Papa’s Soul Food Kitchen
400 Blair Blvd, Eugene, OR, 97402
Papa’s Soul Food Kitchen Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Diabetics at Papa Murphy
Most of the pizzas offered at Papa Murphy are relatively low in sugar but high in sodium. You must restrict yourself to one or maximum two slices of any pizza ordered at Papa Murphy if you're a diabetic. You can pick salads which are low in sodium to keep your sugar levels in check.
Foods to Avoid at Papa Murphy for Diabetics:
Avoid desserts and salad dressings when you order salads at Papa Murphy. Always skip the Pizzas which are high in sodium content if you are diabetic. Almost all family and large size pizzas are high in sodium and hence should be avoided. Also, avoid stuffed pizzas at Papa Murphy if you're a diabetic.
Food Suggestions for Diabetics at Papa Murphy:
Chicken Bacon Artichoke - Thin Family/Large Slice (Only one slice)
Nutritional Facts: 230 calories, 12g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 5g), 530mg sodium, 20g carbs, 3g sugar, Less than 1g fiber, 8g Protein
Tuscan Chicken and Sausage - Thin Family/Large Slice (Only one slice)
Nutritional Facts: 210 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 5g), 430mg sodium, 16g carbs, Less than 1g sugar, Less than 1g fiber, 12g Protein
Gourmet Vegetarian - Thin Family/Large Slice (No more than two slices)
Nutritional Facts: 210 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 5g), 340mg sodium, 18g carbs, 1g sugar, Less than 1g fiber, 10g Protein
Chicken Garlic - Thin Family/Large Slice (Only one slice)
Nutritional Facts: 210 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 5g), 430mg sodium, 17g carbs, 1g sugar, 0g fiber, 13g Protein
Pepperoni - Thin Family/Large Slice (Only one slice)
Nutritional Facts: 220 calories, 12g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 6g), 440mg sodium, 18g carbs, 2g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Garden Veggie - Thin Family/Large Slice (No more than two slices)
Nutritional Facts: 180 calories, 8g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 4g), 330mg sodium, 20g carbs, 3g sugar, Less than 1g fiber, 8g Protein
Hawaiian - Thin Family/Large Slice (No more than two slices)
Nutritional Facts: 180 calories, 7g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 4g), 360mg sodium, 20g carbs, 4g sugar, 0g fiber, 8g Protein
Caesar Salad
Nutritional Facts: 100 calories, 5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2.5g), 230mg sodium, 7g carbs, 5g sugar, 3g fiber, 8g Protein
Italian Salad
Nutritional Facts: 270 calories, 19g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 9g), 710mg sodium, 11g carbs, 4g sugar, 6g fiber, 13g Protein
Garden Salad
Nutritional Facts: 190 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 5g), 420mg sodium, 13g carbs, 6g sugar, 6g fiber, 10g Protein
Visit below restaurant in Eugene for healthy meals suggestion.
High Blood Pressure at Papa Murphy
Most foods served at Papa Murphy are high in sodium content. However, there are certain Pizzas types and salads that you can try without spiking your blood pressure levels. Also, you must restrict your pizza intake to maximum 2 slices to keep the sodium consumption in check.
Foods to Avoid at Papa Murphy for High Blood Pressure:
Avoid all Regular Large Pizza Slices and Family Pizza Slices at Papa Murphy. While the sodium content in Regular Medium Pizza Slices is low, we recommend you skip them as well. Also, keep Stuffed Large Pizza Slices and Stuffed Family Pizza Slices at bay when ordering at Papa Murphy. Salads may sound healthy, but most salads offered at Papa Murphy are also high in sodium.
Food Suggestions to Control Blood Pressure at Papa Murphy:
Garden Veggie - Thin Family/Large Slice (No more than two slices)
Nutritional Facts: 180 calories, 8g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 4g), 330mg sodium, 20g carbs, 3g sugar, Less than 1g fiber, 8g Protein
Gourmet Vegetarian - Thin Family/Large Slice (No more than two slices)
Nutritional Facts: 210 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 5g), 340mg sodium, 18g carbs, 1g sugar, Less than 1g fiber, 10g Protein
Hawaiian - Thin Family/Large Slice (No more than two slices)
Nutritional Facts: 180 calories, 7g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 4g), 360mg sodium, 20g carbs, 4g sugar, 0g fiber, 8g Protein
Herb Chicken Mediterranean - Thin Family/Large Slice (No more than two slices)
Nutritional Facts: 100 calories, 5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2.5g), 230mg sodium, 7g carbs, 5g sugar, 3g fiber, 9g Protein
Tuscan Chicken and Sausage - Thin Family Slice (No more than two slices)
Nutritional Facts: 210 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 5g), 430mg sodium, 16g carbs, Less than 1g sugar, Less than 1g fiber, 12g Protein
Chicken Garlic - Thin Family Slice (No more than two slices)
Nutritional Facts: 210 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 5g), 430mg sodium, 17g carbs, 1g sugar, 0g fiber, 13g Protein
Caesar Salad
Nutritional Facts: 100 calories, 5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2.5g), 230mg sodium, 7g carbs, 5g sugar, 3g fiber, 8g Protein
Cream Cheese Frosting
Nutritional Facts: 370 calories, 25g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 13g), 310mg sodium, 35g carbs, 33g sugar, 0g fiber, 3g Protein
Healthy Tips for Dining at Papa Murphy
Visit below restaurant in Eugene for healthy meals suggestion.
High Cholesterol at Papa Murphy
Papa Murphy takes care of people with different health preferences and offers multiple varieties of pizzas and salads to choose from. You can order thin crust family or large size pizza to keep the cholesterol levels down at Papa Murphy. Don't eat too many slices and restrict yourself from consuming more than 2 slices to balance your cholesterol levels.
Foods to Avoid at Papa Murphy for High Cholesterol:
Skip the pizzas on the menu under family or large pizza slices. Stuffed family size slices and stuffed large size slices are also high in cholesterol and must be avoided at Papa Murphy. In the Appetizers, make sure to avoid Thick 'n' Cheesy Homebaked Bread. You can enjoy all kinds of salads at Papa Murphy except Chicken Bacon Artichoke Salad for its high cholesterol content.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at Papa Murphy:
Garden Veggie - Thin Family Slice/Regular Family Size/Thin Large Size (Max. 2 slices)
Nutritional Facts: 180 calories, 8g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 4g), 330mg sodium, 20g carbs, 3g sugar, Less than 1g fiber, 8g Protein
Hawaiian - Thin Family Slice/Regular Family Size/Thin Large Size (Max. 2 slices)
Nutritional Facts: 210 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 5g), 340mg sodium, 18g carbs, 1g sugar, Less than 1g fiber, 10g Protein
Caesar Salad
Nutritional Facts: 100 calories, 5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2.5g), 230mg sodium, 7g carbs, 5g sugar, 3g fiber, 8g Protein
Italian Salad
Nutritional Facts: 270 calories, 19g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 9g), 710mg sodium, 11g carbs, 4g sugar, 6g fiber, 13g Protein
Cinnamon Wheel (2 slices of 16)
Nutritional Facts: 250 calories, 7g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2.5g), 410mg sodium, 42g carbs, 13g sugar, 0g fiber, 5g Protein
S'mores Dessert Pizza (2 slices of 16)
Nutritional Facts: 260 calories, 7g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 3.5g), 290mg sodium, 44g carbs, 18g sugar, 1g fiber, 5g Protein
Visit below restaurant in Eugene for healthy meals suggestion.
Q&A on Papa Murphy
Where's Papa Murphy's located?
Papa Murphy is based out of Vancouver, Washington, United States. Besides that, Papa Murphy can be found in 1300+ locations in the United States and Canada and over 1500 locations worldwide. You can use our Restaurants Listings directory to find a Papa Murphy nearby.
How to cook Papa Murphy's Pizza?
Papa Murphy offers take and bake pizzas to its customers who wish to cook pizza at home. Once you take home your Papa Murphy pizza, you need to remove the plastic wrap and preheat oven to 425 degrees for original or thin crust pizza and to 375 degrees for a stuffed pizza or calzone. Simply follow Papa Murphy's instructions for a specific type to enjoy your home baked pizza.
Does Papa Murphy's take EBT?
Yes, Papa Murphy accepts EBT across all its outlets in the United States.
Does Papa Murphy's offer delivery?
Yes! Select locations do offer delivery. You can check with your delivery partner to see if they can deliver food from Papa Murphy nearby. You can always use our Restaurants Listings directory to find a Papa Murphy outlet nearby to visit the outlet yourself and order your favorite pizza.
Is Papa Murphy's pizza gluten free?
Papa Murphy has joined hands with Udi's to offer gluten-free crusts for customers looking for gluten-free pizzas at Papa Murphy.
Is Papa Murphy's Pizza Vegan-friendly?
You can order vegan-friendly pizzas at Papa Murphy. Simply customize your order with the right crust, sauce, veggies, garlic, and spices and add your own plant-based meat and vegan cheese while you bake the pizza at home.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
About Papa Murphy
Papa Murphy is one of the top pizza chains in the United States. Papa Murphy was formed after the merger of two popular local pizzerias namely Papa Aldo's and Murphy's respectively. The trend of "take and bake" pizzerias gained popularity in the United States during the early 90s. The growing popularity these two take and bake pizzerias located in Hillsboro, Oregon and Petaluma, California respectively gave the idea of a possible merger to Terry Collins.
In 1995, Terry Collins consolidated the merger and founded Papa Murphy and expanded the pizza chain across 1300 outlets in the United States and Canada. Customers can relish Papa Murphy pizzas by simply walking into the nearby Papa Murphy outlet or simply order online or call-in to pick up the order later. Some Papa Murphy outlets also feature a drive-thru window where you can pick up your call-in order. Today, Papa Murphy is owned by MTY Food Group. Papa Murphy is the 5th largest Pizza Chain in the United States.
Healthy Food Options at Papa Murphy
Papa Murphy is basically a take and bake pizza outlet where customers can order their favorite pizza and enjoy it at home. You can either bake your pizza or grill it as per the instructions mentioned on each pizza crust. Papa Murphy offers a wide range of pizza options such as gluten-free, vegan, veg or non-veg. You can easily choose the right pizza based on your health or food preferences and enjoy a classy pizza at home. Apart from Pizzas, you can also try the salads at Papa Murphy for your healthy cravings.
-
Address :
400 Blair Blvd
Eugene, OR, 97402 - Phone (541) 342-7500
- Website https://www.papassoulfoodkitchen.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Loud
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Doc P.
Maybe the TV Show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives made this more popular than it had been. I can understand how a small, local place like this with such a great story stays in business. I can't understand how or why people rave about it. The wait was about a half-hour to get in. But the real wait was almost an hour to receive our food. "Yeah, sorry, the kitchen is pretty backed up" came the explanation when people who were seated after us had been served. I had the ribs. Good, but not great. Tender, but over-sauced. I also ordered a side of hot links because they're usually a fave. There's absolutely nothing special about them and, in fact, I found them dry. The sauce (the same as on the ribs) saved them. My daughter ordered the brisket plate. Now that was a trough o' food. There was enough for three meals on that plate. The brisket was tender and flavorful. This was the winning dish of the evening. The sides - - Hushpuppies were dry and flavorless. They needed the honey to be palatable. (ONE packet of honey came with a side order of hushpuppies.) - Collard Greens - boiled to tenderness and needed salt. But since the wait staff is all busy (they're nice, but they're busy), it wasn't served to taste pleasant. - Potato Salad was good. I'd compare it to something you could get at a grocer's deli to go to a picnic. It was tasty and smooth. Nothing special about it, but nothing wrong with it. - Red Beans and Rice was also smooth. It was bland, though. Surprisingly so. I travel a lot and BBQ is one of my favorite things. I've ordered it many different states and found this place to be just so-so among the many GREAT places I've visited. Guy Fieri did this place a great service by giving it such attention. The back story matters, a lot! But, that's not enough to keep the place going. As a business they need to get back to their roots and actually taste the soul food their producing. I wanted "great" and I got "eh, it's not bad." Now that I've been, I don't need to come back.
(3)Audra B.
Amazing southern food. I've taken two people here that grew up in the south and both of them said it was truly authentic southern food. One of them slipped into a deep southern accent the second he tasted the sweet tea. All the sides are wonderful and the meat is always tender. I'm not a fan of bread pudding either but the bread pudding with the bourbon sauce is delicious.
(5)Justin B.
This place lives up to the hype, party of 4 we had: brisket, pulled pork, collard greens, beans, red beans and rice, mac and cheese, hush puppies, and corn bread. Expect a wait (but it's worth it), put your name in, and go grab a beer across the street. 2 things that I look for in any establishment: Did I feel like the people working their were personable/friendly, pay attention to detail, go over and beyond to give me a good experience & did the food/product exceed my expectations. Papa's Soul Food did both of these and then some. I will definitely be back here and taking my out of town friends here as well.
(5)Loressa D.
The food was tasty and the service excellent! My friend and I ordered the cocktail made with Kool-aid and I wouldn't recommend that. Love the sides, very homey and delicious. The day we went was a scorcher and while they had a few fans the place was an oven! I hope to get back there soon but on a cooler day.
(5)Bea L.
Drove up from Sacramento, CA to Eugene, OR and our first stop was Papa's soul food based on the yelp reviews. Sandra Dees in Sacramento is my all time favorite soul food so I was ready to try different a second spot. We sat outside on the back porch, the server provided a pitcher of Luke warm water and small glasses which was not to my liking so I decided to order a cold red cool aid and my BF ordered sweet tea - the cool aid was extremely sweet so I poured some of the warm water in and the sweet tea was mediocre. We ordered: Brisket with Mac n cheese and baked beans - brisket was super tender, bbq sauce was ok, Mac n cheese was too soft and a bit bland, red beans were ok Fried chicken (ETA is 25 mins) - nice crispy skin but was it worth waiting 25 mins for???? Not really. Corn bread - tasty especially with the scoop of honey butter on top. The main problem was sitting outside - it was soooo hot that is was too uncomfortable to eat so we packed up half the food and left.
(3)Ava J.
Best ribs ever!! Only downside to this place is lack of ac during summer and wait time. But other than that, I love the cozy atmosphere here, friendly service, and ribs! Oh. And don't mind people eyeing your food or watching you eat. Tables are oh so close to each other and it's hard not to stare when a platter of ribs, Mac and cheese and cornbread is only a couple feet away from you.
(4)Isha Y.
An awesome spot for Southern food. Gets busy on the weekends (for a good reason) so come early. Some of the waiters are friendly and helpful and some are totally not, but the manager is great and my family usually enjoys our time there.
(5)Kathryn L.
Great Macaroni and Cheese! Chicken pieces could be a bit thicker but the chicken and waffles is still my favorite plate. Southern atmosphere inside and swift pick-up service.
(4)Jesse E.
Had an excellent experience every time I go here except once- it was I want to say a Thursday at dinner time and me and a friend took his mom to show her how awesome the food was. There was a bbq sample platter for like $18 bucks-ish (this was awhile ago but somewhere around there) and when it came out it had 50% of the plate taken up by a single very thin slice of ham with about 50% of the ham being fat. Without this experience I would've given it 5 stars but this definitely soured me on the place which is a shame cause I live like 2 blocks away and enjoy good food with my friends. I'd say this is a one off and not to let this deter you from enjoying it, just be aware that when they get busy both the service and good quality will suffer. Probably try a not Thursday Friday Saturday for best results.
(3)Jay P.
This time I went here with my son and we had a craving for bbq and papas hit the spot. For those coming here for the first time, be early because there are limited tables and too many customers. We had to wait 20 minutes and we were there only an hour after opening. In the evening except a long wait or make it quick and to go. Last time I was here I made the mistake of going at night, so made it to go. This time we went in the daytime and decided to eat in. My son had the fried catfish and I had the pulled pork sandwich as I normally do at all bbq places. We each shared both dishes and again the pulled pork was excellent and the catfish was just great. For sides we had the potato salad, mac and cheese, cornbread, and baked beans. The potato salad was really good, as well as the mac and cheese. The cornbread is a bit dry and the butter doesn't help by softening it either. The baked beans were okay, but if you like the beans that have a bit of bbq sauce in it, these are not it. The staff is friendly and attentive, however, be on the lookout for the wobbly two person table. It was annoying and we had to get a foot pad, because it was just driving us crazy.
(5)Lori S.
5 stars just because the fried chicken is so damned good. Honey loves loves loves the ribs and their BBQ sauce is unbelievable, especially since I don't even like BBQ sauce much. The sides are yummy and the corn bread is perfect!!! Owner makes a pretty good drink, to boot!
(5)Thom A.
OMG!!!! The best ribs this side of Memphis. Leave your teeth at home, they're ribs are that tender
(5)Karma H.
Sensational, sassy service. Crispy, caught-fresh catfish. Perfectly Priced Plates. Go. Just go. You will probably have to wait for a table, so order a Georgia Peach and sit at a table under the shade trees in the back while you wait. Talk with your friends, take a little tiger snooze, whatever. Just slow the hell down and pretend you're on vacation in the Delta. I'm salivating thinking about the catfish, but our table also had the ribs, shrimp and grits and chicken and waffles. Everything. Is. Amazing. Are you in your car yet? You should be. Just go.
(5)Sarah W.
The food here is, sadly, not my fav. The wait is long and the service isn't great either, but if the food was great it'd be worth it! The Mac and cheese lacks flavor, the cornbread is kinda dry. I just don't get the hype!
(3)Phil D.
Crowded and a bit of a wait...but worth it. I had ribs and they were meaty with a tasty sauce. We sat indoors but next time I'll opt for the patio.
(4)Alex R.
I had the Jerk Chicken sandwich and it was great! We had a group of 10 on a summer Saturday night and had to wait 2 hours to eat. They did not take reservations, so I guess that's to be expected. I would go with small group and avoid the wait time. The host that served us drinks while we waited for out big table was great. The waiter the served our meal kinda had came off like a little short. My girlfriend had the pulled pork sandwich and it was ok. Will definitely go back again to try some of their other dishes.
(3)Megan B.
Soooooooooo hot! With that many diners packed into such a small space they really need to invest in an air conditioner. We went here our first week in Eugene (before the heat wave) looking for some good soul food, and while it was alright, it's not worth the discomfort. My husband got the fried chicken, and I got the fried catfish. I don't remember what sided my hubby got, but I had the collard greens and baked beans. My fish was good, even if the breading was way overdone. It tasted like they needed to change out their oil, and my husband's chicken was incredibly bland. Like, really bland, even for me and I'm a person that tends to prefer the natural flavors of things. In addition to this, our food took around 30 to 49 minutes to get to our table. Now, we were warned that because the chicken is cooked fresh each time it takes about 20 minutes to cook, which is fine, and about the cook time I get when I make it at home. It doesn't take 40, though... especially when you have a deep fryer vs. pan frying. We probably won't be going back. I know this place seems to be beloved by all, but I just can't handle the amount of heat topped with tepid (warm, because of the lack of AC) ice-free water they serve.
(3)Shelby T.
Amazing staff, amazing food, amazing ambiance. The drinks are made all from scratch and done very well. The entire menu is delicious I however always get the fried chicken because it wows me every time....so...GET THE FRIED CHICKEN! (With a side of Mac and cheese and fries )
(5)Ian S.
Just drove 500 miles back home to Eugene from working in Seattle for the first time in months. First place I go? Papas. Everything is good. Some things are better. I really love the gumbo, catfish, and shredded BBQ pork/chicken/brisket. Hush puppies are an amazing starter. Love this place and will always recommend.
(5)Gigi H.
The Food was delicious!! My sister, nephew, and I shared different plates, so that we may try more of the menu... And Wow! First time we all cleared our plates! And the service was great!! The place is popular, so there may be a wait time... they do however do take-out.
(5)Christine H.
The food was delicious and you definitely get your money's worth with the quantity. I recommend the Mac N Cheese! Although because I forgot my ID we had to take the food to-go because it turns into a bar after 9. Yet they sat another lady who did not have her ID. Also we had to wait 50 minutes just to get our food which was an annoyance on top of not getting in. Especially when there is limited seating inside and none outside while waiting.
(4)R M.
Excellent ribs. I didn't care for the hot links, they seemed dry. Great service. Had Mac and cheese and beans for sides. I will be back.
(4)Ruby G.
I am actually shocked by the overall rating of Papa's Soul Food Kitchen. The Yelp rating is what led me here and boy was it wrong! There was even a lengthy line of hungry, anxious patrons waiting to be seated, which only raised the stakes more. My friends and I were hyped up for some good ol' artery clogging comfort food, only to have our dreams crushed under a huge slab of their bone dry cornbread. First things first, Papa's is not all bad. I'm actually a fan of the atmosphere, very home-y and casual. The outdoor seating area is super laid back with weathered picnic tables, a wooden deck, and umbrellas. The majority of the staff was upbeat and friendly upon arrival. The diners were lively, talking up a storm - most of them decked out in UO gear. The whole vibe is exactly what you'd want and expect from a soul food joint in Eugene. Unfortunately, all of the food had no soul. We ordered enough for a small army, every dish more underwhelming than the last. Easily the worst fried chicken of my life. The actual meat was cooked just fine but there was raw flour on the inside, it was extra greasy, and the skin wasn't even spiced properly. The cornbread was visually pleasing, plated in big bricks with pats of butter on top, but damn... it was so dry that it practically turned to sand as you tried to eat it. Hush puppies? Same problem and they came with plastic packets of honey. The collard greens just tasted of apple cider vinegar and were so overcooked that they weren't very green anymore. I won't even talk about the deep fried oysters. Blah, we're lucky we got away with those. Maybe the BBQ is better but I don't think I will come back to find out. The waitress we were assigned was probably the only person in the place that wasn't smiling. In fact, she looked as if she was sleeping with her eyes open. Legitimately comatose. She barely responded to anything we asked, offering only a subtle nod and she never even came by when we tried to flag her down. Truly bizarre. If you find yourself here, you should admire the design of the menu, skip the food, order a Red Kool Aid for nostalgia's sake, drink it on the patio, and then bounce.
(2)Jo-Ann Z.
Love Papa's Soul Food. The atmosphere is amazing and the food is so good. I love the tri tip and my daughter loves chicken and waffles. If the weather is good sit outside.
(5)Edson C.
One time it was okay with the food and the next the fried chicken was dry. Like California drought dry. The tables are much to close to each other. The waitress wanted to sit us next to the bathroom door when they had just opened and the whole place was empty. I had to insist a few tables further away. I sensed nothing but tension after that.
(3)Courtney B.
I was in the area on tour with a musical and we were looking for something other than fast food and restaurant chains. Someone recommended Papa's Soul Food Kitchen. Not only were they very accommodating to our large group, but the food and drinks were AMAZING, the prices were fantastic and the staff was top notch! I'm a southern girl so you can trust I know what I'm talking about! I can't wait to come back and I will keep the ball rolling on recommending this fantastic establishment!
(5)Melvyn M.
Southern Food! Large portions! Cheap prices! What's not to like? I love coming here if I am hungry and on a budget. For $10, you can get a meal with a variety of sides to choose from, and you can be guaranteed to bring home leftovers. Catfish, Snapper, Softshell Crab Sandwich, BBQ Pork Ribs, Fried Chicken, Hot link, mac & cheese, fried okra, red beans & rice, yams, cornbread, hush puppies, etc. I've tried almost their entire menu over the 3 years I've lived in Eugene, and not once have I been disappointed. In fact, I always leave feeling way too full, but my wallet definitely did not hurt =) Try to leave room for their awesome bread pudding with bourbon sauce, or get one to go!
(5)Keith B.
Love it! It's so authentically Southern, you can feel the humidity!
(5)Evan A.
Good Lord....That brisket tho. That's all I have to say.
(5)Baby T.
The food was decent, but the time you would have to wait trivializes the experience. To quote our waiter, "This isn't how I would choose to run a business." Hours of waiting for food that only stands out due to a lack of competition in the area. I suggest going elsewhere to save time. You could drive very far and still get served before Soul Food would get to you. If you absolutely must eat their food for your bucket list or something, order take-out, pick up your food to eat somewhere pleasant, with the knowledge that you saved yourself hours of waiting.
(2)Lisa J.
Cool atmosphere, nice staff, good food, good prices. My husband is from Tennessee, so he knows good southern food when he eats it. I've had the ribs (the middle sections are tender and tasty, but the ends can be a bit tough), the soft crab sandwich (pretty good - if you don't like mayo, you need to tell them to hold on the sauce because they pile it on!), the collard greens (if you don't like vinegar, don't order this), hush puppies (very tasty with the honey they give you - my husband likes it because it doesn't have corn bits in it like other hush puppies do), and the black eyed peas (mixed with rice - I'm not a fan of black eyed peas in general, but my husband is and he thinks it's really good). Bread pudding was just ok - although I must say I took it to go so I don't know if it tastes the same when they prepare it for you at the restaurant. If you go here for the first time, you should try the fried okra and the mac and cheese for sure. Sweet tea is good too - my husband says it's not as sweet as how they make it in the south, but I think it's a good amount of sweet. I've lived in Eugene for about 2 weeks and I've already been here twice and know what I'm going to order next time I visit!
(5)Ryan P.
Super legit bbq, scratch made goodness. If you haven't been here, GO! It's a landmark for Eugene! Great job to the crew here, on point! Can't say enough about the food....it's that good.
(5)Josh E.
So. Much. Yum. The food was extraordinary. Just amazing. Tasty, quality, came out swiftly, and everything on the plate was just perfect. If you are in Eugene, you MUST stop at Papa's. Service was spot on. Waiters were witty, friendly, and helpful. Great place, great vibe, super cool. Stop reading this crappy review and go get you some food!
(5)Cranky M.
Definitely my best food experience in Eugene， nothing else we tried even came close. Also the best soul/southern food I have ever had. Their greens are exactly how greens should taste， their Mac n cheese was awesome， and their bbq chicken was fantastic. I make a mean bbq chicken so I always compare other places to mine， and I have to say I think papa does it better. I went with a bigger party so I got to nibble on a few other items and they were all excellent including the brisket， jambalaya， fried okra，fried fish and a few of the other sides. Just an awesome place to eat. If I'm ever back in Eugene，this is the only place I will seek out.
(5)Marcus G.
Good food but not cheap / some sides are great others just average / not cheap deal / may have to wait - this place has lines / cocktails are small Menu has awesome graphics design Friendly and fast
(3)Teri G.
Love papa's soul burger. love the ribs. Excellent food all around. The wait time is prohibitive and the service is mostly abysmal. I will try to eat there on a Saturday at 2 pm to miss the crowd. Food is great but I have left for the snark factor is too great to leave my $$ with the wait staff.
(3)Jenn S.
Intimate atmosphere and a very busy little joint- be prepared to wait on a weekend, not much room in the lounge area but fantastic drinks. They were out of the catfish, so we opted for the chicken and waffle and they were awesome. G
(4)Celina C.
This place was SO very good! Huge portions and reasonable prices only compliment the amazing flavors this small restaurant has to offer. We are already planning our next trip to Eugene just so we have a reason to visit Papa's Soul Food Kitchen again. The place isn't fancy or huge, so be sure to bring your appetite, patience, and a sense of humor as you view the picture-only menu! We love it!!!
(5)Mimi T.
kool aid! yes, they have kool aid to go with your fried chicken! Oh and live music while you eat! Yes, some live motown to go with your dinner, I dig it. Something you dont come across often. We were coming from San Jose, CA and we were starving on a Friday Night. It was a long wait, but definitely worth it! (It's in a residential area) J It's not often that I'd have dinner at a soul food joint, but I'm glad i found Papa's on yelp! Thanks yelpers!
(4)Diana M.
