The back wall of the bar glistens with hundreds of different kinds of alcohol bottles. The wall boasts everything from Knob Creek bourbon to Blueberry Smirnoff. Framed by several strands of accent lights, the bar mirrors the relaxed and romantic atmosphere at The Vintage restaurant on Lincoln Street.
Tucked between a few degraded buildings and commercial structures, The Vintage resides on the main level of an aged yet charming house built in 1873.
After Megan Knode graduated from the University in 2006, she and her best friend Shannon Ritchie fulfilled their lifelong dream of opening a restaurant together. After concocting up a plan in the second grade to start a restaurant, Knode and Ritchie finally opened The Vintage in January of 2006.
“Our goal was to be successful and be a place where people could feel comfortable being any type of person. It’s a really cozy kind of homey feel because it’s set at a house,” Ritchie said.
The romantic setting of small tables nestled into the nooks and crannies of an old house makes this restaurant one of the best for a date. Dim lighting accompanied by small candles set the mood, and the wall was adorned with a vintage plaque that read, “Enter as Strangers, Leave as Friends.”
Aside from the intimate atmosphere, The Vintage offers cuisine with a variety of tastes. The soup of the day, French onion, was an understated yet flavorful appetizer. The vodka cream penne was a classic pasta dish with some zest, although the dinner portion was noticeably small. The Vintage’s menu featured everything from crepes and paninis to breakfast items and American favorites.
Ritchie recommended the lava rock cocktail. “It has pop rocks in it, so it would be a nice icebreaker on a date,” she said.
Knode recommended the crepes and fondue as some of the best dishes on the menu.
“When we started the restaurant, our goal was mainly to provide a place where people could come and just enjoy great food and good company,” she said.
A meal for two at The Vintage, without any specialty drinks, runs between $20 and $30.
Heather Compton, who has been a waitress at The Vintage for more than two years, advises couples to try the restaurant’s signature drink.
“The lavender lemon drop is really unique to our restaurant; it’s a vodka-fusion drink, and it has a good zing to it,” Compton said.
2nd Place: Agate Alley Bistro
Glass bottles with flickering lights inside hang above each table at Agate Alley Bistro. Although the restaurant is romantic, the eclectic decor gives it a laid-back atmosphere.
The menu features several types of cuisine, including many seafood dishes. Agate Alley Bistro has a significant amount of indoor and outdoor seating.
A meal for two at the bistro also costs about $20 to $30, although the meal does come with complimentary bread. The soup of the day, tomato cheese, was the highlight of the meal.
3rd Place: Marche
Marche at 5th Street Market emphasizes its use of locally grown ingredients and flavors found in the Pacific Northwest. Large windows along the entire front of the restaurant create an open and inviting atmosphere. Lit by dim lights and small accent lamps at each table, Marche has a romantic and elegant ambiance.
Although Marche’s atmosphere creates the ideal environment for a date, its prices are by far the highest. Unless all you want to order is an appetizer and soup, a meal for two will run about $40 to $50. A bit fancier than most restaurants in Eugene, it does not boast the same casual atmosphere and familiarity as The Vintage or Agate Alley Bistro. The crab cakes and Caesar salad were delectable, though the small portions and high prices are not ideal for the typical college date.