Forest View

Forest View Bar and Grill, at Forest View Lanes in Temperance, has really upped their food game with recent additions to their menu, like their fantastic pizza, heirloom tomato salad, and Angus lollipops. And you will taste the difference. 

The spinach artichoke pizza at Forest View is loaded with tasty, nuanced flavor. Crunchy pancetta and firm artichoke make for satisfying complimentary textures against the backdrop of a freshly-prepared, pillowy crust. The pizza also has a mild alfredo sauce and delicate spinach leaves--all of which, you will consume with joy. 

The chicken bacon ranch pizza is the best I've tasted around here: rich and smoky, full of bacon. The homemade crust is what sets it apart. I ordered some chicken wings that I'd found on one of the menus and, when I had them, they were on the salty side, but still good, big and meaty. The buffalo chicken dip was tasty too, you don't see that on too many menus. 

But the Angus lollipops is where the menu gets interesting. Flank steak is stuffed and rolled with cheese, spinach, and pancetta. It's sliced-up, then skewered and sautéed, then laid atop a bed of chimichurri. If you're not familiar with chimichurri, it's a pesto-like sauce haling from Argentina, consisting of vinegar, garlic, herbs, and oil. It's served with grilled meats, and I've been a fan ever since I saw Anthony Bourdain eating it at a churrascaria in Montevideo. 

If you're eating at Forest View, you'll have to take a look around to confirm that you're actually still in a bowling alley, because this is finer food, not just the typical Toledo-area bar fare. 

The heirloom tomato salad is awesome. It's like a really good caprese: mozzarella, heirloom tomatoes, fresh basil, and thick pita chips. There's roasted brussel sprouts on the menu as well as Forest View's signature grilled kabobs. 

There was always a ton of craft beers to enjoy at Forest View while engaged at the sand volleyball courts, golf simulators, and of course, bowling lanes. But now, with so many awesome items on the menu, Forest View raises the bar on the local food standard as well. 

Make sure you save room for crème brûlée!