Although reluctant to assign only three stars to new local places in search of an audience, based on a first visit there new biz kinks to work out.
BOTTOM LINE: With a lot of casual food places in a similar price point in this Bend Westside locale, this is one we'll amble back to eventually but not a place we'll rush back to soon.
BOTTLE SHOP: The Bottle Shop portion of this endeavor is not yet up and running. It will offer both beer and wine. Although there are already a plethora of places in Bend to buy both, we'll look forward to this bottle shop opening too.
It is ALE CAFÉ experience reviewed here where our lunch time visit revealed some hits and some misses.
SERVICE: Cordial and tableside. (No need to stand in line at the bar to order.)
MENU: Interesting for pub style food. Several vegetarian options, a few that are vegan and many for omnivores. Some gluten gree options too, something I notice since I have family members who are gluten intolerant. Daily specials are on a chalkboard. Some ingredients are called out specifically as being from local vendors - as in the Cada Dia cheese used in some entrees and the Bonta gelato on the dessert menu.
FOOD & VALUE: Execution details need better attention based on our lunch. Prices are on par with other casual West Side sit down eateries like Brother Jon's Public House, Brother Jon's Alehouse, Good Life Bierhall, Boken and Barrio or food trailers Red Napkin, Real Food Street Bistro and Spork. The Ale Cafe has a lot of good competition from those other places for the same audience of diners. And some of that competition is creating very good food.
Two of us shared a BLTA sandwich ($9). Sandwiches come with chips or salad or for a buck extra, you can have a cup of mac n'cheese. We choose the latter.
The generously sized sandwich was on toasted bread. Thanks to TJH's review we asked for the homemade aioli to be applied with a light hand and it was. Overall an OK sandwich - the aioli was tasty and the bacon was plentiful but the iceberg lettuce was in too big a "hunk" and the tomatoes were too few and thin and under-ripe. Details make the whole and this is an example of food execution details, even in simple things, that need attention.
The mac n cheese was good save for one execution flaw. The well seasoned white cheese sauce was a just right amount and the smoked roasted tomatoes and bread crumbs on top were a nice touch. But the penne that was the mac part had been way overcooked to smithereens. An important detail to get wrong.
AMBIANCE: Nice blues and mellow rock mix on the sound system on the day we were there.
I'm not sure how much of the dark red décor is new or leftover from the Abbey Pub days, which is what this was until recent ownership change.
SEATING: "...a memorable experience for people of all ages..." is the goal of the four nice people who collectively own this enterprise as stated on a note on each table.
If that is their goal then the seating here presents a challenge in reaching it for some of the "...all ages". The not so good thing here was awkward seating.
All but eight seats, two tables of four, were high seating / bar table and stool height. The limited table height seating is at the worst location in the restaurant, right as you come in the drafty door. I imagine the parents with the small child who were using one of those tables, given bar height seating doesn't safely work for small kids, weren't thinking this was the "...memorable experience" the owners had in mind each time that door opened to blast the table with cold air.
Not only parents with small children, but some senior citizens and people with mobility disabilities (whether permanent or temporary), who can't use bar height seating at most of the tables. At the bar, I get it. But it's puzzling how restaurants think the high perch tables and stools are welcoming and comfortable to be the main seating source on floor.
ACCESSIBILITY: Level in and all on one level. Lousy seating options in limited standard height tables. Accessible parking is awkward. read more