• 2
• Didn't get to try the food...

I went here when I visited Edinburgh in January 2008. People sort of stared when my friend and I walked in. It seemed to be a community kind of place where everyone knows everyone else - almost like we were walking into someone's house where about 30-40 people were relaxing, chatting and working on their laptops. I didn't see anyone eating. It was very dimly lit in the cafe. I didn't see where we could get to any "music space" or "art gallery". I didn't get to try the food because I stood at the counter for 10 minutes while the cashier ignored me and helped other people who were clearly behind me in line. I started talking to cashier at one point when it was my turn and he turned away from me to help the next person in line. The other customers noticed this happening and gave me sincere looks of confusion and apology but I got none of that from the staff. I have no idea what was going on there. I couldn't try their cider either because their license only allows them to serve alcohol until 8 p.m. My friend (who also tried to get service with similar results) and I sat down to figure out what we wanted to do instead when one of the friendlier-seeming staff members announced they were going to show a Bollywood movie... We obviously decided to stay and nobody bothered us so we at least got to see a free (and amazing) movie. It is a little out of the way of the city center. I would probably try The Forest again just to see if my experience was a fluke but I would not go with high expectations.