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Mon-Sun. 11:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
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Pros:
Revolutionary, creative and conscious pizza.
Cool atmosphere.
Local beers.
Cons:
Long waits for delicious food.
PRI pizza is not traditional, but neither is Eugene. One of my favorite places to eat in Eugene.
Alll vegetarian menu. And vegan friendly options.
Wow, and I don't do wow's often. Right down the street from me on blair it's in the old cop shop, & for some reason I never went until now.
My son and I went in through the entrance area which frankly, I thought was the dining area (it wasn't) that turned out to be the pickup area staffed by, & i'm being very professional about this "a smoking hottie counter girl" who was very nice and helpfull but unfortunatly not our waitress (sigh) Anyway, back to the raving review!!
It was one of the best pizza's i have ever had, we had a small medium pizza for a mere $16. a ninkasi pint $4. and a soda for the kid $2. On this Epic cheese fest half of it consisted of the chefs choice and the other the daily special. On the chef's choice side were all these things beginning with P, Pesto,Peaches,Peanuts Etc... perfectly perposturous perhaps "but" Super yummy & my hell yeah kudo's!!! On the other half were fresh seasonal veggies corn on the cob sliced and squash roasted to perfection on a mildly madras style curry that was oh sooo very sexy. Once again Wow! I give it my highest pizza seal of approval & that's that Kiddo's
Haven't written on restaurants worthy of any review lately until now...
For a first time visitor to Oregon like myself, only a local would know about this place and it was very quirky, had personality and flare and was delicious! I've never had pizza with pears and artichokes on it - an interesting and tasty mix!
Prices and the staff service were reasonable too.
while it is a bit spendy, pri is my favorite for good pizza (if i'm too lazy to make my own). they've got great vegan options (the 3p - pesto, potato, pear) and other great veggie pizzas. i keep forgetting to try the smoked gouda and apple pizza, it sounds amazing.
Chompy chompy chompy!!! I am a pizza freak and this pizza is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Lots of wonderful toppings, savory crust, the whole bit. The only problems I have with PRI is that 1) it's too expensive. There are just as many wonderful pizza shops out there that I could spend $5 less at. And 2) the atmosphere is a little TOO trendy. Maybe it's just me but I want to be able to go into a good pizza place wearing my sweatpants with elastic wasit-band and not feel bad about it!
I am so glad that my bf and I finally visited this place. We've talked about going to try their pizza since last year, but not until my 4th visit to Eugene I finally went for a unique pizza experience.
We opted for half and half medium pizza: chef's choice and humongous fungus. One word: INTERESTING!
As soon as the pizza was delivered to our table, we were amazed of the portion of veggies on one half of our pizza... not to mention these are not the usual pizza toppings...these are broccoli, cauliflower, eggplants, red potatoes, CORN ON THE COB, squash, ricotta cheese, cranberry sauce, and peach. There are also of course the usual toppings, mushroom, bellpepper and olives.
I wish they were more generous with our other half .."humongous fungus"..we were expecting more mushroom..o well.
Yes, this sounds like a weird pizza place..but don't worry.. THEY ARE VERY TASTY!!!! I could say one of the best pizza experience in my life!!! However, don't expect to find any meat product in the menu :)..
One down side is that the service is darn slow! We could see our pizza was sitting on the counter by the kitchen for a great 5 minutes..and we were slobbering over it from our table..
We will certainly go back to try more of the unique pizza..but of course with low expectation of getting a fast and attentive service.
I love how unique this place is. It's pizza, right? What can be interesting about pizza, one might ask... well, not only is PRI a vegetarian/vegan cuisine, building your own pizza is what it's all about... not just any pizza, but pizza with various ingredients that would blow your palate away!
TWO words: Food Orgasm!
I went here to dinner with four other friends, we split a large and a medium -- it was plenty and we even had a few slices to take home! We ordered one of the daily special: fig, walnut, with brie... yumm-o! I never liked figs, but I have to say that I may have fallen in-love with figs because of this pizza. The second pie was the Chef's Choice (12-14 toppings arranged in a mandala pattern) -- it sounds intimidating at first, but it's good, good, good! I really liked all the toppings even though I really couldn't tell what it was. I loved having corn-on-a-cob as a pizza topping... I thought that was awesome! The beer I drank was a Blonde Bombshell -- I was disappointed, it was way too light and just tasted like H2O... I guess that was my fault for not ordering a Stout!
