reputation like «The-​Forge» serve a $ 9 bottle of wine? I felt like a fool.
We politely voiced our concerns to the manager, and he very gracefully removed the steaks from the bill and offered several complimentary desserts for the table (which were sub par — but I wont go there because they were free).
In my opinion, this place has a serious identity crisis. It doesn’t know if it’s a Miami Beach club, or a fine dining establishment. I’m all about breaking the rules to create a unique experience, but the Forge lacked in both ambiance and food.
I’m giving this place two instead of one stars because of the Manager’s quick response to correct deficiencies, and our waiter was very apologetic and attentive.

We visited Forge on a Friday night and upon arrival, we were directed to the bar area because despite the empty tables, the hostess said she couldn’t honor our reservation until after our scheduled time.
The lounge offered a wide variety of drinks at Miami Beach standard pricing and $ 50 champagne bottles during their happy hour. The 80’s /​RNB music was a bit loud which prevented us from having a friendly conversation and completely clashed with the refined ambiance of the restaurant area.
I ordered the filet mignon since we are at a steakhouse after all and I have to admit it was delicious and cooked to perfection — every bite was lean, tender, and very flavorful. The other items I tried were one dimensional.
In terms of the service, I felt our server was a dismissive and when it came to paying for our bill, we were not allowed to split it in 5 equal ways. Therefore, I would return for their steaks but not for their pretentious attitude. Certainly, Forge is a restaurant I would avoid for an intimate dinner on the weekend.

Really this review is a 3.5. The ambiance, service and help was great. I loved the library room and the wine selection ready to pour is quite the eye catcher.
Came for Miami Spice as the menu is quite affordable. The highlight was the octopus with saffron rissoto. It was cooked quite tenderly.
Next up was the snapper with cous cous. While the fish was cooked to perfection, there was no distinct flavor coming from the sauce. The heirloom tomatoes were cooked nicely however.
Of the desserts we did both the molten cake and the apple tart. The latter didn’t jump out to me but the molten cake was phenom. By the ice cream, there was a cookie crumble of sorts that made it that much better.
Definitely want to come back to try the happy hour on Friday.

I have not been to the Forge since their renovation and I have to say that the venue looks great. We came here to celebrate a friend’s engagement and had reservations for a party of 7 at 9:30. The hostess instructed us to wait by the bar until a table was ready.
It was a Friday night so the place was packed. I’ll say the vibe was pretty cool with just the right speed of music to keep it going but not a full-​blown nightclub experience. Although we had a great time having drinks at the bar I was a little disappointed that we were finally seated at 11:00 PM. 1.5 hour wait WITH a reservation is never good.
We were seated at a nice table in the back and was surprised to find out it was Miami Spice. I’m glad that they actually gave us those menus without having to ask for them like some other places. Some of our table ordered from the regular menu, but I opted for the Spice as it was a very good deal.
I started with the shrimp appetizer which was awesome. The shrimp were very large and delicious. The cerviche was also excellent. For the main I had the petit Filet which was cooked perfectly and was definitely full afterward. My buddy had the 14oz bone in filet which he could not finish. I tried it and the petit filet was just as good. The wife had the Arcitc Char which was EXCELLENT.
I was a little annoyed that the server tried to give us the bill before our deserts came. After we pointed this out it took and additional 30 minutes for the desserts to finally come out. By the time we left it was probably near 4 hours we had been there.
Overall I would say that the food and venue are great. The exorbitant wait for a table and the dessert fiasco were big negatives. Still, if you are looking for a place to impress a date with a great vibe I would probably recommend as long as you know what you are getting into.

Our family of five came here for the Miami Spice menu. Our son is getting ready to return to FSU & this was our last fancy meal before he goes. We had never been before. Our waiter was Endy Morffi. His attention to detail was excellent! He was very thorough explaining the history of the restaurant, as well as the providing tid bits on the décor. At the end of the meal he gave us a tour of the establishment. He was great at conversation & customer service. We had a marvelous waiter & a wonderful time.
Our appetizers were yellow fin tuna tartare, bleu cheese wedge salad & French onion soup. Our entrees were filet mignon & the salmon. Our deserts were the chocolate lava cake & lemon pound cake. We were thrilled with the meal. Very delicious! The Miami Spice menu at The Forge changes weekly. We can easily go back and have another great experience.

