38 DEGREES
Mediterranean. $$
Bryson Fairlamb, previously executive chef at
Scanlon’s, opened this west-side restaurant with
host Jeff Borne in late 2005. Fairlamb’s focus is
healthy and organic, emphasizing Northwest meats,
seafood and produce. While the menu at this new
restaurant is Mediterranean, accented by a sangria bar,
diners can expect specials “researched”
during world travels.
745 NW Mt. Washington Dr.
Bend
541/318-8161
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JEN’S GARDEN
French and Mediterranean. $$$
After months of preparation, chefs Jennifer and T.R.
McCrystal opened this intimate, 30-seat restaurant on a
back street in Sisters early this year. Their
white-tablecloth service and prix-fixed menus have
convinced many local residents they needn’t drive
to Bend for fi ne dining. Choices change weekly; a set
price includes an appetizer, entrée and salad.
And desserts from Jennifer, a trained pastry chef, are
superb.
Hood Ave. and Larch St.
Sisters
541/549-2699
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ARIANA
Mediterranean. $$-$$$
An intimate west-side bungalow is the scene of one of
Central Oregon’s most romantic candlelight dining
experiences. Chefs Ariana Asti and Andres Fernandez
draw upon Italian, French, Spanish and Greek influences
in preparing elaborate antipasto platters, chicken
cacciatore on creamy polenta, wildmushroom-crusted rack
of lamb, and bloodorange Grand Marnier crème
brûlée.
1304 NW Galveston Ave.
Bend
541/330-5539
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MARZ BISTRO
International. $$
It’s hard to categorize this colorful and
eclectic bistro. Sometimes low key, sometimes frantic,
always metropolitan and artsy, it offers an
ethnic-fusion menu that ranges from Asian-style halibut
in rice paper to Greek, Thai, Italian and an
Argentine-style marinated skirt steak. The wine list is
excellent, and Marz is conveniently located
downtown.
163 NW Minnesota Ave.
Bend
541/389-2025
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CAFÉ SINTRA
Portuguese. $-$$
When Manuel dos Santos moved to Central Oregon, he
beseeched his mother in Portugal to share her recipes.
In 2004, after six years of operating a café in
Sunriver, he added an eatery in downtown Bend—and
a few months later, at the request of customers, opened
for weekend dinners. It’s been a huge success,
with dishes like caldeirada (a sort of paella) and
Portuguese chicken stew demanding repeat visits.
1024 NW Bond Street
Bend
541/382-8004
7 Ponderosa Road
Sunriver
541/593-1222
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MERENDA
French-Italian. $$-$$$
Downtown Bend’s biggest and busiest restaurant
virtually bursts at the seams with diners beginning at
lunchtime and continuing through late-night bites in
the lively wine bar. Chef Jody Denton turns out a wide
range of comfort foods of rustic French and
northern-Italian infl uence, including risottos and
pizzas, rotisserie pork loin and petrale sole
saltimbocca. The ambience is urban chic, with high
ceilings and exposed brick walls.
900 NW Wall Street
Bend
541/330-2304
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DEMETRI’S CUSINA
Greek. $
This eastern-Mediterranean eatery is in a strip mall
off Highway 20 East, opposite The Forum shops.
Don’t be put off by the order-at-the-counter
procedure: The moussaka (casserole) is delicious, the
dolmathes (stuffed grape leaves) authentic, the baklava
(honeywalnut pastry) sublime.
425 NW Windy Knolls Dr.
Bend
541/318-0111
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