A-C         D-K         L-N         O-P         R-S          T-Z

This list is in alphabetical order.

AB Chinese

AB is a little Chinese place that delivers! The food is middle of the road. Nothing to rave about, but it makes us happy to have food delivered right to our house. Reasonably priced and recommended. ++

Recently, while recovering from surgery, we ordered from AB Chinese and were pleasantly surprised. We wished that there was some way for us to see a menu, but since we could not we had to ask several questions on the telephone. A lady patiently answered all of the questions and offered additional suggestions for our home delivery. The young man who delivered the food was courteous and friendly. From there we were amazed at the generous and tasty servings. There was so much food, we had enough for a second meal the next day. We would recommend their fine food and home delivery. ++

• Tel: 928.6688
• Addr: 1121 Pacific Boulevard SE

Albany Brew Company

Albany Brew Company (ABC) sadly closed in 1999. The space that Albany Brew Company was in is now occupied by Toki Teriyaki. Sure Fire Design and a yogurt shop were the occupants in the interim.

Angelica's

This used to be Tarasco's, and was great under that name.

12/26/07 RL: When I went there the tamales were dried out and old. The sauce tasted like it may have been moldy. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant to anyone, and I tell everyone I know to stay away from it.

5/20/07: We just ate at Angelica's on Hill St SE. Both the food and service were excellent. Highly recommended for anyone craving tasty Mexican cuisine. We never got to the place before it changed names/(ownership?) but I doubt it has lost any of it's previous qualities and maybe even picked up a few.

• 926-1943
• 1727 Hill St SE

Bailey's Sports Bar and Grill

This establishment has opened at the location of the former Cafe Cristo. The name says it all: It's a sports bar. Nothing more, nothing less. The atmosphere with 3 TVs blaring in the restaurant area is as expected:annoying (and, not one patron was observed actually watching the TVs when we were there). Service is quite friendly, if not a bit slow in getting food to the customers. The food is mediocre at best. Sure, it's fine, but if you want pub/bar food there are better options nearby. The steak I had was OK and was cooked as I had ordered (medium rare). I can't quite put my finger on why it was not good, it might have to do with the cut. My steak came with mashed potatoes and gravy (as in biscuits and gravy type, with sausage) on top. That was new to me, and not a bad idea in principal. Problem was that the gravy tasted like it came out of a can/bag/etc. The fries and onion rings were fine, but again, not great. The cole slaw was obviously out of a can/bag/etc. There are currently no real dessert options on the menu. To sum up the review, there is nothing bad about Bailey's, but on the other hand there is nothing good or great. I just didn't feel comfortable there, and it might be my well-known bias against annoying not-watched TVs, but it could also be other aspects of the atmosphere. Of course, when the weather is nice, you can avoid the TVs by sitting outside (I didn't look, but I very much hope there are not outdoor TVs). It just didn't fit with the warm, comfortable neighborhood restaurant idea. They do get big bonus points because they do allow, and even encourage (it seems) children before 9PM. Also, it's a moot point in coming in after 9 early in the week, since they shut down the grill at 9 (even though they stay open till 10). Bailey's is a new establishment, so we'll re-review them in a month or so. We'll hold back on a rating until then. As it is now, we cannot suggest them.

Here is the scoop, straight from Bailey's (Mr. G): "Bailey's Sports Bar and Grill is located on the corner of 9th and Elm Street, just two blocks south of the Albany Hospital. We are a small, warm, and comfortable café and have a complete menu that includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner items as well as a great selection of beverages from our full bar. Breakfast includes the classics like French Toast, Country Fried Steak, and many egg specials and is served until 11:00 am. We have 8 different sandwiches and 7 different burger and brat combinations for your lunch and dinner enjoyment. We are open 7 days per week, from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm Sunday through Thursday, and 8:00 am to 2:00 am Friday and Saturday. We are a non-smoking establishment that includes our outdoor patio, weather permitting. Please come and give us a try, we think you will be pleasantly surprised."

• Tel: 926-7583
• Addr: 831 Elm St. SW

The Beanery

A locally-owned mini-chain of coffee houses. They have light food available, and it is quite good. Recommended. ++

• Tel: 812.8000
• Addr: 1852 Fescue St SE
• www.allannbroscoffee.com

Boccherini's Coffee and Tea House

Sadly, Boccherini's has closed (10/12/08). The economic downturn and burn-out are factors. We will miss them!

• Tel: 926.6703
• Addr: 208 First Avenue
• www.boccherinis.com
• Internet Access
• Live Music: Thurs OPEN MIC, Fri and Sat paid professionals

Bogey's

This is the old First Round, under new ownership. No review, please submit.

• Tel:
• Addr: First Avenue

The Buzz Saw

The Buzz Saw closed circa 2003. It was purchased and operated as Takena Pointe for a short time. Since then, it has been shuttered, caught in a legal battle. Some one in Corvallis purchased the building, and it looks like it's going to be office space. Too bad.

Cafe Cristo

The former Cafe Cristo has closed, been sold, and unfortunately being reopened as a sport's bar. The name is Bailey's Sports Bar.

And: Cafe Cristo has been sold (to the neighboring chiropractor) and is being turned into a sports bar. We were there for breakfast two weeks ago (on the last Sunday before the changeover, as it turned out) and the food and service were already much worse than we had been used to. It's a shame, because this used to be one of our favorite places to go out to breakfast.

• Tel: 926.7583
• Addr: 831 Elm St SW
• Web: www.cafecristo.com
• Open for breakfast and lunch on most days

Calapooia Brewing Co.

This is the former Oregon Trader, with different owners/brewers. All reports are great about Calapooia Brewing. The main attraction is some of the best micro-brewed beers in the Valley. Their new kitchen is up and running. They have a great reproduction of the "Squirrel's Burger" there, as well as other good food. One customer told us "The new owners put the spirit back into the place". Calapooia Brewing is now open 7 days a week. Highly Recommended.

10/23/08 KD: I go there when I'm in the mood for some really good beer. Their beer selection is extensive and covers nearly the full spectrum of beer choices. My preference is an IPA or any really "hoppy" beer which they normally have. I lived in Bend for a number of years and Calapooia, in my estimation, rivals the beers put out by Deschutes, Cascade Lakes, and Bend Brewing Co. The food is palatable especially after a few pints and the presentation is average at best. The service could use some work but I love going there for the beer.

8/21/08 MM: Food is good somewhat gourmet pub food. The beer is pretty good. It's a little irritating that this is a cash only place. They offer an atm on-site but it charges you $2, plus the hit from your own bank. Their prices aren't cheap so they should be able to afford the fees the credit card companies are charging. Tater tots...yum!

