Solid homemade pasta, but the "elevated Italian" fell flat for us. 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. read more

Went here for my mom's birthday dinner. She said it's the best Italian in Bend. The food was absolutely 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. read more

The food is absolutely wonderful. The grilled bread is a brilliant take on it, not burnt and the olive oil and toppings are the best representation of these items. The primi and secondi options are superb and the cod in tomato sauce with bread stays in my Italian seaside dreams. Jesus that dish is majestic and addictive. The service was as expected and is great at any refills and specials delivery. Ambience is where it gets a little odd because of the location they are in, with outdoor seating before the front door and then walking into an active dining room while also trying to ask about your reservation, is a bit tough, but not their fault. Bigger spot or even a different layout, changes all of that. Cannot stress enough, this place is a gem, and if I lived in this town, I would come in probably 2 if not 3 times a month but also could be a date night or special occasion spot easily. read more

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I almost issued 5 stars because I felt a lot of attention is paid to every detail. It started with the most wonderful, fresh bread drizzled with an equally wonderful olive oil. The scallops appetizer, which was a special, was equally enjoyable, and so was the beef broth soup. The saffron spaghetti was another special I ordered. This was also very good; however, I didn't detect any saffron in this dish. When I pointed that out, I was told the spaghetti were made in saffron tea and that it was not 'overpowering.' This is what cost the one point. Real saffron is the single most expensive spice on earth with one pound of the real stuff retailing around $10,000; it is also the most tampered and forged spice there is on the market. As a chef, I would not take mention of it lightly without being able to back it up. It was a warm night in August, and I had a table outside on the patio. Service was great and left nothing to be desired. So was the dirty Martini, beer on tap, and the tiramisu for dessert that had a wonderful ratio of mascarpone cream to ladyfingers. read more

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Best restaurant in Bend. I have eaten at all of them Staff is professional. Food is exceptional. Ive eaten here at least 5 times. It's a cozy spot and price is reasonable. The only restaurant that is similar in quality in Bend is Ariana. read more

Bend has pretty much converted me to a food truck or pub kind of diner. It's infrequently that I opt for a "sit down" restaurant. But I have some places bookmarked to try, which included Trattoria Sbandati, so we popped over there yesterday to check it out (and by 'popped by,' I mean we made a reservation two days prior). Sbandati has the 'starter, first course, second course, dessert' thing but we're typically not big eaters so we ordered just two entrees (both first and second courses are full-plate 'entrees') and two sides, no dessert: polpette (three big meatballs in a tomato sauce), merluzzo all'aqua pazza (Alaskan cod in a different tomato sauce), cannellini beans and sauteed spinach. The meatballs also come with spinach but we like spinach. Everything was excellent. Food, service, ambiance. Sbandati is a small place and I imagine when it fills up it might get loud with conversation but we had an early reservation, so it was nice. I know Sbandati gets mentioned a lot when folks are asked about their favorite Italian restaurants in Central Oregon so it's probably no surprise that my verdict is: highly recommended. read more

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5 Stars are few and far between these days but Trattoria Sbandati got me thinking, why did we wait so long to return other than I cannot pronounce the name, it takes me a few tries, ok I got it, ahh lost it again, no I don't have the skills, oh $#!&. YELP Short Answer: Yes for sure, make a Resi and enjoy a classy meal which is the BEST real Italian in Bend but not the most expensive, enough said there. Location: Kind of a funky location but it has stuck, was the old LaRosa back in the day and it wasn't that great then. Parking can be an issues so plan ahead. Buildout: Simple Italian, great kitchen I have visited several times when the owner was trying to do cooking classes ; ) Menu: Very simple, everything is explained and on our last visit, Joanna assisted and and was so perfect with drinks, wine, and menu explanations made decision making easy. Food Prep: Well done, nothing goofy about it just like being in Italy, the meal is the experience not the flower on top. Food Quality: This would be a 6 star on our night. Sorry to see some negative reviews but who knows all I can say is eccellentemente. Drinks: Great Martini here. Diner: Incredible both items were perfect which is pretty good. Wine: Perfect pairing Chianti of course. Desert: TM was great with an espresso. Waitstaff: Joanna is a professional and so exceptionally nice, glad she is back she is a 10 and you know I mean that! Overall Value: Excellent please enjoy, treat people as you'd like to be treated, Trattoria Sbandati is not an upscale kiss your @$$ overpriced, BS journey like some others have grown into. Venting I am. TIP: Resi app and get a confirmation. Outdoor seating is very nice weather dependent of course. Menu on website is not current, but that's Italian !!!! read more