Best BBQ since we left South Carolina! Staff was friendly and food was served quick and hot. Just a couple of suggestions, if you like your bbq dry then request the sauce on the side. They slather the sandwichb with too much sauce for my taste but dont be fooled....thats real smoke in the meat and its tasty! The sweet tea is a little watered down and had no real bite to compete with the sugar. Lastly, why do you guys not have paper napkins or offer wet wipes? No real bbq joint should have cloth napkins. Other than that, give this place a try.
(5)Haley S.
This place is the bomb! It is always slammed but the food is worth the wait. I recommend the cat fish, mac and cheese, and the vodka kool-aid drink. The service was not the best but the food is seriously worth it!!!
(5)Robert C.
Great food and service, try the brisket!
(5)Daniel G.
Hell to the mutha-lovin yeaya. it's the bomb-b. So much delicious meats you'll probably be constipated after you leave. Worth it. Great sides and love the options to mix and match. Drinks are on point. Nice atmosphere. All of this for a reasonable price. I'll go again and again.
(5)J B.
I got the BBQ Pulled Pork sandwich. It had coleslaw on top. It was the best pulled pork sandwich I have ever had! It comes with potato salad (no substitutes which is unfortunate), usually I do not like potato salad, but theirs was good. Also it was only $7 quite good for dinner prices.I paid $2.50 extra and got baked beans with it. They were worth it. The portion sizes were big enough that I only ate half and had the rest for lunch the next day. They even gave me extra sauce to take home, to make it nice and moist the next day. To drink they have lots of interesting choices. The Kool-Aid Fissle is hard to beat. Vodka and Kool-Aid just work together. The drink was $6, almost as much as my meal, but it was worth it. This is a good place to have a nice meal with friends or family. Apparently they have live music a lot too. They did not this time, but it was my first time there. I will be back soon.
(5)Joe S.
Best southern BBQ I've had west of the Mississippi. The pulled pork was great, good service and large portions
(4)Stanley S.
Although I haven't eaten there in awhile I love their superlative cuisine. The staff is friendly, great atmosphere and the best soul food you'll ever eat.
(5)Kyra B.
I've given this place many tries in the past few months, and every time I go it gets slightly worse. The food? It's fine. Not great, nothing to write home about (certainly not to my family in South Carolina). I understand more than anyone that doing proper traditional soul food in the Pacific Northwest is extremely difficult, as the culture and climate over here doesn't quite cater to such a cuisine. However, 2 stars are showing up due to the service. I work in the food industry, and I understand how difficult and stressful times can get when you're slammed, but that is no excuse to be rude or ignore your customers. Too many times did I feel like an inconvenience on these waitstaff for asking to pay my bill, see a menu, or god forbid get some more hot sauce. Come on dudes, I know you're better than that. You all seem like people I would love to have a drink with on any other day....but to be served by you in this establishment? I think I'll pass. Order the ribs, or any dark meat, but leave the fish to other places. Sorry guys.
(2)Azadeh G.
The food is off the charts. Our waiter acted super weird and contrived. You're not in L.A anymore dude, no one cares about your kicks.
(3)Casey W.
They had amazing comfort BBQ food! I ordered their BBQ pork, max and cheese with corn bread and it was fantastic! The pork melted in my mouth and the service was amazing! I recommend getting there right when they open because it filled up within 10 minutes of opening. :)
(5)Jeff S.
Yes, this place is as good as it claims to be. We got here right at the opening for lunch. Got the brisket. It was amazing. Litererally fell apart on the fork. Flavor was great and it was amazing. I wouldn't advocate driving all the way down here just to eat soul food, but it was definitely a great meal for price. The sides were whatever.
(4)Lacey H.
Okay, let me start by asking: when was the last time you had Kool-aid? Think real long and hard... because I can almost guarantee that you won't be able to recall that far back. I haven't had Kool-aid in at LEAST 20 years (which ages me, but whatever...). Now... when have you ever had Kool-aid with vodka? My guess is never in the history of ever. Any place that is coolly confident enough to serve a drink where the only two classifiers are "red or purple?" is awesome in my book. It's called the Kool-aid Fizzle. How freaking fun is that? You're welcome. As for the food, how can you not love hush puppies and BBQ? If you don't, I don't want to be your friend. Harsh, but true. The wait is usually pretty long from what I understand, but we went a little later in the evening (around 8:00... late enough in the evening that it's definitely going to stick to your ribs after you stuff yourself and crawl directly into bed) and we were seated immediately and had our food within 15-20 minutes. You should probably go here. Mow down on a pile of delicious pulled pork and get you a Kool-aid Fizzle. You won't regret it.
(4)Jess T.
If you've never been to Papa's yet, it's a fun excursion for me on about a yearly rotation of restaurants. I wouldn't make it my regular place unless I lived next door. Papa's has a lot going for it-- the atmosphere feels gritty and authentic, the menu is well priced and has good options, and there's nowhere else in the Eug to get these options or this "feel" in atmosphere. Kind of a fun place to take visitors, especially outside seating and on Fri. nights when there is music (although it is too loud for that tiny of a space). That said, the food is usually just okay for what it is. Messing up mac and cheese so badly that I don't want to order it is a big fail. The fried chicken, to my taste, is nothing special and is always underseasoned and not so meaty (I can't think of anywhere that has the "best fried chicken" in Eugene if that's what you're looking for). Their specials are hit and miss as well... I could go on like this about every menu item. It's okay, but it's not special food, and they miss a lot of huge opportunities to be a place to rave about. In summary -- a fun place to eat because of the atmosphere and passable food at a good value, but you can't help feeling like they are missing out on their potential. I guess since it does a pretty good business it doesn't need to be great -- the motto of most places here in the Willamette Valley. Tip -- get there for an early dinner around 5 to skip waiting in the dinner line.
(3)Dewy C.
Well I didn't eat at Papas. Walked in, was greeted, (eventually) with rolled eyes and a "what the hell are you doing here" look. Now you might be wondering if I was naked or dressed in s polka dots or something? No I assure you I was just an average Joe looking to eat some of my favorite style of food. The 3rd host said with a go away voice that there'd be a 50min wait, which would be understandable if there hadn't been half the restaurant empty. BTW the first two dudes just walked by and mumbled "be witcha in a minute". No worries we walked across the street to Izekia and had a phenomenal dinner. Bummed that I didn't get to try Papas but they weren't to bummed to miss my wallet.
(2)Claire V.
Can I just reiterate: This place serves Cherry Fucking Koolaid. Looooove it.
(4)Stephanie B.
I am trying to be a vegetarian, but this place is my weakness! The BBQ is so good! They have good drinks as well, and a great patio to eat outside. I usually get their beef brisket with coleslaw on top, with a side of Mac n cheese.
(5)Jay W.
this is some of the best down home soul food your going to find sometimes its hard to get a table but its definitely worth the wait
(5)lynn t.
This block seems like it was snatched right out of Portland and I dig this spot. I've been smiling since I got out of the car. From the patio this is like being at a backyard barbecue, plus the trains blowing their horns in the distance, and jazz and blues music softly playing. I could even hear the refrigerator door opening and closing in the kitchen through the open screened window. Have a look from my perfect vantage point. I can't wait til my food comes! Diggin' this spot
(4)Chuck M.
Their slogan is "Papa's Soul Food is so good it'll make ya' wanna slap yo Mama!!!"...not sure why but we kinda got the feeling from the folks working there that they wanted to slap us too. Okay, so I'm an out of town visitor to Eugene so maybe I just don't know what's acceptable at this establishment. I've heard of places where it's part of their "gimmick" to be snarky and rude to the customers and maybe that's what they are going for here...but probably not. After being seated in the outdoor patio area, my party of 5 ordered drinks and began to look over the menu. As we were all having Ice Tea, one person in my party requested that they just bring a pitcher so that we could refill our own glasses. Once the drinks were delivered, however, the server knocked the pitcher over onto one member of our group and all over the purse of another. Accidents happen and we calmly asked for a towel to mop up the liquid. We were then moved to another (dry) table which seemed to upset another member of the staff for no apparent reason. We were told that another pitcher would be delivered shortly but it never materialized nor did our original server ever come back to our table. When server number two was asked about the pitcher we were told that they "don't do that". Guess that was a new rule instituted after the original server's miss-hap. We shrugged it off, ordered our food and waited...and waited...and waited, as one table after another of folks that were seated after us were delivered their food. About an hour went by before we received our order. After it was delivered, we did not see server number two again (note that we were very pleasant and not at all rude to our servers given the Ice Tea shower and being treated like the "red-headed step-child" in getting our order). Later in the evening, a new person showed-up at the table and when we asked if he would mind taking a picture of our group we got another snarky remark and he seemed put-out as he explained that he was the head-chef. He did take the picture which we appreciated and he provided some interesting back-ground on the history of the founder of the establishment. The food: Okay, the food was pretty good...not the best Southern Cuisine I've ever had (I spent several years living in the South and I know what this stuff can taste like). Apparently "Papa", the namesake of the restaurant is from So Cal...I guess that qualifies as the "South"...Sorta...Kinda? The corn bread was tasty with a nice honey-butter topping, the Brisket was tender and not over cooked, and the potato salad was average. When it was time for us to pay, a different individual (perhaps the restaurant manager) did offer to remove the charges for the ice tea which was a nice gesture...the tea was "on the house"...and on us, LOL. 4 stars for the food...1 star for the speed of food delivery and staff attitude...final score, 3 stars.
(3)Aimi M.
The wait was about 45 minutes long when we arrived (on Wednesday), but as soon we looked at the plates that were served, we had few drinks and waited. The food was so good that although we were full, we finished what was in front of us, which left us in the food coma for the next three hours. Definitely do not take your date there or you will be worthless couch potato afterwards.
(5)Lauren L.
It's unfortunate but I was more than disappointed with my experience at Papa's Soul Food Kitchen... I had heard nothing but raves reviews of this Southern comfort food restaurant and so when two of my close friends came to Eugene to visit, we decided this had to be on our itinerary. I myself had never had soul food before, both of my friends had each sampled a variety so I trusted I was in good hands when it came to deciding the quality. In preparation for this meal, I was told to wear something "comfortable"... Well, I still chose to wear platforms but I felt like loose clothing may be necessary... The restaurant itself is located in downtown Eugene and centered around some of Eugene's trendier bars and restaurants. Papa's Soul Food Kitchen certainly has quite a cute look to it, slightly more rustic and homey feeling, the atmosphere is nonetheless warm and very welcoming. We arrived on the earlier side of the evening which was certainly well planned, the restaurant reaches capacity quickly so be sure to arrive early, call in for a reservation, or be prepared to wait in line. We were ushered to their outdoor patio which was nicely sized and decorated with various signage. The menu was extensive, I felt a little out of my element when it came to selecting appropriate menu items so I chose to let my friends take the lead in terms of the ordering process. To get in the Southern spirit we all decided to start our meal off with some Kool-Aid (another first for me) along with their fried oysters and hush puppies. The fried oysters were nothing special and the hush puppies lacked flavor. For our entrees we each ordered fried chicken, mac n' cheese, collard greens, baked beans, and a side of cornbread served with their honey butter. Perhaps it's just luck of the draw but we each found our fried chicken to be underwhelming and not prepared to our standards with bits of the batter left uncooked. The collard greens were basically left untouched, I found the texture to be rather unappetizing and ultimately unsatisfying in flavor. The baked beans and cornbread were consistent with the general disappointment of the dinner, bland and unexciting. The mac n' cheese was certainly quite a colorful shade of yellow, thick and creamy yet not good enough to salvage the meal. We decided to skip dessert, our souls were just not feeling this so called "soul food". Despite being left with a whole lot of unpleasant water weight, I will say that the people watching and general ambiance of the restaurant was nice and the Kool-Aid was stirred to perfection! Would I return? Perhaps, if I was too lazy to make some Kool-Aid...
(2)Kevin S.
papa's is a excellent place to eat n hang out it's cool kevin stevens
(5)Omar M.
Brisket plate is awesome. Homemade Mac and cheese. Friend had the pulled pork. Sweet tea was excellent. Service was fast and accurate.
(4)Shawna C.
Well shoot. I'm starting to take it personally. My family and I anxiously anticipated coming to Papa's Soul Food Kitchen for the first time. The place opens for dinner at 5pm, and by 4:40pm there was quite a queue waiting outside. This only heightened my enthusiasm as I imagined crispy catfish fried golden brown with a generous side of red beans and rice and mac and cheese. Oh the bliss! As a very small venue, the noise level was deafening. We had to shout to be heard most of the time, but we chocked that up to the entire place being filled to capacity all at once with hungry, excited people. That said, a place filled with people all at once also resulted in a 40 minute wait to be served. Finally! Dinner arrived! 3 of our 5 guest party ordered the Soul Burger which was proudly featured on the Food Network program "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives." That burger is the sole reason Papa's got 3 stars from me. All 3 agreed that it was the single best burger they had ever eaten in a restaurant, and every bit worthy of a visit from Guy Fieri! The 4th person in our party ordered the BBQ chicken sandwich. Sadly he didn't care for it at all, and just picked at it. I ordered the cat fish as stated already, and the plate arrived with more catfish than I could ever eat in one sitting. The mac and cheese was a decent portion, and the red beans and rice was a good portion as well. The mac and cheese was really good; creamy and cheesy. The beans and rice looked and tasted like it had been made several hours before and had been sitting around since then. It was very pasty and gummy. I ate just a few bites of that. I might have eaten more but..... OH MY GOSH!! The cat food/er cat fish! I took one bite and it had a very foul taste that I couldn't quite comprehend, so I took another bite. Nope, still nasty. On the third bite I took a good look at the piece I was eating and I cannot for the life of me figure out what it was that I had eaten! The thing I had in my hand was grey -GREY! -and gelatinous and unrecognizable. Honestly, it was like nothing I had ever seen on or in a fish before in my life. Horrified, I motioned our waiter over to take a look at the mystery grey ooze, and he stammered something about "all fish are different...." well, yeah! This was the most different and gross fish I'd ever seen! By then I had completely lost my appetite and worse, I could not get that horrible taste out of my mouth and what I'd seen was all I could see. All would have been lost except guest #4 who disliked his chicken sandwich really liked my catfish, and I really liked his chicken, so we switched entrees. He ate all of the catfish without seeing or tasting any offending grey stuff, and I happily ate his chicken that had a wonderful flavor! The nice smoky flavor played well with the cool and creamy cole slaw, and their BBQ sauce is fantastic! All in all I might try eating here again, but I will never and I mean NEVER order catfish again.
(3)Cee D.
The food at Papa's is pretty far removed from anything you'd find in any of the many regions of the South represented on their menu, but we're in Oregon flying with our own wings and all that. And really, that doesn't matter. Culturally and regionally specific food doesn't need to be authentic to be good. Papa's, though, has a kitschy varnish reflecting an imagined approximation of the South that feels gimmicky and exploitative, like a tiny culinary theme park of the South... in another country. There's nothing familiar to the South at Papa's past the names of the dishes. Just caricatures of cliches. And bad, bad bbq, meh fried chicken and middling sides with an ever-present risk of terrible service. The least they could do is give free refills of sweet tea. For heaven's sake.
(2)Chris S.
If you're from Eugene, Papa's Soul Food Kitchen is the best Soul/Southern food you've ever had. However, if you've been to The South it's just ok. And, I think I'm fair in saying this. After all, I've been to - and eaten - this food in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee and South Carolina in the last two months. If Papa's bad? Heck no! It's pretty good, actually, but is falls short of authentic Soul Food. Although the cornbread was moist, tasty and sweet, some of the other items lacked the same punch. And, the tea they serve doesn't compare to real sweet tea, good effort though. We ordered the Gumbo, which doesn't resemble any gumbo I've ever seen in the South. It tasted like their was brisket in it and was good, but different. Personally, my friend and I had the fried chicken. The server mentioned it was a premier item and excellent. Unfortunately, we didn't feel that way after scarfing it down. In fact, we didn't finish it. The fried chicken was fairly dry and while the skin tasted great, the lack of moisture was evident and a drawback. The yams were good, however. For Eugene this is as good as it gets for Soul Food and you'll probably leave with a great taste in your mouth. Nevertheless, if you've had great Cajun/Soul food in The South, you won't be handing out 5 stars, or even 4s.
(3)Vanessa R.
Let me start by saying that I have not had a dine-in experience at Papa's for years. When they opened, I loved coming here for meals and drinks after they got their liquor license. The service was friendly. It was much easier to get seated then of course, and the food was phenomenal. Then, as they started to gain popularity, I was offered carry out as an option when the wait for a table was over 45 min. I thought that was a good option since waiting for a table in the rain sucks given their lack of space inside to stand around and wait with the other 15 people ahead of you. Now, the food is still good, but I refuse to wait to be seated for more than half an hour. That's not their fault, it's just my preference. The ambiance is fun and charming and all of that, but I am impatient and hate waiting an hour for a table for 2-4 people. I'm a reservation making type of gal. Besides, carry out orders always take half an hour anyway. They will say 15 minutes on the phone, but it's just not true, it's half an hour for real. Call them from Sam Bonds with your order, then take your time with a beer before you saunter over to pick it up. Even then, it probably won't be ready just yet. Given my professed impatience, why do I go back? I love their jerk chicken sandwich. Just love it. I used to like their catfish sandwich but they started smothering it with sauce and salt. My husband is a big fan of the hot link sandwich with mac and cheese. I will call in an order for these items every now and then. The carry out service is always friendly. Even though I feel like I give them plenty of time to get my order ready before I come to fetch it, I always have to wait at least 5-10 minutes. They always offer me a drink while I wait, which is nice of them. Overall I do like Papa's, I just don't like to wait and they don't like to rush, so here we are.
(3)Susan C.
Loved this place south we tried to go back for lunch today. It was closed for a private event. Very sad. We will make it a must do the next time we are in Eugene. Loved all the food options. Hard to decide what to get
(5)Dara H.
One of the best places to eat in Eugene! Whenever my boyfriend and I go down there he is begging to stop at Papa Soul Food's. I have got the pulled pork and BBQ chicken plates...probably the best pulled pork I've ever had! My boyfriend always gets the fried chicken and says it's the best ever, and they make it to order :) Also they have the best sides...try them all! I would especially recommend the baked beans, collard greens and Mac and cheese. Also get some delicious corn bread!!! The only thing I dislike here is that there is often a wait, and it don't think they take reservations. But that's just how it goes when a place is so popular. Service is always nice and friendly and sometimes they have live music out back. A great spot!!
(5)Christopher B.
Papas is a delicious stop that I make only about twice as often as I file my taxes. It's pretty small and a whole bunch of popular, so seating goes quickly at peak times. I'm a huge fan of the catfish + collard greens + m&c. Dining at papas is a good time.
(4)Lisa Q.
Food was excellent but the service extremely poor. Table next to us turned over twice before we got our meal. Not sure why the issue no apologies but an hour to receive your meal is long. The waiter who brought the food was rude. Being new to Eugene The place was recommended to me but I will set the word straight. So while I can rave about the food I most likely will not go back.
(2)Tom O.
I had the brisket dinner with potato salad and black eye peas. The potato salad was delicious. Black eyed peas and Brisket were disappointing. My brisket was about a third fat. Funny thing though. 3 weeks ago I had the brisket and it was tremendous. The peas are okay. But kinda bland and they mix it with rice. The price of the meal was probably the best thing about it. Only $11.
(2)Bobbi H.
We took my daughter for her 40th Birthday last night and I have to say Papa Soul's was the best of all our choices. It was Friday night and we were told we should arrive early, got there just after 5:30 and got a table right away. Love the ambiance, outdoor seating area, real red fabric napkins, waitress was great, returning to check on us numerous times and other wait staff that kept our water filled and replenished drinks from the bar. You've got to try the Georgia Peach made with ever clear in a sugar frosted martini glass, it'll knock you socks off. The Cool-Aid fizzies were very good but the blueberry cocktail was weak. I wanted a light tasting beer and got the Red Stripe, should have probably got the Pabst. Between the 4 of us we had the pulled pork sandwich, brisket, bbq ribs and pulled pork dinner. All was terrific. I had the ribs and they were perfect, loved the bbq sauce. For sides we had the coleslaw (could have used something in it to give it a little tang), collard greens, corn and potato salad, all very good. Watch out for the potato salad, the red sprinkling on top may have been cayenne, I thought it was paprika. Too hot for me, but the bell pepper was a nice addition. I'm a "foodie" and would tell anyone to go to Papa Soul's for good BBQ, service and ambiance. Wish we could have stayed longer, they were just setting up for live music as we were leaving around 7 pm.
(5)D P.
For the first time trying this place I ordered red snapper with cole slaw and okra. We had to get it take-out because the place was absolutely slammed on Saturday. The food was good, more on the greasy side, but nothing about it was negative. Its soul food so thats how its supposed to be. The fish was good, nothing special. The price is decent for how popular this place is. I wish we could have gone in and got a seat, maybe the food would have been a little fresher. This place a little bit overrated in my opinion. They also aren't open on Sunday. What? Do you guys not like money? I know they are ultra-busy on Saturday but hey I would stop by for lunch on Sunday if you guys were open...
(3)Sway R.
Eat. Here. Now. The service alone was amazing- SUCH nice, welcoming people. A server named Nick in particular just went the extra mile. And then the food.....dear lord the food was spectacular. ALL of it. We had the pulled pork sandwich, bbq chicken, collard greens, Mac n cheese, and baked beans. AND sweet tea to die for. 5 stars isn't enough. We decided we would stop in every time we're in the area; AKA within 200 miles of here.
(5)Mona C.
dat brisket tho
(5)Autumn D.
I crave the bread pudding every single day of my life.
(5)Adi C.
Had the ribs here twice now, pretty good! nice sides, nice place, could use a little less sauce but other than that very satisfied. Try the mac n cheese. it's good.
(4)Litahni H.
This place is AMAZING!!! To start, there is no parking lot, so you take your chances on where you park; it's all on street. We knew it was a good sign when we got there and the place was packed. It was very loud but that's just because it is so busy. There was also a big BBQ/smoker out front that is a good sign that we were about to experience real BBQ. The patio looked inviting but we were starving and didn't want to wait, so we opted to be seated immediately in the dining room. Ambience was cool; very nice blues/jazz related artwork and just generally nice looking. Service was good enough, didn't have any issues with it. The food, oh the food. While we were waiting for our food, we were watching platters go by with awe. Everything looked wonderful and each passing plate just wetted our appetites. We sipped, or rather gulped, on delicious lemonade. The menu was awesome. Everything looked amazing and the menu was the most interesting menu I have ever seen; it was laid out graphically, like an ad or perhaps a comic book. Very cool. I ordered the brisket with yams and mac n cheese as a side, my hubby ordered the jerk chicken with red beans and rice and mac n cheese. We also had some of Papa's out of this world cornbread, which was probably the best I've ever had (the perfect consistency, not too dry not too cakey-moist). The brisket was falling apart tender with a wonderful bbq sauce, the jerk chicken was fall off the bone and moist, red beans and rice were perfectly seasoned, yams were also perfect, as was the mac n cheese (yay, no mushy noodles, I hate mushy noodles). Since we were both stuffed from over eating (couldn't help it, the servings are so big, but it's so delicious we couldn't stop until all the food was about gone), we ordered a bread pudding with bourbon sauce to go. Bread pudding is one of my favorites and Papa'a does it right. It seems like they use cinammon rolls as the bread. It was wonderful when I ate it about an hour later. Last of all the bill was right in line with what I like to see. Two people, drinks and entrees and desert, $35. Seriously, the entrees are like $10 each. Nice!!! I hate going to those places that charge $20 an entree and then give you half a plate worth of food. Papa's doesn't do that. This is the real deal. Do it!!! PS Sorry this review is so long, but I just can't say enough about how great this place is. We will go again soon, waist line be damned.
(5)Hannah E.
Very very good! One of my favorite places in Eugene. Not as good as my fave soul food place in Portland- but they have a few more options so that is a bonus. We got the fried oyster sandwich that comes with coleslaw on it. Sweet Tea and fresh lemonade are delicious. Husband got the brisket with red beans and rice & collard greens. Very good. Oyster sandwich is one of the best I've had, and I've eaten the best in new orleans.
(4)Summer O.
GO. HERE. NOW. I promise you, you will not regret it. Everything is ridiculously delicious and shockingly cheap. A lot of their sides are just 2-3 dollars. The menu is simple but has great variety. It gets terribly busy sometimes, so be prepared (the food is so worth the wait). I've never had any complaints about the service. This place is a must!
(5)Patrick C.
I have tried many things on the menu and was pleasantly surprised with them. Then I tried their fried chicken.... wow! Fried chicken was never something I would get eating out. I just figured all fried chicken is the same and I could do it just as well at home. Not So. Amazing chicken and they have a hot sauce that is off the menu that is ridiculously hot and good. Fun atmosphere and great food!
(5)Lee W.
Three simple words. One special day. Chicken and Waffles. Every Wednesday. I've been to Papa's quite a few times, but I'm not sure I'd ever had the signature Wednesday night special. $8 and you get a half dozen deep fried chicken wings and a wicked tasty little waffle. Throw syrup all over that bad boy and inhale. Vegetables? The USDA food pyramid is for squares. This is a full day's serving of kick ass. The available seating in this place goes down by half when it starts raining outside. Show up early if you want a seat during the winter.
(4)Heather C.
Every year I visit Eugene for the Degenerate Flame-off at Cornerstone. cornerstoneglass.com/dfo… . My boyfriend and I rent a car and get a hotel near by. The show is always great but the best part... coming to the Soul Kitchen for dinner one night. I always get the Ribs... it's a must. They have just the right amount of sauce and always perfectly done. This year I also sprung for the Mac N Cheese. It has now put me on the hunt for an equivalent Mac N Cheese near me... I'll let you know when I find some. Melt in your mouth fantastic-ness. I look forward to my annual pilgrimage every year.
(5)Reilly N.
Love the food here, get the mac-n-cheese as a side! Not a fan of the bbq sauce. Their Kool-aid fizzle is the best!
(3)Mark B.
My favorite restaurant in the world. Get the brisket, if you are into that type of thing. Fried Chicken and pulled pork are also excellent. Mac and cheese, yamms, corn bread, fries, corn, beans are all great sides. Best for meat eaters, and not the type of place to go if you are interested in calorie counting or cholesterol intake; others will be rewarded. The building itself is not spectacular but something about it is special; eating outside can be great on a nice day. RIP Papa
(5)Lindsay T.
Papa's Soul Food is superb. I love going in the summer because they have the outdoor seating. The pulled pork is fantastic, but you get the chance try the special. I have yet to get a special of the day that didn't astound my taste buds.
(5)Ronn C.
The best soul food around! If you like soul food then you have to try this place. The fried chicken is the bomb. I mean totally nuclear. The sides are awesome, especially the Mac & Cheese.
(5)Darlyn S.
I love the brisket & crazy about the collared greens. Their ribs were good. The fried chicken was ordinary. Mac & cheese was a little step up to the boxed ones. The place is pretty cozy but small. It can get really cramped on weekends. They have an outdoor space but is not usable 9 months a year due to liquid sunshine. I think they need to cover the outdoor space. The really god thing about this place is that they have excellent customer service. They had to move us & give our table to a larger party, they were apologetic and they comped us with free drinks & siding.
(4)Brenden E.
I had high expectations for Papa's Soul Food Kitchen, and usually when I have high expectations I am disappointed.... Not this time! My expectations were above and beyond met... I split the "special" with my husband... pretty much a bbq wonderland, and we also got the fried okra of course (I have had fried okra in Atlanta and it wasn't even close to as good as Papa's). My new favorite restaurant of all time....
