Our Readers Weigh in on the best in dining, drinks, entertainment and more. Total votes:26,326
One of the greatest challenges in conducting a reader’s poll is determining what categories to include and just how far to drill down into our research. Details matter, we know that. And we appreciate it. So it’s difficult for us to, say, ask our readers for their favorite craft brewery (Crux, it turns out) without asking them to tell us who brews the best double IPA or winter seasonal. We want to know the answers to all of these questions. Alas, there’s issues of time, space and reader fatigue. So we stuck to the big overarching questions, like Best Breakfast (McKay Cottage), content to let readers argue amongst themselves as to who has the best Eggs Benedict. We removed a few categories that didn’t get traction last year and added more opportunities for you to weigh on categories like business, retail fashion and community events. In all, more than a thousand readers took the time to share their insights and opinions. In the results, we found a few surprises and witnessed some extremely close races. Most of all, we were reminded of the wealth of amazing experiences that are available to residents and visitors, thanks in part to the many small business owners who pour so much passion into their products and services. The next time you find yourself in one of these establishments, please congratulate them on their achievement. It’s no small feat, given the competition.
Category with Most Votes Cast
Best Breakfast (McKay Cottage)
Closest Race
Best Wine List (Portello Wine cafe)
Largest Winning Margin
Pole Pedal Paddle (Best Community Sports Event)
Largest Vote Getter
El Sancho (Best Taco)
Best Restaurant: Wild Rose - Chef and owner Paul Itti’s menu is a never ending melange of flavors at Wild Rose. Featuring Northern Thai-style dishes inspired by Itti’s grandmother’s cooking, Wild Rose elevates casual ethnic cuisine to a subtle artform. The formula has been so successful that Itti may be opening a second location in Bend, proving that, when it comes to Thai food, you can't have too much of a good thing.
Best Local Brewery: Crux Fermentation - When founders Paul Evers and Larry Sidor tapped a defunct transmission shop building in a hard-to-reach area of Bend for their start-up brewery, more than a few casual observers of Bend’s beer scene snickered. They’re not laughing anymore. Today, beer lovers are lining up to see what comes next from the creative whirlwind that is Crux. With a seemingly endless array of taps featuring dozens of beer styles, and an ultra chic pub, Crux is our readers go-to spot when they want to sip a tall ale while taking in a signature sunset over the Cascades.
Best Coffee Roaster: Backporch Coffee Roasters - Owner Dave Beach started experimenting with coffee roasting on the back porch of his college residence in Eugene a decade ago. Quite a bit has changed since then, but not Beach’s commitment to a great cup of sustainably sourced coffee. So it's no surprise that Backporch is now a back-to-back winner in our Reader’s Choice poll. We'll drink to that.
Best Burger: Deschutes Brewery - Wars have been started and families divided over less controversial topics than this. To wit, more than a thousand people voted on this question alone in our online survey. In the end the answer was clear: Deschutes Brewery’s Pub Burger, a six-ounce Painted Hills Beef patty with housemade pickles, is the king of burgers in these parts.
Best Tour Company: Wanderlust - The granddaddy of Central Oregon tour companies, Wanderlust Tours has been an industry leader in Bend and around the Pacific Northwest for more than three decades. Whether, you’re looking for a twilight paddle around a high Cascades lake, a moonlight snowshoe tour, or something off the beaten path like an a-cappella concert in a century old tree stand or lava cave, Wanderlust has an adventure that showcases the best of our diverse region with an emphasis on sustainability and conscientious conservation.
Best Bike Shop: Pine Mountain Sports - In a town known for its singletrack scene, cyclo-cross crazies and road riding radicals, it's no small feat to nab top honors in this category. The competition was stiff this year, with a dozen shops nominated and hundreds of votes cast for our finalists. But when the trail dust settled, it was Pine Mountain Sports that took the top spot on the podium. A well deserved honor for owner Dan McGarigle and his team who take singular pride in their customer-first approach to business.
Best Art Gallery: Tumalo Art Co. - Don’t go looking for the Tumalo Art Co. in Tumalo—this gem of a shop is located right in the Old Mill District in Bend. The gallery is owned and operated by a collective of artists, who create and curate the best of the best in Northwest art. Walk through the doors and find yourself surrounded by fine art in a diverse array of mediums, including oil, acrylic, mixed media, digital media, ceramics, glass, sculpture and photography. Classic to contemporary, you’ll find something of beauty here.
Best Public Golf Course: Tetherow Resort