Props to the menu design... I was totally diggin' it especially the Periodic Table of Toppings. There's plenty of places to sit, even for big groups -- I suggest outside patio sitting if it's nice out!
A question... if you call your restaurant a "research institute" does that completely justify the fact that the kitchen is a railroad car located in a warehouse, and the outdoor seating is in the parking lot? I wonder.
Fortunately their food is delicious. We ordered an appetizer of the bread spirals and the Chef's Choice Pizza. The first order of the spirals came out uncooked in the middle, but they were quick to remedy their mistake. Maybe this is why they call themselves a research institute :)
The pizza was very good. The chef's choice is almost overwhelming (12-14 toppings) but somehow all the flavors work together. We were very happy with our meal here, and would gladly come back.
AMAZING!
They recently moved to a new location, and we have yet to visit, but we're hoping to make it sometime this month. We haven't had PRI since this spring, and are constantly craving it. Visit once, and you too, will crave their wonderful concoctions, I guarantee it. (Wow, I am starting to sound like a Shane Co. radio advertisement. Ewww. And now back to your regularly scheduled program...)
Even though we have eaten here a handful of times, we always get the same pizza. The #2: granny smith apples, smoked gouda & roasted walnuts. It's seriously to die for. I am going to be honest, it's a pricey pizza. Regardless, we keep coming back for more. I am not sure how the new location is, but from our experiences with the old location, it takes quite some time to bake. Due to the hefty sizes, I would say that the pizzas take around 45 minutes to an hour to bake. It's well-worth the wait. Have some patience, your tummy will thank you in the end.
The combination of apples, walnuts, and cheese, sound like they belong in a salad, and like a salad, they harmoniously compliment each other on the pizza as well. We always add button mushrooms to the mix. The sauce is very tasty and has a distinct taste to it. Not too sweet, but you can definitely taste the tomatoes. This is a good thing!
We are so addicted to the #2, that we cannot manage to try anything else. We are so naughty, that we get the large at a whopping $24. Even though there are only two of us, you can easily turn that one pizza into three meals, which we do. Nothing like pizza for breakfast! Despite the three meals of PRI in a row, we cannot help but shed a tear every time we grab that last slice from the box. It sure looks like a lonely box once you're done inhaling its contents.
Speaking of the box, if you get it to go, they personally decorate it themselves. It's a nice, personal touch.
So, go here for a unique pizza. Grab a friend, bring a book, play some board games, chug a beer. Do whatever it takes to make it through the wait. Inhale the first slice, savor the second... and the third.... and the fourth...
Not only the best pizza in town, but one of the best pizzas I've ever had in my life, and coming from a fussy vegan like myself, that's saying a lot. The vegan version of the Chef's Choice is to die for and is innovative in, like, 7 different ways. The atmosphere is laid-back and funky all at the same time and very very Eugene. The fact that they take the time to hand-paint your pizza box reflects their commitment to art, quality, and a unique and meaningful pizzariffic experience that you won't soon forget. A real treasure.
Go. Get the Gorgonzola greens salad and whatever pizza you'd like. Veggie ingredients served only. One small pizza is plenty for 2 people. Truly a Eugene restaurant institution.
PRI is now located at 520 Blair Blvd.
I'm so glad this pizza joint got a larger space. They have amazing vegan pizza options (they can make many of their pizzas vegan, just ask), local beer (such as Ninkasi) and wine and games to pass the time while waiting for your pizza. If you order take-out they artfully decorate your box.
The combinations they choose to put on pizza is delicious. A couple pair fruit with artisan cheeses. I highly recommend trying the one with apple on it.
Each pizza ranges anywhere between $18-25.
They say the pizza here is good, but I've never made it past the attitude.
The first time I went, I waited patiently for an hour, then inquired how much longer it would be, to which the answer was "We haven't started it yet; you can just have your money back if you want." Um, seriously??
