10 Below and the Oxford Hotel are set to officially open this week. Located in the lower lobby of the hotel, 10 Below gets its name from the hotel's street address (10 NW Minnesota). The menu ($8-25), by Chef Sam Reed, formerly of Sunriver Resort and The Biltmore in Arizona, is sure to please. Local Bendite Todd Lambert joins Reed as Sous Chef at what is likely to be a new hotspot in Bend. The bar features a high-end selection of liquors. The décor alone is worth the trip. Shiny, white antler looking light fixtures adorn the ceiling; a colorful wall of woven lights blurs the line between function and art; sculptural tree stumps, saplings, and cross-sections pay tribute to the eco-friendly, environmentally-conscious tagline of the Oxford Hotel.
Food & Drink
The Bend Barrio: Say 'Hello' to Nouveau Peruvian-Mexican food at Hola!
Since opening in 2007, Hola! has become a mainstay for consistent Latin cuisine. With a menu that features traditional dishes from Peru & Mexico and an extensive tequila bar, Hola! offers authenticity without overkill, relying on fresh, hand-made dishes and a casual, fun dining experience. From tableside guacamole ($9), to shaker-size margarita portions ($7-10), and two convenient locations serving lunch and dinner, say hello to a seasoned restaurant with staying power.
Visiting the East Side location for lunch, the intoxicating smells of tortilla chips frying and carne asada roasting took me back to the year I spent in the Barrio of Tucson, Arizona. Back then, I lived beside the oldest Mexican restaurant in town, El Charro, where house specialty carne seca was air dried daily in a cage hanging over the roof. The smell of Mexican comfort food is as much of a feature of life in the Barrio as the sweltering heat, and the smell of Hola! reminded me of Tucson.
The Bend Barrio: Say 'Hello' to Nouveau Peruvian-Mexican food at Hola!
Since opening in 2007, Hola! has become a mainstay for consistent Latin cuisine. With a menu that features traditional dishes from Peru & Mexico and an extensive tequila bar, Hola! offers authenticity without overkill, relying on fresh, hand-made dishes and a casual, fun dining experience. From tableside guacamole ($9), to shaker-size margarita portions ($7-10), and two convenient locations serving lunch and dinner, say hello to a seasoned restaurant with staying power.
Visiting the East Side location for lunch, the intoxicating smells of tortilla chips frying and carne asada roasting took me back to the year I spent in the Barrio of Tucson, Arizona. Back then, I lived beside the oldest Mexican restaurant in town, El Charro, where house specialty carne seca was air dried daily in a cage hanging over the roof. The smell of Mexican comfort food is as much of a feature of life in the Barrio as the sweltering heat, and the smell of Hola! reminded me of Tucson.
Savoring The Simple: Angel Thai offers a nice alternative on Bend's scene
As its name suggests, Typhoon is the tropical storm of Thai food for many diners in Bend. But slightly off the beaten path is another important Thai restaurant making a smaller wave, a worthy one at that. Angel Thai delivers flavorful, high quality cuisine with modesty, attention to detail, and smart service.
On a chilly fall evening, I scrambled in with two friends sight unseen, having recently overheard a pedestrian describing “the very best dessert in all of Bend,” at Angel Thai. We decided to go for dinner, assuming that dessert, at the very least, would be “the very best.”
Savoring The Simple: Angel Thai offers a nice alternative on Bend's scene
As its name suggests, Typhoon is the tropical storm of Thai food for many diners in Bend. But slightly off the beaten path is another important Thai restaurant making a smaller wave, a worthy one at that. Angel Thai delivers flavorful, high quality cuisine with modesty, attention to detail, and smart service.
On a chilly fall evening, I scrambled in with two friends sight unseen, having recently overheard a pedestrian describing “the very best dessert in all of Bend,” at Angel Thai. We decided to go for dinner, assuming that dessert, at the very least, would be “the very best.”
Aprรจs Ski Pub Crawl! – Eat and drink your way down the mountain for a song
There are pros and cons to situating a ski resort on National Forest land, but one of the biggest cons for Mt. Bachelor – that last call for food and alcohol coincides with the last chair at around 4 p.m. – can also be a huge pro. Since aprรจs ski up top lasts only a few minutes, local businesses all the way down the mountain and into town roll out some excellent happy hour options to lure in passers-by looking for post-play refreshments. Whether you're a vacationer or a local, a hungry winter sportsman or simply a bargain hunting day-drinker looking for a deal, there's aprรจs ski merriment to be found around every corner. Set yourself up with an appetite and a designated driver and embark on your very own aprรจs pub-crawl down the hill – a must for any winter in Bend. Here's one possible route, in geographical order:
Aprรจs Ski Pub Crawl! – Eat and drink your way down the mountain for a song
There are pros and cons to situating a ski resort on National Forest land, but one of the biggest cons for Mt. Bachelor – that last call for food and alcohol coincides with the last chair at around 4 p.m. – can also be a huge pro. Since aprรจs ski up top lasts only a few minutes, local businesses all the way down the mountain and into town roll out some excellent happy hour options to lure in passers-by looking for post-play refreshments. Whether you're a vacationer or a local, a hungry winter sportsman or simply a bargain hunting day-drinker looking for a deal, there's aprรจs ski merriment to be found around every corner. Set yourself up with an appetite and a designated driver and embark on your very own aprรจs pub-crawl down the hill – a must for any winter in Bend. Here's one possible route, in geographical order:
The Mighty Fine 2009
This is the week the bar manager doesn't sleep, the lead up to what is the biggest night of the year when bar records get broken. Every angle must have an exit strategy, as it is an evening where anything can happen and the impossible will. It's the only night that it wouldn't be a surprise for the electricity to go out, the sprinkler system to spray water everywhere, the refrigerators to all stop working, and to have some crazy a-hole drive his car through the front door right as the balloons drop.
The preparation for such a night is fervent with panicked last minute runs to Cash and Carry, passionate apologies because we can't accommodate anyone else, and crazed ruckus as we try to find space for triple the usual amount of ingredients. For fourteen hours we will run at full tilt under unbearably stressful conditions to make the magic of New Year's come alive.
A Little of This, A Little of That: Fusion food with the distinct flavor of Bend at 5 Spice
When Lilian Chu of Hong Kong Restaurant fame and Soba founder Di Long got together to discuss the concept for their joint venture in Deep's former Wall Street location, I can't imagine there was much argument about the cuisine. Bend's new Asian fusion supergroup went straight for what they do best. Though named for the core seasonings in Chinese cooking, 5 Spice is as fusion as you can get. Pan Asian with a European accent, flavors span the globe, often all on one plate.
A Little of This, A Little of That: Fusion food with the distinct flavor of Bend at 5 Spice
When Lilian Chu of Hong Kong Restaurant fame and Soba founder Di Long got together to discuss the concept for their joint venture in Deep's former Wall Street location, I can't imagine there was much argument about the cuisine. Bend's new Asian fusion supergroup went straight for what they do best. Though named for the core seasonings in Chinese cooking, 5 Spice is as fusion as you can get. Pan Asian with a European accent, flavors span the globe, often all on one plate.