Spice Box - Bend Oregon

Spice Box

The Spice Box, located in Bend's Glorious West Side (the best side), is bringing some much needed Indian food to Bend. The Spice Box took over the old Hurricane's spot next to Bend's Favorite Kid Friendly Mexican Restaurant, Baltazar's. As of writing this post The Spice Box does not have a website but rather a Facebook Page in which they update fans on what's available on a weekly basis.

On a recent update you can find items like:

Dal Makhani (creamy lentils), Chicken Curry, Sweet Peas and Paneer, Mixed Vegetable Curry. Side dishes include - Aloo Gobi or Spinach and Eggplant curry. And they also have Vegetable Samosas, Mango Lassi, and Rice Pudding.

I first sampled the chicken curry while at the Bite of Bend. We just got the sampler for a $1 and then went back to get a bowl since it was soooo good. Since that first taste I went in for lunch and got a combo meal of the same curry. It was just as good but really a small portion of curry for $8.95. I mean you get the sides and some of that crispy cracker bread stuff, papadum, which is nice but I want more curry.

The next time I went in I was talked into getting the Tandoori Chicken and Aloo-Jareer or Jah something. It was potatoe with some spice on it and it was very good. The Tandoori Chicken was incredible and I'd gladly get it again.




Everything I've had at Spice Box has been great and the owner(s)/workers are very friendly and will explain anything on the menu that you don't understand. Still, portion size is too small for me. Just give me more of the main course. I want more of the meat and rice.

Hopefully the portions will come up but regardless, give the Spice Box a try.

The Spice Box
133 SW Century Drive
Ste 204
Bend, OR 97701
(541) 419-2542

Bourbon Street Bend

Bourbon Street Bend has finally opened its doors to the public this past Friday, July 23rd and the following day had a line out the door. Good thing too cause I was getting tired of hearing from the peanut gallery about how the evil empire of McMicheal and friends some how run Downtown Bend like Master Blaster runs Barter Town.

There have been a lot of rumors flying around about the dealings in which Gavin and his Blacksmith partners some how managed to evict the owners of Staccato from their spot. Even though it is impossible for one business to force out another business that has a lease but rumors in Bend are just as common as frisbees, Subaru's, and Californians.

I say shut up, its over. Bourbon Street Bend is open and Staccato isn't. I know Gavin and his partners, I like them and I like the Blacksmith. I didn't know the owners of Staccato. In MY OPINION, Bourbon Street is already a thousand times better than Staccato ever was. I have documented my displeasure with both the service and the food at Staccato and I haven't been back over the last year when it is rumored that the place was run by staff alone without the owner/head chef. No idea if this is true or not, I only know that I didn't like the food/service that I received and so I didn't go back.

Bourbon Street Bend had their soft openings going on last week and I was able to get in there for some tastings. Soft openings are always difficult for everyone involved but Gavin is pretty smart. On the menu there is a large section that reads "Coming Soon" so he's able to focus on some dishes without offering the entire menu. Plus it makes me want to come back for some Shrimp or Crawfish Po-Boys.

"Bourbon Street is a family friendly New Orleans Sea & Soul Food restaurant centered around the the casual and relaxed atmosphere that is "The Big Easy". Southern hospitality and New Orleans charm create a enjoyable experience for the whole family."

We started with a couple drinks while we waited for the rest of our party to arrive. I got the Mint Julep and the Wife went for the Sazarac.

Mint Julep - Mint-steeped whiskey with a hint of sugar & Tumalo Creek Water.

The Sazarac - Cognac and Rye Whiskey with a hint of absinthe and a splash of bitters.


I only got the Mint Julep because the Wife selected the drink that I really wanted. Personally I didn't care for either as the Julep was too sweet and the Sazarac was pretty heavy on the absinthe which dominated the flavor. But, on the good side, they were both quite strong which I like.

Next up were the starters.

Fried Okra - With Horsey Ranch $5.95

King Crab Legs & Claws - With garlic drawn butter $13.25

Artichoke Crawfish Dip - Crawfish, spinach, and artichoke hearts brick oven baked, in a creamy cheese sauce served with roasted garlic crostinis $8.95

Chicken Wings - Chicken drummettes breaded and fried then tossed in bourbon BBQ hot sauce with blue cheese dip $8.95





The Okra was awesome. Flashed me back to this tiny gas station in Shreveport LA where I had some amazing fried catfish, mashed potatoes, and my first ever experience with fried okra. The Okra at Bourbon Street was even better and I wasn't eating at a gas station. Win / win.

The artichoke crawfish dip was one of my favorites of the evening. Sooo good.

