The winter offers a lot of time to experience the splendors of the indoors. For myself, this includes visiting exciting local restaurants with a cozy ambiance. From living in Eugene for close to four years, here are some of my favorite spots perfect for a cold evening.
Scribles
This restaurant makes some of the best sandwiches I have ever had. After eating here with my dad earlier this year, he mentioned that he would drive all the way from Bend to Eugene just to get lunch here. I truly believe that this shop holds true to what a sandwich should be. They use bread from a local bakery and all sandwiches are piled high with meats, cheeses, vegetables and other ingredients. It unfortunately is not a cheap spot, but the quality of the product matches the cost. I hope to one day try the whole menu here because each sandwich looks uniquely incredible. My personal favorite is the Italian hoagie filled to the brim with a variety of delicious and flavorful cold cuts .
Izakaya Meiji Company
Exposure to Japanese cuisine is often limited to sushi and ramen across the US. Meiji strives to challenge this paradigm by offering lesser known authentic Japanese dishes in an ‘izakaya’ format. For those unfamiliar, an izakaya is somewhat synonymous with a tapas bar in Spanish culture. Traditional izakayas serve small inexpensive eats to be paired with a variety of alcoholic drinks. Meiji takes this a step further by incorporating a country-western vibe to their design and ambiance. My favorite item here is their curry udon bow. I find it intriguing since most people would not consider curry to be a Japanese staple, however it is often eaten for breakfast in their culture.
The Wheel
Not only does this restaurant make a phenomenal pizza, they also brew an outstanding selection of beers. The combination of these products, both artisanally produced in-house, makes this spot standout. The pies are made in a New Haven style also known as ‘apizza’ (ah-beetz). This is characterized by charred thin crust made from a charcoal oven. I find that this gives the pies a depth of flavor that I would not find in other types of pizzas. My favorite item here is the sausage and pepper pizza. The highlight here are Mama Lil’s spicy goat horn peppers. They come pickled in a savory oil and compliment this pizza perfectly by cutting through the richness of the sausage and cheese.
Sources:
Jack Skidmore 
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