Although Sweetwaters (1000 Valley River Way, 541/687-0123, $19–36) is basically a fancy hotel restaurant, it is an easy and pretty tasty bet for those staying at the Valley River Inn, and its riverside outdoor deck might offer Eugene [1]’s most delightful dining experience on a warm summer night. Be sure to take a sweater—it cools down fast at night.
Vying with Sweetwaters for Eugene’s most scenic restaurant river frontage is the McMenamins’ North Bank (22 Club Rd., 541/343-5622, 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Mon.–Thurs., 11 a.m.–midnight Fri.–Sat., noon–11 p.m. Sun., $8–20). With an outdoor deck, picturesque windows overlooking the Willamette, and a moderately priced menu of quality pub grub featuring everything from eggplant sandwiches to the Communication Breakdown Burger, this is a place to experience how Oregon’s preeminent brewpub-meisters have made dining fun. Should wintertime mist obscure the river views, you’ll appreciate the penchant of the Brothers M for eccentric woodwork and wistful murals.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/oregon/the-willamette-valley/eugene