Block 15 Restaurant & Brewery

8/13/08 MS: Corvallis got a real brew pub. The beer here is good and the selection varies frequently. I like the Printmasters pale. Nice sharp, crisp beer that has a good amount of hops. Very drinkable. As for the food here, it can be hit and miss. I^Òve had a few burgers that were great and some that were so-so. The biggest thing seems to be if they are overcooked. Fries are twice fried, beer batter so they are generally crisper then real fresh hand cut fries (like you get a Squirell^Òs or McMin^Òs). I^Òve had a number of other things here (fish and chips, sausage and mash, Rueben, BLT, ^Å) and most fit the bill of being standard pub fare. Not a bad thing if that^Òs what you are in the mood for. The place is low key and family friendly. Recommended.

4/15/08 TN: Having been to Block 15 numerous times I would highly recommend this LOCAL BREWERY any day. Lets start with the beer, being a home brewer for 6 years I'm grinning ear to ear having block 15. Corvallis was in need of a brewery other than Oregon trail and i don't even count Mcmenamins, their beer is terrible. Not trying to diss on Oregon trail but their selection is low. The variety and quality of beer at Block 15 is what we needed in C-town, just look at their brewery! Printmasters Pale: great beer brewed to style, good hop aroma and flavor. great citrus hop finish...Highly recommended IPA: Bitter, truly hoppy and intense. Northwest hop lovers will love this beer. Recommended Ridgeback Red: Great red beer with good hop tones and nice malt background. Being at 6.5% percent alcohol (website Block 15.com) ... hardly a mild beer. Highly recommended Stout: I'm pretty sure the brewer is medal winner in this style and everyone I know that's had it has loved it. I haven't tried it yet but i will next time! Belgian: Great malt and yeast flavor and true to style. Recommended GLO: Great session beer, crisp clean and refreshing. On the lower side of alcohol content so i can have a couple and without feeling too tipsy. Recommended These are the beers I have tried so far. The food is good, they have an amazing pulled pork sandwich. If you like smoked meats then this is a must. Great local brewery with a laid back atmosphere. I would highly recommend trying this restaurant and then write your review. Support your local businesses.

3/27/08 SG: Tried the new restaurant in town for lunch and I would give it a "recommended" rating. I had a small "BBQ styled dressing" salad with chicken and it was good, although maybe an extra piece of garlic bread would have been nice. But, it had good flavor and the greens were fresh and crisp. My lunch associate had the pulled pork sandwich (for the second time in a week there) so it must have been good the first time around too. The fries looked very good, and there were plenty of them. The place was clean, although a little cool inside. I can't wait to try the beers next time.

3/21/08 GC: Last night (the 20th) I went to Block 15 with some friends, and my wife. It was slow to start, but once our food came to us, it was good. The chalkboard tables help pass the time when you initially wait for service. Once service came, the waitress was really nice, and knowledgeable about other bars in the area. I had the lasagna and enjoyed it immensely. My wife had the fish and chips, also a great meal. The Pub nachos are made with fresh ingredients, and in no way are velvetta-craptastic, my wife, who has hated nachos since a bad experience in New Zealand, enjoyed them as much as the rest of us. My friend said the chicken sandwich was the best he had ever had. Quite the feat, he is picky in his food stuffs. My only complaint is that when wandering out of the bathroom into the game room, you walk directly in front of the dart boards. I almost had a dart thrown at me, but luckily they saw me coming. They should put up a bar to block passage in front of the dart boards. Especially being a bar, and everyone being intoxicated. All and all it was a great experience. Definitely recommended. I forgot to mention that my friend had the beer sampler, and enjoyed it as well. His girlfriend ordered the Block 15 Ice Tea, quite the stiff drink, but definitely worth the money. Our meal came to 48.25 with everything, which is pretty well priced for the area.

3/13/08 RM: Been to Block 15 three times now. The beer really is wonderful and even better since they make so much of it on location. Be ready to relax and not be in a hurry, slow service. The golden and IPA stand out as great beers. Dig the simple and understated atmosphere. Having a chalk board as a table is a nice creative twist for downtown Corvallis. McMenamins watch out because the staff service is so much better for a new restaurant/pub, they seem to care. But they need to be careful about the cold food that should be hot! Two out three times is the food has been cold. No one should eat a cold burger! Not so cool and the staff seems embarrassed about it. The last time we told them and the owner responded and for that reason I will try it a few more times. Squirrelâ^À^Ùs has the best burgers and better bar service in town for the right price. Block 15 needs to ramp up the service and work out some of the kitchen problems, then I think we will have another great place to hang out, eat and drink great beer. Recommend trying Block 15.

3/13/08 HD: I have tried this place twice in the last two weeks. I am not favorably impressed. Last week I spent $7.50 for a turkey sandwich that was nothing special; I was expecting better turkey on the sandwich, not the thin sliced deli turkey. If you order the turkey sandwich, ask them to leave the onions off, who really wants a thick slice of onion to overpower a turkey and cheese sandwich? Today I spent $6.50 for chicken tenders. The chicken tenders were fine, the fries were greasy and limp. I know some people like them that way, though. I also had a $3.00 root beer (specially brewed onsite). It was very disappointing; I think A & W and Henry Weinhard's both have better root beer. The wait staff is friendly, however both times I have had to hunt the waitress down to ask for my check after my meal. Finally, their price on growlers seems very high to me at $11 to fill during the week, $13 for IPA, and on weekends the special price is $7 / $8 for IPA. Go to the Ram in Salem; they have $4.50 growlers on weekends, and a punch card that gives you the 7th growler free.

3/12/08 DB: We went to block 15 after Rhapsody in the vineyard this weekend and even though it was very crowded, the beer was good! We had a double belgium, their IPA, and their golden. All were great. We didn't eat anything but entertained ourselves playing darts and shuffleboard.

3/7/08 KM: After anticipating the opening of Block 15 for so long, I am saddened to report it is a mediocre place to eat and drink. The atmosphere and decor are great for family dining. The wait staff friendly. The pasta dishes are OK but nothing to go on about. Pesto pasta is merely OK. The marinara sauce more like spaghetti sauce. We looked forward to drinking some great tasting beer and and were greatly disappointed. The red was too mild and the dark, while better, just didn't compare to most. All in all I would rather spend an evening at McMenamins. I would, however, rate this as suggested and intend to go back to try the burgers.

Bomb's Away Cafe

5/28/09 BB: We had bomb's away catering are [at our] company picnic and I wasn't to thrilled about having them two years in a row, i think the food should have been alot better for the price of the catering.

11/13/08 RD: One of my favorite places to eat in Corvallis is Bombs Away. It is next to a college campus and usually has a beverage special, so expect a raucous atmosphere. Items from the main menu are unexceptional Tex-Mex, although the tostadas are notable with fresh greens and corn salsa, and the Bomber nachos are popular. Look instead to the dinner specials. From there I have found some of the best prepared lamb and fish dishes in town (try the lamb shanks, if listed), and at a much lower price than places like Big River. The meals can be spicy, but can usually be prepared with a milder sauce (just ask), and on a related note, avoid the Diablo sauce unless you can stand the heat. The meats and vegetables are usually (if not always) organic and fresh. As mentioned before, there's usually a beverage special, so they are sometimes crowded (like Tuesday nights, micro-brews $2), the service is irregular, and they charge for chips and salsa even when you order dinner. In spite of that, it gets my recommendation.

7/8/08 BC: I felt like I had to give a more positive spin to Bombs Away. We go there fairly regularly, especially on Tuesdays for $2 pint night, but I have to admit that part of the allure is that it is fairly close to home. I like their wet burritos with Christmas sauce, their tofu shitake nachos and the fact that I always see people I know there. My friends enjoy their other cheap drink nights. My only complaint is that I think they serve their beer a bit too warm although they say it is the "optimum temperature". Bombs also features some good bands at night during the school year. Not the best place for music but practically the only place in Corvallis with good rockin' music and some room to dance.

And: Food is not great but a nice casual atmosphere. Suggested.

And more: Their tex mex style food comes with good seasoning and generous portions. Daily specials sheet is the place to turn to for some of the most creative food in town. Pork quesadilla is usually one of the dishes we get if we don^Òt get specials. Soups are hearty and a cup with bread or tortilla is enough for a light dinner.

And: Many good veg. options, and the food is mostly locally grown. Almost always like what I get. Recommended.

6/17/07: The smoothies are alright. The service is less than desired. If you don't mind waiting around and being asked several times what you ordered, try it. Not Suggested

Bottom's Up Cafe

The Broken Yolk

4/30/09 HD: I went to the Broken Yolk today for lunch; ordered Eggs Benny. You would think that a place that specializes in breakfast would have a clue how to poach an egg......but mine were HARD cooked, and pretty much inedible. I could have bounced it on the floor. I mentioned it to the waitress; she wanted to know if she could take my plate back and `have the cook try again'. Since I was on a limited lunch break and with two other people, I told her that I don't have time......when we got the bill, I was charged full price. I certainly didn't expect them to comp my bill, but a reduction on the price would have been appropriate, in my opinion. Lesson learned.....the other stuff looked good, but if I go back there, I definitely won't be ordering Eggs Benny again. I have to agree with the other reviews about the Eggs Benny.....black forest ham was nothing special; I prefer Canadian bacon, and the muffins should be toasted first.

