Forest on First

6/19/2014

Yes, it's nice!
If you have young kids and want everyone to have a good time, then go. We went for father's day, kids had a blast in the tree house, food was very good, service pleasant and helpful. There is nothing not to like there (only other people's kids ;-) ah aha...).

I can't imagine anyone with young children not liking the place. Yes, it is a little expensive, but it's Los Altos! If you want cheap and crowded with plastic stuff everywhere, go to Redwood City's Chucky Cheese.

5/9/2014

I don't even like kids, and I looooove this place! I love the super friendly and accommodating service; I love the organic and locally sourced meals made from scratch; I even love the wooden jungle gym and sparkling clean interior. Forest on First puts me in such a good mood, that I don't even mind the kids, haha.

Drinks. Amazing drinks. The fruit drinks are pricey compared with Jamba Juice downtown, but they're blended to perfection and taste so many times fresher.

And the coffees! Their mocha's just passable, but definitely get their Gibraltar. What's weird is that drip coffee isn't bottomless, apparently? That's a bummer...

Service is a little slow, but that's because they expect you to mill around. I mean, there's a playground on premises and all that goodness, so what do you expect? This isn't really the type of place you jet off from unless you're getting an order to go (in which case, they hop to it). I like that they let everyone just take it easy.

Their marshmallows are BOMB. I've had some pretty disappointing homemade mallows in the past (grainy or shallow tasting). But these are perfection! And so cheap too! Being that I don't find many organic marshmallow offerings, it's tempting to want to stock up, haha.

FOF doesn't have a microwave, so some of their baked treats on display are a bit disappointing, since they don't come to you warm. I'm all for sticky buns when they are steamy and soaked in honey, but the sticky buns here are just sort of sad. Don't get those. Get a berry tart or a hazelnut muffin or something else instead.

Breakfast!! They serve breakfast until a little before 11. And I'm a breakfast fiend. So happy to have found a cute little place to enjoy brunch in my neighborhood. I'd stick with any of their daily specials and of course of course, their corned beef hash. Oh my gosh, that meat is insanity. And the root vegetables it's paired with are just the perfect complement. It's still a heavy dish, so consider sharing if you don't like stuffing your face.

And soooouuuuup! Another one of my weaknesses! Selection varies on a whim but I have no complaints. Haven't been disappointed yet. If you've been looking for a hearty and healthy soup selection, this is the place.

I'm gonna have to stop all this raving now, because it's giving me cravings... I cannot wait to be back up north now, satisfying my taste buds with some drinks and sweets. Nomnom.

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  Strawberry ginger rhubarb drink!

  Strawberry ginger rhubarb drink!

5/6/2014

Yikes $5 for my kid to go run around on an indoor play structure...hmm Happy Hollow in San Jose costs like $15 for a kid to go on endless rides all day long and I pay $5 for my kid to go on that??? So overpriced! Like I'm really going to go into that place and NOT let my kid go in there and play? Of course I won't, so I'm definitely forced to pay the $5. Ridic! The concept is amazing and the place was beyond cute which is right up my alley. The smoothie I got was delicious though and the ambiance was pure Los Altos which is fun once in awhile.

This place is fun maybe one time in your life!

8/29/2014

This is a really cute cafe that has a sort of tree house INSIDE, which makes it an ideal place for parents to meet up while also having their children entertained. The food was pretty good, with their chips being my favorite part. It's kind of pricey, but if you come here as a parent and think of part of the price as an "admission" fee for your children, it makes it much more tolerable. The servers were really nice and helpful, which gave this place a nice, relaxed feel on a weekday. I'd imagine it might be busier on a weekend.

9/3/2014

This place is so cute but in the afternoon when it's filled with little kids and moms its crowded and hectic especially because the store is small. I think the best time to go is in the morning. More quiet and relaxing.

If you have kids its super kids friendly place. Kids would love it.

I never got food here but if I come here I come for coffee. They use Four Barrel Coffee and I love their coffee.

5/5/2014

As a new resident in the mountain view/los altos area, I've been looking for a place to get high quality coffee beverages and food that's comfortable to hang out at, and I've found it with forest.
I've been to the other shops in the area and this is my new favorite. It's the ONLY place that has cold brew coffee, and It is impossible not to get the pistachio muffin once you've tried it.
The food is pricey, but only matches the standard prices of other shops in the area, yet here you are paying for the highest quality ingredients and a cool place to bring your kids or friends.
It's got a few kinks to work out, but it's a new business id like to support and see flourish.

