I’ve reviewed Forestview Restaurant in Depew a few times on here, never once having much nice to say about it. Today I worked an exceptionally long shift, which entitled me a lunch hour in the literal sense of the phrase. So I decided to head next door and see if lunch would be better than the subpar breakfast meals and service I’d received there in the past.
Having a Forestview menu conveniently located in our Kohl’s break room, I went in prepared. However, that still didn’t stop me from perusing the daily specials, something that—as the name implies—refreshes every day. Some of the specials actually sounded pretty good. I really liked the new “Healthy Option,” which are actually several “options” made with better-for-you ingredients (a definite growing trend in restaurant biz).
Good as everything sounded, I stuck by my pre-decided choice of wasabi salmon & crab cake salad. The restaurant wasn't busy when I arrived at around noon, surprising for the cliché lunch hour. The service was prompt and friendly this time. (My other experiences may have had to do with the sparse over night crew that was still running the show at around 6am.)
The menu described a crab cake, salmon, and fried veggie spring roll served atop greens and tossed in creamy wasabi cucumber dressing. When mine arrived, the spring roll had been replaced by a skewer of scampi shrimp. No problem though, I’d take shrimp over a greasy spring roll any day. I requested the wasabi dressing on the side, and am glad I did so. Not that it wasn’t good dressing, in fact, it was very good. And hot. Incredibly hot. I-have-a-cold-and-it-cleared-my-sinuses hot (all true, I swear). I used less than half the allotment.
The crab cake was fried to a dark brown, and slightly oily. One nice touch was large, wilted spinach leafs throughout the tender filling. The flavor of the spinach shone through, and while a nice touch, speaks volumes for the blandness of the crab filling. The salmon slice was nicely seasoned and char grilled. The shrimp skewer was loaded with tender, well flavored shrimp and not too few of the little suckers either. Everything rested on a nice blend of lettuces and field greens along with onion, tomato, plus red and yellow bell peppers. Here’s a nice change: no cheese. While I like cheese, I think restaurants have a problem with applying it to every omelet, sandwich, and entrée.
The wasabi salmon & crab salad is a medley of unusual and very bold flavors. Assuming such a salad sounds like something to your liking, I’d highly recommend it. However, be warned, at $10.49, it’s not a cheap lunch. I overlooked the price and was a bit shocked when I got the bill. As an occasional treat, it’s worth it.
AMBIANCE
Compared to the rather bland diner it used to be, Forestview has done a fantastic job of reinventing itself as a trendier place. There’s a full bar and an extensive list of brews on tap. Flat-screen HDTVs flank the dining room to provide entertainment or distraction, depending on how you might feel about this. Since life is said to be short, you should always do dessert first. Hence why upon entry you’re greeted by Forestview’s extensive dessert case, filled with rich, colorful homemade cheesecakes, pies, cream puffs, and other delicacies. Should you come at a busy time and have to wait for a table, a semi-circular couch surrounds a pot-belly fireplace, or you can just go chill at the bar.
Forestview has finally joined the 21st century with a well-designed website. Menus, photos, and other information are available.
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