If you’re new to Eugene, you may not realize that downtown was not always the vibrant place that it is today. Most businesses in the area are new and as a resident of Eugene, no matter what brings you here, it may be worth your time to visit these venues.
Do not exercise contempt prior to investigation on this one. If you do, you’ll miss out on a beverage experience that will improve your quality of life, and I don’t mean just aesthetically. Bubble tea, detox tea, clear mind tea, fair trade and organic tea, custom-made hybrid blends of tea — whatever you need, and don’t know you need — Townshend’s has it.
Townshend’s was started by Matt Thomas in Portland around seven years ago. The second location sprouted in Bend, and the third on Division Street in Portland. Finally, Thomas decided to gift Eugene with one of its own. Thomas is a University of Oregon Lundquist College of Business graduate, and his goal was always to open a tea house unmatched in quality and diversity.
According to long-time employee and tea lover Ray Nagler, there are four different categories of tea sold here. The first are the premium teas. These you may be able to find elsewhere: your earl greys, chamomiles and lavenders and will be least expensive starting at $1.95.
The second category includes the rare teas, which will be harder to come across.
“These teas are higher quality, harder to find and more expensive to produce,” Nagler said.
The third category of tea is characterized by its medicinal or therapeutic nature: the apothecary teas. There are 26 of these teas, “all of which are targeted for specific medical reasons, and all are non-caffeinated,” Nagler said.
The final category is called the finest. You guess why these 13 teas are in this category. According to Nagler, these teas are the hardest ones to find.
The best thing about this venue is that it doesn’t just have a staff that is passionate, knowledgeable and willing to talk teas of the world with you for 30 minutes, mix a therapeutic brew based on your specific needs or point out the origin of every tea on the menu. They are also open late seven days a week, have free Wi-Fi and are an alternative to the noisy bars and restaurants that aren’t conducive to sober studying or meeting a client to chat.
Nagler says the favorite item for fall is the “Creme de la Earl Grey Latte.” Mmm. Stop in and see her. You’ve never known a gal who loved tea so much.
Sizzle Pie:
If Townshend’s isn’t your cup of tea, head over to Sizzle Pie at 910 Willamette St. These guys are another Oregonian exclusive that just recently graced Eugene with their New York-inspired presence. You can’t miss their red and white bulbs illuminating the block, encouraging visitors to “Eat Pizza Every Day.”
There’s something for everyone. With vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and meat lover’s options, you can bring everyone you live with and the friendly drunk girls you found jay-walking down 10th Avenue.
Want to catch a cool buzz? They’ve got you covered there with seven beers on tap and a lot more hard liquor to choose from. On the other hand, if you just want a bite to eat after the bar closes, they’re open until 3 a.m. Sunday-Thursday and 4 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Starting Sept. 30 they’ll even deliver that late.
Off the Waffle:
Lastly, if you haven’t visited Off the Waffle, you need to. These guys are of the same breed as Townshend’s, extremely passionate about their product and willing to talk waffles with you for days.
According to owner Omer Orian it was “a father-son’s dream. We always wanted to open up a waffle shop.”
Off the Waffle is a Eugene exclusive. The downtown location at 840 Willamette St. is the second, with the first one placed down the road at 2540 Willamette St.
“In 2009 we took a road trip to Eugene and just fell in love with it,” Orian said.
Orian is really proud of the business he owns with his brother Dave and father Shimon. Their Liège Waffle is a Belgian-inspired taste that Dave and Omer grew to love as young boys living in Belgium.
However, their recipe is completely their own. According to Omer it was one that took a really long time to cultivate to their standards.
The process is never finished. He says, “There’s always this quest for the perfect waffle.”
Omer says his favorite thing on the menu is the plain waffle. He says it’s so good, he likes to just eat it alone with a cup of coffee. However, his customers prefer the “Self-Fulfilling Prophecy,” a waffle that boasts eggs, bacon and syrup all heaped on the special-recipe liège. Their espresso is supreme, and their Mt. Rose tea blends complement everything on the menu.
The staff at Off the Waffle really love waffles, too and they’re there for you until 3 a.m. Thursday-Saturday. So if you need the after-bar bite, or you just want breakfast on Sunday morning, Omer and his crew have you covered. To get your food more quickly, you can order online first.
For a look at their menu click here. For the more fulfilling experience, I’ll see you downtown.