05/15/08 VL: Calapooia rocks! Awesome burgers!!! Tasted other items off of everyone's plate at our table and were outstanding as well. Great beers, too! We were there on a Saturday night and a band was playing which was very good. Definitely going back!

And: The new owners are first rate folks. Food is great. Be sure to try the Reuben, and, of course, the tator tots.

• Tel: 928.1931
• Addr: 140 Hill St NE
• Web: www.calapooiabrewing.com
• On-site micro-brewery
• Heated Outside Seating
• Children are permitted everyday of the week until 4PM. Adults (over 21) all other times.
• Darts
• Live Music

Cappriccio

Closed in 2001. See the listing for Sybaris.

Charms Of Tea

I wanted to let you know about Charms of Tea. It is downtown Albany on First Avenue. The food is really good and fresh. They have really good chicken Mulligatawny soup, great tea sandwiches, and the turkey panini is to die for! I work by this little tea shop, and I eat there all the time. And now my clients do too.

BM 9/2/07: They share the space with Aromatique and they use Amromatique's phone number - not very handy, but their portobello panini is so good it makes it a great find.

• Addr: 1st Ave.

Charlie's Rhythm and Brews - Live Coffee and Music

This establishment has cropped up on 3rd st. We stopped in there on a recent Saturday morning, and we're quite happy with the place. They have light breakfast items, like biscuits and gravy, bagels, and muffins. Of course, there is coffee. The atmosphere is comfortable and inviting. Prices are right where they should be. Serive was reasonably fast and polite. Quite recommended.

China #1 Buffet

My wife and I visited the China #1 Buffet recently and I have to say that we were disappointed. Unfortunately, the Albany China Buffet was a disappointment in all these areas. My freshly washed (and still wet) plate had food particles on it. The sushi selection was very limited and the pieces were mostly rice. I tried two of the soups. The seafood soup had no seafood flavor and the egg flower tasted like chicken stock with a little egg thrown in. The other items I tried were notable for their blandness. They had a large selection of hard ice cream (yay) but the freezer was dirty and most of the tubs of ice cream were nearly empty. Those tubs showed signs that the product had melted and refrozen. I would suggest this restaurant if you're particularly hungry and not particularly fussy about cleanliness or tasteliness. Otherwise I would suggest that you take your $10 elsewhere. Not recommended.
• Addr: 2732 Pacific Blvd SE

Chinese Kitchen

No review, please submit.

• Tel: 928-2197
• Addr: 1644 Pacific Blvd

Cooper's

No review, please submit. They recently (Sept. 2008) opened.

• Addr:

County Courthouse Diner

No review, please submit.

• Tel: 967-3877
• Addr: Fourth St SW

The Depot Restaurant

This is a classic fried seafood joint. Smallish, cozy, with an interesting decor. Very well known in the local area. As one customer said, "You can have anything you want, as long as it's fried." Which is basically true, but most fried fish plates come with a salad. Sometimes a bit on the greasy side, but far better than chain restaurant seafood. Recommended. ++

• Tel: 926.7326
• Addr: 822 Lyon St S
• Interesting Decor

Clemenza's American Italian Cafe

Clemenza's opened on June 1, 2008. They offer lunch and dinner 6 days a week (Tues through Sun). Lunch is from 11 to 2, and dinner is from 5 to 8. Clemenza's is owned by the same good folks that own Sybaris. Be advised that they do not currently take reservations for groups under 5 persons, but you can get items to go. Initial reports give this joint a thumbs up...see below.

8/26/08 [Owner's Response]: I was disappointed to read the unhappy reviews about Clemenza's on your site. It is our goal to make every guest happy, every time. We do offer two sizes of most of the main courses for both lunch and dinner, so that guests can have either a smaller or larger portion, as they choose. Our take-out boxes are made of biodegradable sugar cane (which costs twice as much as styrofoam), and we have started lining them with foil to make sure that they do not get soggy. We appreciate all feedback, both good and bad, but please let us know immediately if there is anything wrong with your meal, so we can correct the problem right away. Thank you for your patience and support as we strive to make Clemenza's a great neighborhood restaurant. Matt & Janel Bennett, Owners

8/22/08 MM: Eaten their food twice, once we sat inside and once we got it to-go. Be prepared for a wait but the food was pretty good and the prices were reasonable. Their tiramisu is delicious but for the price I'd like a bigger slice. My husband ordered one of their manicotti type dishes and should've gotten the large because the medium just wasn't enough food (thin noodle wrapped in lots of veggies and chicken, not enough chicken though). The Clemenza's salad is delicious. I ordered the baked spaghetti to go one night when we didn't want to wait for a table and it ended up being horrible. They're trying to be environmentally conscious so they use paper to-go boxes. Only problem is the box soaks up all the delicious sauce so I was left with a sauce that appeared to have been strained and a soggy box. So sad because it ruined it. [Ed note: they now line the boxes with foil to prevent this]

8/21/08 KM: I cannot recommend this restaurant. The servings are small and the sauces rather plain. Dishes that would work well as sides are served as main courses and main courses come with rather dismal sides. Ragu has more spices in its sauce and I do not consider five plain rigatoni noodles a side dish to a roasted garlic chicken breast. A recent visit was welcomed with a 45 minute wait. We did indeed go to Riley's for drinks and entertainment while we waited. Had we known we would be leaving Clemenza's hungry, we would have just stayed at Riley's. Save the wait and go to Valentino's or plan to eat at Wyatt's [ed note: not recommended] or Riley's [ed note: recommended], since you will be hanging out there anyway.

7/1/08 TS: I have eaten there twice with four different people and had a very good experience. Each time I had a different pasta and they were excellent. The wait for a table was rather long but we went to Riley's to play pool untill they called us. Unfortunately a 40 seat restaurant can't work with reservations.

6/18/08 BA: Clemenza's is a delightful addition to downtown Albany! We thoroughly enjoyed a delicious dinner and dessert during their opening weekend. The manager was wel coming and competent. We happened to have the owner as our server and she was a ttentive, efficient and very friendly. I found the restaurant to be classy and c omfortable. My meal was outstanding. I look forward to trying many of the optio ns on their complete menu. This restaurant seems to have all the pieces for suc cess in a competitive industry. With the numerous offerings on the menu, great food, beautiful interior, and friendly staff and owners, Clemenza's exceeded my high expectations!

6/15/08 GJ: My family has eaten at Clemenza twice now - once on their opening night, and again a week or so later. We are overjoyed that there is now a good, family-friendly restaurant in Albany that is more interesting than pub food, but reasonably priced. The staff is very friendly; the restaurant itself is small but warm and inviting. They were absolutely packed the second time we went, and while we got lucky and got a table for four fairly quickly, folks who came in after us had to wait a bit. We tried several different appetizers, and several different entrees, as well as the family supper menu, and were very pleased with everything, especially for the price range! Our toddler even loved the salad we got with the family supper, and I've never gotten her to eat salad before. We also tried several different desserts, and all were wonderful (the tiramisu was my favorite - creamy and just enough of a kick!). This was a niche that desperately needed filling in Albany, and we will be eating at Clemenza quite regularly in the future.

