Tapas and Gin porn at FORN in Exeter

I want to start this review by telling you about one of the negatives of moving far away from family and friends..

Childcare! It was my birthday last month and I was due to go out with a bunch of my besties who had come from London to share my day with me. I had booked a table at a lovely recommended Tapas restaurant in Exeter but the night before, I got a text from the babysitter letting me down, then she felt sorry for me (it was a significant birthday afterall) so she said she could do it.  Then she let me down again, so my friend said she would babysit, then she couldn’t do it and we didn’t actually get to go anywhere.  But we did have a rather nice night in.

I am telling you this, because last night I did it! I finally got to Forn accompanied by my London buddy Wendy, I had heard great things about the restaurant and the food so I was very excited.

Forn is tucked away down Mary Arches Street (off Fore Street).  We arrived early at 7ish and there was a group of people sitting in the window looking like they were having fun. The facia is unimposing and the restaurant itself was quite quiet, but we were welcomed warmly by the rather handsome barman and the waiting staff.

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The back of the restaurant opens out to a beautiful garden with the appearance of a quaint little hamlet tucked away in the city.  We sat in the garden with a few others and I perused the cocktail list (Wendy was being boring and calorie counting).

Gin cocktails, Vodka cocktails, Rum cocktails all at £8.50 each.  The drinks menu was delicious and vast, I opted for a Secret Garden, made with gin, apricot brandy, elderflower and apple which was sublime; smooth, refreshing and not too sweet.

I am a massive Tapas fan, I love the whole concept of sharing food and trying lots of different things.  The Tapas I have experienced so far in Exeter (we ate at Cafe Catalan several months ago) hasn’t been traditional Spanish Tapas, it’s come with a twist and Forn was no exception.

For food, we opted for calamari, stuffed Piquillo peppers (with spinach, potato and apricot), goat cheese and walnut salad, aubergine Tempura, classic Spanish omelette (tortilla) and their Pan de Cristal, delicious crisp flat bread with grated tomato, olive oil and sea salt flakes.

The food was tasty, fresh and well presented, the environment was relaxing and welcoming.

Forn has a fab gin menu that I’m planning on going back to work my way through at a later date.  I ordered the saffron gin to taste and it didn’t disappoint.

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