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Quick Take:
Now that the weather is nice, head to the open air to dine. You can find beautiful spots everywhere from family-friendly breweries to bustling food cart pods.
Some of Eugene and Springfield’s most inviting outdoor dining spaces — from sun-dappled courtyards to spacious pet-friendly patios — are tucked away. Here are some of our favorite places where you can dine al fresco and enjoy being outside.
Burrito Girl
150 Shelton McMurphey Blvd.
541-337-3998
This is not a standard “outdoor seating” area, but the setting is so sweet that it’s worth a try. Burrito Girl’s food cart is set up outside Hummingbird Wholesale and there are a couple of picnic tables tucked inside a little garden area. In addition to burritos, get El Salvadoran–style pupusas and her signature Wanaka Burrito, made with red onions, pepperoncini, and mushrooms, all grilled.
Cafe Soriah
https://soriah.com
384 W. 13th Ave.
541-342-4410
The backyard patio at Cafe Soriah has been a Eugene favorite for years. If you go into the restaurant and don’t walk through to the back, you might not even know it is there. Covered tables, heaters, and a beautiful tucked-away courtyard make it a great place for a summer dinner. Cafe Soriah is known for Mediterranean small plates (souvlaki, baba ghanooj), salads, and fine-dining entrees such as steak Diane.
Cornucopia
https://www.cornucopiaeugene.com/location/cornys-on-17th
295 W. 17th Ave.
541-485-2300
The original Cornucopia, the old house on 17th Street, has a sweet shaded backyard courtyard with several picnic tables.
The Crow and The Cart
https://www.crowandcart.com
543 Blair Blvd.
541-505-7240
The Crow and The Cart is a spot for drinks with a small but sweet courtyard dining area with a few tables. Food includes Subo sushi burritos (right next door); and burgers and sandwiches from Zandos, and tamales, wraps, and steamed buns from A Little Taste From Heaven. Or bring in some food from a nearby restaurant.
High Street Brewery and Cafe
https://www.mcmenamins.com/high-street-brewery-cafe/history/history
1243 High St.
541-345-4905
While the North Bank McMenamin’s location has river views, McMenamins High Street has a private back courtyard shaded by old trees. It’s a sweet spot for sipping or dining during summer or to enjoy by the fire pit during winter or on the large covered porch area anytime. Open in an early 1900s bungalow-style house since 1988, High Street was the first microbrewery to open in Eugene since Prohibition times. No pets are allowed in the back courtyard, but pets are OK on the front covered porch.
Lovely
https://www.lovelyspringfield.com
111 Main St., Springfield
Lovely cafe, serving healthy meals using pickles, ferments, and lots of organic veggies and juice, recently relocated to a larger space both indoor and out, and their back patio is large and shady.
The Pub at Laurelwood
https://www.facebook.com/thepubatlaurelwood
2700 Columbia St.
541-484-GOLF (4653)
If you don’t play golf, a golf course may not be the first place you think of to go eat, but golf course restaurants like that at Laurelwood typically have nice views of vast outdoor spaces. You can even check the patio view webcam to make sure the weather is to your liking before you go. While there, enjoy a brunch menu of eggs Benedict and English muffin sandwiches, biscuits and gravy, and more. The lunch and dinner menu has a couple of pita pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, and tacos.
Nelson’s in the Whit
https://www.nelsonsinthewhit.net
400 Blair Blvd.
541-844-8404
Nelson’s has a lovely large shaded backyard courtyard area with several picnic tables. Its Mexican menu features margaritas (try the blood orange when it’s available), several burrito and taco options, enchilada plates, and sopas. Make reservations for five or more.
New Day Bakery
https://newdaybakery.net
449 Blair Blvd.
541-345-1695
New Day, a longtime favorite, offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner all day. Visit for your fresh baked goods (can’t get enough of the garlic kale rolls) and fresh juices made daily. The large and sunny outdoor seating courtyard is nonsmoking and surrounded by flowering plants and trees.
New Frontier Market
https://www.newfrontiermarket.com
1101 W. 8th Ave.
541-345-7401
Shop for your organic produce bulk foods, and natural organic groceries, then order some authentic North Indian foods from the food cart run by the owners. This small but welcome neighborhood spot is shaded by tall old trees planted outside of one of Eugene’s oldest markets.
Placido’s
http://placidos.com
120 Shelton McMurphey Blvd. #110
458-205-8092
If the inside and the outside of Placido’s is full, you may be able to dine on the fresh pasta dishes at the picnic tables near the Burrito Girl food cart.
Play
https://www.playeugene.com
232 W. 5th Ave.
541-357-5010
Inside, Play is fun for all ages, with activities like batting cages and a golf simulator. Outside is a huge private patio space flanked by food carts. Bounty provides charcuterie boards, Kazuji San serves Japanese-style rice bowls, Dos Agaves serves a variety of Mexican food, and Cece serves seasonal fish and vegetarian dishes. Other food carts visit too, including Pizzeria DOP every Friday throughout the summer.
Public House
https://www.publichousehub.com
418 A St., Springfield
541-246-8511
A great thing about eating at PublicHouse’s large outdoor space is the variety of food available from the multiple vendors, including Moi Poki grill (poke and Asian), Tiny’s West Coast Kitchen (pizza slices, hot dogs, smash burgers), Tonalli Latin Kitchen (tacos, burritos), Shalosh (Mediterranean and Middle East), and Sugar Kisses (opening late May serving ice cream sandwiches). Pets are welcome in the courtyard.
Viking Brewing Taproom
https://www.drinkviking.com
520 Commercial St., Unit F
541-653-8371
The 25th and Willamette location of Viking also has an outdoor seating area, but the taproom location can’t be beat. Picnic tables are interspersed by garden beds that invite pollinators, and shade is provided by umbrellas and climbing hop vines. The Commercial location has a different, more casual menu than the Willamette location, but it’s still got a variety of items — pretzels, hot dogs, burgers, fries, onion rings.
Yardy Rum Bar
https://www.yardyrumbar.com
837 Lincoln St.
458-240-7564
The backyard courtyard at Yardy has been a gem of Eugene for a long time, through all past restaurant iterations at this spot. In summer it’s lovely, with colorful tablecloths, vines and flowers, and a private shaded coolness. Chef Isaiah Martinez specializes in Caribbean food such as doubles (curried chickpeas on turmeric flatbread served with spicy chutneys) jerk chicken, beans and rice, and seasonal specials. They make drinks from quality rums with a lot of flavors to explore.
Have a favorite outdoor dining location that you don’t see here? Let us know. Tag our food and beverage reporter, Vanessa Salvia, on Instagram at @vanessaathetable, or email her at vanessa@lookoutlocal.com.