6/14/08 RT: We were excited to hear of this new Italian restaurant opening, so we tried it. First of all they would only take reservations if you are a party of 5 or more. Otherwise you take you chances. We had to hang around outside for half an hour until they called us on our cellphone. Fortunately it was nice outside. I guess if there aren't enough of you, your time doesn't matter. We finally got a table. The place is noisy with no ambience and rather austere in its decor. The menu seemed adequate and we ordered. The bread is some Costco type and you do not get butter, just a bowl of some buttery garlicy juice to dip in. The minestrone had such an overpowering tomato flavor, you can't taste anything else. The spaghetti and meatballs was the worst we had ever tasted. The sauce was mostly juice with no flavor and the meatballs were nasty bland fine textured things. Preggo Sauce would have been a blessing! The help mostly acted like it was just a job with little more enthusiasm than that for making customers feel "at home". Was offered a free dessert, but that was declined so was only charged half for the spaghetti (which was still to much in my opinion). Other dishes at our table were better, so would rate this place as Suggested with wishes for good luck. That said, we will not be back and will continue waiting for a decent Italian dining experience in this area *sigh*.

• Tel: 9263353
• Addr: 236 1st St. SW Albany, Oregon

EL Dorado

Mexican -- No review, please submit.

• Tel: 791-3198
• Addr: 1720 Pacific Blvd SW

First Care Cafe

Located inside Albany General Hospital.

BM 9/2/07: Better then you would guess and half the price you would guess. They get extra credit for serving kozy shack puddings.

First Round Tavern and Grill

The First Round is under new ownership, and the name is now "Bogey's".+

• Tel: 926.8900
• Addr: 129 First Ave W

Geary Street Cafe

No review, please submit.

• Tel: 812-5529
• Addr: 1700 Geary St SE

Ginza

This is an acceptable Japanese sushi restaurant. The sushi is fresh, the other Japanese dishes are quite good, and the portions are large. Sometimes the service is great, other times it is very slow to practically non-existent. I think the key is to be there when it is not busy (after the dinner hour). Try the green tea ice cream. Recommended. Prices are reasonable. If service was consistently good and somewhat fast, Ginza would be highly recommended! ++

8/21/08 MM: Delicious but I've only eaten there for lunch where you order at the counter so service isn't an issue. Lines aren't too bad if you get there early and the plates are large. The owners are friendly as well.

BM 9/2/07: I agree the service is sporadic, but the chef is way better than "acceptable". This guy's rice is the best in the valley; his knife technique is textbook and his presentation is in the the Japanese tradition. We just order everything "to go" over the phone and pick it up (thus avoiding service issues and screaming kids [ours, not the restaurant])

• Tel: 917.9999
• Addr: 2218 Santiam Hwy SE
• Fresh Food

The Hickory Pit

This place is good for BBQ/smoked meats. The major problem with the Hickory Pit is that all the cigarette smoke from the bar travels over to the restaurant side, so take-out is recommended. Oddly enough, Hickory Pit offers Thai food (Well, it's not odd, considering it's been owned by a Thai couple for the past two years). And, the Thai food is good, so it's worth a take-out try. Prices are quite reasonable. Suggested. +

• Tel: 924.9667
• Addr: 2200 Pacific Blvd SE

Jacopetti's Deli

They are recommended.

8/21/08 MM: WONDERFUL catering! Debbie is a gem to work with, we've never had a bad meal from her and everyone's always happy. I've only eaten in the actual shop once for breakfast and it was pretty good (and very reasonably priced). Not much for ambiance so I'll continue to use her as a caterer but probably won't eat there again

Jacopetti's Deli is a nice, out-of the-way deli. The food is wonderful and so are the desserts! What is nice is you can pick up a whole lasagna or just three pieces to take home to cook for dinner later.

• Tel: 928.6943
• Addr: 288 Hickory Rd NW

King Kone

I used to love the place as a kid!

6/4/08 MT: My favorite meal from King Kone is their Chicken Cordon Bleu sandwich. It's not what you'd call 'diet friendly', but it is sooo good. It's a chicken breast (I believe it's breaded and fried) with a slice of ham, cheese (it's a mild white cheese), lettuce, tomato and a special sauce (I think it's ranch dressing) on a sesame seed bun. It comes with really yummy krinkle fries and is only $4.50 or, if you prefer it without fries it's $4. They also have the best soft-serve ice cream and their large ice cream portion sizes are what they are known for - hence the name. My youngest really loves their strawberry cheesecake ice cream (not soft serve). The dining atmosphere isn't that great, but I would recommend ordering your food to go and taking it to one of the nearby parks.

• Tel: 926.5668
• Addr: 1515 Salem Ave

Lee's Wok

Another unfortunately bland Chinese restaurant. It is ok, but nothing exciting.

1/07 SJ: Lee's Wok.  Have to disagree on this one.  We're tend to frequent Ping's and our visit to Lee's Wok didn't change our mind.  My daughter ordered Sesame Chicken and the wife and I each had a different stir-fry type of dish, I can't remember which ones.  Unfortunately, it didn't matter much.  They were both fairly unremarkable and covered with somewhat tasteless brown sauce.  Perhaps we didn't order the right thing, but Lee's didn't really show us much.  Can't recommend it.

6/22/07: I've been eating Chinese food on the West Coast from Vancouver, B.C. to San Francisco for 35 years. At Lee's Wok, my wife and I usually order two items, which we love; Low Mein with Pork, and Dry Sauteed String Beans with Chicken. And there is a big difference between Low Mein and Chow Mein--we didn't like the Chow Mein. Occasionally we order the Sesame Beef which is also delicious. Haven't ordered much else there; Twice Cooked Pork was just OK, General Tso's was decent--but we're trying to stay away from the more fried/breaded dishes. Hot and Soup soup isn't bad, but I've never been a fan of Egg Drop Soup. We never order combo plates there or anywhere else. Place is relatively clean and nice, mildly tacky in the classic American Chinese restaurant way. Service and prices are good. Our favorite Chinese restaurant in Albany.

BM 9/2/07: Unfortunately, Chinese food is the biggest "hole" in the Albany food scene. These guys are the best in town. Their dry cooked beans are great.

• Tel: 928-9908
• Addr: 2845 Santiam Hwy SE

Linn-Benton Community College Culinary School, The Santiam Restaurant

LBCC operates several restaurants as training outlets for their culinary program. All reports come back good. One review said, "You get a great meal for a great price." Recommended. Give LBCC a ring for more details. ++

• Tel: 917-4392
• Addr: 6500 SW Pacific
• www.lbcc.cc.or.us/culinaryarts/santiam.html
• Local Educational Institution

Little Bangkok

Has closed. So has it's replacement: Thai Tip.

