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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 8, 2003)
Cafe Soriah mixes fine dining with Mediterranean flavor by Patrick Gilligan and Sherry Tblford Dining and atmosphere often go hand-in-hand, how ever few places master the combination like Cafe Sori ah. Straight from the heart of the Mediterranean, Cafe Soriah, a quaint but elegant establishment at 384 W. 13th, is hidden among bou tiques on busy 13th Avenue. Entering the restaurant, we were greeted by a warm and tasteful bar, alive with local patrons enjoying a vast assortment of libations. Pro ceeding further, we discov ered a romantic dining room adorned with soft lighting and exquisite decor. If weather permits, don’t pass up the opportunity to dine outdoors. Cafe Soriah has created a Tliscan-like pa tio adorned with hanging plants, twinkling lights, and a fountain reminiscent of the Italian countryside. Amidst quiet conversa tions and the glow of candle light, we explored the menu that highlights the fine art of Mediterranean and French cuisine. Though some of the en trees appeared to be expen sive, it was only so until our food arrived. Just moments after we were seated, fresh sourdough and walnut rye bread was placed on our table, and our drinks were top priority for the maitre’d. We decided to split an appe tizer, which was a special of the evening: pan-sauteed calamari carefully paired with garlic, capers, and vari ous imported spices. I also had a fresh and peppery arugula salad complimented with an outstanding lemon cumin vinaigrette dressing. The menu had various se lections of seafood, lamb, beef, fowl and vegetarian choices which made it diffi cult to decide on an entree. Sherry ordered the salmon du jour, a grilled salmon filet seasoned with Mediter ranean spices and paired with a mango-curry cream sauce. I decided to choose the Tournedos de Boeuf, which were generous, tender medallions of beef covered with a champignon sauce. Each of our entrees arrived promptly, accompanied with Cafe Soriah’s signature rice pilaf and grilled vegetables. Soon after our plates were cleared from the table, the dessert cart arrived offering a wide range of sweets that would please any taste. Sher ry chose the strawberry tri fle, a melange of decadent cream and strawberries that carefully balanced the light essence of berries and rich cream. I chose the fruit torte composed of fresh glazed blackberries, strawberries, and custard. We were ex tremely satisfied with our se lections. Cafe Soriah offers an inti mate setting and a delectable menu perfect for any special occasion. Cafe Soriah offers dinner daily and lunch Mon day through Friday. Do not hesitate to put Cafe Soriah at the top of your list of fine dining establishments. 1017109 r QuiznosSuB HHMH...TQASTY!' OVEN TOASTED BY TWO LOCAL GUYS! TOASTED SUBS • SOUPS • SALADS UO Campus at 13th & Alder (Inside Starbucks) 5th Street Public Market • Gateway Blvd. & Beltline Rd. Fish & Chips To Go Salmon $5.50 Halibut $6.00 Shrimp $6.00 Scallops $6.00 Cod $4.50 Daily specials $5.00 Chowder • ColeSlaw Monday - Friday 11:00 to 7:00 Saturday 11:00 to 6:30 1545 Willamette 344-2371 Walk-up • Bike-up • Drive-up Limited patio seating available
