Excelsior Inn & Ristorante Italiano
754 E 13th Ave, Eugene, OR, 97401
Excelsior Inn & Ristorante Italiano Menu
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Address :
754 E 13th Ave
Eugene, OR, 97401 - Phone (541) 342-6963
- Website https://www.excelsiorinn.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :7:00 am - 10:00pm
- Mon : 7:00 am - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner, Dessert
Parking : Garage, Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Dressy
Ambience : Romantic
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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John F.
My wife and I were regulars, observing anniversaries, birthdays,etc. we used their great bakery for torts catering. I was a frequent lunch guest - that is until least summer. My wife always has the pasta with arrabiata sauce, it usually came with linguini. It was my custom to take home an order of it for her after my in town lunches. The last time at home we realised it was made with penne pasts. I lunched there the next day and returned the order questioning why it was with the penne pasta. The reply cane back from the chef of the day that that is how it is and don't expect any credit for it. If this does no suit me I should take it up with the chef who worked the previous day. The point is not who is right, but that a top level establishment is willing to argue over a dish that may cost them about $1. The bad PR that comes with it makes it a poor choice. Within linits the customer is always right and this treatment caused them to lose a steady guest. The one star is strictly for their poor attitude; the food is at least 4 star.
(1)Geni R.
Chose this for my special birthday dinner. No regrets whatsoever. For appetizer we had prosciutto wrapped dumplings (more like a savory beignet) with herbed marscapone . Excellent! My husband had the roasted wild boar - melt in your mouth delicious. I had the crab ravioli - I had a hard time sharing... Again, excellentl! Desert though was not as great. I am allergic to nuts, so that narrowed my choices considerably. I had the cappuccino cheesecake, which was okay. The crust was way too thick for my tastes. My husband had a nut tart (sorry, I can't remember what kind). He said it was just okay. But overall, I loved my dinner. Service was attentive but not irritating. It was really slow (a Monday night) but that was nice because we wanted something quiet and intimate. I also appreciated that I could reserve my table online - only took 5 minutes! Will definitely go again when we want a "dress up" dinner.
(4)Alice R.
My grandparents and I go here all the time for breakfast. The food is great, and the people are nice. Portion sizes are never adequate, but they let you add eggs to the omelette to bring them up!
(4)Sharin F.
I would have given this place 5 stars, but there were a few minor things. I called ahead to make reservations for Friday night. We were ten minutes early, but stood at the door for about 20-25 before anyone greeted us. All these servers and things walking around and no one said anything. A young lady even came to the front counter looked at the reservations and walked away. When we were finally seated the food was amazing. We had the calamari, shrimp and clam appetizer. Cooked to perfection and the aioli was just spectacular. I had the crab ravioli and it was simply fabulous! It wasn't drowned in sauce like most pasta in Italian restaurants in Eugene. My husband had the spicy prawn pasta and, boy was it hot! Great flavor, but very spicy. We ordered the cookie caramel cheesecake for dessert. I assume it will be just as decadent as all the other desserts that looked so devilishly tempting in the case. The ambiance was great. Good live music near the bar where we sat. Cozy. Only thing I didn't like was the wonderful view of the dumpsters across the street and the ally we had to park in with the lovely patrons walking up and down it smoking "ciggaweed". Lol. Other than that it was a nice dining experience. Our bill was about 76$ for the two of us. I might try this place again.
(4)Beca C.
Restaurant review only: As a dining destination, the Excelsior does astonishingly well at masking the fact it is located smack in the middle of the busy commercial area of the UO. One of the prettier places to dine in town in terms of ambiance. The garden and patio is beautiful, the interior classy with dark wood paneling, chandeliers, baby grand piano, white table cloths, nice stemware, etc... I've recently been to several separate business lunches at the Excelsior. Menu offers local suppliers and seasonal ingredients. This coupled with the decor makes for a pricey meal. The lunch menu lists a few salads, several sandwiches including two burgers, a couple of entrees featuring seafood or game, and a surprisingly limited selection of pasta. The servers do announce the day's pasta, fish and pizza specials. Be prepared to ask questions as the menus do not consistently describe cooking methods or list every ingredient in a dish, however essential they may be. Salads are generous sized, as well as some of the pastas; others, like the special crab ravioli (5) looked a bit sparse in the big white bowls, and the side salad served was bigger than the two crab cakes it accompanied. My braised rabbit ragu with potato gnocchi was very tasty, flavorful and worth ordering again. The lamb burger was under seasoned, greasy, and accompanied with pale french fries. Desserts are tasty and presented nicely, but they need refining in texture, moistness, and flavors if they want to win me over. Service tries to be good and comes across as earnest, but some lunch staff are a bit green. Not knowing whether items on the menu are served hot or cold, mispronouncing classic Italian ingredients, and answering "I've never had that before" when asked to describe entrees and desserts leaves me unimpressed, but sympathetic. The servers make the espresso beverages during the days when the bar isn't staffed, and at one visit, the quality of the lattes, cappuccinos and such was really bad across the board. I don't know if this was because of who made the drinks or the espresso used, but nobody ordered a second so who knows what the deal is there. I'd recommend the Excelsior as a good place to go for a business lunch on the UO's dollar.
