Carriage House Restaurant

Even though it's been through a few sets of owners over the last dozen years or so, it's always been essentially the same; this could be good or bad depending on who you ask.  The newest switch did seem to spruce up the interior, to keep with their "old west" theme that goes well with the darker space. I'll take it over the walls full of wall-plaques for sale that used to be there.

I like it over the chains that the area has to offer for numerous reasons. They are more accommodating to begin with, everything doesn't come pre-packaged and prep to begin with. That's always a plus in my book.

It always seems to attract the older crowds, which is why I'm usually there with my dad, he loves it. Their chili burger is his favorite. I enjoy their eggs benedict options, that's usually my "go to" option.

It's a nice place to drop by and get some basics, then you support a local business instead of a corporation, etc.

Went here this afternoon with a groupon. Really great food! Kids loved the french toast sticks and my California eggs benedict was perfect with fresh spinach, tomatoes and avocados. Hubby enjoyed the Carriage House Omelet, hashbrowns were perfect! We'll be back for sure. Very friendly service, clean and cozy. New breakfast favorite - and they serve it all day!  MUCH better than Denny's for sure.  Kids meals are only $4.50 and come with drinks.  Prices very reasonable.  Rock classics on the radio.  Food of a much more expensive place, diner atmosphere.

The Carriage House Family Restaurant is pretty much your typical diner. American breakfast, burgers, sandwiches, a couple of pasta dishes. They just opened under a new owner, but there's been a diner here for some time, as my husband remembered going here many years ago. The decor definitely shows its age: Old, dark brown booths (yay for booth seating though!), and some old photos and carriage wheels on the walls.

Pros:
- They offer a breakfast buffet
- Service was very friendly
- Chicken fried steak was amazingly tender. Not very large (Whiskey River down the road serves one that is literally three times as large), but the flavor more than made up for the size, and it's melt-in-your-mouth tender.
- Delicious buttery, sugary cinnamon french toast sticks
- Great pie selection (lemon/sour cream, coconut cream, chocolate cream, apple, and some other kinds)

Cons:
- Pancakes on the buffet were dried out on the edges, may have been there since early morning
- Fried potatoes with cheese were very bland. Should have been fried til they were a little crispier, and had more salt and maybe mroe flavorful cheese on them
- Canned pineapple didn't look very appetizing
- Whipped cream was overwhipped
- Buffet in general wasn't that great, I wouldn't get it again

For the curious - The $10.95 breakfast buffet (does NOT work with the Groupon) contained:
- Meat: ham, bacon, sausage
- Egg: scrambled eggs (plain, or with bacon and tomato)
- Potatoes: Fried potatoes with cheese, corned beef hash,
- Biscuits and gravy
- Sweet stuff: Pancakes and cinnamon french toast sticks
- Fruit: canned pineapple, fresh melon, fresh strawberries
- Condiments: butter, peanut butter (but no toast?!), syrup, whipped cream

I probably wouldn't go here again. For a classic diner breakfast I would just hit up Denny's (crazy choices like white choc chip&bacon pancakes, and reliable quality), and for a Eugene local breakfast with vegan options I'd go to Keystone. I thought the prices were very reasonable though at the Carriage House, and I suppose there's a chance I'll come back just for that country fried steak. Skip the buffet unless you really expect to eat huge amounts and don't mind mediocre food!

Husband's review by proxy: "Kind of mediocre, I like the idea of a breakfast buffet, but I can't imagine they would ever be good. I don't think I could really recommend this place over IHOP."