8/13/08 MS: I went here with family for breakfast. It may be a while before I go back. Had the Eggs Benedict. Mostly inoffensive, though the sauce was a little funky. The ham was just run of the mill black forest. All in all an unmemorable dish that I won^Òt try again. The homefries were bad. They reminded me more of tater tots the way they had been fried (that said, my 4 year old loved ^Ñem). The only way I^Òd go here again is with family from out of town and my choices are here or one of the chains. Not Suggested.

7/8/08 BC: I agree that they are improving although the service there is always a bit "odd". One time they could not make change for a $50 bill! We've never experienced having to wait for a table and we have only gone on the weekend. We like the decor and the food is good and they try to use local organic ingredients when possible. We've only been there for breakfast and our one complaint is that they do not have real maple syrup for pancakes. We'd be willing to pay extra for a real syrup option. The potato scramble dishes are good and they give you a lot of food. I'd recommend this as a decent spot for breakfast downtown

4/1/08 WM: Broken Yolk did not have it together when they first opened. They received lots of (deserved) bad reviews and they have responded. I've been back recently and BY and Sam's are my two faves for breakfast in Corvallis. Broken Yolk definitely has the larger menu and is a little more accommodating, service has improved dramatically and wait time has decreased. Give them another chance, it's worth the trip.

Chada

China Blue

China Delight

And: Sold a while back and food is slowly declining (and it was never that great to begin with). Best Chinese food in Corvallis, but that's not saying much. Suggested.

10/16/08 SE: China Delight is my favorite Chinese restaurant, hands down. They make the best Hot and Sour soup in the state. (And yes, I've eaten lots of Chinese food elsewhere.) When I was in Corvallis more often, I ate there weekly; now I'm lucky to get there once a month, but I'll drive over there just for the soup. They still remember my standard side order was: hot and sour soup, World Peace tea (which they no longer make, unfortunately), steamed rice. Just off the top of my head, they have fantastic kung pao, excellent General Tso's chicken, and marvelous Mongolian beef. And wonderful service! They always greet me by name and ask how friends I eat with are doing. I don't know where the rest of your readers have been eating or if someone was having a bad day when they visited, but good grief, they don't deserve to be panned like that.

7/23/07 ED: China Delight has the best Chinese food in Corvallis. The service is usually good. The setting outside is absurdly pathetic with the adjacent econolodge blocking what would otherwise be a nice river view. If you like Chinese food, the setting is the worst thing about the place, which you quickly get over. The menu is large, and there are a lot of healthy options like brown rice and the vegetables are always good. The best stuff in my opinion is the Chinese food prepared without breading. Standards like fried rice and appetizers are pretty solid, too.

7/28/07 NM: Forgot that they sold the place. Went there for takeout because I can't have MSG, and Peter Leung (former owner) didn't add it. If it wasn't a Friday, and I wasn't so tired, I would have taken my order back. Since when is Fried Rice steamed rice colored with soy sauce? The ginger beef had so much soy sauce, I couldn't eat it. The kung pao chicken was the worst I've ever tried. Dumped all of it. Forgive me for not sugar-coating this. My husband & I will never go back there.

The Chippery

Cirellos

3/10/09 SL: We had a pizza taste test one evening with friends. We ordered three pizzas with the same toppings, one from each of the following restaurants: Cirello's, Woodstock's, and American Dream. Everyone agreed that Cirello's was the best. It scored high on: crust - crispy yet chewy (and I don't normally like crust); sauce - flavorful; and toppings - they don't skimp. It has something special. Overall we think it's the best pizza in town.

3/8/08 BC: Cirello's makes a great pizza! I get the Mr C where you can pick your own 5 ingredients so my fave is pesto sauce with artichoke hearts, feta, olives and sundried tomatoes. I like Curello's even better than American Dream but that may be because I do the campus Dream at lunch a but when the slices are not so fresh.

And: I absolutely agree on Cirello's, an easily overlooked storefront at 9th and Circle.  My wife and I usually order the Pizano.  If you had told me before that a broccoli, feta, garlic, and black pepper would become one of my favorite pies, I'd have called you nuts, but so it is.  Cirello's makes what I classify as a thick and sloppy pizza.  Not a deep-dish, but a relatively thick hand-tossed crust.  Still crispy on the outside, though.  Plenty of sauce and cheese.  You'll need extra napkins.  Highly recommended.

And: I've eaten most of the pizza types here as I used to work there. Good pizza if you eat in. Crust gets very soggy for the takeaway. Suggested.

And: Recommended: love their 'RJC' with extra garlic.

5/9/07: One of my favorite pizzas intown, but do not think it works to order it to go. I love Meg's Specail with 3 kinds of cheese and the salad bar with a local cold beer! Suggested for sure.

6/17/07: Best pizza I have EVER had. Highly Recommended

Clodfelters

Hamburgers are 'OK'. Definitely not the best place for a burger and beer in Corvallis, but does have sports coverage. Suggested.

Coffee Culture

11/6/08 MS: You need to add coffee culture to your list of restaurants. Their food and atmosphere is fantastic. I love the KC special - grilled cheese panini and tomato bisque soup. I don't even like tomato soup - but I can't seem to get enough of it! I recently tried a Hot Buttered Rum White Mocha as suggested by one of the staff and now I am craving them!

Creekside Coffee Cafe

11/4/08 MS: My mom and I love this place! The atmosphere is warm and welcome. The owner, Nancy is a terrific person. Great coffee, great treats - an all around relaxing place to sit and have a nice time.

3/8/08 BC: Henry would be disappointed as the two sisters who used to own it sold it. It is not as homey and friendly as it used to be but they do sell my drink (soy Oregon Chai) and since I get that to go, it does not matter much to me!)

Darrell's Restaurant

6/13/09 PL: Hi there, I just wanted to say thank you.  I am visiting Corvallis and I was craving a real down-home, slippery grease breakfast at noon.  I looked online for "Corvallis Greasy Spoon" and your site was one of the top hits on Google.  I went to Darrell's today and it was exactly what I wanted, and exactly as you described.  As a side note, I noticed that they serve Freixenet splits for $3.50 (I didn't get one because it was only noon) but I am pretty sure this is a sweet deal.  They sell those in restaurants in Southern Oregon for 6-7 bucks.  Kind of a classy kick.  Thanks again,

And: Great place for greasy diner food. If you're craving a standard US diner breakfast this is it. If not, stay away. Suggested (for what it is).

El Presidente Restaurant

And: It^Òs been many years since I've eaten here (OK, it was the Beaver hut before that and I never went there). That should say enough. Not Recommended.

El Tapatio

And: It has good chips and salsa. After that it is completely unremarkable. Not Recommended. Rating: C-.

3/8/08 BC: El Tapatio is now another El Sol de Mexico. They have always been owned by the same people. For some reason, the 9th street location has better food imho and the wait staff on Circle is never very friendly. I like El Sol's chicken mole.

And: El Tapatio is probably the most reliable Mexican restaurants in this town. You can always count on prompt, friendly service and much better than average Mexican food here. As a native Californian who has some knowledge of what good Mexican food is, El Tapatio serves at least that!

6/17/07: Great mexican food, very very poor service. If you can handle not having great service, go. I feel the food is worth it. Suggested

El Sol de Mexico

10/5/08 TR: Highly recommended for those with food allergies. My family and I visited El Sol and let them know that I was allergic to soy. They went and got their manager (a good sign) and he ended up waiting on us personally, checking every single ingredient and laying out exactly what I could and couldn't eat (no deep-fried foods, no desserts). It was a busy Friday night and they were so kind and helpful, and the food was great too

And: Not good. A bit expensive and the food is very run of the mill (or worse). Might be recommended.

And: This is one of our favorite Mexican restaurants between Corvallis and Albany. Good service, nice, relaxing atmosphere, clean, and the best chili relleno's around.

And 5/29/07: I really like El Sol. I had no idea others disliked it until i saw the review on your site. I took my friend from Mexico and he told us that this is what food tastes like in Mexico or at least the closest he has had in the States.

