Forest proves that plant-based dining can be both wildly creative and deeply satisfying. This small, independently owned vegetarian restaurant by chef Plabita Florence treats vegetables with reverence and whimsy. The ever-changing menu might include smoked kūmara with harissa and cashew cream, beetroot tartare crowned with cured egg yolk, or crispy oyster mushroom “karaage” that could fool a carnivore. With just a handful of tables, the atmosphere is intimate and the service personal — you’ll likely get your dishes delivered by the chef herself. Eco-conscious, unpretentious, and absolutely delicious, Forest is a green sanctuary on Dominion Road that even meat-eaters rave about.