Loafers Bistro (aka Loafer's After Dark)

Update (May 2008): Loafers has been sold to Szabos, which is a Steakhouse/Seafood joint in Newport. Szabo's is opened on June 9th, 2008. See their listing, below for more information.

Szabo's will be keeping the Loafer's Deli open, however.

• Tel: 926.8183
• Addr: 222 Washington St SW
• There is an outside seating area that is open during appropriate weather.

Los Dos Amigos

Los Dos Amigos is very much not recommended. The food and service are sub par. There are many other good alternatives in this area. Not Recommended. Potential diners should be aware of this incident that happened several years ago. Does not bode well for Los Dos Amigos! Again, not recommended.

BS 9/20/08: I use to love going to Los Dos Amigos. It was my favorite Mexican Restaurant in Albany. My friends and I loved to meet there for margaritas and dinner. The last year I have been very disappointed and then my last visit has put me in the spot that I will not return to this restaurant. The staff is very rude, the food was mediocre, and it is still over priced. Let me explain: My mother and I had put together a party with some woman friends to meet at Los Dos. When I arrived and asked where the party was set up the Hostess pointed and said over there. When I reached the table my mom told me they did not have our reservation she had called in a month before. They did put some tables together and we were fine with that. Then they wanted to take the tables and kept asking us the whole night if we could move down so they could have the table for a party that was coming in (that never came). We said no because we still were expecting people, they were very put off by this. It took us 45 minutes to get menus, I finally flagged someone down to get a menu and they still took another 10 minutes. I understood that they were waiting for people to come in our party, but they never even checked if we wanted water or something to drink! When we finally did order and they brought the food back, 8 out of the 10 woman's plates were wrong. Five of the woman had ordered single items, not combo plates. When the combo plates were brought and the waiter was told this was not what they ordered, he told them sorry that is what you ordered and there was nothing he was going to do about it.My dinner was completely wrong. I had asked for a beef chimechanga and a chicken enchilada , I received a beef enchilada and a chicken chimechanga . One of the ladies had asked for Tapito, she never received it, the waitress had told her she would be right back with it, but we saw her moving tables instead. One of the ladies never received her drink either, that she waited for patiently. When I spoke with the manager, he never did apologize. He did give two of the ladies half off their plates. That does not make up for the other orders that were wrong or for the very, very rude service. I will not be returning to Los Dos Amigos and I will never recommend it again.

10/20/07 ZM: We moved to the Albany area in 1996. The first restaurant we went to was Los Dos Amigos. This quickly became our favorite restaurant. After the new Restuarant was built, we ate their frequently, sometimes 2 times a week! We noticed a few months ago the quality of the food started to go downhill. I had ordered a carne asada burritto that was 95% beans and rice. When I told the waitress, she quickly had them make me another. The next time I ordered the burrito, I experienced the same problem. When I went to the manager to complain, I explained to him that we had eaten at Los Dos for 11 years and that this was only the second time that I had any type of complaint. I also told him if I wanted a bean and rice burrito I would have ordered one. He didn't apologize, or even try to offer to rectify the problem. He told me he had just gotten back from Mexico, and he'd check with his staff, and then laughed at me. I walked out of that restaurant and told the waitress I wouldn't be back. We have not.

• Tel: 928-4820
• Addr: 2133 Santiam Hwy SE

Los Tequilas Mexican Restaurant

This is a good, solid restaurant. Service is friendly and fast. Food is good, well-spiced, and served hot. Chips and salsa also come with tasty beans (this is a first for me). The atmosphere is nice, with a large amount of natural houseplants hanging around. Prices are reasonable (eg: Steak Fajita is $11.25). All in all a nice experience. Recommended. ++

BJ 10/28/07: We finally tried Los Tequilas mexican restaurant and are so happy that we did. They have all of the usual restaurant offering but so much more. We tried a combination (usual dishes) and it was excellent. The star of the show was the Chicken Pipian- chunks of chicken breast served in a unique pumpkin seed sauce. Amazing. The service was quick and very friendly. They kept up on refills of drinks and asked if we needed more chips and salsa. We finished the meal by sharing the flan, which was flavored with cinnamon. It was all a great deal- the prices were remarkably low. It is now our favorite Mexican restaurant in Albany. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED +++

JS 7/13/07: We eat at Los Tequilas from time to time, but I never seem to remember to write a review. This is our family's current favorite Mexican place. I too, appreciate the bean dip that accompanies the tasty salsa with the complementary chips. I measure south of the boarder cuisine based on the quality of my two favorites: chiles rellenos and chile verde (or some variant thereof). Both are pretty decent. We've enjoyed many meals here with friends and keep coming back to this friendly place. Recommended.

• Tel: 791.3966
• Addr: 2525 Santiam Hwy

Love Love Teriyaki

My 14-year-old daughter loves it! Her favorite are the salads. ++

1/15/07 BJ: I want to say that I Love, Love Love Teriyaki! I have eaten there for a few years, and I can't get enough of it. My favorite item to get is the Love salad. The dressing on it is so addictive! Sometimes I will go there three times a week, I just call in my order and I take it to go. But the truth is, I could eat there seven days a week! The restaurant is quick, convenient, the staff is always nice, and one of my favorites places.

And: I really enjoy the food at Love Love, the spicy pork is great. But I will not go anymore. The employees are horrible. They have zero personality and lack and sort of customer service. It shouldn't be that hard to find someone that can great your customers with a smile.++

• Tel: 926.4442
• Addr: 1941 14th Ave SE

Lum Yuen Restaurant

A pilot, who likes to fly into the Lum Yuen and eat, tells us their Chinese-style food is decent, and the portions large. There is ample parking for both planes and cars. Lum Yuen is located at the south end of the Albany Airport runway. The airport code is S12, for you pilots. Suggested.

• Tel: 928-8866
• Addr: 1236 Price Rd SE
• Parking for Small Planes

Novak's Hungarian Paprikas Restaurant

Novaks Paprikas is a wonderful, locally-owned Hungarian establishment. Food is good, and service friendly. You might even have an accordion player roaming around serenading you. The atmosphere/decor is uninteresting, but on many nights the owners, Joe and "Mama" Novak, will personally greet you as they circulate through the dining room. Novaks is Recommended. Average price $18.00. ++

VL 5/15/08: Food at Novak's is delicious. Being of Eastern European descent, the food reminded me of my family's. Prices are very reasonable and service was wonderful. Definitely going back.

