From the decor and atmosphere to the unique cocktails and attentive service, Dear Irene is one of Bend's best restaurants. They offer a fixed menu with great starters, salads, and entrees. We ordered the scallops which were full of buttery deliciousness, the chicken which was cooked to perfection with crunchy breading on the outside, and a creamy polenta dish. You can't go wrong but be sure to order one of the salads. Our favorite was the baratta and citrus salad with olives and pine nuts. It has all the textures and sweet-salty goodness you could want. As for cocktails, our favorite was the pear and side piece drinks. The presentation is beautiful and they really are one of a kind. We'll be back! read more

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I randomly stepped inside this place noticing the pretty decor and classy interior. The service was exceptional from start to finish. I was served by a tall male bartender who was incredibly personable--we talked quite a bit, and honestly, I'd go back just for that experience alone. That said, the drinks he crafted and the food that came out of the kitchen gave me plenty more reasons to return. I ended up ordering an impressive amount of food, and by the time I hit my fifth large course, he joked that he'd have to pinch himself if I actually finished it. I couldn't help it--everything was that good. He also pointed me toward the owner, who clearly knows exactly what he's doing in the kitchen and carries himself with confidence and intention. Every aspect of this place felt immersive, like stepping into a classy, well-directed film. The atmosphere, the food, the service--it all came together seamlessly. read more

Just meh. I had heard good things about Dear Irene so I was surprised to be so underwhelmed. The menu was small and nothing sounded appealing. I struggled to find anything to order. Our drinks were good but very small and $17 each. Husband had scallops at $48 which included 3 of them in a sauce that seemed Thai with some seasonal vegetables. I had a salad and bread only. Much better places in Bend to spend $150 at. read more

There aren't many restaurants in Bend, but we are glad to have found this one. It came off the recommendation from a wine bar nearby and we are so glad to have gone. It felt like a trendy spot and the food was superb. We loved the complimentary champagne at the start - if we are ever back in Bend, we will come back! read more

Dear Irene - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bend, Oregon

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This is a super cool place. A very nice special occasion restaurant. Food taste and presentation spectacular. I'll definitely be back. Do wish they had more choices on the menu, but what they do have is perfected. read more

One of the best meals I've had! The food here was so incredibly delicious and I cannot emphasize that enough. The service was very polite and accommodating. We did not have a reservation on a Saturday night and they worked us in on the patio with only a 15 minute wait. Normally, I would strongly recommend reservation because I get the impression this is a very popular and respected restaurant. The inside ambiance was very comfy and cool. They also have a small patio in the front. Great spot! read more

The food is incredible. The service is impeccable. I cannot wait to go back and experience more of the menu. read more

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Our last evening in Bend for Valentine's Day, and this dinner was the perfect way to wrap up the trip. We walked into Dear Irene and were immediately greeted by a kind, helpful hostess who even guided us through the parking situation--a small gesture that set the tone for the night. Our table was tucked toward the back, right next to a bold, bright blue wall, with matching plush seats that were surprisingly comfortable. The whole space was full of color and light--lively without being loud, and stylish without trying too hard. Our server was personable, quick with a few jokes, and happy to answer all our questions--whether it was about the owner or the artwork on the walls. It felt like the kind of place where the staff actually enjoys being there, which makes all the difference. We shared a few small plates, each one thoughtfully prepared, and sipped on cocktails that were as unique as they were tasty. The flavors were layered and unexpected, in the best way--like the food version of a plot twist you didn't see coming but totally loved. It's not in the most obvious location, but Dear Irene is absolutely worth finding. A standout meal in a trip full of great moments. read more

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This place is timelessly beautiful. The decor is gorgeous and was a sign of great things to come. We had the salmon tostada, the prawn lettuce cups and French onion dumplings. All very delicious. My wife loved the dumplings while I could've eaten ten of the salmon tostadas. We did the burrata salad before our entree and also enjoyed. For entrees we had the Branzino and the chicken Milanese. We both thought we might be too full for entrees but finished both. Service was warm, knowledgeable and made us feel at home. Highly recommend to anyone who hasn't tried Dear Irene yet. read more

Great vibe...small menu but everything we had was FABULOUS! The wallpaper in the bathrooms have to be seen to believe!

This was a super cozy spot in Downtown Bend. The food was absolutely amazing. The dumplings in Thai curry is such a genius idea!! I loved the creativity with food. The salmon tartare was also nice, especially with the sweet drop peppers. The Braised short ribs were sublime. The quality of the sear and braising is unparalleled. Be sure to get a reservation to go there. It books up fast! The waiter was super nice. read more

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This place is lovely! They have amazing food, great service, and a warm atmosphere! I took my boyfriend there for his birthday and they gave us champagne to celebrate! The food was fabulous too! read more

Dear Irene - We will be back! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bend, Oregon

