The latest addition to The Union Shops at the Biltmore Fashion Park is the unique and stylish Forge Wood-Fired Pizza. WhereShouldWeEat.com was invited for a sneak peek and taste of Forge’s creative menu and a look at their custom designed space. Let’s just say all of our senses were very pleased by the end of the night!
The completely renovated space now houses soaring ceilings and a custom rolling steel window wall that gives the perfect indoor/outdoor feel making it effortless to mosey out to the comfortable patio. A large inviting bar sit at the center of the restaurant and it is hard to miss the huge imported Valoriani wood burning oven that sits right off the bar. Subtle touches like a vertical rope “wall”, steel gas pipe beer tap and hand burnt wood all showcase the industrial theme. Between the friendly staff and warehouse rustic charm, Forge oozes an urban feel with a relaxed vibe in the heart of the Biltmore.
We were seated at the bar and which gave executive chef Jeff Amber a perfect center stage to describe each dish as we were served. Now to the best part… the food!
We started with the crispy cheese curds that were accompanied by a homemade simmered-to-perfection tomato sauce. The curds were the perfect delectable comforting treat to kick off the meal.
Next was the baby octopus with mashed potatoes, aioli and bread crumbs. The octopus was prepared beautifully and combined with the mashed potatoes was equally amazing in taste and texture. We will be back for more of this gorgeous starter!
Arugula Salad with radish, croutons, grana and topped with an anchovy lemon vinaigrette. Light, refreshing and a nice dose of greens before pizza.
Romaine babes with soft eggs, Deviled ranch dressing and breadcrumbs. Bold, flavorful and addictive, I couldn’t stop eating this salad!
Pizza! Each wood-fired pizza was unique and savory in their own way. The crust was perfectly thin with a slight crunch and just the right amount of leopard-like wood fired spotting.
Mushroom: Mushrooms with house made sausage, onion, garlic and thyme. Fantastic blend of mouthwatering ingredients that made a rustic but comforting pie.
Pepperoni: Homemade tomato sauce, Zoe’s pepperoni, red onion, castelvetrano olives and jalapenos. The quality of the meat shines through as the heat of the jalapenos give this pepperoni pizza a bonus spicy zest.
Three Cheese: Mozzarella, ricotta, garlic, red onion, lemon dressed arugula with a sunny side egg in the center. The creamy cheeses are a decedent and rich as the arugula adds an earthy balance, but the egg steals the show as you dip each slice into the runny yolk!
The evening was full of stellar dishes! (The leftovers were even delicious the next day.) Forge’s food will have you coming back for more and the fun atmosphere will make you want to stay! For more information visit: Forge’s Wood-Fired Pizza