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  Pistachio muffin from scratch and homemade lemonade.

  Pistachio muffin from scratch and homemade lemonade.

4/21/2014

Perfect for kids 4-6.  Horror for everyone else.

First, the mediocre food.  $14 for tiny cold eggs benedict.  Yes, they tried to make it fancy by adding asparagus.  Gutsy but no cigar.  Salad was too much bland toppings on wilted lettuce.  Corned beef hash has dry and looked like gravel.  French toast was generously portioned, but on the soggy side.  Scone was good though.

Even had to wait 10 minutes for coffee.  Turned out ordering drip coffee meant you had to get americano, and your order got queued in the long line of orders at the espresso machine.  Coffee wasn't bad, but i hated waiting for a simple cup of joe.

Inside was loud!  Kids were running rampant.  Seemed like the battle lines were mostly boys vs girls the day we went, and the chaos and name calling that goes along.  Not a good place for saturday mornings.  Maybe its better for moms with toddlers during the week, when its more quiet.

Oh, and it was $5 per kid for tree house privileges.  They make it easier though--discount card for 1 free after a million paid visits.  Sheesh!

If you like overpriced upscale kid friendly places, try bumble a couple doors down.  The food is slightly better and the kids are slightly quieter there.

4/11/2014

So unimpressed with this cafe.

First of all, lunch for my two children and myself was $52. The prices are absolutely ABSURD for a place where you order at a counter and have to collect your own silverware and then try to find a table not being camped out at by a group of moms in yoga gear.

I ordered the steak salad, and the steak smelled and tasted off; sort of sour and completely unappetizing. I brought this to the attention of the manager, who just sort of stared at me and then said it's the marinade they used. Ok, well your marinade makes your steak taste like it's gone bad. Way to go!

15 minutes later, as we were leaving, the manager wanders out with a new piece of steak on a plate. Um...we were leaving, and I didn't ask for you to remake it. Besides, if it's the marinade that made it taste bad, why would I want another steak prepared with the same seasonings? I would have much preferred a partial refund, or even a few free cookies for my kids.

I've had better lunches for faaaaar less elsewhere.

8/16/2014

Maybe it was just the time I went, but this place is really chaotic and stressed me out. The food was decent, the coffee was good, but it was complete chaos inside and I haven't been back. Maybe during the week it would be netter/quieter.

4/14/2014

If you are one of those ass hole parents who let their kids run wild in public you will love this place. If you hate ass hole parents who let their terrorist children run rampant this is not the place for you. Overpriced, mediocre food with a side of kids gone wild.

Everything on the menu is limited and gag worthy to begin with but throw in ass hole children bumping your table and screaming nonstop, no thanks.

3/2/2014

Like one of the last reviewers, I want more places like this - many, many more. I love Bumble and was excited to try this new play cafe. Unfortunately within 10 minutes of getting there both my 2 and 5 year olds wanted to leave. My 5 year old proclaimed the play structure boring and my 2 year old was so overwhelmed by the crowd that she was too scared to leave the table.

We met another family of 4 for lunch here. Lunch for them (with 2 children under age 5) was $90. For us it was $80. This includes the $5 play cost per child which I wouldn't have minded if the play area was more interesting and less crowded.

The food was good enough but not as good as Bumble (oddly).  My husband liked it better than I did. The baked goods are very good.

The problem we had was with the lack of crowd control.  Keep in mind we are totally comfortable in a crowded Pump it Up or trampoline park so we're good with crowds. The problem was that this place was out of control crowded to the point it felt unsafe. People were crushing by our table and someone even dropped food on our children. The structure was also too crowded with adults and kids of mixed ages knocking into each other.  We won't return and we definitely won't recommend it to anyone until they find a way to manage/limit the crowd.  That being said, the crowd indicates the extreme demand there is in Silicon Valley for play cafés and centers.

To support the other reviews about the staff, they appear largely indifferent and move sooooo slowly. Not the friendly staff you would expect at a play cafe.

I wish all good things for this restaurant and will return if they find a way to manage the crowd - which could include prepaid reservations or strict capacity management.

3/30/2014

This restaurant is expensive, but for good quality food and ambience it is worth it.  Forest does not have a good ambience what so ever.
The inside sitting area is always crowded unless you get there after 2:30pm.  
The outside is nice, but with the construction across the street it's not pleasant to sit outside and also depends on if the weather is nice.