Enoteca Wine Bar

Emmons Meat Market

12/15/08 TB: Emmons Meat market has some of the best jerky I have ever had. Our family has been buying it from them for nearly two decades and it is incredibly yummy! We send it out for gifts to friends/family who like jerky and seem to always "hint" to us if we are getting them more around Christmas or a birthday. They have samples of all their jerky so try it out and see for yourself. I have asked the owner (original owner passed away) over the years why they haven't started selling this stuff world wide on the internet but they always tell me they are happy with just doing it the way they have been since they started. I think the sons took it over with staff working there that have been there for years and years it seems like. Must be a good sign they treat their folks well and probabally why their jerky is so darn good! We have purchased the smoke salmon (black pepper) too which is very good. They sell all sorts of other meat products that I would assume are top notch as well but highly recommend the jerky. They have it in pork, turkey, beef and buffalo with some rare occassions with other meats too. It is a little expensive but jerky in general is expensive so I don't think they are too out of line for the quality of jerky you get.

6/17/07: Amazing prices on their meat and good sandwiches. Emmons also has frozen dog bones for great prices and they always have samples of jerky and smoked salmon to try before you buy. Highly Recommended

Endzone

Evergreen

7/9/08 TB: I just found your web site the other day and I was amazed at how frequently your reviews mirrored my own impressions . I must disagree with your review of Evergreen Indian Restaurant . I find their food is exceptional both in flavor and value . The Tikka Masala is great. We usually order the Tandori mixed grill thali dinner . It feeds my wife and I with plenty left over . Their sauces are superb . I'm not a fan of Buffet so I haven't tried theirs . A gentleman who I believe is one of the owners was helpful in helping us choose various meals .

And: The Chicken Koorma was very tasty because of the light and not too spicy curry. We also enjoyed the presentation of the Chicken Tikkikabob. The Mango Lassi was SO delicious. We all had it and it was sweet and refreshing. If you don't like spice, be sure to order the Masala Dosa, which is delicious but not too spicy. Highly Recommended

Fox and Firkin

The Gables

Gathering Together Farm

8/13/08 MS: Been here for the breakfast brunch a couple of times. The food is fresh and very good. You start off with a long bar a varies ^Ñstarters^Ò with a good assortment of both sweet (little pastries, cookie like things, ^Å) and savory (smoked salmon, cheeses, stuffed mushrooms, ^Å) rounded out with fruit. After you have a selection of about six main dishes. Add to that fresh orange juice and a French press of coffee on you table and you have a good spread. I would list this as a treat for just about anyone. Highly Recommended.

Francesco's

1/21/09 BR: Really tasty gelato in a rainbow of flavors. Espresso drinks are good. The surprise was the lunch menu: somewhat higher-end flavors (e.g. Tuscan Tuna) with a changing cast of cold salads. The Panini are tasty, although sometimes come out a bit cool in the center. That said, the staff has always been more than happy to rectify the situation. Nice soups as well. The decor is a bit sparse, but evokes the Italian countryside and is quite pleasant. Check out the upstairs, complete with the burbling sounds of a fountain. Highly recommended.

Grempseys

Harrison Street Grill

12/30/08 BC: All I can say is that I cannot believe this place is still open. My mom taught me if you can't say something nice, do not say anything at all so detect silence here.

12/13/08 WD: A group of us (about 10 people) went to Harrison Street Bar and Grill for a social dinner. Luckily, there were people to talk to as it took my mind off of how long it took to get our food. We were waited on fairly quickly after arriving and ordered. That was, however, the last of any quickness during our stay. It took quite a while (at least 45 minutes) for the first meal to be served and it took another 30 minutes before the last meal was served (which, by the way, was chicken strips - why so long for chicken strips?) The food overall was below average, although my chicken was average tasting. Some of the fries were inedible and some of the plates were cold, as if they came out of the refrigerator before putting hot food on them. The beer was good though (the only reason I would return is for a beer). The atmosphere is definitely on a downward trend (I have visited this establishment off and on over the years - ever since it was Tarasco's Mexican restaurant - and it just keeps getting worse). Overall rating: Not Recommended.

9/4/08 HD: They have a new owner, and it has gone further downhill. A couple of weeks ago I went to lunch with a couple of people; two of us ordered chicken Caesar salad. We waited for about 15 minutes and the waiter came back to ask what kind of dressing we wanted with those Caesar salads....HUH? How about Caesar dressing? 10 minutes later we were still waiting, no sign of the waiter, nobody else in the restaurant, so we got up and left. Not sure if they ever brought out those salads or not.

8/13/08 MS: I ate here once for lunch. As the owner is Asian I decided to go with one of the curries. I got the chicken in yellow curry. Not good, though edible. Very bland (despite being billed as spicy). The decor looks like it trending to being a college hangout for the greek/party crowd. If you are looking for pub food or a curry you can do better in Corvallis. Not Suggested.

SC 8/30/07: Overpriced for very low-quality food, poorly prepared, some under-cooked, some over-cooked. It made us wonder why someone would invest the money, time and energy to open a new restaurant that is so far below the level of most restaurants here. We would rate this lower than most chain restaurants.

DC 8/31/07: Went here on a Monday night recently and the place was fairly empty. We were in a hurry to get to a movie and the service was very quick and friendly. I had Spicy Pork and it was unbelievable. I wasn't super impressed with the menu, but what I got was so good I will go back and have that again. My husband got Battered Halibut dinner and he said it was ok, but I gave him several bites of mine and he loved it and wants to go back for that too. Recommended for the Spicy Pork (by the way, wasn't too spicy)

Headwaters Restaurant

HT 3/14/09: This restaurant has an experienced Greek chef who puts out foods with an amazing international flair (check out their website). The offerings change frequently, and there are holiday buffets available as well. We have been back several times, and the service and food are impeccable! Last night, we would have thought we were in the big city, by the professional and attentive waiter we had. The soft background music enhanced our conversation as we lingered in our cozy booth, savoring every bite! Sign up to be on their email list to receive specials and event notifications. Highly recommended!

Hot Diggity Dog

Fireworks Restaurant and Bar

5/11/09 PS: I first reviewed this restaurant last year. Since that time, I have probably eaten there 3-4 times when visiting my daughter at OSU. It was one of my favorite places in Corvallis. My daughter is no longer at OSU and my wife and I are no longer interested in this place after our experience today. We were traveling through town and drove specifically to this place for lunch. It was mother's day and they were serving brunch and were busy. They got a break for the first error but then it when downhill fast. First we were seated, then we ordered, then we were asked to move to a smaller table. The menu was presented in 3 courses with a choice of entree. The following happened within the hour or so we were there 1) We had to ask, twice for coffee. 2) The complimentary champagne was served in a broken glass. 3) We had to ask twice for our bread course 4) We had to ask twice for our fruit course. 5) My wife's entree was not just cool but fridge cold. 6) My entree was presented as a crab cake platter. My single crab cake was the size of a silver dollar. 7) We asked for the check and the owner no less forgot to bring it. For what we had, even if it were presented well and on time, was not worth the price. I paid 26 bucks for one crab cake, some salad, a cold cinnamon roll, glass of champagne, and fruit. I have no clue how a restaurant can go from being so good to so bad, particularly in service issues. When you are busy, just remember to visit each table, check in and fix things immediately. Don't waste time prepping new glasses or cleaning up the server station. Not going back.

Here is a response from the owner of Fireworks to the above review: I have contacted this customer and sought to remedy his unhappy experience, offering him our sincere apology and explained that we were very understaffed on Mother's Day - experiencing the highest sales volume we have had in our entire 7 years, despite having cut staffing back to survive the recession. Since receiving his review, I have given the customer a full refund to his credit card, and expected a conversation in response but as of yet have not heard from him. It is unfortunate that we are not able to respond directly to our occasional unhappy customers, and if this gentleman had mentioned his displeasure at the time we certainly would have comp'ed the ticket immediately. It is also important to note that one customer's bad experience is not indicative of the whole: many customers on Sunday told us they loved their meal and are looking forward to their next visit.

1/21/09 BR: I also really wanted to like this place, but the two times we've been there we left underwhelmed (and lighter in the wallet). My biggest gripe is that the pizza came out undercooked both times I ordered it, which is pretty inexcusable when you have a wood-fired oven. They did re-make them and they came out better, but not with a thin crust rendered bubbly by the high heat. Too many toppings caused it to be a bit greasy and underdone. *sigh* Suggested, if you have quite a bit of spare cash.

