The Rabbit Bistro & Bar

*UPDATE*
A year ago it was the venue of choice for our Valentines Day meal and again this year it would be the same!
For 2012 Rabbit offered a special 2 course menu, choose a starter and main course. Strangely there was no prix fixe pricing for this special holiday menu just ala carte pricing.
For the evening I had the
— Pork Collar cavatelli, mustard and spinach
— Chicken Breast black truffle, potato and chard
My wife enjoyed the following:
— Butter Lettuce Dungeness crab and grapefruit
— Beef Filet yukon potato, green bean and sauce diane
Our meal was very nicely done and conceptualized. My only complaint was the saltiness of my chard and while my chicken was nicely cooked, moist with a nice crispy skin there seem to be a lack of truffle flavor or for that matter truffles in the chicken.
On a side note:
It seems as of May 24^th Rabbit Bistro has closed it doors at it’s location on Willamette in the Woodfield Station Mall. Their new location is suppose to be in the newly remodeled Broadway Commerce Center sometime July. Being closed for a while this could pose a problem for the place once it re-​opens especially since they will be nearby Belly.

This review is only for their happy hour, which isn’t too shabby.
We had a yummy cocktail, beer and a couple of appetizers. Under $ 20.
The mussels were okay. The fries remind me of being back in Canada, where they are served with some sort of aioli in a paper cone. I would come back and see what they have for dinner if I am in the area.

New favorite restaurant in Eugene. Brie ice-​cream, yeah, exactly.

This review is for food prepared and service provided on 11÷18÷11 at about 8pm
I can see that perhaps we got there on an off food night, but our service was about as good as some of these reviews lead me to believe it would be.
First the service, we were a party of five and were sat a table right by the door (it was freezing) and squeezed into a table that really should have been for no more than 4 which still would have been a tight squeeze. When we were asked to place our drink orders 3 of us ordered from the bar the other two just wanted water and an ice tea. The server looked at my husband and brother and said «are you sure that is all?» which was said in a dissapointed and dissapproving voice.
After she placed the drink order we asked if we could either extend our table by adding on another or move to a larger area, she said the table that we wanted to add would not match up to the table we were currently sitting at. We did not care, there was no way our drinks, bread plates, appetizers and then dinner were going to fit in this tiny cramped space. She did not make a move to add the table and walked away. Then came back to take our food order. At this point we again requested the additional space and she grudgingly acquiesced. She then took our order of the soup special, and bread (yes they are a European style restaurant so they charge you for bread. They over charge in my opinion as $ 5 for six slices of bread was pretty outrageous) then we ordered a salad and our main dishes.
Food:
The soup was great, came out luke warm from the kitchen though and about twenty minutes after it was ordered. When we placed our order we let the server know we had just arrived after about a 7 – 8 hour road trip and were very hungry. She told us that the chicken was the dish that would take the longest to prepare at about 25 minutes so only my mom, who ordered the soup, ordered that dish. The rest of us ordered other items like the wild boar spinach gnocci with chocolate sauce, pork, and the steak fites. When the food finally came out it was not warm, but almost room temperature, the steak was ordered rare, it was cooked to order, but was cold… how does that happen? The pork was also cooked as ordered but came out cold. The two gnocci dishes had an odd flavor and the chocolate was a disgusting blob at the bottom of the bowl. The boar was wonderful but the chocolate hid the flavor and did nothing to compliment anything in the dish.
All and all it was disappointing and over priced for bad service and what should have been good but ended up being barely edible food. If I wanted something cold, I would have just eaten a sandwich at the house.
To round out the whole terrible service, we had to wait for our bill, then wait for the bill to come back.
Save your time and tastebuds, go for happy hour since the drinks were good, but spend your hard earned dollars for a nice meal somewhere else.

Giving the Rabbit Bistro two stars is being generous for a «bistro» that is located next to an office supply store and across from a gym and charges $ 5 for bread…
A group of 5 of us headed there after a long day of traveling. We were sat at the very front of the restaurant, right next to the door at a table that could comfortably seat 4. We were told this was the biggest table in the restaurant… okay then we requested a table in the vicinity be brought over so that everyone would have room for their food. We were told the tables didn’t «line up correctly.» Okay… all we want is to be able to fit our plates and glasses… A short while later our waitress came back and begrudgingly moved a table over so that the five of us would have room to eat.
I was the first to order and was told in a rude tone that the dish I was ordering took 25 minutes to prepare and took the longest… alright guess I won’t get that then…
The food was certainly inventive but the boar was overwhelmed by the sauce and the pork tenderloin was undercooked. The chicken and mashed potatoes were delicious.
Overall, this place is trying way to hard. The waitress was rude and never smiled during the entire time we were there. Nobody’s food was spectacular and it definitely wasn’t worth the $ 150+ that was spent. Iron chef of Oregon or not, this place needs to recognize its place, in a stripmall in Eugene.

