South Bend Bistro — Restaurant in Sunriver

The South Bend Bistro is our culinary sanctuary, and after countless visits, it remains an unrivaled favorite! David and Cully’s impeccable service makes every trip extraordinary—their warmth, attentiveness, and genuine care make us feel like family. David, in particular, is a wine wizard, consistently pairing our dishes with glasses that leave us, as wine connoisseurs, thoroughly impressed with his spot-on selections. Our latest visit was a masterclass in flavor. We started with expertly mixed cocktails: an Old Fashioned that’s bold yet perfectly balanced and a French Margarita with vibrant, zesty flair. The sea scallops with bacon and asparagus were a sublime blend of tender and savory, while the butternut squash soup was a velvety, heartwarming delight. Our salads were fresh and crisp, priming us for the main event. The pork dish was a succulent triumph, and the salmon and chicken were flawlessly prepared, each bite showcasing the kitchen’s artistry. David’s wine pairings elevated every course, with selections that complemented the flavors so perfectly we were left in awe. For dessert, the raspberry sorbet was a bright, tangy burst, and the flourless chocolate cake was pure decadence—rich, fudgy, and divine. The South Bend Bistro never misses a beat. The food is consistently stellar, the presentation impeccable, and David and Cully’s service, paired with David’s wine expertise, makes every visit a five-star experience. We’ll keep coming...

Can't rate the food, but I can certainly rate the management and the quality thereof. We arrived promptly for our dinner reservation set for 7:45 only to find the tiny foyer packed with four or more groups, also with reservations. There was no host/manager/owner to greet or explain. No one approached us. Eventually we observed a man leisurely clearing a table that had been used by a large party who had only just left. We waited patiently.

I observed a bartender and the single person bussing this table. Other dinners lingered over their drinks and food.

After ten or fifteen minutes of waiting, my partner and I realized that once they finished clearing and setting tables for all of the people waiting, we would spend thirty minutes waiting for drink service, all the dinner orders would come in to the kitchen at once, and it would be an hour and a half before everyone was served food, by a clearly overwhelmed kitchen.

Since no one had greeted me, I walked up to the table and told the guy we'd be canceling our dining appointment. He seemed surprised and a bit put out. "Oh. Okay?"

No apologies, no explanation.

This was a dinner planned three weeks in advance. A special dinner.

Now it was after Eight, in Sunriver, on vacation, which does not abound with quality restaurants.

So we ate at the Lodge Kitchen. Big. Damn. Mistake. See my review there,...

(Please note that the owner's response is to a more negative review that I posted six months ago. I wanted to delete that review and all I could figure out how to do was edit it.) We gave them a second try and everything was fabulous. The cocktail, Winter River Trail, with gin, French ginger liqueur and fresh lemon juice was like sipping velvet. One entree was the Bourbon Pork Chop that was thick and tender topped with bourbon compound butter and a tart cherry and ginger compote. It was served with a sweet potato puree, caramelized onions and roasted brussel sprouts. The other entree was the Hazelnut Encrusted sturgeon with basil ricotta gnocchi, snap peas, and parsnip in a zesty lemon butter sauce. Dessert was a dense Key Lime Cheesecake topped with a slab of white chocolate dotted with lime. Our server was the engaging David who was more than happy to talk about food! The service was wonderful, but what is really amazing is the special blend of flavors that were achieved in each dish. At this time, only dinner is served and it is what they do...