Restaurants in Coos Bay

Tucked inside the elegant Valley River Inn on the verdant shores of the Willamette River, SweetWaters on the River showcases the Pacific Northwest’s plentiful bounty in gourmet dishes prepared by executive chef Michael Thieme. The seasoned culinary staff, which includes a pastry chef that heads the on-site bakery, devise rotating seasonal menus that flaunt such ingredients as locally harvested organic produce and truffles, artisan cheeses, and native Pacific seafood. The fully stocked bar brims with international wines and homegrown varietals from the flourishing Oregon wine country, and a resident mixologist carefully infuses chic cocktails with fresh, seasonal produce such as chilies and oranges. The dining room’s ceiling-to-floor windows boast panoramic vistas of the adjacent river’s leafy, fertile banks and a covered three-season patio cultivates an alfresco ambiance while offering shelter from rain or snoopy UFOs.

“Every sort of person populating these parts can be seen at the cozy Glenwood Restaurant,” the New York Times says, nodding to the eatery’s popular menu of hearty breakfasts, sandwiches, and other American food. The chili verde brunch burrito—lauded by Sports Illustrated as “worth getting out of bed early for”—greets the day along with fruit waffles and denver omelets, and lunchtime brings tomato-cheese soup and paninis. Tempeh stir-fries with peanut sauce and brown rice join pasta genovese and steak and mushrooms at dinnertime, complemented by glasses and microglasses of wine and microbrews.

Baristas brew up coffee, espresso, tea, and blended drinks at Global Delights, a quaint, locally owned drive thru that infuses its drinks with worldly flavors. The shop recently began roasting its own, certified organic coffee, adding to a menu that already includes pastries as well as gluten-free and vegan options from Holy Donuts. More than just an energy boost for its customers, Global Delights also demonstrates a passion for improving the community, both by supporting other local businesses and working with Eugene charities.

Within the historic Cottage Grove Hotel, Buster's Main Street Cafe serves burgers of locally raised, grass-fed beef from Knee Deep Cattle Company. Chefs crown patties with accouterments such as bacon, cheese, ham, and avocado. Breakfast offerings of omelets and several styles of eggs benedict reward early-rising appetites, while later diners may sip craft brews or select one of 200 craft sodas, including 40 varieties of root beer massaged from the roots of sacred shrubs.

When brothers Omer and Dave Orian moved to America after spending some of their childhood in Belgium, they started to dream about opening a shop that served the Liège-style waffles. Today the curly-haired duo—dubbed “Eugene’s Waffle Imperialists” by the Eugene Daily News—prepares their yeasted waffles across two Eugene locations.

To make Liège waffles, the brothers fold Belgium-imported pearl sugar into a brioche-like yeasted dough, caramelizing the batter in a cast-iron waffle maker before it’s crowned with sweet and savory toppings, like the goat cheese, avocado, and eggs of the shop’s Goat in Headlights waffle. The menu also includes sweet waffles, such as The Ol’ Banana Split. For the adventurous eater, try an “In-between” waffle like The Sweet Funk Machine, with pear, gorgonzola, cinnamon, and wildflower honey. Omelets, salads, and organic coffee round out the menu.

Jung's Mongolian Grill inspires culinary creativity with a family-friendly buffet of stir-fry ingredients and sauces. Guests can load bowls with a menagerie of vegetables, meats, and noodles before handing custom blends to the grill-masters. Staff members then toss and serve edible opuses, permitting patrons to take home their leftovers if they don't return for seconds or anger the door guard by snapping his fake beard. Alternately, diners can rebuild and revise all-you-can-eat concoctions until stomachs replace growls with thankful purrs. The grill battles cravings from 11:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. for lunch and from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. for dinner, elongating its hours to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.