I've never really felt the need to leave a bad review before but given this place suspiciously has…read morea 4.1 average, I feel compelled. I will also say, I worked in restaurants for almost 8 years and I am VERY understanding of costs and the possibilities of off days. But this place is honestly ridiculous. First of all, I did a to-go order, so my review is completely about that experience, the food, and the cost. I do not have a review of the service. $18 dollars for a breakfast burrito sounded crazy, but since it was my bad not checking the prices, I went through with it. The food was not at all worth $18. It was bland and soggy, not moist or juicy from the sausage, just soggy. The flavor of the sausage was good but other than that the burrito was completely bland. The home fries on the side were pretty tasty but I didn't even want them and would've preferred them inside the burrito or not included at all for a lower price. My main reason for leaving 1 star and not maybe 2 or even 3 is that they charge a 10% gratuity on to-go orders which, to me, is unacceptable. I generally tip about that much on my own for to-go (20-35% if I eat in for people who think I'm awful lol), but given the food is ridiculously overpriced I was unsure if I would this time. Them making that decision for me without any heads up ensures I will never come back here again. A small note on ambience; the place is stinky. As I said, I didn't sit down so take this with a grain of salt, but when I walked in I was blasted with a musty and kind of dirty smell that would've had me not wanting to stay for a meal. I honestly feel bad writing this review but this place does not deserve the communities continued business unless they SERIOUSLY up their game. I don't believe I will ever be back but hopefully they improve and actually live up to the 4.1 rating that they have. There are many, many better tasting and more affordable options throughout Eugene, even places with much lower ratings.

Solid spot for breakfast on the south side of campus! They can get pretty busy on the weekends but…read moretables cycle out pretty quickly. We ordered the chilaquiles and French toast. The Chilaquiles were okay - resembled more of an egg scramble with a few chips. Really enjoyed the French toast though! This place brings back good memories of coming during college!

There are restaurants that seduce you with promise, and others that test your patience before…read morerevealing their intent. Lion & Owl, on this particular morning, proved to be both--a place of evident talent, yet uneven discipline, where flashes of brilliance are offset by lapses that no serious kitchen should permit. Let us begin with the triumph. The buckwheat pancakes arrive not merely as breakfast, but as a composition. A stack of admirable loft and structure--evidence of a properly developed batter, handled with restraint and precision. The crumb is airy yet resilient, each bite yielding gently before dissolving into a delicate nuttiness inherent to buckwheat. A caramelized banana sauce pools generously, glossy and fragrant, its sweetness tempered by the cultured tang of crème fraîche. Toasted coconut chips scatter across the top like crisp punctuation, lending both aroma and texture. This is cooking that understands balance--sweetness checked by acidity, softness lifted by crunch, comfort elevated by technique. It is, quite simply, a five out of five dish. The kitchen, here, remembers what it means to nourish and delight. And then--alas--we encounter its counterpoint. The mushroom brioche toast, in conception, should be a study in harmony: buttery bread, earthy fungi, silken eggs, fresh greens. Yet the execution falters at its very foundation. The brioche--so essential, so central--is pushed past the threshold of caramelization into bitterness. In a bread so rich with butter and sugar, precision is everything; overcook it, and the entire structure collapses under a shadow of char. The garnish, too, feels careless--large stems of greenery draped without intention, rather than composed with purpose. It is a dish that looks promising from a distance but betrays its flaws upon inspection. A two out of five--a failure not of imagination, but of discipline. The brie and truffle macaron arrives as an afterthought--set aside, unannounced, uncentered, as though it were a spare utensil rather than a composed pastry. Presentation matters. It signals care. Here, there is none. And the macaron itself? A confection that should whisper with delicacy instead resists with age. The shell is hardened, the interior overly chewy--signs of time having passed unkindly. The flavor is confused: a sweet, almost vanilla shell encasing a mild, savory filling of whipped brie and timid truffle. Neither side asserts itself; neither yields to the other. It is neither dessert nor savory course, but a muddled compromise. A two out of five, and left unfinished--a silent verdict more damning than words. The mimosa, I am told, is bright and pleasing, though presented without flourish--a small omission, but telling in a restaurant aspiring to polish. A four out of five, competent yet unadorned. The pour-over coffee reveals a lighter roast profile: bright acidity at the fore, a nutty mid-palate, a gently lingering finish. It is, as you observed, "hipster coffee"--intentionally expressive, though perhaps too acidic for a more classical palate. On flavor alone, a three out of five. Yet the experience is marred by a most unforgivable intrusion: a hair in the initial cup. Such a thing should never reach a guest. Ever. And beyond the plate--there is service. Dishes arriving out of sequence. Eggs meant for one guest appearing with another's delayed entrée. A table divided, one diner finished while the other waits. Explanations that do not align with reality. Items placed without acknowledgment or intention. These are not minor stumbles; they are fractures in the very architecture of hospitality. The Verdict Lion & Owl is a restaurant caught between what it is capable of and what it consistently delivers. There is real talent in this kitchen--evident in the pancakes, in the conceptual ambition of the menu, in flashes of thoughtful composition. But talent without rigor is unreliable. And hospitality without coordination is hollow. For every moment of genuine pleasure, there is another of carelessness--overcooked bread, stale pastry, inattentive plating, lapses in cleanliness, and disjointed service. In the end, one must judge the whole, not the highlights. Overall score: 2 out of 5. A restaurant with promise--undeniably--but one that must remember that excellence is not achieved in moments. It is achieved in consistency, in care, and in respect for the guest at every stage of the meal. Until then, Lion & Owl remains... a place that almost is.

