who now play in the NFL: the Marcus Mariota and the
Justin Herbert.
Head farther east on Main Street, and you’ll fi nd Giant
Burger , another gem of Springfi eld. Giant Burger’s meat
is locally sourced and, like Chow, it has several varia-
tions of the burger, from an open-faced chili burger to
a burger with chicken tenders, bacon and ham. And if
you give the restaurant two days’ notice, you can partici-
pate in the fi ve-pound burger challenge and bring home
something better than a medal from the World Athletics
Championships.
RIVER ROAD:
Begin at McLure Lane off the
riverbank bike path
By now, you’ve likely spent a lot of time on Eugene’s
scenic Ruth Bascom Riverbank System, a wonderful trip
through Eugene-Springfi eld that off ers sparkling views
of the Willamette River. It’s also a way to access many of
the area’s diff erent neighborhoods, and if you take the
McClure Lane exit, you’ll end up on River Road, which
has several places to eat and drink.
If you’re in the neighborhood around breakfast or early
lunch time, Reality Kitchen is worth a visit. Reality may
be known to locals for its pretzels, but it also makes some
of the best biscuits and gravy in town. Reality Kitchen’s
menu gives it enough merit, but it is worth noting that
the restaurant is a nonprofi t organization that runs a
job skills training program that helps young adults who
experience intellectual and developmental disabilities.
So eating at Reality is a noble cause, and you deserve
dessert for supporting the restaurant.
Can’t have enough vegetarian food? Govinda’s Vege-
tarian Buffet will keep the plant-based party going
as long as you can fi ll a plate. But don’t expect it to be
a never-ending menu of salads. Govinda’s usually has
options of curries, soups and more.
With a ton of ciders on tap to choose from Ciderli-
cious , you can easily fi nd yourself spending all day and
night drinking here. And the two food trucks at the
cider garden makes the drinking marathon even easier
to pull off . Easley Does It sells fusion tacos and burg-
ers, though its ice cream sandwiches are perfect for
these July summer days, and Braised Restaurant has
sandwiches featuring slow cooked pork or beef. Just as
a reminder, if you’ve had too much cider, make sure you
fi nd someone to drive you back to your hotel or Airbnb
— whether it’s a taxi or ride share app.
Reality Kitchen, 645 River Road; RealityKitchen.org. Govinda’s
Vegetarian Buff et, 1030 River Road; GovindasBuff et.com. Ciderlicious
and food carts, 675 River Road; fi nd on Facebook.
Red Meat, the Other (Track) Meet
There’s nothing like a big, juicy burger that drips
all over the place. And Eugene-Springfi eld has tons of
options for the carnivores among us (and most of these
places also off er vegetarian alternatives).
Cornucopia is a must-visit for any Eugene newbie, and
with three locations, it’s not diffi cult to include it in your
itinerary. Its burgers feature half-pound patties, and the
menu has classic versions (barbecue sauce and bacon)
but also more wild concoctions (coff ee crusted burger
patty with pepper jack and guacamole). And what’s a
burger without a solid side of fries? Not only have read-
ers chosen Cornucopia for several years as Best Burger,
but also Best French Fries.
Take a Drive to Florence to
See the Oregon Coast
TOXIC WINGS AND FRIES
Eugene’s Whiteaker neighborhood has pretty much
everything. And now it has a restaurant dedicated to
burgers. The Whitburger opened a few months ago
and keeps its menu simple, a sign of a restaurant that
stands behind the quality of its meat. And if you’re a
vegetarian — or have one in your party — this is a place
to bring them. Whitburger has Beyond Burgers and
cheese-based alternatives.
We’re not sure whether Toxic Wings and Fries was
named after the classic song “Toxic” by Brittany Spears
because the food is just as intoxicating as the song. Of
course, Toxic’s wings are in the name, but the burgers
are the showstealer. Featuring a one-sixth pound patty,
Toxic’s burgers for the most part capture the beauty of
minimalism. But that’s not to say they don’t dive into
excess. One of EW’s favorites is the Intoxicator, which
has four one-sixth pound patties, pepper jack cheese,
jalapeños and Frank’s RedHot pepper sauce. Now that’s
a burger.
Springfield’s Main Street has a few great burger
options — PlankTown and The Pedaler, to name a couple
— but venture out a little and you’ll fi nd places that will
make you wish you had a Steven Tyler-sized mouth.
Chow Gastropub , located a block south of Main Street,
is right by the Springfi eld EmX station. Chow plays with
the burger, off ering variations from the peanut butter
and jelly burger to pork butt and burger. And it’s the
only joint in town with several burgers named after
two of Oregon football’s most popular quarterbacks
J U LY
2 1 ,
2 0 2 2
Cupz, 203 State Hwy 99 N . Alpha-Bit, 10780 Hwy 126, Mapleton.
Venny’s Café 101, 1517 Hwy 101, Florence.
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It’s a summer smorgasbord for the senses
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cascadehealth.org/flavorfest
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Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022 | 5 - 9 p.m.
Ninkasi Better Living Room
12
OK, we can’t resist the allure of the Oregon Coast. If
you haven’t seen it before, hop in the car (or take a bus,
if you don’t mind some walking when you get there) and
drive 90 minutes to Florence, a small tourist and fi shing
town on Highway 101.
On your way west, stop at Cupz for your java. Local
sculptor Jud Turner tells EW the folks are friendly, the
coff ee is good and they always have treats for his pet
pigs. If you forget to caff einate before you go, no worries.
Alpha-Bit , the funky coff ee and gift shop that was once
the community outreach for the Alpha Farm intentional
community, has reopened in Mapleton under a new owner.
Once you hit Florence, locals tell us that Venny’s Café 101
has not only good Mexican coff ee but good Mexican food.
In the quaint Old Town next to the Siuslaw River bridge,
stroll through the marina to admire the boats and stop
by the great used-book store Books ‘n Bears.
If you have a car, drive north 12 miles to Heceta Head,
where you can see a classic lighthouse, stroll on a small
sandy beach or, for the reasonably fi t, hike the two-mile
Hobbit Trail from the lighthouse through rugged forest
with great ocean views to a more-secluded beach. Any
trip to the Oregon coast isn’t complete without explor-
ing the dunes , where you can sit and enjoy the silence or
pretend that you’re on Tatooine from Star Wars.
While in Old Town, you’ve got several eating options.
Sure, it is a longstanding Oregon tradition to eat at Mo’s
Restaurant , a coastal chain, but there are other options.
Homegrown Public House and Brewery is a gastro-pub
with a large menu of unique sandwiches, hearty salads
and fi lling fi sh and chips. For fancier dining, head to Nosh
Eatery . It’s near the Siuslaw River, which feeds into the
ocean, and has a menu of quality food without pretense
— and its brussel sprouts will convert any hater of the
controversial vegetable.
Come
& Dr
Food n ink
Pairi gs!
NINKASI
PARTY BAR
LION & OWL
OREGON WINE LAB
PIZZERIA DOP
THINKING TREE
COSMIC BLISS
Visit CornucopiaEugene.com for addresses. Whitburger is at 298 Blair
Boulevard; WhitBurger.com. Visit ToxicWings.com for addresses.
Chow Gastropub, 471 S. A Street in Springfi eld; fi nd on GrubHub.
Giant Burger, 3760 Main Street in Springfi eld; WeltandWelt.com.
www.fusejewelrycollective.com *Showroom Open Fri. & Sat. 12-5*
112 E 13th Ave. Eugene, OR 97401
458-210-2896
Photo by Todd Cooper
E U G E N E W E E K LY . C O M