(3)Gary M.
I'm from out of town and the Excelsior was suggested for Easter brunch. Service and ambience was good but for $30 per head I expected more. No champagne, only service station was fatty prime rib, just scrambled eggs and no eggs Benedict or omelet station. The food was good I just expected more choices. I will not be back
(3)Jen R.
This review is for the inn and the restaurant, both get 5 stars. The lady who checked us in at the inn was very friendly at the room was clean and comfortable. As for the restaurant, the food and service were very good. When were were ordering our breakfast drinks I joked to the waiter that I usually drink milk with a little bit of coffee and he brought me a pitcher of each. It was very nice, you can tell that the staff at the inn and the restaurant care very much about their guests.
(5)John F.
My daughter is a freshman and I came to visit her for the weekend. We are from Nor Cal and I'm a bit of a foodie. We did not have a reservation, but the host was happy to seat us in the more casual area to the right of the bar. First of all, this place is in a beautiful old hotel, and has great ambiance. There was live music playing that made for a great atmosphere. The menu was simple, with about 15 things I wanted to try. We did an Salami and Cheese antipasto platter first. That was a winner, and I loved the home pickled vegetables. then went to salads, we each had the Dungeness crab salad. Nicely done with great flavor, lightly dressed. For dinner I had the special which was lamb shank paired with a small grilled lamb sausage, it was spectacular and very creative. My daughter had a filet which was perfectly cooked and beautifully presented. Our waiter was fantastic, very busy, but attentive and did a great job making us feel at home. When I wanted a glass of cab, he brought both bottles our and let me taste each, I went with his recommendation. Overall, it was just the perfect experience, fun, great food, and great service. I will be coming back here many times over the next 4 years.
(4)Stephen C.
Really enjoyed our stay there. We stayed there for a friend's wedding. Wonderful waitstaff, charming rooms, very restful stay. Breakfast was included in our very reasonable room price. Breakfast was very good. All food is from the chef's sustainable farm, from which he made a wonderful egg's benedict. Great location only 1/2 block from campus.
(5)Tropical T.
I am a retired Chef , restaurant owner and major foodie. I do not agree with Debbie's review from Mill Valley. Your in Eugene Oregon Debbie not San Francisco where you can get 4 and five star meals. Its Victorian in ambiance not my favorite but thats me, Nice dining room, bar area ,private room,and outdoor seating. Started with the Antipasto Plate enough for four people. Good selection of salami,coppa prosciutto, Gorgonzola, Romano and chèvre cheeses, smoked salmon pate, olives . My only criticism: gorgonzola tasted like refrigerator and should have been imported gorgonzola Dolce L:atte . and there were pickles on the platter. Pickles? i don't think so on Antipasto. Next was Caesar Salad not bad a 3 star.. Entrees Crab Ravioli in a light cream sauce. You can tell it was house made pasta and the cream sauce just barley covered the ravioli instead of swimming in it. Ling cod Puttanesca, cooked perfectly, with a garden fresh tomato puttanesca relish type sauce , it was good but needed more anchovy i did not taste any. Desserts are really good and displayed as you walk into restaurant. There really isn't to much wrong with this place. Service was good as well. One thing was that there wasn't a good selection of wines by the glass which I personally like in a good restaurant. What we did have was good though a chianti and a Italian white. One other comment The Bread needs improvement. it would be nice to see that crusty European bread on the table. So Debbie from Mill Valley is way off with her review. I think she is a food snob who expects her food to be the same as she gets in The SF Bay Area. I would go back to this restaurant for dinner again
(3)Irene Y.
Good environment! The sort fish and steak there are delicious. we try their cocktail which are chocolate and champaign flavor, it's ok but too strong for me. Their tiramisu tastes good.
(4)Debbie A.
