Solid homemade pasta, but the "elevated Italian" fell flat for us…read more We came to Trattoria Sbandati excited by the 4.5-star Google reviews and the promise of elevated Italian in Bend. The homemade pasta is decent--I'll give them that, but I couldn't taste it apart from the bland sauces. Unfortunately the two dishes we ordered didn't live up to the hype. The Tagliatelle al Ragu' alla Bolognese had a ground-beef sauce that was strangely bland and under-salted. It tasted like it had been boiled just to cover up the lack of seasoning--honestly reminded me more of a basic canned chili than a rich, slow-cooked Bolognese. The Pappardelle alla Chiantigiana was even more disappointing. The sausage had that tired, old-sausage flavor, and the sauce (fennel, tomato, leeks, Chianti) never popped. Everything just kind of sat there on the plate. The ambiance was okay, but the restaurant was strangely packed. We called at 4:00 when they opened and had to reserve the soonest table at 8 PM, so none of it made any sense in the end. The complimentary bread was cold, which feels like such a simple thing to get right. And at $30 and $36 for medium-sized bowls of pasta, I expected a lot more wow for the price. I make better versions of both dishes at home on a regular Tuesday night. Maybe we caught an off night or our tastes just don't line up with the majority, but with 300+ reviews at 4.5 stars I was genuinely surprised. Won't be rushing back.

Went here for my mom's birthday dinner. She said it's the best Italian in Bend. The food was…read moreabsolutely delicious. Not your typical home style cooking, definitely up scale. Every dish was very tasty and ingredients tasted very fresh. Not a large restaurant best for groups of 2-4 at most. Highly suggest making a reservation.

I'm going five stars here to support the chef and staff because I love the place and the vibe. But…read moreI had a few issues with the food. First everything seems to be one thing too complicated -- eg, I had the Cacio e Pepe and it had breadcrumbs on it. I don't need crunch on my pasta. The burrata was awesome and didn't have too many ingredients but that harissa orange jam was superb. But back to my "too much" theme, while I have never complained about "too much truffle" in my life, they managed to go there. I got truffle on my pasta and was expecting a few thin slices or fresh truffle, but got what appeared to be a ton of minced truffles -- almost resembling tapenade -- which just overpowered me an the dish. The staff were amazing, the meatballs were superb, the raging pasta very good, and the chocolate mousse outstanding so I will be back. String suggestion: your pasta is SO good you should offer up a simple version (olive oil, garlic, parsley) that will blow people's minds.

My family and I enjoy a nice dinner at Bosa…read more I really enjoyed the fondue--game changer--and my delicious pasta, cachio e pepe. The meatballs were large but that SAUCE is amazing. The pear spritz and honey bear were also delicious. 7/10 because my husband felt rushed.

This restaurant is worth of it's 4.6 stars. The food is excellent…read more I had the special which was a braised lamb shank with mashed potatoes. The meat fell of the bone in a delicious sauce. My wife had the shrimp scampi which also had a delicious sauce and was full of shrimp. My son had the homemade raviolis which he finished in 2 minutes. It was served in a bolognese sauce, which was also scrumptious. Our server Alise was very nice and came multiple times to see how we were doing. She was very helpful. The atmosphere is very elegant and classy. Old World Italian. Very nice. Overall, a great meal.

This place is amazing! The food is off the charts fabulous! I had the homemade ravioli and my…read morehusband had seafood pesto- both were so good you wanted to lick your plate. But also their pomegranate martini was the best- very yummy! so much so, we had to stop by the next evening just to get one-before caught our flight home that evening. This a cute and small restaurant but definitely worth the stop! Another very late review- from a few months back- but finally time to sit down and write!

This is hands-down the best restaurant in Bend, Oregon--maybe even the best in the entire state…read more Everything you order here will be incredible. But if you go for the tasting menu, you're in for something special. It's not just dinner--it's an experience you'll remember. Honestly, it might be the best meal you'll ever have. And I don't say that lightly--I grew up in restaurants and worked in the industry for 10 years. We come here for every special occasion. It's absolutely worth it.

Ariana Restaurant was hands down one of the best dining experiences we've had. I took my…read moremother-in-law and she absolutely loved it as well, which made the night even more special. The food was perfectly cooked--thoughtful, refined, and incredibly delicious. Every dish felt intentional and beautifully executed. The staff was friendly, attentive, and struck that perfect balance of being present without being intrusive. Truly one of Bend's finer dining experiences. Elegant, warm, and memorable. We'll absolutely be back.

