This list is in alphabetical order.
AB is a little Chinese place that delivers! The food is middle of the road. Nothing to rave about, but it makes us happy to have food delivered right to our house. Our last order was overcooked, stale, and dry, so sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose with AB. B-
Recently, while recovering from surgery, we ordered from AB Chinese and were pleasantly surprised. We wished that there was some way for us to see a menu, but since we could not we had to ask several questions on the telephone. A lady patiently answered all of the questions and offered additional suggestions for our home delivery. The young man who delivered the food was courteous and friendly. From there we were amazed at the generous and tasty servings. There was so much food, we had enough for a second meal the next day. We would recommend their fine food and home delivery. ++
• Menu Page 1
• Menu Page 2
• Tel: 928.6688
• Addr: 1121 Pacific Boulevard SE
Albany Brew Company
Albany Brew Company (ABC) sadly closed in 1999. The space that Albany Brew Company was in what is now occupied by Toki Teriyaki. Sure Fire Design and a yogurt shop were the occupants in the interim.
Is now Rosie's. See that listing for more info.
Bailey's Sports Bar and Grill
This establishment has opened at the location of the former Cafe Cristo. The name says it all: It's a sports bar. Nothing more, and much less. The atmosphere with more than 3 unfortunate TVs in the restaurant area is as expected: annoying (and, not one patron was observed actually watching the TVs when we were there). Baileys has been historically causing problems for the neighbors with noise and riff-raff, but we've seen some improvement on that front. The food is average and reasonably priced, but the social scene is a bit disturbing and creepy at times. Think fraternity house. Our reviewers have seen apparently drunk patrons harassing the female staff. On another visit, a reviewer had to ask a well-known community person and his guest seated at the next table to stop using the "F-bomb" in every other word. We had a 3-year-old at our table. Rating: C. Albany deserves and needs neighborhood hangouts, but Baileys doesn't make the cut. If you want a burger and fries, go to Calapooia (which is a *good* example of a neighborhood hangout), Szabos, First Burger, etc. Baileys is, however, an ok place (and scene) to have breakfast.
Click Here to See User Reviews• Menu Page 1
• Menu Page 2
• Tel: 926-7583
• Addr: 831 Elm St. SW
Bamboo Diner
Bamboo diner closed on 2/14/10. First Burger has opened in it's place, operated by the same folks.
The Beanery
A locally-owned mini-chain of coffee houses. They have light food available, and it is quite good. Recommended. A
• Tel: 812.8000
• Addr: 1852 Fescue St SE
• www.allannbroscoffee.com
Boccherini's Coffee and Tea House
Boccherini's reopened in early July, 2010. The new operators are the Sybaris/Bamboo Diner/Clemenza's folks.
7/7/09 DA: It has lots more space and a great little menu. They're still getting set-up, so there's an empty spot up front and no real dishes yet (everything seems to be in compostable containers right now). The baked goods are awesome because they make them on site, or down at Sybaris. Yummy little donuts, good Alann Bro coffee, fast internet, and the same great vibe that we all missed from the original Boccherini's.
• Tel: 926.6703
• Addr: 208 First Avenue
• www.boccherinis.com
Bo-Mack's BBQ
Bo Macks is owned by the Knebel family out of Lebanon, who have been running a well-liked catering business ("Gotcha Covered Catering"). A dedicated BBQ place in town is somwhat nice. However, Bo Macks is marginally OK. The prices are quite a bit high for Albany. (We compared Bo-Mack's prices with several downtown New York BBQ joints, and Bo-Mack's was higher. You'd expect little old Albany, Oregon restaurants to cost less than the big city!) Please note that they are only open Wednesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner. They do not sell alcohol, so no beer with that BBQ! I ate lunch their recently and as much as I want to like the place, it's just not there yet. The family that runs the place is very nice and sincere. But, the service was not fast, even though there were only four or five other tables (two were singles) in the place. I had a beef brisket sandwich, and it was quite mediocre. The brisket was mushy and fatty. The consistancy of the white bread and the meat was the same. Not good. The cole-slaw was fine, but it had no flavor. I'd guess that if the cabbage had more of the dressing, it would be good. The fries are the same disappointing shoestring greasy things that you would get a McMenamins. And, the bread on the sandwich got soaked in all the excess grease from the fries. Yuck. And, finally, the potato salad was bland. Just a little more salt and pepper would make it decent. The menu reported "large sides". They are not. The potato salad was the size of a single small ice-cream scoop, and it was $2.00. On the good side, the cornbread and sweet butter is quite good. So, I had the sandwich, coleslaw, potato salad, and fries for lunch, and it set me back $12.50, not including beverage or tip. Ouch. Oh, I can't forget the BBQ sauces. They are fine. Nothing exciting. They have three different varities: normal, spicy, and extreme. Don't be afraid to try the extreme, it's not very hot. I don't want to be mean, but I've bought better (and cheaper) sauce at the grocery store. So, to sum the experience up: Bo-Macks is not bad. They're just not great, and not worth the prices they charge. Unless I hear reports of huge improvements, I'll not be a regular customer. Because they are genuinely nice folks, I wish them well. C+.
Click Here for User Reviews• Click for Menu
• Addr: 119 SE First Avenue, Albany
• Tel: 791-7058
• www.bo-mack.com
Bogey's
As of 4/23/10, Bogey's has closed. No surprise there.
Brewster's
As of 7/2/10, Brewster's is open in the former Henry's location. They've remodeled the inside a bit, with the installation of much needed dividers and other needed interior decorations. On our first dinner visit there, service was reasonably good for a new server. Food was fairly good, particularly the chicken special. The only glitches were a mistake made on one of our items (the kitchen had to re-do it), and the two annoying TVs at both ends of the room were on. As usual, no-one was watching them. Sure, TVs in the bar area are expected, but not in the dining room. On another dinner visit, the food was good, service a bit slow, but the TVs were off. They are open on Sundays and Mondays, which is a bonus. With improvements in service speed, and keeping those TVs off (perhaps removing them?), Brewster's would hit the mark. Rating: B-.
