Excellent burger, and cocktail. Lovely vibe in the restaurant, and very helpful staff. The…read morebathrooms are clean and beautiful. And the restaurant has a lil funkiness to its decor to keep your interest. The burger was perfectly cooked, the accoutrements were fresh and ripe, and the bun was able to handle the juiciness of the burger. The cocktail was fresh prepared and well balanced.

We went to the bar section and it was a great place to relax and have a drink before a night out.read more

The story of how we ended up here is hilarious. My fiancé told me he wanted to knock on the…read morejanitor's closet to say hi to the janitor because he knows him. So we stood outside this random door for about a minute while he knocked again, and I finally said, "Babe, can we just come back tomorrow and say hi to the janitor then?" I had absolutely zero idea it was a speakeasy. When they opened the door I was shocked! This speakeasy is such a fun find in Eugene. It is super moody and dark inside in the best way, and the atmosphere feels very hidden and intentional. We tried a bunch of the small plates and every single one was delicious. I loved my cocktail, and I believe I ordered the Bee's Knees. It was so good. Overall, this place is a great experience. I would totally come back the next time I am in Eugene.

We celebrated my husband's birthday with a quick staycation trip from Portland to Eugene. We…read moredecided to slip into 86 Speakeasy in The Gordon Hotel before dinner. The hotel is adorable, even featuring a little art center. The speakeasy entrance is a unique experience - you walk down a hallway to a "Janitor" door, flip a switch to announce yourself, and then provide the password you received via text before your reservation tieme. While the ambiance wasn't quite what I expected (it could have been cozier), the service was top-notch and the drinks were fantastic. My Aviation and my husband's Old Fashioned was really good.

Starlight Lounge: Where Eugene's Secret Broadway Rejects Serenade You (And It's Weirdly Good)…read more Gave the Starlight Lounge a whirl last Sunday for their karaoke night. Expectations were set somewhere between "drunken caterwauling" and "mildly painful nostalgia." Color me... surprised! Let's cut to the chase: the *talent* here. Eugene, who knew? Several performers weren't just "good for karaoke," they were legitimately, bafflingly excellent. Like, "should probably be charging admission or at least bothering Broadway agents" levels. One individual in particular possessed the kind of voice that makes you wonder why they're belting show tunes in a dimly lit Eugene bar on a Friday and not, you know, on a stage where people pay actual money. It was impressively non-awful. Actually, scratch that. It was great. Shockingly so. Drinks? Perfectly serviceable. Major points for the extensive non-alcoholic menu. They seemed genuinely willing to de-booze pretty much anything on request, which is handy if you're the designated listener to Eugene's hidden musical theatre gems. Staff were friendly enough, didn't seem phased by the slightly goth-adjacent vibe the place cultivates. Points for atmosphere. The singer's area wins for comfort - actual couches you can sink into while contemplating the life choices that led that phenomenal voice. The DJ deserves a medal. Actively prowling the darker corners of the bar, gently coercing the shy into public performance? Effective. Almost concerningly so. They offer food (didn't try it, smelled... present), and there are the obligatory video gambling machines for those who enjoy losing money slightly more efficiently. Now, the rating. 3+ stars.*** Why not higher? Look, it's a solid experience. Friendly, talented, comfortable, good drinks (alcoholic or not). But it's the Starlight Lounge, not the Met. Manage expectations. It's a pleasantly nice hidden gem, truly. Emphasis on gem but also on hidden and possibly on the faint scent of... well, I didn't try the women's restroom this time. That particular adventure, and its potential to swiftly terminate an evening "May or may" not determine if one needs to head home cause she's unable to use a disgusting toilet) is reserved for my next visit. A critical data point, one might say. Overall- Surprisingly excellent karaoke talent (seriously), good drinks (booze-free options aplenty), comfy vibe, proactive DJ. Minus points for existential questions raised by the talent pool's location and the looming bathroom inspection. **3+ stars. Good job, guys. Keep it up! P.S: it was ass FREE less the drinks etc... SCORE! 3 out of 5 = Good Job Helping hands; improve and attract more customers. 1. Partner with Downtown Hotels: Drop off flyers/promo cards at hotel concierge desk highlighting your surprisingly Broadway-level karaoke and extensive mocktail menu - perfect for tourists looking for unique, non-club nightlife. 2. Advertise Themed Nights in "The Weekly": Run simple, recurring ads or event listings for specific karaoke nights (e.g., "Showtune Sundays," "80s Power Hour") in Eugene's free weekly paper - targets locals planning their week. 3. Leverage Social Media Snippets: Post short video clips (even just 15-30 seconds!) of your best singers (with permission!) on Instagram/Facebook; yes even facebook. Showcase the talent & vibe - proof beats description. 4. Promote Mocktails Specifically: Add a dedicated "Zero Proof Stars" section to your drink menu/online & mention it explicitly in ads. Eugene's health-conscious crowd will notice. 5. Offer a "First-Timer" Perk: Give a small discount on a well drink or mocktail to anyone the DJ recruits to sing for the first time. Lowers the barrier, rewards participation. Good luck & I have faith you will continue to make wonderful cherished memories.