(5)Angie C.
My hubby and I have been here several times, but never sat outside. The patio is beautiful. You don't even realize where you are. It's a gorgeous little oasis. The night we went, it was busy, as usual. The wait staff was on it! Attentive as necessary, not annoying like some places where you know they're workin a tip. My hubby was wanting something lighter so he went for the snapper sandwich. It was breaded and fried perfectly served on a bun with delicious slaw. I went big. I got the brisket plate with red beans and rice and potato salad. The brisket.... OMG! Seriously? Too delicious for words. Now, I went big so I had to go home with a doggie bag. The portions are always over flowing and the price is always right. You did it again, Papa's crew. And we love ya!
(4)Allie R.
The food was very good, but the service here was atrocious. Being from Oklahoma, I was excited to hear that there was a legitimate BBQ restaurant to try in Eugene. I went for the ribs and, while they weren't as good as my dad's home cooking, they satisfied my BBQ craving. The rib dinner comes with two sides and I chose the Mac and cheese and the fried okra. They charge $1 extra for the Mac and cheese and it definitely wasn't worth the extra charge, average at best. The waiter was rude and short throughout the meal. My real frustration, however, came when we received the check. The menu explicitly stated that there would be a $1 charge to have Mac and cheese or French fries as a side with your dinner. For some reason, I was charged $1 extra for my fried okra as well as my Mac and cheese. I brought this up to the waiter and he didn't believe that the menu didn't state the fried okra to be $1 extra. Upon showing him his own menu, his only response was that they'd add it to the menu the next time it was printed. When I said that I felt it should be removed from my bill since this error was no fault of my own and I wouldn't have ordered it if I'd known it would've turned my meal into a $12 dinner, the waiter's response was, "It's only a dollar." I couldn't believe it! If "it's only a dollar" then should good service not come over such a petty amount? I ended up having to pay the extra "only a dollar" and I can assure you that I will not be returning to an establishment that believes in misleading and mistreating their customers, regardless to the authenticity of the food.
(2)Eric P.
Had the brisket stroganoff. Dude to die for. Check the pick of the fork and Mac and cheese. Not your Kraft box dinner here baby!!
(5)Nancy H.
Went yesterday for lunch, very first time; even took along out of town guests. All four of us gave it a big thumbs up! Of course, lots of fried food on the menu, but for those times when nothing else will do, this is by far the best place in town. Fried oysters were cooked to perfection, fried catfish took me back to my formative years growing up in the Midwest and the fried snapper was very fresh and delicious!
(5)Carolyn N.
It took me way too long to visit this place. The first two times we ventured over, they were closed, once on Sunday and once on Monday. It's my fault, I have a habit of not checking schedules and just assuming that every restaurant is always open. It's their perogative, but who doesn't want a lil soul food on Sunday? Also, I was a bit hesitant. Soul food in Eugene? I might be a white girl from Jersey, but I've got family in NOLA, my husband cooks gumbo that was deemed "the best" by a blind NOLA pianist, and I've eaten enough ribs in my life to be considered some sort of expert. I know my soul food. Many of my friends who said, "Carolyn, you have to go," are from Colorado, Washington, Oregon--I'm sorry that I didn't trust you, kids, I was so wrong. First of all, I love the atmosphere. We sat out on the porch, which I would highly recommend. The walls inside are covered with blues masters and there is a nice shrine honoring Papa himself. The service was great, a rarity in Eugene. The food was great, and just as good as many of the lovely southern restaurants and momma's kitchens I've been so lucky to visit. The collard greens could've come out of Grandma Ruby's kitchen and the mac n' cheese was fantastic. You can tell by the mac n' cheese, that they are for real--their recipe is straight out of momma's kitchen, tried and true. And the ribs were great, almost perfect--rubbed, smoked, and sauced. They were cooked just right. I snagged some of my friend's fried chicken--simply and perfectly seasoned, and not greasy at all. The rest of my stomach space went to finishing each and every bit, I did not leave enough room for my beer. Food coma, for sure, just as I'm sure Papa would've wanted .
(4)Anna K.
Best stop in Eugene for some good ol BBQ. Ribs are heavenly, corn is perfection, and collard greens taste homemade as they get. Mmmmmm
(5)Jamir P.
This is one of my favorite spots! I love the full flavor of their foods. The fish is always fried just right. Their ribs are my weakness for sure...and the baked beans!...dang those beans are spot-on. What I like most about this place is they've got the whole package...from the art on the walls of blues men, to the southern food, to the live music in the back yard. It can get crowded so I like to go on Tuesdays...that's my night!
(4)Andrew P.
This place is consistently good. Their ribs are very tasty and meaty and for $10 totally worth it. Last time I got the chicken and waffles. A now very played combo but they pull it off well. The chicken has a delicious crunchy outside and juicy inside, all a man can ask for with wings. Do watch out tho, this place can get really busy
(4)Stuart P.
I don't miss the Delta, except at lunchtime. I'm from Mississippi, so brother--I know bar-b-que. And BBQ does NOT mean "throw it on the grill and call it BBQ." There is a process, a tradition, a . . . style. Papa's does it right. The pulled pork is superb. The fried okra is satisfying. The sweet tea is . . . just sweet enough. Thanks to Papa's, I can go back, if only for a short while.
(5)April R.
M mm. If you like barbeque you'll love this place! I love going here with friends and family. Love the purple kool aid cocktail!
(5)Sarah J.
Ribs....yummmm. Mac N Cheese....yummmmmm. numnumnumnumnumnumnum. Great place. Will return. After I burn a zillion calories.
(5)libby d.
The food here is good to people who have never had real soulfood and southern cooking.I only gave it two stars because the chicken and waffles is consistently good and the only reason i continue to eat here.
(2)Drew T.
Nice atmosphere, friendly staff, lots of choices. I had brisket, mac and cheese, corn, and bread pudding for dessert. Brisket was very fatty which is a major negative for me. If the flavor had been better I would have overlooked it. Mac and cheese was different, not really to my taste, but can see why some might like it. The bread pudding was yummy. I'd go back.
(3)Charlotte T.
Papa's Soul Food is so good, but be prepared to wait awhile for a table! The restaurant is intimate and casual, but not a lot of seating, so get there early. I once waited an hour for a table, but the food was worth the wait.
(4)T-Squared S.
Great Brisket. came with 2 sides (corn bread and cole slaw - corn bread especially tasty w/honey butter topping). Was significantly better than the wet brisket at Rudy';s in Austin, TX Snapper Sandwich w/unusual & tasty potato salad - ordered side of Okra ($4) and hush puppies ($3) Excellent waitress explaining menu,items and gave excellent service
(5)Jason A.
i just ate at papa's soul food, i had there fried chicken with two side orders. there chicken is great & there baked beans and Cole slaw was good to. i will go back and eat again. it seemed to be a warm place inside the restaurant, with the scent of BBQ in the air when you walk up to the restaurant. i always like the scent & flavor of BBQ plus there pricing is reasonable on there menu.!
(4)Christy S.
Fried chicken is amazing there! Love all of the side dishes as well. Wait time can be a while especially on the weekends.
(4)Sun W.
I read some of the reviews for this place. Lots of bbq and catfish snobs. If you expect to get bbq food identical to what you get in the south then you need to wake up. Your in Eugene, Oregon. Anyways this place is great. It is great quality food for the price. I've had the brisket and the bbq ribs. Both were great. The sauce is tasty and the sides delicious. I would make it a priority to get the cornbread. The mashed yams and the mac and cheese are good. I did happen to see some mojitos being made. They looked incredibly well done. I didn't get to taste them, but obviously they were very popular. The ambiance is nice. It is a little quirky but they do have a live harmonica dude playing on. The outside seating is nice but it gets super cold. My biggest complaints was the slow service and not having a heating lamp outside for customers. For being in Eugene where good food is hard to come by, this place is a solid place to eat and enjoy a bbq meal.
(4)Dave M.
I was in town for business and decided to give this place a go.. cool place, very casual, fun and live music. My food was good. I had fried chicken, red beans and rice,,fried okra, corn bread and sweet tea... so hears a few details... the staff is kind of qwerky and the neighbor Hood is a little rough. I wouldn't take someone there who doesn't already know my taiste... I may never hear from them again... I would go there for some good soul food, blues music and very casual enviorment..
(3)Diane B.
Fabulous fried chicken, delicious fried okra, wonderful brisket, great mac and cheese at reasonable prices. I am drooling while I write this. Very laid back, a little shabby but I don't care--it is part of the charm. Must....go....back.....
(4)Josh W.
Papa's is the one place we'll go during the summer when we feel like something different. Im going to miss listening to papa making music outside while eating. That made it unique in it's own way too. None the less, we'll still come back in the summer as normal. Dont ask why we eat here only durring the summer, we just do. Fried Chicken is really good, Mac and cheese, Cole slaw, it's all good. The purple drank is good too. Think it's Grape cool aid and vodka or something like that. And that menu is cool as hell
(4)Andy B.
Papa's is a small place... I imagine there must almost always be a wait to sit during typical dinner hours as it seems like it must always be busy, what with how few tables there are. That said, the atmosphere is welcoming - the staff was kind and friendly and the dining room has a lot of character. I had the bbq pork ribs with mac n' cheese and corn on the side. The ribs were tasty and the sides were also very good! I spent $12.75 on this, which was the most of my group - so also very economical. If you are not in a hurry - it took us two hours to enter, eat with much talking, and leave - I highly recommend Papa's!
(4)Jennifer A.
Perfectly crispy fried chicken paired with rich creamy Mac and cheese and spicy black eyed peas made for a Devine meal. Only suggestion would be less rice mixed with the Black eyed peas as they were so flavorful and I wanted more peas. The cornbread with honey butter rounded it out. Had I not been too full I would have tried the bread pudding (next time). I got to try bites of the yams....hmmm and cole slaw shared by my friends, they too were yummy. All in all the joint was full of energy and busy. A great time had by all.
(4)Michael K.
You've gotta go here. There's nothing else to be said-simply amazing.
(5)Ben P.
Good solid southern food. I am not a seafood fan, plus it is the northwest, so Catfish isn't exactly native. I had a hankering for some fried chicken, and I gotta say they do that right. And the cornbread, even without the honey, still good.
(4)Benjamin S.
Sad to hear that Papa passed away recently. I have been going to Papa's for a little over 5 years now and have never been let down. It takes a LONG time to get your food, so, if your impatient, take your ass to KFC or something. Anywho, I've always loved the Pulled-Pork Sandwich and the KoolAid on tap. You really can't beat that duo. Unless you add Ghetto style mac n cheese. Then that's one helluva trio to compete with. Keep up the great work!
(5)Reney O.
For a change I'm gonna start with the downers. Service is debatable, sometimes they're friendly and attentive and other times they make you not want to come back ever again. I've had a few experiences of when our waitress was just downright rude and openly ignored us. The drinks are expensive, most definitely, and the booyah sauce is not as spicy as it used to be (this is based off of other's comments, I myself am a whimp when it comes to heat haha) Oh and if, for some reason, you actually have leftovers.....they really don't keep well so they don't taste good at all when reheated.... :( Other than those things, the food here is GREAT! Try anything you want! I've tried every menu item (except for the gumbo I think) and have loved every bite. I'd say the best dinner option would be the fried chicken with mac n cheese and corn on the side. The mac n cheese is the best you'll ever get in Eugene! Very cheesy, but not too thick. Pasta's done just right, and it's a little creamy.....melts in your mouth kind-o-good! Since it's soul food, there's lots of deep frying and grilling and everything is so flavorful and finger-lickin good you'll easily clear your plate and be completely full. P.S. that big ass piece of cake that you'll see sitting in the fridge, you'd think that it's never been tried and that it's stale. Believe me it's not. Haha, I went in just once to try that piece of cake and not order anything else. Daaaaaayum it's yummy! Good luck eating a piece after eating dinner there, haha.
(4)Greg K.
God rest his soul, Papa. He is and will be truly missed. This is easily one of the funner places in town to visit with friends. The menu is classic (picture book style with black and white stenciled drawings). Every time I go I try a new entree and combination of side dishes. So far the runaway favorite side dish amongst my friends and I is the macaroni. Also the collared greens are a treat. The rib sauce (a little bland) I think could use a little work, but still is some of the better rib sauce in the area. I love the Louisiana style drinks served at the bar, if I could remember their names I would share them here and now. I'm sure the wait staff would be more than glad to fill you in, you certainly can't find drinks like these anywhere else in the northwest. Also, the back patio is a blast, especially with live music.
(5)Rachel S.
I've been going here since it started as a hole in the wall on W. 11th. Amazing southern BBQ, have the mojito and the pulled pork or brisket. Go early and get on the list for a table. Great outdoor seating and live jazz and blues music constantly. Recently in a big group, they informed us of a "no more than 3 forms of payment rule". I've never heard of this rule and I've been there in big groups before recently. I'd prefer if they tell us that prior to the meal or put it on the menu. One disappointing experience out of seven years of good times won't defer me from going back. Leave room for the cupcakes or take one home; they are better than Sweet Life.
(4)Jude M.
I love fried chicken and everywhere I go in the world I have to try everyone's fried chicken and searching for food in Eugene Oregon they said this was the spot... Ok let's begin starting with the place; atmosphere isn't bad granted I came in 15min before lunch ended so the place was dead but looking around I could see this place being a nice place to eat lots of space inside and out. Now to the main reason the FOOD, got the fried chicken, Mac and cheese, and the grits with a side of corn bread.... Ehhh that's all nothing special at all, heard the Mac and cheese was supposed to be the bomb and well I think my easy Mac micro wave Mac and cheese has a little bit more flavor. The fried chicken was alright nothing special kinda like roscoes chicken an waffle great fried outer layer kinda dry inside so I was a little disappointed. The grits weren't bad and the cornbread wasn't bad either, overall this place was cool, the sweet tea there I could drink all day and is prob the reason I gave this place a 3 star rating oh and the girl servers aren't bad to look at hah
(3)Derek B.
A fantastic destination, worth the trip just to glance over the cleverly designed menu that claims, "So good it'll make you slap yo mama". Their menu boasts hush puppies, fried okra, catfish, black-eyed peas, collard greens, the BBQ standards (all done well), sweet tea and Kool Aid. I recommend any of the $6 sanwiches. For the price and quantity, nothing in Eugene can beat it! Wash it all down with a PBR Tall Boy.
(4)Mary C.
This is a great Eugenian spot for some great BBQ and other southern food. They have Chicken and Waffles!! yes! The food is great here and I never tire of the atmosphere! The sweet tea and koolaid are way too sweet but I guess that's a given. haha. Great place to eat, relax and enjoy the scenery!
(4)John M.
A friend who used to live in Tennessee (and so hopefully would know BBQ) recommended this place to me. Good BBQ in Eugene Oregon??? To say I was skeptical would be an understatement. Thank God I kept an open mind and gave it a try. I lived for some 7 years in Memphis Tennessee, so I like to think I know at least a little bit about good BBQ (the city rightly prides itself on the quality of the BBQ turned out by the various BBQ joints around the area). Papa's looks to be little more than a run down shack from the outside (it's nicer looking on the inside), but from my years living in Memphis, I've learned not to pay that any mind. The menu is fairly limited here, with the focus on ribs, pulled pork shoulder, chicken, snapper and the like. They have the usual assortment of sides one expects at a BBQ shack as well, in this case consisting of things like slaw, red beans and rice, baked beans, mac and cheese, collards, etc. Prices are also very reasonable I thought. My plate of pulled pork came with a generous amount of meat, with two sides, all for $10. Quality was excellent. The pulled pork had that sweet, moist, slighty smokey flavor that I associate with good quality, slow roasted meat. The sides were excellent as well (not too much mayo on the slaw, which I appreciate), with the red beans and rice very nicely spiced The BBQ sauce over the meat was a bit sweeter than I generally like, but was still pretty delicious I thought. I didn't order the ribs, and given that I'm something of a pork rib "purist," I'm not entirely sure I want to give them a try. You do get a large portion of ribs, but they were fairly large spare ribs, rather than the much higher quality baby backs I've come to expect from my years in Memphis. No matter, the snapper and chicken looked pretty good, so maybe I'll give that a try next time. However, the shoulder here was just so good, I'm not sure I can go with anything else. This place is highly recommended. One last thing. I went here around 5:30 PM on a Thursday, and I'm glad I didn't get here any later. I got the last table available when I arrived, and by the time I left, there was a considerable wait for a table (Papa's is not all that large to begin with, so it's easy for it to fill up pretty quickly). So to no great surprise, this place is pretty damn popular, even though it's located kind of out of the way on Blair Blvd. Obviously, I'm not the only one who thinks the food here is pretty good, so my recommendation is to come here early, even during the week, if you want to get a table without an inordinate wait.
(4)Catfish F.
Thought we would check out this place since most of the reviews were good. One review said they found a hair in their food...hmmm...was a little hesitant after reading that but since there were 4 of us and we all thought soul food would be good we went for it. Walked into the joint and immediately thought "nasty", It was crusty. Ordered our food, I also asked for water. My water came and I noticed lip marks on the glass...our food came and my second bite of mac n cheese was a little stringy...well I pulled out a foot long hair...OMG...I felt like barfing. The server came over and I pointed out the lips n hair and she said we can bring you another plate...NO THANK YOU...I'll pass...never again....this place is disgusting...
(1)Cee C.
My food coma from eating at Papa's is so intense, I don't think I can write a complete review. Ordered the pulled pork sandwich and it was deeeeelish. Rad place. Rad menu. Rad service. One of Eugene's best gems.
(5)Roxy R.
NICEST PEOPLE EVER! And try the Pastrami!! The Collard Greens are KILLER too! The name should be Papa's SWEETEST SOULS EVER That Sell Yummy Food. LOVE THIS PLACE!
(5)Alicia T.
The food here is great! Me and my date had a wonderful date night. I got the ribs, she got fried chicken. The food was perfect! The meat was basically falling off the bone (in a good way). We had good service, and even with a crowded restaurant. I know I will be back for more, and I am usually not even a soul food person. All I know is that I left more than happy!
(5)Bill D.
Went here with a very open mind and looking forward to some good Southern food. Got some Hush Puppies for appetizers and was let down by them being dry, overcooked and lacking more onions and seasoning. My wife and daughter agreed. We also compared them to another place in Eugene that makes them and there is no competition. Okay, lets go to the main dish. I had Beef Brisket with Mac-N-Cheese for side one and Fried Okra for side two. The Beef Brisket was, literally, 3/4 fat, no kidding! 3/4 of my meal was just a fat glob and I find it hard to believe that the cook did not catch/see it. And folks, Bill DOES NOT send things back to the kitchen, EVER, anywhere or at anytime. What meat I did get was good but had a lot of BBQ sauce on it. You shouldn't have to hide a good BBQ Beef Brisket with BBQ sauce. The Fried Okra was a batter-style, not the traditional rolled in white cornmeal type. A bit bland, but good. The only negative being they use the ends of the Okra which is something you usually shy away from. The Mac-N-Cheese is a funny bright yellow color and seemed like there was some kind of filler in it. Comparing the color and texture to other places, I would say it is good, not great and to die for. The Sweet Tea is VERY good, perhaps great. This is a must have if you go here and like Sweet Tea. Service was actually very good and the staff, and I mean all of the staff that waited on us (about four different people at times), did a great job and were friendly. My only wonderment was that our waitress did not question me leaving 3/4 of my Beef Brisket on my place (yes, you could see ALL of the fat), and not asking about it. In the future, I will give Papa's another try but rest assured, I won't be placing an order for Beef Brisket. I'll try the Fried Chicken or the Red Snapper. Prices were fair and portions were good. FYI, I tried some of my daughters Pulled Pork Sandwich and it was good. Watch where you park on the street, as this area can be sketchy after dark.
(2)Oregon Food Junkie O.
A must-stop for anyone living in, or visiting Eugene. Located in the Whiteaker Neighborhood in downtown, this place takes BBQ very seriously. Just look at the menu! And the crowds! Fantastic atmosphere, and excellent food, all for a reasonable price. For lunch, I'm a big fan of their amazing jerk chicken sandwich with a side of fries. They serve the fries in an old school brown paper bag if you order it to go!!!! And they absolutely stack em. The beef brisket is my favorite for dinner, smoked to perfection, and it just falls off the bone. The catfish is a tasty trip also. Don't forget the glass jar of kool aid to wash it down. Really cool place.
(5)Toby T.
Wow, this place certainly does not disappoint! I had heard of the restaurant occasionally in conversations, but I never went when I actually lived in Eugene! I severely regret that! The restaurant, while very tiny, feels homey and kind of like you're in someone's kitchen (with a bar!). We waited almost an hour to be seated, but it was well worth the wait. We were able to order drinks at the bar while waiting and they were all served in mason jars! The menu is very unique with lots of pictures, making it look kind of old fashioned. I ordered the crab sandwich, which turns out is a soft-shell crab sandwich with coleslaw right on the bun! It was absolutely delicious. My friends all had varied items on the menu and it was all good - none of us were disappointed! Next time I'm in Eugene, I will definitely go back!
(5)stephen r.
If you're looking for a good deal on a sit down restaurant, this place is a must go. The Fried Chicken is the best in town hands down, The Ribs are pretty good, and the nightly specials can be incredible. This place is a really good restaurant, I go there as often as I can convince my girlfriend to go with me. Eugene needs more places like this. One negative is,, I'm not 100% sure this is authentic soul food. Maybe they should try to get a little more authentic. PS: Ask for the BOO-YA hot sauce. It's delicious.
(5)Richard M.
Being a child of a creole marrige. I was excited to find Papa's Soul Food Kitchen... But after eating it. These people have no clue... It was over priced for what you got. The ckicken and mac was ok . Hush puppies over done and bland. I spent 40 bucks to be dissappointed by a so called soul food restaurant. Next time Ill just do it.myself
(2)Betsy F.
Papa Soul food has always been my feel good stop for yummy bbq chicken, cornbread and Papa's Music. I love walking into the warm building on a cold day. Instantly my mouth waters from the smells of deliciousness all around me. The back deck is also beautiful and a great place for families to come together. Service has always been good considering how busy they tend to be. R.I.P Papa! You will be missed dearly!
(5)Carter P.
Papa's Soul Food was a nice experience. The food was good, the ambiance fun and the service good. Nothing special but a nice everyday restaurant better an any of your fast food or chain alternatives.
(3)Jesse B.
a FUN experience! I wish I went when the live jazz was on. to be honest, the soul food isn't exceptional but the atmosphere makes up for the somewhat weak food offerings. I really only went once the entire time I lived in Eugene.
(3)Emi K.
My husband has been talking about this place for a while and we finally got a chance to visit it when visiting his mother. Papa's is in a pretty interesting area of Eugene, and is definitely not in the most fancy area. Yet, the restaurant itself has lots of character and tons of seats. We had to wait for 20 min, but were seated pretty fast. The restaurant is very lively and it's very hard to have a conversation, which was hard for us, since my husband's uncle has very poor hearing. The waiter was... not very friendly... which was a disappointment. The poor hearing conditions, made him repeat some beer options, and you could tell that he was irritated. Any questions we asked, he'd just answer very aggressively. We wanted to change tables, to a corner which might've helped with the noise level, but we decided not to, since we assumed that he would not do it willingly. The food was GREAT!!!!!! My mother-in-law and I got ribs with sides (collard greens, fried okra, and baked beans), my husband got a gumbo, and his uncle got a brisket sandwich. The ribs were so tender and juicy, the bbq sauce on top of it was sour sweet, a little spicy and blended wonderfully with the pork. The gumbo was delicious too, but my husband and I agree that the ribs were better. The brisket sandwich was overflowing with juicy meat and bbq sauce. I personally was not a fan of collard greens (probably just because I'm not used to such cuisine) but my mother-in-law loved it. It's a little pickled, but that is what made it delicious for my mother-in-law. I loved the fried okra, well... I guess I just love okra in general. The beans, were ok, but I'd prefer it to be less soupy and the beans cooked better. Either way, the food was great! The prices were pretty reasonable too, and very filling. I'd definitely love to return to try the fried chicken and brisket. Papa's only gets 4 stars because of the customer service. But the food is great and definitely a place I'd recommend for delicious soul food!
(4)R T.
The baked beans are from a can. A CAN (Bush's?)! The potato salad leaves an aftertaste like you licked a recently bleached sink. This raises suspicions that it was dumped out of a Reser's tub and topped with paprika for camouflage. The Fried Chicken was p damn good, but the meat on their cuts was unanimously determined to be skimpy (I hope this was just bad luck on the fried chicken, because they nailed the taste.) Not to pile on, but it's my duty to report: I've never been served chicken that I couldn't identify the cut. I'm still guessing what one of them was - maybe two wings stuck convincingly together to represent a contiguous piece of chicken? ? Lot of hype going for this place. I wanted to believe, too...
(2)Nicole S.
Fun vibe. Lots of seating. Friendly staff. Great food. Can't complain.
(4)Zacharias K.
This place is awesome! I got the BBQ Chicken Sandwich with a side of yams. Their BBQ sauce was fantastic - just melted right in my mouth. Very good first impression. Fries were plentiful. All and all, great place, nice atmosphere - cheap, compared to a lot of places. Go here and treat yourself - but make sure to wear pants with elastic waist first, or you're going to have to loosen your belt buckle when you're done eating - carbs carbs carbs.
(5)A V.
Papa's soul food had some of the best fried chicken I've ever had. The fried chicken was seasoned to perfection and wasn't overly battered. The best part, it wasn't overly greasy and heavy like fried chicken can be. It was super moist on the inside. My husband had the beef brisket and it was very tender and the BBQ sauce was great. Their prices are great too! Our bill was under $30 for the two of us. It would be a great place for a family because it was noisy but not in a negative way.
(5)Kimberley L.
Best pulled pork sandwich ever! Comes with yummy potato salad. It's a big sandwich and often I have to take half home in a box. Their hours can be difficult, but it is well worth it. Tried the meatloaf and the ribs at dinner and both were phenomenal. Love that they serve lemonade in mason jars. The staff is always friendly and prompt, the food is always great and the prices are reasonable. They don't skimp on the sides, both the Mac n' cheese and the cornbread are wonderfully tasty! One of my favorite places in town. The food is hearty and filling, a meat Lover's paradise
(5)David S.
Delicious soul food in the heart of the Whiteaker. I love this place--though I have never had "authentic" soul food, this food is delicious. I often get the brisket, which is fatty, but it melts in your mouth and makes your tummy feel excellent. Their Fried Chicken and Waffles blew my mind--I have often heard of this treat, but never believed it would be as interesting as when I finally tried it. Over/Under: Try this place out; if you want some comfort food you won't be dissapointed.
(5)eric w.
There was a group of sorority girls in the corner.....and their yams are good too.
(4)Jess H.
This was a first time for us as we had heard good things about Papa's Soul Food. Unfortunately, the Jerk Chicken I ordered was very dry. The good news is that this was the first time I had tried collard greens. Those I found to be good. Hush puppies seemed to be missing some ingredients - and over deep fried - but that could just be the recipe. Overall Papa's is a place I could plan on not going to the next time I go out for dinner. Service was great. So if you like great service and so-so food Papa's is your place.
(3)WldWcnWmn T.
