Forest has reopened

At the end of March, Samy Eid, owner of Chickpea Hospitality, announced the temporary closure of Birmingham’s Forest. The restaurant has officially reopened and is embracing its Italian identity, unveiling a revamped menu, expanded pasta program, and redesigned dining room. Although Forest has long incorporated managing partner and Chef Nick Janutol’s Italian-American roots— serving handmade pasta for the past decade, the restaurant was never fully perceived as Italian cuisine. Eid says that ambiguity stemmed partly from inheriting the Forest name and concept after purchasing the restaurant in 2015, as well as years spent balancing influences from continental American and European cooking. Now, the restaurant is leaning fully into Italian fare, with a renewed emphasis on house-made pasta and chef-driven specials. The updated menu features eight rotating pasta dishes, including pesto Genovese, fettuccine bolognese, raviolo, and linguine vongole, alongside seasonal additions and nightly chef specials. Janutol and Executive Chef Talia Clark are also introducing a range of scratch-made components, including house tomato passata and an Italian-inspired chili crisp. Additional menu highlights include chicken Milanese, veal chop, branzino, and four salad offerings designed to reflect Michigan’s seasonal ingredients through an Italian lens. Beyond the kitchen, Forest has undergone an extensive interior refresh. “We’ve made the restaurant a bit more moody,” Eid said in his newsletter. “All new surfaces, a brand-new back bar, new flooring, new wood, a brand-new sound system. Big upgrades that drive home the beautiful, emotionally resonant Italian dining experience you’re going to have here.”

735 Forest Ave, Birmingham forestbirmingham.com