Really great fresh food with some interesting combinations. We came here on a whim (no…read morereservations) while visiting my wife's niece at UofO at around noon on a Saturday. Busy but they had a table for us. Very nice decor, rotating menu. We had the buckwheat pancakes with caramelized bananas, dates, and pineapple syrup which was sweet but not overly so since the pancakes underneath were not touched by the syrup ended up being a really nice balance. Bacon was like a cross between pork belly and bacon (very thick) but really tasty. Breakfast Sando was good with in-house ground pork and a nice aioli. We also tried the savory macarons (Brie and truffle) which are delicious. Creamy and a tad sweet. Not too much truffle. Coffee was a bright tangy pour over-not my favorite type but some people really like that style. Oh, and we had a blood orange mimosa which was really good Overall an excellent experience! Definitely going to again when we are in town!

Came to South Hills Cafe in Eugene thinking I'd get a solid, low-key breakfast... and somehow ended…read moreup questioning everything I know about breakfast burritos. First of all who gave them permission to make it this good? I'm from Los Angeles, I've had my fair share of legit Mexican food, and this burrito? Absolutely ridiculous (in the best way). Like... borderline emotional experience. Honestly, the people running this place deserve a Michelin star. Or at least a standing ovation every time they bring a plate out. Super friendly crew, chill South Hills vibe, and plenty of spots to sit and enjoy what can only be described as breakfast excellence. Came in hungry, left impressed, slightly confused, and already planning my next visit. We will be back

We were visiting family in town and my brother in law suggested South Hills for brunch on a Sunday…read moremorning in March. Our party of 7 decided to meet at 11am. We were happy to see that while they were fairly busy, they were quick to put together a table to accommodate us right away. Located within a small strip type mall in South Eugene, parking is relatively easy. This local family business is open 7 days a week from 7am to 2pm. They offer their full menu which includes both breakfast and lunch items all day. In addition to American breakfast classics they offer Mexican-inspired dishes such as Huevos Rancheros and Chilaquiles. Our server came by and welcomed us and took our drink orders. In addition to the natural offerings of coffee and assorted juices they offer specialty coffees ranging from a standard iced coffee to white mochas, cappuccinos, dirty chai tea latte's and Mexican mochas. As we began to peruse the menu we immediately noticed their prices are extremely reasonable, which is always appreciated. Everything on the menu sounded really yummy and we each made our selections. Our table ordered items including the Linguica Scramble, Pancakes, and Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches. The restaurant had a good steady stream of customers but they appeared to be able to handle the amount of people and we didn't notice anyone wait more than a couple of minutes to be seated. We also observed a good amount of to-go/Door Dash traffic. Our orders arrived in a timely manner and looked delicious. We each enjoyed our meals and we understand why my brother-in-law made the suggestion. If you are visiting the U of O campus or are in Southwest Eugene, check out South Hills Cafe!

