663862 Sun Nov 01 07:57:11 -0800 2009 23 12 Boston Area 0 5146631 Sadly, this Cambridge institution is closing. It will probably remain open until the end of Nov. Sold to a group of folks who are turning it into some health food store or vegan joint. After 75 years in the area, it's sad to see this local, family-run establishment close its doors. Sun Nov 01 07:57:11 -0800 2009 11609 oystershucker 1 5146641 I never quite figured out what the appeal of this place was, but it is sad nonetheless to see an old standby go out of business. Sun Nov 01 08:00:28 -0800 2009 5146631 161889 Uncle Yabai 2 5146664 Garlicky green beans were part of the appeal for me. Also the dumpy divey atmosphere was just plain comfortable. I'm sad to hear they are closing. :-( Sun Nov 01 08:11:20 -0800 2009 5146641 10232 yumyum 2 5147044 Ditto. Sun Nov 01 11:19:59 -0800 2009 5146641 10169 StriperGuy 1 5146690 Sad. First place I ever got a pink can of Tecate and decent Mexican food together; loved those salty ejotes. Was good, then bad, then they got the original chef back and it was good again. Far eclipsed by places that have opened since, e.g., Angela's, but I had a lot of really enjoyable meals there over the years. (I have to admit I preferred the old, dumpier version; the remodeled place was too cheery.) I will miss it. http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/ Sun Nov 01 08:24:20 -0800 2009 5146631 10143 MC Slim JB 1 5147473 WHA?! HUH?! We haven't been 'round in some time because we are old and don't go out anymore :) , but we love that place! I have had many interesting conversations at the bar that preceded the food at times. Plus, it's fun getting hit on by the old-school Cantabridgians that populate the bar. I will stop by this week. Thanks for the info oystershucker. Sun Nov 01 14:49:21 -0800 2009 5146631 121319 digga 1 5148792 Crap. Not a highly recommendable place generally, but good for a junk-faux-Mex fix. Certainly better than most of Boston Mexican places, not that that's saying much, but still. Mon Nov 02 07:58:25 -0800 2009 5146631 11148 Alcachofa 1 5148941 I just let out a gasp when I read this.....so bummed. This place is a mainstay for me and a group of friends. We love the garlicky green beans... and the Forest 'ritas....and the yummy hot salsa they serve with the chips.... bummer! Indeed, hate it when a local, family run establishment closes. (sigh) Mon Nov 02 08:47:16 -0800 2009 5146631 244785 MissCheese 1 5148968 :-( Sad. It was a fun place to have a beer and some ok grub. I'll try to swing by before they shut down. Anyone know why they are closing? Mon Nov 02 08:53:09 -0800 2009 5146631 43893 C. Hamster 2 5148989 Agree about the beer. I have gotten over at least one heart-break with a Dos XX or three and a long lunch. I will be stopping in to pay my respects before the vegans arrive. Mon Nov 02 08:59:12 -0800 2009 5148968 10232 yumyum 1 5151099 Thanks for getting the word out! I love this place, it will be missed. Good people, good food. Great bar to strike up a nice chat! Very sad loss... Mon Nov 02 21:18:27 -0800 2009 5146631 1121275 Mo D 1 5151845 This is my single favorite place for saturday afternoon drinking (maybe it is the accepting attitude of my margarita intake?) and will leave a serious void! Tue Nov 03 08:14:39 -0800 2009 5146631 152267 crazycrazypete 1 5151859 I had no problem with Forest Cafe as a place to have a couple of beers, but the food was awful. This really isn't a huge lose from a culinary perspective...although if it's becoming a health food joint it's a net loss in terms of coolness. Tue Nov 03 08:17:46 -0800 2009 5146631 1121368 bradlohaus4life 2 5152301 Dive bars with bad Tex Mex are a dying breed here. I still recall the El Phoenix room. Tue Nov 03 10:25:29 -0800 2009 5151859 43893 C. Hamster 3 5152605 We were all talking about the El Phoenix a few nights ago. Oh, how I miss that place. The food wasn't great, but there's something really neat about washing down burritos and enchiladas with lots of beer. Tue Nov 03 11:56:37 -0800 2009 5152301 14771 hiddenboston 4 5152661 I think I recently mentioned it in another thread, but I actually miss the austin grill in central square. Sure, it wasn't very good, but it satisfied a niche (mediocre-to-bad tex-mex & booze) that isn't in high supply here and was replaced by a joint who has a niche (mediocre-to-bad faux irish bar) which we have far too many of. Tue Nov 03 12:12:58 -0800 2009 5152605 111910 jgg13 4 5152667 I loved that place (El Phoenix Room) when I was a student. I always seemed to get a little queazy after eating there but returned regularly nevertheless. Tue Nov 03 12:14:36 -0800 2009 5152605 12990 Northender 4 5152762 Ah yes, the hubcap full of enchiladas with white sauce inexplicably dumped over it. Very good for leaching the toxins out of the drinks. I miss a special the Forest Cafe used to have (or it may have been the Porterhouse) of sausages with some kind of custardy vanilla sauce. Tue Nov 03 12:46:44 -0800 2009 5152605 23376 nsenada 4 5152970 I had my first Margarita there on my 25th birthday and dragged people there for years for my birthday dinner. I loved the food too. Tue Nov 03 13:40:57 -0800 2009 5152605 66281 ginnyhw 3 5152737 I still remember a line from Robert Nadeau's Boston Phoenix review of the place back around 1978 or so: "Yes, some of the food comes from cans. But they're the RIGHT cans!" Tue Nov 03 12:41:04 -0800 2009 5152301 14386 BobB 4 5153429 I remember that review - just about right!... Tue Nov 03 16:03:13 -0800 2009 5152737 12990 Northender 1 5200169 I was at Forest Cafe last night - bar staff told me that they will close after Thanksgiving.... Sun Nov 22 10:49:57 -0800 2009 5146631 275316 scubajane 2 5209046 Which could have made tonight the last night, but it didn't have the feel of a place having its last night. Wonder when the last night will be. Wed Nov 25 20:10:02 -0800 2009 5200169 90719 chickendhansak 3 5210871 I talked to someone over there via phone earlier this week, and he kind of chuckled and said that they would be open for awhile longer, whatever that means. Fri Nov 27 08:20:37 -0800 2009 5209046 14771 hiddenboston