Best Eugene diner people forget is actually a diner

Brails 1689 Willamette. 541-343-1542; 395 W. 5th Avenue, #2506, 541-342-2075. BrailsRestaurant.co.

I’ve lived in Eugene for a little over a year, and I’d never heard of Brails before. Crazy, right? My editor mentioned that it’s a perennial winner in Eugene Weekly’s Best Of competition, so I decided I had to go and see what it was like.

When I got there, I was instantly impressed by the friendliness of the servers. Soon after sitting down, I got one of my favorite drinks: a strawberry lemonade. As I waited for my food, I took a look around at the rest of the diners. I noticed that Brails is different from other restaurants I’ve been to around here. It has a strong feeling of an old-school diner, from its small size to folks reading a newspaper as they wait for their food.

Finally, the food came. I kept my order classic: cheeseburger and fries. It did not disappoint. The burger’s cheesy goodness made for an all-around great lunch.

It is worth noting, though, that a Brails experience isn’t just about the food, servers and restaurant decorations. It’s also about the people who eat here, the folks who add to the restaurant’s atmosphere. While having my burger, I struck up a conversation with a fellow customer about the Portland Trail Blazers and their upcoming season and why he’s a Beavers fan even though he lives in Eugene. I don’t often have a conversation with a stranger at a restaurant, and it made my experience all the more worth it.

EW readers say Brail’s is a great spot for hangover food. I certainly did not have a hangover when I went there to have lunch. Regardless, it is a great diner, not only for its food, but also its atmosphere.

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!