You want to try the delicious slab of tender corned beef with seasoned mash potatoes and steamed…read morecabbage and carrots with toasted soda bread plated by Chef Kyle. Add a Guinness. With that meal you will experience actual satisfaction and contentment. That's the first thing I have to say in case you're reading for a recommendation of what to order. Even better if you have it late night after experiencing the best Handel's Messiah concert at the Hult in December. I had a small slider of corned beef along with his amazing fresh Kale salad garnish with shaved Parmesan, walnuts, added protein -- sausage. It came with a toasted slice of soda bread that was great. But the slider was how I realized the corned beef was PERFECTLY prepared. A taste was not enough; I decided to get the dinner plate version to take the next day up to Seattle with me. Fantastic staff included Barkeep Illyia, whose birthday it was. She kept up a steady stream of attentive care, skillful service, friendly banter with each of the clients that came in and said good by to them as they left. Hospitality was her middle name. Love that they have mugs for the regulars hanging from the ceilings, the bar space is great but so are the arm chairs and cushioned seats in the corners of the pub. I even ran into two other concertgoers who had also been so energized after the Messiah concert that they didn't want to go home. We spent a half hour at the bar unpacking the highs and best points of the performance by the Eugene Symphony Orchestra, and the symphony choir, and each of the soloists. We also unanimously agreed the tenor was fantastic, the baritone a paragon of artistic talent, the soprano sang incandescently, and that the final AMEN movement was soul healing and mind blowing simultaneously. Yeah. It was that good. This place was the right place to come to unpack it all over a Guinness and the best corned beef and cabbage in town. Love that it was open late enough to enjoy after the concert. Will be back.

You can go wrong at this little Irish pub. It's got dim lighting, two bars, great service and…read moreamazing food. I wanted to get some corned beef so I stopped in. It was thick slab corned beef, perfectly tender. I also got their pretzel with the beer cheese sauce. To be honest, the beer cheese wasn't my favorite...was a little gooopy and the texture wasn't great. But, the pretzel was fantastic. It has the salt, the chew, and it was a great size. I also got their colcannon. It was great! Creamy and delicious. I ordered their brown gravy too because I like gravy with my potatoes and it was hearty and a big side for the price. All in all, i definitely recommend the pint pot!

I went here for breakfast with a friend yesterday and it was fantastic! We sat down immediately and…read moreour waitress came over a minute later. She brought us the menus and some water. We took our time with the menu as there were so many delicious-looking options. We ended up splitting two dishes so we could both have some variety. We did the French toast with a berry compote and ricotta topping and the veggie omelette with hash browns and toast. Every single thing was so good! The eggs were cooked well, the hash browns were crispy, and the French toast was perfectly made. The ricotta and berry compote was also fantastic. We were absolutely stuffed and could not be happier. The bill was also much lower than we expected, so the food is pretty affordable compared to other diners in town. I think they moved into this space recently as I remember another restaurant being here before. That restaurant was much more territorial with their parking spots and had signs everywhere telling people not to park there if they weren't customers, but those signs are gone now which is nice. Everyone here was super friendly and lovely. I love the mission of this restaurant and will definitely be back to continue supporting them in the future!

Absolutely love this place for so many reasons!! I am from California and you can rarely find a gem…read morelike this... My family and I were visiting my son whom lives in Eugene. We decided to try Abilities for breakfast...the homemade cinnamon rolls caught my eye...unfortunately they didn't have any on this day...but I didn't seem to mind. Everything else was so delicious. I usually make everyone order something different so we can share & try many different dishes. It's been 3 months ago so I don't recall everything that was ordered.. I remember the gravy being delicious, chicken fried steak.. sweet cream pancakes,eggs Benedict. All delicious...they also have a bakery...we didn't buy anything but decided to go back again before I headed back to California. Again everything was delicious . I remember my son ordered pastrami and was very pleased. This time we grabbed so baked goods to bring home. I purchased a loaf of sourdough very reasonably priced and a young man offered to have it sliced for me...I also took mom home a muffin & some scones she throughly enjoyed. We were told the owner adopted children with disabilities and wanted to have a place where they could work...this is an amazing woman! She also supports the community with a barrel to place clothes in or donations for less fortunate. I will continue to support this business everytime im in Eugene...look forward to stopping in on my next trip this February!!

