home> insight > eat

FOR DINNER

Angela's Favorites:
Don't miss the Deschutes Brewery, downtown on Bond Street. It is loved by the locals for both dependable pub food and great pints brewed right here in Bend. Take the kids before 8:00 pm. After then, it is adults only.
Marz, A Planetary Bistro is located in downtown Bend at 163 NW Minnesota. Cozy booths, interesting art and a great menu are what you will find here. A great place to go for an early dinner as it gets crowed later in the evening.
The Blue Fish Bistro was a newcomer to Bend, but they have taken a firm hold in the foodies hearts. Right on the corner of Franklin near Drake Park, the owners serve what they call “Euro comfort foods. A lot of roasted, braised meats, roasted vegetables and seafood, but more of the French sauces than anything else."
Guisseppes Ristorante in Downtown Bend on Bond Street has never let me down. There is a new chef and I have not had the pleasure of checking out his skills. My kids also love it. Wine corks stuck in the cracks of the old brick walls are part of the charm of the interior. They have a broad menu with all of your favorite Italian classics. After dinner, visit “Goomba's” in the back room of the restaurant for cocktails. You can also sneak out the back door through the alley!
Yoko's Japanese Restaurant is a sentimental favorite. Not only is the sushi good, but if you get a chance to meet the owner, you won't be disappointed. Steve DePatie hails from So Cal, and will delight you with his unique charm. For the kids, the teriyaki chicken is served in a really cool boat dish and is tasty as well. Yoko 's can be found on the eastside, complete with the traditional conveyor belt system, just pick what you want from the belt as it rolls past you. Yoko's East is in the Forum Shopping Center near Costco.
Ariana Restaurant located in the former "Cup of Magic" coffee shop on the West side, has made it's culinary mark on Bend. The setting is charming, tables cozied together in an old renovated house. The menu has a Mediterranean influence and rivals any I have tasted. Find Ariana and her fiance Andreas in the kitchen. Mom Susan and Dad Glen will greet you at the door. Brothers Gordon and Grant share part of the family business, as well. Make reservations at 541-330-5539 and check them out at www.arianarestaurantbend.com
Anthony’s Homeport in the Mill District shopping area deserves a mention. For a great meal outside, sit on the patio. Enjoy views of the Deschutes river and Cascade mountains. Don’t miss the coconut prawns or the clam chowder. They have a great wine and cocktail menu as well.
Deep, located in downtown Bend, offers the best sushi menu in town. The décor and atmosphere take you off of the streets of Bend and place you in a chic, urban restaurant. This new restaurant features many creative sushi rolls, entrees and desserts. Try the Kobe Beef Hot Rock…it tastes great and is fun! Chef Jody Denton’s calamari is the best I have ever had. The bartenders and servers are some of the best in town. Get reservations, they stay busy.
Typhoon and Bo Restobar have come over from Portland. They offer great Thai food at reasonable prices. Using the freshet ingredients available, the chef will prepare an amazing dish, no matter what you choose. The Pad Thai and red curry are exceptional. They are located in the Franklin Crossing Building, at Bond and Franklin in downtown Bend.

Trish 's Favorites:
Kanpai Sushi and Sake Bar – Eat at the bar, the service is better. Don’t go if you are in a hurry but it is worth the wait. Be sure to have the Salmon Skin Hand Roll. Find Kanpai on Newport Avenue.
Baldy’s Barbeque at 235 SW Century Drive has great pulled, smoked pork. Angela loves it, too, being from the BBQ capital of the world, Memphis. Check out their website at baldysbbq.com. Mmmmmmmmm.
Staccato at the Old Firehall Bend's newest eatery gets high marks for location, style, service and food. It is located at the corner of Minnesota and Lava, downtown, just below the Phoenix Inn. Have the Gnocchi, it is light and fresh and delicious. The old firepole still stands in the middle of the bar. Check it out at staccatosfirehall.com. Make reservations on the weekend.
Hola! on the East Side in the Forum Shopping Center. The owner, former La Rosa chef, Marcos Rodriguez, describes his restaurant as “nouveau Mexican-Peruvian cuisine.” Great food, great company, great atmosphere. 32 tequilas at the bar!! On the web at www.holabend.com

Nori's Favorites:
Nori is a fan of Marz, as well. He and his kids dine there on a regular basis.

FOR LUNCH (& MAYBE DINNER)

Angela 's Favorites:
Stop by Hans, at 915 NW Wall Street, downtown. There is a quiche of some sort almost every day along with great sandwiches, soups and salads. Have a “Mt. Bachelor” cookie after lunch. They make some of the best pastries around and you can always count on a terrific birthday cake! Hans has been in Bend since 1983 and is a favorite of a lot of locals.
SOBA Asian Bistro, is located on Bond Street, Downtown Bend and at 61160 S. Highway 97. All kinds of asian dishes, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese and Japanese. The downtown location is in a cool old building with lots of seating.
You can't miss the Pilot Butte Drive-In on Greenwood, near Pilot Butte. Grilled to order, gourmet hamburgers that challenge the biggest appetite! They also have one of the best and most affordable breakfasts in town.
Croutons on 14th has some of the best salads and paninis in town. Lunch is crowded so be prepared for a short wait. They are also open for dinner. There is a good selection of beer and wine and a nice atmosphere for a casual dinner. Near the Simpson Avenue round-about.
Dandy's Drive-In on 3rd Street not only has great burgers and fries, but you get served in your car by ladies on roller skates! Get extra fry sauce!
Kebaba who’s motto is “Modern Middle Eastern Food” is located on Newport Avenue. Humus, falafel, great pitas and kebobs. It is really affordable!!!!!

