Tucked away behind the hustle and bustle of campus sits Agate Alley Bistro, a common ground for Eugene locals and University students.
The delicious food, casual ambiance, homemade recipes and student specials have locals of the campus area coming back for more.
Agate Alley Bistro owner Dug Beaird has been working to make sure his restaurant appeals to the diverse population in Eugene.
University senior Sarah Cargill, who lives adjacent to Agate Alley Bistro and has been a frequent customer for nearly two years, speaks highly of the student-friendly haven.
“It brings something incredibly unique to the table when comparing campus bars,” she said. “It’s both a welcoming and relaxing setting with a greater sense of class without the classy price. During the day you can grab an excellent, fresh-made meal, while at night you can party to the same degree as other local bars.”
The dim lighting, booth-style seating and full bar create the flexible ambiance for a few cocktails with friends or even a dinner date. Not only does this neighborhood joint offer a relaxed atmosphere, but its Northwest cuisine has both Latin and Asian flairs, featuring organic meats, poultry and produce.
“We try to keep it simple during the day with sandwiches, salads and pizza for the student community and a tad bit fancier at night, serving entrees like Seared Ahi Tuna or Spanish Mussels,” head chef Jeff Strom said.
Perhaps one of the most unique menu items, which Beaird says is his all-time favorite, is the Pumpkin Enchilada. Beaird said this rare Latin-influenced dish is the most commonly ordered entrée on the menu.
“I think that people are very curious of how it will taste, and once they get it once, they keep coming for it,” Beaird said.
Shortly after Agate Alley Bistro opened two years ago, it recognized the opportunity to attract the student community and began to offer weekly specials on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Taco Tuesdays, customers receive two large chicken or beef tacos along with a Pacifico beer for a discounted price of $6.
Beaird said by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, the restaurant is packed with ravenous students coming from all areas of campus.
“I used to live in Southern California and I knew of a place that did Taco Tuesday, and I wanted to do it too. It rolls off the tongue well, and it’s nice to see so many regulars coming back for it,” Beaird said.
University student Summer Hermanson is a regular customer on Taco Tuesday and said it has been more than just a quick, cheap meal.
“It doesn’t get much better than Taco Tuesdays; I can’t think of anything better that I could spend $6 on,” Hermanson said. “This weekly special has provided a place to eat great food, have a few drinks and catch up with friends.”
Those who can’t make it on Tuesday can always hit “Drink Wheel Thursday.” Starting every Thursday at 9 p.m., every half hour a spin of the wheel by either the bartender or a customer decides the drink special for just $2.50, from a rum and coke to a pint of beer. Aside from the specials, Agate Alley Bistro offers happy hour every day from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. with $3 wells and a 50-cent discount on both wine and beer.
The bistro also offers a late-night menu until 1 a.m. featuring typical options to satisfy the late night munchies, including burgers, fries, pizzas and onion rings for less than $5.
“I think we owe most of our success to the awesome UO students,” Strom said. “They came in here and liked what they tasted and what they saw, and they just keep coming back for the reasonable prices and good food.”
[email protected]
Spin for specials at Agate Alley Bistro
Daily Emerald
October 14, 2009
0
More to Discover