41Ladies and gentlemen, I have just saved you the worry of finding a romantic, elegant place to eat on Tuesday (Valentine’s Day!). Sweep that long-time love – or short-time sweetie – off his or her feet by making a reservation for two at Adam’s Place, 30 E. Broadway in downtown Eugene.
Adam’s Place provides an enchanting atmosphere, perfect for a dinner for two, but families, friends and couples can all enjoy the restaurant’s friendly service and incredible food. Although Adam’s Place is one of the most expensive restaurants in Eugene, I found the savory dining and choice atmosphere worth every cent.
My dinner companion and I made reservations for a Friday night. I highly recommend making reservations because Adam’s Place is on the small side and seems to fill up quickly. We still had to wait for a table (I thought reservations prevented that?), but the staff quickly got to cleaning the first unoccupied table, which I would say was the best table in the house: right across from the warm, elegant fireplace that added depth and romance to an already wonderful spot.
The waitress quickly brought out a sample from the kitchen – salmon mousse on cucumber slices, which was delicious, but very unusual, especially for my taste buds. But trying something new is part of the fun of eating out. And I had never been to a restaurant that had sent out actual food (by that I mean “not bread”) before we had even ordered.
My date and I started our meal with a Cambazola Fondue appetizer ($12). This cheesy dish was served hot in a bread bowl with crunchy slices of bread on the side. It was a rich, tasty dish that was easy to eat, although it was one that had to be eaten as quickly as possible before the cheese began to harden around the bread.
After the waitress had taken away our destroyed bread bowl, the dish my date and I shared was placed on the table – the New Zealand Fresh Pacific King Salmon ($24, plus a $6 fee for splitting an entree). It came with fresh vegetables (according to the menu, seasonal dishes are made with 95 percent organically grown produce by local farmers when possible) and some creamy mashed potatoes. The salmon was cooked perfectly – a little crunchy on the outside and warm and tender on the inside. My date, who said that growing up on the Columbia River forced him to eat a lot of salmon, claimed that he had never had salmon cooked such a way and he found it delicious, just like I did.
One of the most pleasant parts of our evening came right after we began our main course. Adam Bernstein, executive chef at, well, Adam’s Place, made his way out of the kitchen and asked us how our entrees were. He also made sure that the service was good and that we were enjoying ourselves. He thanked us for choosing his restaurant and then left us to enjoy our meal. It was a simple, but kind gesture that made our evening much more than just a dinner – it was an event.
After our lovely meal was, of course, dessert. We opted for the most decadent option on the menu, the Chocolate Volcano for two ($12). We had to decide early on in the night if we wanted this dessert – it takes half an hour to make it – but as soon as our waitress mentioned it to us, we knew it was too good to pass up. And we were right. This volcano was a warm chocolate souffle overflowing with melted dark Belgian chocolate and topped with zesty orange candy slices. On the side of our indulgent volcano came two chocolate-dipped strawberries, perfectly ripened so the bright red juices burst out from behind the dark chocolate shells.
Save time this Valentine’s Day and make reservations early for Adam’s Place by calling (541) 344-6948. And the date doesn’t have to end after dinner. The Luna jazz nightclub is located right next door, with an entrance inside Adam’s Place. On Valentine’s Day see Debra Arlyn perform live at Luna at 7 p.m. for $10, which includes a free CD at the door. Tickets are on sale now at Adam’s Place.

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