Without a care for convention, The Forge is a venue that refuses to sit still. Bursting with colours, live sounds and amazing flavours, it sits comfortably in the heart of Camden - an area known for constantly redefining itself. The teams behind the venue's stage and the lively restaurant have come together, creating a fun venue that's fuelled by South American flair. In short, they really nailed what casual dining's all about.
The Venue & Show
You'll find The Forge only a short stroll away from Camden Town tube station. Spread over two floors - with a stage and bar area downstairs, and a restaurant overlooking the live performance area - the first thing you notice are the bright splashes of colour that frame the majority of the venue. Likewise, the restaurant seems to embody the exuberant feel of the entire space. The walls are covered head-to-toe in bright murals and the rustic furniture matches the yellow and golden colour scheme, making the South American theme immediately clear.
Better still, the restaurant is the perfect spot to take in everything on offer at The Forge. Huge ceiling-to-floor windows overlook the stage below. Much to our pleasure, the kind waiter was able to open the window and so we could simultaneously enjoy both the great food and the live entertainment in all its glory. The Forge loves putting on a show, regularly inviting North London's most promising artists to take control of their lighting and sound systems. On the night we attended, we were treated to a local line-up that included stand-up comedians, young spoken word performers and a live soul band. Serene, soothing and filling the air with an infectious, foot-tapping beat, the show offered a pleasant way to round off a long working day. Just as the band finished their final song, our starters arrived.
The brightly coloured furniture, delicate wall art and candlelight glow create an edgy, energetic feel about the place.
The Food
As you probably have guessed, the team of chefs in the kitchen specialise in serving delicious South American fair. The menu is updated every few months to ensure the use of seasonal ingredients and authentic flavours. We dove head first into the fiery sauteed chorizo dish (£4.50), the chilli and cheese Venezuelan tequeños (£5) and, on the waiter's recommendation, the cucumber gazpacho (£4). The tequeños offered a pleasant crunch, followed by a smooth, rich taste. However, despite promising a chilli filling, there was a definite lack of heat. Served with slices of toasted ciabatta, the chorizo had a spicy kick and was nicely complimented by the roasted peppers that accompanied the dish. But surprisingly, it was the gazpacho that proved to be the real hit of the starters. Cleansing the palate with the refreshing taste of the cucumber and a slight kick of pepper, it calmed things down after the heat of the previous dish and balanced out the entire course.
Our main courses quickly followed our first round of clean plates. The chimichurri steak sandwich (£12) and the jerk chicken (£12) are both must-have choices in my book. The steak was tender and perfectly cooked to our liking. Sandwiched between two toasted bun slices that had been slathered with a strong, green Argentinian chimichurri sauce, each giant mouthful seems to hit you in stages. First, you got the slight crunch of the buns, followed swiftly by the sharp, earthy taste of the parsley and garlic infused chimichurri. And then the steak enters the fold. Releasing juices with every bite, it produced a smoky taste that clashed brilliantly with the chimichurri.
Similarly, the jerk chicken exploded with flavour as soon as it hit the tongue. The chicken wings were covered in a thick, fiery sauce and were balanced out by a hearty serving of black bean rice. Although the meat wonderfully crumbled off the bone, it was the sauce that stood out. Composed of various cooked beans, it had an amazing albeit eye-watering kick that lingered in the back of your throat. Like I said, both are must-try dishes.
The Jerk chicken was accompanied by black bean rice, while the chimichurri steak sandwich came with sweet potato fries.
Summary
Make no mistake, The Forge is not alone in pairing delicious food with live entertainment. In an art-obsessed area like Camden, the competition was always going to be fierce. But what really places the venue ahead of its rivals is the way its vibrant charm and devil-may-care attitude perfectly compliments the sprightly flavours presented by the menu. The eye-catching colour and energy of the venue translates into every dish created by the chefs and helps to define The Forge as a larger-than-life, exuberant character sitting just off Camden High Street.
