Merenda Restaurant and Wine Bar

Doesn't Recommend

lagros

Joined 5 years ago

SOME GOOD WINE SELECTIONS>>>>FOOD WAS AWFUL AND POOR SERVICE. We moved to Bend a year ago....have given Merenda 4 or 5 opportunities to live up to the hype...NEVER HAS. The wait staff has been rude and not knowledgeable regarding wine or foods on menu. Have tried steaks, daily special dinner selections and none have been more than fair. Twice sent food back. Steaks ordered rare come well done, fish dry and overcooked. There are a few excellent restaurants in Bend so no need to go here. Same experience in their other restaurant Deep. Understand they are for sale...hope a better chef takes over.

Doesn't Recommend

snow7777

Joined 5 years ago

AWFUL!. This is one of the dirtiest and worst restaurants I have ever been too. I thought this Denton guy was from San Fran? The drinks were the only good thing this place had to offer. The place was dirty, the food was awful and not cooked correctly, the wait-staff was less than impressive. If someone wants a good meal and good service; don't go to Merenda, it's awful just like Mr. Denton's looks.

Recommends

holeione

Joined 5 years ago

Back to the Basics, Great Food & Great Service. We recently revisited Merenda after having a couple of so-so visits in a row. I must say that they have found their position as one of Bend's best restaurants again. First off the food was above my expectations. My wife and I split the Gnoochi and the NY Steak, wow!! And our friends loved their chicken and pizza. Service was polite and knowledgable. Great Scotch selection (too good?) Still noisy, but we had a booth and really felt comfortable. Keep it up!!

Doesn't Recommend

mayorbill

Joined 6 years ago

SAVE YOUR MONEY AND DINE SOMEWHERE ELSE!. On the outset it appears to be a high end restaurant. Don't be fooled. I have had better at McDonalds. Food was cold and under cooked (not that busy when we dined). Servers were not knowledgeable on foods or wines. Very young and slow (mentally) and felt as if we were bothering them. We had to ask for drinks, bread, menus and the such. We told the manager and got "oh that's too bad" END OF STORY.

Very DIRTY and I would go somewhere else to use the restroom. (Wonder what the kitchen looks like?)

VERY DISAPPOINTED FOR THE 100.00 DOLLARS/TWO THAT WE SPENT.

Recommends

lmaso92122

Joined 6 years ago

Great Food, Great Service. Upon reading the two reviews listed I would have thought that Merena was a mediocre place. Upon eating there I found that the food and the atmosphere are both excellent. The pasta is just as good or better than that of Quince in San Francisco. Not only the food was great but also the wine list was amazing. The ability to taste many different wines in 2oz. pours is great. All in all the food and the atmosphere of the exibition kitchen were the perfect coupling for a wonderful evening.

Doesn't Recommend

strokes

Joined 6 years ago

STAY AWAY - This place stinks!. What a mess of a restaurant! We had a night we won't forget...first it started with RotoRooter in the alley...we should have known that would be a problem. Once we were seated, we ordered drinks that took a very long time to arrive. Our very pompous waiter (Peter) told us they were out of most of the main courses because it was Sunday night and what were we to expect, since they were busy during the weekend...no aplogies. The bathrooms were closed, the place was a smoky mess because the hood fan was broken, the coffee machine was broken and our appetizer came burnt. When we pointed this out to Peter, he pulled a total attitude about it. Oh and I forgot, after we ordered, Peter told us they were closing the restaurant because the dishwasher wasn't woking...we would have never stayed if we knew this before we ordered. It would have been nice given the problems they were having if they would have brought us a glass of wine or desert, but no way because they think they're great (at least that's the attitude they relayed)...we spent a lot of money at a terrible restaurant-stay away...

Doesn't Recommend

woodwardo

Joined 6 years ago

Was great - now just so-so. Visited Merenda three times now. First time was in 2006- it was incredible - the food was great, service was good and we had a super time. The second visit around christmas time last year wasn't bad, but the service was lacking a bit. Finally the third (and last) time about a week ago it was unbearable. It took three and a half hours to eat dinner which was crazy. We sat with empty drinks for over fifteen minutes more than once. The food has become only average. This was my favorite restraunt in Bend, but now I'll be very hesitant to return.

Recommends

jwelsch

Joined 6 years ago

sour grapes. I live in Bend and moved here from San Francisco 6 yrs ago. We love Merenda! As far as restaurants in Bend go, sure you can find quieter and more intimate dining experiences, but for the whole package, I feel Merenda is hands down the best in town! The happy hour is fantastic, and with over 100 wines by the glass, there are more options than anywhere in town. Jody Denton is a legitimate chef with a pretty hefty resume and reviews to back him up ( he spent several years in Sanfrancisco, Restaurant Lulu and Azie) . Don't go to Merenda for a quiet dinner, but if you are looking for good food, great atmosphere and an extensive wine list, it is the place to be!

Doesn't Recommend

janehudson

Joined 6 years ago

Skip it!. I agree with the other reviews. This place is overpriced and pretentious. I have been here seven times and not once was I impressed. I have had the worst service here of anyplace in town. The dining room is loud and hard to get around in. Last time I was there, I wore heals and almost fell on my face numerous times trying to make it to the bathroom because the floor was slick. Last time I was there I got sick from an oyster. I won't be back. The happy hour is overpriced. The Astro Lounge across the street has a better happy hour without the hype.

Doesn't Recommend

dvinewinetime

Joined 7 years ago

WHERE IS THE WASHINGTON WINE?. I thought that coming to BEND, Oregon, that I could get some real Washington wine. Instead I found, Ste. Michelle. You can get that anywhere!!! Where are Fidelitas, or Basel Cellars? Real Washington wines. And the jacka$$ host, Chris, needs to learn manners. I know that I am not from Bend, but does that mean I should be treated like cr@p? AVOID MERENDA, GO TO MCDONALDS FOR BETTER SERVICE!!!