For the main course I went for the Chicken Bastille - Chicken breaded in panko bread crumbs, with Tasso ham, sage, basil, mozzarella, lemon capers, asparagus $14.75 and a side of Red Beans and Rice $5. If I would have known that my dish came with rice, I might not have ordered the Red Beans and Rice but I'm glad I did. The white rice that came with my dish was bland and so I replaced it with the Red Bean mix.


Very good chicken, properly cooked.

The Wife selected the Redfish & Black-Eyed Pea-Crab Succotash - Redfish with black-eyed peas tossed with bacon, crab, corn, basil, and shaved red onion in a sherry vinaigrette $14.95


Her fish was cooked perfectly and was very good but her succotash was missing the bacon which would have added some salty goodness it was sorely lacking.

What I really wanted to order but was afraid to risk my dinner on was the Crawfish Étouffée - A rich stew made with crawfish, in a dark, nutty roux $15.95.


I got a taste of it and I really want to get it the next time around. The last time I was in Baton Rouge I had some amazing Crawfish Étouffée and this tasted just like it.

For dessert we shared Classic Louisiana Style Beignets - Fried to order and dusted with powdered sugar $6.50

Profiteroles - Classic cream puffs filled with praline and vanilla ice cream served with a rich chocolate sauce $6.95

Spicy Cherries Jubilee - Cherries cooked in a spicy sauce, and served over house-made vanilla ice cream $6.95



The Beignets need some work as they were not very fluffy. I didn't try the other desserts but didn't hear any complaints. I just wanted to add the photo.

All in all, the dinner was great and the prices are fair. Nothing is crazy expensive and you'll get a good portion for your money. If you're smart, you can get in and out without breaking the bank. Or you can be like me and order way too much and waste a bunch like a typical American asshole.

Bourbon Street Bend
5 NW Minnesota Avenue Suite 100
Bend, OR 97701
(541) 323-2833
http://www.bourbonstreetbend.com/

Letzer's Deli - Bend Oregon

Letzer's Deli

A Deli like Letzer's has been needed in Bend ever since my favorite deli, good ol' Speedshop, closed its doors. I see on TV where someone goes into a NY style deli and gets one of those crazy high sandwiches stacked with pastrami or corned beef so tall there's no way in hell you can bite it like a regular sandwich. I've always wanted to get a deli sandwich like that. The one time I went to NY I ate at one of these deli's but it was 8am and I wasn't prepped for a pound of beef that early before a full day of meetings.

I saw a photo of a sandwich from Letzer's at the Source Weekly - here - and immediately sent off an invite to some friends that I felt might enjoy eating here with me. Before I take off to get my eat on, I check out their website in hopes to see the menu. After suffering a stroke induced by the wack ass color scheme and HUGE fonts sizes (seriously, I thought El Sancho's site was bad...this is pretty bad) I get the menu I was looking for. I make my plan to get a Turkey and Pastrami combo. We head out to the old Big O' Bagel spot in that strip mall by Blockbuster, Jackalope Grill, and Tortillaria Reyes.

Turkey, Pastrami, and Swiss - $9.75




OH ... MY ... COW!! I hope these photos convey the magnitude of beef and fowl placed in front of me. It was impressive. I mean, I was sort of blushing. This sandwich sat in front of me with full confidence like that kid who was held back a year and already full on into puberty confidently walking bare assed into the showers. ehem, I was a late bloomer.

Look at it! Admire it! Want it. And that's not a tiny little Vlasik Smack'mm sitting in front of my pile o' meat, rather a full bodied, crispy, and very tasty dill pickle. I know @shanlee would approve of the pickles fo sho! Also served with pickled tomatoes. Also very good and I hate green tomatoes.

Not since Brother Jon's have I wanted to write a post so bad in order to make sure a restaurant doesn't go belly up before the rest of Bend even had a chance to try them out. Sort of like Bungalow Grille, Ciao Mambo, Volo, and every restaurant that has been in the 38 Degrees spot. I'm not saying that all these places were good, just left so fast and I definitely don't want that to happen to Letzer's.

I actually ate lunch at Letzer's and am writing this post a few hours later. My friends and I were contemplating what we'd try the next time we came back before we were half way finished with our sandwiches.

I do have a complaint (not just with the website) with the side dishes. I had the slaw which was insanely heavy with mayo and quite bland while my friends had to add mad salt and pepper to their bland potato salad. So the sides are almost an after thought and totally not necessary. Just get your pastrami on rye, which they have made special just for them and is awesome rye, with some spicy mustard and a couple pickles and you'll be in heaven.

Letzer's Deli
1155 SW Division St.
Bend, Oregon 97702
http://www.letzersdeli.com/