The food is on the salty side and slightly too buttery. The plates are tiny and the service is decent. Most restaurants have their strengths and weaknesses. The Rabbit’s weaknesses outweigh because our server was so cold and hot– almost bipolar! She was nice, but gave the cold shoulder quite often. She used her nice and sweet voice when she asked if we wanted to order drinks, dessert, and when she gave us our check. I could tell she was upset that we didn’t order drinks, an appetizer, or dessert.
Other than that, my friend had a hair in his water. The atmosphere is ok. I don’t like how the place is set up because I’m not too fond of the high wooden bar chairs scattered everywhere.
Overall, I really didn’t like this place because eh, it was so plain yet trying to be extravagant, but not. I don’t think I’d bring a date here because it gets pretty loud and it’s hard to talk over the noise. Oh, and lastly, the old dishes are left out in public next to the bar — put it in the kitchen!

The food is a work of epicurean art. The recipes are creative, unique and balanced. The combination of flavors are delicious. The cook uses inovative techniques. I think this is one of the top two restaurants to eat at in Eugene. I can’t understand the poor reviews.
Their cook just won first place in The Iron Chef Competition in Portland OR and just accepted an award from the James Beard Foundation and was flown with some of his crew to NYC to cook a $ 170 plate dinner for the foundation.
The cocktails are their own creations and have some of the bet drinks in town although this is more of a restaurant than a bar.
This is not a restaurant to dismiss because of the poor reviews here. Give it a try.

The Rabbit Bistro does a great job of keeping their menu, waitstaff, décor modern and trendy without getting pretentious. Our waiter was awesome and took me through the preparation of each dish when I having a hard time deciding between two.
I ended up ordering the lamb which came with mashed potatoes and glazed carrots and was really glad with my choice. It tasted like an amazing fancy, grown-​up stew. Definitely warmed my belly and put a smile on my face. The kitchen messed up on my boyfriend’s order and sent out the hanger steak frites instead of the day’s special (which was also steak) but the hanger steak looked so good that he ate it without complaints.
Minus one star because both of our cuts of meat were very fatty and we found everything a little too salty for our tastes. Overall though, a great meal. I will definitely be back.

Alright. I’ll jump in.
But first, a caveat:
I’m a HUGE fan of French cuisine… but the new French cuisine, not the old. If you’ve not spent much time in France, a comparison of Tony’s two Paris episodes clarifies the distinction well. I know, I know. We wouldn’t have the new without the old, and all that. I know. Still. I like the new.
Feel free to factor the above in to the following review.
I have now eaten at The Rabbit Bistro & Bar a grand total of five times. Thrice for lunch, once for dinner, once for drinks alone. If you read even a handful of the reviews on this place, I think you’ll get the picture that people like the bar (and its very charming bartender) better than the dining room (with its stuffy, rule-​governed, occasionally bizarre waitstaff/​front of house). I don’t really think there’s that much of a polarization between the two sections of the restaurant, though. I will say, that of the only two requirements I have for service (accuracy, and presence of mind) I have witnessed neither in action whilst dining @Rabbit.
Service aside, my only real complaint about this place is the ingredient. If you’re going to call yourself French (and believe me, if there is one message that is stated loud and clear in this place – that’s it), then have some ever-​loving consideration of the ingredients, man! Granted, I’ve played it pretty safe here, but I know a good egg when I see one and have been disappointed with those each time. Mussels too. Ham three. The features of cuisine that are so characteristically French to me are farm (or sea)-freshness, seasonality, and handmade individuality. I try and I try, but I just don’t get that taste here.
The Rabbit has no shortage of creativity or chutzpah, but until I get word of different flavors … I don’t think I’ll be back.

I would actually give this place a 3.5−3.75 stars.
If you want something out of the ordinary I would definitely recommend this place. I have veal with buckwheat, spinach, mushrooms, and crayfish topped off with a lovely homey-​soul food like sauce. It was a bit rich, but I liked it a lot! I also had the fries, which was delicious! It tastes better than the average fries. The dessert I got was like a chocolate mousse with cherry purée and basil bits. The dessert was good, but not great. The staff was super friendly and made the dining experience that much better. I won’t be coming here often, but will return when I feel like splurging a bit on different kind of food.
I kinda wish they had ketchup tho… I love ketchup.