I will NOT be returning here until the management chooses to control the seating arrangement (host/hostess).  They also need to monitor the children in the playhouse or require the parents to do so.
When I visited, there were families taking their time at the table (3 hours).  One couple sat at a table for hours on their computers or working while their son played.  They finally left when their son fell and got hurt.

2/23/2014

Forest on First is the latest family-friendly downtown Los Altos destination from the H&H Company (also behind nearby Bumble and Play!).  Supposedly, Sergey Brin of Google may be involved in some of these ventures, but the bottom line is that the Peninsula benefits from more family destinations and eateries.

Forest on First's theme is obviously a rustic one and it's apparent from the new and open space featuring a literal treehouse play area that spans the entire side and upper front ceiling.  Chairs and high chairs are wood as well and wooden jarred plants decorate all the tables.

Opening hours are 7 am to 5 pm and Forest on First is meant as a cafe focusing on breakfast, brunch, and lunch.  Ingredients and food focuses on organic and farm to table items as do the other H&H establishments.  

Compared to Bumble, Forest on First is probably better for an older age group (The Treehouse recommends 3 and above) but also allowing parents to munch and drink (healthy stuff like smoothies and fresh-pressed juices).  Our order:

Mighty Moose Smoothie - $8.  A glass of greenish liquid arrived about 5 minutes after ordering. Cool, but not cold, I drank it quickly.  The menu didn't state the ingredients but I'm sure it's healthy things like kale and quinoa that I never eat.  At least I hope so, because it's not particularly good tasting or sweet like a Jamba Juice smoothie that everyone knows isn't exactly healthy.

Bunny Juice - $8/$10.  The small size is very tiny for this fresh pressed carrot and ginger juice concoction.  Kids and adults liked it but pricey.

Burrata Cheese - $12.  Fistful of Burrata cheese served with toast and dirty ketchup. Actually quite tasty and as a daily special a nice appetizer.  Portion size isn't large but that's the theme here.

Overall, Forest on First is a welcome addition to downtown Los Altos and continues the trend of offering more to the families that increasingly make up the Peninsula population.  It's a lovely play space and the food is farm-to-table.  Disappointments would be the prices compared to portion size (especially the tiny juice glasses) as well as the $5 entry fee to the Treehouse that surprised many parents we saw (they ended up comping some for a first visit).

If you're going to charge these prices and market as a friendly family destination, perhaps include the Treehouse for people that order over $20 of food and drink.  It'd be equivalent to the sandbox at Bumble.  Now if you're providing supervision (like at Bumble), then by all means. But a $5/child entry for a play structure can't be popular especially if I was dropping by for a coffee and a pastry.

Forest on First accepts credit cards including American Express.

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  Daily Special - Burrata Cheese $12

  Daily Special - Burrata Cheese $12
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  Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks, Drinks in a Forest Themed Space

  Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks, Drinks in a Forest Themed Space
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  Indoor play structure - The Treehouse. $5/child.

  Indoor play structure - The Treehouse. $5/child.

4/23/2014

I'll start off by saying the chicken sandwich I had was delicious, and the staff was all vey friendly. I was there on around 1:30 p.m. on a Friday, and it was quite peaceful and civilized, and the ambiance was lovely.

I am removing two stars for two reasons. I understand that it's Los Altos, but the limited menu really is quite expensive for what you get, especially when you have to order at a counter, and get your own silverware and water. I can get the same food priciest bumble, with a hostess, servers, a sand box, and a staffed play room.

Secondly, paying $5.00 for that treehouse is ridiculous. I'm not paying $5.00 for such minimal entertainment. That's crazy!

I will go back to Forest on First, but I won't be bringing my kids.

4/14/2014

For the genius that thought you were going to get a cheap meal for your family at a place that has a treehouse inside and leather chairs...what is wrong with you!?
The lady upset about the noise...what the hell? It's a giant playground...I can't stand crazy noise but I also got my items to-go!

3/29/2014

I like this place for 2 reasons.  They are right across the street from my pilates studio (Evolve!) and their food is good.

I don't have any kids, but I appreciate the appeal with the treehouse built in and the forest-themed everything from the chairs (tree stumps), to plants on the tables and numbered table signs.