Warning: If you're a foodie, or someone who appreciates every nuance of food flavor and the care taken in preparation when eating out, don't bother. I wanted to like this place. I can see why folks have made comments about the decor and tradition of the beloved Excelsior, but my objective, lack of any expectations opinion is that it was disappointing all around. It's a candidate for Restaurant Impossible. Stale bread served (really?) Mediocre/lack of care shown in wine selection Very average tasting entrees My son wanted the dessert shown in the dessert case (apparently these are not edible and have been in there a very long time) Poor inattentive service Most painful part: the price. If it had been half the price for the quality, I would not have written this review. The over the top reviews of this place are shocking. Could my one experience be that off? I can't explain it. Go if you must. You've been warned.
(1)Julia H.
Dined here last night. Saw a hummingbird feeding on nectar from the patio/terrace flowers!! So, Ill get the only negative part out of the way first, Had to wait 25 minutes for a table even though we had a reservation. We did, however, have delicious cocktails as we waited and enjoyed the live music in the lounge. We were seated in the courtyard under a gorgeous tree. Immediately received bread with tasty olive oil and balsamic. Our server was nice and attentive. Our courses were perfectly paced and he filled our wine glasses and water attentively. The Gorgonzola appetizer with roasted garlic and flat bread was absolutely delicious. We are both still thinking about it a day later! Entrees were both superb, we cleaned our plates. Then tiramisu for dessert with espresso. All of it was great! I will conclude by saying that I've lived and dined in several large cities and enjoyed the high quality and consistent good service of many exquisite restaurants. For Eugene, which seems to lack such places, Excelsior is a gem! We will return.
(5)Julia S.
My husband & I enjoyed a delicious meal at the Excelsior for our anniversary. We started out with calamari whch were delicious followed by a fresh garden salad. I had the crab raviolis with a creamy riesling sauce while my husband had the filet mignon perfectly prepared with a subtle hint of strawberry. Sadly, we had no room for the Tiramisu or crime brûlée. The service was excellent. I always appreciate a romantic ambiance with table linens surrounded by plant life. As we left, we enjoyed the fragrance of honeysuckle growing along their sidewalk boundary. My only recommendation for improvement would be to reconsider serving the whole grain bread with balsamic & oil. They weren't complimentary. Butter would have been exquisite. I also like that they grow much of their own food. For fine dining, this is one of Eugene's best.
(5)Adelka S.
While the drinks and food were quite good, the service was not! We experienced an issue with accessible parking and when we discussed it with a staff member he was rude, condescending and misinformed. To top it off he joined in a private conversation to criticize OUR handling of the situation. Geez - worst customer service I have ever experienced in Eugene.
(2)Jim R.
Very good experience with dessert and drinks. Great, friendly staff, and excellent Spanish coffee. Nice decor in a Victorian style that is charming for Eugene. I've visited twice with the same solid results, although I cannot comment on dinner as it has been for after dinner occasions both times.
(4)Samantha L.
Excellent food and atmosphere! Their Chardonnay cake is amazing.
(5)Mary H.
Mama mia, this place is amazing. We received a gift card here to celebrate our recent union and we felt swanky. I never even knew this sort of fine dining experience existed in Eugene. It's built basically on the UO campus which is honestly, sort of weird. However, once you step up to the building you no longer feel like you are a poor college student. The servers are by far the best I have dealt with since moving here and the best food we have eaten as well. I had (basically) shrimp scampi and my husband feasted on the salmon special that was absolutely to die for. Meals were followed up with simply amazing desserts that corresponded to the season change. Would love to eat here again if our tiny budget ever afforded us to :) If you are looking to impress this place does not disappoint!
(5)Brian E.
The Excelsior is a treasured Eugene tradition with great service, an upscale if traditional fine dining atmosphere, and a convenient location near campus. The food ranges from merely competent to occasionally spectacular, and is usually closer to the latter than the former. They do really impressive things with meringue and the fresh pastas they make in-house are by far the best in the area. Still, it is awfully expensive for Eugene. I don't mind dropping some dough for tasty vittles, but frankly, the Excelsior's cheapskate portioning makes the place a lousy value. We recently took a couple of friends to dinner and spent upwards of $150, without even having any wine, but only the salads were really portioned generously enough to satisfy. My girlfriend ordered the ravioli, which were gorgeous -- but come on, seven lousy ravioli? Really? I'm not a particularly big eater but the tiny entrees force diners to fill up on salad and bread...not really reasonable for the prices. I also pan every restaurant that claims to serve a Caesar salad but provides diners with nothing but a pile of romaine leaves. That wasn't a Caesar, you hacks. I'd have sent it back if we weren't with friends. Desserts used to be a strong point here but $8-10 for a dessert that looks much prettier than it tastes is a little steep, and the tiny slivers of cake or torte the Excelsior serves don't really lend themselves to sharing. I'm sure that's intentional, but it's a bad business decision that only reinforces the bad value proposition. When I'm really craving Italian, I still go, because the Excelsior offers the best Italian food in the area by far, much better than anywhere else...but I couldn't recommend it for anyone who wants to get what he pays for.