I absolutely loved dining at Rabbit Bistro. The space was elegantly decorated, the food and drinks were amazing, and the staff was full of life and personality. The menu was exotic and slightly intimidating, but I was able to get all my questions answered without being made to feel dumb. I walked away feeling super satiated and slightly more cultured.
I think The Rabbit Bistro gets mixed reviews because some people come there for an authentically European dining experience, while others show up expecting a fast-​food meal. I’m not saying that one is more valid than the other, but I think that it’s the responsibility of the consumer to figure out what he or she wants and where to get it.
If you want a generic greeting at the door and a plate on which you can throw a mishmash of your favorite ingredients, there are plenty of restaurants in Eugene that can provide that. If, however, you wish to get exposure to rare wines from different parts of France, indulge in a delicious and gorgeously-​executed entrée, and make a personal connection with the people who make or serve your food, then the Bistro will go above and beyond your expectations.
Unique, delectable, and horizon-​widening dinner experiences seem to be their specialty.

My husband I went here for my birthday. I think the number one problem with this «bistro» is that it is trying to be fancier than it is. If The Rabbit didn’t try so hard to be a fancy place, it would get better reviews.
I ordered the Lamb and if they told me it was pork, I’d have believed them. It didn’t taste like lamb and the tomatoes in the dish overwhelmed every other component. My husband had the Pork Chops and said it was alright. The mussels we had for an appetizer were luke warm and barely cooked.
I really wanted to like this place and the wait staff was very nice. Unfortunately I wont be back. I’d rather go to Belly or Red Agave for a fancy dinner on a special occasion.

Bad experience after another. Where should I start?
Let me just tell you about our last dinner there.
Pro: We were seated very quickly and the waiter brought us lots of their yummy bread. The waiter was kind.
Cons: We waited 30min to order and 1:15hour for our food. Everyone around us was getting their food & paying. People who came in and ordered after us got their food before us. This was annoying. Good thing we had endless bread to fill up on because once we did get our food– it was burnt and cold! Yup I said it BURNT AND COLD!!!
Also is it just me or does anyone else think their menu is off. I mean where are the vegetarian options? Does everything on their menu have to consist of the nasty bits of animals, ie blood, heart, tongue, feet? Or even be cute little animals like bunny? How can their dishes that consist of nasty bits cost SO MUCH? HELLO! THESE ARE THE NASTY BITS. You know the bits of animal that no on will buy from the butcher.
My hubby loves this kind of stuff but as for me– it makes me throw up in my mouth. My suggestion; maybe a nice salad that doesn’t have milk as a dressing.
All and all– I don’t think I’ll be back. I know my hubby will be because it’s hard to find a restaurant that will serve the nasty little bits of animal but it is not for me.

I’ve enjoyed The Rabbit for lunch and twice for dinner. Another couple, my husband and I went for Saturday before Valentine’s Day.
While waiting for our table, we got the chance to enjoy the bar. Amy and her bartending partners have created a number of signature martinis that are really amazing. I had two just so that I could try more of them!
We had the Seared Scallops, Trout and the Lamb. All were excellent. Scott (owner), our waiter was extremely knowledgeable about the restaurant and food in general and we appreciated this expertise very much.
Great ambiance and friendly atmosphere without being stuffy. You can dress casual or fancy and feel right at home.
Highly recommend.

Went to the Rabbit Bistro for the first time last night. Wasn’t 100% sure what to expect due to the mixed reviews, but something gave me the impression that it would be a winner. And boy was it.
First, fantastic cocktails. We had the voiture (I think) and the aviation. The fig bourbon in the voiture was subtly rich and with a hint of sweetness that was rounded off by the citrus notes. The aviation included violette liquour (a classic ingredient in this cocktail that is sometimes left out of the mix), and judging by the lovely violet cast of the drink a larger ratio of violet then we have tried ourselves. It was sublime! Perfect proportions – now I know what to go for when I make this myself.
The oysters we started with were fresh and sweet and the sauce that accompanied them enhanced without overwhelming the subtle flavors of the oyster.
The duck breast and pork loin entrees we tried were cooked perfectly (medium rare), tender, and with well-​matched side dishes and sauces. We finished the meal with an apple tart sort of thing that included ice cream, crème anglaise and house made apple sour jellies. All dishes were presented beautifully and were extremely tasty.
Service throughout the night was good. Plenty of water refills, fresh bread and willingness to answer any questions we might have about the menu.
Overall great experience. It’s our new favorite restaurant. I’ll definitely be back and if subsequent visits are as decadently delicious as this one I’ll bump my rating to 5:)

I agree with a few of the other reviewers. I also did not know the specials did not apply to the whole rest. Food was great, but service was slow.
To top it all off, when my son knocked over his drink, the waitress just wiped off the ice and did not offer another table that wasn’t wet (white table cloths on the tables) even though there were 3 tables empty around us and no customers waiting. I later found out, our waitress was one of the owners!!!
I will never return.