I've only been here for breakfast and enjoy the rustic feel of all the offerings.  The muffins are FANTASTIC.  For $3 each, they are pricey for being such small treats, but they are seriously some of the most delicious muffins I've ever had.  I love the berry ones and the pistachio olive oil ones are also amazing.  They go very well with my Four Barrel Mocha with Almond Milk.

I am also a fan of the breakfast sandwich.  The english muffin is just hearty enough without being too buttery and fatty, the eggs are fresh, and the meat isn't fatty.  Comes with chips that are crispy and just the right amount of saltiness for a breakfast meal.  As long as I have my morning pilates sessions, I'll be back.

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  Cute for the tabletop

  Cute for the tabletop
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2/22/2014

Ok, I really hate giving this place two stars. I know it is new and family/kid oriented, but I heard the food was really tasty and organic and decided to try it for myself. Unfortunately, I experienced some basic critical errors that cannot be ignored. For starters, the food was actually quite tasty. However, the service and experience were unpleasant.

When we first drove by, the outdoor patio looked pretty open (like we could easily find a table). However, when we walked up to the small gate, we realized they had totally cheaped out on the number of outdoor tables. So even though it looked like there was plenty of room from the street, all of the ten or so tables were occupied (most of the people had finished eating). This was extremely frustrating, and many customers were lingering around looking for seats.

Ordering takes place at the counter with large menu boards on the back wall. I found these to be very deceiving, as they had no description of what came with the items. One person in my group ordered the "Pork and Beef Sandwich" off of the specials board, and it actually came out as a Meatball Sandwich with marinara sauce. They should definitely work on clarifying the descriptions and ingredients.

Next, the cashier was SO SLOW! If you are going to make your customers stand in line to order, at least move the line quickly! At the rate she was processing the orders, it seemed like every party was signing mortgage paperwork. When we finally got up to the front, we ordered our three items and said them pretty clearly. She seemed confused and touched some buttons on the computer for 5 minutes and then asked for the last two items again. We repeated them a couple more times and she asked yet again(?!?) for the last item. Seriously?!

Most of the employees seemed confused, disoriented, and not motivated. The chefs were moving quickly, but everyone else was acting like the place was half full even though customers were lined up out the door.

The two stars are for the food. The Rotisserie Chicken Sandwich was very tasty (good flavor combinations) and the "Meatball" Sandwich was pretty tasty. The Brussel Sprout Salad with Grilled Chicken was also pleasant, especially with the sliced, fresh Organic Chicken.

My whole experience totally sucked, but I will probably give them one more try because the food was tasty and something new for Downtown Los Altos.

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  Chicken Sandwich (Delicious!!)

  Chicken Sandwich (Delicious!!)
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  Roasted Chicken Sandwich (cross section)

  Roasted Chicken Sandwich (cross section)

2/15/2014

We were looking very much forward to try a new breakfast place in Los Altos. This place disappoints.

Staff: we had to repeat our order at the register three times until it was correct. The server that brought our food did not bring cutlery and napkins and there was no sugar for our coffee. We had to go back inside and get everything ourselves. Then looking for something to stir my coffee all I found were giant soup spoons. I hope that in a few weeks when the staff is more experienced the service quality improves.

Food: we had the Dutch pancakes, frittata, breakfast sandwich, and the French toast. Latte, OJ, and sparkling lemonade.

The latte tasted ok but was almost cold when it came out to the table and the milk foam was not even up to Starbucks level. For a price of 4.75 I would expect more.

OJ and sparking lemonade were fresh and the kids liked them.

The frittata had only basic ingredients like egg and potatoes fitting in with the restaurants concept of simple food from good ingredients. What was missing were some spices even as simple as salt and pepper.

The French toast was a single slice of toast with a nice fruit compote topping and maple sirup. Nothing fancy. The portion was tiny and appropriate for a kids menu. I appreciate when a restaurant does not supersize their portions but adding a second slice of French toast would have been appropriate.

The Dutch pancake was good - not the thick fluffy American style pancake. My daughter liked it and the adult portion was just the right size for a 6 year old's breakfast.

The breakfast sandwich was ok. Scrambled eggs and ham with some chips on the side. Just like with the frittata the dish could have benefitted from some seasoning. And it would have been nice to get the food to the table while not was still hot.

Lastly the bacon: a side of bacon gets you four slices and the bacon was very crisp. Nice. Just don't call it 'thick cut', it was as thin as any standard bacon in other places.

