New Eatery Bringing Taste Of Pacific Northwest To Albany

ALBANY, CA - A new restaurant, with a funky Pacific Northwest flair, is opening Jan. 13 in the former Little Star Pizza space on Solano Avenue.

Partners Jon Guhl (Little Star Pizza, Boss Burger) and Ryan Murff (Boss Burger) are launching their second joint project, Cafe Eugene -- which will serve New American cuisine with an emphasis on the Pacific Northwest.

“We feel this is the right restaurant for the emerging dining scene in the area,” Murff said. “Albany is home to many young families who are looking for a fun night out that doesn’t involve crossing the bridge to San Francisco. We’re aiming to be a neighborhood spot that attracts a regular crowd, but intriguing enough for guests to make a special trip.”

The new restaurant will pay homage to Murff’s Oregon roots with a menu highlighting the flavors of the Pacific Northwest, as well as other cool weather and coastal influences of the world. The kitchen is helmed by Executive Chef Amanda Joost Gehring, an alum to the East Bay dining scene with experience at both Lalime’s and Café Rouge.

Serving brunch and dinner daily, Cafe Eugene’s menu will change with the seasons. Brunch highlights will include: Baked Steel Oats with honey baked pear and cardamom coconut milk; Jar of Smoked Fish Pate with dill pickled vegetables, a soft-boiled farm egg and house-made black pepper fennel crackers; and Mochi Date Muffin with caramel sauce. The dinner menu will offer fresh seafood, meats, vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan options, with highlights like the Clam Chowder Pot Pie.

Additionally, guests can build their own toast on Acme breads with toppings like House-cured Salmon with Cream Cheese; Sardines with Marinated Chilies and Boiled Egg;and Melted Sharp Cheddar Cheese with Sweet Pear Butter.

Cafe Eugene’s cocktails will run the gamut from bloody Marys to warm cocktails. The diverse bloody Mary program will include offerings like the Crudo with mescal, tomato, pasilla, cucumber, serrano, orange, lime and pomegranate; and the Scandi with aquavit, tomato, dill, radish, apple cider and beet juice. The seasonally rotating warm cocktails will include Northwest favorites like the Spanish Coffee and some of Murff’s creations like the Diplimatico with espresso, Melletti Cioccolato, Guatemalan rum, soft cream and cinnamon.

The bar and counter area will seat 14 guests and the dining room 60. Outdoor seating will accommodate 15 additional guests.

Located at 1175 Solano Ave., Cafe Eugene will be open Sunday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., with food served all day. Brunch will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a limited interim menu available from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and dinner from 5:30 p.m. until close.

For more info on Cafe Eugene: Twitter @eugeneinalbany; Instagram @eugeneinalbany; and Facebook at www.facebook.com/cafeeugene

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