Best Girls Night Out Approved Restaurants in Forest Hills
12 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Il Poeta
Classic Italian with a more formal, occasion-ready finish than most nearby.
Notable Picks
#1
Il Poeta
8.4
A polished, special-occasion Italian that leans classic—seafood, pastas, and well-executed antipasti—served in a dining room built for lingering. It’s strongest when you go the traditional route: start with a serious appetizer, pick a signature pasta or fish, and finish with an Italian dessert.
Must-Try Dishes:
Grilled Octopus, Polenta, Panna Cotta
What makes it special: Classic Italian with a more formal, occasion-ready finish than most nearby.
#2
5 Burro Cafe
8.4
A big, lively Austin Street Mexican anchor built for margaritas and shareable plates, where the kitchen’s strength is straightforward crowd-pleasers done with confidence. Best used for group dinners: keep the order taco-and-entrée focused, add guac, and let the bar do the rest.
Must-Try Dishes:
3 Tacos, 3 Enchiladas, Margaritas
What makes it special: A high-volume Forest Hills Mexican staple with a strong margarita program and crowd-ready plates.
#3
Cabana
8.3
A lively Nuevo Latino room that still works for romance if you lean into cocktails, shareable starters, and a paced entrée order. Best move is to treat it like a celebratory dinner—pick one classic plate, add one appetizer, and let the mojito-and-sangria rhythm do the rest.
Must-Try Dishes:
Churrasco, Ropa Vieja, Empanadas
What makes it special: A high-energy Latin dinner spot that shines on classic plates and cocktails.
#4
Mito
8.2
Vibes:
Girls Night Out Approved
Trendy Table Hotspots
Group Dining Gatherings
Instagram Worthy Wonders
A polished lounge-y dining room where sushi shares the spotlight with broader Japanese-leaning comfort and cocktails. Best for groups who want a lively setting and a menu that can cover rolls, apps, and shareable plates without overthinking it.
Must-Try Dishes:
Joker roll, Monster Lobster roll, Sushi & sashimi entrée
What makes it special: A modern sushi-and-cocktails room that plays well for groups.
8.2
A more upscale Greek dining room that leans mezze-forward with a polished cocktail-and-raw-bar vibe, best used for a paced, shareable meal. The strongest order is two dips or cold starters, one hot appetizer, then one grill or fish main to finish without the table getting muddy.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lamb chops, Grilled calamari, Mezze spreads (dips)
What makes it special: Polished Greek mezze-and-grill dining with a cocktail-friendly room.
#6
White Radish
8.2
A polished New American room that balances comfort and technique—pastas, seafood, and a few standout plates that reward a focused order. It’s at its best when you go “one luxe starter + one main + one dessert” instead of trying to cover the whole menu.
Must-Try Dishes:
Short Rib Ravioli, Oxtail Croquettes, Duck Two Ways
What makes it special: A Forest Hills New American kitchen with legit pasta-and-seafood range.
8.1
Vibes:
Girls Night Out Approved
Trendy Table Hotspots
Group Dining Gatherings
Instagram Worthy Wonders
A high-energy Latin fusion room where tacos shine as the smart, focused order—crispy shells, bold sauces, and a cocktail-driven night-out vibe. Treat it like tacos plus one starter, then stop before the table turns heavy.
Must-Try Dishes:
Baja shrimp tacos, Chorizo tostada, Maduros
What makes it special: A cocktail-forward Latin spot where tacos are the cleanest win.
8.1
A true wine-bar date-night setup—dim, conversational, and built for grazing with a glass instead of a heavy three-course march. Best move is to treat it like a board-and-small-plates evening, keeping the order snackable and paced around wine.
Must-Try Dishes:
Crab 'n' Avocado, Braised Short Rib, Fish Tacos
What makes it special: Wine-bar pacing with small plates designed for sharing.
Worthy Picks
7.9
A design-forward, nightlife-leaning New American bistro that mixes playful plates with a cocktail-bar rhythm. The move is to treat it like a curated order—one signature starter, one main, then call it—so value stays intact and the table doesn’t sprawl.
Must-Try Dishes:
Red Beet Wellington, Kung Pao Calamari, Braised Short Rib
What makes it special: A cocktail-forward bistro where the room and plating are part of the meal.
7.9
A contemporary Asian-fusion lounge with outdoor tables that make it a practical, pet-friendly pre-show or group bite near the station. It’s strongest when you order for variety—one hot shareable, one sushi-leaning item, then a main—so the table feels cohesive instead of chaotic. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
Must-Try Dishes:
Sushi burrito, Beef empanadas, Specialty rolls
What makes it special: Station-adjacent outdoor seating with a fun Asian-fusion menu mix.
7.8
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Trendy Table Hotspots
Girls Night Out Approved
Birthday & Celebration Central
A big, lively Asian-fusion dining room where sushi rolls play best as part of a shared spread. The smartest order is one signature roll plus one clean classic roll, then pivot to one hot entrée—too many rolls gets heavy fast in this format.
Must-Try Dishes:
Dragon roll, Spicy tuna roll, Kani salad
What makes it special: A high-volume fusion room where one signature roll anchors the table.
7.5
A modern Mediterranean-leaning nightlife room where food is part of the experience, not the whole point—best approached as a shared-plates-and-drinks night. Order a tight set of starters and one main dish to match the vibe, then let the room do the rest.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mediterranean mezze platter, Grilled branzino-style fish, Crispy calamari
What makes it special: A nightlife-forward Mediterranean room where ambiance carries the night.