Hannah is a Queen Hannah rules her queendom very efficient…read more She has a kind heart and soul and went above and beyond to make me and my friend feel comfortable. I recommend everyone to come down here and see her.

Great vibe with excellent service by Liz. A bottle of Fresne Ducret 1ier Cru Brut "Les Nouveaux…read moreExplorateurs," from Côte de Bar. 35% Pinot Noir, 40% Pinot Munier, 25% Chardonnay. $85. (Thank you, Mark, for the timely bubbly consult.) Grit Tots -- loved the texture and the pepper $8. Devil Eggs $4. Southern Greens with smoked bacon, bay leaves, in chicken broth with pepper vinegar for tangy kick $7. Great vibe.

This place is definitely a little hole in the wall, but don't let it fool you. Even though it's…read moretucked downtowns corner-- this spot has some hits. The fried chicken sliders were impeccable with an explosion of flavors and texture. The Feta dip is probably one of the best I've ever tried. You could tell this place used local, quality and organic ingredients . Antoine was great and brought high spirits. Definitely a little pricey and in the higher end of a cocktail lounge, but definitely worth the experience.

This place rips, cold blended cocktails and frose. Make your own seltzers, great cocktail and beer…read moreselection. If you can't have fun here you probably suck.

Stopped by this cool funky bar over the weekend. Great libation list! There is a noodle truck in…read morethe back where you can order food and a Japanese restaurant next store which serves good dishes! Good vibe!!

It's been a while since I've dined at Rye. Had dinner there with four of my women friends. Between…read moreus all there were three rating the restaurant as a five and two rating it as a four. I had the Marry Me chicken meal, which had a delightful cream sauce with spinach, broccolini squash, and sun-dried tomatoes. The cream sauce was deliciously sweet and the chicken was as tender as I've had in almost forever. I also had a green salad with blue cheese dressing, which was very nice. A couple of my friends had cocktails and they thought they were very good. Other meals to my friends included the Poutine Fries; The breaded pork chop (schnitzel) and the shrimp pasta. One person had the hard cider and enjoyed that, and then of course, at the end of the meal, they have these delicious little chocolates two of us had them and one person had the chocolate pot re crème. All of us loved every bite. And they have done away with including the tip for the meal. Our server, Ross, managed five gabby women, each wanting a separate check, with aplomb, grace and kindness.

