Needed an upscale (but casual) spot for a couples dinner this past weekend, and Forage was the perfect fit. Four of us shared a booth where we ate, drank and talked (quiet atmosphere here). I really enjoyed their unique selection of beers and tried a few I had never had before. My wife loved her black mission fig Manhattan cocktail...two in fact!
The three appetizers we shared around the table were all very good...mushroom toast (the best of the three), crisp cauliflower and a Bavarian pretzel. The mushroom toast had a slight hint of French toast to it, covered with wild mushrooms and a poached egg that made for a delicious mess. The cauliflower was a surprising hit, seasoned with both ginger and a lime chili relish giving it a great tang along with the crispy "skin". For some reason, I've become a big pretzel fan the last few years and am always trying one when available on a menu. Forage's version included two large pretzel sticks along with two dipping options - a craft beer mustard (tangy and bitey) and a white cheese (fontina I think?) sauce. I used both options equally and they were both excellent.
After all that food, my wife and I decided to split one burger with a side of fries. Our Ohio beef cheeseburger was cooked a perfect medium-rare and was delicious. Certainly one of the better burgers I've had around Cleveland...and I've had a lot! The accompanying fries were crispy and dipped well in their homemade mustard, ketchup and mayo that came on the side of the burger platter.
This was a better-than-expected meal in this hip, streetside setting. Will definitely come back when we're in need of a Lakewood area spot for dinner.