With the holidays fast approaching, it’s the perfect time to start planning your celebrations. This year, skip the hours of cooking and dishwashing and treat yourself to one of Eugene’s elegant dining spots — ideal for making any holiday occasion truly memorable.
Akira
Located in a charmingly converted house adorned with vintage posters, Akira offers a dining experience that is both cozy and sophisticated. With a welcoming dining room that feels like home, it’s the perfect blend of comfort and refinement for any special occasion. Akira’s menu features a creative twist on traditional Japanese cuisine. Playful dishes like seasonal steam bun tacos and indulgent dan dan noodles bring bold and comforting flavors, ideal for sharing with your loved ones. Sushi lovers can savor the fresh and elegant Hamachi Carpaccio or an artistically made Chirashi bowl. The menu is fresh, flavorful and well crafted.
“Akira’s atmosphere is always so cool, and the staff go above and beyond to make you feel at home. It’s the perfect spot for a special dinner,” Emma Hayes, an Akira customer, said.
Open 5-9 p.m. Thursday through Tuesday, Akira welcomes guests without reservations, making it an accessible and special dinner spot for any holiday in Eugene.
Osteria DOP
Regional Italian cooking can be found in the heart of downtown Eugene. Osteria DOP is a small restaurant, but its quaint location is the perfect setting for an intimate holiday celebration.
Begin your dinner with some of its star appetizers like the polpette al sugo, a hearty pork, lamb and ricotta meatball braised in a warm tomato sauce, or the beetroot carpaccio, an innovative dish featuring roasted beet, pickled fennel and hazelnuts.
Don’t fill up too much because its house-made pizza and pasta is a 10/10. From classic cacio e pepe to seasonal winter dishes such as the agnolotti, a handmade pasta filled with roasted winter squash and ricotta.
“Osteria DOP is a showstopper. I literally love everything on the menu, and everyone that works here is so caring and thoughtful,” Ahoefa Derek, Osteria DOP regular, said.
Open from 5-9:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, it is the perfect spot for any holiday dinner.
Cafe Soriah
If you’re looking to try something new for your holiday dinner this year, Cafe Soriah is the place for you. This Mediterranean restaurant with a Northwest twist takes reservations, and its cozy location is ideal for any special occasion this winter. From fresh starters, perfectly cooked steaks and classic Mediterranean seafood dishes, Cafe Soriah has a little bit of everything and caters to a variety of tastes.
“I can’t get enough of the Portuguese lamb chanfana. It’s comfort food elevated to an art form,” Sophia Mendez, Cafe Soriah customer, said.
The restaurant is open Tuesday through Thursday from 5-11 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to midnight. Cafe Soriah’s cozy atmosphere, fresh takes on classic dishes and elevated experience make it a wonderful spot to make holiday memories.
This year try one of Eugene’s fine dining spots and skip the holiday hassle. Whether it’s the Japanese cuisine at Akira, the pasta at Osteria DOP, or the lamb chanfana at Cafe Soriah, these restaurants offer something special for every holiday occasion.
