Little Bites: Whirlwind of New Options: New restaurant action in every corner of the city

Crux Fermentation Project Holds Grand Opening

Bend’s newest brewery opened Saturday night, June 30, to a crowd of 1,500 or so locals and tourists who helped christen the brewery, munched some barbecue and slipped their own private momento into a time capsule box at the brewery.

Those intending to savor the fruits of former Deschutes brewmaster and Crux co-owner Larry Sidor’s latest labors had to wait, though. Crux went through 25 kegs worth of guest taps Saturday night, but will not begin pouring their own brews until this Friday.

First on tap will be an easy drinking Northwest Pale Ale, said Crux head chef Jackson Higdon. The brewery will follow up with an 8 percent IPA soon, he said. (EFM)

Jackelope Opens Downtown

Third Street stalwart Jackalope Grill made its official downtown debut to a packed house last Friday at the restaurant’s new location on Lava Avenue next to Visit Bend. The restaurant—which serves a Northwest style menu that includes filet mignon and pork tenderloin, but also some departures such as Jager Schnitzel and other dishes with distinctly European influences—worked out many of the kinks during two soft openings earlier last week. Chef and owner Timothy Garling said that while the seating capacity is relatively on par with the old location, the new restaurant features a full bar with room for about 20 people. (EF)

Baldy’s Expands Again

Local barbeque favorite Baldy’s is expanding again, this time to the former Yoko’s location off 27^th Street where renovations on the space should be completed soon.

Restaurant employees said the new spot will open by the third week of July.

The restaurant will offer its standard menu, plus breakfast.

“[It’s] not a traditional breakfast,” said a restaurant employee. “I don’t think most restaurants serve ribs for breakfast.”

Baldy’s has already closed its small shop inside the Shell station on the corner of Highway 20 and 27^th Street. The restaurant had previously expanded to Redmond, where it dishes up all manner of bbq goodness out of a location in the Fred Meyer parking lot. (EFM)

Wingstop Heading This Direction

The national purveyor of chicken wings is moving to Oregon in a big way. The company plans to open 12 new locations, including one in Bend, over the next few years.

The company, which is all about franchises and is fronted by “Wingstop National Spokesman” Troy Aikman, sells wings tossed in 10 different sauces, fries, a few other sides and chicken sandwiches.

The first of these 12 shops will open in Portland early next year, said a rep with the company’s marketing firm. Wingstop currently has only one Oregon location, also in Portland. (EFM)

This article appears in Jul 5-11, 2012.