Bend has no shortage of places to grab a beer, meet friends for dinner or refuel after a day outside. But Base Camp, the new adventure hub directly behind the Powder House on SW Century Drive, is aiming to put all of those things under one very large roof.
And when I say large, I mean it. The space (which includes a 7,000-square-foot building, a 1,000-square-foot second-floor deck and 5,000 square feet of open patio and walkway space) was built by the family behind Powder House. It has the feel of a modern mountain lodge crossed with a food truck pod, neighborhood bar and gathering place. It includes comfortable indoor seating, expansive decks and patios, outdoor turf, an arcade room and plenty of room to spread out. The building is air conditioned for summer and heated for winter, making Base Camp a year-round destination.
That may be its biggest selling point. Bend has plenty of food truck lots, but few can offer this much space, this much variety and a climate-controlled place to enjoy it. Base Camp officially opened with its grand opening on Aug. 14, but in the days leading up to it, the place was already buzzing. On several visits, I saw families settling in for dinner, tourists stopping for lunch and locals gathering for after-work drinks. It was clear that people were already figuring out what Base Camp could become.
For starters, it can become your answer to the eternal question, “What does everyone want to eat?” Nearly a dozen food trucks are lined up on one side of the building, offering an impressive range of cuisines. El Taquero serves tacos starting at $4, while Chonie’s Pizza specializes in Detroit-style pizza. There is sushi and poke from Let’s Roll, which concert-goers may recognize from Hayden Homes Amphitheater, along with pho from Pho 88, Italian and Mediterranean fare from Mundrelli’s Italian Kitchen, Hawaiian comfort food from Kove Island Comfort Kitchen, seafood from I Love Cevichi and plant-based offerings from P53 Fresh.
Luckey’s Woodsman, Thaipas and Jazzy Joe Coffee Company round out the mix, with Jazzy Joe offering coffee, breakfast, cookies and ice cream. In other words, whether you’re looking for a morning bite, a $4 taco, a $20 pizza or a plate of Kalua pig, there is a good chance you will find something to satisfy the craving.
The food truck lineup offers plenty of opportunity to sample beyond the usual bar snacks. At Southern Accent, I ordered the Strut Fries, a decidedly fun guilty pleasure: crinkle-cut Cajun fries topped with chunks of fried chicken, slaw, pickles and sauce. The combination hits several pleasure centers at once — the fries are crisp, the slaw is cold and crunchy and the fried chicken pieces are moist and substantial. Add the sauce and Cajun seasoning, and the whole thing becomes a spicy, messy combination that is hard to resist.
For something on the opposite end of the spectrum, the Thaipas Salad Rolls with Shrimp are a lighter option. Romaine lettuce, carrot, cilantro, cucumber, cold shrimp and Thai basil are wrapped in rice paper and served with a peanut dipping sauce. They’re light, refreshing and substantial enough to make a perfect snack or lunch. Those two dishes are just a small sample of what’s available from the Base Camp trucks, which makes the pod feel less like a place to grab a quick bite and more like a choose-your-own-food-adventure.
On one of my happy hour visits, I opted for a Blood Orange Hugo Spritz, which was refreshing, citrusy and just the thing for a warm afternoon. Happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 2 to 5 pm, with $3 drafts, $5 wells and $7 slushies and wine.
The full bar goes well beyond the usual beer and wine lineup. Signature cocktails are $12 and include the Pum Runch, made with three rums, pineapple and cranberry juice; the Lava Butte Margarita with mezcal and hibiscus; and the Japanese Highball with Suntory Toki, soda, lemon and bitters. Nonalcoholic cocktails are a reasonable $7 and include a Hibiscus Spritz, Mason Jar Nojito and Passion Pit.
The bar also serves several wines by the glass for $11, including Willamette Valley Pinot Gris and Daou Cabernet Sauvignon, plus a small selection of bottles such as King Estate Pinot Gris and Duckhorn Merlot. And then there are the 36 taps, pouring an extensive lineup of craft beers from breweries around the country. Expect familiar IPAs, ciders, tallboy cans and plenty of options for those who prefer something other than hops.
I paired my spritz with a spicy tuna roll from Let’s Roll, a $10 snack that hit the spot. The roll had a generous bite of tuna and enough flavor to make it a satisfying little interlude between sips. It also underscored one of Base Camp’s strengths: You can make a meal here as simple or as elaborate as you want, moving from a quick snack and cocktail to a full dinner without ever leaving the building.
Beyond the food and drinks, Base Camp seems designed to keep people around. A game room provides entertainment, while the expansive indoor space is well suited for watch parties, business meetings, birthday celebrations and family gatherings. Outdoor turf and patio space give people even more room to hang out when the weather cooperates.
And then there’s the location. On the road to Mt. Bachelor, right behind Powder House on Century Drive, Base Camp seems destined to become an après-ski gathering place once winter arrives. It’s easy to picture skiers and snowboarders stopping in for a beer, a hot meal or a cocktail before heading home, as well as groups gathering around a game or warming up after a day on the mountain.
Base Camp is betting that Bend wants a place where everyone can find something to eat, everyone can find something to drink and nobody has to rush home. With its combination of food, drinks, games, events and ample indoor and outdoor space, that seems like a pretty good bet.
Base Camp
Open daily 9am-10pm
319 SW Century Dr., Bend
basecamptavern.com
IG: basecamp_bend
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