Central Oregon Dining Guide

Featured Above: Merenda Restaurant and Wine Bar

European Restaurants

38 DEGREES Mediterranean. $$ Bryson Fairlamb, previously executive chef at Scanlon’s, opened this west-side restaurant with host Jeff Borne in late 2005. Fairlamb’s focus is healthy and organic, emphasizing Northwest meats, seafood and produce. While the menu at this new restaurant is Mediterranean, accented by a sangria bar, diners can expect specials “researched” during world travels. 745 NW Mt. Washington Dr. Bend 541/318-8161		DEMETRI’S CUSINA Greek. $ This eastern-Mediterranean eatery is in a strip mall off Highway 20 East, opposite The Forum shops. Don’t be put off by the order-at-the-counter procedure: The moussaka (casserole) is delicious, the dolmathes (stuffed grape leaves) authentic, the baklava (honeywalnut pastry) sublime. 425 NW Windy Knolls Dr. Bend 541/318-0111


ARIANA Mediterranean. $$-$$$ An intimate west-side bungalow is the scene of one of Central Oregon’s most romantic candlelight dining experiences. Chefs Ariana Asti and Andres Fernandez draw upon Italian, French, Spanish and Greek influences in preparing elaborate antipasto platters, chicken cacciatore on creamy polenta, wildmushroom-crusted rack of lamb, and bloodorange Grand Marnier crème brûlée. 1304 NW Galveston Ave. Bend 541/330-5539		JEN’S GARDEN French and Mediterranean. $$$ After months of preparation, chefs Jennifer and T.R. McCrystal opened this intimate, 30-seat restaurant on a back street in Sisters early this year. Their white-tablecloth service and prix-fixed menus have convinced many local residents they needn’t drive to Bend for fi ne dining. Choices change weekly; a set price includes an appetizer, entrée and salad. And desserts from Jennifer, a trained pastry chef, are superb. Hood Ave. and Larch St. Sisters 541/549-2699


BISTRO CORLISE French. $$ Chef Jason Logan lets wine dictate the route through classic French cuisine. Seasonal menus feature local, fresh top quality food. Monthly wine dinners showcase the regional food traditions of France. 916 NW Wall St., Bend. 541.385.6979 bistrocorlise.com		MARZ BISTRO International. $$ It’s hard to categorize this colorful and eclectic bistro. Sometimes low key, sometimes frantic, always metropolitan and artsy, it offers an ethnic-fusion menu that ranges from Asian-style halibut in rice paper to Greek, Thai, Italian and an Argentine-style marinated skirt steak. The wine list is excellent, and Marz is conveniently located downtown. 163 NW Minnesota Ave. Bend 541/389-2025


CAFÉ SINTRA Portuguese. $-$$ When Manuel dos Santos moved to Central Oregon, he beseeched his mother in Portugal to share her recipes. In 2004, after six years of operating a café in Sunriver, he added an eatery in downtown Bend—and a few months later, at the request of customers, opened for weekend dinners. It’s been a huge success, with dishes like caldeirada (a sort of paella) and Portuguese chicken stew demanding repeat visits. 1024 NW Bond Street Bend 541/382-8004 7 Ponderosa Road Sunriver 541/593-1222		MERENDA French-Italian. $$-$$$ Downtown Bend’s biggest and busiest restaurant virtually bursts at the seams with diners beginning at lunchtime and continuing through late-night bites in the lively wine bar. Chef Jody Denton turns out a wide range of comfort foods of rustic French and northern-Italian infl uence, including risottos and pizzas, rotisserie pork loin and petrale sole saltimbocca. The ambience is urban chic, with high ceilings and exposed brick walls. 900 NW Wall Street Bend 541/330-2304

Bend Oregon Dining Guide Key

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