Rainy Day, Great Bar Seat, and One Memorable Meal…read more 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.

We dined at Castor a few weeks ago for the first time in a few years and were seriously…read moredisappointed. 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.

We sat in lounge because we had reservations, but out babysitter was late. I noticed lots of spider…read morewebs hanging from light fixtures. We were never offered three course menu. It was Thursday. Food was flavorful and courses times perfectly. Service was not really that outgoing or seemingly happy to be there.

I wish I'd had enough room to finish the flourless chocolate tart. It was even better than the…read morefilet I'd ordered!

Definitely a must-visit restaurant in Corvallis. My family and I have been eating here since it…read moreopened, and they consistently have outstanding food and quick, friendly service. I have never once been disappointed. The skirt steak taco and Korean BBQ taco are my favorites, but there's seriously not a bad item on the menu. The one downside is that it gets LOUD during peak hours.

Absolutely loved this place. TacoVino in Corvallis is a total gem. The service was great and…read moreincredibly fast, which made the whole experience even better. We tried a variety of tacos (curry chicken, Peking duck, fish, barbacoa, and al pastor) and every single one was packed with flavor and perfectly prepared. The fresh, hot chips with both the green and red salsas were next-level good. Honestly, we could've made a meal out of just that. We also enjoyed a rosé sangria and a Tempranillo from Spain, both excellent and really complemented the food well. Beyond the food and drinks, the atmosphere was just as memorable. It was relaxed, inviting, and a perfect spot to sit back and enjoy the moment. This is definitely one of those places you want to come back to again and again.

Went here to see a stand-up comedy show last weekend. It's a pretty awesome place! The staff are…read morevery nice and personable and very knowledgeable about the various wines and the process involved in making them. It was all WAY above my head, but not in a way that makes you feel intimidated by it. It just makes you realize you're in good hands with whatever they recommend . I could definitely recommend this place as a little after dinner date night spot. All in all, a terrific experience.

Skyler accompanied us and entertained us really great especially when she made the charcuterie…read moreboard during our tasting! It was raining but we felt so cozy and warm and comfortable during our visit! Wines are phenomenal! You have to try them all!

Came in for drinks, service was sloowww. Waited forever for drinks and check but there was barely…read moreanyone inside and many staff. However food and drinks is good

One of the best dining experiences that I have ever had! Staff were well trained and worked well as…read morea team, from a floor manager checking in with us, our table server and the floor runner/server. My Toasted Honey Garlic Crunch salad was superb. Adding prawns is a must. The brie encroute was flaky, creamy, buttery atop a bed of blueberry coulis. Yummayyyy. My Pork Tenderloin with Spiced Fig Glaze was very tender - cooked to perfection. I ordered the Lime Creme Brulee to go and it was exactly how you might imagine - classic egg custard with a a citrusy tang of lime. The restaurant itself had a vintage vibe, like a smoky speakeasy - but no actual smoke, to be clear. Wonderful dining experience.

We were trying to kill some time before our dinner reservation. We weren't given much information…read moreon "what to do" in Albany, except the park, but hey, in addition the park, there is a carousel museum and some antique stores, and then this lovely wine shop. Good value and pleasant service. I found some international wines as well as local oregon wines to try. I ended up buying a wine from Israel. I'd definitely recommed this as a place to stop when in Albany.

Great selection of nice wines with very competitive prices. My wife and I love going there for a…read moredate night for a nice bottle of wine and one of their great pizzas

First time here and we will definitely be back. We sampled a few of the small plates and they…read morewere all so good. Our server, Cecilia made recommendations as we are first timers and she nailed it all. She ensured we had a wonderful first time visit.

The reason we were in Albany was for our daughter's college graduation from Oregon State…read moreUniversity, GO BEAVS! Anyways, we had called a few restaurants in the area hoping to get some dinner. This was the only place that said,"Yeah, we can seat you!" So, hubs and I make our way from our roadside motel (Studio 6, review will be posted) to downtown Albany. The parking situation was a little confusing, but we found parking a few blocks from the restaurant. We got a table, yay! The place is pretty cool, it was a bank back in the day. They have a nice limited menu which offers options for all sorts of food preferences. So, our table was full of carnivores, lol. Hubs had the special which was a smoked prime rib, daughter's boyfriend had the Wagyu Brisket burger and my college grad had the filet. I also had the filet. Everything was super tasty! I would totally recommend if you aren't in a hurry. The servers were great.