Great experience, surprised by how large the portions were. Service was a little slow but the food…read morewas excellent and left us with a lot of leftovers. The cool Irish decor and ambiance was a plus.

What an almost great spot! While I barely know him, Dwayne might just be my favorite bartender in…read moreOregon! I'll def vote for him if he's up for it, and he absolutely should win best in eugene. The pint pot has very well executed food, and hits well above its price point , with regulars who both recommend and try to dissuade you from ordering what they want for fear of it being out. That's a strong sign that the food is good, by the way. They are what they know, and do nothing else. I don't want an Irish pub to make me a smash burger, and imo that's beautiful! For the slight negative. I go to bars under the assumption I can enjoy a drink, a meal, and a game without having to hear that shrill noise of babies. They allow them until 8 pm, which basically means I'll never be back. I'm already missing that smoked pork chop.

A good selection of beers from hazy to brown to stout. Great pub food (that burger was first rate)!…read moreKnowledgeable and friendly staff! Clean restaurant with nice ambiance. What more can you ask for? We'll certainly be back!

Walked in and basically were ignored for 10 minutes before being sat. Waiter was extremely short…read morewith us and not nice. Ordered taster trays, a smash burger and birria nachos. Beer was ok.....food was pretty good. Sweet potato fries were overcooked. All in all, there are so many other breweries, I wouldn't waste your time here.

Dropped by yesterday as a recommendation from my uber driver. The service was stellar and the staff…read morewere super nice. The turkey sandwich was incredible.... If I visit Eugene again this will be a regular stop.

We got food poisoning…read more My partner and I both ordered the jagerschnitzel, and we both had horrible diarrhea and stomach cramps two hours later. The following day, we're both queasy. The staff seemed pleasant, the bar had a decent vibe, though the music was too loud outside. But, like, we got terrible food poisoning. We aren't coming back.

We stopped by during the busy rush after the Eugene Marathon. We were able to grab a couple seats…read moreat the bar. Service was prompt, polite, and attentive. We ordered fish tacos and the Italian hash. My wife thoroughly enjoyed her hash. The fish tacos were good, but a bit underdeveloped in flavor. The cabbage was ABUNDANT. I removed over half from the tacos. The cabbage could use a bit of revision and the overall composition needs a bit of adjustment and more seasoning. I had heard Agate Alley was a "must do" stop during my food research and reviews of Reddit. Overall, it was a good option, but I think the current Yelp rating reflects it has room for improvement.

One our favorite unpretentious Eugene gems, we stopped in to Agate Alley for the special Grilled…read moreCheese February special. It was amazing. The super friendly staff and warm comfortable atmosphere made our visit perfect. We will be back for another sandwich before the end of the month.

Tried out ColdFire Brewing Company and had a really good experience overall. The food was solid,…read moreservice was fine, and the fried pickle appetizer plus the chips were definitely worth ordering. My only complaint was that they were out of mac and cheese as a side order, but somehow still had it available if you ordered the rib platter, a little confusing. What really makes this place stand out is the great selection of beers and cocktails. The space feels clean, modern, and new, which makes it an easy place to hang out. I just wish they had a larger outdoor seating area instead of the small patio with only a few chairs. Overall, we'll definitely be back for the food and drinks. Cheers!

Today on Father's Day was my third time here with my fiance. It was just as good as the previous…read moretimes we've been there and we'll definitely be back again!