On the Fly: Bodhi Cafe nears opening, Fitti’s teases south Eugene restaurant

A new Haitian food cart in west Eugene promises silky, meaty stews, crackling pork over fried plantains and other beloved dishes from the Caribbean country. 

Le Gouté (760 Chambers St.) opens Oct. 20 and will operate from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday. 

Owner Marco Laguerre, who was born in Haiti, learned to cook from his grandmother; he was her helper in the kitchen. Instead of recipes, his dishes are based on everything she taught him.

“Back home, food is a way of love,” Laguerre said. “My grandma didn’t have much to give us, but she always made sure every Sunday we had a decent meal.”

He brought those lessons to Lane County with national dishes such as griot, marinated and fried pork cut into bite-sized pieces. Laguerre serves it with fried plantains and a crunchy pickled relish called pikliz. The tangy, slightly spicy condiment, similar to Salvadoran curtido, uplifts the hearty pork. 

The legim, a thick meat-and-vegetable stew, is a must-order. Laguerre cooks it for 12 hours, resulting in meltingly tender pork and veggies — eggplant, spinach, carrots, cabbage, peppers and aromatics — that meld into a deeply savory, comforting spoonful. For the perfect bite, scoop up the stew with a piece of plantain and add pikliz.

Laguerre sees his food cart as a way to give back to his community, describing Haitian food as “delicious, love, goodness, energy.”

“I can turn vegetables into stew,” he added. “It’s magic.”

Expect more dishes, including vegan options, as Laguerre grows his business.

New mobile eateries

Pyre Nashville Hot Chicken expands to Springfield

The Eugene takeaway eatery Pyre is bringing its popular Nashville-style hot chicken to Springfield (426 Main St.), joining the food pod next to The Monkey’s Paw. Follow Pyre on Main’s Facebook page for current hours. 

The Springfield food cart opened Oct. 8, and Pyre’s Eugene location has operated for five years.

Choose between battered and fried tender baskets, thighs, wings and sandwiches. It’s called Nashville Hot, but Pyre lets you choose your spice level from “Southern” (no heat) to “XX-Hot.” 

If your tongue does happen to catch fire, then crinkle cut fries, potato salad, cole slaw and other sides may provide relief, or at least a distraction. 

We’re excited to try Pyre on Main during our next karaoke night at The Monkey’s Paw. 

Pyre’s OG takeaway shop in Eugene is located at 102 Thomason Lane, just off River Road.

New poke cart on River Road

The name of Eugene’s newest poke cart gets right to the point: Nori Rice Poke serves up its namesake in a bowl, showcasing fresh, Hawaiian-style marinated fish. The cart also offers a vegetarian bowl, smoothies, juices and other healthy dishes on the go.

Catch Nori Rice Poke from 1 to 6 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday, at 295 River Road. Look for the blue cart with whales, clownfish, mermaids and other marine creatures. 

Bao Family opens at former Viking location

A new-ish Chinese restaurant took over the former Viking Brewing location at 2490 Willamette St. in Eugene. 

Bao Family stuffs its traditional steamed buns (bao) with curry chicken, curry beef, pork and crab roe and other savory fillings. 

Also on the menu: classic sweet-and-sour spare ribs, wonton soup (chicken, veggie, shrimp or pork), dumplings, dan dan noodles and other comforting fare.

The restaurant is open for dine-in or takeout daily from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

New and upcoming brick-and-mortars

Bodhi Cafe nears Eugene opening

Bodhi Cafe & Bakery, a Corvallis-based eatery known for its artisanal breads and scratch-made pastries, is making its Eugene debut soon, with a soft opening planned for 9 a.m., Oct. 19.

The spacious downtown cafe (810 Willamette St.) will then operate from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekends. 

Fans of the Corvallis bakery will be pleased to know the new Eugene location mirrors the original. Expect quick service, a full coffee program, all-day breakfast, rotating pastries, smoothies and acai bowls, pressed sandwiches on sourdough and some heartier fare such as biscuits and gravy.

