Best of Bend ballots seem to be the rage this time of year. I’m here to help, my friends. Below you will find a compilation of the Best of Bend Restaurants from the Source Weekly with the winners from Gusto, Bend Living, and my votes added in. So far I feel the Source has the best categories.

I agree with Jon that “it’s pretty much the definitive “Best Of” guide for the area.” In the past I have lumped the Source with Gusto. I’d like to apologize to the Source for this mistake. I’m sorry.

Its odd that the readers from the Source are so much different than those of Gusto. I’m not sure how this could be but it is. For example, McKay Cottage dominated Gusto’s best of winning for Best Service, Best Burger, Best Breakfast, and Best Waitress. Yet there was not one category or honorable mention for McKay Cottage in the Source. Odd.

My favorite is the Best Burger category. Bend Living, the Source, and I all said the same two places. But Gusto “readers” know something the rest of us don’t. This is not to rip on McKay, I’ve had their burger and it’s good, I like McKay. I’m just saying that “Best of” lists that are this different seem to me like there’s something a foot.

Best Fine Dining –
I said The Jackalope Grill

the Source – Cork
Honorable Mention – Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails

Gusto “readers” – Scanlon’s

Best Place to Buy Fresh Veggies & Fruit –
I said Farmers Market

the Source – Bend Farmers Market
Honorable Mention – Newport Avenue Market

Best Casual Dining –
I said Deschutes Brew Pub

the Source – Deschutes Brew Pub
Honorable Mention – Bend Brewing Company

Best Service –
I said El Caporal or Les Schwab

the Source – Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails
Honorable Mention – Hong Kong Restaurant

Gusto “readers” – Mckay Cottage

Bend Living – Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails
Runner up – Cork

Best Rookie Restaurant –
I said Deep (of course)

the Source – Deep
Honorable Mention – Kebaba

Best Vegetarian –
I didn’t answer. “Vegetables are what food eats”.

the Source – Kebaba
Honorable Mention – SOBA Noodles

Best Bakery –
I said Hurricanes

the Source – Westside Bakery
Honorable Mention – Sparrow Bakery

Gusto didn’t have this category but they did have Best Pastries – Nancy P’s

Best Grocery Store –
I said Rays…they have a liquor store, hands down the winner.

the Source – Newport
Honorable Mention – Rays

Best Lunch –
I said Toomies

the Source – The Downtowner
Honorable Mention – Toomies

Gusto “readers” – The Victorian Cafe

Best Cheap Eats –
I said Reyes Tortillaria

the Source – The Taco Stand
Honorable Mention – Longboard Louie’s

Gusto didn’t have this category but they had Best Value – Longboard Louie’s

Best Breakfast –
I said Westside Bakery

the Source – The Victorian Cafe
Honorable Mention – Alpenglow

Gusto “readers” – McKay Cottage

Best Coffee House –
I said Thump

the Source – Bellatazza
Honorable Mention – Thump

Gusto “readers” – Bellatazza

Best BBQ –
I said Baldy’s

the Source – Baldy’s
Honorable Mention – Kasey’s Texas Style BBQ

Gusto “readers” – Baldy’s

Best Pizza –
I said Cibelli’s on the West Side

the Source – Pizza Mondo
Honorable Mention – Cibelli’s

Gusto “readers” – Pizzicato

Bend Living didn’t have this category

Best Sushi –
I said Deep

the Source – Kanpai
Honorable Mention – Deep

Best Mexican – Nice category…sooo many places to choose from it should almost be top 5 Mexican restaurants. I listed Pepe’s as my favorite even though I’ve only been there once. My top 5 would be:

Pepe’s
El Caporal
Hola!
Reyes Tortillaria
Taco Stand

the Source – La Rosa
Honorable Mention – El Caporal West

Gusto “readers” – La Rosa

Best Asian –
I said SOBA

the Source – Toomies
Honorable Mention – Hong Kong Restaurant

Gusto “readers” – Toomies

Best Italian –
I said Cibelli’s

the Source – Staccato
Honorable Mention – Ernesto’s

Gusto “readers” – Staccato

Best Steak –
I said The Jackalope Grill

the Source – The Blacksmith
Honorable Mention – Tumalo Feed Co.

Gusto “readers” – Tumalo Feed Co.

Bend Living – The Blacksmith
Runner Up – Pine Tavern

Best Seafood –
I think I made a mistake on my form when I submitted to the source, I put Cork. Why would I do that? I had fish there once and it was delicious….I should have said Bend Fish Company or even better, Baltazar’s!

the Source – High Tides
Honorable Mention – Anthony’s Homeport

Gusto “readers” – Anthony’s Homeport

Bend Living – High Tides
Runner Up – Anthony’s Homeport

Best Dessert –
I said The Blacksmith

the Source – Han’s
Honorable Mention – Hurricane’s

Gusto “readers” – Han’s

Bend Living – Han’s
Runner Up – Blacksmith

Best Bagel –
I said Big O’ Bagels

the Source – Big O’ Bagels
Honorable Mention – Bagel Stop

Best Burger –
I said Dandy’s. Skip Pilot Butte, they win every year.

the Source – Pilot Butte
Honorable Mention – Dandy’s

Gusto “readers” – McKay Cottage

Bend Living – Pilot Butte
Runner Up – Dandy’s

Best Ethnic –
I said Reyes Tortillaria

the Source – Kebaba
Honorable Mention – Toomies

Bend Living – Toomies
Runner Up – Kebaba

Best Patio Dining –
I said Bend Brewing Company’s

the Source – Pine Tavern
Honorable Mention – Anthony’s Homeport

Gusto didn’t have this category

Bend Living – Anthony’s Homeport
Runner Up – Pine Tavern

Best Wine List –
I said Merenda’s

the Source – Merenda
Honorable Mention – Portello Winecafe

Gusto didn’t have this category but they had Best Place to Buy Wine – Bend Wine Cellar

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