Iovino's Ristorante Restaurant

7/5/09 RN: Decided to hit the bar at Iovino's on a Friday night for some cocktails, light dinners and appetizers. Four ladies met and this is what our taste buds told us. The bar is relaxing and pretty, a nice place to get caught up on the week's events. The first round of drinks was a strawberry limoncello martini, which we rated a 6 out of 10. A good rating considering the bartender never heard of the drink and was going on what one of the ladies 'thought' were the key ingredients for this particular drink. In any case, an 'A' for the bartender's effort to please 4 thirsty ladies. The best drink of the night was a lavender lemon drop - wonderful, smooth, and perfect. A good mix of sweet and sour, loved it! If you're on a quest for a good martini, definitely try this one. The worst drink was the whiskey sour made with Jim Beam which tasted like it was from a bad mix. It was hard to finish the drink and that almost never happens with this group. A sweet and sour cocktail was up next, it got a 4/10 on our charts. We asked for it to be more on the tart side and it was way too sweet! One great cocktail out of four at Iovino's was what we came up with, not a great hitting record to brag about. The two bartenders, while nice, seemed too busy for the all the people in the restaurant - it was slow for them to serve us, to get water and then our final check. We wanted dessert but could not get their attention. Darn it. The Tiramisu did sound yummy. While the ambiance of the restaurant is very cool and modern and the food was tasty, the selection of a mere 4 appetizers on the menu was disappointing, as was the lack of specials (unless there were some but were just were not informed of them). Not sure these four woman will return for cocktails soon. Who wants to have appetizers after a long week of work without great cocktails? Not us. We would recommend wine as the better (and safer) bet if you can get some service. We'll just have to try some more places to find the best cocktails and finger foods in town! It is our mission (and our pleasure sans the less than desirable cocktails and service), to serve and above all BE served.

10/5/08 HM: Good food, but service is hit or miss. I recently went there for my birthday dinner with my husband and we waited a very long time to order, then to get our food and the worst was when we had been there for two hours already and wanted to pay, it took the waiter 20 minutes to come back with our credit card! We thought maybe he had passed out in the back or something.  It was a Sunday night and not busy.  I have been there on another occasion and have had good service, so it must depend on who you get.

AW 7/22/08: My wife and I went to Iovinos a couple of weeks ago. This is our second visit to their new location. First thing, I get the feeling that I am eating in the lobby of an office building, because I am! That's a little wierd. The decor is beautiful but there appears to be a bunch of missing paintings up high. Overall a really nice looking place. There were breadcrumbs (maybe croutons?) all over the floor near the wall by the stairs but the place was very clean overall. We were seated quickly but then ignored for about 15 minutes. We did not see a single employee except the bartender. I was very close to walking out. There were about 7-8 tables (including outside) on a Friday night! Not busy at all. It's a fairly big restaurant and the upper levels were closed and dark. By the looks of it, I'm not sure they've ever been used. Once we talked to the waitress (who was very, very cool and friendly) things were getting better. The acoustics in that big lobby are boomy and while the piano player was pretty good, the sound was so loud we could not talk until we asked to be moved close to the bar. I say ditch the piano or make sure the pianist knows to tone it way down. Loud, banging ragtime is not called for during a nice Italian dinner. We ordered simple pasta dishes and the artichoke/crostini appetizer. They brought the entrees quickly but forgot the appetizer. The waitress was very apologetic and offered us a free dessert. My wife's entree was cold--which was puzzling because it came so fast and my dish was hot. The food was very good and well presented. The bill was not bad--$28 or so. I go to Iiovinos about once every 18 months. I suppose I'll go back in a year or two and see if it's any better.

3/12/08 DB: Iovinos afterward [visiting Block 15] however was completely subpar. Their service was immediate and acommodating (we had 6 people instead of our reservations for 4) however I had to call our babysitter after 2 hours because we had not yet recieved our food. We waited 2 hours from the time we ordered until we recieved our food. When the food finally arrived our pork was overdone and definitely not worth the money we paid. They did end up comping all of our appetizers and drinks but it's very fortunate that we were not more demanding or had a show to go to afterward.

Ixtapa Mexican Restaurant

Kim Hoas Restaurant

King of Falafel

8/7/07 JB: I just saw the previous review for King of Falafel (we're talking about Crystals on Monroe right) and I have to emphatically disagree. I'm not sure when Paris became the authority or originator of the falafel, and maybe if you're used to pita pit Crystal's is not for you. Anyway, their falafel sandwich is great, and its huge, all you need for a meal.

La Rockita/La Roca

1/21/09 BR: Best Mexican in town, hands down. I concur with the previous reviewer that the 9th street location is slightly better than the Western street location, although it can get pretty busy. Wonderful Al Pastor tacos, the carnitas kills (alas, probably literally, it's a heart attack on a stick - but fantastic), great salsa, and great service (at both locations). I recommend one meat soft taco with a side of beans and a side of tortillas. Roll yr own tacos and enjoy! All for under $5, if you can believe it. Highly recommended.

12/15/08 TB: I stumbled upon your site looking for coupons to go out tonight and got caught up reading some of the reviews. I would like to "Highly Recommend" LaRoca as a premier Mexican food establishment that rivals any I've been too throughout the country. For the price it is hands down a fabulous place to grab a very flavorable burrito, taco, nacho's or enchilada. We have basically stopped going to the "finer" Mexican restaurants in the area and sticking with LaRoca now. We prefer the location on 9th street the best as the cook their seems to do a slightly better job with the food prepartion than the new location in downtown. We just tried the Philomath location on our way to the coast and that too was nearly "perfect" for the chorizo taco's and super burrito with mole sauce poured over it. I have never eaten a tastier "breakfast burrito" than the chorizo burrito at LaRoco (never had good chorizo until there as well or always to scared to try it). You do need to like spicy foods on some of the meals but we are all trying out different items on the menu (which is hard to to sometimes because each thing seems so dang good hard not to want to order same thing everytime). So far nothing I have eaten there wasn't very, very, very good. The portions are large and you find yourself thinking "why in the world would I pay twice the price at a fancy restaurant for food not nearly as good?" The guys at work all go to LaRoca's at least once a week and many clients who fly in here request us to take them there when on return visits. Great flavorable food, large portions, great prices and very nice people who run these shops. Can get overcrowded during lunch but well worth the wait!

10/5/08 HM: Delicious burritos! Very friendly and fast. Best salsa in town. Highly recommended.

3/8/08 BC: They recently opened another restaurant where Grempsey's used to be. I have only eaten at their Philomath dive but I think their food is great and inexpensive, especially the chicken tamales.

Le Patissier

7/8/08 BC: They are open and even better than they were in their old location! Located in the Richie's Market area, they did a nice job of taking a crummy shopping center storefront and creating a nice cafe ambiance. Their croissants are wonderful, a bit pricey but this should not be an everyday indulgence anyhow! I am looking forward to trying one of their specialty cakes for an upcoming birthday.

Update 03/11/08: The offical word is: Their website is updated now: http://www.lepatissier.net/ Our address: 956 NW Circle Blvd. Corvallis, Oregon 97330 Our tentative opening first week in April, 2008, please call 3rd. week in March to confirm exact date

Update 02/21/08: The unofficial word is that they are going to open shop in the Richey's market area (not by Cirello's) in what was some kind of pharmacy. They have to put in a kitchen, but hope to open in March. Funny they haven't made any changes to their website, though.

Le Bistro

4/24/08 HD: Le Bistro: Have yet to be disappointed! From intimate, special dinners with my wife to larger family occasions, it has always been an exceptional experience to dine at Le Bistro. The staff is absolutely first-rate --- polite, professional --- they know their menu and their wines. We have sampled many dishes from the menu over the past couple of years, and have always been extremely pleased and satisfied with all. Hors^Ò d^Òoeuvres (lobster and seafood crepe our favorite), entrees (filets and veal always perfectly done pleasers, and every sauce has been delicious....coq au vin fantastic) and the crème brulee our favorite way to end the meal. Definitely a special occasion/very fine dining place to experience!

Local Boyz Hawaiian Cafe

12/30/08 BC: I'd like to commend them for changing to use all biodegradable to-go containers and utensils. They may not be heart smart but they are environmentally friendly!

And: In the mood for some meat? This is the place for you. Cheap, quick and guaranteed to make you sleepy after lunch. The 5a and 7a are good bets for first timers.

6/17/07: Tried it recently and the food was terrible! Low grade meat with minimal choices. This food screams clogged arteries! Not Suggested

Marzini's

New Morning Bakery

3/14/09 JA: I am appalled at the reviews written for New Morning Bakery. I am from the South and I believe that New Morning Bakery is an excellent example of casual Northwest cuisine. Everything there is well-made and uniquely tasty. Their soups are the best, and their clam chowder is the best I've ever had. I rank them highly because their breads and desserts are also the most delicious I've had. If you're unsure, try their wonderful kalamata olive bread or their peanut butter pie. I assure you--you will fall in love! As for the long lines, that's what happens when you're one of the greatest lunch spots in Corvallis!

2/8/09 KJ: Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign??? I don't feel comfortable here at all. The signs are oppressive. The only reason I ever go is because my Mom has Alzheimer's disease and she can point at the food that strikes her fancy rather than having to remember what it is called. Having said that, if the signs (and the attitude they convey) don't disturb your digestion, the pastries are quite good with one exception: their pie crusts are too greasy, as if they added a bunch of extra fat to overcome bad technique. Of course, some people may like a crust like that.

New York, New York Pizza

Nirvana Indian Restaurant

04/09 RR: a new [Ed: new-ish...see above] Indian restaurant has opened in corvallis, on 9th, south of circle. it is called Nirvana, and the food is delicious. the place is not so atmospheric, but it is clean(especially the restrooms). the lunchtime buffet is always fresh, not greasy, and very tasty. and the dinners superb. i took a friend to dinner there who has spent much time in India, and she approved!

