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Forester's Pub & Dining

4.5 (10 reviews)
ModerateBars, Pizza, Pub Food
Closed 4:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

Forester's Pub & Dining Photos

FORESTER'S PUB & DINING ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Hipster
Good for groups
Outdoor seating

Recommended Reviews - Forester's Pub & Dining

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Reviews With Photos

Ramen ordering counter
Neil W.

Another temple of beer worship in Melbourne's inner North. It has the same owners as the Terminus in North Fitzroy (another beer Mecca). I used to live round the corner from here but this opened after I moved (damn them!). OK, there's 52 (yes 52) craft beer taps, gorgeous pizzas and now they are doing Ramen too although these were not available at 3pm during my visit. They serve food until very late which has saved me in the past. The venue itself is large beer hall style, it has a cool, small stage for bands, a pool table and a smoking area that looks over Smith and Gertrude streets, a great spot on a Saturday arvo (if there's no smokers around!). Only negative I have is that it's a little too 'atmospheric' inside (read a bit too dark).

David S.

I have to say that everytime I land up on Smith Street I seem to find another bar. It seems as if everytime I feel that I have visited every bar down here another four appear to make my quest have a a drink at every bar in Melbourne a nigh impossibility. Mind you, that is probably a good thing because it means that I can continue to visit an area and always find something new. Anyway, this place was good, but the problem was that there wasn't anything about thing place that made it stand out from all the othe offerings (especially when you have Pixel Alley across the road). However I didn't mind it, and the atmosphere was pretty cool. They have a Japanese restaurant at the front (though I suspect it is a separate business), and the main bar area is pretty cool. They have a couple of pool tables and some decent beers on tap, but nothing all that fantastic. Even though I liked it, I probably wouldn't go out of my way to come here again.

Free table tennis
Maria T.

If you're still suffering from Mondayitis on a Tuesday, head over to Forresters for a good pick-me-up. They offer free craft beer tastings on Tues nights from around 6-7pm and if you're a novice like me, you'll find it really insightful, and its really great to hear people chat about a topic they are so passionate about. I ordered a serving of chilli fries (coz its better not to drink on an empty stomach!) and WOWzers, it tantalized my tastebuds, why haven't I ever come across this before in Melbourne?! I need to make the trip back JUST for the chilli fries. And beer of course. But mainly for the chilli topping. Yum. Yum. So yum. Venue is top notch too. Spacious pub, high ceilings, small mezzanine level on either side where you can sit and be away from the crowds.

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10 years ago

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12 years ago

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10 years ago

Nice venue with friendly staff and an extensive craft beer selection. Sunday was nice and chilled and there was free ping pong set up.

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11 years ago

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Review Highlights - Forester's Pub & Dining

Foresters is another great addition to the craft beer bars on Smith St.

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Billy's Pizza Joint - mmmm, really yummy pizza's!

Billy's Pizza Joint

4.5(2 reviews)
0.8 kmAbbotsford

"...USED TO BE 'ENCORE PIZZERIA' ~ NOW IT'S 'BILLY'S PIZZA JOINT'.. A DIFFERENT KETTLE OF FISH…read more. OKAY...!!!" A mate of my son's told him a new pizza joint had set up shop, where an old pizza place had been.. Apparently these new pizza's were both "CHEAP" and "AWESOME".. We had to try..!! So, tonight we dropped by BILLY'S PIZZA JOINT on Hoddle Street, ABBOTSFORD to buy pizzas to take home.. We chose from their FAMILY SIZE Traditional range: 1 x Marinara - mozzarella, garlic, clams, prawns and anchovies [just delish.. and not salty, like some..] 1 x Chicken Special - mozzarella, garlic, chicken breast, salami, green capsicum and oregano [we loved this.. nice clean taste..] 1 x The Burger - mozzarella, red onion, beef, bacon, pineapple and egg [really really liked this one..!!] Okay: 1. They were HUGE - 40cms in diameter.. 2. They all had minimal tomato sauce - a good thing - too much sauce just drowns all the other flavours.. 3. The toppings weren't overly numerous - again, a good thing - I'd use the term 'American Style Pizza' when describing our usual 'Aussie Take-Away Pizzas' - Genuine Italian pizza is made using just a few complimentary toppings.. 4. The topping was nice and dry - not watery or sloppy.. 5. They were generous with the cheese and it wasn't overcooked - was still stretchy.. 6. NO oiliness whatsoever.. And YES, they are cheap... we paid $15.90 for each enormous pizza...!!! We'll be back.. absolutely.. no doubt about that.. 'bloody good' pizza for the price..!! PS. They do home-delivery to a big area - as far as Hawthorn to the East - it's all on their website.. Visited on Wednesday 6 January 2016 for pizzas to take home for dinner.

