Squirrel&#x27;s Tavern

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.

Wonderful, incredible service. Our waitress was super awesome, we brought a bottle of wine and she…read moreoffered 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.

Bar

Scallops and shrimp and grits

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Full bar / inventive cocktails including no alcohol creations / great wine choices

Bodhi Bistro

4.4(45 reviews)

Came here on a beautiful August evening and the ambience is incredible. Phenomenal outdoor seating…read morewith plenty of space overlooking the river with decent parking. Inside is a decorative interior with plants and wooden walls in the summer time that looks very bright and inviting. Service can take a while because there are usually 1-2 people running the front and carrying out food. I didn't mind it at all because the place is so nice. Menu is decent size with lots of options to choose from. I got the Cajun Penne which has Tri color bell peppers, house made sausage, chicken,, chorizo, andouille, cream, garlic, parmesan, Cajun spice, and 2 slices Bodhi Bread. Cost me about $20 bucks and worth every penny. Good amount of spice, rich and flavorful. Overall a lovely place to eat and more than happy to come here and eat again.

Large portions & flavorful dishes. I especially loved my JJ Bowl with chicken, including the…read moretahini sauce. Many iced tea selections.

The gorgeous plants outside dining

Acai Bowl

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Latte

The Brass Monkey

4.2(184 reviews)

The Brass Monkey was a great little stop for us. We were up from San Diego to watch some softball…read moreat OSU and wanted a late snack and drink. The pickle chips and house potato chips are both highly recommended and were cooked to perfection. We had the Brass Monkey drink, which was not to strong, but super refreshing and would recommend to anyone who likes a whiskey drink.

On a Labor Day evening walked in for the first time. Extremely eclectic decor, a few tables and a…read morefew booths. Ample stocked bar, your basic good pub food. Some local delights, the menu is a couple of pages with your higher end standards. The service was quick and the food came out hot and appropriate order. Nothing was forgotten and was quite a pleasant experience. I will be back to have some more of their variations, they have two or three different Mac and cheese options which is always a favorite for me.

Lots of tables and some fun decor

Chicken sando sandwich (fried)

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Interior

Sky High Brewery and Pub

3.6(455 reviews)

We were in Corvallis for Parents Weekend and expected restaurants to be packed, but we found Sky…read moreHigh Brewery and walked right in around 11:30 AM. The place is huge, with multiple seating areas and bars, and we were immediately greeted and seated on the enclosed balcony with heaters -- super comfortable. Ordering from the table via the app was easy and convenient, and our food came out quickly. We had the clam chowder, fries, and a beer -- all delicious! By the time we finished, the place was buzzing and there was a long wait, but it's so spacious that it never felt crowded. Great atmosphere, good food, and excellent service -- we'll definitely be back next time we're in town!

The quality of food has gone down hill. over priced for what you get, but that seems to be common…read morein Corvallis.

Nachos and rooftop margarita

Sky High Brewery and Pub - Enjoy your favorite brew or cocktail while taking in the panoramic views! Enjoy a burger, fries and salad from our rooftop foodcart!

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Enjoy your favorite brew or cocktail while taking in the panoramic views! Enjoy a burger, fries and salad from our rooftop foodcart!

Murphy's Restaurant & Lounge

3.8(133 reviews)

Very kind service! Good size outdoor dining by the waterfront. The food was good but not super…read moreflavorful. Would definitely come back to try more though!!

Poke! Poke! Poke! Delicious food and great happy hour prices! Lots of beer choices and cocktails.read more

Inside

Black and Blue Burger

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Chocolate Kahlua Cheesecake

Bo & Vine Burger

3.8(259 reviews)

I'll weigh in. In general, burgers are good. So there's that…read more Today was my second visit, both via Door Dash, with each being a 4/5 experience. Just being a burger makes the review start at 3/5, at a minimum. Today's double burger with cheddar was very photogenic...big and sloppy, impressively falling out of the bun. Plenty of mustard (awesome). Photogenic. But, the meat was overcooked and dry, and there wasn't a single napkin in that huge bag. So, 4/5 stars, which was rounding up from 3.75/5.