8/13/08 MS: Eaten here once. Won^Òt be back. The food was bland and oily. I^Òve had great Indian food in Singapore and London. I^Òve had good Indian food in Portland. This isn^Òt even close. Why can you not get good Indian food in Corvallis? Not Suggested.

HJ 7/24/08: I've eaten the lunch buffet three times now at Nirvana, the new Indian Restaurant in Corvallis next-door to Bi-mart at 1945 NW 9th St, Corvallis, 738-0487. This is the spot previously occupied by Cha-Da Thai restaurant. Nirvana is GREAT! The food is really yummy, the people are nice, the atmosphere is clean and bright and cheerful, and it's always packed when I have gone. They need to start giving people napkins at the tables and not expect them to be picked up in the buffet line, but everything else about the place is great. I found the food to be just as good as Evergreen Indian Cuisine in downtown Corvallis, who set the standard pretty high. Nirvana has all the standard Indian fare-- tandoori chicken, vegetables pakora, creamy spinach with cheese chunks, salad, the yummy mint and plum and creamy cucumber sauces, and much more, plus they have a yummy bread pudding dessert too, so be sure to try that when you go.

WH 7/12/08: We enjoyed the buffet lunch yesterday (Sunday July 20, 2008) at the new Indian restaurant Nirvana on 9th Street near Circle Blvd.. We were more than happy with the food, the service and the appearance of the restaurant. In fact, we can hardly wait to go back, as a note at the bottom of the menu board states "Buffet menu changes every day." The dining room was clean and airy, with pink tablecloths and a pitcher of ice water and water goblets on the table. The waiter was very pleasant and welcoming. The lunch buffet is served seven days a week from 11 to 3. We were early and got a window table. We wasted no time in visiting the buffet. The selection is not as extensive as the large buffet served at the Evergreen Restaurant downtown, but all the food looked really good. We sampled everything, including the three delicious sauces and the dessert offerings. We loved everything. I have never been to India but the food tasted very authentic to me. It was spicy, but not too much so. Perfect! I closed my eyes and imagined I was in India. Everything was well prepared and delicious. Now, the next day, I can't stop thinking about the place. Prices for lunch and dinner are very reasonable. Highly recommended.

Mexico Lindo

1/16/08 BN: I would like to suggest upgrading the rating for Mexico Lindo from "somewhat recommended" to "recommended". Mexico Lindo, and it's sister restaurant Ixtapa in Philomath, are two of my family's favorite restaurants. Their food is fresh and tasty, their service is fast and friendly, and their prices are very reasonable. They do have some "zesty" choices if that's what you're looking for, but also offer milder dishes for those of us that appreciate things not quite so spicy.

Michael's Landing

Murphy's Tavern

[Ed Note: Wow, what a review. Even though it's "flowery" it is based on fact. Murphy's is good, but it's not fine dining. It also tends to be a younger crowd] 3/10/09 DD: Murphy's Restaurant and Lounge! If you are similar to me, you are sometimes indecisive about what to eat in Corvallis, being a small city the choices are limited and become repetitive with the franchise cookie-cutter restaurants. You have probably driven the city streets and tried every restaurant and fast food establishment, and still, you crave a satisfying meal in good company. Murphy's is the place you have been seeking. At first sight, Murphy's does not seem like an exciting and tasteful place to be. Trust me, you are wrong, take the opportunity to see what Murphy^Òs has to offer. You will find me there every day they are open. Newcomers are always welcome here. I am guessing you want to hear about the food. I personally have had nearly everything on the menu. I have not come across an appetizer, side, wrap, burger, or entre that I did not love. There are fresh and creative specials each day. The soup is fresh and different each day. The dinner menu is superb. You will find something you like with the selection they offer; they have something for all tastes. Wings, southwest eggrolls, onion rings, fries, crab dip, whipped potatoes, prawns, dessert, burgers how you want it, wraps, prime rib sandwich with au jus, daily soup, dinner salads, Mediterranean inspired pastas, fresh seafood, poultry (I suggest the chicken bombay satay), baby back ribs, rib eye steak, pork chops (the house favorite), prime rib, and much more. Do not Miss the summer barbeques! Enjoy an expanded menu on Thursdays. Enjoy the best Barbeque in town, so good at times there is standing room only; trust me I do not exaggerate. Corn bread, potatoes, vegetables, seafood, chicken, beef, pulled pork, and brisket. If you enjoy wine with your dinner, they offer an excellent selection wines including Cabernet, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Pinot Grigio, and Riesling from La Terre, Eola Hills, and Chateau St. Michelle by the glass or bottle. If you want, you can choose from the 15-20, local and imported beers and micros by the pint or bottle including Budweiser, Coors, Pabst, Widmere, Calapooia, Oakshire, Deschutes, Kona, Cascade Lakes,Fearless, Ninkasi, Guinness, Rogue, Corona, and Heineken. The bar at Murphy^Òs is the place to be. Between the shots, drinks, and laughs, you will keep coming back time and time again. If you are looking for something in particular or a seasonal beer, just ask the bar tenders, they will not do you wrong. The staff at Murphy's is dedicated to excellence in service. They take pride in how friendly, quick, precise, and fair their service is. The bartenders are the best you will ever meet. You can come and play pool (billiards), the lottery, foosball, reserve a party, trivia with prizes on Wednesdays for the sharper minds in the crowd, and enjoy sports on more than 10 televisions. Dull moments do not exist at Murphy's. You will have a great time. They are open Tuesday through Saturday; typical hours are 3:00pm to 11:00pm or Midnight. I highly recommend Murphy's to anyone who asks about the best food and atmosphere in Corvallis.

Natalia & Cristoforo's

10/5/08 HM: Yuuuummmyyyyy! Best sandwich I have had in Corvallis by far. Huge portions. Very friendly staff. Highly recommended.

Nearly Normals Gonzo Cuisine

10/1/08 ST: Not suggested for those with food allergies or wanting to keep anything out of their meal besides meat. After being diagnosed with an allergy to soy, trying to find restaurants that can accomodate my special dietary needs has been a challenge and NN's has unfortunately been one of the worst restaurants out there for me. I assumed that since the staff was so good at keeping meat out of a meal that they might be sensitive to other dietary restrictions, but sadly I was wrong. After making it very clear to the cashier that I was allergic to soy, asking him to check with the chef's (which did happen, he yelled back "is there any soy in the fakin' bakin burger?" To which someone barked back "No!") and having him guarantee me that the fakin' bakin burger had no soy, I blindly believed him and ordered. After getting sick that night I called and confirmed that there was soy in the mayonnaise, bread, chips (soy oil) and margarine used. I e-mailed them to ask the manager if she had any soy-free recommendations for me from their menu, to which she replied "We have many options, just make it very clear to the cashier that you are allergic to soy." I pressed further for specific menu items, and never heard back from her. I had already become increasingly annoyed with NN's policy of absolutely no substitutions (wasteful when you don't particularly want half a plate of plain black beans and would actually eat a side salad) and having gone in there a couple of times around 5/5:15 with my hungry, cranky, picky toddler and having them tell me that I couldn't order pasta until 5:30 - really? You can't possibly boil a pot of water 15 minutes early? Personally I am done with Nearly Normal's, which is unfortunate 'cause I really appreciate the overall idea of the restaurant and am grateful for a pure vegetarian place to eat.

3/8/08 BC: Normal's has so many great choices, it is hard to choose what to order! The food is always so fresh and the outdoor area is great in good weather. If you go for lunch arrive pre-noon as you wait in line to order before you sit down and the line can be long. Be sure to check the specials board as that is where you find the best dishes. I love the Guido's Italian (a "not-meatball" sandwich), the Tofu Potato platter and the mini shepherd's banquest a lot (salad, soup and bread)

New China Buffet

Oasis

12/30/08 BC: I love this place. Service can be slow but you are usually waited on by the owner. This is a small business and well worth your support. They have the best Zaatar and I love their cardamom tea.

8/08 RD: Went to Oasis on a weekday night in early august 2008. There was one other tabl e besides the two of us. Service was slow and unfriendly. Ordered tabouli as a n appetizer and grape leaves (which came with a salad and falafel) for an entree . The tabouli was atrocious, SWIMMING in lemon juice. I wish I was joking when I say that there was 1/4 inch pool of lemon juice on the plate. The hummus my f riend ordered was overpowered by again, lemon! Not to be left incomplete, the s alad dressing was an overpowering acidic lemon flavor, though I think they wante d to call it a vinaigrette. Maybe they got a great deal on lemons that week? W ay over priced for extremely not authentic Lebanese food. I would have serious reservations even thinking about eating there again.

And: One word, shawerma. Yum! Other than that, the falafel is good as are the stuffed grape leaves. Service can be slow. Get a beer and take your time, not a place to be in a hurry. Recommended.

