
Sybaris Bistro is dedicated to bringing the best of Oregon to your table. Located in a historic industrial building at the corner of First and Washington Avenues in downtown Albany, you can expect some of the best food in Oregon, served with equal parts eclecticism, classical preparation, and innovation. Sybaris Bistro offers a fresh menu every month, a spacious, upscale atmosphere, an extensive Northwest-centered wine list, and a full bar. Everything we serve is made from scratch here at the restaurant unless I can find a commercial product that is better than what I feel I can make (Beaufou mustards, Nueskes bacon, etc). Yes, I make my own ketchup. We make the bread fresh every day. My pastry chef background ensures that all desserts a…
Elegant & roomy bistro serving locally sourced & artfully presented New American dishes.
Hours
| Saturday | 5–8 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 5–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 5–8 PM |
| Thursday | 5–8 PM |
| Friday | 5–8 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 442 W 1st Ave, Albany, OR 97321
Phone: (541) 928-8157
Website: https://www.sybarisbistro.com/
Menu Photos
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Related Web Results
Sybaris Bistro | Albany, Oregon
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Reviews
In those twenty years, I have left hungry exactly zero times and disappointed only once. That is not hype. That is simply a track record.
Bread is baked daily, and desserts show the influence of a strong pastry background. The same level of care carries through the entire menu, with ingredients selected deliberately, and anything brought in is there because it meets the standard, not because it’s easier.
The menu changes monthly. Some months lean classical, some adventurous. Over the years I have watched Chef commit fully to what interests him. There was a full summer devoted to elevating tripe and traditional preparations. I learned that boiled bacon and cow stomach together is not my personal preference (the one time mentioned earlier). That is on me though, not the kitchen I knew what what i was ordering. Then came the foie gras era that included a foie gras corn dog — a slab of foie gras battered in cornmeal and fried. The foie melted into the cornbread and became a decadent, molten hush puppy on a stick. It was indulgent and precise. Not every season will align with every diner’s personal taste, but the execution has consistently been thoughtful and intentional.
During Covid, Sybaris adapted without lowering its standards. They created a comfort-focused, well-executed menu with curbside pickup that was clearly designed to take care of both staff and customers during a difficult time. That period said as much about the character of the restaurant as any plated dish.
Service has always been paced rather than rushed. The staff is attentive without hovering. This is dining speed, not turnover speed. If you are looking for a quick meal, there are many options in town. If you want to sit and experience a meal, this is the right setting.
Yes, the prices are higher than some local restaurants. The sourcing alone explains much of that. Chef works directly with local farms and small producers — a mushroom forager, oyster growers, fishermen on the coast, regional meat suppliers. Much of what appears on the plate comes from people he knows, not a broad line distributor. That effort shows. For the level of quality and craftsmanship involved, the price is more than fair. It’s a deal.
Sybaris is not trying to be everything to everyone. It is confident, seasonal, and rooted in classical technique while remaining willing to evolve. For more than two decades, it has been the most consistently rewarding dining experience in the valley for me.
That is why I am writing this.
– Anthony McElroy
I wonder if the owners (of which Matt is one) are simply overwhelmed and distracted by the new restaurant they are renovating? (Why they need a new restaurant, I don’t know)
Also, whenever I order the Sybaris cake for dessert, the waiter always rolls his eyes and sighs. I really don’t like that sort of weird, petty judgement.
Maybe in a few years I’ll come back to try Sybaris again. I’m a little sad to leave, but luckily there are many new restaurants in Albany for me to try. Hopefully one will soon become my new favorite!
The secret star was the sauces. From the appetizer, entree, to dessert, the sauces continued to wow. Just elevated each dish.
The service was exceptional. Friendly, great recommendations, and made the evening.
Crab cakes with lobster bisque (hit). Mom’s Apple cake ( brandy butter sauce) are a must.
This place is spacious. Great for small or large gatherings. Street parking.
Thank me later.
We ordered a wide spread of the menu and we struggled to find positives.
Appetizers/Salad
The Pizzaless Pizza was supposed to be served “warm,” yet arrived cold in the center.
The Grilled Leek Vinaigrette was tiny and mostly salad, with only what amounted to about one egg’s worth of the advertised deviled eggs.
The Old-Fashioned Oxtail Soup was incredibly watery, and we couldn’t find any discernible pieces of oxtail at all.
The Winter Salad was good, but again very small.
Mains
The Venison Pie was a decent portion, but the venison was extremely dry and the crust was more like a stale, salty, over-baked cookie — not flaky in the slightest.
The Grilled USDA Prime Flat Iron Steak was fine, though the green sauce was bland and the beer-cheesy potatoes were not to our liking.
The Jamaican Jerk Spiced Shrimp was the least seasoned “jerk” dish I’ve ever tasted, paired with an inexplicable banana-flavored black bean and completely unseasoned rice.
The Local Lamb Chops, Trader Vic Style (with the suggested wine pairing) were genuinely good — tender and flavorful — but completely overwhelmed by an unavoidable purple sweet potato mash that detracted from the otherwise tasty lamb and kale. The dish was also quite unattractive despite its merits.
The Butter Roasted Rockfish was decent but unexceptional, again with a rather bland sauce.
Across the board, portion sizes were very small for the price. Our bill came out to over $50 per person, many of us left hungry, and all of us left disappointed. Service was friendly but it seemed like front of house was bit understaffed leaving service very slow.
This was an expensive meal that simply did not deliver on flavor, execution, or value.
The starting bread, hand made and fresh, was fluffy, moist, and full of flavor. A perfect way to begin when accompanied by their delicious mixed drinks. The appetizers were inventive and charming, the curried peach soup with cayenne whipped cream was a fresh take on spicy and just the right amount of sweet to balance.
The entrees were done to perfection. The salmon was moist with a nice sear on the outside while remaining decadent inside, and the veal was simply incredible paired with the blistered lemon sauce. Finally, the lamb merguez stuffed peppers with a mint -chile drizzle offered another unique, fun pairing of deliciousness in 3 distinctive ways.
The dessert still ran away with the show, if you can believe. Our table was split between the sweet corn flan (with the best dark mole cherries) and the apricot sachertorte as our favorites. Both delectable and perfect ways to end a meal with a glass of Port. Grab a reservation (you’ll probably need one) and don’t hesitate to treat your tastebuds- it’s definitely worth it!
Service are lovely, I can see worker are trying their best to provide good service to us, no doubt about it. I love it. I appreciate their attitude that taking care of our ice cream because they run out of the special appetizer.
Alcohol is really great, I’m sure if they open a bar would be a lot of ppl coming for it. No doubt for their drinks.
Appetizer are absolutely disappointed, price are not expensive, around 10$ for each but did not reach what I expect, I mean their appetizer is creative but … anyhow
Entrees are exactly as what I expected, about average on this price.
Dessert are great, not really sweet and I believe the ice cream is hand made
Anyway, I will give 3 star not because how much I hate it, just base on the taste of the food I just think they can do better I guess.