One campus bar often overlooked by students is Fathoms, a small watering hole in the basement of Pegasus Pizza. Humbly hidden away and lacking blatant signs of identification, it is the type of place that welcomes intimate gatherings instead of giant crowds.
To get inside Fathoms, you have to go in the back through the parking lot, then sneak down a flight of stairs. The bar consists of one room filled with black tables and chairs, a big screen TV, a pool table and several posters on the walls. A long bar sits to the left of the entrance and is backed by aesthetically pleasing rows of hard alcohol bottles. Only two bartenders tend to taking orders and concocting drinks. To find the restroom, you are required to climb the stairs and wander through an empty (if it’s past dining hours) Pegasus Pizza.
One big perk of Fathoms is the free pizza that staff members usually bring down from the restaurant during the night. They also offer several drink special — $1 well drinks and
$2.75 microbrews are available with free pool on Mondays. Tuesday is pizza and brew night, when you can get an 8-inch two- topping pizza with a pint of domestic beer for $5 or a microbrew pint for $6. A DJ from NRG Entertainment plays tunes on Thursdays from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
The people who gather at Fathoms seemed very friendly during my visit, and because it’s not mobbed, it doesn’t take forever to order your drink. Locals who sit up at the bar seemed open to conversation with just about anyone. It’s also a great place to gather with 20 to 30 friends for a special party — if it’s not too crowded, it will feel like you’ve rented out a room for the night without the cost. As part of the well-known Pegasus Pizza restaurant, it has an air of familiarity. Pegasus Pizza often hosts events related to University academics and clubs, such as the French department’s Circle de Francais and Oregon Hillel’s “welcome back” pizza night, and Fathoms would be a perfect stop after one of these activities.
Pegasus Pizza has been around since 1989, and its owners opened Fathoms as an extension of the restaurant during spring break of 2001. Owner Lori Reader, who owns the pizzeria and bar with her husband, said Fathoms has attracted its share of guests so far.
“There’s a good vibe going on down there,” she said. “It’s like being in someone’s living room and they’re throwing a party.”
There’s really nothing spectacular or unusual about Fathoms; it’s simply a room to drink, socialize or play pool in. But the free pizza, friendly ambiance and convenient campus proximity make it worth stopping by.
Fathoms is at 790 E. 14th Ave.

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