• Tel: 967.9488
• Addr: 2306 Heritage Way SE
• Next door to GI Joe's
• novaks-hungarianrestaurant.com

Olde Towne Cafe

Kind of a traditional "greasy-spoon," Mom-and-Pop type of place. If you like that kind of food, this is your place. According to a sign posted outside, Old Towne will be closed for awhile for renovation. (09/07)

• Tel: 928.1626
• Addr: 236 1st Ave W

One Wine Bar

One Wine Bar closed in June 2006, Wilhelm's Spirits and Eatery has opened in this location.

Orchard Cafe

Sandwiches -- No review, please submit.

• Tel: 924-1661
• Addr: 234 Lyon St

Oregon Trader Brewery

Oregon Trader has changed hands. See the Calapooia Brewing Co. listing.

The Original Breakfast

"This place is all about breakfast and only breakfast. They serve nothing else. However, what they do serve they do very, very well. Your breakfast with beverage will run anywhere from $6-10 and you will receive PLENTY ... no make that HEAPS of really good food! If you order the biscuits and gravy (I guess I'm a southern boy at heart) you'll probably want to stick to just one. Yes, I said one. These are as enormous as they are delicious. Have you ever been disappointed with an omelet because it tasted a little scorched? Do MOST breakfast houses seem to serve them that way? This one doesn't. This is the only place where I've had a perfectly cooked omelet every time, and I've sampled several of the varieties. Like hash browns? Do you like them undercooked? Do you like them crisp on the outside but mushy like mashed on the inside? Me neither! But the ones they serve here aren't like that, they're GREAT! Highly recommended if you're hungry." +++

11/24/07 TD: The wife and I visited The Original Breakfast on black Friday and we were disappointed. The portions were sufficient but not what they used to be and the prices were definitely up (nearly all items are now $9.95 and coffee is $2.00). My Belgian Waffle was cold and came with a very small cup of syrup. The "butter" was whipped margarine (the waitress assumed it was butter but the cook verified that it was margarine). My wife's omelet was good size and nicely cooked. Service is still fast and courteous.

And: This is by far the best breakfast restaurant in town. The quality of the food and the ingredients used is unmatched. They really pay attention to what they are buying and serving. They make as much of their food as they can in house. The peanut butter french toast is a thing of beauty. The corned beef hash is another highlight. Next time we are getting the biscuits and gravy- they looked awesome (and HUGE) We have never had a bad meal there. They are serving gourmet burgers now from 11-2; haven't had these yet. Ed's (the owner) enthusiasm for what they are serving is contagious. We love this place. Highly recommended.

• Tel: 928.7841
• Addr: 3225 Santiam Hwy

Ping's Garden

Pings is a below average "Chinese" restaurant. Food is bland and not fresh, but the service is good. The restaurant is quite clean as well. Not really recommended: go if you like bland.

5/15/08 VL: We were very disappointed with Ping's. The food looked and tasted like it was prepared frozen foods. It also wasn't seasoned at all....very bland. Even after adding soy and chili sauce it was all still VERY bland. The service was good and restaurant appeared clean. However, the food left very much to be desired.

"Formerly on Pacific, now on 9th. This was about the third Chinese place we tried when we moved to Albany ten years ago, and now we always return. I can't say the food is "Gourmet," you'll find pretty much the expected fare on the menu. But I must say that it has always been very well prepared and very consistent. Hot, fresh, not burned-tasting, not greasy. An extremely good value. If you order family-style you'll wind up taking home leftovers (not that there's anything wrong with that ... I love leftover Chinese). Don't be bashful about asking for more rice (either fried or steamed, comes with every entrée), they'll be happy to refill your bowl. Nicer than average atmosphere for a sit-down casual place. Recommended." ++

5/29/08 FF: I found the atmosphere pleasant, the service friendly, and the prices reasonable, but the food was pretty bland. Not really any better than AB Chinese, unless you want to sit down and be served instead of getting delivery. Suggested. +

• Tel: 967.7367
• Addr: 1206 9th Ave SE
• www.pingsgarden.com

Pizza Amore

This place is a great pizza joint. The calzone is good, as well as the pizza. The wait might be long if you go in, but the secret is to call ahead. We are lucky in having yet another great pizza joint in Albany. Highly Recommended, and not too expensive, either. +++

8/21/08 MM: Great pizza, salads and sandwiches. The pasta dinners aren't anything amazing but the best deal on the menu for sure since they include a salad with their awesome homemade dressings and garlic knots! You do have to warn them you want your grinder cold because otherwise it's going to be served hot. The garlic knots are awesome. The servers are friendly and even when crowded they seem to get the food out pretty quickly. I've also used them for catering and gotten great reviews.

And: "Okay, don't tell Tim (see Ciddicci's), but sometimes I sneak over here. The pies here are really good, maybe even better than Ciddicci's, but it's farther away and there aren't very many tables. The atmosphere is kind of marginal. It's located in the strip mall storefront that used to be El Commodore (a terrible place that I used to refer to as 'El Cuspidor'). But go there for the food! Seems like a family-run outfit, and the help is friendly. Also Highly Recommended." +++

And: We love the food here. It is one of the only Italian restaurants in town. Not only do they serve great pizza, but you can also order spaghetti, fetticine, and regular or caesar salads. They are good about calling for take-out if you want to dine at home.

And: Pizza Amore Is the best pizza house since Pachino^Òs in the mid to late seventies was here, in fact Pizza Amore is much better. We love it. Great price and fantastic food. We usually call in our order and by the time we arrive less than 15 minutes later it is fresh out of the oven and ready to go. The service is excellent and the people are great.

• Tel: 917.9000
• Addr: 2200-block of SE Santiam Hwy (next to Ginza, see above)

Pizza King

"Our 13-year-old daughter's favorite for ten years. It used to be kind of a dive, but Ruby has fixed it up. Also, the pizza sauce used to be close to inedible - way too salty and extremely heavy on the oregano. But the recipe has changed along with the restaurant décor: formerly sports-themed, now Italian bistro. I haven't tried their 'taste of Italy' entrées, but they look good, too. They still have 'family' (kids, mostly) karaoke on Saturday evenings, so bring your earplugs unless you like that sort of thing. All in all, though, they're back on my list. Recommended." ++

This restaurant has made many improvements over the years, so I suggest if you haven't gone there in awhile, give it another try. The atmosphere is a mixture of Italian decor with a family friendly playroom. Thursday and Saturday nights can get loud with family karaoke, but if you have a child or teen who likes to perform, it can be a lot of fun. The menu has a huge selection, not just pizza. I like their salads and Italian dishes. Friday nights are "Taste of Italy" nights and the finest Italian foods are served. Each night has a different menu, so it is fun to try different things. I want to stress that the Taste of Italy nights are very upscale and classy. A bonus, you can get a catered Coldstone ice cream cake from Ruby if you have a birthday or special celebration planned there.