7/23/10 MM: My wife and I visited Brewsters on a Friday night at about 6pm, and were pleased to see there was no wait for a table, and that the physical setup of the place has been improved greatly from the sportsbar / linen-laden steakhouse all stacked in a 1 room combo that was Henry's, into a better seperated resturaunt with a bar on the other side of the divide. Menu was fair, and prices were 9-17 dollars per entre. Everything was nice and clean and staff was good too. (same clean & new feeling all those North Albany resturaunts have). I ordered the PhillyCheeseSteak with the side salad, and wife got steak and potatoes with side salad. Warm bread comes standard and was tasty and kept full. The salads were small but fresh with dressing in the side and I was told the steak was not bad, but nothing special. My Philly was nice and warm with lots of flavor, but the presentation left lots to be desired. My big white plate looked pretty empty with just a pub-style 9 inch sandwhich cut in half. Perhaps a ploy to get me to hungerly eyeball the desert menu? We'll be back, but i'm hoping that they plate up something to go along with the $10.50 dinner sandwich. Recommend everyone gives Brewsters a try for themselves.
7/28/10 KS: Have to say that I'm really disappointed that Brewster's is essentially Henry's with the same name and a little remodeling. Had I known this I wouldn't have wasted my time there. The waitstaff is the same (which was one of my big problems with Henry's) and the menu is largely unchanged, albeit somewhat bigger. Only 3 tables were occupied when we arrived, but that didn't stop the service from being ridiculously slow. Free potato chips (which appeared during lunch at the old Henry's) were quite blackened and inedible. My spouse and I both went with burgers, customizing them slightly and asking for different temperatures. Both burgers arrived at the same temperature (well done, which was disappointing for my medium-loving spouse). The fries/tots come from frozen, quite sad considering how easy they are to make fresh. Bottom line: mediocre food that costs too much for what it is ($35 including tip for 2) and the slow waitstaff combine for a date killer. I'd have to strongly discourage anyone from eating at Brewster's. D+
• Hours: Sun - Wed/ 11 a.m. to Midnight/ Thursday - Saturday/ 11 a.m. - 2 a.m.
• Tel: 541.928.8590
• Menu Page 1
• Menu Page 2
• Addr: Hickory
• Web: None Yet
The Buzz Saw
The Buzz Saw closed circa 2003. It was purchased and operated as Takena Pointe for a short time. Since then, it has been shuttered. Someone in Corvallis purchased the building, tore it down, and is building a new office/restaurant space. Looks like something might be open in Fall 2010 or so.
Cafe Cristo
The former Cafe Cristo has closed (Spring, 2008), is now Bailey's Sports Bar. See their listing, above.
Cappies Brewhouse
Cappies opened mid-June 2010. Our initial experiences have been good: they were quite busy one night, and handled it well. The food is good and reasonably priced. The menu is varied from burgers to streak. The restaurant is operated by Chad Pope, who formerly was a chef at the Springhill Country Club. They feature Capapooia Brewing beer, with a good selection on tap. There are the usual unfortunate TVs on the bar side, but fortunately none on the restaurant side. The food is above-average pub style food. It is fresh, and served with an attractive presentation. Their rueben is quite good, as are their fries. The service is generally quite good, but one evening we did have a server that needed to be reminded to bring serveral items (rolls, salad dressing, silverware). The atmosphere is quite nice, being a cleaned up spiffed out version of Wyatt's. Cappies is very much worth a look. Rating: B+.
6/18/10 SJ: After finding Henry's closed, my wife and I ventured over the bridge to Cappies to see if the crowds had yet abated. It was 8pm and they had. We were quickly seated. The menu definitely looked familiar. Although some of the dishes were different, chef Chad appears to have brought a lot with him from Springhill. My wife had fish and chips, I had the burger with the Boxcar Brown ale. The fish was halibut and very nice, as had been at the club. Served with peppered fries. There's only one burger on the menu, you just start with the basics and add what you want from a generous selection of cheeses, vegetables, and condiments. The quality of the meat seems better than it had been at the club, and the burger as a whole will provide serious competition for First Burger, across the street. Most of the menu, with some additions, are favorites we enjoyed at the club. I saw some tasty looking desserts go by but, alas, did not save room this time. My only regret is that the pub style cuisine doesn't let chef Chad express fully his talents in the fine dining department.
• Hours: Monday - Thursday/ 11 a.m. to 9 p.m./ Friday - Saturday/ 11 a.m. - Midnight
• Tel: ???
• Addr: 211 First Ave. SW Albany
• Web: http://cappiesbrewhouse.com/
Cascade Grill
Cascade Grill opened in Dec. 2008. It is owned by the same person that operated the Big-O in Corvallis for many years. They are located at the north end of the Albany airport, next to the convention center. A recent dinner there changed my dim view of Cascade. The Ahi appetizer was cooked to perfection (lightly seared), my Cascade Chicken quite tasty, and my partner's salad was good as well. Service was friendly and fast. On another visit, the food was decent as well. The salads were large, and fairly tasty. Bread is good. But, in all the times we've been there (4 or so), the service has been slow. We've even had to ask other servers walking by for things. There is no shortage of staff, but even when it's not too busy, the service is slow. Fix that, and the place will be great. B-.
Click Here to See User Reviews• Click Here For Menu and Hours
• Tel: 541.497.7802
• Addr: Knox Butte Rd.
• Web: http://cascadegrillalbany.com/
This is the former Oregon Trader, with different owners/brewers. All reports are great about Calapooia Brewing. The main attraction is some of the best micro-brewed beers in the Valley. Their new kitchen is up and running. They have a great reproduction of the "Squirrel's Burger" there, as well as other good food. Second best burger in town! One customer told us "The new owners put the spirit back into the place". Kids are welcome until 6PM. Calapooia is partnering with folks in Corvallis to open a brewery there (Flat Tail). Hopefully the Albany operation doesn't get neglected. Rating: A.
• Click For Menu and Hours
• Tel: 541.928.1931
• Addr: 140 Hill St NE
• Web: www.calapooiabrewing.com
• On-site micro-brewery
• Heated Outside Seating
• Children are permitted everyday of the week until 4PM. Adults (over 21) all other times.
• Darts
• Live Music
Cappriccio
Closed in 2001. See the listing for Sybaris.
Charms Of Tea
Is now (2/2010) The Ivy Garden Tea Room
Charlie's Rhythm and Brews - Live Coffee and Music
This nice establishment has cropped up on 3rd st. We stopped in to Charlies on a recent Saturday morning, and we're quite happy with the place. They have light breakfast items, like biscuits and gravy, bagels, and muffins. Of course, there is coffee. The atmosphere is comfortable and inviting. Prices are right where they should be. Service was is fast and polite. Charlie keeps threatening to move/sell/close the place, so come on down and show your support! Quite recommended. A.