(3)Sam K.
While in Eugene for a conference a couple weeks ago I was looking for a nice place to eat, have a drink or two, maybe some wine and some dessert. Having become somewhat dependent on Yelp for direction now, I sent out a "Local Conversation" for recommendations. I got back a response from Clay S. that pointed me towards the Excelsior Inn. It was literally two blocks from the hotel I was staying at so I decided to hoof it over there and see what was what. I was seated immediately. Matthew was my server and I was completely impressed by his professionalism and help. I started out with a bourbon--they have Basil Hayden's, definitely a plus. Delicious. For food I started with their insalta mista--consisting of organic field greens tossed with gorgonzola dressing. Quite tasty. They also brought out some bread to go along with that which was also tasty--there were two (as I remember) varieties; a sourdough and a brown bread. Both good. Then I went straight for the steak. I don't eat meat often, so it has to sound pretty appealing for me to order it at a restaurant and this qualified. A Snake River Farms ribeye steak seasoned and grilled, then drizzled with a blueberry demi-glaze, served with a vegetable and roasted potatoes. I had never had a blueberry reduction with red meat before and would probably not have thought of it, but it totally worked. Combine both with a wonderful (thanks for the suggestion, Matthew) bottle of 2006 Stella Maris (Walla Walla) cabernet blend wine and it really was quite a great meal. For dessert I had their Bailey's cheesecake. Scrumptious, especially with the dark chocolate syrup served with it. Combined with a sambuca (kudos for carrying that) and it was a great dessert as well. All in all a great meal. Would have no reservations recommending this to a friend.
(4)London B.
Beautiful room, beautiful place, beautiful neighborhood! (I think we stayed in the Puccini room?) Good food, good people, good god! (Complimentary breakfast that was slamming!) The end.
(5)Hogan S.
Went to Excelsior for Breakfast. Hands down, the greatest French Toast I've ever eaten. Unbelievable!! They brûlée it and it takes it over the top. Easily serves two. Incredible.
(5)Shari P.
Brought a large group in with a reservation for Lunch. Took forever to get our order and my fries were ice cold.
(3)Michelle Y.
we've had our company Christmas party here the past couple years - they have always treated us well. we love maurizio and we love coming here all year long.
(4)Rayma H.
Really tasty eggs benedict, freshly squeezed oj, very good service, pleasant dining room next to a cozy fireplace. Overall, a lovely brunch experience.
(4)Nicholas S.
From out of state. I was just walking around downtown Eugene looking for some good food and a nice drink and stumbled across this place. It's wonderful and beautiful. Food was a little hot, but the only reason I mention that is because this place is really that wonderful that that is really to only complaint I could give it. I along with one other couple were here on a Monday. I'm betting that it's still pretty undiscovered. Same prices you would get just about anywhere else, but the food, atmosphere, and service are all on par. Check it out.
(5)John T.
What a surprising find in Eugene. We had a delicious delicious dinner!. A bit understaffed, but we went there during the off season (school was not in session).
(4)Rana R.
Had the perfect dining experience! Great service delicious food. Recommend for sure.
(5)Mindy S.
