Food & Drink

Mama Mio, affordable sushi in Bend? Bonzai!When someone mentions sushi as an option, the dollar signs often start
flashing in diners’ minds. That’s because the commonly held notion is
that this Japanese culinary treat is expensive and not really that
filling. Mio Sushi is trying to put an end to that perception and is
doing so not with mini boats, conveyor belts or pre-made rolls, but
with freshly made dishes ranging from traditional nigiri sushi to
Americanized house rolls.

A welcome addition to Cascade Village Mall,
Mio Sushi is located across from The Bungalow Tropical Bar and Grille
and is the first of the Portland-based chain to open outside the
Portland area. The interiors are very similar to the Portland
locations-clean, cool colors, modern fixtures, an ample sushi bar and
LOTS of staff yelling “irasshaimase” (please come in!) when you walk in
the door.
We started out our meal with the kid-pleasing miso
soup ($1.50) and edemame ($2.94). Slurping savory soup right out of the
bowl and popping salt beans from the pod kept our two kindergarteners
happy while we filled out our sushi order.

Leaves are already falling and our two-month summer seems to be coming to an end and with it goes Bluefish Bistro. Chef Matt Mulder's popular downtown fine dining spot has closed it doors for good.

Leaves are already falling and our two-month summer seems to be coming to an end and with it goes Bluefish Bistro. Chef Matt Mulder’s popular downtown fine dining spot has closed it doors for good.

Just a few months ago the proliferation of high-end restaurants combined with the closing of many less-expensive eateries had more than a few locals lamenting about the dining scene downtown.
"Not enough lunches under $7 to choose from", "too few inexpensive places to grab a casual table service dinner" and "downtown has become a bastion of special occasion restaurants" are some of the complaints I heard on a regular basis. Fast forward to today and there are two new spots promising quick, inexpensive food for all three meals-but they may not be what diners were hoping for.
The word is out that there is a Subway opening up in a Bond Street location that has been vacant for more than four months. It's not as bad as having a Micky D's downtown, but it's close. Subway is a chain based out of Connecticut with 29,907 franchised restaurants in 87 countries, serving an inexpensive product that has few (if any) local roots. I'm not saying I've never indulged in a Subway six incher-as far as fast food goes it's not a bad choice. Still, it is fast food.
The other newcomer is The Pita Pit-a sort of Subway of Mediterranean food. Originally a Canadian company, Pita Pit has over 200 locations through Canada and the USA. Their tag line is "Fresh thinking, healthy eating" and their claim to fame is staying open until the wee hours, which is reason to brag in a place like Bend where most restaurants cater their hours to the dinner rush and not much more.

Just a few months ago the proliferation of high-end restaurants combined with the closing of many less-expensive eateries had more than a few locals lamenting about the dining scene downtown.
“Not enough lunches under $7 to choose from”, “too few inexpensive places to grab a casual table service dinner” and “downtown has become a bastion of special occasion restaurants” are some of the complaints I heard on a regular basis. Fast forward to today and there are two new spots promising quick, inexpensive food for all three meals-but they may not be what diners were hoping for.
The word is out that there is a Subway opening up in a Bond Street location that has been vacant for more than four months. It’s not as bad as having a Micky D’s downtown, but it’s close. Subway is a chain based out of Connecticut with 29,907 franchised restaurants in 87 countries, serving an inexpensive product that has few (if any) local roots. I’m not saying I’ve never indulged in a Subway six incher-as far as fast food goes it’s not a bad choice. Still, it is fast food.
The other newcomer is The Pita Pit-a sort of Subway of Mediterranean food. Originally a Canadian company, Pita Pit has over 200 locations through Canada and the USA. Their tag line is “Fresh thinking, healthy eating” and their claim to fame is staying open until the wee hours, which is reason to brag in a place like Bend where most restaurants cater their hours to the dinner rush and not much more.

