A good neighborhood sports bar and grill is essential for a college town. Bada Bings Italian Restaurant, located at 440 Coburg Rd. where G Williker’s Neighborhood Bar and Grill used to be, is perfect for Eugene. Even with a big-screen television, arcades, video poker and plenty of inexpensive
alcohol, it still maintains a
family-oriented environment.
About two weeks ago, G Williker’s became Bada Bings and there are still signs of the old business throughout the new restaurant. Although I’d never been to G Williker’s, Bada Bings was a good first experience, with a friendly staff, delicious food and decent prices.
“Eat, Drink & Be Italian” is Bada Bings’ slogan, applied throughout the establishment. Red checkered tablecloths line the tables, and the menu is loaded with great Italian food, along with classics such as Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches and burgers.
Appetizers like Frank’s Spicy Wings, quesadillas, nachos, garlic cheese bread and onion rings are available for around $5 to $9. I had the Fresh Battered Mushrooms, which cost only $5.25 — completely scrumptious, they were worth every penny and I recommend them to any mushroom fan. Bada Bings also offers hefty salads such as the Santa Fe Chicken Salad, which costs $7.95 for a regular size and $9.25 for a “Hey Yo” size.
Specialty burgers range in price from $6.95 to $8.95, but most cost $7.45. Choices include a Mushroom and Swiss burger, a Pineapple Bacon burger, a Guacamole and Bacon burger, an “In Your Face Chili Burger” or the “How You Doin’” burger, which comes with pepper jack cheese topped with hot peppers.
And what Italian restaurant would be complete without a wide variety of classic Italian dishes? There’s Frank’s Spaghetti, Jane’s Cheese Ravioli, Stella’s Cheese Tortellini, Steven’s Linguine and Clams and eggplant parmesan, all available for around $12. Most come with garlic bread and a salad as well, so even the hungriest customer is sure to leave pleasantly full.
Bada Bings also has classic entrees such as BBQ pork ribs, a 6-oz. rib-eye steak, country fried steak and grilled chicken breasts. All entrees come with a vegetable, cheese bread, and a baked potato, garlic mashed potatoes or fries. The cost ranges anywhere from $8.95 to $12.95.
And for those watching their waists, Bada Bings offers wraps such as the Sesame Chicken wrap for less than $8 and low-carb dishes for around $10. But the food and cheap prices aren’t the only thing that will bring customers back. There are eight televisions throughout the restaurant, including one on the heated smoking deck. There’s a large projector screen — vital for Duck games — and lots of games such as darts, arcades, pinball and Cruis’n Exotica. In the bar, there are also plenty of video-poker machines and Keno for those who like to gamble away their drinking money.
Luckily for those gamblers, drinks are cheap at the bar, which opens
at 11 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Bud, Bud Light, Coors, Fat Tire and Hefeweizen are all on tap, and a
pint costs about $4. Daily Happy Hour lasts from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m., during which Bud and Bud Light
are $1.75. Specialty drinks vary
during the week for Happy Hour, such as Tequila Night on Tuesdays and Long Island Ice Teas for $4.75
on Fridays.
There is also a selection of wines, from Merlot and Cabernet to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Bada Bings also offers mixed drinks such as the Beer Infused Vodka Martini, the Vanilla-Razz Cocktail and the Anti-Freeze, which contains citrus vodka, peach schnapps, melon liquor, lemonade and 7UP for $5.50 and under.
Although there weren’t a lot of students on the night I went, when an important game is going on, Bada Bings is sure to be packed full of fans. But Bada Bings is also a great place to take a date, meet with friends or get away from the wild campus bars. The friendly staff and family-oriented atmosphere will keep customers coming back, and the cheap prices and delicious food surely don’t hurt.

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