• Tel: 926.9468
• Tel: 926-5168
• Addr: 231 Lyon St
• Web: pizzakingalbany.com/

Pop's Branding Iron

This is a 24-hour, cowboy-themed, family-style restaurant. I used to come here with my friends when we'd get off work late. They have good burgers and the food is well priced. Don't come here expecting a formal place by any means. I don't really want to call it this, but the only other description I can think of is "greasy spoon." Suggested. +

• Tel: 926.5755
• Addr: 901 Pacific Blvd SE

Riverview Mongolian Grill

A less-than-average, unexciting Mongolian grill. Not Recommended.

7/13/08 GJ: Not recommended! I have NEVER been as disappointed as I was here. The price of the meal was a SHOCK! I was expecting what I pay in Portland and Gresham at the Mongolian Grills, and the cost was 40% higher than what I pay there. Not clean. I had to ask twice for the table to be wiped down. Food under the serving area, and spills along the dishes. I had to ask for rice, never was given the crepes. I was given water, but never tea. I had gone to celebrate an occasion and was ready to spend money, but I didn't even leave a tip, since I had almost no service. And the waitress only had one other table besides mine. I will not be giving ANY recommendations to any friends, and will not ever go back.

6/27/08 JT: We aren't from Albany, but stopped in at the Riverview Mongollian Grill and I was surprised at the total of my bill for my 3 kids and I. I asked the waitress about the cost of each meal because I hadn't see any prices posted and she said the menus were on the table. Except when she looked to her right, only one table of the four had a menu. I told her she should tell people how much the meals are and the additional costs to go back and she said they had been there 10 years and can't tell everyone. No apologies, nothing. It wasn't so much about the money, but the service that was upsetting.

• Tel: 791.4784
• Addr: 2125 Pacific Blvd SW

Roger's Restaurant

We have been checking out local greasy spoons, looking for Albany's best comfort food. Unfortunately Rogers wasn't it, not even close. I had the pot roast special with a baked potato (because the mashed, my favorite, was instant). The potato appeared to have been in the warmer for 6 hours so it was pretty solid and the gravy was definitely out of a can, no doubt a very large can. The commercial roll came with whipped margarine (Illegal in NY). The canned corn was okay and the bean soup was quite tasty. My partner's 1/2 chef salad was nearly all iceberg lettuce. The cheese was pasteurized something. The total of the toppings made up about 10% of the salad. Definitely not a place we'd return to. (So far, the Branding Iron is our favorite in this category.)

2/24/08 PM: Oh, and to add a comment to your review of Roger's, I've only ever eaten breakfast foods there, and their breakfasts are greasy but pretty good. I've never tried it for lunch or dinner and I'm in no hurry to, but I'd recommend the breakfasts.

• Tel: 926-6717
• Addr: 2165 Pacific Blvd SE

Sam City

Sam City is, in a word OK. The service is friendly, if not fast. Prices are fine. Food is really so-so. It's not bad, but it's not amazing, either. It's a funky (or as they call "fusion") menu, that ranges from Pho to Gyoza to Fish and Chips. We were there for dinner, but I hear it's better for lunch. Again, Sam City gets a so-so rating.

10/18/08 RK: Have eaten at Sam City a couple of times now, and it's very good with nicely varied menu. The Pho is excellent and the other dishes we've tried have also been delicious. We'll definitely go back, and often. I only wish I could get a Vietnamese lemonade somewhere around here. Recommended!

• Tel: 928-6180
• Addr: 2180 Pacific Blvd SE

Shawn's on first

Shawn's has closed their doors permanently circa Labor Day weekend 2008.

• Tel: 928.2829
• Addr: 119 First St.

Sidekick's

"We go here semi-frequently for cake and coffee. It's really the only good cake place in town. (Apologies to Boccherini's, who usually have a couple of cakes in the front case, too.) They have a good variety, and they are usually fresh and delicious. They have a variety of other baked goods, as well. Coffee and espresso drinks, nice big cinnamon rolls, scones, other morning goodies. They have some outside seating, and we avail ourselves of it when the weather is nice. Located near the Amtrak depot and adjacent to the Depot Restaurant. Recommended." ++

"Sidekicks also has great lunches! They have salads, sandwiches, and wraps. I love Tami's chicken Caesar salad! I hear their soups are good too."

• Tel: 967.7558
• Addr: 832 Lyon St

Shirley May's

Rumor has it they have great, affordable burgers. Not really in Albany; it is in Cottonwoods.

• Tel: 928.9662
• Addr: 36065 Highway 20

Smokehouse Cafe

The Izzy's owned Smokehouse Cafe has closed (Sept 2008).

• Tel:
• Addr: In the North Albany Shopping Center near Ray's Food Place

Spice & Ice Asian Grill & Gelato

Food is good and definitely fresh. Would like to have larger servings though. The gelato is good but they often seem to be out of a choc. flavor which I would guess is because it's popular but I don't usually find something else I'm interested in.

And: Spice and Ice is a great addition to Albany. The Mandarin Chicken is amazing. The employees are great and are very helpful. I had something I didn't like, and they were great about making the situation better. The Gelato was great too.

And: I've eaten there 3 times. Each time has been very good and timely. Could be more spicey and this coming from someone who does not like hot food.

• Tel:
• Addr: Next to Ray's Food Place in North Albany

Sweet Waters Family Restaurant

7/22/07 KS: Sweetwaters is a quiet atmosphere--traditional type restaurant. Breakfast- lunch -dinner. We have always had great service. A large menu. What I like best is the salad bar. The salad bar has a variety of salads to choose from. My favorite is the broccoli salad. Salad bar comes with your dinner. The usual customers in the evening is seniors because of the quiet atmosphere. Their pies are homemade. Prices are real reasonable.

• Tel: 812.9222
• Addr: 2830 Santiam Hwy

Szabo's Steakhouse and Seafood

This restaurant opened on June 1st 4th 9th, 2008 in the former location of Loafer's After Dark. Szabo's also has a location in Newport, OR. Their menu is large, and quite pub-like. There is truly something on the menu for everyone. However, it's a shame that they tout their "5 big screen TVs". Yuck. We will not be going there, so please, someone that can stand blaring unwatched TVs send in a review when they open. Albany *does not need* another sports bar or more eating establishments with annoying TVs! Once you get past all the TVs that no one appears to be watching, it's fine. The service is good and fast, and the food is pretty much the same as Riley's/Wyatt's/Calapooia, although I think the fish and chips are better at Riley's. The deserts were better than normal, with the key lime pie being good. The prices seemed to be quite a bit higher than the local norm. This may be due to the fact that the first Szabo's is in Newport, where most of the business is probably tourist trade. The Albany market is quite different, so I'd expect Szabo's prices to go down a bit if they are to survive. It's also important to point out that they have different lunch and dinner menus. We did meet the owner, and he's a nice guy. Finally, we give them a ho-hum pub-food nothing special rating.