Solid steakhouse in Miami with excellent service. My friend made reservations for a party of 4 at 8pm on a Saturday night, and they were packed– definitely make sure you have a reservation if you’re dining here on the weekend! We were seated right after we arrived, and we ordered:
–Complimentary Bread Basket: I liked that you got a variety of different breads, and they were good, but not amazing. I think I liked the plain butter roll the best.
–Yellowfin Tuna Wellington (Wild Mushrooms, Spinach, Foie Gras, Red Wine Reduction, $ 36,
): Not so great, and fishy smelling/​tasting. We were all looking forward to trying this inventive dish, but it was so disappointing! And for some reason, one piece smelled and tasted fishy whereas the other one didn’t– despite the fishiness, I didn’t think the ingredients worked well together and wouldn’t order this again.
–16oz Spiced Rubbed Boneless Ribeye ($ 45,
): Yum– the rib eye was seasoned well and cooked perfectly. I wish the cut had more fat in it, but I liked that it had a really good sear.
–Black Truffle Mac & Cheese Pot Pie ($ 14) & Roasted Brussels Sprouts w/​Duck Confit ($ 10) [
: Both sides were good, although I liked the mac n cheese a bit more.
–Crispy Loaded Baked Potato ($ 12,
): Surprisingly, this potato was actually too crispy for my liking, and I wished the sour cream, etc was served in the potato vs. in separate little containers for you to do it yourself. However, my friend really liked the crispiness of the potato, so it really depends on your preference– I wouldn’t order it again though.
–Espresso ($ 6): Nice and strong, and a great way to end the meal.
Our server was amazing, and I wish I had remembered his name. He was attentive but not overbearing, and was also super accommodating about taking a group photo for us. We also requested a tour of the wine room, which is a must if you have time and are interested in wine– their room is amazing, and they have some great stories to tell. You also get to see the private dining table in the wine room where past presidents and celebrities have dined at. My only complaint is with the live music– some of the songs were good, but it’s really hard to find songs that all of the diners would enjoy hearing, and it was more distracting then entertaining.
Overall, The Forge is a great place to go for a nice dinner/​special occasion (dressing up highly recommended), with the swanky ambiance and excellent service. Parking in this area seemed tough, although they have valet available.

Excelente, comida e ambiente ! Lugar ideal para ver e ser visto, atendimento bom
Pratos bem elaborados, recomendo !

As a (former) big fan of The Forge, I have lost count of how many times I have dined at the restaurant in the last 15 years. I’ve celebrated it all since the pre-​Yelp and pre-​Opentable days. The most memorable for me would have to be my birthday party held in the private wine cellar and attending their Caymus dinner in the back banquet space. The Forge, for me, has always been that «sure-​thing» I could always count on: always a class act, deep Miami Beach roots, and exceptional food.
I have been meaning to return to try out the new chef’s cuisine and was able to finally visit last week. I walked in and was greeted by Hardy. Well, that was a nice surprise. Hardy Hill, formerly of Big Brother (I’m a huge BB nerd) and who I last saw at (the sadly now-​closed) Catch Miami. That wasn’t the only change. I heard the music right away. I didn’t give it much thought thinking it was perhaps the tail end of their happy hour in the bar area, but that was not the case. Old and young Miami Beach were all in attendance. What a mix of people!
We sat down right away. Our waiter had to keep bending down, uncomfortably close to speak to us because it was just so damn loud. I need to point out that I don’t necessarily mind loud music in restaurants. That just has never been the thing at The Forge and not what I thought I was doing on this particular night. From what I can remember, before the remodeling, the music was always towards the back of the restaurant and never at these kinds of decibels. It can be that the structure is just not meant to hold that kind of level? The acoustics are definitively off in there.
As for the music, it was a cross between EDM and lounge music: not as upbeat as EDM and not as slow as lounge tunes. What I do know is that it was the same thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, FOR AN HOUR. NO LYRICS. NO TEMPO CHANGE. JUST thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump. Then, in a random change, the «DJ» (or someone) played (freestyle) «Diamond Girl.» Huh? Only to then thump thump it again for about 5 minutes. Then, he/​she/​it played Yaz’s «Situation» and back to the thump. *Check out the 3 videos I uploaded* But wait, there’s more!
A spotlight came on and a (jazz or something like it) singer came out for ONE song. Again, it was all off because it was SO.DAMN.LOUD. Once she was done, you guessed it, back to the thump thump thump. So, in a nutshell. Thumps for an hour. Diamond Girl. Thumps. Situation.Thumps. Jazz. Thumps. I could not get out of there fast enough.
The food? Oh yeah, the food. Who could think of the food in the midst of all that madness? I will say that I loved the foie gras-​cronut appetizer and the table side prepared Caesar salad. The salad was fun and definitively a one time deal because it’s overpriced. As good as it was, it’s still just a salad. The Colorado rack of lamb was smaller than I’m used to, not the best I’ve ever had (like at Wolfgang’s), but it was good. My husband seemed to enjoy his sea bass. I didn’t love the PB&J wontons, but did enjoy the Dark Chocolate Napoleon.
Another sour point to my night? The bathroom attendant. Again with the club thing. The Forge has one of the coolest bathrooms on the beach and perhaps the most photographed one. Everyone photographs themselves inside the opulent, chic mirror framed interior. Well, that just got ruined. The bathroom attendant has a huge spread of hairspray, brushes, make up, yadda yadda cluttering up the counter. And really, why do we need an attendant? Are we dancing? Sweating? Is it too hard to pump our own soap and grab our own towels to dry our hands after we wash them? Was dinner that strenuous that I need backup help to look perfect? GTFOH!
I feel like the restaurant is trying way too hard to compete with it’s southernmost SOBE sibling and I really don’t think it needs to reinvent itself to be that way. Why? It has always been full when I visited before as it was now. I’ve never put say, STK and The Forge in the same sentence. If I want the clubby feel with my dining I will head to (soon to reopen) STK, a place like Baoli, or any of the frivolous-​trendy-​never lasting– restaurants in South Beach.
Lastly, their policy of not allowing outside wine with a corkage fee is outdated. While I always put up with it before because of my love for the place, I am certainly over it now. It’s a big deal considering I am paying (up to) four times, over retail, for bottles I have at home. Not worth it.
I hope they rethink this phase, go back to their roots, and start behaving like the Miami Beach ICON that has always been The Forge. Until then, I’m out!