So the next time I called in an order for take out. When I went to pick it up an hour later, once again, they hadn't started my order. I pointed out that an hour before, they had estimated 30 minutes, and their response was "Well, it isn't fast food."
Shit, really? Pizza isn't fast food? 'Cause I'm pretty sure most five star restaurants can put together a meal in under an hour.
So my advice is: stick with Cozmic, Pegasus, Mezze Luna, or Bene for great pizza without the attitude.
After a 14 hour drive from So Cal, we were hungry and weren't sure where to go. So, with a little help from the yelp app on my phone, we were guided over to the Pizza Research Institute.
It was close to 10 on a Thursday night and the sign stated they closed at 9:30. There were still some people there, so we walked in and asked if we could still get a few slices.
The vibe was really kicked back and the staff seemed to have no issues with us sitting at a table after their closing time. They have very interesting selections for pizza toppings - all organic. They also had about 5 different types of iced tea.
Everything was great. When I'm out visiting, it's definitely worth going back to. It feels very "Eugeney".
PRI really piles on the toppings -and good toppings at that- to excellent crust (moderately crispy, medium thickness). I do not like their sauce, for me it's too sweet and too abundant, and I think they often put too many rich flavored ingredients in combination, making pizzas which can be too salty or too muddled in flavor. In general. many of the pizza's are either poorly thought out or not thought out at all, but they're novel, and that seems to fill the seats.
The new location is meh-rific. It lacks the charm of the old location, but is nothing to complain about.
I've had service from acceptable to horrible at both locations. I've never had great or even good service.
Certainly not the best pizza, but unique and tasty enough to try at least once. I usually go only when friends request it and I'm outnumbered.
This place only gets 3 stars instead of 2 from me because it has vegan options. Vegan pizza can be hard to come by (though not particularly so in Eugene), and the abundance of nutritional yeast can't be a bad thing.
Here's this issue though-- the price is totally ridiculous for what you get. I'm all for putting potatoes and pineapples and pears on my pizza. But for around 5-6 dollars a slice? 25 dollar pies? I just don't get it! It's not as though these are particularly difficult ingredients to get, or to prepare yourself. I know that the non-traditional-ingredients-on-pizza is all cool and hip right now, but there really weren't any ingredients on their list that I don't have in my pantry, and the preparation isn't all that special. If you're feeling uninspired about pizza, take a look at their menu, figure out what you'd get, head to Safeway/Market of Choice, and make it yourself.
So, onto the garlic twist test... the dough was pretty solid, although like another reviewer here it was way undercooked. The flavors were warm and garlicky and pretty subtle, which I liked. The sauce was thick and too strong and sweet-- maybe this is just the Eugene style, but I was hoping for rich and bright herby and veggie flavors that just weren't there.
I should say that their new location looks awesome, and had lots of room. I found the waitstaff really friendly and accommodating.
Wait, wait, wait...pesto, potatoes, AND pears all on the same pizza!?!? Mind boggling. And super delicious.
I finally made it out to PRI after meaning to try it for years, and was definitely impressed by the creativity of the menu and the freshness of the ingredients used on their pizzas. The staff was friendly and even brought out some complimentary breadsticks for my friends and I while we waited for them to clean a table for us.
The crust was a little too crispy and thin for my liking, but that definitely won't stop me from going back again and trying out some of their other inventive pizzas.
This establishment is an insult to the concept of pizza; it has a thick crust, an absolutely disgusting proportion of tomato sauce, and is typically loaded with gobs of partially cooked vegetables. Think of it as an open top lasagna and perhaps it will go down better. It's healthy, but there is food at the marketplace that is healthy.
Lest you get stuck here with friends, they do make a mean lemonade.
This is a fun place to go for dinner. The pizzas are yummy, but definitely not like normal pizza. They are actually quite sweet, even the with savory toppings. The atmosphere is very fun and romantic too. It is an especially nice place to eat on warm nights because the outdoor seating on the back patio is precious. Also, try their soups on a cold day! They is really good, and from what I remember almost always vegan.
This place is fun to eat at if you can snag the little booth in the back. The vibe is creative and homey.
As far as the pizza, I just don't get what all the hoopla is about. It's expensive for what you get. Sure, the toppings are interesting - delicious even, but the crust is way below average - too dry, crumbly and heavy from not rising properly - like something I could have made at home in my definitely not at pizza oven.
