CASA DON CARLOS
“We introduced Mexican
food to Eugene 23 years ago,”
claims owner and chief cook
Victoria Wallace, of the Casa
Don Carlos Restaurant, located
at the corner of 4th and Blair in
Eugene. She and husband
Charles opened the original El
Sombrero Restaurant, then at
13th and Alder (where Duffy’s
Tavern is now), back in 1960,
“when everybody here was eat
ing meat and potatoes only!” To
counter the prejudice toward
hamburgers, they offered
money-back offers just to get
customers to try the Mexican
fare. This is hard to imagine to
day when there are as many
Mexican food eateries as there
are seafood places, from Taco
Time to Moreno’s, fast food to
classy dining. “I think it’s
caught on pretty well,” laughs
Victoria.
The Wallaces are personally
responsible for opening a total
of eight Mexican restaurants in
the Northwest, seven in Oregon
and one in Seattle. Starting out
in Costa Mesa, Califronia, their
first restaurant there happened
to be right in the path of a pro
posed freeway. Forced to move
from that location, they mi
grated to Eugene.
El Sombrero eventually mov
ed to its present location in
downtown Eugene, where it has
continued to be a successful and
popular business. The Wallaces
went on to build La Posada in
1969, and later to open Tortilla
Flat in the 5th Street Public Mar
ket. They helped one of their
sons start a restaurant in Seattle,
and helped a friend set up
another in Brookings.
Victoria and Charles had
recently retired when the oppor
tunity came along to start up
another restaurant of their own.
They talked their son Jim into
going into business with them,
and Casa Don Carlos was born.
Victoria, herself of Hispanic
descent, has passed on her culi
nary talents to her son Jim who
shares the cooking duties.
Charles makes all the soups, and
also does the promoting. (He’s
the author of the homespun
messages on their newspaper
ads.)
They couldn’t have picked a
more charming spot for their en
terprise. The quaint white frame
house sits under a huge maple
tree, with green grass all around.
Sit down at any one of the tables
and you’re looking out on the
hub of the Whiteaker Neigh
borhood, the oldest in Eugene.
Across the street sits the beauti
fully restored Brogden Barn (an
historical building dating back
to 1913) which now houses a fine
grocery store and meat shop.
Also within view are the Tiny
Tavern and Blair Island Natural
Foods Restaurant, both unique
landmarks in the neighborhood.
The decor is simple, clean,
and comfortable. Natural light
streams through the large win
dows which line the rooms. Is it
the simplicity that gives it its au
thentic flavor? I think so.
An interesting menu—per
sonal, like the place itself—of
fers all the standard Mexican/
American fare and several
specials. There’s a whole page of
vegetarian variations and a
make-your-own-burrito section.
I was intrigued by the Chimi
changa "Icaramaba es grande!”
($3.95)—and a good choice it
was! Refried beans, beef, and
cheese are wrapped into a flour
tortilla, deep fried so that the
tortilla is crispy and light, then
topped with cheese, lettuce, to
matoes, a heap of guacamole,
and another heap of sour cream.
Yes, it was good!
My friend ordered the Don
Carlos Enchiladas (Acapulco
style with chicken)—a full din
ner with soup or salad, plus
freshly made chips and salsa
($5.50). The “peasant vegetable
soup” was hearty, and the enchi
ladas quite tasty. This is mildly
spiced food, not too hot for
north-of-the-border palates.
Victoria describes the cuisine as
New Mexican, more indigenous
to the southwestern United
States than to Mexico.
Casa Don Carlos offers rea
sonably priced food of good
quality, beer and wine, a plea
sant relaxing atmosphere. Hours
are 11 am-9 pm, Monday-Satur
day.
_C 11
AFFORDABLE BREAKFASTS & LUNCHES
SCOTTS
COURTSIDE
44 W. Broadway
66
‘Upstairs
99
SCOTTS
100 E. Broadway
M-F 7 am-4 pm
Sat 8 am-3 pm
‘Downstairs
661
99
M-F 7 am-4 pm
DAILY LUNCH SPECIALS AT BOTH LOCATIONS
Hay.%
Restaurant & Lounge
Happy Hour Every Day 2-7 PM
Discount Prices on all Drinks
Free Hors D’oeuvres 5-7 pm
Live Entertainment
Monday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday
Jean Walker
July 18-30
9 pm-1:30 am NO COVER
2200 Centennial Blvd. Reservations, 342-5231
•Auu
L i Treat Yourself..
I,
to Something!
•. Exotic I
CASABLANCA
Downstairs at 5th St. Mkt.
5
t
542'841 1
5th & High
CALZONE
ON
TUESDAYS
and
THURSDAYS
Vegie or Meat
SY’S PIZZA
1211 Alder
On Campus
686-9598
===================
Restaurant Guide
Alpine Village Inn
Authentic dinners from America, France,
Germany.
Featuring
O'Carolan's Consort on Saturdays. 260
River Rd. Open Tues, Wed, Thur 5-10
pm; Fri & Sat 5-11 pm; Sun 4-9 pm.
688-5387.
Bruno's Bistro
European styled foods and spirits.
Prepared always by Chef Bruno. 207 E
5th (in the Fifth Pearl Bldg.). Open for
lunch and dinner, 343-9324.
Butcher Block Delicatessen
Deli sandwiches, salads, beer & wine. Par
ty platters and to go orders. 13th & Frank
lin (next to William’s Bakery). Open Mon
Sat i0am-1 am, Sundays noon-9 pm.
Casa Don Carlos
Mexican cuisine featuring vegetarian and
natural foods. 400 Blair Blvd (at 4th).
Open 11 am-9 pm Mon-Sat, closed Sun
day. 343-4322.