Food was AMAZING! Service was so quick and kind! Our food tasted amazing! I had the pesto pasta and…read moremy fiancée had the rigatoni ala vodka with shrimp! We also had the tiramisu which was FABULOUS! Visiting from AZ this place is 10/10

Really great. The place was spread out so you could move freely, it was clean, smelled…read moreWONDERFULLY. I looked at all the food as I was being seated and had no idea what to enjoy! Smiles, laughter, nice color pallet. The staff are amazingly talented! Fantastic. Everything was amazing except... The tails were left on the shrimp. It's very annoying to have shrimp tails on is a white sauce dish. Shrimp cocktail would be the only reason to leave it on. The basic rule in dining is "never place anything on a plate that's not eatable". Removing tails is part of food prep. It happens in lots of places, even high end plates. Part of prep is "get rid of the tail". But besides that... fantastic. 4 stars if tails were not on the shrimp. People say it's to keep it juicy. They say it's to not deform the shrimp while cooking. No, during prep, remove the tail shell. Never plate an item you can not eat. Love the place though. Definitely go there and enjoy each item; it's all so very good!

Wonderful, cocktails, generous portions, delightful weight staff. Highly recommend this…read moreestablishment.

Street Side Comfort Food Done Right at Zydeco…read more On a cool night in Bend, my family made a last-minute decision to grab dinner at Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails, and honestly it turned into one of our favorite meals of the trip. We were lucky enough to snag one of the last available tables, outside no less, but the overhead heaters kept the patio perfectly warm and cozy. Sitting street side watching people wander through downtown Bend while enjoying good food and cocktails gave the whole evening a relaxed and memorable vibe. One thing worth noting: make reservations if you can. Even on a cooler weekday evening this place was absolutely packed, and after eating there it was easy to understand why. The vibe walks a fine line between upscale and approachable. Busy without feeling chaotic, energetic without being loud, and the kind of place where you can just as easily have a family dinner as a date night. Great spot for couples, groups, or even grabbing a seat solo at the bar. Pricing felt right in line with the quality of food, cocktails, and overall experience. We started with cocktails, and it was immediately obvious the bar team knew what they were doing. The espresso martini was smooth and rich without being overly sweet, the Buffalo Trace Old Fashioned was balanced and spirit-forward, and the dirty martini had this savory umami quality that gave it a deep earthy finish that lingered in the best way. For appetizers, the BBQ shrimp over the southern grit cake absolutely delivered. Rich, buttery, smoky, and packed with flavor. The Village Baker bread with olive oil and the cane syrup butter topped with flaky smoked salt was another standout. Based on how quickly the plates were cleaned off the table, I would say both were a unanimous success. For dinner, I ordered the smoked pork chop and it was excellent. Thick cut, juicy, perfectly cooked, and paired with a bright salsa verde that cut through the richness perfectly. The dirty rice underneath carried a ton of flavor and rounded the dish out nicely. My daughter ordered the crispy half chicken and here's the pro tip: order it early because they do run out. We were told there were only a few left for the evening. The skin was beautifully crisp while the chicken stayed incredibly juicy, and the mashed potatoes and asparagus were simple but executed really well. My son-in-law went with the steak frites and was more than happy with the choice. The steak had a great crust, was cooked exactly to temperature, and the rogue smoky blue butter melted right into the meat giving every bite extra richness. The fries were thin, crispy, and impossible not to keep stealing off his plate. We also shared the cornbread with homemade butter and, as we say back home in Hawaii, it was "broke da mouth" good. Moist, slightly sweet, crispy around the edges, and dangerously easy to keep eating. What really stood out to me was the pacing of the meal and overall hospitality. Nothing felt rushed even with a full house. Drinks came out quickly, plates were timed well, and the staff genuinely seemed proud of the food they were serving. We especially enjoyed chatting with our waitress after finding out she had lived in Hawaii for six years. As visitors from Hawaii ourselves, it instantly gave the night a little unexpected "home away from home" feeling that made the experience even more memorable. Those little moments are what separate a good restaurant from one you genuinely remember after the trip is over. Zydeco delivered the kind of experience that makes you immediately start talking about when you can come back. Great food, thoughtful cocktails, strong hospitality, and an atmosphere that makes you want to stay awhile. Solid four-star experience and absolutely worth a stop if you are spending time in Bend.