Excellent customer service, they know your name or they will try and pronounce it. Most certainly…read morea yummy treat in me household

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Billy's Pizza Joint - Billy's Special

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Billy's Special

Lazerpig

Lazerpig

3.9(17 reviews)
0.1 kmCollingwood
$$

Lazerpig - if I could give this place a rating based purely on the name, and the neon sign out the…read morefront with a pig shooting lasers out of its eyes then certainly I would do it. Mind you, giving a place a rating based on a pig shooting lasers out of its eyes would defeat the purpose of rating something, especially if the service was terrible and the food horrible. Well, it turned out that this was certainly not the case. The service was top notch, and when it comes to making pizzas, this place certainly makes the well, and in the tradition sense as well. Expect Italian (and American) style pizzas, as well as a few experimental ones to round out the menu. Oh, freshly cut chips, and some pretty cool craft beers and you certainly have a place that if well worth spending some time at, even if it just the pig shooting lasers out of its eyes.

Who's your favourite pig?…read more THE LAZER PIG! You know a place is good when your family creates a catch phrase about it. And you know it's really really good when there's a song. Yup, we have one of those too. "Lazer Pig, Lazer Pig, PIG PIG PIG!" This is a super fun place that suits rowdy groups of friends and families having dinner and has a little bit of something for everyone. The decor is what I call "grandmotherly pub-dive chic" and really sets the scene for a night ahead. Come early for $10 margarita happy hour, or settle in for a night of craft beers and beautifully made pizzas and side dishes. There's often someone playing records in the front bar, complete with disco ball and smoke machine which is great fun for any kidlets that happen to be with you at the time. Miss 4 loses her mind if the smoke machine is in action and carves up the dance floor with her best moves. As well as great pizza we usually order salads, the fried whitebait and on occasion the very good fries served with house-made passata. It all comes out relatively quickly, though expect service delays when there's not enough staff on the floor.

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Lazerpig
Lazerpig - Grandma chic.

Grandma chic.

Lazerpig

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Italia +39 Pizzeria & Degustation - Lasagna croquettes

Italia +39 Pizzeria & Degustation

4.2(101 reviews)
2.0 kmMelbourne
$$

Decent pizza, though their special (honey and pineapple) was too sweet. Somewhat lacklustre service…read more(wait staff avoided our eye, never asked how we were doing, didn't offer a second glass of wine when clearing the table, etc). Very crowded. All a bit disappointing given that pizza places are one of the few restaurants in Melbourne that try to shame you into giving a tip.

I wasn't planning on eating more Italian food in Melbourne but I walked into the fancy place across…read morethe street assuming they'd have pizza but it was all pastas. When we got the urge for pizza, +39 came into mind. There were no reservations available online for the last minute decision so we decided to try to walk-in. It was 515pm when we showed up and they told us they would need the table back by 630pm. Not a problem I said and I was right. We were out of there by 545pm. But we didn't feel rushed at all! The food just came out so fast, hot and delicious. The tables are set up nicely, crammed in without feeling too crowded. I love the specials wall and watching the people in the back cook the pizzas. Service was really good, I'm not sure if it's because they wanted the table back or if it's because they're just good. I'm going to go with the latter because I saw good service with other tables as well. This meal felt really authentic. I've never been to Italy but I've tried a lot of Italy-Italian food and this place ranks pretty high up there. I forgot how much a cocktail with amaretto and lime is sooooooo good. I forgot how hot salami might be better than pepperoni. I forgot that arugula salad with balsamic glaze goes so well with red sauce pizza. Pro tip? Order the lasagna croquettes and keep the sugo for your pizza crust and some of that fresh grated parm for your pizza.

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Italia +39 Pizzeria & Degustation - Bar

Bar

Italia +39 Pizzeria & Degustation - Pasta special

Pasta special

Italia +39 Pizzeria & Degustation - Kitchen and specials wall

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Kitchen and specials wall

Forester's Pub & Dining - bars - Updated July 2026

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