Yummm! I hadn't tried Bo & Vine and it's a complete travesty that it's taken me this long for as…read moremany times as I go to Corvallis/OSU for sporting events. We weren't super hungry so my husband and I split the Hulk Smash Burger with a side salad and garlic Parmesan piles. The burger had avocado, pepper jack, pickled onion, cilantro and house aioli. This flavor combination was 10 outta 10 and it was cooked to perfection! I loved all the sauce options too! It's a walk up, seat yourself, clear your tables yourself and the food service didn't take too long. Staff was prompt. They do charge a 3% fee when using a credit card! I'd definitely go back to try more burgers!

Burgers, loaded fries, sauce and soda. Bo & Vine Rodeo, Blue Buffalo

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Updated menu

Angry Beaver Grill

3.6(86 reviews)

0.2 mi

me and my girlfriend have now gone here twice. Great food Great atmosphere. Great Service. You all…read moreneed to go to the Angry beaver. Highly recommend. It's better than domino's pizza . We have been switching between the angry beaver and Benchwarmers. Great place to go on a Sunday evening for a light dinner.

This was our third visit. Haven't been in a couple of years. Appears they are changing the decor…read moreinside. Gone is any reference to OSU except for the beaver name. I miss the old decor. We came because it was an OSU inspired place. The new deco looks nice - just nothing Beaver inspired. Food was OK. Not great. Husband had wings and I had a chicken quesadilla (no salsa or sour cream - just a bunch of ingredients inside a tortilla). Didn't seem complete. And neither of us were all that impressed. I'm not a huge fan of the "order at the bar" model. The staff was friendly but I prefer having someone check on us to get drink refills, order more food, etc. Not really planning a return visit. I miss the old model. And the old prime rib special on Friday nights.

Dance floor and sporting area

Fried Cheese Curds

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McMenamins Corvallis Pub

3.5(165 reviews)

0.3 mi

My favorite hole in the wall Mcmenamins location! I say this a lot, but this location is so cozy!…read moreNice dim light and a fire pit. No pool tables like the other locations which is probably my biggest hang up but it's still a great place to get some of Mcmenamins great food options and enjoy the ambience. Service has always been excellent here.

McMenamins in Corvallis has that classic cozy pub vibe we love! The service was spot on and super…read morefriendly. The food was average pub fare, but we had a great time getting our stamps for Stamp Day and cashing in on free appetizers--definitely a fun perk! When the weather is nice they definitely have a great outdoor patio space. Bonus for the small parking lot too!

The bar

Fish, from fish & chips

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Block 15 Brewing

4.2(1k reviews)

0.2 mi

Block 15 offers something for everyone: a diverse array of foods including vegan and vegetarian…read moreoptions as well as traditional pub fare such as burgers and fish & chips. They also offer freshly brewed beer & cocktails. The seating is laidback with a modern vibe. The service is prompt and friendly. Prices are reasonable.

We were visiting friends in Albany and they suggested this establishment for dinner. And their…read moresuggestion was perfect. Given it was a Saturday night and packed we were quickly seated upstairs. The noise wasn't bad and the service and food excellent. I had the pulled pork and fries and my wife had a chicken sandwich. It was a great time!

Interior

Lunch special

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Fish and chips

WiseCracks Cafe

3.7(541 reviews)

0.0 mi

Wait over family weekend was long but that's to be expected. The portion sizes were good and the…read morefood was very tasty. This was our first time here but won't be our last. Rolling thru with a scooter was a little tight and was the same in the handicapped bathroom but made it work. Everyone enjoyed their meals and even reheated a couple days later it was still super tasty- the sign of great food is how leftovers taste!! Get the Slamwich- you won't be disappointed.

Overall solid breakfast but nothing to write home about. We were seated and served quickly on a…read moreSunday morning. Opted for the classic 2 eggs + meat breakfast and it did the job, though I've definitely had other, better diner-style breakfasts. Staff was attentive and friendly. Wouldn't go out of my way to return but it was overall fine.