And more: Chicken schwarma is wonderful! Have cravings for it sometimes.

Old World Deli

And, another point of view: Good place for a vegi sandwich (the Mighty Meatless), other than that the food is very run of the mill. Also has the downside of only serving Oregon Trail beer on tap (though I appreciate the alliance from a community perspective). Suggested.

And: My wife and I love to go to Old World Deli. Their sandwiches are a good value for the money. The chili is hearty and the soups are flavorful. We also like the atmosphere and go to many of the events held there. We especially like the Ginseng Porter. I would highly recommend them if you're looking for a reasonably-priced sandwich place.

Pavillion Restarant

Potter's Sandwiches to Go

1/21/09 BR: OK, there's no seating. There's also no better value for a sandwich to take back to work with you (or, if the weather cooperates, to the riverfront). They use quality meats (sliced on the premises), offer numerous vegetable toppings, and the sandwiches are HUGE. I'll often order a club and eat half for lunch and half for dinner. I recommend the club with all the veggies (but kraut) on whole wheat. The pastrami is killer. And the price for a soda can't be beat. Highly recommended.

Riverview Mongolian Grill

3/8/08 BC: Average Mongolian place but great if you or one of your dining companions is on a diet as the only high calorie thing is some of the sauces and you get to be in control of that!

And: Good place to go if Local Boys didn't fill you up. Seriously though, I have not been here is years. A fairly standard "Mongolian grill" (all you can eat, assemble it yourself stir fry). Suggested.

Sahalie Cellars

Sam's Station

10/5/2008 HM: good food, but poor service. I have been treated rudely by a woman who wears and apron with the name "Sam" on it (the owner?) more than once.  For example, my mom and I wanted to share an omelet and we were told there was an extra plate fee, so we asked if that meant we got extra potatoes and toast and "Sam" practically bit our heads off. She seems quite rude to the young wait staff as well. It's enough to make me feel uncomfortable and like I am inconveniencing her for eating at her establishment. I mean, if you're that annoyed to run a cafe, maybe a change in career is in order? But, some customer service and kindness could make this a great place to eat because they do have good food and the best bacon/cheddar omelet in town. Suggested, if you can overlook the rude atmosphere and be ready to wait a long time to order, get coffee, get your food, etc.

2/1/2008 ME: Sam's Station is the only place, other than the occasional Sunnyside Up, where we will eat breakfast in Corvallis. We enjoy simple breakfasts - potatoes and eggs or omelettes, usually with greek fillings, and they always meet our expectations. The prices are average or slightly higher, but the ingredients they use are worth it - good eggs and Yukon Gold potatoes - sliced fresh, not from a frozen Sysco bag like many local restaurants use. I havn't tried anything other than eggs / omelettes, but these are enough to keep me coming back. Plus, it's fun to look through the little window in the back and watch the owner baking everything! It's nice to see an owner actually working hard in his business. Strongly recommend.

And: Best breakfast in town. Generous Yukon gold potatoes with most dishes, wonderfully browned and seasoned. Breakfast IS served every morning except Monday when they take a break. Lunches, pastries and bread are also very good.

And: By far, the worse service I've ever had. I continue to go back, due to the lack of breakfast places. My girlfriend and I were in there last weekend for breakfast, it took two reminders to bring us our coffee after 20 minutes. The food is tasty, but we noticed several other tables sharing our experience. This has happened to use 80% of the time we have visited, and after the last, vowed to eat elsewhere. Not recommended.

Shanghi Wok

Sharon's Cafe

12/17/07 SC: Just wanted to throw out an update on Sharon's Cafe in South Corvallis--They've expanded into twice the space so waiting isn't a problem any more. The staff seems just as efficient, the food just as diner-food good.

Shogun Bowl

Slices Pizza

Solstice Cafe

Soup Shop

10/23/08 HD: My wife and I decided to try Soup Shop on Monroe. Soup was OK but arrived too cool, salad was OK with yummy honey mustard dressing. Price $8.75 for small soup and salad was too high in my opinion Once served, the staff turned their backs and ignored you. Cold atmosphere, I don't think we will go again.

2/9/08 NS: Highly recommended. The soup shop is clean, and fairly priced for the portions. Their price also takes into consideration that the soups are fresh and homemade. I watched a worker go through greens, leaf by leaf, and throw out the bad ones. They cook in an area clearly visible to everyone in the restaurant which shows their pride in their ingredients and methods. Their soup is ALWAYS delicious, too. The owner was there the day I ate lunch there and he was incredibly friendly to all of the customers he spoke with. His employee wasn't as friendly, but that's a common undertone in Corvallis service. All of the artwork on the walls is for sale, painted by the shop owners' wife. One nitpick: it was a sunny day (suprising! i know) and without some sort of window shades, the tables by the window were really uncomfortable. Regardless, this is a great community restaurant that embodies what Corvallis is about. I hope it's around for a long time.

Southeast Restaurant

6/12/09 BK: Over the weekend, I had a craving for green papaya salad and heading out to Southeast to find that it has been sold. It has some of the same decor but definitely a different staff and menu. Now called "Thai Chili", it is now a much more literal Thai restaurant with the typical menu items you'd expect. It was far better than Tarn Tip though and the green papaya salad was good if not exceptional (and certainly not as tasty as Southeast's). Thought you'd want the update.

4/09 CA: Magenta is a beautiful restaurant with good happy hour food, although it has small portions and and a somewhat interesting take on sticky rice. I ordered the shrimp and chicken skewers, both were really flavorful and tasty. My boyfriend ordered the steamed bun that was pretty big and also great. The sticky rice was basically a meatball covered in rice that wasn't so sticky. Drinks were strong and good but nothing in this place was overly amazing. I would recommend only going for the happy hour to just try a bunch of sample plates.

FM 4/25/08: I recently decided to try out Southeast after reading a previous review posted on the site. The atmosphere and setting was very welcoming although it was a bit too tight for my taste. The waiter had my date and i wait while our table was being cleaned and even then he failed to escort us to our table. Pretty unimpressive. Once there, the waiter took a bit too long to attend us...which i understood with the fact that there was one waiter attending practically the entire place. I did like, though, the fact that he was able to split our plate in two without any questions asked once were able to make our order. Overall, very good food (hot lemongrass curry a must try) and very inexpensive. Overall service was somewhat slow but enough room for improvement. Southeast is very recommended...for food and atmosphere.

SC 12/17/07: I'll add my "Recommended" for SouthEast in the old Magenta spot. Yummy lemon grass curry dish on the menu, wine at $3.50 a glass is a bargain.

Squirrel's

And: Yes it is a tavern, but that doesn;t mean they don't have good pub food (and if Clodfelter's and McMenamin's makes the list, it should too). Best place in town for a burger and beer. The Chicken Little (Chicken breast with shredded cabbage and hoisin sauce) is tasty as well. Cheap, good bar food. No credit cards. Highly Recommended.

And: MS 10/17/2007: Squirrel's. Squirrel's burgers are way better than average. They are the best around, and some of the best I've had anywhere. They are a hand made patty, not a pressed food service disk. They come with cheddar, Swiss or provolone. My friend says they have the best Rueben around too, although I haven't tried one cause I can't seem to order anything but the burgers. I agree that the fries would be better twice cooked, but I still like them and get them every time.

Strega

Sweet Pea's Kids Cafe

Taco's Uruapan

And: One of two Mexican places in Corvallis I really enjoy. Pop in on Friday for the soup special. Very traditional and cheap. Recommended.

Tailgater's Bar

Tarn Tip

5/16/08: AB: The food here is quite good. No, it's not 'authentic,' but it is worth trying to find a parking place for. The decor is pleasant and the service good. It can get a bit loud when they're busy, but isn't that the sign of a good restaurant? I have several friends who don't enjoy spicy food, and the menu is diverse enough that they can find something to satisfy them as well. They are also good about making adjustments to dishes as requested (leaving out the peanuts). I've enjoyed experimenting with the different meat variations they offer for some of their dishes.They have some of the best Pad Thai that I've had, in several countries. Other dishes I would recommend: black curry with squid and asparagus, Num Tok- very spicy grilled beef salad, glass noodle soup, mussman curry- chicken and potatoes with coconut milk, the grilled chicken with spicy honey sauce, and the crispy fish with chili sauce. If you are looking for a decent Thai meal, then I would High Recommend the Tarn Tip.

Terzo West Coast Italian

5/29/09 WC: Excellent food and atmosphere. Price on the high end but they give you plenty & I have not found anything That I did not like.

