Rainy Day, Great Bar Seat, and One Memorable Meal. It was a cold, rainy Oregon afternoon when I stumbled into Castor, and I'm glad I did. There happened to be one open seat at the bar, which is my favorite place to dine when traveling. Sitting at the bar lets you talk story with the bartender, learn the menu, and watch the cocktails come together. If you're eating alone, I highly recommend grabbing a seat here. The bartender was friendly, easy to talk with, and clearly knew both the menu and the craft behind the bar. One thing that stood out right away was their use of fresh local ingredients, which really shows up in the flavor of the dishes and drinks. I started with the Golden Manhattan, made with a pecan-infused bourbon that was fantastic. It had a rich, slightly nutty flavor with warm vanilla notes and just the right touch of sweetness. Smooth, balanced, and a great way to kick off the meal. Alongside that I ordered the chorizo clam chowder, which brought a creamy base with just the right amount of spice from the chorizo. Comfort food with a little personality. For dinner I switched gears and ordered the Creole Sour. This one really stood out. Bright citrus up front, a smooth bourbon backbone, and a subtle spice note that tied perfectly into the Creole theme. It had that classic sour balance, tart, slightly sweet, and refreshing without overpowering the drink. Dinner was the gumbo with hot bread and butter, and it delivered. Deep flavor, a nice slow warmth from the spice, and hearty enough to make the rainy Oregon weather feel like part of the experience. To finish things off I kept it simple with a neat pour of Ben Holladay, which made for the perfect nightcap. The staff were welcoming and relaxed, which made the whole experience feel easy and comfortable. This is the kind of place that works whether you're dining solo, meeting friends, out with someone special, or grabbing dinner with a group. The price point landed right where it should be for the quality of food, cocktails, and service. If you're in Corvallis and can grab a seat at the bar at Castor, take it. Order a cocktail, settle in, and enjoy the ride. It turned a rainy afternoon into one heck of a meal. read more

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My first visit here was yesterday afternoon. Drinks were great. Service was great. Almost everything I had was great...except for the pork chop which was so dry, I could barely get it down. Dry dry dry. Not the slightest bit juicy. I would never order that again. $37 isn't cheap and I expect more out of a nice piece of pork than being cooked to death. Couldn't really tell it was bourbon and brown sugar marinated. No trace of either of those flavors. Left half of it on my plate and let my server know it was dry. The Summer Maque Choux, which was underneath the pork chop was so off-the-hook good I got just an order of that to take home! They do serve the Maque Choux as a "Snack" and I highly recommend you try it. The pickled tomatoes served on top of the pork were sweet, juicy, and slightly pickled. Yum! The Crispy Pork Belly with the housemade mustard was delicious - the mustard has a great kick to it. The Trout with crispy capers, green beans, and hazelnuts was very tasty. Would get that again, for sure. The sliders were good...I'm not sure $5/each good...but good. Crème Brûlée was excellent. And they make the best Piña Colada I've had in a long time. I'd give 3.5 stars if I could, because that pork chop was soooooooo disappointing, but 4 it is. Everything else was tasty. I'll come back, but not go anywhere near that pork chop. read more

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Amazing food! Terrific service! Great vibes. We will be back the next time we're in Corvallis. read more

Castor Kitchen & Bar - Fun n/a drinks! - Bars Near Me - Corvallis, Oregon

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Tucked away in the downtown district, this little gem will give you a taste of the Big Easy with a NW twist and locally found items. A larger restaurant than you may think, this place has a front, bar and then a back section. Service is always prompt, appropriate and knowledgeable. You will find the decor a bit eclectic as you get NW vibe with the whimsy of NOLA. Cajun inspired with scallops, shrimp and grits, bone marrow and other delicious bites, you will find a veritable plethora to choose from. A large and very diverse libation menu will also keep your attention. read more

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We dined at Castor a few weeks ago for the first time in a few years and were seriously disappointed. The room is fine and the service is good, but the food is flat-out mediocre. My partner's chicken was dry and tough, and my Shrimp and Grits was nothing like I know from Texas and Louisiana. The grits were drowned in a clear broth, and the shrimp were totally bland, with nothing of the zesty Cajun spice typical of the dish. I had to ask for salt. Not what I would expect from a restaurant that calls itself "Southern inspired." They need a new chef. read more