Parents Note: Standard highchairs available but it can get really crowded so don't bring that stroller along if you are walking there. Bring your own crayons and paper.
We tried the potato/pear/pesto pizza and the gouda/apple/walnut (#2, I think). They were both delicious, though the apple pizza was shockingly good. I really like their crust!
Like other reviewers, time/attitude has been a bit of an issue--mostly I've experienced this as a problem when I'm ordering pick-up. I get the feeling some of the employees are a little too hipster for their britches.
Overall, it's a great place for dinner.
Kept hearing rave reviews from friends who went to school in Eugene. The past 2 times I pass by Eugene, they weren't open.
This time, I made PRI a priority in my Eugene visit.
Had their Eggplant, Chevre, Onions pizza.
I'm not a big pizza fan: I can take it or leave it. I appreciate it and know that there's a lot of bad ones out there. PRI exceeded all my expectations of a pizza. It was literally the best I have had so far. The crust was perfect, just the way I like it--a little burnt, crispy, crunchy.
And those eggplants were just amazing. Sweet and caramelized, they tasted like candy. Complemented the Chevre so well.
Really cant wait to try their other creations.
The atmosphere and setting (laboratory theme, with technical charts, diagrams and lab instruments) is very neat. Having board games and cards is always a plus for me, as we played cards while we waited.
I wouldnt say that I'd make a trip to Eugene just for PRI.
But I would make the drive from Seattle for PRI, Papa's Kitchen, and a good friend. So I definitely need to have those 3 to make the trip worth it.
vegan chefs choice is pure unadulterated heaven. awesome place awesome vibe. the pear pesto salad is a knockout too. I miss you, pri. almost worth flying cross country to taste again...
This place is amazing!!
First of all the ambiance is definitely unique and very cozy.
But the food is where it gets wild. The toppings you can choose from are endless and usually completely unheard of for a pizza. Its all vegetarian and can be made vegan, these are the pizzas I attempt to make at home but fail to do so. The best part is that this is no novelty, the quality matches the amazing creativity. Your precious artwork (flickr some pics) that sits upon the crust could almost be too beautiful too eat. Fortunately it tastes too good to simply gawk at.
Yes its a looong wait, but hey we spent an hour just trying to choose our toppings and its waay worth it!
Last week was our second trip to PRI, and Eugene in as many years. Check any loose meat at the door - no carnivore pizza here! We love this place. Although the location has changed, the great veggie pizzas have not. We had a very good salads, and the pizza. Good beer, too. Try the Rogue chocolate stout. The service was way above average. If you live in Eugene go (don't worry about the "colorful" neighborhood). If you have not been to Eugene plan to put PRI on your list of dinner spots.
::driving back from the Oregon coast::
Friend: "Hey, let's call PRI and put it an order for pizza so it's ready when we roll into town."
BF: "Will they be open when we get there?"
Friend: "Call and ask for their specials and we'll ask if they'll still be open when we arrive."
Apprehensive Me: "Hi, what are your specials?... Can we do half-and-half?... Oh, will you be open even if we get there when you close?"
PRI: "Of course"
Did that make sense? Probably not. But the point is, we called in and told them we'd be cutting it close. They were like "come on down!" When we finally arrived--sandy and wind-blown--they were preparing to close up, but our pizza was ready and they let us sit and enjoy our dinner at one of their sidewalk tables. No pushiness, no stink-eye. The busser even let us know there was no rush to finish our waters after we'd devoured the pie.
5 stars for outstanding service, outstanding pizza (Mediterranean vegetarian rocks!) and a good handful of local craft brews.
The food is delicious here. Notice I wrote "food' and not "pizza".
Pear's do not go on pizza. Walnuts do not go on pizza. Peaches do not go on pizza. In fact, the only fruits or nuts that go on "pizza" are tomatoes, olives and pinenuts. Topping a "pizza" with any other fruit or nut is an automatic disqualifier for the pizza category. Trust me, I come from the land of the "designer pizza": California. Ever heard of CPK? Exactly.
Now that that has been cleared up I must say that I appreciate the magic that is P.R.I. and it's crazy food.
