Mountain Burger — Restaurant in Bend

Updated 10/3/22. To be true to my word, this is my revised review. I changed it from 1 star to 2 stars.

Mountain Burger has promise, but it’ll need A LOT of work.

To start, the ambiance is inviting. The blue and white color scheme with the wood structure is lovely. The homage to Bend and Mt. Bachelor is worth appreciating. Sadly, this was the best part of Mountain Burger.

The service was lackluster. Granted, we dined on a Friday after their recent opening. It took well over 30 mins to be greeted, seated, and then order drinks.

Our food took about 45 mins as they accidentally took our food to another table as we watched others seated after us receive their food. Our server's apology left much to be desired and she was clearly overwhelmed. We were also next to a table where the manager seemed to spend a fair amount of time mingling with them. Again, I won’t hold this against MB on opening weekend, but this was frustrating nonetheless.

The burgers were tasty but lacking and they were small. I want to commend them on creating their own sauce, using local beef, making their own cheese, & using local buns. However, the single burger patty is 3 ounces.

The patty was cooked to a proper medium, but sadly it was hidden under a mound of sauce and cheese. In essence, the burger-to-topping ratio is imbalanced. You don’t get to fully enjoy the burger patty. Furthermore, a 3-ounce burger under a mound of sauce, cheese, and iceberg lettuce lends itself to the bun falling apart.

I really wish they put more thought into their "classic burger" instead of their elaborate fries, other burgers, and expensive cocktails.

The salted caramel shake was delicious. Though we did not enjoy the peach shake because the peaches were not peeled, and this was unpleasant.

The Kennebec fries were ok but small as each fry was no more than 2 inches long. The sweet potato fries were quite tasty, as was the chipotle aioli. But, ironically, I’m not confident these are made in-house. Also, serving fries in a metal container does not allow them to breathe when served, resulting in soggy fries.

We did not try a cocktail, which seemed quite creative and tasty, but surprisingly expensive. At $15+, they are more expensive than the cocktail bars in Bend. Actually, comparatively, they might be the most expensive cocktails in Bend. Out-of-place Latin-inspired drinks aside, a min of one or two simple inexpensive cocktails would be welcomed. No matter, I don't have an interest in spending $45+ for a burger, drink, & fries, nor do I think this is reasonable.

If I want an elaborate cocktail, I'll go to San Simon or Dogwood. A beer and a good burger, Meadowlark or 10 Barrel... or one of the countless other burger joints in Bend.

In summary, MB is a beautiful restaurant with a confusing menu. Despite claiming not to be another burger joint in Bend, it turns around and becomes almost exactly that. They wish to reinvent the "iconic American burger joint" but instead have created nothing more than an upscale burger restaurant in a town with a decent burger on almost every restaurant menu. In my opinion, MB misses an opportunity to be something much more.

I will be back in 6 months to try again, but for now, I don't have a strong desire to revisit.

P.S. - While your mission to become carbon neutral by 2025 is incredible and admirable, please provide your plan of action and numbers to support this. Without, you're teetering on greenwashing territory.

FYI - Ryan, thanks for calling me a DB, down to get a beer sometime.

Original Review 9/4/22:

Love the sustainability concept, but for real? Another burger joint? We can get burgers at literally every restaurant in Bend, and most of them are sustainable. I don’t mean to be harsh here, but nobody I know is super excited about another place that does a half-decent overpriced burger.

I will try when you open and adjust this review accordingly because I think that is only fair. But if you’re willing to do a little adjusting to your branding and offering, I think that...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Mountain Burger in Bend, Oregon, and I must say it was an exceptional experience! From the moment I stepped foot inside, I was greeted with warm smiles and a cozy atmosphere that immediately made me feel at home.

The menu at Mountain Burger offers a delightful range of options, and I opted for the BarBQ Chicken salad and the build-your-own burger. Let me tell you, it was a match made in food heaven! The BarBQ Chicken salad was a perfect balance of flavors, with tender, succulent chicken complemented by fresh, crisp vegetables and a tangy barbecue dressing. Each bite was a burst of deliciousness!

Now, let's talk about the build-your-own burger. It's safe to say that Mountain Burger takes burger customization to a whole new level. From choosing the type of patty to selecting a variety of toppings and sauces, I felt like a culinary artist crafting my masterpiece. The patty itself was juicy and packed with flavor, while the toppings and sauces added layers of taste that left me wanting more.

Another noteworthy aspect of Mountain Burger is the exceptional service. The staff members were attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about their craft. They were more than happy to provide recommendations and ensure that every detail of my dining experience was taken care of.

In addition to the incredible food and service, the ambiance of Mountain Burger is worth mentioning. The restaurant boasts a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere, with rustic decor and comfortable seating arrangements. Whether you're dining with friends, family, or even on a solo adventure, Mountain Burger provides the perfect setting for a memorable meal.

To summarize, my visit to Mountain Burger in Bend, Oregon was an absolute delight. The BarBQ Chicken salad and build-your-own burger were both exceptional, and the attentive service and inviting ambiance enhanced the overall experience. I highly recommend Mountain Burger to anyone looking for a fantastic dining...

I had high hopes for mountain burger. Finally had a chance to give it a try for lunch on a Saturday afternoon.

From the second we walked in it was all downhill. The hostess (who I believe was also the manager and or owner) saw me, my wife and 2 kids and shared a very unwelcoming eye roll. She then asked if we had a reservation (the restaurant was less than 1/3 full) and she responded "I'll see what we can do".

We were immediately seated in a booth.

Complimentary pickles were good. I'm not a bread and butter fan usually, but these were good.

We all ordered milk shakes. It took appx 15 minutes from the time we ordered them to receive them. The milkshake itself was lumpy and not mixed well. I had ordered a mint chocolate shake which they interpreted as mint chip (this was my fault, I could have been clearer). The shake I received was thin and the 'chip'portion was a large handful of whole semisweet chips. A lot of chewing for a milkshake.

I got a double burger, my wife a bacon burger and the kids both got basic kids burgers. I got regular fries and my wife got sweet potato waffle fries.

My burger was ok. The meat was a little peppery and the burger sauce was largely lost.

My wife's burger was pretty dry, the bacon very stale and chewy. Though there was a good amount of bacon.

Kids burgers were basic and exactly what you'd expect. My only problem with them is that the kids menu specifically mentions that they come on a big ed's potato bun (same as the adult burgers) but what the kids got was clearly a basic Franz burger bun. Kids didn't mind, but it was just one more thing.

Fries were decent, but not exceptional.

I was really hopeful going into this meal and sadly it just didn't deliver. A basic burger here costs as much as it does up at bachelor and honestly, the clearing rock burger tastes a whole lot better.

Hostess and kitchen were disappointing. Table server was adequate, but slow on delivery in some cases (they were not overly busy and had three...