Getting Sauced at Bend Burger Company

Author: Regina Hackens , Staff Writer

The 'Bend Burger' with cheddar and bacon. That's how I roll...

It almost feels like it’s been around since the founding of Bend. The Bend Burger Company. They’re branding gives the feel of originality, nostalgia, and burger-expertise. Can they live up to their own hype?

The BBC, located on Franklin Avenue in downtown Bend, opened their doors about a year ago in the space Bluefish Bistro once occupied. If you’re familiar with Bluefish, the first thing you’ll notice is it looks pretty much the same. There has been the addition of pictures of each of their burgers on the walls and a plasma TV that randomly displays images from around the Bend area.

Ordering is a little awkward. When you come in, you grab a menu and find a table. Once you’ve decided what you’d like, you go to the front counter and wait in line. When your order is ready, they bring your meal out to you. I would rather see a server take your order at the table. It makes more sense. The place is fairly small and creates a bit of chaos that could otherwise be solved with a quick table-side order-taking. Plus it’s slightly confusing as a new customer.

Once my food came I was excited. I ordered their staple. The Bend Burger. 100% Northwest natural beef patty, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions, all on a fresh, fluffy bun. And their special sauce. Oh that special sauce. I bit into the burger. Oh yeah. The beef is full of flavor and that sauce brings out a spicy, deep taste that will hook you for good. I ordered up a side of the sauce to dip the fries in. Perfection. Even their fries rock. Crispy outside, soft inside. Like I said perfection.

On top of the great food and location, the BBC also has great service. I’ve been in four times now, and every time I’m impressed with how they serve their customer.

If you’re downtown and feigning for a burger, make the Bend Burger Company your stop. While I’m not neccasarily saying it’s the best burger in all of Bend, I will say that it’s definitely a tasty treat and worth making it a regular downtown dining destination.