I have to agree with the earlier reviewer who wrote about the service. It is incredibly rude and awful service! We went here for happy hour to try out their drinks and appetizers to celebrate my husband’s birthday. It took 30 minutes to get our drinks after waiting 10 minutes to be seen by the bartender. (I suspect the drink price is low because your chances of ever getting more than one round before the hour is over is nil.) We ordered some french fries as well — those arrived after 50 minutes.
Since it was clear that this bistro had its bartender waiting on virtually everyone in the restaurant, it was impossible to get any service, so I went up to the bar to give him my credit card to pay the bill. He flat out ignored me while I stood there for 10 minutes. I’m not blaming the bartender, because they had this guy single-​handedly making all the drinks, running food tickets back to the kitchen, serving food, etc. He was afraid to even make eye contact with anyone.
Finally, when another human being (the owner) came by, I asked him to get the credit card run so that we could make it to meet some friends. The guy chewed me out and told me that this was not just a «bar» and that I should not expect fast service. He said that the bartender was overbooked. I said, I completely agree with you on how busy your bartender is — you ought to have someone helping him. The ownerwas extremely rude and sarcastic, told me that it wasn’t a fast food establishment — believe me, I realized THAT after waiting 50 minutes for french fries — and then disappeared into the kitchen without ever lending a hand to the bartender. I was astonished.
We left a good tip for the bartender, who was sweating because he was trying to cover so many tables, but I would hope for a sincere change in attitude before coming back. The owner told me as nastily and sarcastically as you can imagine: «We appreciate your business» and named a sports bar that I could patronize in the future. I was so glad that I was the one paying my tab and not my husband, because it was my husband’s birthday and that interaction would have put a sour taste on anyone’s night.
I’d been here once before for lunch and the food was so-​so. I thought maybe I just ordered the wrong things. Now, I don’t think I’ll bother a third time.
Please, improve the service and LOSE THE ATTITUDE. There’s just no excuse for treating customers like this.

I would have liked to try their brunch menu, and I tried. We sat outside, waiting for them to open for nearly a half hour. According to their posted hours, they clearly should have been open. We gave up and went elsewhere.
I just called them and now, 1.5 hours later, someone answered. I explained how we waited, and the employee casually said «We’re closed for the holiday.» What holiday, you might ask? HALLOWEEN! Fine. I’m willing to except that this might be a sacred holiday for some, but a freaking sign would have been nice. I really, really wanted to like this place. The menu is gorgeous, the drinks look wonderful. This is not the first time I’ve been slighted, however. Last January I came into the establishment on crutches, and we waited for 15 minutes to be seated. No one ever greeted us, and consequently I was left standing on crutches with my leg in a cast. Needless to say, we left that time too.
I give up.

EEK!
Just because you’re a so-​called «french bistro» does not mean the workers have to drink and smoke in the face of the customers! It’s just tacky, I hope you double hand washed!
The service here in general is horrible. Especially the owner. They’re just so pretentious. I don’t see how they expect people to keep coming to their business when they act like they’re so much better than everyone else, ever.
I heard they’re liquor license was revoked for a few days, I wonder why… They didn’t even card our underage friends, sketch? And isn’t it illegal to drink on the job? I think so.
Also, do not even think about bringing your friends along, any party bigger than four is pretty much asked to leave. Service, even for just drinks can be ridiculous! Once we waited for a solid 25 minutes to have water brought to our table!!! Seriously.
I do not understand how they are still in business in this recession, they must be doing something right… I just haven’t been a witness to it.
Don’t waste your time or money on these trashy French posers.

I feel like I could give the Rabbit two separate reviews. One for the bar and one for the restaurant.
The bar and the bar tender more importantly receive 5 stars in my book. Excellent drinks, great food, wonderful service.
The owner (male) was recently rude to friends and in fact after planning on having dinner, they left after one drink. I’ve had lunch — last spring now and the waitress (possible owner as well, female) was snooty, made me feel dumb for asking what an item was on the menu (it was a type of cheese).
The food has always been great. I just wish the owners could learn from the bar tender and other members of their wait staff about how to treat customers — like guests and not like annoyances who are dumb because they aren’t aware of all the special rules (happy hour seating area, certain cheese options with certain burgers, no substitutes, no ketchup) — truly the rules are no big deal — worth it for the great food but when you look at people like they’re dumb or ignorant when they first visit your place of business the guests are unlikely to return. As for me I’ll stick to the bar and avoid the owner. But I’m not sure my friends will join me again.