First and foremost, the food is hit or miss. I have had "Tha Best" and "eh" all within a matter of weeks. I don't understand, maybe it's the pit, maybe it's the weather, I dunno. My favorite is the pulled pork plate, but the last two times I had it the sauce was so freakin hot; spicy hot, so hot the kool aid did not quench the heat, hot. Not a fan of "broke the mouth" hot (did not mean Hawaiian "broke da mouth" - we'll get to Kalani's review next, kids). Anyways, it was too hot. Every other time I have ordered it, it was tastey goodness. I grew up in Texas and Florida, so I figure I am an experienced BBQ judge, and unlike my Eugene friends, I am a carnivore! I am all about the cornbread, and the yams are just sweet enough. I like the greens (there's a grandma' running the washing machine out back to clean those, I swear) but the mac -n-cheese is hit or miss as well. Seriously, you shouldn't have to pay a dollar more for them even on a good day. The staff is friendly, and my boyfriend will kill me for sayin so, but the brothas are fine! The atmosphere is quaint and if you didn't know better, you would think you're down South; all that's missing are the mosquitos. I am not sure how I managed to miss it, (maybe cause I have only ever been there for lunch) but I have never caught the live music. I can't even imagine where a musician would set up, the place is crazy tight livin. As others have mentioned, you will not get in and out quick, but you will leave full and not completely broke. They have funky hours, too. Closed for the middle of the day (think Siesta) and closed Mondays - or maybe just the Monday I went there. A lot of places in Eugene are closed on Monday, it's weird.
(4)Melissa F.
FREAKING LOVED IT. The food and service were awesome. Every time I'm in Eugene, I'll be making a stop here! How will I ever live without their fried chicken and ribs? Oh, and the mac and cheese...and the collard greens...and...
(5)Ashley B.
love it! eat the brisket!
(5)Justin F.
Back in Eugene and had to go to Papa's. As good as it gets. You can't get much better then this!
(5)Diane T.
What's not to like about strong drinks in mason jars, large plates of bbq, southern sides, and a nice downhome feel..not to mention live blues on the weekends? Nothing that I can think of, unless of course you are a vegetarian because this place is somewhat of a carnivore's heaven. I did hear that most of the sides are vegetarian, but the meat is the real star of the show here. I ordered the beef brisket which was amazing! My only complaint is that they didn't trim much of the fat off. The collard greens were just like down south. I also can't believe how cheap this place was. I think every single entree was under 15 bucks and was a large enough portion to have some leftovers.
(4)Kurtis F.
Ok BBQ for a great price! Cool environment but supper loud. Not a quiet place to eat..... Order the bread pudding. Awesome!
(4)J S.
Come on now. If you're craving some great southern cooking, Papa's Soul Food might scratch the itch, but it's by no means a five-star soul food restaurant. The food is fine, but not very authentic and one visit was enough for me. I'm not opposed to going back again as the atmosphere was nice and the food wasn't bad, nor was the service, but if you've spent any time in the south and are expecting the same quality food, you're going to be a little disappointed.
(2)Doug L.
had fried chicken, rice/beans and macncheese. Chicken was ok, you get 3 pieces, nothing fancy but very good. Not too greasy. sides were good, macncheese is so thick it never gets cold. get some hushpuppies to munch on.
(4)Anthony R.
Edited: No longer a tiny storefront, but now an actual restaurant, Papa continues to improve his game. I'm still going to stand by the pulled pork--the sauce itself isn't very sweet, contrary to what the guy from Tarzana says, and more importantly, Papa doesn't oversauce his pork--he lets the porky goodness shine through. Still high one my list. I guess I should clarify, I've had some pretty great pulled pork elsewhere in our great nation, but this is the best I've found in Eugene. As for "12th whitest city"--I don't know where that statistic comes from, but I'd have guessed 3rd whitest. Yay, diversity! For the record, the Whiteaker neighborhood, where Papa's is located, is easily the most ethnically and racially diverse in the city, though that's not saying very much at all. The fried chicken here is freakin' good too. Good lemonade. Nice specials. They do a chicken and waffle night every week now (I think). Haven't been, but mean to. ORIGINAL REVIEW BELOW-- A tiny storefront nestled next to a grungy laundromat, Papa's is easy to miss. You best not. Pulled pork. Best I've had. EVER. Sandwich-style, with coleslaw. Or try the platter, with two sides. Jerk chicken, fried catfish, bbq chicken, ribs, hot links, etc. Sides include blackeyed peas, collards, red beans & rice, corn, yams, and the best potato salad this side of wherever they make it better. Best "fast" food in town.
(5)Kief V.
Large portions of pretty good Bbq for relatively cheap prices. It's not the ultimate BBQ food, but its comfortable atmosphere and affordable prices keep me coming back.
(4)Barron S.
A real Southern/Cajun neighborhood restaurant that distinguishes between fried chicken wings and "wangs", and there's a blues band playing in too-close quarters on hot sweaty summer nights.
(4)William R.
Unfortunately, I was only able to try Papa's once before I moved away, but I am glad I tried it. I had the fried oyster sandwich and it was insanely good. My wife had the pulled pork sandwich, which I tried and that was amazing as well. We also shared the fried okra and again that was delicious. It would be hard to improve the food. The wait staff was a little slow, but very nice. Overall, it was a very nice experience.
(4)Rebecca L.
Deee-lish!! Live blues Thurs-Sat and totally fun atmosphere. Worth the wait!
(5)Brynn M.
Okay, so until just recently I had only found one place in Oregon that served a decent piece of catfish. And I LOVE catfish, so I'm always on the lookout. And then Papa's found a place in my heart and in my stomach. Mom wanted something "different" for dinner, so hubby and I tossed her in the car and we headed to Papa's. Parking was horrific. Seriously, all street. There was no wait, even on a Saturday night. We walked in and got a nice cozy table in the corner where we could admire the art work. Server came over and we ordered some sweet tea. Mom wanted to order everything on the menu, but we ultimately settled on catfish platters for her and I. And the hubby went for the ribs. Food came and I immediately dug into my Mac and Cheese. YUM! Next, the cat fish. Seasoning was amazing, fish was super fresh, and the portion was HUGE. Potato salad was just alright, but with how good everything else was, I can overlook that. Also got a couple bites of hubby's ribs, which were totally fall of the bone amazing. Huge portions and some decent food. Definitely worth the trip.
(4)Antonio O.
Great food. Everything. Even the catfish which I never find done right. The Mac and cheese is also excellent.
(5)Emily S.
I sometimes wonder if reviewers are generous with their stars because we don't have many options in Eugene. This is, of course, the only soul food kitchen that I know of in town, so I think Papa's sometimes gets by being average because people are hungry for soul food. Last time I was there, the portions seemed to be shrinking, they were out of collards (my favorite thing on the menu) and there were feathers in my fried chicken that only illicited a shoulder shrug from my waitress. The place can get very, very loud, but at least it's alive.
(3)Heather M.
Having eaten here twice (giving it more than one opportunity before judging), I must say that although there are decent aspects to Papa's, the food is mediocre, at best. Took my hubby in the second time, who is a Southern born guy, hoping to get a better idea if it was "just me" who thought the food was a bit off in the flavor department. Gave the catfish two chances, both times it seemed, as one reviewer has already stated, quite salty. The corn coating was nice and crispy, but the fish itself seemed extra fatty (I think this may be the consequence of farm raised fish, though, no fault of the chef). The potato salad really tasted like something that comes out of the grocery store in a tub, the "soul" slaw was flavorless, and to my hubby's horror, the beans had green peppers in them which overwhelmed the entire dish. He said the pulled pork was fairly decent (although not served with additional sauce) and the mac and cheese was probably the best dish of the night. On the previous visit, I had the hush puppies, which were over-fried, unfortunately. He ordered the bread pudding to go, which came hot out of the oven and was an enormous portion, but alas, he stated it was about the least flavorful he'd ever eaten. The rum based (?) sauce again, overwhelmed. The pudding itself was very bland, the sweetest part being the raisins. On a positive note, the service was excellent, folks were helpful and friendly - the ambiance is charming. We so wanted to love this restaurant :(
(2)Sara D.
At Papa's, you expect to wait for a table, and you expect to wait for your food. But last night, the food was mediocre and the service was just bad. They straight up forgot to bring my husband's dinner and drink, and had to be asked again for it 10 minutes later. To top it off, our waiter said their policy was to only accept 'three forms of payment' in a group. First I'd heard of it. This caused a huge hassle for the ten of us, and as a result, I won't be back.
(2)Truth B.
Oh my God, Hells yes. First time there, so we split two platters with two sides, each. $9/platter. Stuffed. Religious experience. First platter was a mountain of fried catfish. Good sauce; even better with hot sauce and lemon juice, added. Second platter was a perfectly blackened pork/coleslaw sandwich. They were sadly out of greens, but had yams, black-eyed peas, potato salad and mac n cheese. All were delicious, particularly the yams (and I am no yam-eater, my man)
(5)Anne B.
Sweet Fancy Moses, that is some GOOD food! I was initially dragged inside by the smell of BBQ wafting down the street at the Whiteaker Block Party. What I got was SO much more than just smoked meat covered in spicy sauce. I ordered the pulled pork plate with cole slaw and black eyed peas and some corn bread on the side. OMG. My eyes nearly rolled back on the first bite. The pulled pork was melt-in-your-mouth tender, the sauce just the right combination of tangy, spicy and sweet. The cole slaw was fresh and crunchy and NOT too sweet, just the way it should be. The black eyed peas were mixed with rice, and I *swear* I could taste bacon in the cooking. The corn bread deserves sonnets composed in homage and was worth sitting down to dinner in this place all by itself. It was moist on the inside and crunchy and golden on the outside, baked in a mini-loaf pan so there were plenty of crispy brown edges all for me (an *entirely* forgivable reason for not baking it in a cast iron skillet). It was the perfect degree of sweet (so much of what passes for "corn bread" here in the Pacific Northwest is basically yellow cake) and the perfect texture, served with butter melted all over the top of it. Might even be heresy to say, but this corn bread is quite possibly even better than my Grandma's, and that's saying something indeed! It was all washed down with the best brewed sweet tea I've tasted in many a year. The ambiance was warm and eclectic. I was particularly amused by the brass instruments hanging from the ceiling. It was a little loud inside, but no more than one would expect from a place so full of people during a neighborhood block party. The service was friendly and fairly attentive for having such a crowd to keep track of. The music was a total hit with me. Just as I was settling into BBQ bliss, I was thinking that the only thing missing was some Louis Armstrong or Etta James. Just then, Ella Fitzgerald started working her magic on the room, and it was officially All Good. I'm Southern myself, raised by an old school, scratch made Southern cook, so I have distinct opinions about what constitutes good Southern food. Papa's Soul Food Kitchen is a taste of home without rednecks crowding your elbow space. I haven't eaten a helping of heaven like that since I moved out of the South almost twenty years ago. It took me right back in all the best sorts of ways. Next time, I think I'll even save room for pie.
(5)Jason M.
I've never been to the South, so I can't judge on authenticity, only on my fond memories of Southern Kitchen in Tacoma and Catfish Corner in Seattle. I went for lunch and had the Beef Brisket with Mac & Cheese and the Cole Slaw. The Beef brisket was good, a nice generous portion, and the mac & cheese was tasty. I was disappointed by the cole slaw - it looked like it came out of a bag. Diet cokes were in mason jars, which were a nice touch, and the staff were quick and friendly. I look forward to swinging by the next time I'm in Eugene to sample their other items.
(4)Frances V.
I have going been to Papa's since the shop by the laundry mat. I love the newer location. Atmosphere is great. Love the back patio in the summer. The servers are are pretty attentive considering they are always swamped. Papa should sell that bbq sauce cause it is so YUMMY!!! I have had a few things that I would not order again, but the things I love are well worth it. I frequent this place and will continue to :)
(4)Chad C.
Overall I was pretty happy with Papa's. The atmosphere outside was great and we were seated pretty quickly. Food was a little wait but well worth it. I had the pulled pork sandwich and it was fantastic, loved every messy drippy bite. The potato salad that came with it was passable but nothing special. Also tried the fried Okra (delicious), Hush Puppies (at $4 probably not worth it), Mac and Cheese (decent but not exciting) and Corn Bread (amazing and a steal at $1 a loaf). Overall good stuff, although somewhat hit or miss, but it was probably the best pulled pork sandwich I've ever had.
(4)Kami H.
This was DELICIOUS!! The food was very appropriately priced, and it was super tasty. I got the pulled pork with fries and baked beans. All of it was very good. My husband got fried oysters, fries, and coleslaw, and my father-in-law got the pork ribs with fried okra. We also go the hush puppies which were the best ones I've had in town. Check out this place!
(5)Stephanie G.
Can't stop coming back!!! Super good!!!
(5)Rachel E.
oh papa's, your fried oysters have me all atwitter. i can't get enough of your tender, juicy collard greens, and your cinnamon-y sweet yams. nor can i stop myself from commenting on the deliciousness of your fried chicken and pulled pork (the sweet and spicy sauce really hits the spot). not to mention the fried okra, cornbread, mac & cheese and all the other delicious sides and entrees, very few of which i have not tried (but rest assured, i will). and aside from all that, i must also commend you for your wonderful weekend jam sessions. eagle park slim has opened my eyes.
(4)greg r.
this place is good! i had the brisket which was tender, juicy and topped with a perfect amount of bbq sauce, served with potato salad and baked beans. it was delicious! i asked the waitress for some bread and she brought out two slices of white bread. awesome! i grew up in texas where brisket and sweet tea are plentiful and papa's was just as good, if not better then some of the bbq joints around san antonio. i was so STUFFED dessert was not an option. loved it!
(5)Ray C.
i would rate this with one star.....soul food...ummmm kind.,..the bbq sauce leaves alot to be desired...the server Aonie (sp) was not promt or efficent..items didnt come out as ordered...asked for sweet tea got an arnold palmer which i refused & yet was still charged for...my mother meal was completely forgotten....when 1 of or group of 8 complained after just a bite that she didnt like her pulled pork..server just shrugged & walked away...no offer of another menu item...atmosphere is the only thing good here...told when in group of 8 had to wait for all party members to be there (we all where) but yet a group b4 us had 8 & they sat them w/just 3 of their group...I knw i watched the other 5 come in from across the street 20min after the first 3 of their group was set....waiting an hour plus wasnt a problem...what is..is when u watch the manager josh sit his friends ahead of others on the waiting list...(watched josh add their name to his list after others whom were waiting 30+min & then come out through the crowd find them & say hey i can sit you now) giving no regaurd to those who have been waiting....their fried chicken is not even fresh or breaded in house...they buy their chicken prebreaded....i have had way better soul food...granted i just moved here from the southern states...but food is still very ediable...they need a dessert the bread pudding looked old & rubbery in their case.....customer service is the true disappointment......if you drop $122 @ the place you should at least get service with a smile & not charged for items you didnt order....oh & the hours of operation suck.....but that seems to be a common trend here in eugene......
(1)Matt R.
My favorite place in Eugene! Staff is AWESOME, food is great and decently priced, and they have decent live music pretty often. Only gripe.... They aren't open 7 days a week.
(5)Jason M.
Eugene's best restaurant. Awesome BBQ southern style. Don't miss the ribs, mac and cheese, and black eyed peas. Aldo serve Ninkasi on tap
(5)Chris R.
I'm a born and raised southern boy and this is the only place I can go in town to feel like I'm home in Georgia again. I've been going to this place since I first moved here in march of 2008 and the only thing that has changed is the loss of the amazing Papa Soul himself. Its located down in the famous Whitaker neighborhood, a previous home of mine in Eugene, and may give off a sketchy feel but is truly one of the most amazing areas here. Although Papa may have recently passed his wife still runs the place and keeps it going the way Papa always has. The sweet tea here is a must and its rare to find this southern treat anywhere west of the Mississippi. Then I always go for my personal favorite the pulled pork plate which comes with two sides and twice the meat as the sandwich, I always ask for two slices of bread and just make my own and save the rest for later. For sides I have to go with the mac and cheese, a dollar extra but well worth it, and the collard greens. The staff is friendly and the food is always pretty quick even if its packed. They also have a huge outside area with a stage that features live music some nights. If your looking for a great date night or just a little bit of south in your mouth, Papa's Soul Food Kitchen is the way to go!
(5)Christopher H.
Kinda soulless as far as soul food goes, but I suppose I should expect as much from the 12th whitest city in America. "Best pulled pork?" No way. The sauce was much too sweet, and the side dishes tasted watered down. The hush puppies are apparently the popular thing to get--maybe next time. One thing to their credit: they serve sweet tea, which is frustratingly hard to find in California. A fun place to eat when you're in Eugene, but more for the neighborhood and atmosphere than the actual food.
(3)Robin H.
I am a brisket feind and the brisket was amazing, falling apart and the sauce was very tasty, long wait on a Friday night but worth it.
(5)Kirsten S.
I love this place! Quality comfort food. Quality. Try the fried chicken. It's amazing. Everyone seems to rave about the mac and cheese; I like it, don't get me wrong, but I think it's kind of weird. It tastes like there's chicken broth in it or something... Very unique. Basically everything I've had there is great, and I LOVE that you can get giant jars of Kool Aide. The first time I went we had to wait 45 minutes for a table, but we were in good spirits so that was ok. The other time I went we were there right after they opened and didn't have to wait, but when I got my jerk chicken sandwich the sauce on it was ice cold and made the whole sandwich lukewarm which was a little unfortunate (I only nit-pick like this because I know sometimes owners and managers read these and would want to know these things). But overall, the food is really unique to anything else you can get in the area. The fried chicken is where they really shine. Also, I find them quite affordable for the quality and generous portion sizes. I would say this is --not--- a place for vegetarians though, you silly people of Eugene ;) Highly reccomended.
(4)Cy K.
I'm in love with this place!! I go in rarely. I mostly get take-out. The times that I have been in the wait staff has been very friendly. They're friendly on the phone and friendly when I pick up too. The food is excellent! I've had everything on the menu a time or ... a lot. The sad thing is that I can never remember that they are closed on Sunday and Monday, which always seems to be the time when I REALLY want BBQ!! I know they recently lost Papa and my condolences go out to his family and staff. I hope they continue honoring his memory with his delicious food! Don't change a thing!! Except for maybe a bigger BBQ chicken sandwich!
(5)Eden W.
Great BBQ ! Fast service,large portions and a variety of delicious choices at resonable prices. Leave your blazer and high heels at the office, this is Eugene at it's best on Blair Blvd. Small but homey. Get there early in the winter if you don't want to wait for a table. Extra seating outside in the summer. Live Music!
(5)Mike S.
Had to try this place because of the reviews we saw. We were in Eugene for an event so I always look for bbq when we are out of town. This place was so cool and the staff so friendly. And we were excited. Until the food came. I ordered sliced brisket. They served it sliced right from the fat cap. Not the part you would serve anyone. And it was about 40% solid fat and 60% stringy brisket. My wife had what they called pulled pork but it was soggy smashed pork. Soaked in sauce and no taste of pork. My brisket was smothered in sauce so I couldn't taste the meat. No smoke ring either. Potato salad was mashed too. I would stay away from the bbq portion of the menu.
(1)Tim K.
To start, this place is located in a great neighborhood. The atmosphere is always laid back and casual. It was and is even more kid friendly now with the new lawn area in the back (with live music). To emphasize.....VERY KID FRIENDLY We have been going here for over a year. I finally tried the fried chicken and it is worth the visit. $10 gets you 3 large pieces, as well as 2 sides. The lemonade is also a winner. To picky, the 2 slight drawbacks: The sides are unique at 1st glance, but can lack warm temperature. The service can be on the slower side sometimes and sometimes VERY slow. But with that said, it is real kid friendly and with good weather the service delays can seem much more manageable.
(5)Amy P.
The address has changed at Papa's, but not the food. This is one of my favorite places to eat on a hot summer night. You can knosh on fried chicken, listen to music and sit under the stars on the deck as you sip sweet tea. My favorite menu item is the fried chicken dinner. It sells out quite often, so you may have to choose another fabo meal on the menu. One warning, the Jerk Chicken will bring tears to your eyes and fire to your mouth. If you don't like hot food, specify so they can tone it down for you. We always start with the hush puppies and okra. I think it's the only place in town you can even find okra. I am from the midwest and that is a staple in the summer at our place. They serve both beer and liquor. The service is good, considering how busy they always seem to be, Word has it they are opening a sandwich shop this spring. Location hasn't been determined but I know I will be there! Overall, great southern food in Eugene. Let's be real, you're not at your grandma's house, or a bbq shack in Nashville. But it's pretty damn close! Besides, when is the last time your grandma served you kool-aid in a mason jar? Yep, thought so!
(5)Jinxy M.
I've been to Papa's only once, hence the 4 stars. I'll probably give it 5 if and when I go back and get the same excellent service and food as the first time. I had their Fried Catfish and it was delicious. My dad was raised country, and we have always been looking for a spot that serves this classic dish. My buddy ordered the Jerk Chicken sandwich which I sampled as well. Very good! I ordered an Oakshire ESB with my fish and it only added to the wonderful experience. I love the setting. Very basic "down south" style with lots of woodwork and beverages served in small mason jars. The menu is a work of art (i.m.o.) and the servers were prompt and cordial. I'll definitely be coming back in!
(4)Hilda J.
If that is soul food he must be from somewhere other than the south. The food was awful . The dirty rice literally tasted like it had dirt in it and the fried chicken as fried to DEATH. The service was worse- our waiter had a snippy attitude and didn't listen when we told him about a family members food allergy. Sure enough food came with the taboo item andsure enough the family member couldn't eat it. Then the waiter disappeared never to reappear. It was an awful experience!! Never going back
(1)D h.
Outstanding! We were traveling thru Eugene and based on the Yelp reviews decided to try Papas on a warm, balmy evening. I had BBQ beef brisket and my wife had fried chicken with the usual sides - collard greens, corn & mac cheeze. ALL of it was out-of-this-world. The mojito may have helped too. It was done well. If we weren't in a hurry to leave the next day, we would have returned for more. Liked the lay back atmoshere as well. Highly recommended, maybe even a "not to be missed".
(5)D S.
Yum! Unlike anything else in Eugene, and especially unlike anything in it's neighborhood, PSF is a great place to grab some delicious home cooking. The menu has options for everyone, and the environment could not be more enjoyable. Outside on a warm day, it is the place to be! And on either warm or cool days, PSF is a great little venue for some live music for an evening off the beaten path!
(5)julie h.
yum! i love papa's and i'm generally not a meat-oriented person. the fried chicken was delicious! and they have really good sides: collard greens, corn, baked beans, yams. we discovered the outdoor patio last time we went and now like papa's even more because there is more elbow room outside.
(4)Robert R.
Great food and drinks. My favorite is the chicken and waffles, a perfect combination of savory and sweet. The collards tend to be overly vinegary for my taste, but everything else on the menu is great.
(5)Robin J.
Papa's Soul Food could have been better. But on the other hand it's as close as you can come to soul food in Oregon. The wait staff was so slow (practically ignored us), the food came very fast (YEAH), portion size was very big, and you had to park on the street (didn't bother me). It was a fun experience overall.
(3)George B.
great food, occasionally they run out, but that is a good thing to me in a way as it means people like things. Collards don't touch mine, but then no one's do. Beer in jelly jars, kool-ade and a fun staff. Can never remember if it's the gumbo or the jambalaya that is awesome there. Well worth your time. Not open on Sunday.
(4)Obed R.
Overall solid 4 stars. Food 5 stars. Price/portions 5 stars. Seating 3 stars. House drinks 2 stars. The food here did not disappoint! I would definitely go back and I will. The service was also outstanding. If the drinks and seating could be improved I'd give it a solid 5 stars. :)
(4)Nga H.
On the plus side, Papa's shells out some very healthy portions. I ordered the pork bbq ribs plate, and was full by the time I got to my second rib. Yes, second rib. Good atmosphere. I'd heard great reviews for this rib joint, and was very much looking forward to this meal. I'd had Papa's bbq when it was in Joe's. There was something special about it then. But now, I think something's changed. I think Papa himself must not have been working the night I came in, 'cause the food wasn't all that special. The ribs were hearty, and the meat did fall off the bone, but some parts were a bit charred and dry. The sides were the most disappointing. The beans were a little too watery for my taste, and the mac 'n cheese had this slightly grainy texture like the cheese was from a powder. And the coleslaw was dry. It felt more like a salad. Dry slaw with dressing drizzled on top. Weird. By the time we got to the bottom of the bowl, it wasn't really slaw anymore, just straight up cabbage. I'd come back for the portions, down home atmosphere, and good value, but for me it didn't live up to the hype.
(3)Tiffany S.
So good and a fun atmosphere! I love this area of Eugene.
(5)nick h.
imagine getting invited to a BBQ in the deep south. its a BBQ shack and a damb good one. pulled pork and corn bread with beans, great meal. just go , you cant be disipointed
(5)Chezz C.
Papa ("I was named after my daddy," he explains) is a great young guy who brings all of his loves together in this restaurant -- his wife (who works there with him), music, art, and of course food. Music? Yes, this is a stone blues place. Live blues, no cover, on weekends and some weekdays. The music happens early, 7-9 p.m., so you can listen as you dine. And it's fabulous blues, often of the acoustic, downhome variety. When there's no live music, there is terrific old-fashioned blues on the sound system. The food quality varies from excellent to OK (depending on what you order). The trouble is, Papa tries to offer EVERY Southern staple: ribs, pulled pork, gumbo, fried chicken, catfish, etc. And all the sides. In the South, you would usually go to one place for good ribs, another for good pulled pork, certainly a whole 'nother place for catfish or gumbo. One place just can't do everything to perfection. But Papa sure gives it a go! And since there's no place else to get these delicacies in Eugene, he might as well offer 'em all. I'll let you have the fun of trying a bunch of different items (go with a group and try everybody's) to decide which are great and which are just pretty good. Oh, there also are several varieties of Eugene's excellent microbrew, Ninkasi, on tap.
(4)Matt G.
Just had their fried chicken and BBQ ribs, and loved every bite. Stopped in for take out and the wait was just slightly more then I would have liked, but worth every minute after we tasted it. Extremely fresh and great tasting !!!! Only wish it wasn't in Eugene !
(4)Richard M.
I've only been to Papa's after the big man died, so I'm hoping - for other people's sake - that it wasn't always this bad. The fried chicken was crisp, but extremely bland, the brisket was dry as were the hot links: dry as a bone. To top it off, after waiting for the place to open up with their odd hours, we waited an additional 10 minutes to be seated, and the wait staff didn't get to us for another 15 after that. One of the servers was clearly high as a kite, and our waitress disappeared for over 20 minutes after taking our order, which is some accomplishment considering the place is the size of a postage stamp and, for once, I wanted a second drink. A few of the dishes are good (very few: the greens and the hush puppies), but overall, you should avoid it like the plague, partly due to its inflated popularity creating a log jam in the doorway, but mostly because of it's mediocre to downright repulsively bland food.
(1)Jeff Z.
We really like the food and the service... as for the complaint by one reviewer that it's "not legit": if you want real southern food, go to Louisiana, or have your buddy's cajun wife cook you a home made meal... but for good, tasty, Oregon restaurant food, this place ain't bad!
(5)S C P.
Soul Food? We didn't find out. Slow Food. Absolutely. NO FOOD! This is one of the very few times I have walked out of restaurant. We had never been to Papa's Soul Food Kitchen. It's Friday night!. So rather than BBQ the steak sitting in our fridge, we decided to go to Papa's. We got there and had a half hour wait to get a table. It's Friday night. I get that. No problem. We order a cocktail and sit down to people watch. About half an hour later we were given our cocktail and we went to our table. We asked our waitress how long it would take to prepare the different menu items. Given how late it was, we decided not to order the fried chicken dinner, which according to our waitress would take about 25 minutes. So we opted for the special of the evening, Blackened Shrimp, about a 15 minute wait. About an hour later I finally got the attention of our waitress. She said that they had ran out of the shrimp, but they had just decided do go ahead and get us the chicken, without telling us. When I asked her if there would be an adjustment on the price, she said no, but she did offer to get me a beer. She said that they were plating our dinner up at that moment. Ten minutes later I walked up to the counter. The waitress saw me and went back into the kitchen. I told the person at the counter I would like to talk to the manager. About five minutes later the manager walks out with a plate of fried chicken and the sides. He did apologize for the delay. After having been there for nearly an hour and a half, the presentation of the food did not appeal to us at all. I shared with him that i was very disappointed. If we had ordered the chicken initially we would have received our food half an hour earlier. At that time he did offer to comp us the dinner, but I had no desire to stay. The service was terrible. Our waitress obviously forgot about us. No one stopped by to check on us. It wasn't until I got her attention that someone realized we had been forgotten. This may be a good place to go, but do not expect your server or the management to really pay attention to you.
