Cafe 440

At first, I  wasn't even going to write a review on Cafe 440, because I don't have anything great or horrible to say about it.  But then I thought, you'd want to know even if all there is to say is that it's mediocre, right? Right.

Cafe 440 opened recently (mid-2009) at one of Eugene's newest and trendiest "centers," Coburg Station.  You'll find it nestled behind Bedrocks coffee house and Chipotle (both deserving of upcoming reviews), across from Baja Fresh on Coburg Road.  As a new addition to the much-lacking Eugene restaurant scene, it was highly anticipated and many were very excited to try it.  By "many," I mainly mean me.  So when it finally opened, I couldn't wait, and was there on their 2nd day of service.  I'll give them a break and not review that experience.  Suffice to say, it was several months before I went back again.

It's been highly reviewed by "those other guys," which I just don't really get.  The restaurant has several positive reviews on its website: http://cafe440eugene.com, but I couldn't help noticing nothing new since it's early opening days.  Maybe it's just a failure to update the website, but maybe it's more.

The ambiance is very nice: trendy and modern, very open and fun.  It's on the small side, but I've never seen anyone having to wait for a table. Is that a good thing? You decide.

The food is unique, which in itself is a huge compliment. Unfortunately, it's completely mediocre.  The jalapeno poppers (see below) are really amazing, but everything else is just fine.  If you have a deep hankering for sweet potato fries, this is also a good place to come.

But if you want a real decent dinner and are prepared to pay the slightly steeper prices Cafe 440 demands, you might be disappointed.  My most hated dining experience is one where I pay too much for food that doesn't measure up.  This is what happens just about every time I go to Cafe 440.  Top it off with consistently slow, albeit kind, service, and it just isn't worth my time.

Here's the rundown:

The fare: appetizers, salads, burgers, pastas, ribs, chicken, steak
The must-have: sweet potato fries and jalapeno poppers stuffed with goat cheese, wrapped in prosciutto
The dough: appetizers $7-11, Burger starts at $8 + $1 each for toppings, Dinner entrees $13-23
The time: slowish
The location: 440 Coburg Road, Eugene

I would suggest giving it one try if you must, and if you find something you just happen to love, then lucky you.  But don't worry if you never get around to it - you're not missing much.