5/25/09 KM: We went to Terzo recently and were not disappointed. The happy hour menu is incredible. My date and I had the Calamari Fritti, which is great and the marinara sauce for dipping is incredible. The meatball sliders are tasty and quite filling on their own. For dinner I definitely would recommend the grilled chicken fettucini. Like its upstairs companion, Terzo has an awesome drink menu. The chocolate rum ball is decadent and a dessert on its own. The ambience is relaxing and quiet, allowing diners to sit back, chat, enjoy the food and a night out. I would recommend Terzo time and time again and plan to go back until I've tried the entire menu. Happy hour is brilliant and allows diners to be thrifty and expand their taste. I cannot wait to return. Between Aqua and Terzo, Corvallis finally has a few places worthy of taking visitors out to eat. These restaurants can hold their own. Just writing this makes me hungry to return.

5/09: LP: Had dinner on Friday 5/8 at Terzo. The restaurant was busy but seating made it feel not so crowded, though it had some 'loud moments'. I loved what they did with the decor, very nice. Food was quite good. We had the seafood and sausage appetizer, which was very tasty and just a little spice to it from the sausage. Also had the crab and portabello mushroom appetizer, which got high marks. Las tly, had the crab and walnut seafood tortellini, which was excellent. Was not given a wine list, so I cannot comment there (though others were getting wine). I looked at the wine list online, it could use a little expansion. Service was knowledgable and friendly, not rushed, but we also had times where we were obviously 'done' and waited longer than expected for someone to clear the table. With a certain lack of quality Italian places in Corvallis, Terzo is a very welcome addition. Would recommend, and will be back in the near future!

5/6/09 RM: Four cool Corvallis women on a mission to try out the drinks and taste some food at Terzo and this is what we thought. We sat at the bar and enjoyed conversation with the bartenders who were very friendly and professional. Overall atmosphere was good and the bar was a relaxing spot to hang. The best cocktail was the scarlet margarita. We voted, and gave it a 10. It was clean, crisp and yummy. The next drink was a lemon drop. The vote was between a 7 and 8. Recommended, but not a blow out with taste. A small cup of homemade soup and bread was also ordered to give a taste of what the menu has to offer. It was minestrone soup and not anything to write home about, sorry to say. The last thing we tried was a dessert, a classic in Italy called Tiramisu. And it blew us all away! Not too sweet, light and tasty and maybe the best Tiramisu that some of us ever had. Each bite was amazing. A hands down 10, yes! So watch out Corvallis Bars, you're going to be reviewed by some tuff- chicks on a mission to find the best cocktails.....and we'll snack our way around town.

Thanh Hien Vietnamese Restaurant

BJ 11/14/08: As of Nov 2008. Vietnamese food has been one of my staples since I first found "Vietnam restaurant" in Philadelphia's china town almost fifteen years ago. I have sought out Vietnamese food in every city I've lived in and most that I have visited. I like Vietnamese food a lot. I even like mediocre Vietnamese food. Thanh Hien is some of the worst Vietnamese food I have ever eaten. The food was bland at best and the house made sweet fish sauce was pure sugar water containing no detectable fish or even fish flavoring whatsoever. In fact, there was little spice, garnish, flavor or sauce to any of the food, period. The only exception being the lemongrass chicken which contained lemongrass flavoring and no real lemongrass and no sauce of any kind, just lemongrass flavored paste which tasted more like fruit loops. I have never had colored sugar water served on the side of a bun noodle bowl or fried spring rolls. I was disappointed to have plain plum sauce offered for my summer rolls. The meat was mostly meat byproduct and everything was assembled as though taste were an afterthought. My wife and I got three dishes and two side dishes to share hoping that we would have tasty leftovers for lunch. Everything was served quickly and it was all made fresh but the quality and flavor of the food was less than mediocre. I would only eat there again if I were starving and my only other immediate option for sustenance was McDonalds. The previous reviews raved about this place; I'm not sure what happened but they have clearly gone down hill in a big way. Thanh Hien is fast, sub-par, Vietnamese food and nothing more. The service was good and the waitress was very nice but the kudos stop there.

DJ 7/21/08: My fiance and I really like the food at Thanh Hien Vietnamese Restaurant. (If they had this restaurant in Portland, then my fiancé and I would have planned to have our rehearsal dinner here). I've never been a really picky eater, but I still never used to like Vietnamese food. But I really like the pho at Thanh Hien. I'm not sure if my taste buds changed, or if the soup is just that good! I almost always get the P6 with rice noodles (bean thread noodles are good too, but I've decided rice noodles go better with the hot soup). My fiance usually gets the B8 with no shrimp and extra chicken. I've tried a couple other Vietnamese restaurants in Beaverton, but Thanh Hien still is my favorite by far. The portions are very generous, so the prices seem fair for the amount of food you get. The service isn't very fast, so I wouldn't recommend dining in for lunch, but you can also order take out-which I've done. I'd recommend this restaurant for anyone who already knows they like Vietnamese food, or anyone who wants to try good Vietnamese food for the first time. Thanh Hien Vietnamese Restaurant: Highly Recommended.

[Ed Note: this below review seems a bit fishy, but here it is] NH 4/25/08: Just to let you know that we just had dinner at Thanh-Hien Vietnamese Restaurant last night (4/25/08) and the foods and service were excellent. I love the Chicken Pho and other meals are good as well. If you like to eat Vietnamese foods, you should check this place out, it is so good...... The restaurant is locate in the Timberhill Shopping Center near to the Starbucks and WinCo Foods. Highly recommend.

Tokyo Happy Steakhouse

2/21/09 MS: As a vegetarian I love it there! We always sit at the grill so we have the entertainment along with the dining. The vegetable delight is soooo good! Fried rice is yummy, noodles are delicious, and the veggies grilled to perfection. But who could go wrong with all that butter? I would Highly recommend this restaurant. Especially for an office party, or for entertaining out of town guests. This is a real treat for me everytime I go. And the Plum wine is my favorite.

2/9/08 KJ: I've gotten sushi, udon soup and tempura here. I eat here not infrequently, usually at lunch. For my taste, the sushi and udon soup are much better than the stuff down the street. I'd stay away from Tokyo Steakhouse's tempura though, it's not light and crispy. For that, the other guys are tops.

8/13/08 MS: Went here to try out the new place to get sushi. Have to say, it was not good. I vastly prefer Aomatsu. It may be good for steak, but if you're craving sushi or tempera, good two blocks north. Suggested.

11/19/2007 SJ: Our friends had tried Tokyo Steakhouse right after it had opened and did not have a good experience. We chalked it up to the restaurant being new and hoped that by this point they would have improved. Our night at Tokyo Steakhouse started off well enough, as our server promptly took our order and brought our soup and sapporo. Unfortunately, it all went downhill from there. The restaurant (for sushi) was not exactly crowded, as we were the only people at the sushi bar and there were four chefs behind the bar working. Yet, forty minutes later we still did not have any sushi from our order while a group seated at a table that came in after us was already midway through their meal. At that point, another man joined us at the sushi table, where he too had his order promptly taken. His experience, however, was quite different from ours. While our waitress had informed us that the bar was currently four plates behind, he was s erved a plate of sashimi within the next ten minutes. Five minutes later, he was served a plate of rolls, while we still waited for anything from our order to appear. After the table that came in after us finished and left, and the man who came in after us was served yet a third dish - we paid for what we had eaten (not much) and left. As we left, we informed the man who was thanking us for coming of our experience. He was indifferent and let us leave without even an apology. Needless to say, we will not be going back to Tokyo Happy Steakhouse again, and cannot suggest this restaurant to our friends.

JK 07/20/2007: I recently ate lunch at "Tokyo Steakhouse" aka "Tokyo Happy" with a friend. It is clearly still suffering from the kinks that come with being newly opened -- I think there is reason to hope that the service and organization will improve. The following comments apply only to the sushi, and particularly to the Nigiri sushi -- we did not sample any of the other dishes (though the person next to us ordered tempura, which looked quite good at least). The fish in the Nigiri sushi seemed to be of very poor quality. The salmon and tuna both tasted "off" -- somewhat bitter and rather fishy; the other fish were no better. If this wasn't just an bad day, they really need to find another source for their fish. Until the quality of the fish improves, I cannot recommend eating the sushi.

9/8/07 GC: Tokyo Happy has the worst idea as what a sashimi plate is. Aomatsu has two great options for their sashimi, their smaller plate has a nice selection of some of their best fish, the $32 plate has all of their best, they really try to give quality. Tokyo Happy had two types of Tuna (everyday tuna, and 'super white' which is super white, but tastes very fatty), Squid, Octopus, Salmon and Clam (I think, it was so bad I can't remember), and to top it off, Imitation Crab. Who in their right mind puts imitation crab (not even made of fish) on a sashimi plate. It was the worst Sashimi plate I have ever had, I left feeling ill. My wife's experience for the non sushi left her just as unimpressed, and the sushi side she ordered left her feeling ill as well. I do not recommend Tokyo Happy at all. The sushi restaurant the now closed 'Library' bought out was better then TH, despite its boat sushi style. Why did they close, it makes me sad.