(1)Bob B.
Though I've been living in Oregon since 1998 I had recently heard about Papa's from a friend from Washington DC who was doing post-grad work at the University of Oregon and she highly recommended this place. (I thought, soul food? In Oregon? Wow!) Since I am nuts for southern / creole / cajun / soul food and have had ample opportunity to eat it all over the South when I traveled on business, I had a distinct idea of what I could expect. (So, there are my bonafides, gentle reader!) Food: I ate only one entree, the Jambalaya, which is one of my favorite dishes in the whole world. It arrived at the table as a kind of dry, rice-dominated dish garnished with a shredded basil leaf (?) on top. It was spicy (Good!) had a *few* pieces of andouille sausage (bad) buried in it along with some chopped pieces of bbq'd pork, I think. The portion was somewhat skimpy for my preference. All this being the case, the dish itself was not something I would turn my nose up at. My only complaint was that there was not a lot of meat in the dish. I did like its spicyness, though. Jambalaya can have many versions, probably a result of hand-me-down recipes. It can be made with some or all of a bunch of different ingredient meats: Shrimp, andouille, chicken, pork....whatever! If it's dry and brown it's usually cajun style. If its tomato based and very moist, that's what New Orleans-style jambalaya looks like. At bottom, it's a homemade dish that will vary from cook to cook and from home to home. In other words, there's no exact way to do this dish. Would I order it again? Not that particular version of it. My idea of this dish is loaded with Oysters, shrimp and andouille, red and green peppers. This dish was lacking in all of them. But at 7 bucks....what can you expect? Otherwise, the cornbread was great, and the bread pudding, topped with a cinnamon caramel sauce was delicious, even if it was made far earlier in the day and kept in cling wrap in a refrigerator. One other thing: To charge 6 bucks for a 4 oz. glass of generic white wine is a bit off-putting. Atmosphere / Ambiance: A very inviting place in a colorful part of Eugene. Outside is a huge barbecue which is slow cooking racks of ribs and the smoke wafts all over the place. You can smell Papa's from blocks away. You're saliva glands will kick in big time if you're any kind of hungry. The restaurant has a distinct homey feeling and I would call it "funky" and even whimsical. Very clean. We arrived there at exactly 5PM when they opened and the place was pretty empty. By 6 it was getting very full......and VERY noisy. Do not expect a quiet dining experience. This is a place where people go to have fun, enjoy each other's company and they hold nothing back. Service: Our server was terrific. He was friendly, relaxed and knowledgeable about the food. The food came in good time and was at appropriate temperature. Summary: I will go back and try other offerings. (I'm anxious to try the gumbo) I want this restaurant to be good; and to judge it on only one experience would be unfair. It's a fun place and, well, stay tuned for the second installment.
(3)Ziwei L.
really good food here!!
(5)Sondra S.
I lived in the Whiteaker neighborhood for 21 years. I watched Papas Soul Food come into existence and watched it grow. I'm glad Eugene has adopted a taste for Southern comfort food and that the business has stayed true to its tradition of quality, authentic Southern food. My only suggestion is do not bring minors there after 8pm. My son is 6 and when we went around 8:15-8:20pm, we were greeted then told we should order quickly. Minors are allowed until 9pm, but they will either turn you away if its too close to 9pm to be served, or they will remind you REPEATEDLY that at 9pm you have to GET OUT. "I'm not going to kick you out, but if OLCC comes in..." I got. The first three times.
(3)Tim N.
I really like Jambalaya and it's hard to find good Jambalaya out West; these guys do Jambalaya right! My wife loved the shrimp Gumbo. Good quick service and nice big, strong Gin Fizz. Want to come back often and try the rest of the menu!
(5)Amanda Y.
Best pulled pork around. If you are in Eugene you need to stop by here! Good price for the amount of food you receive.
(5)Mathew B.
Some of the best BBQ in Eugene, the ambiance is fantastically authentic and I really love this place!
(5)Cantara C.
One of the few above average restaurants in Eugene in any price range although Papa's is, happily, priced economically: meat + 2 sides for 10-11 dollars. Southern cuisine, heavy on the meat, true barbecue. Tender lean brisket, fried chicken a little dry but the coating is crisp, pulled pork is actual pulled pork and very tender. Hush puppies are extra, honey served in packets. Sides on the whole tend to be average to below average. Collard greens are a little chewy and not cooked in the authentic manner with ham hocks or salt pork for flavor, cole slaw is on the sweetish side, the black-eyed peas for some reason are cooked with rice. The corn and beans sides come from cans, the macaroni and cheese from a mix. Both the jambalaya and gumbo are pretty salty. They serve draft beer and soda; their lemonade is fairly refreshing. Haven't tried their fried fish yet but plan to. Same goes for their bourbon-laced bread pudding. When I do I'll add an update. One caveat: It's loud as a frat house, which is one of the reasons I didn't give it a higher rating.
(3)B S.
I have tried pretty much everything on the menu and it's all delicious... The fried chicken and pulled pork being my favorites. Great service, and they're always getting new specials which is awesome
(5)Anna K.
Been to the South a million times, this is the best Southern food on the West Coast yet!
(5)Ida B.
Just moved to the PNW from the South and this is as close as it gets
(5)Fred S.
Long wait is the worst part! From that point on everything else fades away due to the fantastic soul food! This is a must try.
(4)Bendite A.
Really disappointed. I had the fried Catfish and was almost unedible. The sides lacked taste as well.
(3)Veronica S.
It's all about the RIBS here for me. But I must say that there is a lot of great stuff on the menu. The fried chicken is also very good. I love this place, the service is usually very quick and friendly. The ambiance is pretty cool. Great place to have lunch with a beer. The food is heavy, plentiful, and oh my delicious. Be ready to wear some elastic waste bands, b/c the combo of a pig portion and tasty heavy food like this, is that you will need room in that wasteline.
(5)Wella A.
Each menu item I've ever had from Papa's has always left me satisfied and simply happy. It seems appropriate to have southern comfort food in the winter, but my palate and cravings are equal opportunists regardless the time of the year. The last 3 visits to this Eugenian institution were in the summer months and I dined on the thick jambalaya, succulent catfish platter and tender beef briskets. I've had a variety of sides: the crisp fries and okra, sweet cornbread, crunchy coleslaw, creamy potato salad, and flavorful collard greens. Saturday night consists of live blues music. Want to know what's best with live blues music? Beef brisket. Tender. Juicy. Sweet and smoky. This was my absolute favorite of all the classic southern dishes they serve thus far. I had a couple sides with it, but the perfectly cooked meat really didn't need any accompaniment. I also dig the funky, laid-back atmosphere of the renovated house. I've checked out the deck for outdoor dining, too, but never had the pleasure of hanging out there. It might be wise to hang out there on a really hot day or even just do a take out since there's no air-conditioning. And there's something so sweet about using mason jars for drinking beverages...I don't know what it is (I like that Sam Bond's also does this), but I just really like it.
(4)MR. E.
I left upset, hungry, disappointed and offended. Upset because if a terrible experience. Hungry because after almost 2 he's St the table u neverha got my good. I could go on and on but not with it anymore. Just do yourself a favor and don't go. There are plenty of great places in the area other than this one.
(1)ashley e.
Still trying ya, PSFK, but ugh, it just don't get better. I wish I could find the experience that my friends love here.
(2)Edgar V.
AMAZING FOOD! We came here from other Yelp recommendations and were not disappointed. I'm from NM and have had some really good BBQ. A joint called Rudy's is probably my favorite. Papa's can hold his own against anything I've had. I ordered the pulled pork. My sister had the brisket, and my girlfriend ordered the fried chicken. The Macaroni is simply decadent, and the potato salad was as good as I've had. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for really good food at very fair prices.
(5)Paul K.
MMMM! Tasty fried and barbecued chicken. Nice fenced patio dinning in back as well as indoor seating. I usually don't eat that kind of comfort food/chicken, but if you're craving something like that, this is the place to go in Eugene. Deeeeeelicious.
(5)Chris R.
Decided to stop here and try the soft shell crab. I found it satisfactory, but not overwhelmingly great. The restaurant itself had a cool vibe, good service and interesting menus (a little difficult to read). If you're in Eugene and looking for something one-off I'd recommend checking this place out.
(3)Ryn B.
Papa's is alright. The ambiance is pretty cool - live music, mason jars, kinda dingy. Whether or not the food is truly "Southern" is up for debate. I've made my rounds at some hole-in-the-wall places in Dixieland and would say that the food at Papa's has significantly less heart and soul. Papa's food also tends to taste like at least one of two things: salt or defrosted. The rice and beans? The texture was gloopy rice and firm beans; the taste was salt. The fries? Not-so-crispy, and obviously frozen in a former life. The cornbread has been similarly disappointing - in a word, dry, with a hunk of unmelted butter clinging on. I had the gumbo once but have no recollection of it. As a side note, I sorta kinda find the interior to be borderline racist. Lots of sambo-inspired artwork. I get that they're going for a certain atmosphere and I might be taking it too seriously, but I wonder - are those really the types of images that had to be chosen? At its worst, Papa's is a weak caricature of soul food and southern/blues culture. At its best, it's a place with a distinctly different vibe and menu than anywhere else in Eugene. Worth a shot.
(2)Jessica M.
Saw Papa's featured on Diners Drive-Ins and Dives just last night and made a point to stop by today. So very glad we did! Amazing food, the jerk chicken had just the right 'kick', the cornbread was delic' and the macaroni and cheese ewwwwy gooooey yummy! The staff was super friendly, great customer service. Will be sure to go back for more!
(5)James T.
Food = 3 Price = 3 Experience = 3 (nice servers... but, nothing special) Fried chicken (I'm a southern boy and know good fried chicken... this falls a little short of what I would call "good." It was too battered and not fried in hot enough oil) Slaw Collards (not over cooked... they have pepper sauce too) No Amex (manager... you are losing customers because you're too cheap to take AMEX)
(3)Adam F.
I moved to Eugene from Charleston, SC and my wife's family lived for years in Baton Rouge. This place gets it right! My favorites are the BBQ Brisket and the Hot Sausage Links. Also, best collards in Oregon. (Get there when they open because it fills up quick!)
(5)John R.
I was looking for a good bite to eat after a long drive from Seattle. I got one of the best lunches that I've ever had there. I order the catfish with mac and cheese and slaw. Everything was fantastic! The food was served fresh and hot and was everything that soul food should be on a cold rainy day.
(5)Aaron E.
It has been a while since I have given a five star, but this is one place that deserves it. Now, keep in mind, (primer for yelpers) base reviews on what the restaurant is, not what you wish it was. Don't go to a soul food restaurant and complain that things are fried. That is what soul food is. Good God, Ya'll. Trust me, the fact that a soul food restaurant exists in Oregon is a testament to the fact that it's good. You'd have to be to get past the hippies. That being said, the food is terrific, the staff is good, the smoked meats are to die for. They have imaginative specials, and their sweet tea is wonderful. Now, all of the wait complaints are absurd. You hate the restaurant because too many other people wanted to eat there when you did? Shut UP! Also, never ever eat mac and cheese at any restaurant. never. NEVER. it is your own fault
(5)James L.
Ah Papa's, I wanna love you. I love the scene, I love the restaurant, I love the Whiteaker clientele. Shit, I love the KoolAid. Sadly, the food not so much. Don't get me wrong, the greens are terrific, and sides are what it's all about for me in a joint like this. But the macaroni & cheese is mushy as shit, flavorless. The mashed sweet potatoes are sweet and spiced to the point that it tastes like I'm eating sweeter and more-spiced filling from a pumpkin pie. I didn't begin to finish these dishes. Fried chicken has a thin, bland and not-so-crispy coating. Threw out the two pieces I took home. So maybe I don't get it; people flock to Papas for a good time, which I get, but the food is lacking.
(2)Em M.
Service was fantastic, prices were unbelievably low for the quality of food you get, the cocktails were AWESOME, and the food was super delicious. I can't believe they didn't charge us more. Super super good. A+
(5)M E.
Not good. Well organized and staffed but this BBQ is not worth the stop. Fatty rushed. The sides are worse than the meat. Stay clear.
(2)Simon R.
People are genuinely lovely, the food is really rather good, and it's pretty cheap.
(5)Rich D.
Good food, horrific service!!! Ive eaten at Pappas soul food twice now. The servers give u attitude as soon as you enter the establishment. I eat out 6-8 times a week, and find the service at Pappas soul food as bad as it gets. During my first first visit, I got the wrong order. When I told the server my order was wrong,all I got was attitude and rolled eyes! The next time I ate at Pappas soul food was for acompany event. We were ushered into the waiting area located in the seating area . 3 hours later, our party of 9 FINALLY got our dinner served. I would never recommend eating at this establishment. The food is decent,but defn itely not worth the wait,nor the terrible, arrogant service!
(2)Bonnie N.
Sorry, not a fan. You can read my other reviews of various restaurants to know my kids and I are not picky, but we do know quality food, good service, and are able to appreciate a good restaurant experience. If you are a vegetarian or some one who cares about what goes into your body, THIS IS NOT THE PLACE FOR YOU. Saturday evening, 4:45 pm. The place was packed, and we were told it was a 15 minute wait for our party of 7. (Don't come here, whatever you do, if there are more than four in your group, and certainly don't bring little kids here.) We took our three little ones to the nearby park to play. We did not get a table until after 6!!! Anytime we asked about the time, our table was "almost ready." Yeah, right. I would have left, except that my brother in law (for some reason) was hell bent on staying. We finally got seated. The waitress argued with us when we said we were ready to order...she wanted to just take our drink order and come back to take the dinner order. Little, hungry kids who thought they would be having an early dinner!! Anyway, so we ordered, and my son wanted fried chicken. The waitress informed us that would be an additional 30 min wait, so I said to scratch that and just do collard greens and mac and cheese for the kids. Fast forward to the looong awaited arrival of food... It's now 6:30, and the waitress brings out two fluorescent yellow cups of mac and cheese and the collards, with a basket of fries and some terrible, dense hush puppies. The fries were mushy inside, out of the freezer variety (and they charge you extra if you want them as a side). Pass. My kids, who love ANY mac and cheese, especially versions made from scratch, HATED this. My daughter said "it has a kick" (spicy). They refused the collards (but will eat chard, wilted spinach, etc at home or elsewhere). Lots of red pepper, people. By now the place was even more packed with patrons, and LOUD. Obnoxiously loud. That's probably due to the copious amounts of alcohol I saw being served. I wanted to leave (but was stuck). There is nothing veg on the menu...the mac and cheese is inedible, and collards are the only green item that is not fried seriously). The mac looks like, and has the texture of, ground up hard boiled egg yolks. I am cringing just remembering as I type this. So the red snapper arrives, finally, at about 7:00. My son, the eat everything foodie, wouldn't touch it. My daughter thought it was ok, but only ate a few bites. It was coated in a cornmeal type batter and swimming in a POOL of grease. Ugh. I only ate a few bites, and informed the waitress that we just couldn't eat anything else. My sister and brother in law love this place, for some reason, with their feed lot raised meat and whatnot. My mom also had the snapper, and she agreed with me...the only flavor is from SALT and grease. And salt. Everything is fried. She did like the collards. I was ready to run from the building, and felt totally ripped off. I had eaten hardly anything, and did not have any issues that night, but my son was up repeatedly to guzzle water, and said his tummy felt kind of sick. My mom had horrible indigestion all night. Not impressed, and I will do everything in my power to never return!! It was 7:20 when we were finally able to leave (started before 5, remember).
(2)Slick R.
Every time I come to Eugene a must eat place is Papas Soul Food! You can't go wrong with the beef biscuit that is to die for! The meet is so tenderly cooked that it is literally cooked to perfection! Best BBQ in the world I think! The wait is usually between 30 minutes to 1 hour but it is so worth the wait! That's how popular this place is!
(5)Aaron M.
The first place my little sister took us for our foodie tour of Eugene was Papa's. Having both grown up in Oakland, we know soul food, and Papa's blew me away. Waiting for a table we tried the gin gimlet with mint, YUM! Once we got a seat and looked over the menu, it was hard not to order one of everything (although we got pretty close). Our food arrived quickly, and I was repeatedly amazed as I tried each dish. Highlights: EVERYTHING. Seriously. Fried chicken, pork ribs, BBQ chicken, fried catfish, mac n cheese, coleslaw, corn bread with honey butter, yams, collard greens, everything was amazing. The converted house turned restaurant is kitschy and fun, the service was super friendly, the live music was kickin, and the price was unbeatable. Thanks Papa!!
(5)Desiree H.
You can smell this place before you get there. We were heading to Eugene to meet some family coming up from Southern Oregon. I had ran across some reviews on this place and did not see one bad one. I have never been on this side of Eugene so this was an experience. Papa's atmosphere is so relaxing and downhome....I just wanted to take off my shoes and run around in the grassy back yard. Being an Okie, I already had in mind to order the fried okra, hushpuppies and catfish. There was 5 of us and a baby. We all ordered a shmorgishborg of all different types of southern cuisine. Nibbling off each others plate like as if we were at our own little BBQ at home. The pork ribs were some of the best. The batter that they used for the fried food was perfect. The outdoor area where we seat was very comfortable and to top it off the weather was just perfect. We didnt stay late enought to enjoy the live blues music but I am sure that we will be returning to have another downhome experience to Yelp about.
(5)Cristina R.
I want to go back to Eugene, Oregon just to go eat at Papa's Soul Food Kitchen. I ordered Jerky Chicken, Mac & Cheese and Corn Bread. I love it. First the chicken was amazing it was so tender and the sauce is so good. Mac & Cheese - it was not from the box. Hurray!!! Corn Bread - so good. Sweet Tea - its bottomless.. I have to tell this because I saw a review saying its not. Just to make it clear. The servers are not arrogant.. their pretty good, they check every now and then asking hows the food, refill our tea, etc.
(4)Tim M.
Went for the first time tonight and had the BBQ pulled pork plate with mac and cheese, french fries, and beans. The pulled pork was really good and the mac and cheese was also very tasty. The fries were a bit too salty but were nicely crunchy. The peppers and onions overpowered the beans though. The sweet tea was also pretty good and very much a 'sweet' tea. The server was very nice and helpful and answered all my questions and made some suggestions as well. I would definitely go back here when I'm in town.
(4)Steve W.
The food was really good. I really enjoyed the greens and cornbread as well as the Mac and cheese. The service was excellent but what surprised me the most was the price. Very reasonable prices for the quality of food you get. Make sure to get the red look-aid. It's the best.
(4)Christopher B.
Only the illest place in all Eugene. When I've been gone for a long time and come back, this is where I go. When I've got family or friends visiting from out of town, this is where I take them. When I'm hungry as all get out and all that's in the fridge is mayonnaise and month-old leftovers, this is where I call for takeout. Lines can be a little long, but if you get there a) before 6pm for dinner, b) during a Ducks football game, c) in the mid-afternoon on Saturdays, or d) for takeout, you'll get served right away and you can enjoy the food as slow or fast as you want. Order anything with pork or chicken in it and you CAN'T LOSE. The people who whine about blah blah blah this isn't real Texas/Tennessee/NC/whatever BBQ aren't accepting the place for what it is. Take a look at the pictures of Papa the next time you're in there. Tell me that that man, of that girth, from Louisiana, with a lifelong love of cooking from a family full of cooks, didn't know what he was up to when he made these recipes. I think he knew what he was doing. I think he was aware of tradition. Put aside your pretensions, take one bite of those pork ribs that are fatty and tender and falling off the bone, and succumb to gustatory bliss. Then change your snotty Yelp review to something more positive.
(5)Lauren R.
Be prepared to wait. best soul food this side of the mississippi! MAC & CHEESE WAS THE BEST!!!!!!! fried okra, fried catfish, and cornbread are yummerz. Got a sweet tea with a shot of whiskey, highly recommend it!
(5)Caity F.
Some freinds and I went out on the whit for a birthday and seeing as how we are all wel over the legal drinking age had indulged in a few drinks. we arrive at papa soul food, really excited to eat because it is one of our favorties, the host standing out side said that he could seat our ten top no problem and excused himself into an empty dinning room (it was a tuesday night) to set up our table, THEN he comes back out after 5 minutes to tell us that he wll not be seating us because we are to intoxicated. So not only did they loose a huge bar tab, 10 entrees and a HUGE tip, they lost 10 costumers that were once loyal and now feel as if the cook simply was a lazy shit who didnt feel like cooking. What a shame. We will never return
(1)Lisa F.
This place is as good as it gets! And the ice tea .... I don't even like ice tea and its to die for!
(5)Qinglan X.
heard about this place it is good. Last time tried to went with friends. Found it out it was closed. This time heading south for a trip and decided to stop by this place. Went there on sat around 1. it was packed. 40 mins waiting time. They dont do phones calls, so have to wait there. the food menu is really creative, using pics instead of description. Ordered for my party. the ribs are awesome, only 9 bucks. not a fan for the BBQ source. dont like the side dish, MACRO-roni & Cheese . not really good. but the yam, corn and potato salad is pretty good. Jambalaya is good. but feel like losing some spicy inside.
(4)Magicka M.
I like the fact that their menu is straight forward and the menu was fun! Prices were great and you get plenty of food. You'd leave very satisfied. I love soul food and it's expected that you'd eat a good hearty meal. I ordered the catfish with a side of mac n cheese and collard greens. Honestly their food was just OK. I was expecting the man n cheese to be just awesome and something that would make my mouth water every time I think of it, but I wasn't too impressed. I ordered Collard greens to keep my plate on a somewhat healthy side and wished that they do offer more healthier choices (but I understand that soul food doesn't consist of steamed veggies, haha). One of my friends loves this place which is why we came and I've been told that anything BBQ is just great! My other friend, every time she comes, wants the fried chicken but they always run out of it by the time she gets there. (we ate at around 8:30 pm). I bet that's good for having been sold out yet once again! The place seems to always stay busy which is a good sign and when we were there they also had a live band playing which was nice. We sat outside and it was just a perfect day. The service is wonderful as well. I'd definitely come back for good cheap soul food.
(3)Kylie K.
This place is a dream in the summer when you can sit in their magical outdoor seating area. Started going here just for the atmosphere and their great corn bread but lately I've been thrilled at how filling, delicious and affordable their food is. There's nothing else like this in Eugene, that's for sure. One of my top recommendations for this town.
(5)Savannah B.
Always fun, always delicious. Try to look up when live music is playing, it makes the experience that much better. Pulled pork is a personal fav. It depends on the cut you get, but the brisket can sometimes be more fatty than a person can handle. Mac and cheese is legendary, as is the bread pudding. If you are stuffed (which you will be) get the pudding to go, you will NOT regret it.
(5)Tammy W.
Definitely a must when in Eugene! The food, service and drinks were all good!!! The Mac and cheese is awesome.
(5)Jana K.
Best soul food in Eugene. Absolutely love the mac and cheese and jerk chicken bbq sandwich. Love this place! Orders to go very quick!
(5)Kirk J.
We had lunch in Eugene on our way to eastern Oregon. Papa's Soul Food Kitchen was the bomb. The special was Papa ' smoked soul burger made with ground pork, grilled crispy onions, coleslaw and barbecue sauce. Best burger I've ever eaten.
(5)Jessica F.
Wait was long, but food was good. I had the catfish sandwich and Andrew the pulled pork one. Both excellent. The potato salad was decent, and the macaroni and cheese was... interesting. Not bad- good, even- but interesting. Also one of the cheapest meals, drinks included, that we had that weekend. I foresee myself spending way too much time around the Whiteaker area, and I'll most definitely be back.
(4)Gary F.
A must go place to eat in Eugene! The food is good.....not great, but what you get for the price is amazing! Well worth a visit......we certainly go about twice a month for the ribs & brisket :) Go check it out.....you won't be disappointed :)
(5)Jake E.
best
(5)Lana S.
Great pulled pork. If you ask for the sauce on the side the favors will really come through. Leave the beans and cole slaw in the kitchen, and try corn and Mac and cheese instead. Huge portions to share, don't try to eat one plate alone !(@_@) The slow cooker outside sure roasts up some good ole' finger lickin' grub. So give this place a holler the next time your in town.
(4)Natalie L.
Great ambience actually transports me down south - simple beautiful delicious traditional food
(4)Angi G.
We love this place. The atmosphere is really great as it is located inside a vintage home. Often there is live music and the food is pretty good. This is a great little Eugene eatery. Try it out. It is loud though...keep that in mind if you have little ones.
(5)C. R.
Just ate here for the first time, a bit wary because of the mixed bag of Yelp reviews. Managed to get the last table in the joint (thank you Homecoming game, I guess), and also miraculously managed to find parking. The place *smells* amazing. Sweet, spicy, a little hint of that smoke aroma (not the icky nicotine kind). I had the pork ribs, knowing it would probably be too much food. It was. But they held up as leftovers, too. The spice/sauce combo on those ribs was truly perfect. The baked beans were all right... nothing spectacular, but nice big chunks of bacon. Another in our group had red beans and rice, which I will definitely try next time. I also got to taste the fried chicken, and hallelujah... a place in Oregon that fries chicken properly! Still a lot on that menu I want to try, so I'll be back. Next time, I'll be sure to skip breakfast so I can make a better attempt at finishing my dinner. Extra bonus: This place was cheap. Not fast food cheap, but full dinners for three for under $40? Yeehaw.
(4)Danielle C.
I have rarely given a restaurant 5 stars but today I did! I had the bomb BBQ plate which included a mini loaf of monkey bread, hot link, brisket, chicken, red beans n rice, cole slaw and Mac n cheese. I ordered a side of pulled pork. The food was EXCELLENT. I also had a Georgia Peach to drink. Beyond Delicious! The 5 stars is for the ambiance, the service, the food, the drinks and the live music!
(5)Michael D.
Soul comfort. Stupendous fried chicken, catfish, ribs, collard greens, corn bread washed down with a Red Stripe. Who could ask for anything more?
(5)David P.
I have been to Papa's quite a few times over the last 5 years and I've never had a bad experience with either the food or the service. I always get the fried chicken and I must say it's some of the best that I've had. The mac and cheese and hush puppies are pretty bomb too. The only thing I haven't been a fan off has been the potato salad. The service can be a bit slow because it's always packed but I don't usually mind. As for how it compares to "real" southern food, I can't really comment on that since I grew up in Oregon. It was good though and that's what counts right?
(4)Lauren S.
I just waited 2 hours to get a seat after I was told it would be a 45 minute wait. As soon as we were seated we were told there was no more chicken and waffles!! The staple meal at this joint. Although I love the food I will not support a restaurant that does not make exceptions for customers who wait two hours and then ask to put in their orders before they are seated. Papa's soul food must learn to make exceptions when they shut down the outdoor seating section for the night.
(1)Andrea S.
Oh, Papa! Just put me out on the back porch, give me a bucket of your pork ribs and potato salad and a pitcher of sazerac, and I'll be a happy girl.