Owner Cody Utzman told Lookout the slow-fermented sourdough breads will be made at Bodhi’s main artisan bakery in Albany. Bakers at the Eugene location will make all the muffins, buns and other morning pastries.

We have our eye on the chai lemonade, Mexican mocha and Bodhi’s tuna melt, with Oregon albacore, Tillamook cheddar and kalamata olive spread. 

Farmers market goers, worry not: Bodhi will still vend at the Lane County Farmers Market on Tuesdays and Saturdays in Eugene and Sundays in Springfield. 

Bodhi’s Eugene location was the original home of Bagel Sphere (now at 4089 W. 11th Ave.) for 30 years until last winter. 

Lookout Eugene-Springfield will have a full story on Bodhi Cafe & Bakery’s expansion soon. 

Fitti’s teases south Eugene restaurant

Fitti’s, a Detroit-style pizzeria, recently announced that its full-service restaurant and bar will open in south Eugene by the end of the year.

The restaurant will be located on Oak Street, at the former home of Sushi Domo.

The Fittipaldi family first shared the news on Instagram in July, stating the new eatery will include an “expanded culinary experience, a curated cocktail (and mocktail) bar, an intimate Chef’s Table, seasonal patio dining, and a beautiful new space designed for gathering with friends and family.”

The pizzeria opened last October in an industrial building in west Eugene, offering takeout and delivery.

Seasoned takes over Bo & Vine on Pearl Street

After serving up gourmet burgers and other gastropub fare out of Claim 52 for more than a year, owners Felicia and Garrett Kirsch opened their new restaurant, Seasoned (941 Pearl St.), last month in downtown Eugene. 

The couple aims for a fine dining experience, sans any stuffiness, and a menu that celebrates the produce, meats, wines and beers of their restaurant’s local purveyors. 

Enjoy wagyu filet-mignon with Benton-Lane’s pinot noir, a risotto with rotating vegetables based on the season (the dish can be made vegan, too), bleu cheese dip (a family recipe, elevated) on grilled bread.

And yes, you can still get a gourmet burger: a half-pound of local, house-ground beef served on a sesame bun with 16-month aged gouda. 

Lookout Eugene-Springfield will have a full story on Seasoned soon. 

Raising Cane’s opens first Lane County chicken shop

Raising Cane’s, a southern fast-food chain known for its chicken finger combos and signature sauce, welcomed patrons to its first Lane County location Tuesday, Oct. 13.

The eatery, located at 2720 Gateway St. at The Shoppes at Gateway, drew more than 230 patrons before opening its doors, with the first customer arriving the day before and camping overnight. 

Cheerleaders from the University of Oregon and the Oregon Duck joined the opening day celebration. The new location, which includes a drive-thru, brings more than 160 new jobs to the area, including full- and part-time positions.

Order a chicken finger combo at the Springfield eatery from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m., Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., Friday and Saturday.

Raising Cane’s, which operates more than 1,000 locations worldwide, plans to open its first Eugene location sometime next fall, near UO’s campus. 

In case you missed it

Oakshire Public House’s hopeful transition

Oakshire, an Oregon-based brewing company, plans to transition its Public House to new owners by the end of 2026.

That location, a Eugene institution of more than 20 years, will remain open through the process. 

Oakshire first announced its company-wide closure in late September.

Developer to open campus bar and restaurant

The developer behind a 14-story student apartment complex known as The Ellis plans to build a full-service bar and restaurant at 810 E. 13th Ave., which will see more students when construction of The Ellis and the two other nearby housing developments is complete next year. 

Construction for the new eatery, which the developer sees as a “go-to” restaurant to watch sports, enjoy healthy meals and drink quality beer, will start by next fall. The Chinese restaurant at that location, Uniquely Chengdu, will continue operating as a tenant.

Read Grace Chinowsky’s full story on the developer’s plans here.