Pho Mai Closing (For Now)

In case you haven't heard, Pho Mai, the Vietnamese restaurant that's been a staple of dining in the North End for a decade, is closing.

Signs posted in the restaurant thank their patrons and say that the owners are seeking a new location to reopen the business.  Sunday, April 28th is apparently the last day to get a bowl of hearty soup at the current location.

A new Vietnamese restaurant, Lan Chi's, opened in the neighborhood recently, but that doesn't seem likely to have played a role.  As multiple online reviews attest, Pho Mai built a loyal following offering good food for an affordable price in a friendly, no-frills ambiance.  (Scuttlebutt is that a bank is taking over the building where Pho currently rents and wants it tenant-free for some reason... but that's just hearsay.)

One less eatery in Middletown may not seem like a big deal.  But personally, I think it's a shame to lose a place like Pho.  It attracts a mix of hungry locals, out-of-towners, and Wesleyan students--just what the North End needs.  Also, I find the food delicious and the  BYOB restaurant a good buy.  The family who runs the place makes sure the service is friendly and efficient.  I hope they find a new location in town.

Meanwhile, if you want to get a last (or first) taste of one the city's fine restaurants, you have a few days.  Cash only - they don't take credit cards.