I have an Original Pancake House up the street from my house in Vegas and had visited that place a…read morefew times. While visiting my child here in Eugene, she suggested we come here for breakfast. I was very surprised and pleased with this place. The vibe is young, fresh, bright and all things University of Oregon. My server was amazing. She was on point with making sure I have my coffee cup full at all times! You have no idea how much this means to me! The pancakes we ordered were light and fluffy. It was delicious. The bacon, even though the menu said 'thin sliced', was fairly thick. I guess where I come from, when they say thin sliced, it's paper thin. lol Over all, amazing place. Price point is great and service is exceptional!

Maybe it was an off day but it took for fucking ever to get our food, swear people who sat down 20…read moreminutes after us got their food and we still had to wait 20 more minutes after that. I'll give them some grace and just write it off as an off day but it was not great service. Food was okay. Might come back for a redemption brunch.

Needed an early breakfast with my daughter, and a local sent me here. Cute little place, but…read morereally its all about the service. Addi herself waited on us and was super personable and sweet. I heard her across the cafe ask after a customer's new baby -- he hadn't been in for a year, she just remembered. A homeless guy came in and she listened to his rambling story attentively, then got him some food and sent him on his way. She's a gem. The food was pretty typical greasy spoon breakfast, which is exactly what I wanted. Solid meal and much appreciated at that hour. I think I heard then say they opened at 4am. Delightful little life saver of a spot.

I will say that when I arrived, I was a little bit sketched out…read more But immediately upon entering early in the morning, I was greeted and the place looks cool inside I had two eggs and hashbrowns with sausage and it's exactly what I expected. Not necessarily a review that rides at home, but I will say that I would stop here again

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!

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.

Bar none, the best gluten free dining anywhere... no one would ever know it is gluten and…read moresometimes dairy free. Great ambience, live music soft enough for conversation, full bar, attentive service. Amazing!

My boyfriend and I stopped in here for dinner and also brunch the next day…read more I was happy to learn this place is dedicated gluten free and allergen friendly. I am dairy free. For dinner we ordered fried calamari for a starter. I got the steak frites and he got the chicken marsala (also made Dairy free). Amazing!! For breakfast this am, I got the chicken and waffles and he got the Elvis waffle. Both were so good! Definitely the highlight of the trip The waitress both days were super attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. I will be back again next time 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

It's fine. The service is lovely, the cafe is spacious, and the food comes out in good time. But…read morethe food itself is fine. We ordered grandma's favorite burrito, grandma's favorite omelet with hashbrowns and a biscuit, and the chilaquiles. All of the dishes felt like they could have had more flavor and spice. The biscuit was crumbly/dry. It's a good neighborhood spot, though, and I'm interested in trying their sweet items instead to see if there's much of a difference there (pancakes, waffles, French toast).

Overall good old school breakfast spot. There were 5 of us and we all enjoyed our food. The staff…read morewas friendly and everything was clean.

Good food and good service. The wait staff were so very friendly. It wasn't too busy. The eggs…read morewere good easy over. The table was clean and they had Tabasco.

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!

This is still the best breakfast place in Eugene... there's no denying it. It's vegetarian, and…read morethat's not for everyone. But it's just right for me. Parking is really the only challenge about this place. The pastry case offers a beautiful display of options. The menu is loaded with incredible choices with excellent flavor combinations. And the setting is just right in terms of being cozy and agreeable for a comfy social interaction. I really love the location in downtown Eugene and enjoy the nostalgia of this long-standing brunch establishment. You'll come for the wholesome food and be delighted by the friendly service and uplifting atmosphere.

Had an hour before my morning meeting and wanted to start the day with eggs. I didn't have cooking…read morefacilities so looked up eggs in town and MGC came up. Loved that it was so close to the train station! The red door stood out in the morning sun; outdoor seating looked friendly. Sitting inside a raccoon that greeted us as well as a friendly purple painted morning glories climbing the walls. Pastry case was impressively packed with vegan pastries. The banana bread was outstanding. Ordered the 3 fingered jack (an omelette with green chiles) and I was told just about everything on the menu could be made vegan -- a promising treat for plant-based diet friends since the food was so well-made.

First time to this restaurant. We enjoyed the food and the laid back atmosphere. Service was good…read moreand prompt. Gotta go back to the food it felt like home. . .just good ole home cooking. Loved the biscuit and Marionberry jam they had on the table. The gravy on my chicken fried steak complimented it so well. Loved it!

Service is amazing! Great family owned place with a huge menu to choose from. Appreciate the hours.read more

Why have I never been to this place? Every time I visit the area, I stay at the Valley River Inn,…read morewhich is very, very close to this place. When it comes to breakfast, we usually skip it and wait till lunch. On my last visit, one of my grown child wanted breakfast so we decided to walk over to Elmer's Restaurant. What a treat! The decor and vibe reminds me of a good mom and pop country restaurant. The menu items were all so appealing. I opted for the crab eggs benedict and coffee. My wonderful waiter brought my coffee and breakfast pretty quick. My Crab Benedict was amazing. It was like getting a delicious breakfast from a 5 Star restaurant without paying that high price. That made me very happy. :)

Service was great…read more Food is plentiful but really could have eaten bowl of soup and a salad which wasn't really an option from what I recall. I ordered potato cakes (think Oregon trail food) prepared with Tillamook cheddar, bacon and onions that came with bacon on the side and two eggs in addition to sour cream and applesauce. Seems to be a favorite of the 60+ crowd.