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The Owner-Chef is a native of Italy and his menu reflects his Italian heritage and skills. Every entree has been carefully selected to represent authentic Italian cuisine. The restaurant itself is rather small but that only makes for stellar service and personal attention. If you love real Italian food, then the only place in Bend that can provide it is Tratorria Sbandati. read more

I really like this place. The bread is made in house and is possibly the best in town. The menu changes a bit but the pasta Bolognese is always good with a glass of Nebbiolo. read more

Excellent service and great food. Paper Plane is becoming one of my favorite cocktails. We particularly enjoyed the meatballs with spinach and the mushroom pasta read more

The food is amazing. Service is the only reason I can't give it 5 stars. Ambiance is good. As far as service, don't ignore people when they come in. This happened to others as they came in, not only me. read more

Best meal I've had in a very, very long time. Food is prepared with heart and soul, and you can taste it. Cured meat selection was perfect starter for me. The soup of the day almost made me cry. The pan seared cod with tomato sauce was flavorful and satisfying. Italian cuisine is know for being fresh, flavorful and relatively simple. Trattoria Sbandati has been and always will be the best authentic Italian restaurant in Bend. read more

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Excellent food! I wish I knew this place existed sooner. It is definitely high-end and rather for couples than for families. I'd like to go back for our anniversary dinner. read more

The restaurant wouldn't split the check for our table, and when we tried to sort it out among ourselves, they got frustrated and asked us to leave to finish doing it elsewhere. Mind you it was 6 people and we were only splitting 3 ways. I would think when you spend over 500 dollars they would be more understanding. read more

Food was great as was the service. Cozy restaurant which was very busy even though we went midweek. Noise level high.

This is our favorite Italian restaurant in Bend. Don't shy away from this place because it's next to the gas station; once you step inside, you'll immediately forget about it. The ambiance inside is quaint, the service is always friendly and the food is amazing! All the pasta is homemade too. I have yet to try a dish I didn't like. It's all delicious! read more

Had an excellent meal here. Very authentic tasting pasta dishes and great presentation. Given it's size, the bar was well stocked and they offered a nice list of house cocktails. I had the PAPPARDELLE ALLA CHIANTIGANA and I'd say it was just what I hoped for. Fantastic flavor and a portion just large enough to satisfy my appetite. I'd certainly go back and try a few more dishes. read more

Thank you for paying such close attention to my allergies. I got to enjoy a lot of dishes I typically shy away from at other restaurants. Great service, wonderful food. read more

Driven past this place a thousand times and went in for the first time tonight. Cannot believe we've never stopped here. No reservation but they sat us at a nice little table near the entrance. Greeted with delicious bread first thing. Ordered a couple paper planes that were perfect. We shared an incredible pasta dish along with the filet mignon special that was cooked perfectly medium rare. Excellent service, delicious food and cocktails. We will be back.. and we will recommend to everyone we can. read more

Had an absolutely spectacular meal on the patio of Trattoria Sbandati. The food is very authentic complimented by personable family style service. We didn't have a reservation, but they were able to get us in right away. The meatballs are a must have! Thank you Trattoria Sbandati. read more

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Just went back after a few years and had an AMAZING Dinner! Michael (our server) helped us pick out our dishes. With a pescatarian and a couple of meat lovers, he made our dinner perfect by recommendations for specials and regular menu selections. He also gave suggestions for cocktails and wine that were spot on. Looking forward to going back and absolutely asking for Michael to serve us! He also was able to find a pair of reader glasses to use as my husband forgot his and couldn't read the menu... Thank you Michael for making our night great! read more

A true Italian restaurant! With all the flavor of Italy. Service was great, Ambience is a little crowded but if you like anchovies on your salad. And a hearty meal you found it. read more

Truly the very best itilian restaurant in Central Oregon. Food, service, and wine is always so good. Atmosphere is cozy and romantic.

Service: Great Ambiance: good, little outdated, could use some TLC Food: in the two times I've been there, it's been lacking on multiple fronts. Unfortunate, as I've had multiple people tell me how great it is...I just haven't been impressed. I'd say give it a shot and be your own judge. But personally, after two lackluster experiences, I won't be going back. Not worth the $$$ read more

Really enjoyed the food, and the bread is to die for!! The staff is absolutely great, they made the dining experience that much better, I will be back!!! read more

We visited Friday night and were very pleasantly surprised. Busy as can be which is a great sign but also top notch service and drinks. Not a fancy location but once inside the door, you could smell to amazing flavors from the kitchen. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable and very efficient. From the scallop appetizer to the bolognese, Cannelloni to the beef tenderloin we were definitely happy with our selections. We will be back! read more