6/14/09 SJ: Wife and I rode our scooters downtown this morning and stopped at Charlie's Rhythm & Brews for a morning bite and coffee. It's been there since last October, but this is the first time we've dropped in. Just driving by, the store front looks a little dive-y, but stop in - you'll be surprised. Inside it's a nice, comfortable coffee house. There's a little stage area in one corner for the Rhythm part. Sofa and chairs ala Central Perk, bunch of tables. Framed covers of Rolling Stone adorn the walls. The proprietor is Charlie Busch, late of KLOO-FM (from which we miss him). I had one of the breakfast burritos, toasted on the Panini grill - adds a nice crispiness. The Mrs. had one of the ooey-gooey cinnamon rolls, which was nice and fresh (although I like mine heavier on the goo). We'll definitely be back, either for breakfast or coffee drinks. Looking forward to coming by sometime in the evening for the live music. Recommended = A.
• Tel: 541.924.5668
• Addr: 229 3rd Ave.
• Web: http://www.charliesrandb.com/
China #1 Buffet
My wife and I visited the China #1 Buffet recently and I have to say that we were disappointed. Unfortunately, the Albany China Buffet was a disappointment in all these areas. My freshly washed (and still wet) plate had food particles on it. The sushi selection was very limited and the pieces were mostly rice. I tried two of the soups. The seafood soup had no seafood flavor and the egg flower tasted like chicken stock with a little egg thrown in. The other items I tried were notable for their blandness. They had a large selection of hard ice cream (yay) but the freezer was dirty and most of the tubs of ice cream were nearly empty. Those tubs showed signs that the product had melted and refrozen. I would suggest this restaurant if you're particularly hungry and not particularly fussy about cleanliness or tasteliness. Otherwise I would suggest that you take your $10 elsewhere. Not recommended.
• Tel: 541.928.1810
• Addr: 2732 Pacific Blvd SE
Chinese Kitchen
1/27/10 SS: I have to tell you, Chinese Kitchen is a humble, but clean establishment, but it's a real sleeper: they have been serving some of Albany's BEST chinese food for decades. Quantity, quality, service and price are all excellent. We go there as often as we can, and have been doing so for the best part of 25 years. Well worth knowing about.
• Tel: 928-2197
• Addr: 1644 Pacific Blvd
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Ciddici's Pizza
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Cooper's
No review, please submit. Coopers opened in Sept. 2008
County Courthouse Diner
No review, please submit.
• Tel: 967-3877
• Addr: Fourth St SW
This is a fried seafood joint. Smallish, cozy, with an interesting decor. Very well known in the local area. As one customer said, "You can have anything you want, as long as it's fried." Which is basically true, but most fried fish plates come with a salad. Sometimes a bit on the greasy side, and not-so-fresh tasting, but usually better than chain restaurant seafood. Rating: C+
Click Here for User Reviews• Tel: 541.926.7326
• Addr: 822 Lyon St S
• Interesting Decor
Clemenza's American Italian Cafe
Clemenzas offers lunch and dinner 5 days a week (Tues through Sat). Lunch is from 11 to 2, and dinner is from 5 to 8 (Of course, this schedule is subject to change, so please give them a call to verify). Clemenza's is owned by the same good folks that own Sybaris. Their fare is very Americanized Italian food. Well prepared, and the pricing is attractive. A recent dinner there was good, and so was the service. Be advised that they do not currently take reservations for groups under 5 persons, but you can get items to go. Rating: B.
Click for User Reviews• Click For Menu and Hours
• Tel: 926.3353
• Web: http://www.clemenzacafe.com/
• Addr: 236 1st St. SW Albany, Oregon
EL Dorado
Mexican -- No review, please submit.
• Tel: 791-3198
• Addr: 1720 Pacific Blvd SW
El Toro Mexican
Has Closed.
First Care Cafe
Located inside Albany General Hospital.BM 9/2/07: Better then you would guess and half the price you would guess. They get extra credit for serving kozy shack puddings.
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First Burger
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First Round Tavern and Grill
The First Round Changed ownership to the now-closed Bogey's.
Game Time Sports Bar
Looks to be ok. C+.
For such a seemingly generic sports bar they have surprisingly good pizza, although the wait staff and bartenders seem new and inexperienced. After only getting half of our party's orders, we had to ask if the rest had been placed (which it hadn't). One of the orders was a plate of appetizers which they also got wrong. On the plus side, they have local beers, including Calapooia's Boxcar Brown. Overall I would say this is a safe bet as far as sports bars go in Albany.
•Addr: 2211 Waverly Dr SE
•Tel: 541.981.2376
•Web: www.gtsportsbar.com
Geary Street Cafe
Closed circa 2006.
Ginza
This is a decent Japanese sushi restaurant. The sushi is fresh, the other Japanese dishes are quite good, and the portions are large. Sometimes the service is great, other times it is very slow to practically non-existent. I think the key is to be there when it is not busy (after the dinner hour). Try the green tea ice cream. Recommended. Prices are reasonable. If service was consistently good and somewhat fast, Ginza would be highly recommended! Rating: B.
8/21/08 MM: Delicious but I've only eaten there for lunch where you order at the counter so service isn't an issue. Lines aren't too bad if you get there early and the plates are large. The owners are friendly as well.
BM 9/2/07: I agree the service is sporadic, but the chef is way better than "acceptable". This guy's rice is the best in the valley; his knife technique is textbook and his presentation is in the the Japanese tradition. We just order everything "to go" over the phone and pick it up (thus avoiding service issues and screaming kids [ours, not the restaurant])
• No Online Menu Available
• Tel: 917.9999
• Addr: 2218 Santiam Hwy SE
• Fresh Food
Hasty Freez Freeze
I don't know how/why we forgot to post this treasure of a local establishment on the page until now. (Thanks LD!) It's a good old fashioned walk/drive-up ice cream, shake, and burger joint. It's been around for more than a million years, and is a fixture in downtown Albany. It's certainly not gourmet, but nothing beats an ice cream and some greasy fries from Hasty on a hot summer night. Sure, they might be slow. But, enjoy every minute of standing in line. Recommended. A.