Hyper local, terrific tastes, a great dining pleasure, especially with their recess prices. I find it one of Corvallis best restaurants, Also I enjoy Del Alma. read more

Wonderful, friendly service. Enjoyed having lunch outside. Our lunches were very tasty. Can't wait to return. The cornmeal pancakes were perfect. read more

Castor Kitchen & Bar - Wish I'd taken a photo before I ate most of the yummy meal! - Bars Near Me - Corvallis, Oregon

Wonderful, incredible service. Our waitress was super awesome, we brought a bottle of wine and she offered to decanter it for us. I got the filet (5 oz) and it came with super yummy mashed potatoes and asparagus, perfect portion for a small 22 year old. The restaurant itself was quiet enough so u could easily hear people across the table from you and it is super pretty inside, very nice ambiance. read more

Castor Kitchen & Bar - Filet with mashed potatoes and asparagus - Bars Near Me - Corvallis, Oregon

We've had good meals here in the past but this evening it was quite underwhelming for a not inexpensive meal. The chicken dish was overdone and dry. The shrimp and grits was bland and not very appealing. The frites were what seemed like a lot of small pieces and bits you'd find in the bottom leftovers of a big bag of pre-cut frozen French fries and, frankly, were overcooked. The French onion soup tasted almost burned, not rich and deeply flavored as would be expected of such an item. There was nothing about the meal that screamed or even whispered "fine dining" except for the price. We won't be back. read more

This place is awesome. Great food and service. Every time I'm traveling in this area, I eat at this restaurant

Amazing food, great service! Menu changes seasonally, but I've never had a dish I didn't love!

I have been food poisoned here multiple times. The townies think this is a culinary experience when is mediocre Sysco food at a ridiculously inflated price. read more

After receiving the small gumbo (Decent but too sweet, definitely missing some Cajun Seasoning). As it stands I'm sitting on 30+ minutes waiting for my meal (Filet Mignon). Nice spot but that's where this review ends being positive. Meal arrived 35+ minutes later. Great presentation, decent flavor but the Filet seems pretty tough. I'm seated at the bar and the tender isn't very attentive or friendly. The hostess however was incredible, nice and very polite. All in all, this would have been a 4-5 star review but the wait was a bit too long for the product. read more

Castor Kitchen & Bar - Filet Mignon (8oz) with Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Honey Carrots and a Demi Glaze Sauce. - Bars Near Me - Corvallis, Oregon

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Love the vibe of this place. We stopped in for beverages and had 2 very different both very good espresso martinis. The bartender was so friendly, prices are great and I know the food is too from a prior meal here read more

Castor Kitchen & Bar - Bars Near Me - Corvallis, Oregon

One of the only places I can get beef tartare! So amazing! Their old fashioned is really lovely here too! Also try the chocolate cake for dessert, it's a huge gooey piece that's soo delicious! read more

It sounds like most reviews enjoy the food, but it wasn't for us. I ordered the shrimp and grits, and although the shrimp were prepared perfectly, the flavor wasn't there. I'd prefer a hint more seasoning. Same for the grits. I like finely cooked grits, similar to a cheesy, creamy polenta. The grits at Castor had a lot more texture than I was expecting, plus added ingredients that I wasn't expecting. Such as, hazelnuts. I appreciated the effort and creativity, but I couldn't force myself to enjoy the dish. We also ordered the sliders, which were pretty good. I'm not a fan of pimento cheese, but combined with the savory patty and pickled jalapeño, it worked! My husband ordered the happy hour steak. He ate it, but it was underwhelming. However, he enjoyed the side salad and shoestring fries that accompanied it. Last, but not least, the extra dirty martinis and blue cheese olives stole the show! Highly recommend, especially the olives! Those were tasty! read more

I was disappointed with my entire meal. I ordered the crab and shrimp hoagie. There was zero crab, very little shrimp (salad shrimp). A whole lot of celery, lettuce, mayo and Old Bay. I had crème brûlée for dessert and I was sad to find they used a vanilla pudding instead of custard (sacrilege). The prices were consistent with amazing food, however just the price was amazing. However, the service was wonderful! read more