Easily one of the best food trucks in Bend. COTTO does Italian food right -- comforting, flavorful,…read moreand always consistent. We stopped by after school and tried the 12-layer lasagna (incredible), the chopped beef sando (my favorite), and the zeppole donuts (the kids destroyed them -- sugar everywhere, totally worth it). Every dish was spot-on. You can tell everything is made with care, from the sauces to the fresh pasta. The specials are always creative and worth checking out. Service is quick, and the team is friendly even when it's busy. COTTO is a standout at The Podski -- great food, local vibe, and a perfect spot to grab a drink and a bite outdoors. Definitely one of my go-tos in Bend.

- cannolis were good! - my fried gnocchis were borderline…read moreburnt though so it wasn't the greatest :/ - seems like food is all made to order!

Tiny portion of pasta for $16! It looks like leftovers vs meal. So disappointing. Will no come backread more

I ordered the shrimp scampi. Buttered undercooked noodles with what looked like frozen deli…read moreshrimps. I brought back the dish, only to be argued with about how they cook their noodles al dente. . I decided to try another dish, but the woman behind the counter said, "well, I tasted your noodles and they are fine". For one..... why would you try someone else's returned noodles, for two, she was either a liar that she tasted my noodles, or that she just wanted to make a point. Returned the buzzer and left. I literally had to chew them and they got stuck in my teeth. I understand what al dente is. All in all. Lost for words. They supposedly make "fresh" pasta, but how do you undercook fresh pasta? They advertise fresh pasta. The undercooked "chew" only comes from non-fresh pasta that has been dried. Jeez. Talking to someone who cooks here. Word of advice, listen to your customers and you will grow as a business.

Bad news. Good news…read more Bad news first is this: The Drake has been sold to new owners and TONIGHT, APRIL 12, WILL BE THE LAST DAY OF SERVICE at The Drake with the original owner and the current menu. So if you're hankering for the mac n cheese or shrimp n grits or veg burger or any of the menu items, after today they are history. I started eating at The Drake in their first week of business and had many, many, many meals there over the years but things change and so, it seems, has the popularity of The Drake. Now the good news. The new owners are a trio and one of them is also one of the owners of the inestimable Ken's Artisan Pizza in Portland that opened its' Bend location last year. (Go! Even if you have to stand in line for 45 minutes like I did.) The first news of this ownership change was that they would keep the name and current focus of The Drake. But local television news reports that after The Drake closes today it will be reimagined with a new name and design and menu. The opening for the new place is currently said to be Memorial Day weekend. I don't live in Bend anymore but there is still a family home there and so I visit on occasion and knowing a "Ken's" owner is involved in the new enterprise may make me brave the wicked-bad downtown parking to try this new place. In the meantime, I remember how fun and delicious it could be to eat at The Drake.

Very nice place we were trying to do something out of the norm because this was our first year…read morevisiting Ben without kids. They had a nice happy hour and very good drinks on it. They were simple and well-made and relatively strong. Very cute little location seating wasn't an issue, even though we didn't make reservation reservations ahead of time Just overall a very solid little spot, we got some sliders and some other little sides and everything was put together well and price right. Definitely acquired a place so probably good. We didn't bring the kids.

You can't call yourself a Bend local without paying respects to the place that started it all…read more Yeah, the wait can get long on summer weekends, but grabbing a pint of Black Butte Porter and a pub burger at the downtown house just never gets old. Always solid, no matter how much the town grows.

These days it's getting harder to find a veggie burger that isn't full of chemicals and trying to…read moresimulate "meat"; so we were thrilled when we came across Deschutes that had a veggie burger that was made from jackfruit and pinto beans! Yay! It was the best veggie burger my husband has had in a long time... he added avocado and vegan cheese (which did make it a bit pricey). Awesome that you can do many different sides including regular fries, Cajun fries, salad, chips, and more options... do wish they had onion rings however. I got the hummus plate which was good but not the best I've had. It came with a baguette which was more like garlic bread so I would have, personally, liked pita more. It also had a few olives on the side with a red pepper type sauce. I got it with no pickled onions. They had a great beer selection and even a few tasty non-alcoholic beers. Also had kombucha on tap which was delicious (from Humm). Everyone working was super sweet and the vibes were relaxed and casual. Our food came out quick and exactly how we ordered it. They also seemed to have spaces for larger parties, too. They also have a little gift shop if you wanted to pick anything from shirts, to bottle openers, to beer candles and more! Would come back again!