Click for User Reviews• Tel: 541.926.2144
• Addr: 655 Lyon St. Albany, Oregon
Henry's at Hickory (Or is it Henry's on Hickory)
Henrys has closed. No surprise there. There is a banner out front stating "opening soon". I certainly hope they fix the service/cleanliness/atmosphere problems they had before reopening. Finally, please get rid of the TVs! Brewster's will be opening "soon" in it's place.
• No Menu Available
• Tel: 541.926.3672
• Web:
• Addr: 640 NW Hickory St across from Ray's Grocery
The Hickory Pit
This place is ok for BBQ/smoked meats. Oddly enough, Hickory Pit offers Thai food (Well, it's not odd, considering it's been owned by a Thai couple for the past two years). And, the Thai food is good, so it's worth a take-out try. Service on Thai food might be slow, so be forewarned. Atmosphere is a bit funky, but it's Albany. Prices are quite reasonable. Rating: B-
• Menu Page 1
• Menu Page 2
• Menu Page 3
• Menu Page 4
• Tel: 541.924.9667
• Addr: 2200 Pacific Blvd SE
The Ivy Garden Tea Room
2/14/10 GL: Charms Of Tea changed hands a while back and was renamed The Ivy GardenTea Room. The new owner is Dawn McElroy, who used to have the Joyful Hearts Tea Room in Corvallis. I believe they have limited days of opperation. Now Dawn has taken over the remainder for the space formerly occupied by Aromatique and will be opening a gift shop.
• Addr: 333 1st Ave.
• Tel: 541.928.7330
Jacopetti's Deli
Jacopetti's has closed the cafe, but they still offer catering services. Sweet Things Bakery and Deli has opened at the same location.
King Kone
I used to love the place as a kid!
6/4/08 MT: My favorite meal from King Kone is their Chicken Cordon Bleu sandwich. It's not what you'd call 'diet friendly', but it is sooo good. It's a chicken breast (I believe it's breaded and fried) with a slice of ham, cheese (it's a mild white cheese), lettuce, tomato and a special sauce (I think it's ranch dressing) on a sesame seed bun. It comes with really yummy krinkle fries and is only $4.50 or, if you prefer it without fries it's $4. They also have the best soft-serve ice cream and their large ice cream portion sizes are what they are known for - hence the name. My youngest really loves their strawberry cheesecake ice cream (not soft serve). The dining atmosphere isn't that great, but I would recommend ordering your food to go and taking it to one of the nearby parks.
• Tel: 926.5668
• Addr: 1515 Salem Ave
Has closed. Lucky Garden (see review below) has opened in it's place.
Linn-Benton Community College Culinary School, The Santiam Restaurant
LBCC operates several restaurants as training outlets for their culinary program. All reports come back good. One review said, "You get a great meal for a great price." Recommended. Give LBCC a ring for more details. Rating: A.
• Tel: 917-4392
• Addr: 6500 SW Pacific
• http://www.linnbenton.edu/go/culinary-arts/events
• Local Educational Institution
Little Bangkok
Has closed. So has it's replacement: Thai Tip. Bamboo Diner is in that space.
Loafers Bistro (aka Loafer's After Dark)
Loafers has been sold to Szabos. Szabo's has closed the Loafer's Deli section. Szabo's remains open.
Los Dos Amigos
Los Dos Amigos is very much not recommended. The food and service are sub par. There are many other good alternatives in this area. Not Recommended. Potential diners should be aware of this incident that happened several years ago. Does not bode well for Los Dos Amigos! Again, not recommended. Rating: D.
Click Here To See User Reviews• No Online Menu
• Tel: 541.928.4820
• Addr: 2133 Santiam Hwy SE
Los Tequilas Mexican Restaurant
Los Tequilas is a generally good restaurant. Usually the service is great, but we were there on one occasion where it was horrible. But, that was unusual, so we still recommend this joint. Probably the best "Mexican food" in Albany. Rating: B.
Click Here to See User Reviews• Menu Page 1
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• Menu Page 3
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• Menu Page 5
• Tel: 541.791.3966
• Addr: 2525 Santiam Hwy
Love Love Teriyaki
Love Love is decent. B-.
PG 6/18/10: A friend recommended this place to me when I first moved here about three years ago. Pretty much typical Teriyaki joint. Noodles, pork dishes, etc. I am absolutely addicted though to their spicy chicken. You get a huge amount of chicken and rice for around $8. I always have leftovers for the late night munchies. The lo mein noodles and yakisoba are subpar. Greasy and not very flavorful. They are also now venturing into the sushi business which only appears to have a shrimp tempura roll on the menu. I hear it is amazing, however trust your sushi to Ginza. All in all, if you want some Teriyaki chicken, then this is a safe bet. B
Lucky Garden Chinese
Lucky Garden is another mediocre "chinese" joint. Not recommended. They have many misspelling on their website and menus. It looks like they "used" the template for their very annoying website from a Japanese restaurant site. Wierd. C-.
1/17/10 GJ: This is the new Chinese restaurant that is at the old Lee's Wok address. My friends and I had high hopes that Albany would finally get a great Chinese restaurant. We will be continuing to wait. We will be going back to AB Chinese or Lum Yuen since they are a steady average. Also: spelling errors on the take-out menu (Carb should be Crab.) Grade: D- Good: Friendly and knowledgable staff. Nice Decor. No MSG. Will have an internet menu. Portions generous. Bad: The food. Pork Fried Rice and Vegetable Fried Rice: too salty and heavy on the oil. Pineapple Chicken: great combo of flavors, but frozen mixed veggies and gristle chicken. Almond Fried Chicken: heavy gravy, this was all that you can taste. The foods that let you know that it is a "great" Chinese restaurant: Crab Puffs and Fried Shrimp: not light and tender, but heavy on the grease and fried crisp/hard. We purchased appx $30 worth of food, and threw out near half of it out. It was not deemed worth eating again.
• Tel: 541.928.9908
• Addr: 2845 Santiam Hwy, Albany, OR
• Web: http://www.luckygardenchinese.com/ Menu is on the website.
Lum Yuen Restaurant
A pilot friend, who likes to fly into the Lum Yuen and eat, tells us their Chinese-style food is decent, and the portions large. There is ample parking for both planes and cars. Lum Yuen is located at the south end of the Albany Airport runway. The airport code is S12, for you pilots. Suggested.