Trish 's Favorites:
The New York Sub Shop on Bond , downtown across the street from the Deschutes Brewery has the best grilled Philly Cheese Steak Sub this side of Philly.
Who doesn't like Pizza? It is a little off of the beaten path, but Cibelli's New York Pizza is just what the name says. It is not New York style, it is the real thing. Buy it by the huge slice or the huge pie. Get lots of napkins. There is no indoor seating, so sit outside or take it with you. Two locations, east and west Bend.
On your way back from Mt. Bachelor, stop in Parilla Grill at the corner of Galveston and 14th. A casual atmosphere inside and a great deck outside.

Nori's Favorites:
Kevin and Kyle spend a lot of time with Dad, Nori at Longboard Louie 's on Galveston . This is a real Bend hot spot for lunch and dinner. In the summer, sit out on the patio, try to get under an umbrella. This is a great place to stop on your way to the mountain or after a great trail ride.
The Pine Tavern is Bend 's oldest restaurant and is famous not only for great food, but the two massive Ponderosa Pines that grow through the middle of the dining room. They are open for lunch and dinner. The food is always excellent. At dinner, the best scones and honey butter are served before your meal. If you are not careful, you will not be able to even eat dinner. The scones are heavenly. They serve many wonderful dishes but the t wo cuts of beef on the menu — the prime rib and the flat iron steak — are from Oregon Country Beef, a Central Oregon ranching operation using environmentally-sound ranching practices to raise its hormone-free cattle. You have never had beef like this. Bring the kids, this is a family favorite where traditions have been made since 1936.
Nori will also put in a vote for Cibelli's New York Pizza.

FOR BREAKFAST

Angela's Favorites:
The newest issue of Bend Living Magazine, “Best of Bend ” and I agree. The best breakfast in town is a dead heat between the Victorian Café and the Alpenglow Café. Dueling eggs benedicts! Go to both of them, you decide! The Victorian Cafe is located and the corner of 14th and Galveston, at the Phoenix Rising (aka the flaming chicken} Round-a-bout. Find the Alpenglow Café in the Columbia Bank Building at the corner of Wall and Newport. Also check out the McKay Cottage on OB Riley, a quaint cottage that serves fresh homemade food. I love the biscuits and gravy. They have outdoor seating.

Trish 's Favorites:
I agree with Angela on the Victorian Cafe, the French Toast is my pick! I also love the Breakfast Club on Greenwood, try the rib eye, cooked to perfection!

Nori's Favorites:
Nori is out to breakfast now.

WE ALSO RECOMMEND

The "Taco Stand", is a neighborhood hole-in-the-wall type of place somewhere between downtown and the parkway.... along Hill Street. Locals are protective of this place and might argue it's supremacy over all others. Be nice, and someone might tell you exactly where it is. They have daily specials. Ask for your burrito "enchilada style" or ask for “the Greg” named after one of our own cyclist extraodinaires, Greg Strome.
ZYDECO kitchen & cocktails features great American food with a Southern twist (Chef Kabakoff is from Memphis), focusing on quality ingredients that are hormone-free, pesticide-free and organic. ZYDECO kitchen & cocktails also features a full menu for guests with allergies to wheat. ZYDECO has a full bar (their signature cocktail is a Blueberry Martini) and features an interesting wine list highlighting some of the partners' favorite wines. http://www.zydecokitchen.com/ The restaurant is named in honor of the Kabakoffs' family dog, Zydeco. On their first date, Robert and Christy attended a Buckwheat Zydeco concert and later named their first dog after their favorite music, zydeco – the music of the Cajun and Creole cultures. Additionally, they view the Cajun and Creole cultures as the epitome of the American melting pot, a blend of many nationalities that came together to create a wonderful new culture.

CHEAP EATS

As far as cheap eats go, the best bet for your dollar has to be Big-O-Bagels. Stop by one of their two Bend locations for a great, fresh baked bagel. Choose your favorite, their toppings range from butter and peanut butter to an abundance of cream cheeses. Want something heartier? Make your bagel into a breakfast bagel or sandwich. Starting at just 75¢, the price can’t be beat. Bring cash—no credit cards here!
Ray’s Food Place is a favorite lunch stop for many high school students because of its affordable prices and tasty food. This grocery store knows what keeps everyone coming back. Their chicken strips, corn dogs, burritos, and jojo’s are great! If you are looking for something a little healthier, their salad bar will do the trick. Try the corn dog special for around $3.50.
Don’t miss Super Burrito on Minnesota, downtown. 2 people can eat a great burrito and get a drink for under 10 bucks. Nothing fancy here, just a lot of good food.
Don’t miss Super Burrito! It closed it’s Oregon street location and is reopening in the Columbia River Bank building at the corner of Wall and Newport. Thank goodness!!!!! My daughter will be able to afford to eat again! 2 people can eat a great burrito and get a drink for under 10 bucks. Nothing fancy here, just a lot of good food.

Visit www.bendnights.com for a full list of all of Bend’s eateries