It’s a damn shame to eat a meal indoors when the weather is perfect in Eugene. We have compiled a list of our favorite places to eat outside this spring.
Campus district & South Eugene
It’s difficult to talk about outdoor dining without an ode to the patios of Rennie’s and Taylor’s. It seems that most people on campus have a preference between the two. But when it comes to the patio, it’s hard to decide. Taylor’s is best for enjoying beer and bar food, while people-watching on the busiest street in town. Rennie’s more private patio is better for intimate (or rowdy) get-togethers with friends.
“I prefer Rennie’s,” said Frannie Gollnick, a senior in the political science department. “The vibe is a little more casual and you’re less exposed to 13th.”
Falling Sky (1334 Oak Alley) has been a runner up for Eugene Weekly’s “Best of Eugene” for best place to drink in the sun, best bar grub and best burger. Enjoy the seasonal rotating menu and a cold drink on the garden patio, made up of only three long tables.
“(The patio) is in beer hall style, so chances are you’ll probably sit with a couple of people you may not know,” said Sarah Thorpe, a Falling Sky Pub employee. Get ready to eat great food and make a new friend or two.
The McMenamin’s at 1243 High St. is a refurbished house with a hell of a garden. On top of that is a killer happy hour and Monday $10 burger and beer special. The patio is more of a backyard, with the intimacy and familiarity of a friend’s house.
For breakfast, the Hideaway Bakery patio is well worth the trip past Amazon Park. Outdoor seating is almost always full of children playing in the sandbox and dogs with their coffee-guzzling owners.
Whiteaker
Everyone loves Papa’s Soul Food, though good luck getting a seat outside. The restaurant is constantly packed, so you’d be lucky to get a seat at all. If you’re under 21, Papa’s provides a refreshing glass of Kool-Aid. For the legally drunk, try one of the many Southern themed cocktails, such as the Savannah Gimlet or Georgia Peach.
Didn’t think a beer could be paired with the weather? Think again. Goodbye to wintry oatmeal stouts, hello to Ninkasi Spring Reign. Ninkasi can’t offer much for food (beside a food truck and some light snacks), but the patio is designed for enjoying the sunshine (or a warm evening) with a hoppy beer.
Downtown
Though it’s a little exposed with all the downtown foot traffic, the shared sidewalk patio of The Barn Light and Sizzle Pie at Willamette Street and Broadway is a perfect place to people-watch and relax in the sun. In addition to their normal lunch and bar menu, Barn Light has a little-known coffee shop in the morning and afternoons. And leave it up to Sizzle Pie to develop a breakfast pizza, perfect for a hangover.
The Vintage (837 Lincoln St.) is another favorite of downtown Eugene, perfect for both a classy “last first date” or just dinner with friends. Drinking specialty cocktails and “mocktails” under a terrace of grapevines will have you swooning.