What makes a restaurant “essential”? This question becomes a behemoth in a town like Eugene, where there are so many amazing places to eat. An essential restaurant showcases the city’s spirit, so in Eugene, the eatery must be quirky, community-focused, earthy and accessible.
But there’s more to a restaurant than that. A certain something pushes the eatery over the edge, making it an establishment where the community wouldn’t be the same without it. Maybe the owner makes rounds in the dining room, the person taking orders remembers your name or there’s one item on the menu you can’t live without. These are the things that make restaurants a cornerstone in the community and land them on this list.
Hey, Neighbor! Pizza House
Hey, Neighbor! Pizza House is serving up hot, hand-tossed neo-Neapolitan Pizza from their wood-fired oven daily at their two locations. It’s nearly impossible to go wrong when choosing a pie, but the Bombo (a pepperoni pie with ricotta and hot honey) and the Funghi are absolutely show-stopping from first bite to last. Don’t skip on appetizers, salads or dessert, either. The Classic Caesar is stuffed with a delightful amount of croutons and parmesan, and the Nutella Calzone is a deliciously decadent way to end your meal.
Details: 605 W 19th Ave. and 1621 E 19th Ave., Eugene, (541)-505-9302, https://h-n-p-h.com.
Tiger Mama
Customers will find authentic Korean food, beautiful decorations and attentive customer service at Tiger Mama. It is easy to see that owners Sunny Moon and Preston Shin have put thought and intention into every corner of their restaurant. The menu is full of lip-smacking classics like bibimbap and kimbap, along with mouth-watering cocktails. The staff at Tiger Mama go above and beyond to make sure their customers are enjoying their meals, always happy to explain menu items and recommend popular dishes to those who have never tried Korean food before…