Newman’s Grotto

I don’t usually update my review so many times but I felt this couldn’t be ignored!
So the past few times I’ve been there the service has been great and the people are friendly, quick to see a customer waiting and have (mostly) had a smile on thier faces… So why the 2 star rating you ask?
Glad you did!
Well when I sat down to wait for my order, the people got to work in the back area, then they started talking about a co-​workers wedding. And they weren’t talking quitely and respectfully more like they were trying to out talk each other! They were getting louder and louder which would have been okay but slightly annoying. It was what they were talking ABOUT that wasn’t okay.
I kid you not they were tlking about how much they hated their co-​workers soon-​to-​be husband! They were saying how she could do better and how much they dreaded going to her weddig for that reason… ON AND ON…
If you talk about co-​workers like that behind thier backs (said co-​worker wasn’t there planning her wedding or something) how would you talk about RUDE CUSTOMERS!?!

Our family visits Newman’s Grotto frequently. We love their fresh fish & Chips! This is the only place I order fish, they make it so flawlessly well, fish from other restaurants just don’t measure up in comparison. I do wish they had more indoor seating for the colder months.

Disclaimer: I just joined Unilocal and am catching up on my reviews!
Been here twice, I think, and it was okay. Staff was friendly as far as I could tell, and the fish and chips were fine. It’s not amazing, but I think it would be a decent place for anyone looking to get their fish and chips fix.

I’ve been a seafood lover since I was little. My dad was really into seafood so we ate it a lot. I like to think I’ve had my fair share of fish & chips. We just recently moved to Eugene so I’ve had a list of restaurants to try and Newman’s has been on it. We finally popped in here because my husband was hungry but can currently only have soft foods (like soup) due to a recent dental surgery. So he ordered the chowder and I had the classic cod fish & chips. Nothing to complain about really. The fries were good, fish was fresh, and my husband liked the clam chowder.
I’ve had better but I’ve also had worse, so there you have it. I definitely will be back though because there were a few other menu items I’d like to try.
I also really liked the employees, they were very friendly. And the fact that they had fresh fish you can buy but the place didn’t stink like a seafood market!

Got the cod fish and chips and a canned beer. The food was good as was the service. Fish tasted fresh with a nice crisp batter. I wouldn’t hesitate to come back the next time I have a fish and chips craving.

For casual fish and chips, Newmans is great. My prior review was around the time they opened. They have worked the customer service kinks out so far as I can tell. I have been quite a few times since then and it’s always been a good experience with delicious fish and chips at very reasonable prices.

Tried Newman’s for the first time today in a pursuit to satisfy a fish and chips craving. I got the halibut and chips meal with fries and a side of coleslaw. All though I prefer my fish beer battered, these guys did a darn fine job. The tartar sauce wasn’t too bold, with just the right amount of sweetness to compliment the hearty white fish meat; halibut being halibut doesn’t need any drowning out. The fish was cooked just right as well. Extra points for having Oakshire available in house. I will definitely be returning.

In my mind, fish and chips is either really, really good or it’s terrible. There isn’t much of a middle ground. And I’m happy to say the fish and chips (I had the salmon and my wife had the cod) was great. Super hot, not too greasy and some excellent fries to go along with it. The patio was very comfortable, but I noticed a lot of to-​go orders as well. The service is just an order window, but it was a friendly experience.

Eaten Coburg and Downtown for years. Have met fun people at the Willamette patio tables. The salmon is crunch coated and I prefer the meat to be DRY and flaky. I’m rarely disappointed. Occasionally it may be «fish» tasting, but I chalk that up to you can’t get a 100% with a fish selection. I wish they would broaden the menu to include more seasonal selections from the sea. YUM

My family and I go here often. The food is pretty good! We usually split fish and chips with an extra order of fish and a prawn roll. The only downside to this place are the hours of operation. They close early at 7pm most days. I haven’t the slightest idea why. If you are ever in there around 6:30 or so it seems like it is the busiest time, especially in the summer. Also, if you order at 6:30 or so it can be hard to find a place to sit since the employees are already closing shop and turning the chairs over. It comes across as ungrateful for the customers they have. Other than that, we enjoy it.

Excellent fish for the price. My order was cooked perfectly, the tartar sauce is good and I had no complaints. Overall, if you’re craving fish and chips, this place is a solid establishment to visit. I got mine to go and it was Cod and chips. I will try the one in Portland for the salmon or scallops.

In Eugene it is hard to find good seafood, but this place is amazing! The only reason for the four star is that the price for what you get. Otherwise friendly staff and would definitely recommend this place!

Teusday Dec. 16 2014 2:00 pm halibut fish and chips. overcooked, very dry, to go order, they forgot to put in tarter sauce. no fun at all.
all other times very good.

My family and I LOVE Newman’s… but tonight… they get a BIG FAT F!!! The treatment that was displayed to patrons thus evening was abominable. My husband over heard one clerk say ‚“what the F!?” to another employee when they saw patrons trying to find a seat on the patio after they had just ordered. As a former line cook and waitress, and as a current food service employee… IF THE OPEN SIGN IS ON AND YOUR STILL TAKING ORDERS… DON’T CLOSE UP THE SHOP AND CUSS ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PROVIDING YOUR PAYCHECK/​TIPS. IF I were the boss someone would’ve surely been written up.
Very disappointed.