I love Mac and Cheese, it's probably a top 10 favorites. My sister took me to Mad Mac's today…read more There is a window you place the order. I ordered the "Jal" 9000. I'm a fan of white sauce, garlic, jalapeños and bread crumbs. The service was good, very friendly. The portion for the price is reasonable. $10 for a meal is cheap nowadays. I liked the heat and kick of the jalapeños. There were too many jalapeños for the portion size. I felt like I got 2 jalapeños in every bite. The heat intensity kept increasing because of how many jalapeños there were. I thought the Mac and Cheese itself was bland. I couldn't taste the garlic in the sauce. There was more cheese than sauce consistency. I still enjoyed the Mac and Cheese. The Mac and Cheese wasn't gourmet or the best I've had, but for the price I was satisfied. I only ate half in one sitting, so I had leftovers.

There is maybe two tables to sit outside. But the place is mostly to order to-go food. Or order…read morefood for when your in the theater next to it. Service is always kind. I never feel rushed to place an order and they are always so helpful. I ordered School of Broc with vegan cheese and added Jalapeños. The Mac is delicious. I had a bad experience with Mac once growing up so I never ordered it again but this place is amazing. I'm glad this place is here. Will definitely be ordering from 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.

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

Beer clean glassware! Yes, that is my lead-in title because it's so crazy rare to get truly beer…read moreclean glassware that I talked about it to the couple beside me (Pete and Roxanne who I got to meet were awesome btw). It's less than 1% of the places I visit that are true beer clean glassware astute. There are many that do a good job, but when you see the lacing on glassware that I saw tonight, you know you're in rarified air. FOOD: ok I know most people don't need out over glassware the way I do so let's discuss the food - I went more unique with a lamb sausage and a boar sausage, plus my new friends next to me shared their fries. My opinion? Awesome. Well executed sausage, the fries were really good - crisp on the outside and still perfect potato texture inside while being hot with a fry sauce side that perfectly complemented Service was great, met regulars, had tasty food - but the whale in this adventure was the care for the glassware. This is special - the owner truly cares about your experience when they nail the small details a lot of folks miss. I didn't miss this detail because it's massive in the nuance on your beer but takes special care and pride to get right. Bangers takes pride in giving you a beer in a properly maintained glass, and that's uniquely special. Applause to Bangers for attention to detail!

Tried this spot recently and ordered the Seattle dog with fries while my husband got the brisket…read moresausage with mac and cheese. The food was good, but the pricing felt a bit steep. $17 dollars for a basic Seattle dog and fries feel a little high for counter service. That said, the overall vibe makes up for it. The space is open and inviting, with a great beer selection and a relaxed, dog-friendly atmosphere, which is a huge plus for us. Great place to grab a drink and hang out, just be prepared for slightly higher food prices.

Great food, friendly and efficient service, and casual ambiance. We'll definitely be back!read more

The fried chicken is delicious and the portions are large! The cinnamon butter with the chicken and…read morewaffle is amazing. Try their fresh lemonade or sweet tea if they're in stock. The service was quick and friendly. Not much ambiance as this is a to-go restaurant.

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!

I'm updating this review because they added a new all-vegan menu! There are so many options to…read morechoose from since my last visit. Vegans and vegetarians can go nuts now. Dumpling soups, various noodle dishes, appetizers, pancake, etc. Normally at Korean places I just order one of the 3 options and it's always the same. This is now one of the most vegetarian-friendly East Asian restaurants in the city. They dress it all up with purple rice, which might not be traditional but it's delicious (and very filling). Honey ginger tea is cozy on a rainy day. The addition of a towering Squid Game red-light-green-light girl in the dining room is... a choice. I get what they're going for, but if you've seen the show, it does plague your peripheral vision while you're trying to relax and eat... right??

Really good! I got the kimchi jigae, korean fried chicken (yangyum/honey soy), and seafood pancake…read more Can't wait to try more items on their menu. Got it to go but it's pretty cute. The employees were very kind.

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