FE 1/8/10: This is a great chinese place. They have a wonderful lunch buffet with quality food and a great price. The variety of food in the lunch buffet may not be as wide as some, but the quality and freshness of the food is much better than your average chinese lunch buffet. For $5.95 all you can eat, it's a great lunch choice if you're hungry. Dinner here is excellent as well. My first time there for dinner I ordered the Kung Pao chicken. It was served in a large pyrex pie plate. It was a heaping pile of food. Huge portions! More than I could eat (which is rare). Unlike some chinese places, this Kung Pao chicken was primarily chicken. The next time I went for dinner I tried a combination dinner. The fried shrimp was extremely fresh, right out of the fryer. And the sweet and sour pork was also very hot and crispy fresh. I've been to several chinese places in Albany, this is by far and away my favorite.
• No Online Menu
• Tel: 541.928.8866
• Addr: 1236 Price Rd SE
• Parking for Small Planes
Mexico Lindo
This is a Mexican joint that opened up in the North Albany Shopping Center. Service is fast and friendly, but the food is a bit bland. They are good for take-out, but we'd recommend Los Tequilas for sit down meals. Mexico Lindo is marginal. Rating: C+.
8/11/09 WM: My fiance and I use to enjoy this place fairly regularly for its quick service, the food was never outstanding just typical Mexican fare. Unfortunately, our opinion had to change after our last visit. As with most people, we don't have a ton of money to spare and since we weren't especially hungry, splitting a plate of fajitas made the most sense/cents. The hostess was pleasant enough until the moment we asked to split our dinner, from there on out her demeanor had switched completely. While she completely was ignoring us and chitchatting with the tables around us, we were forced to grab the guy cleaning tables for everything she neglected, such as our salsa, guacamole and sour cream along with refills on our drinks. We rarely judge a place solely by one poor experience, but that evening left such a sore taste in our mouths, it's hard to give them a second chance. Perhaps we will try this place again, but first we are in serious need of some mouthwash.
6/6/09 SJ: I've dined at the Corvallis location for years, mostly due to the close proximity to my office and their lightning fast service. My wife and I visited the North Albany location for an early dinner on a Saturday. The food is quick and reliable, but fairly bland. That suits my wife fine, she doesn't care for spicy food. However I like it zesty, so the cuisine leaves me fairly nonplused. Merely okay = B.
• Click For Menu
• Tel: 541.981.2379
• Addr: 637 NW Hickory #130
• Web: http://www.gomexicolindo.com/
Momiji Japanese
Momiji opened in mid-march 2010. They feature Sushi and other Japanese fair. The service is good, but the food is OK. We tried the sushi and the bento box. Service was good, except that our sushi came out 10 minutes before the rest of the dinner. For Japanese, we recommend Ginza. B-.
3/24/10 SA: 5 stars, great sushi, very nice service, nice ambience, great addition to North Albany!!!
3/23/10 WM: We just ate lunch at Momiji and loved it! We got 15% off for their Grand Opening, and ate our weight in nigiri and rolls. The tempura in the soft shell crab roll is spot on! My fianc?? (who historically sticks to philly and Cali rolls) loved that roll, even with it's large crabby pieces sticking out to high heaven. I got tuna and yellow tail nigiri, it was fresh, firm and flavorful. The service was great, although the food took a little longer than normal...but come on! They just opened! Try it, it's delicious!
• Click For Menu
• Tel: 541.497.6013
• Addr: Ray's Plaza, North Albany
• Web: http://momiji-sushi.com/
Novak's Hungarian Paprikas Restaurant
Novaks Paprikas is a wonderful, locally-owned Hungarian establishment. Food is good, and service friendly. You might even have an accordion player roaming around serenading you. The atmosphere/decor is uninteresting, but on many nights the owners, Joe and "Mama" Novak, will personally greet you as they circulate through the dining room. Novaks is Recommended. Average price $18.00. Rating: A
VL 5/15/08: Food at Novak's is delicious. Being of Eastern European descent, the food reminded me of my family's. Prices are very reasonable and service was wonderful. Definitely going back.
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• Tel: 967.9488
• Addr: 2306 Heritage Way SE
• Next door to GI Joe's
• novaks-hungarianrestaurant.com
Is closed. Clemenza's is roughly in the same location.
One Wine Bar
Jim Jones' One Wine Bar closed in June 2006, Wilhelm's Spirits and Eatery has opened in this location.
Orchard Cafe
Has closed.
Oregon Trader Brewery
Oregon Trader has changed hands. See the Calapooia Brewing Co. listing.
The Original Breakfast
A recent breakfast (July 10, 2009) was not enjoyable. Sure, the food was ok (and a bit over priced). My eggs benedict was mediocre, and my partner's pancakes were dry. We can make both items much better at home. Service was quite good, though. But, it was very very hot and loud. The restaurant was a bit more than half full, so who knows how bad the atmosphere would be if it was full. I can see no reason to go back. Not recommended. C.
Click for User Reviews• Tel: 928.7841
• Addr: 3225 Santiam Hwy
Pepper Tree Sausage
Pepper Tree is an Albany gem since 1982. Mike makes the sausage (and other tasty meat products) on-site, and it's fabulous. They serve breakfast and lunch in their small (probably 12 people) seating area. Plus, you can get sausage, bacon, and other meat to go. Open Tues to Sat. 7 to 3, except open 'til 6 on Tuesday and Friday. They'll be closed for the month of April 2010 for maintenance. Highly recommended! A+
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• Tel: 541.928.1254
• Addr: 1125 Salem Avenue SE, Albany, OR
• Web: http://www.proaxis.com/~ptsh/
Ping's Garden
Pings Garden is a below average "Chinese" restaurant. Food is not interesting and not fresh, but the service is decent. The restaurant decor is worn, and marginally clean. Menu is overpriced. Not recommended: there are better, cheaper choices, like Lum Yuen. Rating: C.
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• Tel: 967.7367
• Addr: 1206 9th Ave SE
• www.pingsgarden.com
Pizza Amore
This place is another good pizza joint in Albany. The calzone is good, as well as the pizza. The wait might be long if you go in, but the secret is to call ahead. We are lucky in having yet another good pizza joint in Albany. The crust can sometimes be a bit greasy, but still good. Recommended, and not too expensive, either. Rating: B+
Click Here For User Reviews• Menu Page 1
• Menu Page 2
• Menu Page 3
• Menu Page 4
• Tel: 541.917.9000
• Addr: 2200-block of SE Santiam Hwy (next to Ginza, see above)
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Pizza King
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Pop's Branding Iron
Pops Branding Iron is a 24-hour, cowboy-themed, family-style restaurant. I used to come here with my friends when we'd get off work late. They have good burgers and the food is well priced. Don't come here expecting a formal place by any means. I don't really want to call it this, but the only other description I can think of is "greasy spoon." Suggested. Rating: B-.