Can’t believe I’ve lived in this town close to 20 years and have only had Newman’s fish and chips all but a handful of times. Don’t recall ever having the halibut fish and chips previous but did so last night. So good! Definite step up from your standard fish and chips fare. My usual go-​to here is just fresh salmon or halibut to go (to cook at home) but it’s nice to go the fish & chips route as a treat every now and then. Outside seating a plus this time of year and beer in cans to wash it all down. Newman’s is not the fanciest but for its high-​quality fish, it’s great having them in town.

Fried seafood is one of those sublime things that seems simple but turns out to be harder than you think. It’s so easy to turn out overcooked, greasy or under seasoned food, and so difficult to do it exactly right every time.
We’ve been to the Newman’s Willamette location, and found it to be pretty darn good. One big problem there is that there is practically no seating, just a couple of picnic tables. This location is better, but still mostly offers outdoor seating. With the weather getting nicer, that was fine for a Friday evening dinner.
DLW had a prawn roll, heavy on the dill, and not too much sauce. I could easily polish off a couple of those. She also had clam chowder, which was a thin consistency but nicely clammy in flavor. I opted for shrimp and chips, which came perfectly cooked and well seasoned, but a little small on the portion size. They seem wary of passing out sauces, limiting you to two servings per order. I had one each of cocktail and tartar sauce, the former being good and the latter being great. They sell beer in cans here, only four selections, but still appreciated.
Some have complained about bad service here, but we didn’t experience it, and they were pretty busy. The location is odd, next to a Ben and Jerry’s and not really accessible except by car. A good experience overall.

I use to eat here a lot until it got to the point that greese would drip out of the fish & chips. Thought it was time to give it another shot, oh well.
I got the cod basket and added 4 shrimp, $ 11.00.
The fish & shrimp were over done, deep fried to a crisp. A hard, crunchy, cocoon crispy shell. The up side, they weren’t greasy. The fries were limp and greasy.
They took out the fries to soon and left the fish in to long.
They use to have a really good tarter sauce, not any more. It tastes like it’s from McMenamin’s North Bank where everything has to much horseradish. Hired one of their cooks?
So, fish fried to a hard crisp & limp greasy fries with tarter sauce that has way to much horseradish in it: $ 11.00.
Wait another year and try again.

I like both Newman’s locations but I go to the Grotto more often since I can walk there from work. If I didn’t know that fried food was bad for me, then I would eat their salmon and chips every day. Instead I stop in for my fix about once a month. I have never been disappointed with their fish and chips of any variety. I simply cannot stand their chowder though. It’s just odd. Runny and flavorless and gritty, none of these things make sense to me. I think I’ve had and liked about everything they have to offer including fish tacos, fish rolls, rice, and coleslaw, but I will not order their clam chowder. It’s a shame since I love clam chowder. I should probably try it again but I hated it so much the first few times that I can’t bring myself to order it. Shrug.
I also occasionally buy their fresh fish for special occasions. It’s really too expensive for me to buy frequently, but I’ve never been disappointed by what I’ve purchased.
I like the market on Willamette which is not present at the Grotto, but the seating is better at the Grotto as is the service in general. Although both spaces are limited, the Grotto has more tables and an awning which is helpful in the winter. I still end up making Newman’s a carry out place in the winter and a sit-​in-​the-​sun place on nice days. I think the people working the counter on Willamette take longer without being as friendly as the Grotto. I’ve never had a bad experience at either place but generally feel the Grotto is superior.
So let me tell you about the salmon and chips. The salmon is damn good. The tasty and crispy breading is wrapped around thick cuts of salmon that are cooked through and still moist. Their tartar sauce is great as well. The fries recently changed, but that’s alright since fries are fries. The portion is perfect to large. I usually end up splitting the fries with my husband. I just have to insist that anyone new to Eugene go to either Newman’s and try the salmon and chips. Because you should. Because it’s delicious.

The Coburg Road Newman’s is dreadful. I’ve drifted over there a few times on Sundays when the Willamette location is closed.
Almost every time I’ve been in there another patron has been complaining about something. The (surprisingly reasonable sounding) complaints are met with eye rolling and sarcasm.
Consistently terrible service. The fish & chips aren’t as good as the ‘main’ location, either.
Bottom line: Eugene is blessed in terms of fish-​and-​chips options. Skip this Newman’s.

I’m currently new to the Eugene area, I came from Las Vegas, NV, so $ 6.50 or even $ 11.50 for a meal isn’t expensive to me. That’s just my personal opinion though. I think the prices are reasonable and the fish tastes fresh.
I ordered Halibut and chips and the hubby ordered cod and chips. We walked in about 35 minutes til closing. You could tell the employees wanted to go home and weren’t thrilled that people kept coming in placing orders. Men behind counter weren’t rude, but they didn’t exactly deliver good customer service.
The order took a few minutes, which is understandable, since I expect fresh fish. The fish was served hot, batter was crunchy, and tarter sauce was really good! The cod had more of a fishy taste, while the halibut was meaty and didn’t lack flavor. I honestly liked both, it just depends what your in the mood for! My husband and I agreed the next time we are going to try their salmon fish and chips. We most definitely will be back when we’re craving fish and chips!