Eugene Oregon- where to "chow down"?

[kima]

Hi Aggie and anyone else who knows Eugene!
My DH and I will be in Eugene April 26/27th for the Oregon Invitational Trackmeet. We are bringing 5 athletes with us- 4 girls and 1 guy. These kids can eat!! Any ideas for an inexpensive but fairly healthy restaurant or restaurants for breakfast and dinner?
Also is there a TJs in Eugene (I think there is)? Any other ideas on what not to miss? We will have very little free time but I want to do something for ME!!!! Thanks!!!

[lisas3575]

Kima, I'm headed to Eugene in a few weeks as well, and I PM'd Aggie94 (Eva) to see if she had any recommendations. Here's what she said:

Since I work downtown, I've eaten at my fair share of the Eugene
restaurants. And did I mention I love to talk about food?? :)

Zenon would probably be one of my top recommendations. It's close to the
Hult Center, has a good selection of entrees including veggie options, and has the BEST desserts in town. Very NWey cuisine. It's one of the spendier
restaurants in town, but nothing in Eugene is that pricey. Dinner entrees
average around $15-18, I think. The only thing I don't like about it is the
atmosphere. One big room, lots of tables, very noisy. I guess it's
supposed to be like a European-style cafe, but it reminds me of a cafeteria. And theservice can be hit or miss.

Cafe Soriah is probably my favorite restaurant in town. Similar prices,
NWey cuisine with a mediterranean flair, EXCELLENT service, delicious food. It's not really within walking distance of the Hult Center, though, although it
is close. And their bananas foster is to die for.

Steelhead is a good 'ol brewpub downtown, close to the Hult Center. Good
food, good beer (I hear - I don't drink beer), comfortable seating, reasonably priced.

There is a pretty good Asian place in the 5th Street Market downtown called
Bamboo. It's got a few dishes on the menu from many different types of
Asian cuisines - Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, Thai, Laotian, etc. And the nice thing is that you can order small plates of lots of different things for
reasonable prices and eat family style.

Marche is another 5th Street Market restaurant, NWey with a French flair.
I've had lots of people tell me it's their favorite restaurant in Eugene.
The one time we tried to go there for dinner, we were treated so badly by the
hostess that we walked out and went to Soriah instead. I boycotted the
place until our firm had an associates' lunch there just last week. The food was good (not much lighter fare) but the service was lacking. They just seem
kinda snobby.

Oh, and since you're staying overnight, I'll recommend the Glenwood for the
best breakfast in town. There are two locations, one near campus and one on Willamette St. The one on Willamette is better (not so many grungy college students) and the breakfast is awesome! We took my brother there for breakfast when he came to visit once, and he still talks about his hazelnut
pancakes.

[kima]

All those places sound great- but all the dinner places sound a little too fancy for our athletes! I am talking about teenagers between the ages of 14 and 19- big appetites and little sophistication- we adore them! They work so hard and there is such team spirit- being with them keeps my DH and I young!
We love breakfast out- so my DH and I will definatley try the Glenwood. We are staying near campus as the meet is at the legendary hayward Field- I have always wanted to see it!

I need somewhere a step above Denny's but not much higher-a chain would be fine!:)

Thanks for sharing that info ith e Lisa- hazelnut pancakes sound divine!

[lisas3575]

Sorry, not having kids myself, I sometimes forget that budgets and foofooness are a factor. ;) There's a ton of restaurants surrounding Valley River Center, the big mall there. McGrath's Fish House, El Torito, Olive Garden, Marie Callenders, Red Robin and the like...

[kima]

Oooh! Olive Garden sounds perfect- these kids inhale pasta!! I'll definately keep that in mind!

What kind of stores are in the mall????

[lisas3575]

Red Robin is fun for teens too-- do you have that up north?

VRC has your standard mall shops. Meier & Frank department store, The Bon Marché, Penneys, The Gap, Eddie Bauer, Express, Abercrombie & Fitch, Bath & Body Works, etc.

[kima]

Yes we have Red Robin up here! We also have the Gap and Eddie Bauer but none of the other stores and while they may be ho hum to you guys for us they are REAL exciting. I especially love Target.... America... the land of great shopping!! Just that dang exchange to put a damper on things!:(

[d_ferrero]

Originally posted by kima
All those places sound great- but all the dinner places sound a little too fancy for our athletes! I am talking about teenagers between the ages of 14 and 19- big appetites and little sophistication- we adore them! They work so hard and there is such team spirit- being with them keeps my DH and I young!
We love breakfast out- so my DH and I will definatley try the Glenwood. We are staying near campus as the meet is at the legendary hayward Field- I have always wanted to see it!

I need somewhere a step above Denny's but not much higher-a chain would be fine!:)

Thanks for sharing that info ith e Lisa- hazelnut pancakes sound divine!

