Salt & Straw

Oh Salt & Straw...words cannot express how much I love thee. Oops, I didn't realize you were here. How embarrassing! But hey, if you have ever tried the delicious gourmet ice cream found at Salt & Straw, you would be able to understand my love affair for this innovative ice cream parlor. First of all, I should note that this place has been featured on Unique Sweets, so that's already a +1. After seeing pictures of their creamy concoctions, I knew I had to stop here when I was in Portland. Unfortunately, it seemed time wouldn't permit me to try Salt & Straw, but then all of a sudden while we were driving down Alberta, my friend was like, "What's that long line for?!" and I was like "OH MY GOD. IT'S SALT & STRAW." I guess God just wanted me to try this amazing ice cream.

We jumped in our car and stood in line with the other dozens of ice cream enthusiasts. I would say it took us about 30 minutes to get to the front of the line, which is probably the longest I have ever waited to eat ice cream. But it was amazing. Unfortunately, I couldn't get that many quality photos because of the dark dusk lighting, but trust me, this little ice cream shop was adorable. Unlimited samples to try any flavor, just be aware of all the people waiting behind you.

I ended up getting the Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper which was surprisingly amazing. It is well known that strawberry and balsamic vinegar go together like PB&J, but the black pepper just threw me through a loop. It was not overpowering, but you could definitely taste how it contributed to the overall flavor. Very nice. My friend got the Black Currant Sorbet, and my other friend got the Pear and Bleu Cheese. Everything was so creamy and delicious, it was definitely worth the wait. All of their ice cream is made fresh and is homemade, what more can you ask for. Also, where else can you say you tried black pepper in an ice cream?

Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper
(kids size)

Off the Waffle

One of the quirkiest places to grab breakfast in all of Eugene has to be Off the Waffle, a waffle joint that serves only liege waffles. No syrup required! These waffles are thick and soft on the inside. So the age old question is, "is Off the Waffle all hype?"

I have ventured to this establishment twice and they are doing VERY well. So well, that they just opened another location in downtown Eugene! Whenever I have gone to the original location, there is always a ton of people squeezed into the small eating area and even the outside area. Table hunting is not on my list of things I want to spend my morning doing, but if the waffles are delicious...it is well worth it.

The first thing you will want to try upon going to Off the Waffle is there freshly squeezed orange juice. We were watching the girl in the kitchen tirelessly shove orange through the juicer, her hands must have been ridiculously itchy.

Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice [$2.50]

The following waffles were shared among my friends and family, so I got to try a little bit of everything! I have to say, I prefer their sweet options over their savory...but that's just my personal preference.

The Beloved Bully [$6.25]
(Belgian chocolate chips, strawberries)

The Sweet Funk Machine [$6.00]
(pear, gorgonzola, cinnamon, local wildflower honey)

The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy [$7.00]
(sunny-side up egg, bacon, real maple syrup)

The Fruit Party [$6.75]
(strawberry, pear, banana, and whipped cream) 

The Fruit Party [$6.75]
(strawberry, pear, banana, yogurt)

Cyclops the Greek [$8.25]
(kalamata olives, tomato, caramelized red onion, feta, egg, spinach,
homemade tzatziki sauce, olive oil, smoked paprika)

The Giuseppe [$6.00]
(Nancy's yogurt, banana, walnuts, coconut flakes)

Out of all these waffles, my favorite was by far the Beloved Bully (I know, I know, I'm boring). I think the fact that the flavors in the Beloved Bully were so familiar, I could appreciate the actual flavor and texture of the waffle itself.

Now would I recommend this place? Yeah, I guess. As you can tell I am not SUPER excited, but it is a fun place to visit with out-of-town guests. This place embodies the vibe of Eugene for an affordable price. The waffles are small, so small that many people argue that the portion is way too small for what you pay. I am someone that can accept paying higher prices for higher quality, so this doesn't bother me THAT much. I am a small eater, so a waffle any bigger would have been too much for me anyway.  A part of me does feel that this place is a little overrated, only because their waffles aren't over-the-top memorable and delicious. However, I do feel like you should try this place at least once if you are in Eugene, just to say you went...but if the there is no seating and the line is really long, there are other options in Eugene much better than Off the Waffle.