I would love to see Forrest on First address the serving quality issues and upgrade the tastiness and portions of the food menu. At the price point and with the current quality issues, not worth coming back.

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  Entrance

  Entrance

3/6/2014

Forest on First has been open for about a month. 30 days. Not a long time. I'm sure there are kinks to be worked out (I didn't see any), but that goes with every restaurant. However, in my opinion, Forest on First is fantastic!!!

Forest on First is a phenomenal business that caters to family. Yes, it gets crowded, but that is because people want to be there. The kids enjoy it. The Treehouse structure is beautiful and was very well thought out by whoever designed it. It seems as if the owners, as also shown by their numerous other businesses in the area, really care about family, the community, and bringing people together. It also seems they care immensely about GOOD food.

The food is AMAZING, and well priced for portion size and what ingredients go into the dish.

I read somewhere someone was upset about the smoothies not tasting as sweet as Jamba Juice. Just have to say....Jamba Juice has one main ingredient... sugar. Forest on First's smoothies are not as sweet because they don't contain a bunch of sugar, or fruit that has been packaged with a bunch of sugar. However, I think they're a perfect balance of sweet and tart, not to mention good FOR you. The juices are wonderful as well. Can't really go wrong with high quality, locally sourced produce.

Bottom line: Forest on First is exceptional. It is PERFECT for you... but only if...
1. You like healthy, fabulous tasting, locally sourced food
2. A fun environment
3. A business (owners) and staff that TRULY care about serving their customers, as well as wanting to contribute to the enhancement of the community.

2/28/2014

I want a place like this to survive. I want more places like this. That said, here's the skinny:

Do source food locally and sustainably. Yes!
Do provide gluten/grain/dairy free options. (They currently offer nearly none.)
Do not think kids need to eat "kid" food.
Do not charge an arm and a leg for food and drink if you're going to then charge five freaking dollars per kid on top of what I just paid for food to allow them to play. That's insane.

Something's gotta give. The portions were tiny, the food was mediocre, the fun wasn't free, and the place is small, loud, and crowded.

Remember, I want MORE of this, but with the above improvements made. That's how I'll be coming back for more. As it stands now? That was probably my one and only visit.

2/24/2014

This place was fun but we had to pay $5 per kid to play on the structure. Personally, it should be free after you make a $50 purchase for lunch. The lemonade was amazing and I enjoyed my onion panini.

They seem to run out of a lot of menu items so we were forced to order my daughter a Mac and cheese instead of the peanut butter which was upset about. The Mac and cheese was delicious but not exactly kid friendly. My daughter wasn't sure how to eat as they were fried in squares.

Great lunch but be prepared to bring sunblock as there is no cover in outside seating.

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  Lemonade and a green juice. Yum!!

  Lemonade and a green juice. Yum!!
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  Kids Mac and cheese

  Kids Mac and cheese
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  Friend onion panini. Yum with bacon.

  Friend onion panini. Yum with bacon.

5/5/2014

I really wanted to like this place and was looking forward to a yummy meal while my kids played.

Sadly, the food was overpriced. I talked myself into by telling myself -- "they have a play structure so they are marking the food up a bit". But then they charged $5 per child for a wrist band to play on a structure that engaged my child for 10 minutes! My daughter is 2.5 years old. My 1.5 year old was both too young for a climbing structure, and there was nothing  on the floor even to engage him.

There were no seats inside (where the play structure is) or out front. We had to eat out in the parking lot patio.

Overall, it cost us almost $30 for a steak sandwich that we split, one kid's meal, and one wristband.  And the service was SUPER slow.

On the positive side, the food was good, and the bathrooms are parent friendly.

3/24/2014

I visited this restaurant with my 10 year old daughter over the weekend and had no idea this was a new restaurant (we're not locals).  My first impression as we walked up was "woah - this place is busy!" (We showed up around noon on a beautiful Saturday.)

While I stood in line my daughter played in the indoor treehouse.  I didn't realize there was a $5 cover to play in there until I got to the register, but by then my daughter was already done with the treehouse.  $5 wouldn't have been worth it for her, but for a preschool aged kid the $5 would be well spent.  