El Sombrero
Homemade tortillas fresh everyday. Taco
salads, enchiladas, chili rellenos, tostadas,
burritos, and more. Beer & wine. 146 E
11th. Open 11 am-10 pm M-F and 12-10
pm Sat. Live music Tues & Wed,
Fifth Pearl Delicatessen
51 different sandwiches (or make your
own). Also soup, salad bar & salads,
deserts, specials. Draft beer, import &
domestic, wine, and order to go. 207 E 5th
Ave, in the Fifth Pearl Building. Open 8
am-5:30 pm, Mon-Sat and Sunday noon-5
pm. 484-0686.
Great Oregon Burger Co.
100% beef with all the trimmings, fast ser
vice and quality. Open daily til midnight.
To go orders, 344-5221.
Greek Isle
Authentic Greek cuisine for those on the
go. Upstairs at the 5th St. Public Market.
Open 11 am-6 pm 7 days, till 8 pm Friday.
Hamburger Terry's
23 kinds of omelets and lunches. Down
stairs at the 5th St. Public Market. Open
Mon-Thur 7 am-6 pm, Fri till 9 pm, Sat 8
am-6 pm, Sun 9 am-5 om. 683-8196.
Harry's on the Canal
Lounge, salad bar, full menu includes
fresh fish. 2200 Centennial Blvd. Open
weekdays for lunch, 11:30 am-2 pm.
Everyday 5-10 pm and Sundays for
10 am-2 pm. Reservations
brunch,
342-5231.
Keystone Cafe
Homestyle breakfasts featuring eggs & po
tatoes} whole grain pancakes. Also lunch
specials, desserts and fresh roasted coffee.
Open 7 days, 7 am-2 pm, and Fri, Sat &
Sun nights, 5:30-9:30 pm. 342-2075.
Lenny's Nosh Bar
Late nite giant omlettes. Also Sunday
champagne brunch, Matzoh ball soup,
salads, deli sandwiches, cheesecake, beer
& wine. Fantastic juke box. Indoor and
outdoor seating. 669 E 13th (in the court
yard behind Poppi’s). Open 7 days, 10
am-3 am.
i’s
Poppi
Authentic Greek peasant food, lunches
and dinners, wine, beer and desserts.
Outdoor seating. 675 E 13th. Open week
days 11:30 am-10:30 pm. Sat & Sun 9
am-10:30 pm (Brunch). Closed Tuesdays.
Prince Puckler's Ice Cream
& Coffee Parlor
Locally-made gourmet ice cream. Summer
specialities: fresh fruit flavors. Also
espresso drinks, coffee, Italian sodas.
Downtown at 861 Willamette, on campus
at 13th & Hilyard. Open til 9 pm down
town, 11 pm campus (midnight on Friday
and Saturday).
Saturday Market
20 vendors serving food in a festive atmos
phere every Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm
downtown at Sth & Oak Streets. Choose
from burritos. calzone, chicken, ribs,
falafel, knishes, empanadas, pasta, pizza,
tempura, cheesecake, smoothies and
Scott’s and Scott's Courtside
Specializing in affordable lunch and
breakfast. Full service grill and daily
specials, desserts. Downtown at 100 E.
Broadway, open M-F, 7 am-4 pm; and 44
W. Broadway, M-F, 7 am-4 pm and Sat 8
am-3 pm.
Sweet Surrender
Pure and natural gourmet ice cream,
sugar and honey sweetened. Full soda
fountain. Indoor and outdoor seating.
Hours 1-10 pm daily. 943 River Road.
Sweet Surrender ice cream also available
at De Frisco’s Terrace, downtown in the
Atrium, 10th & Olive.
Sy's Pizza
New York style pizza by the slice, regular
or thick crust. Calzone, meat or vegie,
Tuesdays and Thursdays. Whole pizzas
delivered within a limited area. On cam
pus at 1211 Alder St. Open 11:30 am-mid
night Monday-Friday, 3:30 pm-midnight
Saturday-Sunday. 686-9598.
The Yogurt Stand
Healthy Deli
Light meals and snacks on the downtown
Mall at 992 Willamette St. Continental
breakfast, croissant and bagel sand
wiches, soups, variety of salads, chicken
tacos, juices and smoothies, coffee and
teas, luscious, low-calorie frozen yogurt.
Open 9-6 weekdays, 10-6 Saturday.
Orders to go, 344-2727.
Zoo Zoo's
Natural foods and coffee house with live
music. 454 Willamette near Amtrak. Open
8 am-10 pm. Closed Tuesdays. 344-4764,
The New Woody’s
Have you had a Coney Island
hot dog lately? Or ever? Stop in
at the New Woody’s at 580
Adams Street. There’s a new
menu coming out which features
your traditional old-time fast
' foods at very reasonable prices.
The breakfast menu offers
waffles, pancakes, omelttes,
steak and eggs, and delicious
cinnamon rolls large enough for
several to share. Lunch will see
an expanded menu of hot and
cold sandwiches, chiliburgers
($2.35), steakburgers ($2.35),
hickoryburgers and more. The
dinner menu has a range of
choices to entice the whole fami
ly: top sirloin, breaded chicken,
lasagna and spaghetti.
The New Woody’s wants your
trade. They’ll be offering senior
and junior portions to fit your
need. The service is fast and
good; your hosts Don and Baer
bel aim to please. So if you’d
like to try a morning fresh cin
namon roll with melted butter
dribbling down the sides, or
steak and potatoes in the even
ing, stop in at Woody’s, 580
Adams St., just off West Sixth
Street. The hours are 6 am-9 pm
Monday-Saturday and 7 am-9
pm Sundays.