10/7/08: We decided to give Szabo's a second try. It happened that we stopped in on the 16oz steak special night, so it was fairly busy. We were greeted immediately when we walked in by the owner, and were seated. After then, the waitress tended to ingore us...however, she did get drinks in our hands quickly. Since I am very wary of 16oz steaks for $10, I almost didn't get the special. It was not as bad as you would expect. They had all the annoying TVs tuned to something different. What gave me a chuckle is that one was turned to an infomercial. Come on, if you have to show that, just turn it off!! And, it's awful loud in there, with "stone" floors, and no acoustic dampening materials in the ceiling. So, another agreed ho-hum rating.

9/8/08 KJ: We ate at Szabo's tonight. The food was ok. Like above, the unwatched TVs were quite annoying. Please turn them off when no one is watching, and we might be back. Not really recommended.

8/21/08 MM: Loafer's Deli: So sad, this was my favorite sandwich shop in Albany. We went there for lunch today. The new owners decided to keep the deli but they aren't making their own bread. So basically you pay the same amount for a much smaller sandwich on regular store bought bread...I could do that at home. I won't be going back. At the very least with the smaller sandwiches they should be including some chips or pretzels on the side or lowering the price.

Taqueria Alonzo

"My husband hates this place, but I think it's okay. A little bland, but convenient, friendly, and reasonably-priced." No Longer Suggested, see below. -

8/22/08 MM: We love their burrito's. I have noticed they put a larger hold on your card then the bill but waiting a few days has always made it go to the correct amount. The burritos are large and filling and their salsas are delicious!

3/1/07: Taqueria Alonzo is in downtown Albany, Oregon. We loved the food, which is fair-priced Tex/Mex style, and the service would be perfect except for one BIG flaw: If you pay with a debit or credit card, it appears they are tacking on a little extra to the tip line or the total line. Their credit card machine is one that prints TWO copies (not carbon copies), where you fill out one for them, then you have to refill out another for your own records. We started noticing when we'd go to balance our checkbooks that the amount we paid for them was a few bucks higher. At first we thought, our bad, we must have tipped more than we remembered. Then we started paying attention to it and found that it was $3 bucks here, $5 bucks there...no matter how blatantly clear we were in writing out the numbers on the ticket. I talked to the manager who pretended not to understand me, but then he offered to refund my money. I tried explaining that this was a matter of ETHICS, not a few dollars; I do not take kindly to this. He was blasé about the whole thing. We tried not eating there for a few months, then going back and only using cash. Then I decided to give them another chance. Guess what? Same thing happened. It looked like my total line had been doctored to give somebody there a little extra. It looks like they do it by either punching in the upped numbers into the computer or by changing a 2 into a 3, etc. (reminds me of what some kids with bad grades used to try doing to report cards). What's really insulting to me is that I used to waitress and I believe in always tipping well. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me... We've stopped eating there altogether.

6/21/07: I have loved Taqueria Alonzo for years. The food is amazing and wonderful...very authentic, real Mexican food, not greasy stuff like most Mexican Restaurants. I have always had good service. Highly recommended. It will become a favorite of yours if you go. The salsa is freshly made, chunky, not liquidy mix, and is amazing. Check it out!

9/16/07 LM: Decent burritos and chips, I would recommend, good prices. I have had the issue the previous poster mentions with regards to credit card usage but it seems to relate more to their machine putting a 'hold' on more money than the bill is for tips. Each time I have waited a few more days before saying anything then it shows up properly on my bank account. Keep in mind the first number could be an authorization. [Ed note: this was not the case in the above incident, TA did charge them more than they signed for.]

I've only eaten there once but the taco's al pastor were the best I've ever had. Mostly meat, and lots of it. 2 tacos with chips and salsa were $4.40, and I was really full. The chips were deep fried tortillas and were good. They had 3 salsas and I tried 2 of them. They were just ok.

• Tel: 812.1311
• Addr: 250 Broadalbin SW

Tarasco's

Now doing business as Angelica's. Tarasco's was excellent, if a bit spendy for a Mexican restaurant. We're not sure if the name change reflects a change in management or not.

• Tel: 926-1943
• Addr: 1727 Hill St SE

Thai Tip

Thai Tip was damaged (destroyed?) in a 2006 fire. It most likely *will not* repoen, which is too bad because we really loved the place. There was going to be another Thai restaurant opening several doors down, but that deal did not go through. Too bad.

• Tel: 924.0370
• Addr: 222 1st Ave West
• Take-out available

Toki Teriyaki

Just what you would expect from a lunch-oriented teriyaki place. The flavors are good, the portions are plentiful, and the prices are reasonable. A decent place for a fast lunch. Recommended. ++

• Tel: 926.5138
• Addr: 300 2nd Ave SW

Tom Tom Restaurant and Lounge

Your usual greasy spoon. It seem to cater towards truckers and the like. I ate there years ago, but have no recent experience.

• 320 Airport Road SE
• 924-5679
• www.tomtomrestaurant.com

Venetian Cafe (in the Venetian Theatre)

The Venetian Cafe is a great breakfast/lunch cafe. The grinder is great. Their half portion sandwiches are a bit small for the price, but quite tasty. At the VC, the atmospere is great. The Cafe is operated by the Mennonite Church, which owns the building. Recommended.

•1st and Broadalbin Aves. in Albany
• OPen 7AM to 2PM

Wilhelm's Spirits and Eatery

Wilhelms restaurant is now open (2/6/07). Please keep in mind that Wilhelm's DOES NOT ALLOW CHILDREN. We don't want any families to be disappointed. They are open from 11 AM to 2 PM every day. Unfortunately, the restaurant allows smoking. Due to the cigarette factor, we can only give this establishment a rating of Not Recommended (But, with the new state law going into effect in 2009 the smoking problem will be solved).

And: I have been going to Wilhelms and it is great!! The food is very good and great portions. Decent pricing and super service!! I don't enjoy the smoking but it seems well ventilated and I don't go out smelling like an ash tray. Try it, I think you will be pleased.

9/16/07 LM: I've only been there for dinner. As long as the people aren't smoking it's decent. Typical pub food, huge plates of crinkle fries. Drinks weren't bad. Prices were reasonable.

• Tel: 926-7001
• Addr: Next to Wendy's on Pacific

The Wine Depot

The Wine Depot is a great place to go grab a sandwich, salad, and a glass of wine. In other words, a great place to find an excellent lunch. They are also open for dinner. The main focus is the moderate selection of wines (bottled) for purchase. They also have wine (and beer) available by the glass. The Wine Depot will also cater lunches and other events. We have had them cater an event for the past two years, and have been very pleased. Matt and Marsha, The Wine Depot's current owners, used to operate the Capriccio Restaurant. Recommended. ++

8/21/08 MM: Wine Depot: Used to be my second favorite sandwich spot but it's moved to the top of the list! They're always busy and the sandwiches seem a little pricey for their size but they're good. We often use them for catering at work...not nearly as good (the sandwich catering is good...their hot meals...not so much).