Three stars, and I'm feeling generous today because the people were nice, if a bit too chill in greeting us and getting us seated. Net: I think this is a locals place where there is likely a successful path through a difficult menu. We just didn't find it. The negatives: offbeat location (on a traffic circle well outside central Bend), bad setting (gas station view, literally though they do their best to hide it with trees), the menu structure (it's done Italian style, primi, secondi, entree) but the portions don't support ordering that way (i.e., they're too big). Suggest: offer the primi dishes in two sizes, primi and entree; it would make it much easier to order. The food (just not that good, the meatballs, e.g., which I were really looking forward to, were almost inedibly salty). The naming: the zuchini salad simply is not a zuchini salad and somehow the balsamic vinegar on it didn't taste very good. Limited starters: 4 dishes of which is bruschetta, not really a starter. See prior suggestion on appetizer sized primi dishes. The service: chill and friendly, but almost too chill. The positives: the people were definitely nice, the vibe was warm, and the specials were both quite good (the mussels and in a correct starter portion) and manicotti-like pasta (which is perhaps a standard menu item, can't quite remember). Two of us really disliked it because of our choices. The third thought it was good because of hers. But menus shouldn't be minefields. This one was. Won't be back. read more

I was visiting Bend ( from the Hoboken area famous for Italian food) and my local colleague took me here for dinner as she loves this place . Well, it's easy to see why ! The place has quaint outdoor, indoor and bar seating with very friendly staff and attentive service - it's Bend ! The menu was very impressive as well with real Italian verbiage and entrees. We started off with the Burrata and a bottle of red and both were excellent. For the mains I had the chefs meatballs served with spinach ( and I ordered a side of pasta ). She had mushrooms in white sauce with pasta. Everything was absolutely delicious: seasoning , temperature and the serving size was ideal as well . Really impressed with the taste, consistency and presentation and would put this place up against any NY Italian Bistro ! Well done read more

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Food was mediocre at best. Steak was under seasoned and tough. Pasta was well made but the sauce itself was also under seasoned. I had high expectations for this place seeing that the price point is on par with mid to high end places. The service was good they kept and eye on up but didn't hover. Food is said to be shared such as one person gets 1st corse another person gets 2nd corse and the share. Don't do that it won't be enough food for 2 people. All around was not every happy with the food or the experience. The desert and the drinks redeemed itself but if it wasn't for those two things I would have given this place a 2 star rating. read more

Trattoria Sbandati - TAGLIATELLE AL RAGU' ALLA BOLOGNESE - Italian Near Me - Bend, Oregon

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This was our first dining experience at Trattoria Sbandati. We were seated promptly and our server was friendly and took his time with us when we had follow up questions about the specials. We had an indoor table and I expected it to be louder than it was so that was good. We ordered a few appetizers- cannellini beans, bruschetta & sautéed spinach- all great! Our second course was 4 pastas - mine was the penne which was just a bit too al dente but the sauce was so perfect I didn't feel the need to send it back- and one seafood dish. I tasted everyone's dish and I thought everything was delicious. We finished with tiramisu and that was another big hit. It was a surprise to be questioned by the expeditor, when we asked for red pepper flakes and Parmesan cheese, what we wanted the Parmesan cheese for. Yes, I'm well aware that in Italy you do not put cheese on seafood but to feel like we needed to explain ourselves was just icky and actually upset one of my guests. read more

We were in Bend for a conference and looking for local restaurants. We would have never stumbled across this one behind a chevron in a small strip mall without yelp's reviews. The service was welcoming and attentive. The fresh bred with olive oil was a nice add. Even at the end of tomato season they offered a lovely caprese salad. My only regret is not saving room for dessert. Would definitely return. Definitely recommend reservations. read more

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Great meal! My Italian dad was very skeptical going into this meal since he didn't think Bend could do Italian but by the end of the meal he was ready to book his next trip to visit. Getting a reservation anywhere in Bend is a bit trick so with family visiting I had this one on the books for several months. Unfortunately, the smoke/ash was so bad that we couldn't sit outside and they didn't have an indoor table that would accommodate a larger party BUT even though they don't typically do takeout (not a surprise, it's very clear that they don't on their website) they made an exception and prepared our food to go. We had a great time waiting for our order over a martini and amazing bread and our order came out at exactly the time promised. The food also kept for the short drive home. Yes, the menu is hard to say but why shouldn't it be in Italian? The servers are helpful and will pronounce items for you. There is no shame in learning how to say something. Our favorites are the mushroom pasta and ragu but at this point I think we've had everything on the menu and have left happy. One tip, select inside seating since the outdoor conditions (mainly smoke) can be a bit sporadic here in Bend. read more

Everything was incredibly awesome!!!! The food, the service and the ambiance. So grateful for this gem is in our town!!!

