Forest, the downtown Birmingham fixture known for its polished Mediterranean-Italian vibe, has gone dark for now as the owner puts money into an interior refresh to keep the restaurant sharp in a crowded dining scene. The dining room is offline while crews work through a slate of upgrades, and notices along with local listings point to an early May relaunch. Regulars can expect a spruced-up room and a fresh wave of front-of-house hires when Forest swings the doors back open.
Forest operates under the Chickpea Hospitality umbrella, according to Chickpea Hospitality, while its profile on OpenTable lists Nicholas Janutol as executive chef and confirms the address at 735 Forest Ave. OpenTable characterizes the menu as contemporary European with an Italian bent, underscoring Forest’s fine-dining ambitions.
Forest’s Refresh And Reopening Timeline
The owner is putting cash into upgrades meant to keep Forest competitive in Birmingham’s restaurant landscape, and the space is currently closed for renovations, according to Crain's Detroit Business. The reopening timing comes into clearer focus in a listing on Glassdoor, which cites "Reopening May 2026" and seeks front-of-house staff for the first week of May.
Hiring Push Ahead Of Relaunch
Multiple postings for servers, host staff and bartenders have popped up on recruiting sites as Forest gears up for its return, with Indeed listing several openings that repeat the "Reopening May 2026" language. The Indeed ads also tout perks such as employee discounts and referral programs, hinting at a broader rehire to match the refreshed dining room.
Anyone eyeing a reservation for the comeback should keep an eye on the restaurant’s booking channels and official site, which lists contact details and is likely to carry the formal relaunch notice. For more context on the refresh and the owner’s stated rationale, see coverage from Crain's Detroit Business.