you will probably drive right by this little gem in Eugene (as we did) and not notice it. We found out about this place because someone from the Excelsior farm befriended me on Facebook last week. My birthday was last Fri. and since I love REALLY GOOD LOCALLY SOURCED, ORGANIC AND SEASONAL FOOD, I thought this would be a great place for my special day dinner. Very romantic atmosphere. Table linens and single candlestick candle w/ a little flower bud vase w/ fresh flowers in it and foo-foo napkin arrangement was a nice change of pace for my normal restaurant experiences. Be ready to pay a small fortune, but if you are looking for quality food, beverage, ambiance and wait service you will not be disappointed. Our waiter, Chris, was extremely attentive (with 3 to 4 tables to attend to at one time, he was very professional and light-hearted) and very pleasant. The table size for two is a bit on the small size (with all the glassware and tableware) and felt a bit cramped (my partner is 6' 5" tall and I am a larger sized woman) and my partner felt his chair was too low which made him a bit uncomfortable. The menu had a nice selection of seasonal foods. We ordered a cocktail which we enjoyed. We ordered a glass of wine with our dinner (nice OR wine selection). Excellent wine list!! Chris brought a lovely plate of freshly baked bread (in house baker) w/ containers of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Fantastic bread and condiments. My partner and I ordered the appetizer, Mari e Monti (fried seafood & veggies) with lemon aioli sauce. very nice and crisp breading and soft, flavorful WA oyster, tender calamari, two prawns and artichoke and asparagus. We shared a Caesar salad that was very delicious. Long slender young romaine lettuce leaves w/ homemade croutons and dressing and grated cheese served on two plates (nice touch). My partner ordered the Ravioli con Granchio (OR dungeness crab, buttered leeks and parsley) which was a nice plate and serving. I ordered the Filetto alla Modenese (filet Mignon - grass fed, pastured beef) with crumbled Gorgonzola on top and served with potato al forno (scalloped like potato) and a Balsamic demi glaze on the plate. To die for. We topped our dinner off with coffee (local, organic roasted beans) that was freshly brewed. I selected Orange Panna Cotta which was AMAZING! The house-made desserts are the first thing you notice when you walk through the front door (in a lovely wood framed & glass case that stands from the floor to the ceiling). If nothing else, we will be going back to have dessert and coffee once in a while. Our bill was over 150.00 for the two of us with tip and we feel it was definitely worth it. It lacked the 5th star because there was no music to go along w/ the ambiance and I have to say that our fellow dining guests were so quiet that it felt like we were in a library. Bathroom was very clean and very nicely decorated. We enjoyed the local artist works around the restaurant (for sale) and the Inn is a place I'd like to experience in the future. We will be visiting the farm where the produce comes from in the next couple months. BRAVO!
(4)Christina Z.
By far one of the best filets I've had. The whimsical ambience with Latin live music was a nice touch. I also started with the fresh beet mozzarella salad, which was quite tasty. I highly endorse coming here if you are in the Eugene area
(4)A K.
Amazing food and service. My husband and I had a fabulous dinner last night with another couple. The service was impeccable and the food was most delicious. I can't wait to come back!!
(5)Ali A.
My husband has surprised me with anniversary and birthday dinners here and every time I'm ecstatic! I'm so surprised there are even negative reviews for excelsior (granted I've never stayed at the inn or eaten breakfast here). Now I'm not a foodie or a yuppie (two terms that usually go hand in hand....), but I do enjoy a good meal and enjoy them all over the world. Eugene is a smaller city with few good options for a romantic meal, and excelsior offers something very unique. A delightful intimate and quaint atmosphere. The pastas are homemade and the produce is never overcooked and always fresh. One of these days I'll try something different than my standard ravioli....and one day I'll save room for dessert. My recommendation for "Eugene foodies" is - find a sunny day, give yourself a shave, put on something nice, and book a table on the patio and eat some ravioli!
(5)Shayna I.
Really adorable place, very helpful and sweet staff. All around good experience. The only downside was that my Caesar salad was far too heavy on the dressing and left me with a stomach ache. Had a bite of the trout and it was phenomenal, which leads me to believe that my issues with my salad were a fluke. Would definitely recommend!
(4)Gabe W.
We came here for a last minute wedding reception, and it was great. They were extremely accommodating even with super short notice of our group of 15's arrival. The server was excellent. He gave great recommendations, was attentive (even though he had at least on other large party to serve), and matched the group's mood of celebration. The food was delicious! The specials were amazing, and everyone raved about how good their dishes were. Desert was remarkable, and the wine recommendations spot on. The atmosphere was the right level of formal for our gathering. Its a great spot for a special event - though we make be looking for more excuses to come and even stay the night. They helped make a special day feel special for our recently married friends. We all had a great time, and truly enjoyed every aspect of you meal here.
(5)Darron H.