Daughter ordered the kid mac 'n cheese with lemonade and I ordered the tuna conserve sandwich with the small size forest green juice.  While I ordered my daughter found a table outside so despite the crowd we didn't have a problem finding a table.  Our food was delivered to our table.  I noticed a reviewer who gave only 2 stars mentioned that you wait for your food and bring it to the table yourself.  This did not happen in my experience.  They give you a number to place on your table now.

The forest green juice was so good I sucked it down before my tuna sandwich arrived.  I wished I had gotten the larger size.  My sandwich came out with homemade potato chips which my daughter devoured (for some reason her mac 'n cheese came out about 5 minutes after my food...probably just really busy)  She even ate half my tuna sandwich and she LOVED it.  She liked the mac 'n cheese but by the time she got it she had already eaten a lot from my plate.  What she LOVED was the homemade marshmallow which was worth it for just 75 cents.  

I definitely recommend trying Forest on First.  Expect there to be hiccups with a new restaurant.  I'm sure they're reading their reviews and incorporating changes based on what's written here as our experience was quite wonderful.

2/20/2014

The fact that a busy mama can sit and drink her delicious late while her children are happily exploring the treehouse, is worth every penny.

And I just have to say, that anyone who complains about having to get  their own cutlery and having to stir their coffee with a soup spoon is just ridiculous. This place is a casual cafe... That's how it work at a casual cafe.
A the staff is super nice and the food was great. My kids loved the berry smoothie.

Great kid place. Well done.

2/27/2014

My family has enjoyed lunch here twice and we'll definitely be back for more.

My favorite dish is the seared brussels sprouts salad with skirt steak.  The saltiness and crunch of the croutons really bring this salad together and it's a lovely dish for lunch.  The crispy risotto balls are a clever addition to the menu.

Kids enjoyed their grilled cheese and mac and cheese bites.  We also split 3 different juices - forest green, beetle juice, and the golden gate.  My personal favorite was the latter, but they were all a hit with the kids.  Of course my wife was in heaven with her Four Barrel latte.

This is another wonderful addition to downtown Los Altos.  It's great to have a cafe like this where the kids can explore a giant treehouse or cuddle up in the cozy reading nook while the adults can enjoy a few minutes of quiet time together. I love the emphasis on local and organic food for families to enjoy and a creative play space for the kids.  Kudos to Forest on First!

5/9/2014

I know this place's target market is young parents with young kids and I'm not that... But I'm still obsessed! Growing up in Los Altos I would have LOVED this place. Instead of hanging outside of Starbucks all the time high on caffeine grabbing a juice and delicious homemade marshmallow would have been sooo much more ideal.

Slightly higher priced but everytime I've been I've had great food and friendly service. I also love that their coffee (when you dine in) comes in a Le Crueset mug... Dead.

I've been back multiple times for juice and small snacks and today, after leaving as a happy customer with juice in hand, I felt like leaving a review.

I recommend going here on the off hours if you're not into seeing little humans running around with spaghetti all over their faces, but other than that it's a great place to grab a juice, salad, soup and even the occasional breakfast! Check it out.

6/8/2014

The treehouse is now free. My 4.5 years old had a great time and we enjoyed our coffee and muffin. We will come back again.

5/26/2014

We had a great experience here! From the friendly, lovely ladies at the counter to the amazingly delicious lamb sandwich to the decor to the treehouse and books and magnetic board to the fresh juices and quick service, we couldn't have been happier in a cafe. The kids loved it, although the treehouse was a bit scary for my 2 year old, who had to be rescued by mama. But she loved everything else :)) This cafe can't be everything to everyone, but it sure had me sold, and I will definitely bring my family here again :)

6/10/2014

Extremely pricey.  The artichoke was very fibrous and much of it was not edible.  Salad was ok, but for the price, did not wow.  Nice concept, but food just doesn't wow enough.

4/28/2014

The juices/smoothies are EXPENSIVE. I realize they are trying to give the all-organic/natural vibe, but I've had juices at Whole Foods and New Leaf for $2-4 less. I don't like kale, and there doesn't seem to be much of a greens selection besides that.

The man at the cashier wasn't welcoming at ALL. I had to physically walk up to him and ask if I could order-- strange especially since they were so slow. I asked if I could substitute kale with spinach, and he went to go ask if they had any. I ordered the Green Kiwi smoothie with spinach instead of kale and it was $7.

We waited about 10 minutes, which was fine since I was chatting with a friend. The smoothie was not very good. It had a very a chalky texture, and strange aftertaste. If you are a person that's sensitive to textures, don't get this smoothie. I make green smoothies at home, and this was very disappointing in comparison.

