Quick Take:

The Paddock’s new owners brought their own flair to a south Eugene landmark while honoring its storied past. Plus, Raising Cane’s shared new details on its expansion into Lane County, and a new food truck brings Indian fare to a west Eugene pod.

The Paddock has entered a new era of culinary revival this month after a two-year hiatus. 

The last owner, LaMonte Cherrick, operated The Paddock as a sports pub for about 20 years before retiring and selling the business in 2024.

The new owners? James Beard-nominated chef Crystal Platt and sommelier Kirsten Hansen. The couple closed their downtown Eugene spots — the Lion & Owl restaurant and neighboring Lemon & Olive cocktail bar — earlier this year to focus on The Paddock.

The south Eugene joint began in the 1940s as a small tavern in the back of an equestrian property — hence its name. The Paddock moved to its current location on East Amazon Drive in the 1960s, Hansen said.

“It became this neighborhood place for Eugene to gather,” she said. “And over the course of many years, it took on this home-based feeling for people that I really love.”

The Paddock reopened in early April under new ownership by former Lion & Owl owners Crystal Platt and Kirsten Hansen. The south Eugene institution remains a neighborhood gathering spot with a redesign that is both fancy and casual — and fun new food and drink menus. Credit: Taylor Goebel / Lookout Eugene-Springfield

The Paddock now evolves into a versatile gathering place: Fancy and casual, steak tartare and unfussy burger, date night and girls’ night. Yes, many of the cocktails are horse-themed. And yes, you can add caviar to your chips and dip. 

Hansen called The Paddock their “forever home.”

Find The Paddock at 3355 E. Amazon Drive, Eugene. The establishment is currently open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday to Monday.

Cafe Agora expands to Springfield

The zingy combination of garlic sauce, feta and sumac on Cafe Agora’s Greek fries is not to be missed.  Credit: Taylor Goebel / Lookout Eugene-Springfield

Springfield residents: You can now enjoy Cafe Agora’s fluffy pita sandwiches and crispy baklava closer to home.

The mobile Greek eatery, which opened in downtown Eugene about seven years ago, recently launched a second food truck at Sweet Salvage on Main Street.

Cafe Agora’s new Springfield food truck is at the food truck pavilion at Sweet Salvage, 4425 Main St. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday.

New food truck adds Indian fare to Eugene pod

Naan Stop isn’t just a great pun: It’s the name of west Eugene’s newest Indian food truck, which joined the Barger Food Carts pod a few months ago. Expect Indian street snacks, such as flaky samosas with tamarind and mint-cilantro chutneys, paneer-stuffed paratha and spicy-tangy channa bhatura. Have an entree-sized appetite? Scoop up the silky dal makhani or palak paneer with fresh garlic naan.

Naan Stop is at 4190 Barger Drive in Eugene and is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The food truck is closed Sundays.

Raising Cane’s plans first Lane County locations

Raising Cane’s, a southern fast-food chain known for its chicken finger combos and signature sauce, will open its first Lane County locations in Springfield and Eugene over the next year. A Raising Cane’s rep said construction for the Springfield eatery — at the recently demolished Big 5 Sporting Goods at The Shoppes at Gateway — began March 30 and will include a drive-thru. That location is anticipated to open in fall 2026. 

The chain is building its Eugene restaurant near University of Oregon’s campus. It will be inside a 15-story student housing building that’s under construction at 1316 Alder St. which is kitty-corner from Dave’s Hot Chicken, another national chain specializing in chicken fingers. It won’t include a drive-thru. The Raising Cane’s rep said construction on the eatery will begin once the high-rise building is “substantially finished.” While the timeline is “very much in the air,” they’re targeting a fall 2027 opening date.

Oakway Golf Course gains new food vendor

After your final swing of the day, you can now grab a crispy chicken quesadilla, grilled cheese burger and other belt-loosening goods from 2ManCru. The new food vendor at Oakway Golf Course operates as a ghost kitchen, which means the business doesn’t have a physical dining space and only does takeout and delivery orders. Co-owner Jack Morris said he plans to add smoked meats to the menu soon.

Find 2ManCru at 2000 Cal Young Road in Eugene.

Taylor Goebel covers Lane County's food and drink scene. She has nearly a decade of experience in multimedia journalism, having reported across the Mid-Atlantic on dining, food systems, education, healthcare, local elections, labor and business. She was most recently a food reporter in Washington state, where she documented a fourth-generation fishing family, covered a David vs. Goliath conflict between a national coffee chain and a small Turkish cafe, and had many culinary firsts, from ensaymadas and gilgeori (Korean street) toast to morels and black cod.