A good word to describe the Black Forest is “intimate.” But not intimate in the way you would usually connote the word.
It’s not intimate like a romantic comedy. You won’t find any candlelit dinners or loving glances or hand squeezes under the table. The type of intimate you’ll find is more akin to a frantic, sweaty underground metal club squeezed into the cozy confines of a building not big enough to contain its grungy energy and noise.
Even when it’s not crowded, it still feels congested — but not necessarily in a bad way.
From the outside, Black Forest looks like a relatively ordinary dive bar — albeit one that takes its namesake to heart. But it’s not an ordinary dive bar, or at least not one in the same vein as Luckey’s Club or the Jackalope Lounge.
It’s a dimly lit, claustrophobic, sweaty dive bar and music venue that is probably (especially now with the passing of the Oak Street Speakeasy) one of Eugene’s premier destinations for people who prefer their music with a hint of metal, or at least loud, and like their drinks to be strong, affordable and without frills.
It’s the kind of place the dudes from Dethklok would hang out at if they were real and lived in Eugene.
In terms of food and drink, Black Forest is decent in both selection and price. It won’t break your bank, but it could trim the fat off your wallet if you let it.
Like nearly every other local bar, it serves the customary selection of local craft brews like Ninkasi and Oakshire, as well as other craft and domestic peers. The food menu features normal bar fare like nachos, tots, wings and burgers, as well as a full breakfast selection. On weekdays there’s a happy hour from 4-7 p.m., and weekends it runs from 11 a.m.- 3 p.m.
But Black Forest separates itself from the pack with tangible things beyond its drink selection.
On Monday and Wednesday nights, Black Forest has karaoke and also its “No Well Wednesdays” drink deal — where call liquors are the same price as well drinks. To put it lightly, these events attract an interesting (perhaps eclectic) array of people and tastes. It’s generally quite loud, off-key, entertaining and well-worth attending.
When patrons aren’t butchering songs on karaoke nights, Black Forest features a steady stream of live music, usually in the form of metal, hard rock or just rock music.
These concerts are usually loud, rough and make no apologies for the band (or your own) drunken condition.
In the end, if clean sports bars or preppy college bars are your jam, it’s best you avoid the Black Forest — but if you feel like adding a little grungy dash of the unexpected to your bar-hopping routine, Black Forest will get the job done.