Overall, I have to give 1 star for the ambiance and 1 star for the nice employee that handed me my smoothie. If you're going to get a juice or smoothie, go to New Leaf or Whole Food Markets. You can get TWO wonderfully tasting juices for the price of one at Forest on First. It looks like a place to try out if you have kids, but then again, a $5 cover charge to use the play structure is just absurd. Not impressed and won't be going back.

2/11/2014

Great new cafe/eats place that's very friendly to all walks of life in the community. Dropped in for the preview opening before they open to the public. The exterior and interior is designed to evoke being in the woods and they have a great "treehouse" climbing area for kids to romp around while parents can get breakfast/lunch/drinks. Before heading into the office i got a ham/egg/cheese breakfast sandwich and the Bunny Juice which has carrot apple and ginger fresh squeezed. What I was most excited about is that they have Four Barrel coffee which im  sure will now be a weekend stable for me. The offerings were limited for the time being but as they grand open, Ill definitely be back to try many more things. And Coffee of course!

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• See all photos from Kim N.

3/26/2014

Nice place, does become a playground at times. I wouldn't come here to expect peace and quiet around 12 pm. Aside from that really nice place. Great service.

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  Braised Lamb

  Braised Lamb

2/15/2014

Cool space, ideal for kids 3-5.  Pricy as you would come to expect (given the clientele they may want to consider smaller sized smoothies rather than full-sized for $7), but kind of a cool menu.  H&h seems to have built critical mass of kid friendly places in this stretch of los altos.

3/23/2014

This place is cute. From the fake grass patio to the all wood exterior and interior. I really was excited for the opening of this new cafe concept by H&H but was disappointed my first time visiting it.
To begin with, there is not enough seating for a walk up cafe. People were scrambling to find a table to sit with their families to eat. It felt and was cramped and overwhelming. Tensions were high and people were off set by this from the entrance.
Now the menu, it's a walk up cafe. So you order and pick up your food yourself. I ordered a chicken sandwich ($11) it came with no side so I also ordered a side salad, A pbj empanada ($6) no sides come with the sandwich  and 16oz carrot juice ( forgot the pricing) all to go. My son also wanted to climb the structure ($5).
Service was super slow and when I received my order and left, I realized they had left out my side salad. All in all, not the best experience for how expensive it is. And the food is meh, I've had way better. Although the juice was pretty good.

2/18/2014

I was hoping for more than cutesy decor ..... I was hoping for REAL food that was delicious, plentiful and filling, but didn't get it.  Just like Bumble - mighty glossy but no real substance when it comes to a satisfying meal.

2/13/2014

Second day of opening and things are running smoothly! I was trepidatious but the space is gorgeous, fun, and the food is very good to boot. The treehouse concept is whimsical and the kids *love* it. I had the roasted chicken sammy which was loaded with fresh avocados on fragrant soft bread. Kids menu is exceptional - healthy but appealing to kids. I know instantly that we will be regulars here!!!

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  Kids can crawl through tunnel from one side on treehouse to the other side! Awesome!!!

  Kids can crawl through tunnel from one side on treehouse to the other side! Awesome!!!
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  Nice touch :)

  Nice touch :)
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  So much FUN!

  So much FUN!
• See all photos from E L.

5/4/2014

Tasty crab salad; yummy mac and cheese.  Kids loved playing in the treehouse and grown-ups soaked up some sun on the patio.  Great for families, mommies, nannies.

4/25/2014

Went with my boys ages 6 and 2 an hour before they closed on a Thursday. It was empty and we enjoyed the treehouse mostly to ourselves. Lovely design as expected from the folks who created Bumble next door. Happy to support a family friendly small business. We will be back.

5/10/2014

Way overpriced for lack luster food. The portions are very small and it is a hybrid fast casual style so expect to run to the station a few times for napkins, silverware, etc.... The kids had some fun in the "treehouse". It costs an additional $5 per kids to climb around. The best part was the coffee. There are plenty of better kid friendly places.

2/24/2014

Appeals to the bouge Silicon Valley crowd.  Eight bucks for juice is a bit steep.  I get that they stress on health, freshness, and organics, but there are more solid options in the area.  This place is great for families, but they push the trendy stuff a bit hard.  Ultimately, I look for taste and value.  For the price, there are viable alternatives.