Forest, on Dominion Road, is an independently owned, entirely vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurant giving Mount Eden families a distinctive plant-based dining option for a special occasion.
Chef-owner Plabita Florence, who grew up around Mount Eden, cooks with a strong anti-waste ethic, building a short, seasonal menu around local produce that changes constantly through the year. Dishes lean inventive and beautifully presented, with creations like purple kumara with Marmite cream and seaweed-dusted fries offering playful, flavour-packed twists on plant-based cooking that reviewers describe as some of the most imaginative in the city.
The restaurant’s own chic, personal decor and intimate setting reflect its independent ownership, and the passion behind the food comes through clearly in both the cooking and the service. Given its evening-only hours and fine-dining style, Forest suits a special family celebration or a date night more than an everyday casual meal with young children.
The restaurant is open Wednesday to Saturday from 5pm to 10pm. Bookings are recommended given the restaurant’s own smaller, intimate size and its growing reputation.
Given its position on Dominion Road, close to Cazador, families interested in comparing Mount Eden’s more special-occasion dining options have two distinctive choices within a short distance of each other.
For more on dining options across Mount Eden, see our Family-Friendly Dining & Outings page, and our Mount Eden suburb page for the fuller local picture. You can also visit the Forest website directly to book a table.
Families with a vegetarian or vegan member often find Forest a welcome alternative to a menu built primarily around meat, giving everyone at the table an equally considered dining experience rather than a single token vegetarian option.
Given the restaurant’s own focus on seasonal, local produce, the exact menu changes regularly, so families with a specific dish in mind are encouraged to check current offerings before booking.
Families celebrating a special occasion with mixed dietary needs across the table may find Forest’s fully plant-based menu removes the usual back and forth over who can eat what.
Given the restaurant’s own smaller footprint, booking ahead is strongly recommended for weekend evenings.
There are no reviews yet.
Columbus Coffee Auckland Hospital is the cafe inside the Grafton hospital precinct. Weekdays from 6.30am, weekends from 7.30am, closed by mid-afternoon.
Small Mercies Grafton is the Korean twisted-doughnut cafe on Mount Eden Road. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Flavours sell out, so go earlier on open days.
FLUFF Cafe Grafton is the thick-toast breakfast cafe on Khyber Pass, with gluten-free options. Daytime only. Saturday hours differ, so check before you go.
Forest on Dominion Road is an independent, entirely vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurant.