After many years, my wife was finally able to try out this wonderful Inn and restaurant. We had meant to go a number of times, but it just never seemed to work out. I wish we had made it sooner! From the call to make the reservations to the end of our meal, service was excellent. Every person I dealt with was very helpful, and a pleasure to talk to. We arrived 10-12 minutes prior to our reservation, and were shown immediately to our table. A gentleman quickly brought water, took our drink order, and informed us that they were training a new waiter, and that he would be right with us. Chris arrived within moments, and very quickly told us that it was his first night. He respectfully asked that we be patient with him, although he didn't need to bother as there were no problems at all. He informed us of the evenings specials, and seemed very knowledgeable about the menu. Again, throughout the evening, service was wonderful. Our food was very very good. Calamari, oyster and shrimp appetizer was cooked perfectly, with the perfect spices. The rib eye steak was cooked and seasoned well, but not exceptional, but I had leg of lamb that was out of this world. The fresh local vegetables were very good, and even though I can't stand beets, they went with the lamb surprisingly well. The timing of our meal couldn't have been better, we never felt like we were waiting for anything nor did we ever feel rushed. It was such a nice change from the usual feeling that the staff are just pushing you out so they can throw another customer in your seat. It has been a very long time since we had this kind of service, and it was much appreciated. I can't wait to go back again.
(5)Larry C.
SCRUMPDILLYICIOUS! Lamb was done perfectly and the ravioli was meltinyourmouth heavenly. Only complaint was bread. They need real Italian bread! And it was cold!
(4)Leslie W.
Stayed at the Inn for a conference and really enjoyed the meals at the bar. Excellent, fresh food. Good wine. Fun, smart serving staff. Had a top-notch experience here and I'd like to raise my 3-star review to around 4.25. (Breakfast was still a little on the cool side but very tasty, except the dark roast coffee, which was cool and bitter.) The bar features live music on Friday and Saturday evenings until 9:00 ish. Not sure if they have performers on other days but the two times I've been here on weekends there were wonderful musicians. If I lived in Eugene I'd be at the Excelsior most weekend nights for live music and good food.
(4)Jan C.
Our family eat our Thanksgiving dinner at the Excelsior Restaurant for the first time. We were very impressed with the food and service. I highly recommend this restaurant for any occasion, but this was a very special Thanksgiving for us so we were very impressed with the Excelsior! ! The dinner was a buffet, but had all the traditional Thanksgiving dishes you would expect. Everything was very fresh and had that homemade flare. The price was exceptional which included drinks, But not alcoholic. If you get on a pinch and can't cook, go to The Excelsior.
(5)J M.
Excellent food. Excellent service. Beautiful courtyard for summertime dining. I highly recommend this place.
(4)Lenny C.
Staying at the Excelsior Inn, as I'm in Eugene doing an art panel at the University of Oregon. The Inn itself is very nice, the Mozart Room is small but very comfortable bed and super clean with nice shower. The staff is super friendly - I mean, light years ahead of your usual hotel chain staff. Nice TV and about 15 movies in the room! The restaurant is also very nice. I had breakfast today, and the very cute waitress was friendly and made sure that my coffee was always filled. I also had lunch there and the squash soup with salad was superb. I am also told that the restaurant gets their produce from Excelsior Farm, a five-acre farm bringing fresh, organically grown produce to the menu. It is walking distance from the University.
(5)Jeremy G.
Update: the manager wrote us a letter of apology and gave us a gift card because of our bad experience. He also asked that I remove my review. I don't blame him for asking, but my experience is what it was so I'm leaving it up. However, I am giving them one more star for his response. If/when we return I will update on that visit.
(2)Jaya F.
UPDATE: a week or so after I posted my review, a manager at the Excelsior called me & left a message on my voicemail (I'm assuming she confirmed my identity and visit from the reservation book). The manager apologized for our less-than-great experience, wanted to talk to me so she could explain why it occurred, and offered me a free meal as compensation. She said a bad review on yelp isn't a good thing for a business and so wanted me to give the Excelsior a chance to change my opinion. Although I appreciate the manager's effort to right a wrong, I chose not to return her call & not accept her offer. I think when the staff is aware you've been a dissatisfied customer, complained, and are getting a comped meal, they can't help but treat you differently and therefore you won't have a typical dining experience. If the manager had offered to mail me a gift card which didn't somehow identify me as a previously unhappy customer, and I could use the giftcard whenever I wanted, I may have accepted. Regardless, our experience is what it was and so my review stands.
(1)Jenny J.
Pricey, but the food was excellent and service/ambiance would be great for a special occasion or out of town guests. My favorite dish was the artichoke ravioli with a red pepper sauce. Not too cheesy or creamy - you could really taste the freshness of the homemade pasta, and all of their vegetables come from their local organic farm. The dessert list was also very good - lots of cake on it, which I love, and about 12 different choices. I had a slice of champagne layer cake with lemon curd and a cream cheese frosting, which was excellent. If you're into bread, order one of their grilled bread appetizers - the bread that comes with the meal is not very good. Didn't get to try their wine or drink list, but it looked like a good selection.