• Tel: 926.5755
• Addr: 901 Pacific Blvd SE
Rigoberto's Mexican
No review, please submiut
• Tel: 541-967-4066
• Addr: 2025 Satium HWY SE
Rileys has burgers, sandwiches, or deep-fried stuff. You can play pool and darts there, as well. Unfortunately, Riley's has been sliding down hill on their food. Their focus is now to be a dance/bar/hangout. I'd guess that this direction was determined by economics. It's just not a place to hang out and have a good dinner anymore. But, if you like the younger bar (meat market) type of scene, Riley's is one of two choices in downtown Albany. JPs is the other. Rating: C
Click Here for User Reviews• Click For Menu
• Tel: 926.2838
• Addr: 124 Broadalbin St SW
• www.rileysbilliards.com
• Occasional Live Music
Riverview Mongolian Grill
A less-than-average, unexciting Mongolian grill. Last time were there, the "buffet" was a bit dirty, and so were the table. The service was almost non-existant, and the prices high. Not Recommended. Rating: C-.
Click for User Reviews• Tel: 541.791.4784
• Addr: 2125 Pacific Blvd SW
Roger's Restaurant
We have been checking out local greasy spoons, looking for Albany's best comfort food. Unfortunately Rogers wasn't it, not even close. I had the pot roast special with a baked potato (because the mashed, my favorite, was instant). The potato appeared to have been in the warmer for 6 hours so it was pretty solid and the gravy was definitely out of a can, no doubt a very large can. The commercial roll came with whipped margarine (Illegal in NY). The canned corn was okay and the bean soup was quite tasty. My partner's 1/2 chef salad was nearly all iceberg lettuce. The cheese was pasteurized something. The total of the toppings made up about 10% of the salad. Definitely not a place we'd return to. (So far, the Branding Iron is our favorite in this category.)
2/24/08 PM: Oh, and to add a comment to your review of Roger's, I've only ever eaten breakfast foods there, and their breakfasts are greasy but pretty good. I've never tried it for lunch or dinner and I'm in no hurry to, but I'd recommend the breakfasts.
• Tel: 541.926.6717
• Addr: 2165 Pacific Blvd SE
Rosie's
This was formely called "Angelica's"
HB 11/22/09: Angelica's in now called Rosie's.? It does not appear to be the same owners...the interior and menu have all changed.? After returning from Texas after 3 years my wife and I wanted to hit Angelica's for lunch and found it changed to Rosie's, but decided to give it a try.? This is the worst excuse for Mexican food I have had in my life!? Lunch was one small ent??e (I had a cheese enchilada, my wife had a chicken enchilada) with rice and beans.? The portions were ridiculously small?? The cheese turned to oil, and the sauce is some strange, orange stuff that obviously comes from a can.? Who ever took over this restaurant just plain isn't trying! Not recommended!
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• Tel: 541.926.1943
• Addr: 1727 Hill St. SE Albany, OR 97321
• Web: http://www.rosies-restaurant.com/
Sam City
Sam City is, in a word OK. The service is friendly, if not fast. Prices are fine. Food is really so-so. It's not bad, but it's not amazing, either. It's a funky (or as they call "fusion") menu, that ranges from Pho to Gyoza to Fish and Chips. We were there for dinner, but I hear it's better for lunch. Again, Sam City gets a so-so rating. Rating: C.
SJ 6/24/09: I finally persuaded my wife to try Sam City. I've been curious about it since they opened. Have to agree that the service is friendly. You'll notice two things right away. 1) The seats are uncomfortably close to the table and 2) the menu looks like it was made by someone with 101 fonts on their computer and an ambition to use each and every one. I had the spicy pork - it was so-so. My wife had the teriyaki chicken but didn't care for it at all. She much prefers Toki Teriyaki. I hate it when my wife is right. Can't really recommend them. = C
10/18/08 RK: Have eaten at Sam City a couple of times now, and it's very good with nicely varied menu. The Pho is excellent and the other dishes we've tried have also been delicious. We'll definitely go back, and often. I only wish I could get a Vietnamese lemonade somewhere around here. Recommended!
• Tel: 928-6180
• Addr: 2180 Pacific Blvd SE
Shawn's on first
Shawn's has closed their doors permanently circa Labor Day weekend 2008. Bo Mack's BBQ has opened in that location. See their listing for more information.
Sidekick's
Sidekicks is a good coffee and light fare joint. We've always been happy with their coffee and food. Located next door to The Depot. B
Click for User Reviews• Tel: 967.7558
• Addr: 832 Lyon St
Shirley May's
They have great, affordable burgers and fries. Not really in Albany; it is in Cottonwoods between Albany and Lebanon on Hwy 20.
2/18/10 JC: Shirley mae's My husband loves this little hole in the wall. Super cheap prices and a wonderful breakfast! Coffee under $1 and free refills- the pancakes are as big as the plates and they put the eggs, bacon, etc on the pancakes as there is no room on the plate. The place is pretty small and the decor is a little crazy (jungle animal theme... it is truly a "greasy spoon" kinda place) but if you want a great price and good food fast try it out!
• Tel: 928.9662
• Addr: 36065 Highway 20
Smokehouse Cafe
The Izzy's owned Smokehouse Cafe has closed (Sept 2008).
Spice & Ice Asian Grill & Gelato
They have an interesting menu, from steamed hamburgers to grill to gelato. There has been some service glitches in the past, but the food is decent. Given the mixed reviews, we'd say maybe recommended. S&I is improving. They feature gluten-free items. B-.
Click Here for User Reviews• Click Here for Menu and Hours
• Tel: 541.791.3430
• Addr: 637 NW Hickory - Next to Ray's Food Place in North Albany
Sweet Things Bakery and Deli
2/14/10 GL: Sweet Things Bakery & Deli has gone in were Jacopetti's Deli used to be. They have great scone and pasteries and are famous for their GIANT cinnamon rolls! Sherrie did a wonderflu cake for my best friends Wedding reception. The cake was beautifully decorated and guaranteed to had to be the best tasting cake I'd had in a long time. Besided being a bakery they have a few tables where you can sit and enjoy coffee and a pastery or choose a deli sandwich for lunch.