This is one of my favorite places to meet friends for lunch. The soup, sandwiches, and salads are topnotch. They also have a huge wine selection there that you can buy as a gift or drink there. I haven't been there in the evenings, but I understand they have live music there. I also heard they have wine tastings sometimes, which I would love to go to sometime.

9/16/07 LM: Also good sandwiches but much smaller than Loafers for the same, or more. Plus I don't believe they make their own bread. Recommended

• Tel: 967.9499
• Addr: 300 2nd Ave SW
• Located in Two Rivers Market
• www.winedepotdeli.com
• Moderate wine selection

Valentino's Pizzeria

This is a new pizza joint that has recently opened at the "Ray's" shopping center in North Albany.

5/12/08 OC: I have eaten at Valentino's on several occasions now. I love the atmosphere, it is very cozy. The service is spotty in my opinion. I had a drink that needed a refill, I placed it at the edge of my table and when they delivered my food they never refilled my drink. I had to go up to the counter to get a refill. Not a make or break situation that would keep me from coming back but I assume they are still figuring it all out. The food is good especially the pizza. The crust is chewy and kind of dense and has basil and oregano baked in. It is not like any other kind of crust I have seen and it is great. I would highly recommend getting the pesto sauce, roasted garlic, grilled chicken, onions and mushrooms if you like that, it was absolutely delicious. I would only say they need to add some salt to the pizza crust or somewhere. It lacks just that little extra bit of taste that comes from salt for me anyway. Their salads are also tasty. They use mixed greens tossed with black olives, parmesan and tomatoes. I also have tried the lasagna which was very well made using high quality ingredients. There is a lot of ricotta cheese in the lasagna vs. stringy mozarella so it would depend on your taste whether you would like the lasagna. The food is higher priced than other pizza/Italian restaurants in Albany but the quality is very good and the food very fresh. I would definitely recommend Valentino's and I have done so on many occasions.

4/20/08 CM: We recently went to Valentino's Pizza. The ambiance was very nice. It is definitely not a place for little kids, but if they are gone, a great place for conversation. The pizza was good, but my complaint was what I paid for what I received. The medium siza is comperable to a frozen pizza, but will run you upwards of $14.00. Again, the taste was good, but just not sure the $14 was worth it. I was suggest it, but PizzAmore and Ciddicis are still top dogs in Albany.

3/14/08 SJ: The wife and I made our second visit to Valentino's. The first time was on their second day in business, which was a little disorganized, so we wanted to return after a reasonable settling-in time. The atmosphere is somewhat bistro-like and subdued. It's the antethesis of someplace like Papa's or Pizza King (both noisy and full of kids). We ordered the Valentino, which was great. For my taste, the crust could have used a little salt - I have the same slight criticism of American Dream, which I also otherwise love. This being local to North Albany, we unsurprisningly ran into a couple of our neighbors and dined with them. They were similarly impressed. I should add that Valentino's also has pastas and calzone on their menu, and a selection of wines. Recommended ++

• Tel: 541.928.6229
• Addr: 641 NW Hickory #160 (North Albany Shopping Center)
• Web: None

Wyatt's

Wyatt's is another self-described "brew pub". They have separate bar and restaurant areas. Wyatt's did have improved quality of food and service until recently. This past improvement may have had to do with a partial ownership change. After the change, we have had several enjoyable meals there, but the quality and service is taking a dive again (Oct. 2008). On a recent visit, the restaurant was not busy, and it took almost 15 minutes to get a beer. Our food took at least 35 minutes, and it was sub-par. The roll on my "French Dip" was stale, and the meat dry and the service was almost non-existant even though they appeared to be sufficiently staffed. Their portions are a bit smaller than their closest competitor (Riley's), and the prices a bit higher. Not recommended.

• Tel: 917.3727
• Addr: 211 1st Ave W
• Web: www.wyattseatery.com/
• The bar is kind of a sports bar, unfortunately

Yaquina Bay

"I ate lunch at Yaquina Bay a couple of times with colleagues. We all had lunch salads, which were large and fresh. Service was ok, and prices were reasonable. Atmosphere and menu choices are aged and not creative. Smoke from the bar might be an issue. Not recommended." +

6/23/08 HD: My husband & I went to Yaquina Bay Friday evening (6/20/08). We were seated in the garden room with one other table. Our waitress must have been working lots of tables that couldn't see that evening, as she was not very attentive to anything. I had to ask for more water....twice. Mid meal my husband asked for a second beer. At the end of the meal, he still did not have it; she came over and apologized and said she would go get it (even though it is obvious that we are done eating; my purse is out, my wallet is out, I'm waiting for the check). We told her not to bother, we are ready to go. I ordered a crab melt. I have NEVER had a crab melt like that; it said cheddar cheese melted on top. The menu didn't say a word about cheese sauce. It came covered in a velveeta like cheese substance that was rubbery and lousy. The crab came out of a can. My husband had a captain's plate, for the price, he was disappointed. I won't be eating there again.

2/2/2008 SJ: Visited Yaquina Bay for dinner on 2/2/08 with my wife and daughter.  Remember the 80's, mauve on everything, bentwood chairs, indoor awnings?  It's a flashback!  Contrary to the name of the place, think family restaurant.  You'll be closer.  While there are certainly some seafood features to be had, it's really a pretty typical American middle of the road menu.  I had the House Special Sauté', featuring fish, prawns, crab, and scallops.  It was ... okay.  It comes in one of those oblong casserole dishes on a plate next to some zucchini, green beans, and onion.  There was, to be fair, a reasonable amount of seafood on the plate.  But on the whole, it was fairly unremarkable.  It all tasted kind of the same, the way it tends to in a cioppino or other type of seafood stew.  But it was decent tasting.  The salad was what I describe as "salad bar" style - a little of everything in the garden (and some from the canned food aisle).  My wife had the teriyaki sampler, which was a skewer each of shrimp, chicken, and beef.  It looked a little over-sauced to me, but she said it was good.  Her rice came in one of those little round bowls like you see in diners and buffets.  Service was slow.  Our table was near the entrance and close enough to the bar that we were able to appreciate the associated cigarette fumes throughout the meal.  But I'm picky and it wasn't all that bad overall.  I won't be hurrying back, but on the whole I could still give it at least one star so - suggested +.

• Tel: 967.8420
• Tel: 926.8528
• Addr: 325 Airport Rd SE