As an Oregon graduate, I'd be remiss if I didn't recommend Track Town Pizza... (geez... it's been a while since I graduated... hope it's still there!)

Oh... and I lived two years in the dorm directly across the street from the "legendary" Haward Field. :)

-Dolores

[lisas3575]

Yep, they're still there Dolores! Pegasus Pizza is awesome too down by campus. Was that there when you went to school? And Prince Pücklers Ice Cream... mmmmm....

[d_ferrero]

Originally posted by lisas3575
Yep, they're still there Dolores! Pegasus Pizza is awesome too down by campus. Was that there when you went to school? And Prince Pücklers Ice Cream... mmmmm....

Ohmygod... how did I EVER forget Prince Pucklers Ice Cream... a regular Sunday afternoon hangout! Glad to hear they're still in business.... I MUST make a pilgrimage back soon.

Thanks for sharing!

-Dolores

[kima]

Thanks Delores and Lisa -love pizza!

Did you guys ever see Mary Decker Slaney while in Eugene?

[aggie94]

Sorry I've been MIA - my computer has been on a moving truck, but now that I'm getting settled in Austin, I'm back on the BB!

Track Town Pizza has AWESOME pizza and would be a great choice for your group. There is one right across the street from campus that has a lot of character. Other options are the chain places that have been mentioned - Chili's, Red Robin, Marie Callender's, Olive Garden. I'd avoid McGrath's, especially if you like seafood (their's isn't very good, IMO). Glenwood is a must for breakfast - there's one near campus on Alder Street. Let me think on more dinner dining options that aren't chains that would be better suited to your group.

You DEFINITELY have to hit Prince Puckler's for ice cream. Unfortunately, the original PP location downtown is now closed. There are only two places that still sell PP ice cream - one is Lone Pine Farms way out on River Road, and the other is right near campus at the corner of 19th and Agate (only a block from Hayward Field). It's a little shop called Sweet Treats.

And YES, there's a TJ's! It's on Coburg Road, in the Oakway Shopping Center (next door to a Pier 1, Bed Bath & Beyond, TJ Maxx, Borders, and some other nice shops and eateries).

There is a brand new Target store that just opened - it's at the intersection of West 11th and Beltline. There's also another one at Gateway Mall, which is right off I-5 -- warning: the mall (other than Target, Structure, Express, Bath & Body Works, and Sears kinda sucks). Valley River Center is definitely the mall to hit. There have been some new shops that opened lately: Ann Taylor Loft, Banana Republic, Abercrombie & Fitch, and some trendier stores that the teens might be interested in.

[kima]

Thankyou Eva I am glad you are settling in in Austin.
Wow- the shopping in Eugene sounds great. When I told my husband he just rolled he eyes- we are going for a trackmeet remember and you are coaching remember etc. Well i am going to coach and shop- we have Saturday night free so hope something is open then!
Thanks for all the info! Eugene sounds like a great place.
BTW the Oregon team is travelling to Austin today for a big meet this weekend- the Texas Relays!

[aggie94]

Another restaurant thought: Pearl St. Ice Cream Parlour. It's one of those old-timey ice cream parlours that serve a huge variety of(and really delicious) ice cream concoctions, but they also have great burgers, sandwiches, salads, etc. It's a few blocks west of campus, on the corner of Pearl & 11th.

If you have any other questions about your trip to Eugene, let me know! I never thought I'd say it, but I kinda miss the place (and I only left yesterday!).

[aggie94]

Originally posted by d_ferrero
Oh... and I lived two years in the dorm directly across the street from the "legendary" Haward Field. :)

There's a dorm across from Hayward Field? I wonder if it's been converted to something else or completely demolished and rebuilt. How long ago was this? And where exactly?

I lived two blocks from Hayward Field for several years, and I loved track season. The noise from the crowd was awesome and it was fun to just walk over and watch.

[kima]

Thanks Aggie!
We are staying at the Travellers Inn, which apparently is right next to a 7-11 and a Pizza Hut is across the street- the kids may not want to leave the hotel area!
My DH and I on the other hand will definately travel farther afield- especially to that breakfast place- I love breakfast out!!!:)

GO DUCKS GO!!!!:)

[aggie94]

I know exactly where you're talking about -- on Franklin Blvd., right? If you have the opportunity to do breakfast twice, the Original Pancake House is practically next door to your hotel, right on the corner of Franklin and Alder. It's also excellent, but if you had to pick one, I'd go with Glenwood (which, BTW, is also within walking distance if you go to the one on Alder). In fact, you could even trek over to Hayward Field from where you're staying if you cut across campus but I wouldn't do it unless it was a particularly nice day. ;) Also within a close range of your hotel are Arby's, an excellent Chinese restaurant (Szechuan Terrace), McD's, an excellent and very reasonably priced Mexican restaurant (Cancun), and a Dunkin Donuts. :)