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• Web: http://www.sweetthingsalbany.com/home
• Tel: 541.928.8804
• Addr: 288 Hickory St. Albany, Or
Sweet Waters Family Restaurant
7/22/09 AR: Albany, Oregon. My boyfriend and I were looking for a new, quiet place to eat in Albany. The atmosphere was clean and quiet because of the three parties in the restaurant, we were the only one under the age of 50. But that does not matter. Sweet Waters is billed as home cooking, and if they were aiming to cook like my mother they were right on par. I ordered top sirloin and teriyaki chicken for $13.50. I chose a trip through the salad bar, which I would recommend as part of a meal, but come no where near the stand alone price of $8.50 for one trip through. When my meal arrived I had a cup of canned green beans with bacon, which tasted, as well as looked to be fresh out of a can. The mashed potatoes and gravy were of the instant, just add water variety. The steak was tendered and cooked just as ordered and can easily be duplicated at home by first stopping by your favorite Costco frozen meat department. The chicken breast wore the scars of being defrosted in the microwave and probably shared shelf space at Costco with the steak. My partners mushroom Swiss burger was excellent and he states it is better than the Red Robin equivalent. Overall, if your level of home style cooking is canned, instant or cheap bulk meat product and you like overpaying for the privilege, Sweet Waters is the place for you. We, on the other hand, will continue to drive past Sweet Waters.
7/22/07 KS: Sweetwaters is a quiet atmosphere--traditional type restaurant. Breakfast- lunch -dinner. We have always had great service. A large menu. What I like best is the salad bar. The salad bar has a variety of salads to choose from. My favorite is the broccoli salad. Salad bar comes with your dinner. The usual customers in the evening is seniors because of the quiet atmosphere. Their pies are homemade. Prices are real reasonable.
• Menu Page 1
• Menu Page 2
• Tel: 812.9222
• Addr: 2830 Santiam Hwy
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Szabo's Steakhouse and Seafood
This restaurant opened in June 2008 in the former location of Loafer's After Dark. Szabo's also has a location in Newport, OR. Their menu is large, and quite pub-like. It's a shame that they tout their "5 big screen TVs". Albany *does not need* another sports bar or more eating establishments with annoying TVs! (Note: we have not seen anyone actually watching these TVs) The food is OK at best. The deserts were better than normal, with the key lime pie being good. The prices seemed to be quite a bit higher than the local norm. This may be due to the fact that the first Szabo's is in Newport, where most of the business is probably tourist trade. The Albany market is quite different, so I'd expect Szabo's prices to go down a bit if they are to survive. It's also important to point out that they have different lunch and dinner menus. We did meet the owner, and he's a nice guy. We've had the fish and chips at lunch, and it was marginally OK. But, we had the same thing on special for dinner (which they tried to overcharge us on), and it was horrible (chewy, oily, etc). It took over an hour to receive and eat lunch at several visits. That's not good for working folks! Updates: The service as Szabo continues to be hit and miss. They are generally understaffed (maybe sell a couple of those big-screen TVs and hire more staff?). It took almost 10 minutes after being seated to get a menu and place a drink order. There were only 5 tables in the place. It appeared that there was only one waitstaff, and one kitchen staff. Our lunch came out without the fries and chowder we ordered. It took another several minutes to get those. So, again, the service can be off, and the food is mediocre. The service gives much more attention to tables with more people (more people generally means more tip). They do have nice, affordable breakfast options. Rating: B-.
Click for User Reviews• Tel: (541) 926-8183
• Addr: 222 Washington St SW, Albany, OR 97321
• Web: http://www.szabosrestaurants.com/ (Menu on website)
This is a typical Mexican places. They have fairly bland food, and have had a past history of overcharging people. Not recommended. Rating: C
Click Here for User Reviews• Click For Menu and Hours
• Tel: 541.812.1311
• Web: http://alonzotaqueria.com
• Addr: 250 Broadalbin SW
Rosies's is open in that location.
House of Thai Noodle / House of Noodle Thai
House of Noodles recently (Feb 2010) opened in the old old Pizza Hut building across from Staples in Albany. A recent dinner there was good. The service was fast, and the prices were right. We had the BBQ combo, and it was good. Recommended. Be advised that they currently do not have a beer/wine license, but are working on it. B.
BA 6/6/10: FOOD: Better than expected. I tried the Ka Pow w/chicken - medium-spicy, and that's exactly what it was, not painfully hot, but it had a nice kick and really tasty. Reasonable, thought not large portions... something I've come to expect in most Asian food establishments. Well-rounded menu - I'll be trying more very soon. SERVICE: Friendly, reasonably quick ( I WAS there right at luchtime, and this isn't fast food), Only issue - I ordered (and paid extra for) fried rice with my entree. It comes normally with streamed white rice... which is what I received. Strike one. Next time, I'll look inside the clamshell before I leave. PRICES: Again, I'm used to larger portions - even for lunch - so to me the prices are middle-of-the-road. Can't yet say if I recommend this place, yet. I'll try it out a couple more times first.
BA 6/6/10: We've ordered delivery from the House of Noodles twice so far and have been thrilled. The food arrived within 30 minutes and was hot. We've tried a few different items: Pad Thai, Korean BBQ, Fried Rice, Duck, Mangos & Rice. Everything was delicious! This is some of the best (if not THE best) Asian style food we have eaten. The staff is friendly and helpful. I am so pleased we have another non-pizza delivery option.
3/20/10 SK: Ordered to go from The House of Noodles. We had the Massaman Beef Curry and the Panang Curry. The Massaman was good but the Panang with chicken was excellent. Everything was flavorful, and plentiful. If you like it spicy hot, tell them, otherwise it is mild. Called in the order and it was ready in 15 minutes. Service and food both great, we will be eating here again soon! Would give it an A for the Panang and a B+ for the Massaman. I hope people will give it a try, great to have a Thai restaurant back in town. Maybe we'll get lucky and get an Indian restaurant next :)
3/21/10 BJ: HI!My husband and I made it to House of Noodles ( you have it listed as Thai noodle [Ed note: that's fixed]) I was excited to try it since my co-workers eat there several times a week since they opened, and they gave it great reviews. We got to the restaurant at 5pm when they opened for dinner. The place got busy right after we arrived. We shared the spring roll appetizer, the large Tom Yum Gai soup, and the Yellow curry Chicken noodles. All were very good. And our bill game to $17.20. It was a lot of food for the price. I would recommend eating here, and I look forward to returning to try new menu items. I am glad that Albany has another great non-chain restaurant.
