All in all, it appears that Deschutes has done a bang-up job of fusing together its distinctly modern addition with its cozy and more intimate pub and its early 90s vibe. While the new space is impressive with its expansive open kitchen, multiple stories and party room, most locals will probably be just as interested in what's changed and what hasn't in the original pub. Among other things, there is a new waiting area, a great relief for families who are used to crowding the entranceway and doors. The waiting area and expanded bar area seating are part of a general more-elbow-room theme for the space, something that everyone can appreciate on a Saturday night. According to one insider source, the brewery set out to maintain the character of the pub, an approach that was based on the input from its longtime customers. And the revamp stays true to the pub's character.
But there's no denying that it's a new era. All told, the expansion adds about 7,500 square feet to the facility and more than doubles the pub's capacity from 141 seats to 306.
The new banquet room, which is located upstairs in the addition, has a 75-person capacity with its own bar, featuring 16 taps and a flat-screen television.
If elements of the addition appear familiar to customers that have visited the Deschutes Brewery pub in Portland, that might be because some of the leftover construction material from that project was used to create the stairs and new trellis in the Bend pub.
In a few non-construction related notes, we've been informed that Deschutes will pare back its beer offerings from roughly 20 flavors to 16, a move that was necessitated by the expansion and the addition of two different pouring stations. In menu news, the new kitchen features a pizza oven and the new lunch menu that includes three flatbread pizzas, including a "pub special" with "ale wort" tomato sauce, carmelized onions, housemade sausage and pepperoni. In the immortal words of Homer Simpson, "Mmmmmm."
There's also a new bar menu that features a few pub favorites from the appetizer menu with items ranging from $3.50 (hand cut chips) to $12 (sausage sampler).
Bro Jos on Bond
Deschutes isn't the only kid on the block making waves. Brother Jon's, the popular westside neighborhood pub, is set to open its doors next week. The restaurant will draw on the success of its westside location with a greater focus on dinner entrees, according to partner John Machell, though it will be serving its popular lunch fare as well. In addition to food, the new location will have an expanded offering of local and regional craft beers with more than a dozen taps. Here's hoping Bro Jos winning formula on Galveston translates into downtown success.
Broken Top Bottle Shop and Ale Cafe to Open Soon
Speaking of the westside, if you need a new place to drink beer, you'll soon have one. The Broken Top Bottle Shop and Ale Café is set to open next month in the former home of the Abbey Pub. The new joint expects to pour draft beers, serve food with an emphasis on vegetarian preparations and offer an impressive selection of bottled beer. Andy Polanchek, a long-time employee of Brother Jon's Public House, is one of the new owners. We're expecting big things, but mostly we're expecting to drink beer there.