(5)Carrie A.
I've eaten here twice recently: once for lunch with a group of professors and graduate students, and once for dinner on my anniversary. Both times, I was impressed. The food is very good. They make their own pastas, and at lunchtime there are also homemade pizzas. Don't skip the focaccia bread; it's wonderful, and at dinner time you can get it as an appetizer with roasted garlic and gorgonzola cheese. The steak with blueberry demi-glace rocked. But the best part is their dessert menu! They have like ten items on the standard menu, plus five or six daily specials, and everything I've tried has been fantastic. In terms of atmosphere, it's a bit fancier than most Eugene restaurants. It's also more expensive than typical Eugene fare. I'd probably give Excelsior five stars if it were a bit less spendy. Even though the quality was high, I still feel like we paid a little too much.
(4)c. o.
This place is a wonderful fine dining experience. It is quite expensive, but you are getting quality food and service without prevention. I took a VIP guest from france here twice and he was not disappointed. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Rev I.
I have been here twice. First time to try, second to give it another chance. Both not worth it. Although the decor of Excelsior is quite nice and romantic, the food here is not up to par. To some it may be easy in this restaurant to be sucked into the mindset that it is high end based on the dining room and price of the food however, to be honest, it is simply not worth it. Excelsior is expensive; not because of price ( I have had experience going to higher) but because of comparison to the food. The food is fresh and presented well BUT, it is also bland at the same time. From a food lovers perspective, the food has no flavor that matches the complexity of the ingredients. I had the crab ravioli one time and the inside, there was very little crab. The crab that there was tasted as though it was flavorless, no actual taste of the crustacean while the ravioli was a bit hard on the edges. The sauce around the ravioli was bland not because there was too little salt, it just tasted more like cream instead of with more hint in the flavor of lemon as it was supposed to. My second and last time, I ordered veal. The veal was nice and tender but the sauce overwhelmed the flavor of the meat so all I could taste was the red sauce of tomatoes. It came with only a few vegetables and the dish looked like it was piled up with meat then had sauce dumped over it. In addition to the food being lacking, the service was not good either, The waiter did not check to see if we had enough water and during my times there, the waiters were busy most of the time with other tables and would barely stop by to check how the food they served was. One redeeming quality of the restaurant though is that it supposedly uses fresh and local ingredients. Besides that, I would not recommend this restaurant.
(2)Debbie K.
What a delightful lunch on the sun dappled front patio of this gem of a restaurant! The food was amazing from start to finish. We deeply appreciate locally owned eateries with a focus on seasonal, fresh, organic, local, foods prepared with care and artistry. What a treat to enjoy fresh from the oven bread, flavorful veggies straight from the farm, gorgeously presented couscous with sea food, and beautifully crafted desserts that melt in your mouth! The service was outstanding even on this very busy day. The ambiance of the front patio was relaxed and so very pleasant. on a sunny afternoon. We look forward with anticipation to returning again soon!
(5)Ronald A.
My wife and I are in town to visit my mother; we decided to have a nice dinner out and am very happy we chose Excelsior. We read some of the reviews and were puzzled by some of them. The service was very good. The melon soup was perfect for a hot summer evening. There was a wonderful spice in the background. My mother loved her veal and Rebecca and I have the filet; she liked hers more than i liked mine. The potato croquet was fabulous. One person complained about the portions; we thought they were generous. I had cobbler, perfect for the summer, and Rebecca had the chocolate cheese cake; both were good and the portions generous. I often judge the value of a restaurant by the price of the wines. This wine list had a great selection of wines at very fair prices. We were very surprised the wine was not more expensive, given the reputation of the restaurant. We got very good value for the money we paid; we are looking forward to going back again and I urge people to do the same.
(4)J.A. K.