10/12/07: HG - We'd been talking about visiting the new Tokyo Steakhouse ever since it opened and finally made a trip there for Friday night dinner.  I was pretty disappointed.  The place is bit of a cultural train wreck when it comes to décor.  It's furnished in a mixed bag of Japanese, Chinese, Southeast Asian and Western style and many details are "poorly executed" (another way of saying tacky I'm afraid).  Anyone who really cares about Japanese food and culture knows that presentation is important.  I felt that the atmosphere and serving elements were just too unrefined and confused to be appreciated or even believable as a truly Japanese restaurant. The service was friendly, and marginally acceptable for a fairly busy Friday night, but not at all remarkable.  (This was a social outing for a group of friends, so we weren't in a hurry, which was good, as the whole process took right at 2.5 hours.)  We ordered sushi and entrees from the teppanyaki menu.  The teppanyaki was okay but I've had much better.  (We sat at a regular table instead of one of the grills, so I can't comment on the quality of the teppanyaki "performance".)  The sushi I had was fine, not great, but not bad.  One member of our party commented that the ama ebi was really good. My assumption about this place is that the folks who own and run it feel they can be more successful with a Japanese restaurant rather than one of another style.  In other words, they feel justified charging a higher profit margin for Japanese food than for food of another culture.  I think this is a mistake if they are not going to make the effort to do it properly.  What I saw on my visit will only satisfy those patrons who are unfamiliar with Japanese culture and probably mislead them into believing that what they see is actually authentic when it is not. I'm sure the folks who own this business are nice people and well deserving of success.  I only hope they will take a cue from the Japanese and embark on a process of ongoing improvement of their work.  Without the quality and refinement that is a highly valued characteristic of traditional Japanese culture, their restaurant and its patrons will continue to suffer. In regard to the teppanyaki grill style of cooking...while there is some modern precedent for its association with Japanese food, it isn't truly a Japanese style of cooking in a historical sense.  Of course, this is a confusion that Tokyo Steak shares with many other establishments. -not suggested

Tommy's 4th Street Bar & Grill

And: Nothing fancy but has good size portions, mighty tasty and friendly people. Give them your phone number and they keep track of how much you spend when you reach $50, you get $5 off.

The Waterfront Grill

Woodsman

WM 4/1/08: The Woodsman in Philomath Oregon is no longer Benton County's best kept secret - word is getting out. The new owner Nang, (rhymes with "tang") has kept the old American style food such as prime rib, chicken fried steak, baked potatoes etc. The big surprise is it's also the home of the best Thai food this side of Portland! Nang's Thai menu (pages of it) includes Asparagus w/basil (your choice of meat, shrimp or tofu, our fave is beef) is sweet and perfectly balanced you can't go wrong with this choice, Other items include Mango curry (the medium is fairly spicy depending on your taste, so choose accordingly), Crispy Trout with garlic vegetables, and Ginger or Basil Duck. Nang's Pad Thai is different and superior to any other Pad Thai I've eaten. The interior has been recently remodeled with an emphasis on clean and tidy, and still features the old logger memorabilia. There is a moderate, but acceptable wine selection and bar. (Can't remember about the beer.) Children are welcome on the "family side". Prices are reasonable, servings are rather large (we often split an entree) and don't forget to try the Fried bananas with home made coconut ice cream. Bananas are wrapped in squares of dough, fried crispy, served alongside Nang's own coconut ice cream, then drizzled with honey and topped off with crushed peanuts. Feeds 2- 4! Nang often shyly checks in to see how you liked your order - she's a real sweetheart! Go!

KJ 2/7/08: The service was fast and friendly. The food was, well, just ok. We are used to fantastic Thai food (Air Thai and Thai Ginger for example). The Woodsman just isn't at the top. I tried several dishes, and the tastes were muddled, and a bit bland. Sure, we'll go back: somewhat recommended. Reasonably priced.

MS 10/17/07: The Woodsman in Philomath. Their Thai food is fantastic. They have a Thai cook. There is American food too, it's your average bar food but the Thai is the thing. We've had Pad Thai which was excellent and 1 other Thai dish with wide noodles and basil. The Pad was better, but just because the basil was a little too strong and spicy for my tastes. The portions are huge. For $7 or $8 we can get 1 order of the Thai food and the 2 of us can get at least 2, usually 3 meals out of it. They have mixed drinks but don't seem to know a lot about it. The waitress had never heard of Canadian Club. Stick with beer.

Woodstocks Pizza

And: OK pizza. Favorite for the after softball crowd. Suggested.

And: What can I say? Great pizza, lots of toppings, nice crust, both white and whole wheat.

Young's Kitchen

Zia Southwest

1/21/09: A quick clarification, Zia doesn't serve "Mexican" food, they serve traditional food from New Mexico. They do have a few similarities, but don't expect the standard bland Mexican food (El Sol, Los Dos, etc.) As a couple of reviewers have noted, they use a light hand on the seasoning, so you'll probably want to add some salt, but that's fine with me. You can always add salt, but you can't take it away if it's overdone, so best to err on the side of caution. On to the food (all-natural, and a lot of it is local, for a big thumbs up): Breakfast burritos: yummy and filling. You may have seen them at the Farmer's Market. I love the homemade tortillas. Nothing quite like `em in town. Calabacitas: Ennh. But then I've never been a squash fan. Carne adovado: wonderfully flavorful and spicy (although they have a mild version, I've never tried it). Try it in a burrito smothered in hot green chile sauce. If you like spicy, it's out of this world. Sopaipilla: a great way to end a meal, with fresh southwest fry-bread and a drizzle of honey. Sometimes the simple things are the best. Signature Cheesecake: an out-of-the-blue delight. A small slice of cheesecake (all you really need) delicately flavored with New Mexican green chile. It's intriguing and (much to my surprise) delicious, with just a hint of heat at the end. Nachos: not your standard Tex-Mex nachos, but house-fried chips topped with your choice of topping and a creamy queso sauce. They look a bit small, but definitely fill you up. Like most places, service can be a bit slow when busy, but always friendly and helpful. I haven't been in for dinner yet, but have always enjoyed my lunches there. Highly Recommended.

11/21/08: [Ed Note: this is a response from ZIA] We greatly appreciate feedback from our customers, however it is most useful when we can talk with you before you leave the restaurant. This gives us the opportunity to look at what you ordered and determine what caused you to have a bad experience, then we can correct it in the future. Most importantly, we can compensate you for your bad experience. Kathleen Marie ZIA Southwest Cuisine

11/17/08 KS: We are writing in regard to Zia, which recently began serving dinner. Dinner = Disaster! The food was not up to par and much too $$$. The tortillas and sopapillas were lukewarm at best, and the entrees were too salty and lacking any evidence of advertised green chile. We used to like the food when Zia first opened-it was high quality and New Mexico authentic (we're transplants from the Southwest)-but we will not return at dinnertime or any other time of day.

10/10/08 HD: I had tried this place when it first opened, and was not impressed. However a couple of my coworkers like it, so I tried it again today. I was disappointed.....we were there by 12:20 and they were out of the enchilada casserole, it was their special for the day, so I guess I can understand that, but if it's the special of the day, wouldn't you make extra? I had a sopapailla (spelling?) with chicken. Extremely bland; no cheese to speak of. I guess if you want cheese, you pay extra to have it smothered with chile sauce and they put cheese on top of that. The beans were the most boring I have ever had; as was the mexican rice. No flavor at all. I have never been to a Mexican restaurant that charges extra for items that I think belong on Mexican food: .50 for tomatoes; .50 for green peppers or onions, etc. I can understand charging extra for sour cream or guacamole, but not for veggies. It was also quite expensive for the portion size. I was quite disappointed and my coworkers are on their own from now on.

5/2/08 ML: I found the food at Zia's to be tasty and unique, apparently due to a style originating from Northern New Mexico. If you are looking for standard American Mexican or Tex-Mex or the usual perception of Southwest, this may not be your place. I immediately noticed the extra flavor from fresh local ingredients, which I strongly favor over bulk restaurant or supermarket ingredients, preferred by most restaurants around our country. My son and family, who lived in Northern New Mexico for years, found the style to be authentic and Zia's has quickly become their favorite restaurant along with Normals when they visit Corvallis.

1/19/08 VH: I have eaten at Zia's three times since it opened and have had a good experience each time. I recommend the sopapilla with chicken and hot green chile sauce. The burritos have excellent hand-made tortillas that are fresh and tasty! Their sopapillas are the most authentic that I have had in Oregon, if you get there at 11:30 you can eat a breakfast burrito and have a sopapilla for desert. The service is great and the owners are very friendly. This is southwestern food, which is not drowned by cheese and dripping with oil, so you can actually taste the vegetables and chilies. I highly recommend this place.

1/4/08 BP: I ate breakfast at Zia's a few weeks ago. The food was very good, and "spicy" means spicy. I like spicy and it was good enough for me. The food was definitely under salted and the portion was very small for what I was looking for. The service though was great and the food too. I'll definitely be back, even if the portions are too small.