If I was asked to name a top half-dozen restaurants in the Eugene/Spingfield metro area Rye would…read moreeasily fit into that category. I've lived here for around 5 years, and another 15 years up in Salem and this little restaurant is a gem in every respect. I've been to Rye at least 4 times since moving here. I had heard about it from friends and so my partner and I first tried it out and were highly impressed with the food, the servce and the ambiance. The menu is just a bit limited but between the specials and the menu offerings, there was plenty to choose from. Above all, what they do, they do very well. I and my partner ate at Rye three nights ago and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience in every way. AMBIENCE... The dining room is terrific. Lots of dark wood. The lighting of the room is especially conducive to privacy but not isolation. Inasmuch as it was raining to beat the band when we arrived, entering felt like a welcoming respite. The patrons' chatter was subdued but clearly they were having a great time. FOOD... We ordered cocktails (I enjoyed a Cocchi Rye whiskey cocktail which was delicious. The French onion soup I ordered was also very tasty and loaded with mozzarella atop the cup. I then dived into a "special" plate of a Chinook salmon fillet, finished perfectly and sitting on a bed or pureed squash. Excellent, I thought. Afterwards, we shared some sort of fruity pastry, sharing with two forks. SERVICE... From where I sat I could watch the bar activity, even the service window into the kitchen allowed me to watch all the activity. Our server was very efficient and cheerful and engaging without being overbearing in any way. AFTERTHOUGHTS: I will be coming back, of course. Rye is where you want to go to have a very good time eating out. You're not going to spend an arm and a leg to eat there but Rye is definitely not Denny's. I think this was my fourth trip there and all four times I felt thoroughly satisfied in every way.

We don't *need* another Akira review, but our first time, so here goes:…read more The kampachi was buttery and beautiful. The best piece of nigiri I've had in Eugene or most any other place. Wasabi - like, real wasabi! I kept dabbing in my mouth never having tasted it before. It's both spicier on the front of your tongue and more luxurious on the back. I want more. The fried chicken bao was unfugging, unbelievably delicious. Can we say unfugging on Yelp? We got the Mrs V roll - spicy tuna topped with seared beef. Again, buttery with Rich beef and tuna that's actually spicy. Excellent roll This was an elegant, refined and completely delicious experience. We will definitely be back.

For starters, their service, while not rude, is certainly not given with a smile. We were seated…read moreupstairs but were not told until after we were seated that we couldn't order anything from the "special menu" which is reserved only for people sitting downstairs. Our server didn't smile and seemed so impatient when we asked questions about the menu. He was going off the clock and flippantly said, if you need anything ask the other guy or the bartender, both of which seemed disinterested in filling in for him. When we asked about which tuna nigiri was which (several were on the plate) they had no clue and were not interested in finding out for us. Food wise, it was okay and I've certainly had better but the lackluster service tainted the entire night.

Note to self and visitors. The parking lot right by the restaurant was almost $5 AN HOUR!!!! Yes,…read more$5 per hour. Unless you are OK in paying an arm and a leg, go for it. I should have looked for street parking. I went on Saturday at 6pm, maybe that's why it was crazy expensive. Gosh, this price was more expensive than parking in Los Angeles. The restaurant was very cute, service was great. Food was very good. However, my lasagna was 1.5" x 4". I guess I got the mini/kids size lasagna. My son got the pepperoni pizza and he liked it. Pizza is pizza, it was good. his roommate got the chicken fettuccine. His portion was very generous and he loved it. We all enjoyed it and I would definitely go here again but not park in their parking lot.

Ambrosia is a cute restaurant right in the center of downtown. I was meeting a friend for dinner…read moreand since I got there a little early I headed to the bar for a drink while I waited. The bartender was very nice and I ordered a scotch. The pour was generous and the price was as expected. Once my friend arrived we were shown our table, given our menus and told the specials. So far it was a nice experience. We settled on our choices and waited for our server to return. It took longer that I would have hoped and the restaurant was not very busy. I ordered the Pasta al Limone, my friend ordered the Butternut Squash and Gorgonzola Ravioli. We were then told they were out of the Ravioli. Would have loved to have known that at the beginning. After a few awkward moments to come up with a second try the Fennel and Sausage Rigatoni was the choice. The food was fine but nothing special. My sauce was thick and not expressing any lemon flavor. The pasta was fine but again nothing to write home about. The same with the rigatoni, all of it was fine but I can get fine at a lot of places. Overall, the ambiance was nice, the service was okay and the food was not completely disappointing. That is about it. I would go back if someone invited me but I will not have this on my list of places to revisit any time soon.