(5)Cambria C.
oh man. Try the crab sandwich. Try the pulled pork. Try the ribs. Try the mac n cheese. Try the greens. Oh god. Oh yes.
(5)Molly E.
Truly soul food. Good for what ails you. They've also got some of the best people you'll ever meet working for them. Great people, great vibes, great food, great drinks.
(5)Chris N.
I may not come from down south or be a country boy, but I have NEVER had a bad experience with 'Papa's' food. Hell, I'd be scared to know how many times my wife and I have eaten his food, since before he was even cooking at Joes B and G (and I know I'm not alone). Maybe we are just lucky or other people are crazy, but for me it's the best meal for my $ in Oregon. I am glad I knew Papa in the old days, and glad his memory lives on. RIP Big Man.
(5)Justin T.
One of Team Thayers all time favorite places! Liz & I love it. Kids like it as well! This place is incredible. The food is always perfect. The only place south of. Portland and N orth of the Bay area to serve up chicken & waffles. Even if your taste istr aditional Pacific NW they have you covered. However I think everyone should try chicken and waffels at least once.
(5)Winnie V.
I've been to Papa's a few times, and while I would rate the food 4 stars... the service brings the overall grade down to 3. The first time I was in Eugene my friend took me to Papa's (about a year ago). The restaurant is pretty small and they don't take reservations but it seemed like everyone's willing to wait. I figured it must be good. Besides the slow and not-super-friendly service, I enjoyed my brisket dinner plate. The kool-aid served in a mason jar was awesome too. Recently I was in Eugene again and took some other friends/coworkers to check out the restaurant. I had the dinner special meatloaf plate one night and the pulled pork sandwich another night. Again while I did enjoy my food, the service at Papa's definitely had not improved from a year ago. The waitress was rude, barely smiled, and seemed annoyed when we tried to order the chicken and waffles (apparently they had just run out of waffle batter.. were we supposed to know that?). The food took a while to get out and they rarely checked on us for drink refills and additional needs. The price is really reasonable, but I still can't get over how crappy the service is. On each of my visits to Papa's I've felt like I wasn't hippie enough to dine there.. even though it's a soul food place? Doesn't make sense.
(3)Sophia K.
Every time I go to Papa's I'm so disappointed afterwards. The first time I came here the food was good, but now, I just keep getting disappointed. The food isn't tasty. It's kinda just --food. Not soul food. It doesn't do anything for me. A school organization that I'm part of usually gets catering from Papa's. Lately, I've realized that Papa's just isn't good anymore. I remember the first time I went to Papa's; I was pretty relieved that I could get some decent home cooked soul food. The food just isn't the same and their servers and catering service is rude and just plain snobbish.
(2)James H. G.
Last night we had a wonderful time at jam packed Papa Soul's. We waited 45 minutes along with everyone else because it was a constant flow of human bodies through this place. I had the special sampler which was pulled pork, brisket, BBq chicken, corn bread stuffing, creamed cabbage, and sweet potato. Then the wife had fried chicken and red beans and rice, wow and damn everything awesome, the cool aide is SUPER sweet and they do not carry unsweet tea. After I had the brick of bread pudding, do not be stupid and think you are going to conquer this on your own after a full meal here, but try anyway it's worth it, mmm carmel sauce. We are from Nevada and make it a point to stop when passing by to see grandbaby.
(5)D G.
The service is so so. Semi pricey, but so is everything decent in Eugene. The food is delicious. Haven't had a drink there in awhile, so can't say if they're worth the price. Haven't had other soul food since moving to Oregon 3 years ago so nothing to compare it to but i always crave papas and i suggest trying it!
(4)Joe B.
good value, great food, great atmosphere
(4)Seven T.
Nahhhhhhh! Nope, no thanks! 30+mins to get food, not good. Honestly, if i wasnt so damn honegray (hungry) i wouldnt have even bothered to eat it! Service was....ok. Food, was...not. I shoulda known better. At least it was relatively cheap. No, i would not go back. I remember reading a few reviews before i went that stated "too salty" and i just figured it was just their opinion...maybe they dont like salt? Ummmmm everything i ate was overwhelmingly salty! Terribly salty! Inappropriately salty! One word - foul! This, is a spot to avoid! Youre welcome!
(2)Nathan W.
Delicious soul food with good sized portions. Live music on summer weekends if you are sitting out on the patio. One of my favorite places to eat in Eugene. The only downside is there is always a long wait to be seated, so make an evening of any visit here.
(4)Ethyn K.
Papa's pulled pork sandwich with the cole-slaw already in the sandwich... blew my mind.
(4)Tree P.
This place is awesome! We were in town visiting friends and Papa's Soul Food was right down the street from our friend's house (though they had never eaten there). We had looked up the Yelp review and decided to try it out. I had the fried chicken and chose Mac and cheese and coleslaw for my sides. The breading was so crispy and delicious! The meat was juicy and tender. My husband and our friend both got the fried catfish. Whatever they use in the breading is to out of this world good! I think this might have been even better than the chicken! Our other friend got the ribs and he said they were also delicious. We all left Papa's fat and happy! I will definitely come back on my next visit to Eugene.
(5)Melissa M.
The Food: The brisket is pretty good, but the pulled pork was so smothered in bbq sauce that I couldn't even taste that smokey goodness we all expect from pulled pork. The Mac and cheese was good, but I've had better at the Oak Street Speakeasy. The cornbread was hard as a brick and flavorless. And the collards, well they were bitter, tough and not nearly as seasoned as I like. I make better collards at home, just sayin'. If you want good collards, cornbread, and pulled pork, check out the Horsehead Bar. The atmosphere: LOUD and cramped. This place is also kid friendly--not my style. The service: Shitty at the front, but once at the table, the server was average. Hell of a wait for a table.
(3)Sven G.
*Make sure you DON"T go there if there is something to celebrate or other family/friends event* -Usually a wait and no reservations, staff acts entitled. I've been to this place a few times and have liked the food, the ribs are pretty good...though the amount you get has decreased over the years. The location is cool as it is right in the middle of the Whitaker, an off-beat and trendy area with lots of things to do around and places to eat/drink at. With this said my rating is based solely on the customer service at the place. I've never been impressed by anything they've done over the last dozen or so times I've visited but last night's visit blew me away with the lack of consideration (or customer service). We went into the place right after 8pm on a rainy Wednesday. As we walked in we were asked how many people we were. (In this case my parents and I were there and about to meet up my cousin + her husband who were 5 minutes away). I told the guy who asked that we will have 5 and they are coming in a few. He right away then said that we are free to order drinks but we can order drinks if we'd like. - The shocking part was that 8 of the dozen or less tables were all open and clean, w/ staff waiting around. "Is this for when it's full or always?" I asked to which he responded always. That bummed me out as we were all gathering to remember my grandfathers' passing and the last thing we needed/wanted was to be standing awkwardly in a little, narrow spot by the bar (no chairs on bar) to wait in those 5 minutes rather than sit and order drinks. - The next thing that happened was that a couple got into the restaurant 2 mins later and by another waitress/"host" they were asked how many people to which they answered 3 and were seated on a table and given three menus-obviously still waiting for the last member of their party. -When I went back to ask the guy, he said that this is their policy because they have been the busiest place for 8 years in a row and that if they make the exception once (when they have 8 tables open) where will that lead them? I said that this in my opinion is bad service, to which he answered: "would you like to go outside to talk about this?" I was genuinely surprised and actually amused by the suggestion since I had not raised my voice once. I asked him "why? are you going to beat me out there?" to which he started getting uncomfortable and another guy came in. Right then, the other people in our party came in, a lady appeared from the back (I assume manager on duty?) and appeared to know what was happening took some menus said I can seat you now since all people are here. I said to her that I'm concerned because there was an issue with the service, to which she said "Everyone is here, so now there is no problem." I said that "there was a Service problem undressed" and that I am not sure we can there after being treated that way. She replied sorry that you feel that way.- We walked over the PRI right around the corner and had a great experience with friendly staff, amazing Pizza with the most creative and delicious toppings. My problem is that when I go to a place to eat out, I expect good food and friendly people trying to accommodate you. Food and Service. The Service part was non-existent and it was very much highlighted in a nearly empty "Papa's Soul" Food. The staff there has been a while, I'm sure by turning a bunch o tables in a few hours they make good money, but most don't seem to enjoy doing it and it shows. The staff feels entitled that they will always have people coming in and they just have to go around deliver the food from the kitchen/bar to the tables and they have done their job. While I understand that when you are overworked and are being pulled in many directions it's hard to always be friendly and energetic, but this was not anywhere close to the case here and people in the restaurant just wanted to put people within their "policy" rather than take care of the people that walked in the door.
(1)Cassie B.
Just came here on a Saturday night at 7 and didn't get seated for TWO HOURS. Plenty of groups of the same amount of people that came after us were seated before us, and even after frequently checking we were still somehow seated at 9pm. Of course we could not order in advance, and to top it off they were out of chicken and waffles, the only thing I came for. A soul food place out of chicken and waffles? First and last time coming here.
(1)Ian T.
Pulled pork and fried chicken, I want you inside of me.
(5)Jim R.
Great BBQ for Eugene! Friendly staff, great choices for side dishes to go with your selection. Tasty and satisfying! Entrees range from a soft shell crab sandwich, to pork ribs. I definitely recommend this place...just I don't recommend slapping your momma or grandma or whatever it is that is their "by-line".
(4)Yawen C.
We drove out of our way for this one during our 9hr trek from Sacramento to Portland. Regret, oh so much regret. You don't want to know what it's like regurgitating jambalaya. They had chicken and waffles on special that day, but they were out by 6pm. So the 2 of us just shared the other special (the seafood platter) and a side of mac and cheese. The mac and cheese was good for non-gourmet and was distinctive in a good way I can't describe. The seafood platter came with a large variety of items but nothing outstanding. Shrimp, fish, and oysters. Only the oysters were good, but then again fried oysters are always delicious. On the plate was also grilled veggies (squash, zucchini, peppers), jambalaya, and a biscuit. The veggies were the best part of the dish. Can you believe that?! The biscuit was just plain dry so that was left for the birds. I do like the environment. I loved the outdoor patio area, even though I was paranoid of bugs the entire time.
(2)Danny P.
I'm from North Carolina, and I went to college in Georgia, so I feel as though I bring a certain gravitas to the review of a Southern food establishment, no matter where it lies in the world. And Papa's Soul Food Kitchen is absolutely no exception. Told by my dining companion that I would have to verify for her that Papa's is indeed as good as she thought it was, and not a figment of her imagination after being away from Waffle Houses for three years, I ventured in with a hearty bit of skepticism and the belief that nowhere on the west coast could equal that of Weaver D's or Dreamland. I now admit I was wrong. Excellent mac n' cheese, great cornbread and soda and tea served in mason jars all contributed to this country-home-feeling establishments claims to be an authentic Southern restaurant. I had the fried catfish, which was just the perfect combination of falling-apart but not completely shredded. My dining companion had the friend chicken, which was overcooked and not meaty enough (hence the lost star) but wasn't what I'd call 'bad.' All-in-all, a great place for lunch. Remember the cardinal rule of Southern food, though -- always nap after lunch here. If you don't, the brick of food on your stomach will just weigh you down all day. Also? Free refills on soda! Oh how I love venturing outside of New York.
(4)Kara B.
Best southern food in Eugene and the atmosphere is so amazing it makes you feel like your at home eating a homemade meal :)
(5)Kristen H.
Girrrl, Papa's Soul Food is where it's at! Whenever I have friends or family in town, this is the spot we hit up. Okay, maybe it should get 3 stars for the food, but I love the ambience and vibe of this place. There's live music on some nights, and the back back patio is open during the warmer months. My usual order consists of the baby back ribs, fried okra, collared green, cornbread, and sweet iced tea! Calorie overload but I'll complain tomorrow.
(5)Big B.
I like the ambiance of the place. It's small and the lighting is low. Drinks are served in mason jars, and the place gets busy. I took out, so I can't say much of anything about the service. I'm just visiting here, so this review is based primarily off of my opinion of the food. I got the fried chicken plate with red beans and rice, and macaroni, including a side of fried okra. I pretty much inhaled everything when I got home. I thought that the chicken was seasoned and fried wonderfully. The breading was crisp, and the meat was tender. The macaroni was thick, rich and creamy. I don't know what kind of cheese blend that they use, but it wasn't your typical neon orange cheddar affair. The red beans were unique to me. I can't quite place the seasoning. A bit on the salty side, but I enjoyed them nonetheless. The okra was probably the least impressive to me, kind of bland, but you can't really expect all that much from fried okra. It might have been better if I had asked for something creamy to dip it in, as all I had was basic hot sauce. About the other reviews, idk, I'm not local so I can't tell if the place has gotten better or worse. Also, I take the whole raging debate on "What is soul food?" with a grain of salt. Everybody and their mamma is "from the south, so I know what soul food is" and hey, my grandma was from NO and cooked a fair share for my family. Now, while papa's red beans taste nothing like hers, for the record, I consider soul food: Traditional southern style cooking that will inspire you to fill your stomach to physical capacity. Papa's fits the bill. Bottom line, I loved what I got. The only recommendation that I can make is that I wish they'd had some kind of combination meat platter, even if it had to be a bit more expensive. The reason is that I think it would be cool to be able to sample a few different kinds of meat to see what you like instead of just hit-or-miss with a hot link plate, or a chicken plate, etc. etc.
(4)Paul L.
I loved it!! Great food, wonderful and friendly, attentive service, bargain pricing, terrific and authentic funky atmosphere. This place cooks up the perfect recipe of everything a little restaurant ought o be. We arrived at 2:00, exactly at its afternoon closing time and are certainly glad we got there in time. We each had the bar-b-cued ribs which consisted of six large and meaty pork ribs covered with a terrific bar-b-cue sauce. The ribs were tender and delicious and had either been marinaded or treated with a rub before cooking, and the sauce just complemented their wonderful flavor. The ribs were accompanied by 2 sides. We each close the cole slaw which was great--very tasty and not swimming in come kind of goo. My wife had the potato salad which is just about the best I ever ate and I had the black-eyed peas, a favorite of mine and rarely found on any menu. The black-eyed peas were prepared in such a way as to be a little spicy (synonym for tasty and delicious) and were mixed with rice. I have never had them prepared this way, but I really enjoyed them. The portions were ample and the food wonderful and the server was attentive, helpful, and friendly. The restaurant itself was a kind of funky old place surrounded by a flower garden and in a sort of multi-use neighborhood. This was as far from the commercial, chain restaurants that are nice and are dependable, but which dispense meals as opposed to dining experiences. This place is the whole package, a memorable dining adventure and a great experience. Our meals were $10 each and filled us up enough to make us skip dinner. Frankly, this is about as good as it gets.
(5)james w.
Terrible. Long wait and very rude servers/hostess. Made a special trip here, wasted or time.
(1)M W.
My boyfriend and I came here for the second time last night and I'm glad we did because it was WAY better then the first time we tried it! My boyfriend is from Texas and pretty picky about his BBQ/soul food. Our first experience wasn't the best (we just ordered the wrong things/came at the wrong time during the day) but this time was absolutely wonderful! We came during dinner, probably about 7pm, and were sat almost right away even though they were busy. We both got drinks and then ordered. I got the chicken and waffles (it was a special) and a side of mac. My boyfriend ordered their fried chicken with mac and fries, and then we also shared the hot link sandwich because we just wanted to try it. All of it was so good! I'd say my favorite though was definitely the hot link sandwich... it was nearly perfect! Messy enough and tasted delicious. Can't ask for much more then that! Our server was so sweet the whole time. I never felt rushed to get out. When we ordered she informed us that the chicken takes about 30 minutes because it's made to order. I can't imagine anyone getting mad at that! Fresh food is the best food. I'm so glad we decided to give this place another shot because now I for sure know we'll gladly be back! Just goes to show that one bad experience can't ruin the next!
(4)Tonya S.
Delicious food, great service, and a relaxed atmosphere. I've enjoyed every experience I've had here.
(4)Daniel V.
I rate my restaurants based on price, service, and food. For me, the combination of all three ends up 5 stars for Papa's. Sure, there are places that serve better mac n cheese, ribs (maybe), etc. But for the price, I can't think of a better place to go. I've had the ribs, brisket, mac n cheese, collar greens and I loved them all. I've gone twice, both at lunch. Warning, it's a big meal. Next time, I'm splitting something with my wife!.
(5)Summer L.
I'm so glad we found this place during a weekend in Eugene. I had the beef brisket with baked beans, corn, and cornbread. The beef brisket was delicious, though a bit fatty in areas. The baked beans were pretty basic, I would have liked a more BBQ taste to them. The corn is bland and not work choosing for a side. The cornbread however was delicious. My boyfriend got the jerk chicken which was really good. Two friends got the chicken and waffles and they said it was so-so, and not impressed they give you wings instead of a breast. The hostess was a bit rude to us, but they were a bit busy because it was Saturday night. Our server was super friendly though. Overall I'm glad we went.
(4)Heather B.
I just arrived to meet my husband and daughter, who invited me after my run. I have never been here before and I walked in and saw them, so I sat down. Within 15 seconds, the server came up and asked if I was ordering. I told him not quite yet, just got back from a run so catching my air. He rudely told me that I can't be there without waiting to be seated. RUDELY. Apparently, I didn't know their "rules" so I was not welcome there. Maybe I should have called ahead to let them know my husband invited me to lunch and to "check me in". I just got up and left and told my husband I would see him later. I will never return with that kind of service.
(1)Michael S.
We tried to go to Papa's on Sat, 12/13/14. We got there at 7:30 pm & the place was CLOSED. No lights on, no sign on the door saying they would be closed or why. Not even sure if they are still in business. All the surrounding businesses were open, so no power outage.
(1)Sharon M.
Went to dinner with husband, son & his girlfriend. Waited an hour to be seated and luckily, were seated outside as the inside dining area was extremely hot when we left (arrived at 7:00 when it was approx. 80 degrees, and fiinished our dinner about 9:30). I ordered black-eyed peas as one of my side items, but received the strangest-tasting beans & rice I have ever tasted. Did not realize they had given me the wrong menu item until I arrived back home. I ordered the bar-b-qued chicken and received only dark meat (do not like dark chicken meat), when I assumed there would be at least one piece of white meat. My son was served cornbread instead of the side of fried okra he ordered, and was charged for the okra they brought him. Our waiter did not return to take our payment so we went inside to the bar area to pay. Apparently, we were to have waited for him to return to pay him. It was too hot to even take time to question why we were charged the extra price for the side my son had ordered but did not receive with his original meal. Our $100 dinner was definitely not worth it, as I only ate my cornbread and fried okra. However, our cocktails were delicious, and my son and husband did enjoy their spare ribs.
(2)Ashley C.
I love it here! The service is good and it's a nice setting. Friendly and delicious! The food is great! Awesome ribs awesome a sides! Next time I'm trying the chicken and waffles!!!
(4)Donna K.
I would love for this place to exist in Portland! This is by far the best BBQ I've had in the state of Oregon ! Uhmm..papa knows how to BBQ! Their sides are delicious, fried chicken is yummy with a side of hot sauce, brisket is tender and just all of it is off the charts. Not to mention they serve liquor! The wait is worth it here folks! And on a real good night, they play live music! As busy as they are service is decent! Now in Portland, prices for OK BBQ is like dining for a 3 course fancy shmansy meal. It's BBQ y'all, it's suppose to feed a hungry MAN, and it can't even feed a little Asian chick, but at Papa Soul's I believe!!! I believe I can get full without spending all my change. The price is good and the portions are even better. My friends and I ended up making the mistake of ordering too much food, but ended up stuffing our faces to the max since the food was finger licking good! Now ever time I go to Eugene, I must stop here! Bonus: the alcohol is strong!
(5)Andrew D.
This place definitely seems authentic. I got the fried catfish and paired it with the collared greens, mac and cheese, and corn bread. The corn bread was a bit dry. But the collared greens and especially the mac and cheese were the delicious! The serving of catfish was surprisingly large, and I definitely enjoyed it. My friend and i shared Hush puppies which were decent. He got the fried chicken which he said tasted divine haha. His words. We also got an arnold palmer and kool aid, definitely a southern meal. Will come back again.
(4)Crystal F.
I love, love, love this place. I came in for my birthday recently, and tried the special. I never knew why everyone raves about chicken and waffles...but now I know. I saw this dish listed on the "specials" listing outside, and thought I'd give it a try. My only complaint about the dish is that the chicken was very hot. However, it is fried chicken, so this is how it is supposed to be. If you are planning to visit this place, be sure to get there early, with your entire party. You will not be seated until everyone is there. The place fills up fast, so it is important to go as early as possible. The staff is friendly, the food is delicious....what's not to love? I would have given a 5 star rating, but the seating is a bit cramped in the dining area. Otherwise, this place is GREAT!
(4)Debby Jo C.
I don't really like this restaurant. I have been several times. I guess it's just not my style. I know a lot of people like it, but I've had bad experience with several dishes
(2)Sadie D.
I love Papa's! And I love that my way too picky kids will fill their faces and eat the leftovers the next day!
(5)Manda S.
oh my delicious. Giant portions and everything is delicious. I am a HUGE fan and this is a favorite place for me to bring friends from out of town. There's a limited food scene in Eugene and for soul food, this is probably the best spot in the area. A MUST try if you like southern food.
(5)Eric V.
Who knew one could find such AMAZING soul food in the Pacific Northwest?! I've eaten at the top soul food restaurants all over the South and this place is any bit as good as the best of the best. Everything I ordered here was outstanding. Ribs, brisket, mac n cheese, collard greens, corn . . . all OUTSTANDING!! An EASY 5 stars!
(5)Celia T.
The place is oddly located, it wasn't amazing. I classify it as being ok, if I'm in the area I'll probably it is up for their fried Okra. I recall that being pretty damn good.
(3)Chad S.
Best food ever! Always dress, great staff fast service and fun environment.
(5)Kelly U.
This place is definitely worth the wait! You can't go wrong with anything on the menu and the staff is all very friendly. By far the best fried chicken I have ever had, and you have to save room for their bread pudding. It is to die for!
(4)Barry G.
I really like their food and napkins, they have kool aid and cake and other good stuff. The only thing that would make it better would be if they added a ball pit!
(5)Patricia M.
Yesterday was my second time at this restaurant. The first time It was just my husband and I, and the service was great. Second time, my husband, mom and baby, the service was not so good. We arrived around 3:30pm (Saturday). Two seconds before sitting down while trying to figure out where to put the baby, one of the waitress warned us about not having the stroller very close to the next table if people were to sit there. The indoor area was almost empty! I was there because of that! Just two more tables were occupied. I did not feel I was welcomed at all. The food was really average, I have tried BBQ ribs and BBQ chicken at restaurants in the Midwest and they are way better and I was not satisfied. I am giving two stars because of the side dishes and the bread pudding, otherwise it would be 0 stars. Again, the service was awful. We are not coming back again. Better places deserve my time and hard earned money. Most importantly they don't deserve my cute son to visit them.
(2)Justin F.
Papas soul food is gand down the best soul food joint iv ever been to. I eat there everytime I get the chance. The foods amazing and the staff is awesome. I recommend this place to anyone who enjoys true southern cooking. Prices are fair along with service with a smile My only wish is they expand there building so I can eat in more often then take out.
(5)Nichole A.
Was driving through eugene last night and was looking for a good place on yelp to stop and eat. This place had great reviews about the food....but everyone talked about the shitty service- so I decided to do takeout. We got the bbq chicken plate with mac and cheese and fries and the pulled pork sandwich (comes with potatoe salad). The chicken was juicy and had just the right amount of sauce. The mac and cheese tasted homemade and even the fries were good. The only thing we didnt like was - the potatoe salad (not your traditional potatoe salad). Everything came to 20$ and the guy at the counter who rang us up was very nice and helpful. I would definitely go back....although would probably do takeout again....there were quite a few people in the dining room that didn't look happy :/
(4)Wendy B.
Ouch. Rheanna. You have a terrible attitude. You should not be a server. Ignored us the whole meal. And when we trapped her, she was sour. With this kind of attitude, I started working on ways to irritate her it was so bad. Sent her on missions several times just because she would throw things on the table then turn her back on us. Could have asked us how our meal was and if we needed anything but...she didn't. She made me mad. There. Got that out of my system. So, inspite of sucky service, why would I give this place a 5 star? The food was delicious and the price, unbelievable. And all the other staff were wonderful. The catfish dinner was served as small fried nuggets, dredged in a cornmeal coating. Quite tasty. A huge portion. I could eat about half. Mr B's bbq pork ribs (4 or 5 meaty ones) were equally moist and tender, topped with a very interesting house bbq sauce made with elements of allspice or clove and a bit of cayenne. I am usually not a fan of this style, but it was exceptionally good. The sides we chose were a potato salad (more of a mashed, sweet and sour style, rather than cubed, mayonnaise based), corn bread (a moist, sweet version and so delicious), black eyed peas, and collard greens. All wonderful, all highly recommended. This is a no nonsense place, loud because it is so popular, with whole meals going for $10 a shot. Our tab came to $20. Yeah, really.
(5)Danielle S.
First time I went here I got the mac and cheese because everyone said it was amazing. It was bland, chalky and overall a mushy blob of overcooked pasta and crappy cheese. My food was either burnt or super salty and the service was just ok. But I wanted to give it another chance, so went back and told that at 2 minutes until 2PM they were closed even though the restaurant was full of people. I get that you want to close in between lunch and dinner but as someone in the industry I also know that we can let one person squeak by especially if the kitchen is still making food and people still have menus. I just wouldn't waste my time there again. There are better options for Cajun inspired food who will actually seat you.
(1)Alan J.
It's a little cramped and the service can be hit or miss (but hasn't been "bad" yet). The food WAY more than makes up for it. I had the ribs on our first trip an the soul burger on our second. I daresay this is hands down the best burger in Eugene and it's pork! The ribs were simply delectable as well. The food quality is truly top notch. Just go in with a bit of patience and you won't be disappointed. I can't wait to try the fried chicken!
(5)Christopher S.
There is no better $10 dinner in Eugene than what can be found at Papa's. My usual is the Brisket with Mac + Cheese ($1 extra) and baked beans. On the occasions that I go with fries, they are always fresh and crispy. The pulled pork, ribs, and BBQ chicken are also great. The fried chicken is fantastic, and I have to force myself to ordering it every three visits. But sometimes they have a chicken and waffle special for $8 that comes with fried wings and a waffle, and it is too good to pass up. Their drinks are a bit spendy, but they are competing with Sam Bonds and Meiji, so that makes sense. In the summer time they have wonderful outdoor seating and often have live music. Papa's is unequivocally my favorite sit down restaurant in Eugene.
(5)Livy G.
Good people and good food. The menu has very little variety and is rather traditional
(3)Luis R.
Papa's Soul Food is by far one of the best restaurants in the Eugene area. The food is delicious! I would recommend trying the Mac and cheese and either the brisket or the pulled pork. Only downside is that there is not a lot of dining space in the restaurant.
(5)Robert Z.
This place is so bomb! The food was really great. The atmosphere was warming. They had good beer. Id go again
(5)Kristen R.
Went here with my significant other tonight! So good! It was jam packed, and the place itself is kind of small, so we had a wait time of about 20 minutes. Totally worth it though! We got a mint julep and bourbon sweet tea lemonade to drink. Strong, but good. For an appetizer, we got hush puppies. Those were decent, and I feel like they could potentially be skipped. However, I got a side of mac and cheese with the special of chicken and waffles. My boyfriend even ate the mac and cheese because it wasn't too cheesey (he hates cheese). Everything was flavorful and delicious! Would definitely go back.
(5)Paul A.
