Belly, Eugene

When you've been named Eugene's best restaurant six years in a row and earned compliments from food expert Mark Bittman, you must be doing something right. If that's the case, then the chefs at Belly are the rightest people in the Pacific Northwest. The signature brand of "rustic farmhouse soul food" remains as charming and inventive as ever; though the menu changes seasonally, favorites include braised Oregon short ribs with white beans and spinach, pan-seared chicken with crawfish gravy, and grilled salmon contrasted with a tart cranberry chutney. These dishes go hand-in-hand with the restaurant's West-Coast-centric wine list, as well as hand-crafted seasonal cocktails produced by resident mixologists.