Benton County has a new place to dine. Classy and fun, with fair prices and pleasing aesthetics, The Old Spaghetti Factory has it all. Wednesday, Nov. 19 was the grand opening at the former site of Michael's Landing in Corvallis.
Walking up to the restaurant, guests are greeted with a wall length, hand painted mural of a vintage Corvallis train station. Characters are depicted in Oregon State Beaver gear, of course. Entering through a set of commanding double doors, the hosts were eager and smiling.
By noon the Saturday of their opening weekend the reception area had standing room only. Hungry visitors waited in the reception area complete with high-backed, oversized chairs, similar to those which seat royalty. A half dozen hosts stood ready with menus to walk guests to their tables.
"We had a great opening day," said General Manager Travis Crownover, "We served 602 meals on Wednesday and Friday all day we served 919."
Crownover comes to the Corvallis location with 12 years of experience, transferring from the Hillsboro location outside of Portland. His location is the first in Benton County and employs 103 people.
The decor is a mixture of furniture commissioned from local builders and antiques. The vintage items were selected specifically for Corvallis from the company's 20,000-square-foot warehouse. Sally Dussin, co-founder with her husband Guss, is an avid antique shopper and collects items from shows worldwide. When a new location opens, the OSF designers pick through her treasures.
"The design team is like their own force. It's a big job and they do a fantastic job," said Crownover.
The restaurant has seating for 200 guests and parallels the Willamette River. Patrons in the lower level dining room have a full view of the river through floor to ceiling windows facing the water. The natural lighting in the dining area continues from skylights with whimsical wooden cut-outs adorning them.
Interior stained-glass windows separate the dining room from the bar. A wooden wrap-around bar is surrounded by tall pub style tables and stools. Several televisions add to a sports-like appeal accompanied by pictures of past Beavers.
The layout of the restaurant successfully separates the upper and lowers levels and waiting area with minimal noise distractions in the dining room. Soft, wordless background music adds to the ambiance.
The booths are cozy, a tight fit for four people, but limited elbow space is forgotten when food is served. OSF prides themselves on their three course meals. Each entree is served with a fresh baked loaf of bread, a choice of soup or salad, and ice cream.
The appetizers were quick to arrive. Their fried calamari was excellent, a perfect tenderness and not too greasy. The wait staff stood watch and kept drinks filled. Even staff not waiting at a particular table removed empty dishes as they walked by.
The average meal costs about $15 but the presentation borders on high-end. The beer was served in frosted glasses and ice cream was served in frosted dishes. The salad bowls were chilled, adding an unexpected crispiness. A unique pesto ranch dressing was a good surprise too.
The courses were well proportioned, not too much, but enough to stuff you. The staff kept a loaf of bread on the table at all times, served so fresh it steamed when it was sliced. The mizithra pasta is highly recommended. Its buttery sauce with fresh garlic and mizithra cheese tossed with chopped bacon coats spaghetti with a creamy deliciousness.
The flavors are rich and fresh and the dishes are attractive. The staff are attentive, and managers graciously opened doors for customers. OSF is a recommended experience for an affordable date night, happy hour drinks with friends, or a family affair.
"Our target customer has always been families," said Crownover. "We want to have a family environment and fun."
It seems they got it right at the Corvallis location. Open 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
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