Only in Eugene could you wait over 45 minutes for a single slice of pizza and over 2 hours (on some days) for an entire pizza and not get angry, nor get an apology from any employee. That shit would never fly in L.A.
Man, I miss the Yooj.
PRI is awesome! Every time I've been I have been in the presence of a vegan and subsequently gotten their pizza's vegan... Without cheese, or meat for that matter, it's freakin good stuff! I love their massive selection of toppings too, hot sauces galore, nutritional yeast, etc. The seating was difficult at their original location (which I believe is in the process of moving to the Whitaker area right now) but it was part of the eclectic, unique experience that was the original PRI. I'm looking forward to seeing their new location when it opens up!
I absolutely love their crust and vegan brewer's yeast based sauce. They always have a chef's special with different local, fresh ingredients available that day.
Service is way slow, as I think they've got like one pizza oven and 2 people working there. Bonus is that they have ninkasi on tap, so kick back, sit outside and wait.
IT is always 45 minutes to get a slice or a whole pie. If you go there knowing that, it's not an issue.
The crust has herbs on it, and is a bit on the thicker side. As someone who lived in NY for 10 years, I am way picky about pizza. This isn't meant to be thin crust or compete with others in town.
When it comes to unique pizza, PRI marches to their own drummer.
omg best pizza in the woooorrrrllllddd. pesto pear and potato!! vegan chef's choice fun! I drive down there from Seattle just for the pizza whenever I can.
I'm going to make a bold statement: This is my favorite pizza. EVER. From anywhere. After sampling slices from coast to coast, as well as in various other parts of the world (including Italy!), I have concluded that PRI is real deal when it comes to my requisite pizza orgasm.
This is a purely vegetarian restaurant, so leave your meat cravings at the door, and give in to a slice of the Chef's Special. Order it vegan (with a homemade nutritional yeast-based sauce), or with cheese. Either way, it's life-changing. It's more than just a veggie slice-- the toppings change seasonally, and include everything from broccoli, tomato, spinach, and potato, to baby corn, asparagus, pears, and peaches. Yes, peaches.
It's all in the small touches-- Watching them put together one of these pizzas is a very Zen experience. Each topping is carefully considered, then positioned delicately in its perfect place on the pie. The owner also draws a unique design by hand on every pizza box when you take-out, so enjoy your psychadelic/ galactic creation-- it's all yours. And there is an endless loop of reggae music playing in the background, so be sure to bring your irie vibe.
The only negative is time. It's worth waiting for, don't get me wrong, but I've waited as long as an hour for a couple slices of pizza here. Bring friends, or a good book, order an organic beer, and sit outside to enjoy a nice day while you wait.
This is a mandatory stop for anyone living in or visiting Eugene. Don't miss it!
Awesome. Brilliant. Go. Now. Quit reading, go.
But put $30 in your wallet first.
Badass pizzas, great combinations of ingredients, awesome (although small) space. Bit of a wait, but you can spend the time playing awesome boardgames or thumbing through the Guiness Book and gross yourself out over people's long fingernails or whatever.
In conclusion, see above.
Edit: $30 will get you 2 medium pizzas & a pitcher of beer for you and three friends.
Mmm delicious. You just have to know what you're getting yourself into. We got there at 5:45 and the place was empty, and our pizza arrived at 6:45, by which time the placed was packed. So arrive before you get hungry, order, enjoy a draft beer or some wine, and peruse their selection of books and games.
The pizza was damn good, oh what a good crust it had. Split a medium and only ate 4 of the 6 slices. They have a decent selection of draft beer and wine, considering the how small the place is.
I really liked the atmosphere, it was almost like I was at a friend's house for dinner. The people who worked there were super friendly and did the best they could to keep up with all the tables and orders.
Good vibes and great pizza.
The food is five stars on it's own. Easily.
The problem, however, lies in service. One of my roommates and I went in today and the woman at the counter decided she would just carry on a conversation she was having with someone else before she decided to greet us, or even really look at us. It seemed like they didn't really want us there.
Turns out I didn't quite read the reviews close enough because I was starving when I went in, and at the end of the 45 minute wait (conservative estimate) I was a little grumpy.