Delicious food and excellent service. Had a great dinner here.. definitely recommend the roasted cauliflower and rosemary gin and tonic

Great place for families, date night or just catching up with friends. It's bigger than it looks from the outside, which was a nice surprise as it was prime time dinner time on Friday but we were able to get seated no problem. Ordered the crab hush puppies and they are AMAZING! well seasoned, fantastic aoili (with a nice spice kick), perfectly fried with a crispy outside and soft, decadent, yummy crab and cornmeal filling. Its a must order. The double porkchop is HUGE. Well cooked and seasoned. The gumbo is also generously portioned, even the small size. It is packed full of meat - chicken, andouille sausage and other tasty morsels. This also does pack a spice punch that builds as you eat it, which probably makes it so addicting. ordered the grandma chocolate cake which is served cold. it's a nice dense chocolate cake, so if you like the fluffy, moist cakes, this may not be for you. Also had the butterscotch pudding with banana slices. It sounds a little odd, but is a nice flavor combo. comes with some crispy toffee / crumble for the perfect bite. Will come back! read more

Fantabulous farm-to-fork focus fare using local producers as much as possible, artful all-inclusive ambiance (including wheelchair accessible front and side entries) with standard height tables throughout with plenty of elbow room between them, warm welcome at the door and stellar service throughout the meal made our early dinner at Castor on a rainy Monday evening the food highlight of a multi-day visit to Corvallis. MENU: changes at least seasonally so see the website menu link for the full offerings as the website is kept up to date. HOURS: Open for lunch through dinner on Tuesday through Saturday and for dinner on Monday starting at 4:00. Happy Hour here is called "recess" - clever given Corvallis is a college town - with discounts on some menu items and libation specials. LIBATIONS: Full bar with specialty cocktails and also no alcohol creations. Thoughtful wine list by glass and bottle. Also well curated pour lists for hard liquors. $: Our choices for this meal were glasses of wine from a thoughtfully curated list (an Oregon Pinot and a Rhone blend on 'of the day' special at the "recess" price for total $21), salad of local farmer greens ($8), pimento cheese board with bacon jam, fresh peaches and crostini ($14), gumbo ($12), ricotta gnocchi with summer veg ($15), and two desserts of whiskey and cookies ($10 each) for $90. We thought the prices were so reasonable for excellent food. SERVICE: The server, Margot, who greeted us warmly at the door had us feeling well tended throughout the meal. Both friendly and professional, she knew the menu to make recommendations, offered a taste of the wine I was considering to help me decide and paced the meal perfectly. Brava. TUNES: Even the playlist was perfect for the space and at a level that added to ambiance but didn't compete with conversation. ACCESSIBILITY: On this trip I was using a wheelchair and I so appreciated that there is FAQ at the website that speaks to wheelchair access at both doors, front and side, and assures a diner that both levels are equally accessible to diners with mobility limits. Few restaurants get it this perfectly right. All people are welcome here to enjoy the food and hospitality. https://www.castorcorvallis.com/faqs PARKING: On street in downtown Corvallis. read more

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Great experience at Castor! The pork chop was phenomenal, and the sear on the scallops was perfection! Really enjoyed the cozy but upscale dining experience. Highly recommend! read more

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Good food and a nice ambiance. The service was also very conscientious. I really enjoyed the gumbo and my son had a pork chop that he liked a lot. read more

What is there NOT to like about Castor??? From the food to the service, from the quasi-industrial/antique vibe, Castor Rocks! If you arrive after 6, parking can be found next door and an after dinner stroll downtown is the perfect topper, that's only after an amazing dessert! Btw, many of their offerings (which changes!) are locally grown/acquired!!! Thankful my Aunt turned us in to this new "fav"! read more

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We've been here a few times and this place delivers an eclectic menu. We love the pickles. We've had the shrimp and grits which were nice. I've had the scallops which are nice. The gumbo not too shabby! The beet salad was nice. All in all, this is one of the nicer restaurants I think in Corvallis. Give them a try read more

Castor Kitchen & Bar - Bars Near Me - Corvallis, Oregon

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Wonderful food, good service. We've been twice. One of the better steaks around. It's a little spendy but a nice treat once in awhile.

