Flatbread Community Oven - Bend Oregon

Flatbread Community Oven

I've written about Flatbread Community Oven before but that was for lunch shortly after their opening. We've tried to go a couple of times since but the place was slammed so we ended up going elsewhere.

Recently we made it to Flatbread Community Oven for some pizza and had a wonderful experience. Upon arrival there were many tables filled and not much in the way of staff. Our waitress, Martha, was cool, calm, and collected in the face of many tables filled with little kids and not much help. However she found the time to take care of everyone and we never had to remind her once for anything we'd asked for.

We ordered some salad and a flatbread to start.

Sea Salt & Parmesan Flatbread with 3 dipping sauces - $7

Italian Salad - Iceberg-Radicchio Blend, Pepperoncini, Salami, Olives, Red Onions
Tomatoes, Mozzarella, with Red Wine Vinaigrette - $10


The salad was great and plentiful. Yeah, I said it, the SALAD was great. Had just the right amount of Mozz to go with the salted pork products. All around a solid salad.

The flatbread was good but I think I'd go with a different one when we go back. We liked the three dipping sauces. We're big fans of dips and sauces. We have 7 different types of hot sauces stalked at all times.

So we had plenty of time to finish our bread and salad before the pizzas arrived. We didn't really notice a big delay in the process but apparently a pizza burnt in the wood fired oven. This means they have to clean out the oven thoroughly so the rest of the pizzas don't get tainted. We didn't know any of this until later.

Our pizzas arrive and of course the Wife got a nasty, veggie covered pizza while I got a proper pie covered in meat.

First up, the Wife's 1/2 Lasagna 1/2 Roasted Chicken Portobello pizza - $14.88. Martha was very clear that they are cool about doing 1/2 anything pizzas and we can basically order whatever the hell we want. Very accommodating and wanted to make sure we knew it.

Roasted Chicken & Portobello - Roasted Chicken, Herbed Portobello, Fire Roasted Tomatoes, Fontina, Garlic, Pesto

Lasagna - Fresh Mozzarella, Ricotta, Prosciutto, Fresh Basil


She really liked the Portobello / Chicken side and only thought the Lasagna side was ok "it wasn't phenomenal". I only tried the Lasagna side cause I'll be damned if I'm going to accept chicken as a pizza topping. UNACCEPTABLE!!!

I liked the Lasagna pizza a lot and would get that on again.

Now for a real pizza, custom built just for me - $16.25. I selected Garlic, Pepperoni (how original), Salami, and 1/2 FCO Formaggio and 1/2 Mozzarella cause I wanted to see if I could even taste the difference.


I liked my pizza a lot and the Wife did as well. The fresh Mozz side of the pie was my favorite, nice and creamy and smooth. Great sauce and nice dough. All in all, a very well done pizza.

So the owner, or who I assumed was the owner, comes over and explains about the burnt pizza and apologizes about the wait. We told her that it was fine and we honestly didn't notice any real delays in service. We had noticed that Martha was the only server for quite a while and mentioned that she did a great job handling everything.

Then the manager comes over and apologizes as well. We noticed that both of them made the rounds to all the tables and did the same. She gave us a couple of coupons for free flatbread upon our next visit which was a nice gesture even though we really didn't think it was warranted.

Also, since we were there on a Tuesday night, it was Toss-Up Tuesday. This means that since we ordered two regular pizza's, they will toss a coin, we call it, and if we get it correct, one of our pizzas is free! Tails never fails! And it didn't fail. So off came the Wife's silly pizza from our bill. Loved it.

I really can't say enough about the excellent customer service and the great dinner that we had at Flatbread Community Oven. I'll gladly visit again any night. And we'll ask to sit in Martha's section anytime.

Time for a rant? OK, this is not really the fault of Flatbread Community Oven's but more for their patrons. Manage your damn kids will you? I've written about Dining Out with Kids before, maybe some parents need a refresher. I understand that FCO is a family friendly environment but come on, don't let your kids wander around and run wild in the damn place. I can't handle this. I sat there and watched a little boy and girl stick their swine flu infested faces inches away from three pizza's waiting to be served.

I watched in terror thinking that one of those pies was for my table but sighed in relief as they were delivered to another group. The kids didnt touch it or sneeze/cough on them or anything but still, they didnt work there, why are they soooo close? Get control of your rugrats and keep them at the table.

At FCO you can get a kid pizza where they even get to build their own by adding the sauce, cheese, and whatever toppings you want (one included) for $4.99 (drink and cookie included). So it makes sense that families would take advantage of this but just show some respect for others and keep your kids at your table.

Flatbread Community Oven
http://www.flatbreadpizza.com/
375 SW Powerhouse Dr # 130
Bend, OR 97702-3436
(541) 728-0600

Flatbread Community Oven Pizza - Bend Oregon

Flatbread Community Oven

Flatbread Community Oven Pizza and Wine Bar located in the Old Mill is the second installation of this new restaurant chain. A couple of friends and I went to visit the new pizza place for lunch.

When we arrived in the old mill, parking was easy to find and we were able to get a table outside right away. As with most new restaurants in Bend, Flatbread Community Oven appeared to be benefiting from some early success. Their take on pizza is that they are VPN certified which means that apparently, they are approved by the Vatican to make pizza in America. The waitress explained it a little better and their menu's as well as their site is pretty big on this certification. But none of that really matters to me. I just want a good pizza at a fair price. Seriously, does it matter if your pizza has a certificate of authenticity? As long as it's good, eat it.

For lunch we chose from the Lunch Menu (available from 11-4) where you get to pick any two items from the Pizzetta menu, half sandwich, half salad, mac & cheese or soup. I decided on the Capicola, Sausage, and Salami pizza with the mac & cheese.



For the price, I found the lunch to be a pretty good deal. For around $9 you get a good set of options and I found the mini pizza and salad or mac & cheese to be the better value. I enjoyed my three meat mini pizza. The salty pork products blended well with the FCO Formaggio. FCO Formaggio is a type of cheese that I have never heard of before. I think they made it up. Sounds too much like fromundercheese.

I used all of the crust as bread sticks and dipped them into my left over cheese sauce from my Mac & Cheese. It was a rather heavy lunch but I enjoyed my meal.
A side note. I have written an Outdoor Dining Guide but I should have written some rules about outdoor dining etiquette. Actually I can't imagine there being that many rules but one stands out as I was eating at the Flatbread Community Oven ... KEEP YOUR DAMN SHIRT ON. This rule is actually meant for the fellas only. I mean, ladies, by all means. But if you're a dude, I don't give a damn if it's 110 degrees outside, you're at a restaurant and we're all eating. Unless your shirt is on fire, please keep your shirt on. No shirt, no shoes ... IT'S THE FIRST ONE!

While we were sitting at our outdoor table, half of us enjoying the mountain views, this tool and his family roll up on their bikes and sit down a nearby table. After ordering, all of the sudden, dad goes shirtless. Nice. It's great that we live in a small town were you can take advantage of a beautiful Central Oregon day and ride your bike around town with your family, getting all sweaty, thirsty, maybe a little hungry, and are able to stop by a restaurant for some refreshments and a nibble. I'm glad that I get to share in your successful workout regiment over the years as you work on your tan and continue to sweat two tables away from my Pope blessed pizza. Thank you sir, thanks for sharing. Tool.

I wish that the staff would have asked this jacknut to put his shirt back on. It's inappropriate.

Flatbread Community Oven
375 Powerhouse Dr, Bend, Oregon
541-728-0600
http://www.flatbreadpizza.com/