The space is incredibly small and cramped feeling. I did like the fact that they have board games and books set out for people to read while they wait on their pizza.
A small pizza (enough for 3 people) is $14, and quite the deal considering the kind of quality you get. I mean, honestly, where else can you find an Apple Smoked-Gutta and Walnut pizza?
Best pizza on the west coast? Could be.
I love the crust especially. And the crazy combinations they come up with for toppings. Very cool.
The Chef's Special pizza does it for me, but combined with sidewalk dining, great beer and wine, nice reggae playing in the background, curious "research" books to peruse while you wait, and amazing owners who live one block down the street... PRI is THE place to eat pizza in Eugene.
Good pizza. Not awesome, not brilliant, and in no way deserving of the five stars awarded PRI by its own "menu designer" (I took away a star to offset this shameful self-promotion), but good. Probably even the best pizza in Eugene...although that is kind of like being the best vegetarian restaurant in Springdale, Arkansas.
The problem, as others have already said, is that PRI's success has gone to its head. The people who work there are very nice folks (you should tip 'em - it couldn't hurt) but they are dreadfully, um, unhurried, and not especially concerned with customer satisfaction. Expect a long wait, and if they mess up your order, as they seem prone to do, I suggest you just eat it anyway; it'll probably be good. Or, they'll be happy to fix it, but you'll get so hungry while waiting that you'll have to have someone else deliver another pizza to tide you over. You'd probably have time to do this...no kidding, they're that slow.
PRI would be out of business in a month if you moved 'em to Wooster Street in New Haven, where they've been making odd but delicious pizzas with all manner of veggies and other non-intuitive toppings in classic wood-fired ovens for more than a century. In Eugene, though, PRI's a good solid choice, and a pretty good value - a large will set you back more than $20, but it's a weighty pie, more than a match for most families. Four stars for the food, minus one for the "menu designer" and another one for the glacially-slow service = two stars.
Update (11/10/07) - Been to PRI a couple of times since I wrote this. The young woman working at the counter was cool and beautiful inside and out; she more than made up for her unhelpful scowling coworker. I'd forgotten about the hand-painted boxes, too. Plus, the vegan salad dressing has to be tried to be believed...it has a smooth creamy texture that pleases the palette as well as any aioli- or dairy-based concoction. Remarkable. The Greek pizza was way tasty too, full of garlic and basil and tomatoes and other goodness, but disappointingly soggy; it was actually better reheated in the oven at home.
Sadly, the downsides were still present, too. It took a full hour and a half to get our pizza, and it wasn't even that busy. PRI has a rack of books and games and such, which is cool when you're waiting for your food but bad when you are trying to get a table and all the tables are full of people who aren't eating or waiting on food, but just hanging out reading or playing games. The drinking water was warm and the glasses hadn't been rinsed enough and smelled of bleach, which turns me off something fierce.
So - PRI is a mixed blessing, like Eugene itself. You should check it out for yourself.
I just moved about half a block away from Pizza Research Institute, and because of some rave reviews from friend, I was really excited to check them out.
A friend and I walked over one evening and ordered a pizza to go. In the future, I will likely call in an order ahead of time, and I would suggest that other people do so also. It took a while, but this was mostly because the cook initially missed our order, so it was put in after we had already been waiting for half an hour. However, they were nice enough to give us some complimentary rolls while we waited and he apologized profusely.
We ordered one of the specials listed on the whiteboard, and I was very pleased with what we got. The pizza was very delicious and I will definitely go back soon and often.
Also, they have vegan options for those that are interested.
There are quite a variety of unique toppings you can get on your pizza, and they all seemed fresh. I didn't particularly like the sauce, but luckily the toppings were piled on.
ugh. i'm pretty sure i'm the only person who doesn't like this place. to me, this indicates that the pizza isn't bad, it's just not my cup of tea.
i will admit that the nutritional yeast-based sauce on the vegan pie is tasty, but over-all the crust is too thick and frequently overloaded with toppings.
Eugene, OR
Category: Food Stands
Eugene, OR
Category: Vegetarian
Eugene, OR
Category: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
Eugene, OR
Category: Middle Eastern
Eugene, OR
Category: Restaurants
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