Finally came here for our 35th anniversary after meaning to get here for sometime. Restaurant is small and you need reservations. Unfortunately we were seated next to the door on a cold weather night and for a Wednesday night it was packed. The large table with unruly children didn't really add to a romantic mood. Our waitress was also the bartender who had to keep running back to make drinks. The pastas were above average but not spectacular. The profiteroles were not fresh and a big disappointment. Given all of the above I'm not sure if I would return any time soon. read more

Trattoria Sbandati - 35th anniversary - Italian Near Me - Bend, Oregon

Arrived in town late and this place was nearby. We tried it and were happy we did. Food and service were fantastic, If you can get a reservation it's recommended. This place is quite popular. Home made pasta and sauces. read more

Food is hot and fresh, I had lasagna Wait staff was slow to bring menus, or even take drink orders.,Manager brought us menus,, drink and food order. Slow night for staff., read more

We came back to Trattoria Sbandati after such an amazing experience on our honeymoon two years ago. It was so good, that we ate at the restaurant two nights in a row during our honeymoon. The food was excellent, and the owner's wife was very hospitable and kind. So we came back to Bend to visit a few family friends, and invited them to join us at the restaurant. When we arrived, it was a day that was 100 degrees at 5 pm. We had made for the reservation outside, not knowing that there was strict policy that once you decide inside or outside there would be no exceptions. It was four adults plus our infant son, and knowing 100 degrees would be terrible for a baby, we asked to move our table indoors where we saw several open tables. We were told by our waitress, Joanna, that it was not possible. Adding to this, one of our family friends was not feeling good from the heat, and even though Joanna noticed this, it didn't faze her to keep us outside. Fast forward to our experience - that family friend ended up throwing up in the parking lot from the heat, and our son was also not feeling good. We had just received the food, and asked for it to be boxed up to go because we could not stay longer. Upon leaving, Joanna said good luck to us. I gave her a 15% tip by default mistakenly, because she didn't deserve a tip - the service and experience were just awful. We rarely dine out with a young child, so when we do, we want good service, but didn't get it. The food was excellent two years ago, and was also excellent again: the charcuterie board was still excellent, and their bolognese pasta is something we could eat daily. Now you may be thinking, why didn't we leave from the start? Because the restaurant has a policy, or at least with Resy, to charge $30 per guest for not showing up, and we thought this would've been applied had we left at the start. Crazy policy if you ask me, but I'm not surprised after the service and experience. Maybe the owners can correct us if we we're wrong, but they had our credit card information to make the reservation and could hence charge us. I also think the restaurant would do all of their guests and potential guests a favor by refusing to do outdoor dining when the temperature is too high. read more

Some of the finest Italian food I've had in Oregon was unfortunately marred by the fact that they let a huge, hairy dog inside recently (11/18/22) as though this was an off leash park or maybe a cart pod. No, it wasn't a real service animal. Not every dog is service animal, just because people call it a service animal doesn't make it so. And "emotional support animals" are a just a way for entitled A-holes to bring their animals everywhere. Management needs to clamp down in this. Consult an attorney if needed. read more

Just get on the website and make reservations. This restaurant was the highlight of our recent visit to Bend. It started with the bread. Made daily in the restaurant along with the pasta, the bread was served with an incredibly flavorful olive oil. Melted in our mouth. Then because we had received a great recommendation from the wine bar next door, ordered the seafood linguini to share and it was perfect. We finished with one order of beef tenderloin and one filet (a special that night). Both were beyond compare. The filet was truly one of the best steaks I've ever eaten. The only knock I have is that our waiter was distracted by a previous grouchy customer and the service was slow compared to those around us, but we will just mark that off as an anomaly. Go; get adventurous when ordering, you won't be sorry. read more

Amazing food... Service and atmosphere were lacking. Made a reservation for my boyfriend's birthday and had high hopes as we've been eyeing this place for years and saving it for a special occasion. The food was full of flavor, and portions were a good size. Unfortunately, we were disappointed in the overall atmosphere of this place. There was no music playing inside; however, there was a speaker across the parking lot at the gas station, providing tunes for patio diners. We sat inside and were distracted by the continuous beeping of timers in the kitchen. Our waitress was friendly, but we felt neglected from the moment we sat down. It seemed she focused more on providing excellent service to the table next to us, an older couple. Perhaps she expected them to rack up a higher bill than my younger boyfriend and I. Feeling neglected is never a big motivation to continue to spend money. We cut our time short and finished with a glass of port instead of more drinks and dessert. The port was served with a single candle for my boyfriend's birthday, and honestly, it was a weird touch at that point. As good as the food was, we were let down by the service and will take our business elsewhere next time. read more