Eugene has an abundance of restaurants and cafes to choose from. I’ve lived here for four years now and am still finding new places to eat. I will often ask my friends and co-workers for recommendations. I even asked a nice guy at a Chevron station the other day for a yummy dinner place. The point is: There are plenty of great places to eat besides what’s offered around campus. Here are some of my favorites.
For breakfast I like to mix things up. If I have enough money and time to go out for my morning meal, I will usually go to Three Square, located off Willamette Street in the Southtowne Shops. It only serves breakfast on the weekends, so don’t show up Tuesday morning with a hungry stomach like I once did; you will be very disappointed. Three Square’s breakfast menu varies. There is killer French toast and lots of different kinds omelets and scrambles to choose from. The restaurant has huge booths next to the windows and has construction paper over the tablecloths so you can get creative with crayons.
During the week I usually will make one appearance at Humble Bagel Company. I love their breakfast croissant with a hot cup of coffee with just a little bit of cream. If I miss the shop’s breakfast hours (until 11:30 a.m. on weekdays), I will get a bright yellow herb bagel with Humble’s sun-dried tomato cream cheese. And I always get their cappuccino-chocolate-chip muffin to go.
The Keystone Cafe is a place I just discovered last year. Its insides are rather tattered, but clean. The first time I went there I was a little hesitant, but then I saw all the people sitting down at the tables and at the counter. Obviously, this place had awesome food. I ordered a pancake that took up my entire plate and a fresh glass of orange juice. It was de-lish. And cheap.
Lunch is usually a quick grab-and-go affair with me. I’m usually on my lunch break between classes, so I want something that will be tasty and fast. I like to go to the Early Rise Coffee and Tea Co. off of Coburg Road. It has free wireless Internet, great food and some of the best coffee I have had in town.
Papa’s Soul Food Kitchen & BBQ is another place that’s great for a quick lunch. It offers real southern cooking, like pull-pork sandwiches and barbecued chicken sandwiches that are wonderful and challenging to eat without getting sauce all over the place. I love the jungle fever cake, which is a super rich chocolate cake with vanilla icing that is to die for.
If I’m just looking for some coffee and a little pastry, I head over to Sweet Life Patisserie. I go there at least once a month to get their caramel shortbread cookie shaped like a heart, or I will order a slice of one of their many creamy and decadent cakes. One time I tried a vegan cheesecake and was pleasantly surprised. I could not taste the difference from a “normal” one. Sweet Life has remodeled its place, so now there is more room for tables and it’s a really cozy atmosphere to sit and chat with a friend.
Zenon Cafe will never be a disappointment when you go for dinner. Their menu changes each day and they always have delicious entrees. The prices are higher than a lot of places around town, so save this place for a special night. I usually go there when my mom comes into town to visit.
Down the street from Zenon, the best Thai food in town can be found at Sweet Basil. I love the restaurant’s spring rolls and its Pad Thai, with which I request a side of peanut sauce. Sweet Basil also has a variety of fun and wonderful cocktails to choose from. Last time I went there with my friends we each ordered a different drink and passed them around the table.
Sometimes a college student doesn’t have that much money. I often find myself living between paychecks; I have two jobs and I’m still usually broke. So if you don’t have any food in your house and your wallet’s empty, there’s always your local Dairy Queen. Now, I don’t usually eat fast food, but DQ is special in my eyes. I love its cheeseburgers, and nothing beats an Oreo Blizzard. Just don’t make a habit of eating fast food every week, for obvious reasons.
Tight budgets can still amount to great food
Daily Emerald
April 19, 2006
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