Taking a bite out of high priced dining at pastini.Pastini Pastaria, another addition to the burgeoning Old Mill eatery scene, has been anxiously anticipated by all those Bendites familiar with the six Portland area locations. The restaurant's claim to fame is 36 different pasta dishes at affordable prices. With entrees priced from $5.75, Pastini will be a welcome addition to what many think is a high-priced dining culture.

Before opening to the public, Pastini threw a fundraiser and introduction party to benefit the High Desert Museum. Guests were invited to pay a small fee for a six-month membership to the museum and were treated to an open bar and a meal comprising sample portions of dishes. This was a smart move on the part the management-before trying to turn a buck, they ponied up to provide a venue for a great cause. Although the restaurant is part of a Portland-based chain, it's already giving back and becoming an active member of the community.

Pasta reigns supreme on the menu with the dishes separated into chicken, meat, vegetable and special pastas. To start the sample meal, we were served the Parmigiana Bread ($3.95), a baguette grilled with Parmesan cheese accompanied by marinara dipping sauce. It was simple and will be a big hit with the kids.

Taking a bite out of high priced dining at pastini.Pastini Pastaria, another addition to the burgeoning Old Mill eatery scene, has been anxiously anticipated by all those Bendites familiar with the six Portland area locations. The restaurant’s claim to fame is 36 different pasta dishes at affordable prices. With entrees priced from $5.75, Pastini will be a welcome addition to what many think is a high-priced dining culture.

Before opening to the public, Pastini threw a fundraiser and introduction party to benefit the High Desert Museum. Guests were invited to pay a small fee for a six-month membership to the museum and were treated to an open bar and a meal comprising sample portions of dishes. This was a smart move on the part the management-before trying to turn a buck, they ponied up to provide a venue for a great cause. Although the restaurant is part of a Portland-based chain, it’s already giving back and becoming an active member of the community.

Pasta reigns supreme on the menu with the dishes separated into chicken, meat, vegetable and special pastas. To start the sample meal, we were served the Parmigiana Bread ($3.95), a baguette grilled with Parmesan cheese accompanied by marinara dipping sauce. It was simple and will be a big hit with the kids.

Sometimes you want to have drink in a civilized environment and talk to your bud without using a megaphone or text messaging. Cork is your happy place downtown for those times.

Sometimes you want to have drink in a civilized environment and talk to your bud without using a megaphone or text messaging. Cork is your happy place downtown for those times.

Resorts with overnight accommodations have a built-in clientele for their on-site restaurants. Sometimes that can mean resort restaurants are lax in quality control and overall dining experience. That’s not the case with Seasons. There is no doubt the management and staff have made huge efforts in the re-visioning of this fine dining restaurant. Although the menu is ambitious and the attitude is one of dedication, the overall dining experience comes up short of expectations.

Over the last three years, the entire resort has undergone some drastic remodeling, changed its name and completely overhauled the dining facilities. What used to be a dark room characterized by a bad ’70s motif, the resort’s fine dining restaurant, Seasons, is now surrounded by big windows with views of the new pool area and patio seating.

The servers and management are exuberant about the establishment. After a slightly confusing walk to find the entrance, my dining partners and I were given a tour of the new dining room and bar before being seated.

Starting with appetizers, our party of four began with the Cracker Jack Oysters ($10) – big oysters coated in pulverized Cracker Jacks and fried to a crispy crunch. Slightly sweet, they were the best of the appetizers. We then moved on to the Carrot-Ginger Bisque ($3) which I found bland, even though it had some heat, The Tuna Salad ($13) had an unusual purple dressing surrounding seared ahi slices. It was slightly sweet with the intention (I would imagine) of offsetting the spice of the jalapeno and lime crust on the fish. It ended up being conflicting rather than complimenting. We ended our appetizer course with the Seafood Pistou ($12), a dish that comprised mussels, clams and halibut cooked in a pesto broth that lacked punch. However, the crusty toast for dipping was a nice touch.