• Menu Page 1
• Menu Page 2
• Tel: 541.928.0707
• Addr: 2025 Santiam Hwy SE
Thai Tip was destroyed in a 2006 fire.
Toki Teriyaki
Just what you would expect from a lunch-oriented teriyaki place. The flavors are good, the portions are plentiful, and the prices are reasonable. Sometimes service as a little slow, though. A decent place for lunch. Rating: B-
Click Here for User Reviews• Menu Page 1
• Menu Page 2
• Tel: 541.926.5138
• Addr: 300 2nd Ave SW
Tom Tom Restaurant and Lounge
Tom Tom has closed.
Venetian Cafe (in the Venetian Theatre)
NOTE: We're not sure if the cafe is still operating. Stay tuned....
6/18/09 RD: We ate lunch at the newly opened Venetian Cafe. It was a disappointing experience. The floor needed to be swept. We ordered two different kinds of pannini sandwiches. We got our sandwiches and a bag of chips, but a slice of tomato, an orange slice, or something with a little color would have been nice. The TV was blaring obnoxiously with a children's program on. There were no children except for the little girl who worked at the till. It is a wonderful location but if I were rating this cafe, which isn't on your list, I would have to give it a "D" , although nothing which couldn't be fixed with a slight amount of effort
•1st and Broadalbin Aves. in Albany
• Open 7AM to 2PM
Wilhelm's Spirits and Eatery
Wilhelms Spirits & Eatery restaurant opened in early 2007. Please keep in mind that Wilhelm's does not allow children. They are open from 11 AM to 2 PM every day. The food is good bar food and the atmosphere is OK. They have lottery machines. Rating: B
Click for User Reviews• No Online Menu
• Tel: 926-7001
• Addr: 1520 Pacific Blvd SW, Next to Wendy's
The Wine Depot
There are new owners as of early 2010. Things haven't changed a bit, though. The Wine Depot is a great place to go grab a sandwich, salad, and a glass of wine. In other words, a great place to find an excellent lunch. They are also open for dinner. The main focus is the moderate selection of wines (bottled) for purchase. They also have wine (and beer) available by the glass. The Wine Depot will also cater lunches and other events. We have had them cater an event for the past two years, and have been very pleased. Matt and Marsha, Recommended. Rating: B+
Click for User Reviews• Click For Menu
• Tel: 967.9499
• Addr: 300 2nd Ave SW
• Located in Two Rivers Market
• www.winedepotdeli.com
• Moderate wine selection
Valentino's Pizzeria
Several months ago, Valentino's unfortunately changed their menu. They used to have a fairly large offering. Now, it's down to 6 dinner items, and a handfull of pizzas. We'll miss their breadsticks and calzone. However, the two dinner items (10.99, with salads $5.00 extra) we had were good, if not a bit salty. The pizzas are ok and the service is ok, but our server totally forgot to respond about a food allergy question we had. They do (did?) have some event offerings coming up. Rating: C+.
Click Here to See User Reviews• Menu Page 1
• Menu Page 2
• Tel: 541.928.6229
• Addr: 641 NW Hickory #160 (North Albany Shopping Center)
Vault 244
Vault 244 Bistro | Lounge opened on 9/15/09. Albany has needed an "upscale" bar/tapas joint for quite awhile. Of course, they get a bonus point since they have no TVs. It's refreshing to go to a "bar" and not have TVs blaring away. Thank you 244!! The decor is well done, and the atmosphere is loud, but not annoyingly so. The service on a recent Saturday night was fast and courteous. Drinks and food came in a reasonable amount of time. In the past, the kitchen had some slowness issues, but they seem to have solved those problems. We started off with the Gnocchi and a cheese plate. The gnocci was great, and the cheese plate good. My only suggestion on the cheese plate would be to have three cheeses of different consistancy (hard, soft, and semi-soft). The cheeses we had were excellent, but all semi-soft. The morel cheese was a favorite. We then had the lettuce wrap and a salmon salad. The lettuce wrap, which was a wrap-it-yourself kind of thing was ok. It was iceburg lettuce with an apple/chicken chutney. There was little chicken to be found in the chutney: please add more chicken!! And, iceberg lettuce is not all that exiting. The salmon salad was excellent, though. We tried a couple different drinks, and they were all good. The Acai berry special was good, if not a bit too sweet. It seems that making drinks quite sweet is an unfortunate trend. It was a nice dinner, all in all. I like the place. They don't take reservations, so get there early on a busy night, or you'll wait for a table. We'll be back soon. No minors permitted except in the outside seating area. Rating: B+.
A note from former chef Cody Martin:
Dear Fans of Vault 244,
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your support during my year of service as Head Chef. I have accepted a position with the Corvallis Country Club as Executive Chef. It is such a great position for my family and I.
I worked very hard to put the Vault on the map as one of the hippest scenes in Albany, and it worked. Thanks to all of you!! I have also been working on a side project which is a catering business that will focus on those same values I was instilling at the Vault.You can email me at codyandamy@gmail for more info on this.
[Chowgeeks] was kind enough to allow me to get this message across his site. Again, this message is to simply thank the people of Albany for being so supportive. Also to let you know Cody Martin is no longer associated with the Vault!!! I hope that all parties involved in this transition will soon recover. I hope to see all of you at the CC.
Best Wishes, Chef Cody Martin
Click Here for User Reviews
• Click For Menu
• Tel: 541.791-9511
• Web: http://www.vault244.com/
• Addr: 244 1st Ave W, Albany, OR 97321
• Chowgeeks Bonus Point: No TVs. We congratulate Vault 244.
Wyatt's
Wyatts closed in late June, 2009. Cappies Brewhouse opened in it's place on 6/13/10.
Yaquina Bay
"I ate lunch at Yaquina Bay a couple of times with colleagues. We all had lunch salads, which were large and fresh. Service was ok, and prices were reasonable. Atmosphere and menu choices are aged and not creative. Rating: C
Click for User Reviews• Tel: 967.8420
• Tel: 926.8528
• Addr: 325 Airport Rd SE
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