Elizabeth's | Mediterranean Cuisine — Restaurant in Eugene

We had been looking forward to a special Valentine’s Day dinner at Elizabeth’s, as we were eager to support a local restaurant in Eugene. Unfortunately, our experience left much to be desired, and we left feeling more frustrated than satisfied.

From the moment we arrived, we felt rushed, which was disappointing given that we had made reservations in advance. We understand that restaurants get busy on holidays, but the constant reminders from staff that they were closing soon (and this was mentioned at least three times, including from someone in higher management) made us feel like we weren’t welcome to enjoy our meal at a leisurely pace. This was particularly off-putting, as we had planned for a relaxed and romantic evening. It felt less like they were trying to accommodate us and more like they just wanted to push us out as quickly as possible despite us order an app, a full bottle of wine and 2 entrees… our bill was over $100 so please don’t rush us. For context we ordered the kebabs which were small and there was only 2 bite sized portions ($14), wine which was pretty good ($28) and flatbread ($19) and salmon entree ($30) after we tried to order pasta and soup and was told they were fully out of both…..

While our waitress was incredibly sweet and did her best to make us feel comfortable, the overall service didn’t match the level of attention she tried to provide. We were hoping for a nice dining experience, but instead, it felt like we were being hurried through the entire evening.

The food itself was another disappointment. My salmon was overcooked, dry, and fried, leaving a lot to be desired for a special occasion. To add insult to injury, there was only one Brussels sprout on my plate. For the price we were paying, this portion felt incredibly skimpy and unthoughtful. My partner’s steak flatbread was even worse – it was mostly a bed of arugula, and honestly, it looked more like a salad than anything close to a flatbread. The presentation was sloppy, and the flavors didn’t impress.

As if that wasn’t enough, my partner and I tried to order the pasta for our entree and a crème brûlée ahead of time and we were told that they had run out of both pasta and crème brûlée, which is a major letdown on a holiday like Valentine’s Day. How could a restaurant not plan for such a busy night, especially when such signature items are expected to be on the menu? We were recommended the salmon which was 0/10. This only added to the feeling that they were unprepared and not focused on providing a quality experience for their guests.

We really wanted to love Elizabeth’s and support a local business, but the rushed atmosphere, skimpy portions, and lackluster food made it hard to enjoy our meal. The whole experience felt like we were just another table to get through, rather than valued customers. It’s a shame because we thought the restaurant had great potential, but after this experience, we won’t...

I made a reservation two days in advance for Elizabeth’s Wine Lounge at Oakway in Eugene, expecting a relaxing and elevated experience. Unfortunately, what we got was anything but.

When my friend and I arrived, we were surprised to be led to what I can only describe as an end table—tiny, awkwardly low, and definitely not fit for an actual meal. It was placed right by the front door, not even within their designated patio area, meaning we’d be dealing with constant foot traffic from people entering and exiting the restaurant. Considering we had a reservation, we expected something more than a glorified waiting area.

When we politely voiced our concern, the staff made no effort to accommodate or take accountability. We were told, essentially, “that’s just how it goes.” No apology. No real attempt to make it right. They offered us seats at the bar, which we accepted, hoping things would turn around.

Unfortunately, the bar experience wasn’t much better. The bartender was visibly uncomfortable, fidgety, and unprofessional—eating while trying to explain the specials (which she struggled to recall clearly). The vibe felt far from refined, despite dishes averaging around $35.

After waiting 20 minutes just to place our order, a second bartender informed us that wine flights weren’t available on Wednesdays. This detail was nowhere to be found online, in the menu, or mentioned by staff until that point.

At that stage, we decided to cut our losses and leave. We didn’t feel welcomed, respected, or taken care of—and couldn’t justify spending $150+ in a place that clearly wasn’t concerned with offering even a baseline hospitality experience.

Elizabeth’s Wine Lounge might look upscale, but the service and attitude we encountered were...

I have mixed feelings about some of the food we had here so I’ll list the pros and cons. I ordered all the pros and, unfortunately, my sister got the cons.

Pros: My wine pairing with spring, orange, and fennel salad was a 10/10. Service was excellent. Absolutely loved the vibes. Beautiful wine glasses.

Cons: the pomegranate lime aid simply tasted like lime aid. When we asked the server if it was the correct drink, she said the kitchen said they added a ton of pomegranate molasses and even rose water to the drink. I tasted hers for a second opinion and validated what my sister thought. Pomegranate molasses is very thick and intense, so it’s hard to see how that was added to this drink. Rose water is also very recognizable but we didn’t taste it. The drink itself was fine, but just not what we thought we ordered.

We also ordered the margherita pizza and when our server set it down, it looked disappointing. There was a nice crust, but it mostly tasted like a cheese pizza with sprinkles of basil. I couldn’t identify the “homemade” sauce because there was so much cheese. When I think margherita, I’m used to having it with sauce exposed and chunks of fresh cheese with whole fresh basil. It wasn’t horrible but also not what we were expecting.

We’ll probably give this place another try because we liked a lot of the menu items offered, even though it wasn’t a home run during our first...