El Vaquero

When you walk into El Vaquero you might wonder if you’re still in Eugene. The atmosphere is fun and trendy compared to other restaurants in the emerald city. El Vaquero is a good place to relax with friends after work; they have a great selection of tapas, margaritas, and interesting cocktails. The bar gets pretty busy on Friday and Saturday nights, it’s a great place to go if you’re trying to have a few drinks while avoiding drunk college kids.

Burrito Boy

Burrito Boy is one of my very favorite places to get Mexican food in Eugene. The food is pretty good and the prices are great. The one near campus is open 24hrs so you could get some tacos at 8 in the morning or if you've got the munchies you could get a burrito at 3am; either way it'll be delicious. 

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Alcohol?: BYOB

Price: $-$$

Good for: almost anything

Market of Choice

I love Market of Choice. There are natural foods stores on every corner in Eugene but Market of Choice is my very favorite. They have a deli that makes good sandwiches, pasta salads, pizzas, and there's a salad bar so I go there for lunch and dinner whenever I can't figure out what I'm in the mood for. I've got a little bit of hippie in me and I definitely prefer organic products, Market of Choice has the largest selection in town. They also have specialty cheese, wine, olive, and beer departments with employees who are always willing to help. 

Think Whole Foods, Eugene style. 

Fina Taqueria

This weekend was a complete blur, but I do remember going to Fina Taqueria. 

Fina has taken a different twist on the typical quick service Mexican restaurant; they have a unique menu and are known for their flavored sour creams. The service at Fina is consistently good and everyone, including the smiley manager, is really nice. I go to Fina Taqueria when I'm craving Chipotle or Illegal Pete's, I'll admit it doesn't compare but the tacos are pretty good

Meals: Lunch and dinner

Alcohol?: Beer (including cans of Corona)

Price: $4 to $10

Good for: some quick mexican food

Cafe Yumm

I think Cafe Yumm is disgusting, I have no idea why people eat there. but my friend Julie really likes it...

"Cafe Yumm is my favorite place to grab lunch in Eugene. My favorite meal is the medium jazzy deluxe with a tempe stick on the side; its the blend of jasmine rice, black olives, red beans, shredded cheese, tomatoes and avocado smothered in yumm sauce. Some of my non-Eugene friends refer to it as hippy food, I guess because of all the natural and organic ingredients. Unfortunately there is one down fall to this place, and that is the price. I hope I don't see anymore price increases in the near future, but other than that, Cafe Yumm gets an A+ in my book"

If you're smart you won't even step foot in the place

an unofficial review

Valentines Day is closer than you think, that means tons of couples making out at the tables next to you. yuck.

If there is one place I won't be going it is Beppe and Giannis, a favorite date place in Eugene. I think the food is decent for an Italian place and I like that they have a daily ravioli but would someone please tell me what is so special about this restaurant. My friends are always saying how cute it would be to go on a date there. Is it because its in an old house? 

I don't get it and I don't like it; I'll be dining somewhere else.

La Oficina

La Oficina on the corner of 15th & Willamette is a really good American Mexican restaurant. I'll admit that I was surprised. The outside is painted in bright colors and the interior screams tackiness; if you can look past those things then you are in for a great meal. Our waitress was very attentive and the manager brought out new salsas for us to try, we felt very welcome at the restaurant. The food and drinks were good and I was pleased to see a delicious El Salvadorian dish, papusas, on the menu. Best of all the margaritas are delicioso and do the trick; I'm looking forward to enjoying them on the patio this spring. 

Meals: Dinner

Alcohol?: Yes

Price: $3 to $18

Reservations: Not necessary

Hawthorne's Cafe & Deli

Hawthorne's Cafe & Deli is downtown on Broadway between Pearl and Oak. It is a pretty good place to get a sandwich, a cup of soup, or a salad. The downside is that the prices are a little high and I don't think that adding cheese to a sandwich should ever cost an extra dollar. Overall I would give it a 3 out of 5 as far as sandwiches go. 

Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Alcohol?: Yes

Price: $5 to $10

Good for: a sandwich during work

Campus Sub Shop

I like the Campus Sub Shop because their prices are reasonable, the veggies are fresh and it is a nice alternative to the chain restaurants on and around campus. The Sub Shop also has eight flavors of frozen yogurt. 

Meals: Lunch, dinner, dessert

Alcohol: No

Price: $2 to $10

Good for: A sandwich between classes

Marché

Marché is my favorite restaurant in Eugene so it's the perfect pick for my first review...

Marché is in the 5th St. Market; their small dining area and display kitchen create a fun and intimate atmosphere. During the summer months the patio is the best place to dine. 

The French cuisine always tastes fresh and Chef Stephanie Kimmel does a wonderful job of incorporating seasonal flavors into her dishes. 

Since I’m on a student’s budget I can’t visit Marché as much as I’d like, but it is definitely the first place I go when my parents are in town.

Meals: Lunch & Dinner
Alcohol: Yes
Price: $15 to $30
Reservations: recommended
Good for: casual lunches and nice dinners

*image from www.marcherestaurant.com*

Eugene Eats?

It's not easy to find good restaurants here in Eugene, Oregon. That's why I've created this blog; I'll review restaurants in Eugene so you'll know the best places to eat around town. 

I love food and I love going out to eat so I figured this would be the perfect project for my digital media class. Maybe its time to give up on my career goals and figure out how to be a paid food critic?