The food here was great- everything, fried chicken, brisket, mac, cole slaw, fries, everything. Our waitress was a little over whelmed, walking through looking everywhere, but not seeing much. This is the kind of place where it would be cool if everybody were friends, but oly if that meant the servers didn't all get side tracked. We'll be back for sure with this larger location and proximity to our house.
(4)Daniel H.
Good times at Papa's. I usually try to hit this place up whenever I go to Eugene as I used to eat there all the time when I lived down there attending college. These guys really do soul food right - the BBQ chicken is delicious and I love the lemonade in a jar. Little things like that really add to the atmosphere. But seriously, I'd just go for the mac 'n cheese alone. It's amazing. I could just inhale it with how delicious it is. Best I've ever had. These guys get really crowded during lunch/dinner rush hours so plan ahead, but it's well worth the journey, even if it is in a crappier part of Eugene.
(5)Kristin C.
I don't know why it's taken us 4.5 years of living in Eugene to try Papas Soul Food Kitchen. I've heard about it, but we've just never gone. After trying to go to Texas Roadhouse twice in as many days, we decided to try PSFK, as we didn't want one of the boring places we'd been to plenty. So, off we went. Once we found it ( I'm not overly familiar with the downtown area, but it wasn't too hard to find) I knew it would be good just by the smell when walking in. It is very small. There is not a large staff. I'm ok with this, although I see some long wait times in my future because of it. The guy ( owner, manager maybe?) and the girl waitress were both very friendly, and working hard to keep everyone happy, drinks filled, etc. I got the pulled pork, with coleslaw and Mac and cheese ( based on the yelp reviews). The fiancé got the BBQ chicken with corn and red beans & rice. We figured that have us a nice variety to try. We both got sweet tea, and we tried the cornbread. Sweet tea was good, tasted like true southern sweet tea. The cornbreads was dense, and I liked the honey butter with it. Both meats were really good, with delicious barbecue sauce. I'd have a hard time choosing between the two, and now I completely understand why the guy, when asked, had a hard time picking one over the other. Seriously, both were amazingly good. For the sides, I was a but surprised. I had high hopes for both the Mac and the red beans and rice. The Mac didnt look like the yelp photos. It was very pasty, and I didn't care for it. It wasn't terrible, but I wouldn't get it again. My fiancé are it. The red beans and rice he ordered were quite peppery. He didn't care for them, I found them to be ok, and ate them. Neither were in edible or gross. But I wonder if the mac wasn't a little old, based on the dry pasty texture. I expected the corn and coleslaw to be standard. Just ok, nothing special. But, I was quite surprised. The corn was really good. I only had a small bite before he devoured it, and he said it was his favorite of the sides, and the best side we ordered. I disagree, because the best side we tried was by far the coleslaw. Crisp, creamy, tangy.. Mmmmm! I could have had seconds or thirds. Or fourths. And some to go. The collard greens seemed popular, and I think I'll have to try them next time. The brisket also seemed quite popular with the crowd around us. The best part of the whole thing? It was priced so reasonably, and the portions were good! I couldn't even finish all of mine, and I was super hungry walking in. This could be my new favorite restaurant in town, and I'll definitely be back!
(5)Katie B.
I have never had a bad experience at Papa Soul Food. I tend to go during weekday lunch so that I avoid the crowds, and this works every time. The negative reviews of this place are ridiculous.. If you go to a restaurant that's packed you should probably expect a wait, and you should probably expect to not be the focus of your waitress.. Take a chill pill or go somewhere else. The fact that this place is usually packed should be the first hint that it's TOTALLY WORTH IT. Boohoo they ran out of a delicious item, come earlier or order something else (it's all good). My staples are the pulled pork sandwich and sweet tea. I also ALWAYS order a side of mac n cheese and corn for the table, even if everyone ordered them with their meal, you can never have enough. Try mixing the two ;) soo good.
(5)Nathan K.
I was in town here and a couple people told me to try this place. Being that I had a poor rib experience recently I was eager to try the ribs here. I ordered the ribs, mac/cheese, fries, collared greens and corn bread. The ribs were extremely grisly and had pieces of bone stuck everywhere in the meat so it was impossible to chew without pulling pieces of bone out of the food. Same thing happened with my dad's ribs. Mac and cheese was very salty but other than salty, below average. Fries were okay C-Greens - the most salt I have ever tasted - I had to spit it out. I literally couldn't eat it. There must have been over 2000mg of sodium in a side dish of it. It was Xmas eve, so I will give them the benefit of the doubt that maybe they had bad luck at the butcher and maybe a different chef or something that normal. I won't be returning here when I come back to Eugene, though. I remember getting ribs at Roadhouse Grill last time I was in Eugene and they were much better
(2)Mrs. E.
I wish I could give a minus star. Worse service I have ever had. We waited almost 2 hours , of which we spent 1hr 30 minutes at the table, and we had to leave because we never got our food. Huge disappointment. Waitress didn't come yo our table more than 2 times and manager literally told us we could leave fiver wanted, after we asked how much longer our food was going to take. Sometimes quality in food is not enough if the experience is despicable. I will never recommend it. Be careful. I can't get over the experience. Waiting for so long gave me a hunger headache and chancing feeling like this is not worthy.
(1)Hayley D.
So, I really debated between a 3 and 4 star review on this one, and I'm going to give the place a 4 because I feel positive about the food and would go back again, even after this experience. The service was really depressing the night we went. We waited 45 minutes for a table, which is okay with drinks, the band playing, and a good atmosphere all around. But by the time we got our table, our server kept abandoning us. He took our order by memory and then forgot my sweet tea, and when I asked him for it a second time, he didn't bring it that time either. After our dinner had stretched out to an hour, we had run out of water and were ready to go, when the check arrived--with sweet tea on the bill. After I called him on it, he took the tea off the bill, but it was just rather sad. Awful service aside, the food was awesome and the atmosphere relaxed, even if on the loud side. The restaurant was humming with a swarm of happy people and a band jamming in the background. My husband and I split an order of hush puppies, BBQ chicken, mac and cheese, and sweet yams plus bread pudding--and all of it was damn good. The BBQ had a spicy zip, the mac and cheese tasted NOT like Kraft from a box, and the chicken was falling off the bone. Can't comment on the sweet tea :P
(4)Joey H.
How many places in town can you get a soft shell crab sandwich? fried soft shell crab with slaw on a hearty bun. simply tasty. This place was great! hours are not the best, but I think that is what makes this place good.
(4)Rafael A.
Papas soul food is an all round good restaurant. Food is delicious, service is good and atmosphere is genuine. Every dish I have tried here has that comfort food quality we all love. They have soft drinks and cocktails. main dishes are good portions complimented with the side dishes (Which are also delicious). Reading the menu can be a little challenging at first but the servers are happy to answer questions. The menu is not your traditional list of items, its more like an infographic, extra points for style. Give it a try, you wont regret it.
(5)Jennifer R.
So damn delicious! I had BBQ chicken collard greens and Mac! Also tried jerk, brisket and catfish ! Everything was great
(5)Plume Z.
Not too pricy. The only thing is that I can't finish most time. So many meat... FYI, rib is so good.
(3)John P.
If you're in the mood for fried chicken, this is the place. Forget KFC. Love the corn bread and hush puppies....
(4)Meagan C.
Best Fried Chicken Wings I have ever had. They were so crispy and moist on the inside. We order the chicken n waffles, and the gumbo. The waffle is little sweet, and light. The gumbo had great shrimp perfectly cooked with a little bit of a kick. The sweet tea was brewed to perfection cant wait to try some of the cocktails in the mason jars. I only wish I lived closer to this soul food place. Try the cornbread is only a buck and it comes with honey butter so good.
(4)Leah H.
Soul food in Eugene!?! I was surprised too! So, I'd been hearing all these good reviews about Papa's Soul Food and I was kind of skeptical. I mean soul food in the Northwest, how good can it really be? When my partner was in town and we decided to have dinner at Papa's. I really like the vibe, there was music in the background and nice paintings all around. When we walked in, the workers were really friendly. I ordered the fried chicken with a side of mac and cheese and potato salad. My partner ordered the BBQ ribs with a side of mac and cheese and french fries. We both also had the sweet tea, which was good! I am a big sweet tea fan and was excited to see that they had it on their menu. The food came out and it smelled and looked delicious! Their mac and cheese and potato salad was amazing! We ate the fried chicken with their house hot sauce -- a blend of apricots and habanero peppers. It tasted sweet and then hits you with the spiciness at the end. The BBQ ribs were good and a great compliment to the fried chicken.
(5)Greg L.
This place serves very good southern style food. I can certify this as a native of Tennessee. I thoroughly enjoyed the fried chicken, slaw, & colored greens. My wife was well pleased with here pulled pork & fried orca meal. It was worth the hour wait on a Saturday evening & all for a good price. Loved the live music too!
(5)Roman S.
this place is great! especially for Eugene.. everything here is reasonably priced. the portions are on the bigger side (generous) and overall tastes good. the fried catfish was way too salty and i didn't like at all. the brisket on the other hand was damn good. very very soft and the bbq sauce A+. fried chicken was delish! perfect combination of crisp and taste. yams were great too. okra was eh... this place is a hit with a few misses. definitely a great place to get some food
(5)Clare H.
Tonight was the third night I have enjoyed the food at Papa's. My introduction to the food included the Crawfish Jambalaya and a plate heaping with catfish. While there was a little too much sausage in the Jambalaya for my lame stomach, the spices were perfect and the portion was large enough to share with a friend as leftovers the next day. The catfish was incredibly fresh, the mac n' cheese, mmmm, and the soul slaw, crazy good. The second meal was even more delicious. Fried chicken, meat so juicy it slipped off the bone and a fried outer layer that hinted of spice and had just the right crisp. Red beans and rice the way they are supposed to be made and pureed sweet potatoes rounded off the dish. I also couldn't help but try the lightly fried okra, delicious! Tonight, my father and I started with a unique shrimp cocktail: tailless shrimp delicately covered in spicy sauce. With a touch of freshly squeezed lemon juice, it wet the appetite and left me digging to the bottom of the glass hoping to find one last shrimp. For the entree, I decided to try one of their famous sandwiches: spicy fried soft shell crab slathered with soul slaw and topped with fresh baked buns. Each bite was a perfect balance between hot crunchy crab and cool secret recipe slaw. Coupled with a very minty mojito, the meal was quite memorable. Having experienced the monstrous brick dessert of bread pudding covered in molten bourbon sauce, my father and I made sure to save room for it. We still couldn't finish all of it (good thing it is just as good the next day). The cozy atmosphere of an old house decorated in jazz posters and inspired artwork as well as the friendly service and friendlier bar makes for a welcoming experience that keeps customers coming back. The hour long wait and the line that stretches out the door is proof of that. I can't wait for the warmer months to approach so I may be able to enjoy Papa's outdoor seating over a strong mint julep and maybe even listen to a local jazz band or two.
(5)Aldahir F.
best soul food ive ever had and the customer service was amazing!
(5)M J.
Who would have thought...in Eugene. We found this place on Yelp and wanted a non traditional dinner. So much food. Had a bunch of sides, family had ribs. Unique drinks...great moonshine!
(5)Jim D.
I have no experience in Eugene, but a friend led me here. I wanted to cry because I got there and I wasn't hungry as hell. Pork Ribs falling off the bone, dry with sauce added on top that you could have on the side. Either way they were marvelous. Tasted his pulled pork and wanted to trade half my ribs for half of his. COLLARDS that were vinegary, sweet and ever so slightly spicy. I'd come back for those alone. Red Beans & Rice was tasty, but not the way I am used to making it. The pot liker (the juice under the greens) will cure what ails ya! Saw some fried chicken worth the trip off the freeway. I saw some fried chicken that made me want to camp here until I was hungry again. Neighborhood can be dicey but this place is the bomb. I lived in the Soul Food rich environment of the S.F. Bay Area for 35 years and never had anything c lose to this. GOTTA GO BACK SOON! What? It's only 575 miles from home!
(5)Anna D.
Great atmosphere. Authentic Southern bbq & sides. Great choices, big portions, full bar, friendly servers, super prices.
(4)Melanie B.
I had the soft shell crab sandwich and macaroni and cheese. The sandwich was amazing! Crispy, full of flavor, good slaw and bread. The macaroni and cheese I ordered because of reviews, and was a bit dismayed when it came out. It's the color of a yellow highlighter, but tastes just fine... nothing extraordinary. My friend had the special, which was roast pork over rice. Not very flavorful. All in all, my main course was delicious, and worth coming back for more. The decor is fun, we sat out on the patio. Definitely a nice change of pace for dinner, and a unique choice in Eugene.
(4)Anna J.
The bar-b-que is great! I love it. Again definitely a local spot in Eugene.
(4)Jessica L.
As far as soul food in Oregon goes, this place is AMAZING! I come from the Bay Area, and have had my fair share of chicken and waffles, ribs, pulled pork etc, and this place is on par with all my favorite soul food spots. I ordered the beef brisket meal. Sides were also great! Highly recommended.
(5)Elenore M.
There food is delicious and the prices are reasonable. If you're looking for southern comfort food, this is the place to go!
(4)Trey F.
So sooo good! We ordered a sampler platter which came with brisket, pulled pork, chicken, mashed sweet potatoes, mac and cheese, and corn. I have zero complaints about anything that was served to us. The mac and cheese was mind-blowing. All the meats were delectable! It was one of those meals that was so good good I just never wanted to stop eating! And if you're into that, you can! The meal we ordered, which I believe was supposed to be for one person, was more than enough for the two of us! While the prices are a little high, you definitely get what you pay for, and you definitely get a second meal from the leftovers. I highly recommend that anyone who enjoys barbecue or soul food check this place out. You won't regret it!
(5)Jamie C.
I would love to give a better rating, but after my last two visits, I feel 3 stars is almost being too generous. We watched as a table that sat 10 minutes after us have their order taken. Our server was nonexistent. Our appetizer of fried okra arrived after our meals came to our table. My plate of brisket was more like a plate of fat with BBQ sauce on it. What was most disturbing about the overall terrible service is that the place wasn't even that busy. We are going to give it one more try in a couple weeks, I sure hope we have a better experience.
(3)Sarah T.
My actual rating would be a 4.5....I would vote the yams, potato salad, and the brisket as 5-stars. The fried chicken, beans, and mac n cheese would get 4 stars. I didn't try the ribs, but they looked good. =) The hubby and I were blown away that we both ordered large meals, and the bill came to $20 even. First of all, we are used to being taxed up the heazy in California. Second, the quality of the food probably could have been priced even higher than it was. We happily paid $20 for the great feast we were served today. It was the perfect comfort food for a rainy Oregon day.
(5)L M.
Get take out if the wait time for a table is long. The food was great. The chicken that be as left over we put in the fridge and the next morning it was still crispy. Definitely will have to go back again.
(4)jason b.
Great find in Eugene! I had the fried chicken with sides of awesome mac-n-cheese and baked beans that were a tad underdone. The staff was great despite it being a packed night after an Oregon Yucks football game. We will return every time we visit Eugene. Go Beavs!
(5)Jenn C.
I've lived in Eugene for about ten years now and last night was my first visit to Papa's and boy do I feel like I've been missing out. I won't lie it was busy and while waiting I really hoped it was worth it. Let me tell you-it was. I had pulled pork with collard greens and red beans and rice..YUMM!!! My husband had fried catfish with collard greens and macaroni....OMG! The portions are HUGE which is fabulous because you get to take some home. We also had a few of their signature cocktails which were very good although all were quite sweet. We took home a giant piece of bread pudding and that was just amazing. I can't wait to go back and try everything else!!
(5)Pani L.
Came in for lunch with friends and the service was even better than the first time (and last time was great). The jambalaya was spicy and delicious, and the other flavors shone through. The hush puppies were crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside. One friend had the mac 'n cheese; her personal measure of a place, she was licking the bowl. My partner order the jerk chicken which had a moderate level of spice, the beans and rice delicious, and fries were light and crispy.
(5)Hailee B.
Favorite place by far to eat, Reminds me of the awesome BBQ I miss eating growing up in texas, Though its not texas style, its amazing. I loove the mac and cheese, theres tons of sides, and the BBQ sauce is excellent! Service is really good and the price is ridiculously cheap for all the food you can get! My family loves this place since I found it, and we're regulars.
(5)Kim T.
Just one word....excellent. if you are in this town....be sure to stop in for the fried chicken and BBQ brisket. YUMMO!
(4)Garret R.
When I was in high school a friend told me "Holy Diver" by Dio was the only song anyone ever needed to listen too, "because it is so awesome." Among other things, I thought he was silly for dealing in such absolutes. But now, I think I finally understand where he was coming from. And no, this is not a Yelp review of "Holy Diver." I'm talking about Papa's Soul Food. It is the only restaurant anyone should ever go to. If my wife suggests we try another place, I say "Have fun... by yourself. I'm going to Papa's Soul Food."
(5)Elizabeth S.
I loved the food, and the atmosphere. The BBQ sauce was on the spicy side which was great for me. A word of warning for those with kids; they do not offer a kid menu or a child portion size. They do have take home boxes, and whatever my kids didn't eat tasted great the next day.
(5)Ali S.
I would love to give the place a 5-star rating given that the food and drinks are out of this world but the service felt pretentious. For a place that appears to want to offer a local, hangout feel they've adopted that "too trendy for our shorts" attitude. If you take that point out of the mix the food is hands down the best southern style food in Oregon. The meats were tender and smokey, the BBQ sauce had that amazing tang and the hush puppies are perfectly balanced. The prices were hard to beat!
(3)Mitchell S.
The food is a 5. I only ranked it 4 because you have to be relaxed and ready to spend a while there. The service is really slow. Chicken and Waffles, Collard Greens, and Mac n Cheese are amazing. The beans, black eyed peas, slaw, cor bread and jerk chicken are very good. So if yo have the time and are looking for a slow relaxing meal with outstanding food, this is the place for you.
(4)MJ C.
We went here with the folks and had a good time. The food is great, the decor is really cool, and we'll definitely go back. The server was rude, and seemed embarrassed when turns out..he'll be our server after that awkward 25 min wait! The portions are huge! YAY! We had tons of leftovers between the four of us. Although besides the SUPER loud chatter in that place, after a long wait in a crowded "waiting" area, I was disappointed in the mac and cheese...one of my favorite dishes if done homemade, you know what I mean! It was really salty and tasted like they used the same rub for my ribs as to flavor the mac and cheese. So just a mouthful of bbq rub. Get the ribs with fries and you'll be set! All said and done..this place is a great TO GO place with GREAT food for up here. Go on..give it a try!
(4)Trimaine B.
Im quite positive I have eaten Papa's food for the last time. Each visit of mine is a distinct memory in my brain because each time I became more and more disappointing with my food there. I do not like the so called "Soul Kitchen." First Visit: This was the first restaurant I visited when I moved to Eugene for law school. I was excited at the prospect of eating "Southern Soul Food" as I am originally from the South, and I have a lot of experience with this type of food. I had the Fried Catfish. TOO SALTY, and if you know me, this is my biggest pet peeve with food. I was here with a large party, and generally, Papa's is oddly popular here in Eugene, so service was generally slow, but I dealt with it because I was with my large party. The Collard Greens tasted odd very odd to me, so I did not like it so much. However, the black-eyed peas were decent along with the fried Okra, a little different than how they do in the Midlands and Coastal South Carolina, nonetheless, tolerable and it help clean my palette of that salt left in my mouth from the cat fish. Second Visit: This time I decided to go a little light and get the Hotlink sandwich. I was really anticipating this meal because I love hotlinks, especially when they are done well. Well I got the hotlinks after a long wait. First bite, eh, ok. I had the second bite, and almost lost my mind. For what was included in that second bite was a long curly hair, the length of my little finger. Normally, I would have went nuts on the place and certainly created a scene. However, I was with a bunch of my colleagues whom I had recently met, and so I did not want to cast a negative impression of myself. I put the food down, and did not eat anything else for the remaining of my time there. Third Visit: This visit was approx a year later after the "Hair" incident. By this time Papa had died and a few new people were working in the shop. Again, I was here with a large party, so service was a bit slow. I ordered an Arnold Palmer with Vodka. Pretty decent and held me over while I waited. My entree was the Fried Chicken. TOO SALTY. Last time: This time, I did not visit Papa's, rather I ate Papa's food that was picked up from the kitchen for an event my group was hosting on the other side of town. Generally speaking, in doing business with the workers at Papa's we encountered a pretentious attitude. This was not something I noticed almost two years ago when I first ate at papa's. Unfortunately, this new attitude did not come with a marked improvement in the quality of the food. I know Soul Food, and Papa's falls short of decent. The food my group ordered and carried to our event was either too bland, too salty, or just too unworthy of the "Soul Food" distinction. You see, Soul Food is suppose to make you feel good, make you feel your Soul. This food at papa's just gives me digestive problems and a feeling of regret after paying for that mess. No more Papa for me.
(1)Amanda B.
It's the first time I've been. I wanted fried chicken and they were out which was disappointing. I ended up going with the fried catfish instead. It was not the best I've had and there were bones in it. I absolutely LOVED the mac n cheese. The potatoe salad was not bad, but I won't order it again. The cornbread was dry, the butter half frozen. The sweet tea was to die for. I RECOMMEND GIVING THIS PLACE A TRY! I will be going back to get some of that fried chicken.
(3)Courtney Anne N.
Thoroughly impressed! I have lived in Eugene for 3 and a half years and can't believe it has taken me this long to come here! I have been missing out! BBQ pulled pork and beef brisket sandwiches are both amazing. Mac n cheese, red beans and rice, corn bread-all amazing as well. Even the lemonade was impressive! The prices are all great too, tons of food for not a lot of cash! (important for us broke college kids ;) I also love restaurants with an awesome atmosphere and this place definitely has it. Everyone else seems to be complaining about the service and ours was perfectly fine! If you haven't been-GO!
(5)Michael K.
I've been to Papa's Soul Food Kitchen a couple times before, but the more I go, the lousier it gets. The first time was excellent, my profile picture is of me enjoying a hushpuppy of theirs. The waitress took our drinks, lemonade for Clara and a soda for me. When the drinks came, Clara took a sip and made a face. The waitress described the lemonade as fresh-squeezed. This must be the manufacturer's trademark on the mix of something. The lemonade tasted like it came from a mix and a stale one at that. It was too sweet and syrupy to have been made fresh. Also there were no bits of lemon that one would expect with something freshly squeezed. (Edit: The lemonade is made from a mix due to the quantities sold.) When we told the waitress that the lemonade didn't taste right, there was no apology, Clara asked for some Sweet Tea instead. She didn't like that either and being from the South, knows her Sweet Tea) (Edit: It is brewed daily.) I haven't tried the Kool-Aid there, but I'm not going to spend $2 on a glass of Kool-Aid. After agonizing over my choice for the meal, I later found out I should have opted for the fried fish. I couldn't decide if I should get the fried chicken, jerk chicken, or the fried fish. I asked if I can get half jerk and half fried, but the waitress said no. So I got the fried chicken with sides of french fries and macaroni and cheese. Clara got the pulled pork with yams and black eyed peas. We also got an appetizer of hushpuppies. The hushpuppies come out a few minutes later with a couple packets of honey. The hushpuppies are darker than I would have thought they would be, but that's fine. I bit into one and it's very grainy and mealy. I understand that it's basically fried cornbread, but It's made with a wet batter. I would think that it would be similar in texture to a corndog wrapping, but this isn't. (Edit: These apparently were overcooked.) The honey doesn't add any flavor to it. The waitress cleared the hushpuppies, asking if we were done, but she wasn't kind about it. Not rude, but not kind either. Our meal arrived on two large plates. Once placed on the table, Clara tried her black-eyed peas and recoiled. I asked what was wrong, and she said they tasted like mold. I don't normally like legumes, but I tried it anyway and I have to agree these tasted musty. (Edit: The owner explained to me that this was due to the herb, thyme.) She said the pork was good but the yams were too sweet to her palate. Also of note, was that her pulled pork was just sitting on the plate. I've never had pulled pork that was like that, there was always some sort of vessel, other than a eating utensil to convey it to my mouth, usually bread of some sort. Nothing like that here. Yes you can buy it in a sandwich, but it would have been nice if they had a "southern-style" biscuit with it. My fried chicken consisted of three various pieces of chicken rather than a half chicken. The drumstick was about the length of my thumb (not very big) and had about as much meat on it as my pinky (again not very much). The thigh was indeterminate until I got near the end of the meat on it--which was not much, then I was able to recognize the bone structure. The breast sucked hardcore. So dry. I'm not sure if they marinade the chicken--let me take it back--They don't marinade the chicken since it was so dry. A nice marinade in buttermilk overnight or at least from the morning would bring so much flavor to the chicken. The chicken was sooo dry. And nearly flavorless. As I was taking a big bite of chicken the waitress came over and asked how everthing was, and since I had a mouth full of dry flavorless food, I couldn't explain our dislike. Other than getting our drinks, taking our order and giving out check, this was the only time the waitress stopped by out table (the food was delivered by another waiter). The fries were real salty, and the macaroni and cheese was OK, but very gritty. It's like the sauce that they use (if made fresh) broke before they tried to mix it together again to serve with the mushy noodles. As I said before, I'm not sure we'll go back. The food was excellent the first time, but each subsequent time we've gone, it has gotten worse. I would have made my complaints to the waitress about the food, but the times that we did speak with her, she was very difficult to speak with. Like she was doing us a favor. Also: I would have sent this in an email to the store owner, but there appears to be no specific website or email address for the restaurant. (Edit: I received a response from the owner after I posted this review. She was helpful in explaining some of my issues. I've adjusted the above review and added a couple stars due to the response and explanation.) Another thing: The music was played at an inconsistent volume, so that when it got louder even though it was in the background, the conversation volume in the restaurant got louder as well.
(3)Virgil B.
I have heard many good things about Papa's and on several occasions gone there only to find it closed. Today we made it and wanted to try some of their regular fair, I had a brisket sandwich and really enjoyed it, very light smoke, super tender, covered in a delicious sauce and a very tasty slaw. I would have to say that it is one of the best I've had. My wife tried their Southern fried chicken, also something they are well known for, it was a FAIL. There should be some moisture in the chicken, but not this, it had been so overcook there was not much meat left on the bone. Not only that, when we inquired about the dry chicken, the waiter assured us that it was the best in Eugene, to which my wife replied, "no I think it's better at my home". The waiter said "well, I guess you can make it there then, but it will take you longer." And yes, we can make it at home, and no, it will not take nearly as long as the wait for theirs. Smartass, stupid, I'm greater than thou waiters can cause a lot of people to walk out and never go back. So for food:, one great, one fail; service: epic fail. Follow up: The owner contacted me, through Yelp, and apologized for our experience and offered to buy us lunch again any time. Food and service the second time around was very good, this time the chicken was moist and flavorful, the way it should be.
(4)Elizabeth S.
If you live in Eugene you must go here. If you live an hour away from Eugene you must drive and come here. This is one of the best soul food places i've ever been to. The BBQ chicken is my favorite with corn, mac & cheese. Its always crowded right when it opens so make sure to come early. They also dont take reservations so come early. BEST food ever. Too bad i dont live in Eugene anymore so i'll encourage others to go!
(5)Nikki T.
My first experience here was straight out of a movie...while enjoying our meal the song "Lean on Me" came on quietly in the background and within a few minutes the entire restaurant (staff and guests) broke out into song and clapping. Unforgettable!
(5)Tera P.
