Quick Bites: Good, Cheap Eats on Northbound 97

Not to worry, the world still revolves around Bend. But for times when you are forced - by death or marriage - to leave Bend, where will you eat along the way?
For many years, my trips northbound on Highway 97 to Portland or Seattle were punctuated by visits to Pepe's in Madras. I swore up and down that Pepe's was the only decent food to be had between our fair berg and the Northwest's culinary utopias. When I say decent, I just mean food prepared by real cooks - versus pimply faced teenagers - in an owner-run establishment. When Pepe's temporarily closed last year, I reluctantly embarked on a deeper search into my roadside dining options

Seeing the forest for the trees. In Bend’s increasingly volatile dining scene, Pine Tavern is a
stalwart. Established in 1936, it has perfected the recipe for success
in the restaurant business: a warm and comfortable atmosphere,
impeccable service, and, of course, great food. The oft-mentioned lore
of the place is certainly a draw, notably the 250-year-old live
ponderosa pine tree growing through the middle of the main dining room.
Others come for the setting. You’ll find some of Bend’s most
sought-after tables on the patio overlooking the Deschutes during the
summer and, when the nights get cold, some of the coziest in the dimly
lit lounge. Some patrons wait for the special menus that are offered
periodically. In fact, I returned last week to check out the featured
“Taste the Pastabilities” menu.

Seeing the forest for the trees. In Bend's increasingly volatile dining scene, Pine Tavern is a
stalwart. Established in 1936, it has perfected the recipe for success
in the restaurant business: a warm and comfortable atmosphere,
impeccable service, and, of course, great food. The oft-mentioned lore
of the place is certainly a draw, notably the 250-year-old live
ponderosa pine tree growing through the middle of the main dining room.
Others come for the setting. You'll find some of Bend's most
sought-after tables on the patio overlooking the Deschutes during the
summer and, when the nights get cold, some of the coziest in the dimly
lit lounge. Some patrons wait for the special menus that are offered
periodically. In fact, I returned last week to check out the featured
"Taste the Pastabilities" menu.