Both the food and the hotel are OUTSTANDING. Hotel: On a recent 5-1/2 wk driving trip thru PacNW, Excelsior tied with Albion Manor in Victoria BC and RiverPlace Hotel in Portland as the best accommodations out of the 14 hotels we used. Everywhere else was way behind these three. They are superb, as good as you can find anywhere at any price point. The bldg was totally renovated in 1999. Despite its 1912 age, the floors don't creak underfoot, and you don't hear everybody's toilet flushing. We loved the Craftsman style and antique furniture, but no fussy Victorian frills and lace. It's uncluttered, handsome, and warm. Room was spacious, bathroom was excellent. You can take coffee, tea, and hot chocolate to go - a lovely touch. 2 things to be aware of: Parking is very limited, and being next to the university makes street parking almost impossible. Also, a 6-story apartment bldg is going up 5' away, which will block sun and light. Restaurant: Breakfast is good, but dinner was amazing! We are so glad we didn't miss this place. Excelsior has its own 5-acre farm so the salad veggies all come as fresh and local as one can get. Lovely combinations of ingredients with a great balance - too many kitchens think if a little balsamic is good, then more must be twice as good, right? (Wrong!!) Gnocchi was delightful, the sauce light yet so satisfying, my DH didn't want extra cheese glopped on top, which rarely happens. Veal Parmigiana was excellent and nothing was oversalted. The kicker are the desserts. Pastry chef Milka Babich shouldn't be allowed to retire, even after 28 yrs here. She is an amazing, creative, talented pastry maker. If you love chocolate and orange flavors together, nothing oversweetened, her "Maurizio's Cake" ranks up there with the very best. With a cup of their excellent coffee, we were in gustatory heaven. On our next trip to OR, we will invent an excuse to come back, stay here, and eat again. This restaurant would rank as excellent even in the San Francisco Bay Area, where we live - and we wish they were nearby!
(5)Roseanne F.
We stayed here for one night and that was enough! The parking situation here is absolutely ridiculous. They don't have enough spots in the alley for all the guests, so they have to jockey your car around and double park you, which is a pain in the arse. Yes, we got one of the cheaper rooms (called the Schumann) and it gave new meaning to the word "cozy." I don't mean this in a good way. The bed took up more than 3/4 of the room, the bathroom door hit the toilet when you opened it, the TV was smaller than the monitor on my laptop, and the lock on the door wasn't easy to operate. I expected more from this place!
(1)Nikki W.
This place is delish!
(5)Norman P.
Like any restaurant the Excelsior is not for everyone as evidenced by the variety of reviews, but frankly I'm quite surprised by some of the negative comments. I like and thus frequent the establishment and have always found the food very good, the wait staff attentive, and the prices commensurate with what you get. I have stayed at the B & B and always choose a room which fits my tastes and comfort demands. And contrary to a recent comment, I find the current manager a real gem - very personable and very service minded.
(5)Alyssa E.
This Inn has a lot of potential. I can tell that its attempting to find its place in the old romantic, euro style bed and breakfasts. However, for almost $200 per night, it fails to deliver the quality that it should. My husband and I love b&b's, and I have never experienced such a horrible mattress in my whole life. Every time you turn, the bed would squeak. I hope that perhaps if you ever did stay here, you would avoid the Debussy Room. Maybe the other beds are better quality than this one. I awoke unrested and a bit annoyed. The decor of the room was well done, but in the end, you're expecting to sleep there and you cannot sleep on this bed. We ate dinner and breakfast at the restaurant; nothing to rave about, but not poor either. I appreciate the farm connection, but it just seems like somebody has lost their passion to cook. Many of the dishes were pretty enjoyable, but then my husband orders a great hamburger with fries that look like they came out of a package. Needless to say, we won't ever come back here. I'd rather stay at a regular old hotel for a decent price than be disappointed by this bed and breakfast attempt.
(2)Keanan L.
My girlfriend and I are were searching for an exceptional eatery to celebrate, and we decided to give Excelsior shot. On a Saturday night, we called 20 minutes ahead to reserve a table on the bistro side, on the terrace level. Those are important things to know, because in the small bar area adjacent to us, there was a great little jazz/soul band playing. Sitting too close would have made conversation difficult, but it was close enough to really enjoy some good tunes as *background music*. Among the main issues we've had while dining in Eugene, is a lack of professional service, and this includes all sorts of establishments ranging from fast food to the more swanky places. For having credentials to suggest it should have a great staff, we agreed it had the best front, waiter, and bar staff of all the places we've been to thus far. Our waiter was absolutely fantastic, mixing professional fine dining service with witty humor. With all that said: the food ain't bad either! Definitely recommend the foccasia appetizer, and you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. If you do sit on the bistro side -- which has both the full restaurant menu and a bistro-only menu -- you can tap into many of the things Excelsior is famous for, along with the bistro menu that has cheaper options as well. The main menu certainly isn't cheap, but you really can't expect a bargain when you order dungeness crab ravioli (really good!). If you're willing to pony up the cash for a great meal, that delivers in all facets and doesn't stiff you on ambiance or service, I highly recommend the Excelsior.
(5)