Food was good. I had the scallops wife had the salmon. Well balanced flavors. I enjoyed it. I will definitely be back. Cleanliness was on point. Service was excellent. If in Corvallis looking for something yummy and original. I would choose Castor read more

Food and drinks are good for a special occasion. Although I don't think I would order my same dish again.

Service was great. Fillet Mignon was solid. Ordered a Spanish coffee which they couldn't make to save their lives. The cornbread tres leches... not fit to feed the swine on the farm. I mean really. You can't come up with some whip cream for a Spanish coffee.... read more

Oh my gosh. Castor, is a fantastic restaurant, from the interior, the decorations, the vibe AND, of course, I can't forget the food. Everything was absolutely DELISCIOUS from the appetizers, to the soup, to the main dish. AND!!!!! Every single person that came to our table was friendly and pleasant. We drove from Salem to check this place out and it did not disappoint. I definitely will be back read more

Shrimp & Grits were delicious, I've never had it before so I don't have a frame of reference. Shrimp was fresh, not fishy and de-veined. The bacon bits with pumpkin seeds surprisingly paired really well! Steak Frites was really salty but was so tender. We got it medium rare and it was a delight; HIGHLY recommend (ask for light salt). We got here at 4pm so there was no wait. The interior is, how I would describe it, cozy industrial. It has intimate dinner vibes but open concept. read more

Castor Kitchen & Bar - Shrimp & Grits (L) Streak Frites (R) - Bars Near Me - Corvallis, Oregon

Came in as walk in 6 pm Friday night. Sent us to back of restaurant to sit in a bench where they left us. No one but a kind waiter checked in on us. Went back and spoke to person at front twice with very little result. Were supposedly waiting for a table to open up. Never happened. Finally nice waiter sent us down the block to Lucca where we finally got food. read more

One of the few places I know that the vegetable dishes are as exciting to me as the main entrees. This takes freshness and attention to detail with Castor does to a T. read more

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Was passing thru Corvallis so stopped in here just for some drinks and a snack. It also happened to be happy hour (all day on Tuesday) so that was cool. We got a beer, a wine, the sliders, and the Tartine Trio all for $38. The sliders were like gourmet White Castle burgers - tastier beef and jalapeño cheese but same size. The tartine trio was 3 open faced baguette halves with a tasty spread on each. I remember one was like a sweet strawberry ricotta and one had like goat cheese I think. All were pretty tasty and actually kinda filling with all the bread. The ambience is very cool in here as well, a cool layout with tables set up in many of their cozy nooks. read more

Castor Kitchen & Bar - HH Jalapeño sliders ($8) - Bars Near Me - Corvallis, Oregon

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Tremendous service, staff very knowledgeable about menu and drinks, a not-too-loud-to-converse place to gather with friends and family

Nice place...food was good. Service was subpar. Had to ask for a glass for our carafe water 3 times from our server... finally got one 15 minutes later from someone else, After some of our apps arrived. Seems like they either need more staff or more organization. Could have been new help that worked that night. Not sure. Probably won't be back. read more

We enjoyed our time and the place was nice. The food was expensive for what you got. We had the gumbo, the porch chop, the steak. We were there to celebrate our girls 20th birthday. The food was average at best. For dessert we had the Banana Toffee Pie and Creme Brûlée. The pie slice was good and unique however the Crème Brûlée was anything special and parts of the top were actually burnt. The best part was I did have a great espresso Martini. Their bar menu is limited. read more

Castor Kitchen & Bar - Banana Toffee Pie - Bars Near Me - Corvallis, Oregon

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Delicious food and highly recommend a nice beer and the pork chop. About a 2" cut and was amazing!

Excellent food! Had the pork chop, scallops & wedge salad. All tasty and the service was fantastic.

What a beautiful restaurant to celebrate two dear friends who had lived nearby and frequented this place. We met for lunch and had a private dining area, great service and delicious food. Our hearts were heavy with our losses, but the right of us shared our memories, tears, and we felt lighter just from being able to gather and share our grief and love in a beautiful space with gracious service. read more

The service was underwhelming and stuffy. Lack of seating with loads of empty floor space.