By some alignment of the stars, my boyfriend and I were passing by and noticed the absence of their usual out-the-door line. It was our first time, and even after hearing people rave about it, my experience exceeded my expectations. I was impressed with our server, he was a winning combination of friendliness and efficiency. It seemed like he was serving the majority of the patrons on his own, and was completely calm and kept up a joking and jovial demeanor. The interior is everything I hoped it would be. It's paintings of Blues, Soul, and Jazz greats, trumpets, hanging lights, an old tin roof, mish-mash of things you'd see in your grandfather's photographs. It's done well, and not overly-done. No cheese. FOOD: I had the brisket with collard greens and mac 'n cheese. About died. I'll be back for that brisket. It's cooked perfectly and topped with sweet and smoky barbecue sauce. Both the collard greens and mac 'n cheese were tasty! I think I'll keep the collard greens and change out the mac 'n cheese for baked beans next time. My boyfriend had the pulled pork sandwich and ordered a side of red beans and rice. He devoured both in about half the time it took for me to eat my meal. Perhaps one of the only places in Eugene that has impressed me. Papa's Soul Food: A+
(5)Mary M.
We've been: twice. Street parking IS our only drawback, and the step out front without a bannister making it more accessible for disabled/elderly. There food is OUT OF THIS WORLD. I had their fried chicken (the best i've had since leaving Ohio), and I like soul food. Their oysters may guarantee we order almost nothing but oyster! They are That good! Draw back, the front door is often used by teens (or students) as a 'stoop' making it hard for someone with a disability to get in: there is no bannister. It has been sweltering in Eugene this summer and honestly, it's too hot in there to sit in the restaurant itself. We ended up taking out. They also have LIVE music on Friday and Sat. night. AND a back patio.
(4)Colton W.
Best comfort food around. Nuff said But I love the environment here as well! I give a big thanks to my server Tristan
(5)Wing L.
A line?! At 8pm at night? Yeah... I guess I'll wait. My tummy will thank me later. PARKING: Street parking! Plenty of street parking along the neighborhood. FOOD: Check out their specials! They change it every so often. I got the Sampler Platter because it was my first time here and wanted to try it all. Loved everything on my plate - cornbread was YUM, chicken was tender and fell right off the bone, brisket was DELISH, collard greens were as expected, pulled pork was a little dry, and mac & cheese was on point! My boyfriend got the ribs (REALLY GOOD) and ordered yams and fried okra on the side. Can't complain, food was great! PSA: If you're a fan of OKRA, get the fried okra!! It was soooooo good. SEATING: Indoor and outdoor seating. However, when it's raining/sprinkling/has been raining but stopped raining, they won't seat outdoors. Unfortunately, it had rained earlier that day and then stopped, but they weren't seating outdoors in the patio. Our wait for dinner was a little longer than expected... AMBIANCE: Mood lighting and there is live music at certain hours! Staff is super friendly. They also have a bar in the front.
(4)Krissi B.
This is one of my favorite places to eat in Eugene! The pulled pork sandwich is to die for and it comes with a spicy potato salad! I generally order a side of fries with it and the koolaid! Definitely my favorite meal they have! It's best to get a seat outside, because it gets sweltering hot/humid inside. Plus, during the summer they generally have live music going at night! The one downside is they are only open for a few hours a day, and so seating takes a while... It's not so bad if you don't mind waiting.
(4)Eden A.
Let's just say I'm stuffed and it feels oh so good! The best Bbq soul food I've ever had. It's worth trying this place and the vibe is super cool as well. Cute outside patio, great service and the food speaks for itself. If your in Eugene this is a must stop place if you love amazing BbQ and great Music.
(5)Kat M.
Pulled pork is amazing. Hell, all the food is great. It's worth the wait time and the service is great. The staff is fun, laid back, personable, and they remember you...
(5)Lauren H.
We've been going to Papa's Soul Food for years. Every time is fantastic. The food is consistently great and I have never had anything that was sub-standard. You can tell that the meat is lovingly tended in the smoker throughout the day and it is always moist and fresh. The BBQ sauce is divine, along with the lovely yellow (turmeric?) mac&cheese. I'm not a seafood fan, but the hubs loves the snapper, fried okra, and red beans and rice. The menu is fun, the outdoor seating is comfortable and cool, and the staff is so friendly that I always feel like I know them, even when I don't. Bummer that they don't take reservations and there is almost always a wait, but I guess that's the way things are with cool/small places. Just don't show up at 6 on a Friday or Saturday and expect to be seated in less than 20 minutes. If you've got the time to hang out with a drink and wait, it's well worth it.
(4)Jody J.
Come on with it! This place is the real deal! The slogan on their menu is "TASTES SO GOOD IT'LL MAKE YOU WANNA SLAP YO' MAMA!!" :-) Is saw the episode of Triple D (Diners, Drive ins and Dives) they were featured in and just had to check it out. Jerk chicken, ribs, brisket, oysters, hot links, pulled pork, fried catfish, snapper, crab, gumbo, jambalaya, okra, collard greens, cornbread, hush puppies, red beans & rice, bread pudding, drinks served in mason jars .... It's all here! I arrived just around 11:30 AM on a weekday and within 30 minutes this place had a line out the door. Street parking here. There is only a small dining room, some outdoor seating and then of course it's lots of take out. I decided on take out, cause there was a really cute park next door, so I ordered up the brisket which comes with 2 sides. I chose potato salad and their mac n cheese. It was under 10 minutes and my order was ready for take out, utensils included. Note: the bbq sauce comes on the meat unless you request it on the side. The potato salad was basic mayo, potato with a lil kick of jalapeño. It was good. The mac n cheese was of course non less than amazing. The brisket had a perfect smoke ring and was melt in my mouth delicious. The drawback was....quite a bit of fat left on the brisket. I know the fat aids in making it tender and moist but I would expect them to trim the fat a bit prior to serving but it was not. So since I'm not a fat eater that cut down the lean brisket size portion quite a bit. Approximately 60% lean to 40% fat. If there wouldn't of been excessive fat this would of been a 5 star review cause it was that good. I will be trying this place again and highly recommend. Thanks! 2015-79
(4)Kay K.
We found this restaurant as we were walking to Ninkasi Brewery, on our first trip to Eugene. Wow! I had fried catfish, Mac and cheese and collards. My husband had the best fried chicken ! Great batter and juicy inside ... Better than his Grandma's and Better than Willie Mae's in NOLA ...and we didn't have to wait hours in line for it. No room for dessert, portions very generous. Everyone seemed to be happy and enjoying the food. Great place !
(5)Naima L.
I have a special place in my heart for this place. It took me 21 years of living in Eugene to try it. Their food is to die for, the ambience is wonderful, and the drinks are great too. I really enjoy the staff. The young men servers treat you like friends rather than guests. I recommended coming here as soon as they open. They're ALWAYS busy. If you have to wait. Run down and chug a beer at Ninkasi. Also, if you like liquor and thrill then try the ass juice. It'll knock you off your ass.
(5)Jamison G.
So much to say for this soul rific place. PROS: 1. Drinks were well made. Mint julep and Kool aid fizz. 2. Staff was fun. 3. Food was amazingly good for Soul food in Oregon. Go with the fried chicken and pulled pork! Sides, the collards and Mac n Cheese. Con; None really. The wait was a little long...but we kept well hydrated.
(5)George C.
Papa's is a nice little restaurant with very interesting decor. I got the jerk chicken with a side of fried okra and potato salad and didn't think any of it was spectacular. I did ask for some hot sauce and they came out with a habanero and jalapeño sauce (I enjoyed the habanero one better). The potato salad seemed pretty normal but the fried okra was pretty good! The chicken was a little dry but had a good amount of spice to it. My friend got ribs, potato salad and beans with rice. I tried a bit of the ribs and I have to say that it is definitely very tender! Even though it's a very tender rib, I'm glad they slathered it in sauce because the flavor is not that strong and it isn't a rib that you could enjoy without a little bit of sauce to help it out. (To be fair, I'm comparing the ribs to little miss in Phoenix, and pappy's/bogart's in St. Louis). Overall I thought the food here was slightly better than average but I would come back to try some of the fried dishes!
(3)Megan M.
The first place I take my friends and family in from out of town. There's always a wait, but its totally worth it. Best fried chicken in Eugene! It takes 20-25 minutes for them to serve it up which gives you plenty of time to catch up with friends and enjoy a Kool Aid Fizzle. I love cherry and my boyfriend loves grape. You cant go wrong either way. The brisket melts in your mouth, the catfish has a great pan fried coating, and the yams are so creamy. Ive never had anything bad here. This place will destroy your diet. Accept it and enjoy the experience. I recommend going at dusk and sitting on the patio with the twinkle lights. On certain days they have live music!
(5)Lezley L.
Delicious BBQ. Definitely blows any of the places in PDX out of the water. Ordered the meat combo and the meat was super tender and not overly smokey were it tasted like a shoe (yes People's Pig talking to you). My partner had the fried chicken and said it was good. Unfortunately I'm writing this review months after eating there so I'll have to write a new one when in Eugene. Btw, this place tends to have a wait for be prepared. The live music is entertaining and those drinks...well they go down so well you might be 4 in before you realize you have already spent $40 on drinks and it doesn't include food yet...ouch!
(5)Melissa S.
Yum! Sooo glad I ate there! Pleasant surprise on the fresh and great food. Wish I would have gotten the corn bread or hush puppies!! Don't let the price discourage you, it's worth what you pay for, it's NOT overly expensive, it's just that I'm on a low budget. I'll be back very soon!!
(5)Mark P.
Awesome food. Good portions. Atmosphere is decent. It can get pretty packed and loud, and the tight hours usually make sure of that, but it's one of the best places for a pulled pork sandwich (that slaw!). Their menu has some gorgeous graphic design, and their decor is casual and has a nice hip Southern vibe. Would totally eat here again and again.
(4)Stacy K.
Love me some snapper and delicious soul food in a happening place
(5)Molly T.
I am of the mindset that I prefer not to wait around for food. I don't stand in line for famed food trucks, I don't wait around in the cold for small, reservation-less restaurants, but I honestly don't mind the wait for Papa's. Maybe because I like their service or maybe because I pop over to Ninkasi to kill time. Whatever the reason I've learned to show up at or before opening at 5, get on the list, wander to Ninkasi and come back after the estimated time. I think as long as you prepare for a similar scenario you'll be fine. The food is amazing, cheap and plentiful. I've never had a bad server and things are very timely once you're seated. My favorite sides are the sweet potatoes and collards but the mac, the potato salad and the beans and rice are close behind. Haven't tried other sides. The only drawback is their small space. Their patio/deck-thing increases seating a great deal but for the rest of the year it's pretty limited and I think it'd behove them to look into a larger facility but I understand that isn't as easy as simply packing up and moving. All-in-all Papa's lives up to it's rep as a Eugene bbq staple.
(4)Jenn J.
Papa's has SO much hype, and let me tell you, it lived up to every bit of it....including the long wait times. I don't understand why a restaurant that knows it's so popular doesn't A) expand or B) open a second location. Anyway, onto the good stuff: Regardless, my boyfriend and I had a lovely time sipping on kool-aid cocktails waiting for the rest of our party to arrive. When we were finally seated, we were taken to the back patio which was super charming with wooden bench seating and glowing string lights. I ordered the fried chicken, and appreciated that the waitress told me that it would take a little longer since it's battered and fried fresh. Oh my god, it was 100% worth the wait.
(5)Nina F.
Papa's Soul Food Kitchen not only has great food, but also a great atmosphere. Walking in, you genuinely feel like you're being transported to the South. I dined here on a very hot summer evening with my husband and one-year-old son, and we were promptly seated outside at a nice corner table. The host brought us a highchair and was very accommodating to our needs - some restaurants aren't as friendly when you walk in with a small child/baby. The food had a very authentic quality to it. We ordered hush puppies for an appetizer, which provided us with something that my son could enjoy little bits of, too. I got the plate of BBQ chicken for dinner, and couldn't resist having red beans and rice as a side. I rate Papa's Soul Food so highly because I think they are unique and fill a spot in the Eugene dining scene that isn't overdone. You won't find kale salads on this menu - just classic, traditional southern cooking, as promised in their name. This restaurant is a complete package. The vibe, the staff, the food... it all works together very well. It was a refreshing and fun place to enjoy a casual meal on a summer night.
(5)Johnny L.
Last weekend I was here with my brother and girlfriend on a west coast trip and decided to stop by this highly rated restaurant before we head up to Portland for the night. Turns out this place was also featured on diners, drive-ins and dives in a small town of Eugene, Oregon. Two words describe this place: HYPED UP. Upon arrival, this place was popping, as (stated earlier) it's the highest rated restaurant in all of Eugene. Wait time on Friday night was fairly low, as we were sat in about 20-30 minutes. Atmosphere looks to be nice and vibe was pretty welcoming. When we looked at the menu, the slogan said "so good, it'll make you wanna slap yo mama!" Not only did this remind me of Friday After Next, but these were bold words, especially for a restaurant. Challenge accepted? When the server arrived, she was nice and welcoming. Based on what she said was popular I decided to order the bbq pork ribs, fried chicken. corn and corn bread. The food came out about 10-20 minutes later, which is pretty normal of a wait (this review is mainly graded for the food). The moment I put my fork and knife into the ribs, I was hoping for tender "fall off the bone" kind of ribs I'm used to getting from Texas road house, Phil's BBQ or Bludso's back home, but boy was I in for a huge disappointment. Not only were the ribs cold, the ribs were rock freakin hard and tough. I really don't understand how people can rate this place so highly of they can't even make their ribs right. Fried chicken wasn't any better than your neighborhood KFC or Popeyes. We couldn't even finish our food due to how bad and cold it was. 1 star for fast wait times, 1 star for service. It's possible that the cook's might be off in their cooking or maybe their quality of food has gone down since papa's passing, but I definitely did not enjoy my experience here and won't be coming back anytime soon. My mom makes better ribs than the cooks will ever make. Their slogan should be "so bad, it'll make you want to kiss yo mama!"
(2)Jeff B.
Customer service off the bat! it was awesome, was greeted right when we walked through the door. Blair was totally cool, I think the best restaurants are the ones where the workers, can make you feel like home, that's exactly what this staff did. Food was amazing, very generous portions. The best part is when we got the check, we got a bunch of food, no drink, came out to 31bucks. Check them out, you won't be disappointed.
(5)Stephanie W.
One of the best Sazeracs my boyfriend has ever had, and for a cool $6.00! With the cocktail aside, I was debating between a 3 or 4 star rating. But he loved his cocktail and he thought the brisket sandwich was delicious - slathered in BBQ sauce after being smoked, it was a huge mountain of meat stuffed between those two buns. I was less impressed with my Jerk Chicken sandwich - the meat was moist but the flavor was really bland and overall lacking, I was hoping for a slew of spices and more of a complex rub on the chicken. If I go back through Eugene again, I'd likely just do as my boyfriend did and get the brisket. I'd also like to try their cornbread. But I advise - don't get the jerk chicken if you're expecting more than a hint of spice on chopped chicken. (The potato salad, though... reminded me of mom's. It was scary! In a good way) Overall, busy. For a Thursday lunch hour? Yeah. Expect busy. But expect the servers to casually check-in and be really nice in the process of waiting.
(4)Joon K.
Came here driving up from Cali after a friend recommended it to me. Heard that the lines can get pretty long so we went around 4:30 and just waited for the doors to open at 5. We were seated and all the staff are quite friendly. The restaurant quickly filled up and a waiting list quickly formed so we were pretty lucky we got here early. My friend and I wanted to get the BBQ sampler and fried chicken, but I guess they only have the sampler on Saturdays. We decided to order three plates: The BBQ ribs, the beef brisket, and fried chicken. Our sides that we ordered were: Rice and beans, hush puppies, corn bread, mac & cheese, collard greens, and coleslaw. The BBQ ribs and beef brisket were pretty good. They serve wet bbq so the meats are topped with bbq sauce. The sauce was pretty good. Not too sweet and had a great smokey flavor. One of the better sauces I've had and it pairs very well with the meat. The meats themselves were alright. I have had better bbq meats, as these were slightly dry. I saw myself drinking a lot of water or dipping in sauce to compensate for dryness, but still good nonetheless. Maybe it was an off day for the smoker and just a bad cut of meat. I would definitely be down to try again. I have to say the brisket did have a great ratio of muscle and fat and the fat helped with the dryness as well. The fried chicken was on a whole other level. The chicken takes a while to cook so be prepared to wait. However, it most definitely is worth the wait. The chicken is good perfectly and is super moist. The skin is crispy and the seasoning is perfect. I loved the overall taste and to me, this was the number 1 thing I had here! The sides were very good and went well with the meats. I would highly recommend all of them, except maybe the coleslaw and hush puppies. Both were just so-so and I've had much better. The cornbread, bread part itself, was alright; however, the honey butter makes the side. That butter is super good, with a good sweet finish. The rice and beans, mac & cheese, and collard beans were perfect and would probably be my go-to's next time. Overall, very good BBQ joint. Not the same as what you were see in Texas and such, but in a place like Eugene, OR - very excellent.
(4)Kelly K.
Cannot say enough good things. The menu is mouth watering and so stylish! Never seen such a well designed menu before - kudos to your graphic designer. Love the selection of multiple sides. I ordered a pull pork dish and the plate was huge! Very worth the amount you pay. Taste? DELICIOUS. So, so good. Had some sweet iced tea to go with. Loved all the artwork and music. They've done a great job with atmosphere. Parking is difficult in the Whit, but Papa's Soul Food is worth it.
(5)Kiwi W.
Best food ever! Great southern eats! Hit it at the right time and you can avoid waiting for too long but even if you have to wait for a table it's worth it! Love the owners and I've only had one bad experience which the manager took care of right away.
(5)Justin H.
Finally had a chance to try there fried chicken and it was great. I gave the potato salad a second chance and I'm glad I did because this batch was a lot better then what I had last time. Still more things to try and I'm sure they will be awesome.
(4)Caine O.
For starters, I'm no barbeque expert nor am I a restaurant snob. But after eight years here in Eugene, I've concluded that I live in a barbeque desert. I've only eaten at Papa's Soul Food Kitchen once, but found nothing in the experience to especially commend nor a reason to return. The setting is nice enough, and I do love BBQ. but from the meat to the veggies to the service, everything was just OK. In fairness, let me say that I went in 2013, so my comments do not reflect any changes made since then. I am continually shocked to see the Eugene Weekly survey show it as the most popular BBQ place in Eugene. Huh? I would be more inclined to go to Bill & Tim's, and not particularly inclined to go back to BBQ King on 18th and Willamette. I've eaten twice at the Russel Street BBQ in Portland and would give that place 4 stars+ and suggest someone open a place in Eugene modeled on that one. Sorry to come across so dour, but I don't understand its popularity.
(2)Elaine N.
What a grate place. We were on a weekend road trip to Eugene Oregon. Wanted to grab a bite and decided on this place because the smell lures you in Though it was very busy the service was great. The food on the other hand was amazing. My husband had the soul burger and I had the catfish basket. Both great pics. Would definitely recommend it.
(5)barry w.
Walk through the door and I feel like I stepped into New Orleans. The food, atmosphere and service is all friendly and welcoming. Love the fried chicken but order that right away if you know you want it because they cook it up on demand and need 30 minutes to fill the order. Everything else is pretty quick and really tasty. Their assortment of drinks and libations is varied as well. Must stop here when you are in the area.
(5)J. C.
Their barbecue sauce is a bit sweet for my taste. Good baked beans and good potato salad. I'll be back, to try the fried chicken.
(3)Ka M.
Amazing food, like being in my Granny's kitchen! Had the fried catfish, greens, blank-eyed peas, fried okra and cornbread; mouth-watering delicious!! Hoping to have enough room for bread pudding to put a bow on this meal!!
(5)Yelper B.
My sons and I visited Papa's Soul Food Kitchen on a beautiful Saturday. The weather was so nice, we ate out on the deck. I had the barbecued pulled pork sandwich and it was absolutely amazing. Loved the cabbage on the sandwich; it was a perfect complement to the pork.
(5)Jay S.
Pretty darn good ... Great red bean & rice ..I believe they use cumin as a spice & boy it is tasty! Love love jambalaya & the gumbo! The sausage is pretty good ... But it took a long time for the fish special to come and when finally ... It's pretty good ... Nice to seat outside.
(4)Richard L.
Great food ,great atmosphere, great service right smack in the middle of the Whitaker .
(4)Mike M.
Up in Eugene checking out colleges with my son. The reviews here were excellent so we dropped in for a bite. It took about an hour for a table so we walked around the area a bit. Kind of hipster, with a bit of sketchy thrown in and just a sousant of grunge. Pretty cool. The little diner was very loud but the service was prompt and friendly. Lots of BBQ and soul food to choose from. My boy and I split a couple of plates. Between us we had ribs, pulled pork, collared greens, red beans n rice, baked beans and mac n cheese. The ribs and collared greens were both excellent. The Mac and cheese was pretty flavorless as were the BBQ beans. The red beans n rice had too much cumin for my liking. The pulled pork was too mushy to stand on its own and would have been better on a sandwich. If we would have stuck to ribs and collared greens, it would be five stars. We will definitely come back here if he chooses to go to U of O.
(3)Robyn G.
Good service, great food, and a down to earth atmosphere. I hadn't been here in years due to a bad experience with wait staff, but decided to give it another try. The food was fantastic. I had a pulled pork sandwich. It was served with coleslaw and a scoop of potato salad-all super yummy. Hubs had some kind of combo platter that he raved about. The fries were awesome. We had the red and purple cool aid drinks-also yummy. This new experience has changed my attitude entirely. Only issue is that due to popularity- prepare for a wait.
(5)Karin H.
Another great meal in Eugene. With the number of AWESOME restaurant offerings in Eugene it makes me wonder why the capitol city, located just an hour and change north with a comparable population is such a vast epicurean wasteland. We got there early and wanted to sit in the outside dining area so we had to wait about fifteen minutes, (When we left, it looked like wait was much longer). When you think of the Pacific Northwest, Soul Food is not what one would think of first, but if you are in the Eugene area, you should definitely check this place out. It is Soul Food, Oregon style. I had the beef brisket platter with sides of mac and cheese and hush puppies. The brisket was so tender it just melted in your mouth and the mac and cheese was really good (although a strange color, guessing from turmeric), and it was as advertised..mac and cheese, no bacon, no ham, no anything but mac and cheese. The hush puppies were not my favorite hush puppies, and I would likely change that side on a future visit. The portion size was enough for easily two, possibly three meals for me. My husband had the snapper platter with collards and mac and cheese. I'm not the one to ask about collards, not my favorite of the "greens." The snapper was fried perfectly with a surprisingly light cornmeal crust. Prices were quite reasonable. We got dinner for four with three beverages for under $60. We still have so many places to explore here, but this one is definitely one we will return to.
(4)Steve S.
I love the food. Great prices. I can not stand the smell of Ninkasi Brewing beer. It smells so strong it actually makes the food taste bad. Too bad for Papas.
(3)B K.
Worth the wait to get in. You will get authentic southern food that is high quality and very fresh. Staff knows the recipes and is able to tell you about each dish.
(5)Jamie L.
I would love to give Papa's a 5 star rating simply because of the amazing things I've heard about the place. My boyfriend and I had a less than spectacular experience, unfortunately. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great either. I'm going to chalk it up to a fluke night. I believe that when we stop in again, we will have a stellar experience. We arrived around 9, and the place closes at 10. They were packed inside. A guy was playing some music inside and we could hear it just fine where we were seated outdoors. Plus points for live music. We were seated right next to the dirty dish cart, which is not usually my favorite place to eat my food, but what can ya do. We waited a good 15 minutes for our server. We ordered drinks, and waited almost as long for them to be delivered. It was about 9:30 when we ordered food. We both ordered off the signature drink list. We ultimately tried the Mint Julep, Georgia Peach, Savannah Gimlet, and Gin Fizz. They were all tasty, served in little mason jars. The artsy menu is genius. It's so fun to look at. My boyfriend and I both spent some time living in the south, so we appreciated all the southern style foods offered on the menu. We ordered the fried catfish with fries and the BBQ pork ribs. The catfish was delicious, cooked perfectly and hot and flaky with a crunchy crust. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. The fries were pretty mediocre, but, well... fries. I wasn't too terribly bummed about mediocre fries. Sadly, the pork ribs were a major disappointment. They were super tough, like jerky meat. The sauce, however, was sweet and tangy and absolutely delicious. My boyfriend was pretty excited about the sides, and he ordered black eyed peas (which he loved!) and fried okra (which we both loved!). My boyfriend probably would have given the server an indication that our ribs were tough, but we weren't checked on during the meal. Granted, a huge party had come in some time after us and I think perhaps they were a bit needier than we were. We had to scout out someone in order to settle up our bill. I'm rating Papa's a 3 for the overall experience. Aside from the ribs, the food was great, and the drinks were divine. We will definitely be back to give Papa's another chance!
(3)Matthew P.
Best BBQ in Oregon... This place can be packed so get there early to grab a table outside.
(4)Marie F.
Are you kidding me? Cornbread doesn't come with the meal. Black eyed peas have rice in them...weird. Collard greens are not cooked long enough and are not cooked with meat. Where is the hamhock? Vinegar and hot sauce is by request and is served in ketchup cups. Hushpuppies are super greasy and comes with 2 packets of honey...dont spend it all in one place. Sweet potatoes look like and taste like pie filling ... Very sweet. Good for dessert though. Nothing special about their batter. Bland really. Felt commercial and hokey. Not legit.
(2)Bob B.
As I walked up I was overwhelmed by the smoker in the back of the property and now I had to reconsider. I had decisions to make, but I'll make that decision over a cold, local brewsky. What is the decision, you ask? I came here for southern fried chicken but the smoke was telling me, "Bob, get the ribs." I want them both. Fortunately, Kirby bails me out, she orders the chicken and shares with me. The order is way more bird than she can handle. As they would say on "The Bachelor", she's "amazing". Anthony thinks so, too! Okay, I'm starting to get off track here. I get the ribs and the chicken, I'm full, I'm happy and I had to pull off on the side of I-5 on the way back to Portland to take a 15 minute snooze. A perfect day! I shall return.
(5)Sandra R.
The service here is very inefficient. When we arrive the guy said there was a 15-20 minute wait. We waited 45 minutes and watched people get seated who arrived after us. We were a group of five so ok, I get it. They were smaller groups. But then a table opened up that could accommodate us, they seated a party of two who missed their call. What the heck? At that point, we asked the host how much longer? He said about 20 minutes. What??? At that point, we were way past our frustration point. Got up, paid for our drinks and left. I'm glad we didn't shell out our hard earned money at a place that didn't make an effort to keep their customers. We would have easily spent a lot more money than that party of two. For those reasons, I would not come back.
(1)Naomi Chloe B.
I have been hearing about this place for years and was super excited to try it. The ambiance was casual and clean enough. We were seated right away on a Saturday afternoon. It says they are kid friendly, but I think they use that term loosely. We were sat next to a sign that said I should not let my children run around the restaurant. Umm. What about a food fight? Would that be acceptable? No sign for that...maybe. My perfectly behaved 5 year old was sitting up on his knees and the server told told him to sit all the way down, "for his own safety ". The "kid friendly " thing to do is offer a booster seat. No kid menu or anything for them to do. Other then the weird sitting down comment, the service was good. I ordered a koolaid fizzle and the kids had koolaid for their first time. Hard not to enjoy that! The food was hit and miss. My pulled pork sandwich was great. Beans and gumbo were ok. The Mac and cheese was gross, the cornbread was strangely dry and the special was so bland. This is not the place for us.
(3)Jenn M.
We got the special which was pork loin stuffed with andouille sausage served with stuffing and sautéed veggies. It was SOOO yummy! Before we finished our meal we were already thinking about what to get next time, ribs, jerk chicken, fried chicken.... All sounds so good!
(5)