Salt & Straw — Restaurant in Eugene

The first bite of a story has to be an explosion of flavor, else you spit it out, close the book. Something dense, rich. Like a Kodiak giant drinking orange, succulent eggs from the belly of a hen salmon, who jumped untrue over the falls. Is it possible one of those eggs falls into the water, drifting down into the red of another fish? Gets lucky. Or maybe the bloodline dies in the belly of the bear. The words that follow will never die. The truth rolls off the tongue, like beads of water down a duck’s back. Into the river, washing over the fertile gravel bottom below. We were 6 days at sea. I was on the back of a tuna troller 150 miles off the Oregon coast. We followed signs of shearwaters and stormy petrels, as they dove at schools of albacore. I lay in the sun, as the boat swayed side to side, with the swell washing over the deck. Bags of brine salt my lounge cot. Struggling to get comfortable, but the rhythm of the sea is chaotic, and a tight line always seemed to break my relaxation. Small talk nonsense heard over the CB radios, breaking the one note sound of the diesel engine. Piles of fish, turning to piles of cash. We were worlds away, but I could still feel her. Taste her. Time connects all things, even at a distance. I know what you’re thinking, but I’m talking about salt and straw, specifically honey lavender ice cream. A pint of that could quench any thirst. But are you really thirsty? Have you wandered the desert long enough to appreciate the cold spring water that bubbles up out of the Mackenzie pass. Straining hours in the hot summer sun, with every sinew, knowing you have more to give. But you live, to see another sunrise, where you once again stop short. Can you remember her trembling body, as she walks out of the reservoir. The breeze hitting her golden skin just right, sending goosebumps everywhere but what’s covered by that baby blue bikini. Stories end when no written language can do justice to what is underneath. Dear reader, you can lift these words for yourself, if you have the strength to look and see. Is this a dream or a memory? For me it’s neither. I’m not that same man anymore, nor do I wish to be. Well; There is higher highs to be had, isn’t there? You’re a daisy if you do. The ice cream vista may be salt and straw’s honey lavender. So Never Change. Or dare do. I’ll find another muse....if you’ve read this far, God bless you. If you haven’t yet, go stream the new album: West Coast Country. Out on all platforms and iTunes. Salt and straw, if you see this, add those songs to your in-store playlist.. if you haven’t...

I don't leave reviews often, usually only if a service or experience really stands out in one way or the other, and even then I often forget to leave a review, and especially don't want to leave a negative review. But this was a particularly negative experience directed at my disabled child and it still stands out to me.

Was in Eugene recently for an event. I used to live near the original Salt & Straw location in Portland, but haven't had it in a few years since I've moved away. Thought it would be nice to stop in and get a scoop with my child. My child is autistic and sometimes needs more time to go over options, so we let the people behind us go ahead of us while I explained the options to my child. The people ahead of us tried multiple samples each, and we waited patiently for our turn. The male server appeared friendly to them and happy to offer them their samples and take their orders. Then as it was our turn, a small group came in behind us and got in line. My child and I requested to try about three flavors each (that we had already prepared for and had ready to request, and that is no more than what was offered to the group ahead of us) and then ordered our scoops. That same male server suddenly didn't seem as friendly and happy to help us, he stared at my child rudely with disdain, and spoke patronizingly to me at the end while I was paying. The entire time that it was our turn, there was a female server standing behind the male server doing something at that station. If the male server suddenly felt impatient to help us, surely he could've easily asked her to step in and help the group behind us instead of the suddenly severe unwelcoming attitude he displayed towards an...

Firstly, to the young lady scooper who served me yesterday: get rid of the gum. It's never a good idea to be chewing gum when serving food. Ever. I kept imagining that gum falling into the barrel of ice cream and ending up in my cup of oh so special ice cream . Which would be...disgusting. Secondly, I don't get the hype; I really don't. I've had this ice cream in Portland, where it originated (in the before times). It was special and flavorful and original and worth waiting for (which I always had to do because the lines are ridiculous). I understand that Salt and Straw now has become a chain, with brick and mortar stores all up and down the Coast (California and Oregon). Clearly, quality has fallen by the wayside with the expansion, because this ice cream just tastes like a whole lot of smooth cold stuff-it's got very little flavor. All those organically sourced, inventive and interesting flavor combinations? Meh. Can't taste them. What a disappointment. Not a surprise, but a disappointment. Yet another terrific idea and product ruined by success and corporate expansion. Will be going to Handel's or Prince Pucklers...