We went last night. First the ambiance of the place is great. Nice bar, a few high top tables and dining tables in the back. Small and Very quaint. Brick walls. Very cool vibe. Service was top notch. It was my wife's birthday and they gave us a complimentary sparkling wine. Very nice touch. The food was awesome. We both had the scallops. I had a salad (little gem it's called) my wife has escargot. Everything was just fantastic. A great quiet, romantic, very cool vibe, intimate dining experience. Highly recommend it! read more

Our first time dining here and the Dear Irene team did not disappoint. The music was perfect to the vibe , and every detail of the interior design is well thought out. The highlight of course was dinner, I had Chicken Milanese and my wife had scallops. Excellent layered taste in a thoughtful presentation. Possibly the best dining experience we've had in Bend. Not noisy, relaxed and helpful team. Go there and see for yourself. read more

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Such a fun and delicious place! The cocktails are inventive and spot on, the service was excellent (attentive but not obsequious), and the food was so tasty. We went the small plate route with salmon tartare, crab arancini, duck confit with lentils, and spicy garlic shrimp, and it all rocked. And the cannoli tiramisu was to die for. Will be back! read more

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Love this place and visit often. The scallops are to die for and the staff is top notch!

I had bookmarked this spot a few months ago, but J and I have the bad habit of returning to our favorite spots almost exclusively, so I am a bit slow at moving down my list of "must try"s Luckily I was able to reserve the last two bar seats at 5:30 on a Saturday night--and I am so glad that I did. First thing I noticed--- nice vibes. The hostess was lovely and sat us right away. Cocktails were excellent--Crimson & Clover and We ordered: Crab Arancini--best I have had, light and creamy Croque Madame-yum Diver Scallops-excellent We will definitely return soon Highly recommend. read more

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I must say, I wish I didnt wait this long to try Dear Irene. It's nestled in a row of shops near the parking lot of Drake Park and if youre an adventurous eater who appreciates various cuisines, this is the place that executes dishes quite well and is refreshing to the Bend Food scene. Portions are smaller but the flavors are hard to find in town. What we tried: -foie gras: melt in your mouth delicious with a nice sear paired with the bread. Wonderful mix of texture, Fat and acid. (The one image i took was blurry so I didn't post it) -duck: wow, crispy skin, tender meat nestled on a bed of cooked to perfection lentils. I wouldnt have minded something a little sweet like fig jam or drizzle on the plate with it but the duck was the best part. -lamb dumplings: so much flavor in each bite. If you're not used to the the peppercorn, it's like a slow burning menthol like heat. I'm not the biggest fan of the peppercorns itself but it truly complements the lamb and dish entirely. -short ribs: tender meat in a delicious sauce. It's not the usual brown sauce but is white in appearance. The chard paired beautifully with the meat and sauce. I wish it was served with mashed potatoes which you can mix into that SAUCE. -snapper: cooked well with crispy skin, tangy sweet sauce. I almost wish there was a little more sauce but the crisp skin may get soggy. 4/5 This spot has a vibe. If only I had the budget to dined there weekly, I would. Itll definitely be in our date nights rotations. I wish it wasn't 21+ because our son, who loves good food, would like this place too. read more

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Enjoyed my evening with my wife! Great atmosphere, delicious food, fancy drink! Cheers! read more

Dear Irene - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bend, Oregon

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The location is eclectic to say the least, the menu vast, and everything we ordered was top notch (even by Bend standards. The waitress was VERY knowledgeable on the menu and the bar. read more

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Loved this spot so much we came two times in a week. Online reservations are easy to make. The interior is stunning, food is delicious and bar service is top tier. A must for fine dining in Central Oregon. read more

What a beautiful restaurant, so much ambiance and fantastic food and cocktails as well. I absolutely love the scallops which are always perfectly prepared. The service is excellent, and it's a fabulous place for both a romantic dinner or dining with friends. read more

Intimate restaurant with a fabulous cuisine, impeccably quiet and understated service, and background music lifted straight from Pink Martini. The salmon tartare was delightfully fresh, bright with accents, and virtually a meal in itself. The scallops were beyond tender, albeit with a nicely crusted surface, and were served alongside a wonderfully creamy sauce. The flourless chocolate cake was superb, swimming in a tart raspberry sauce. And the Monkey Business cocktail, Austrian white wine, and espresso were all great accents to a terrific meal. Well done. read more

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Great food and ambiance! Cocktails are perfect pairing with the food. Highly recommend!

My wife and I were visiting Bend Oregon from Houston, and stumbled onto Dear Irene when searching for restaurants. Its really a bar with excellent and interesting food. Because the space is so small, they require reservations on Tock, and a deposit. But all went smooth, and we were credited our deposit at the end of the meal. We enjoyed the Dear Irene and Goodnight Irene cocktails, one a riff on a vodka martini, and the other a riff on a Manhattan. For food we enjoyed the grilled avocado and trout roe, and the king salmon tostadas. Very interesting and tasty. For entrees, we had the short rib and the Polenta with soft cooked egg. Both really good. Conversation at the bar with the servers was friendly. Dear Irene was probably our most interesting and best meal on the weeklong trip to Bend. read more

OMG! This place is very lounge like. Velvet seats, velvet decor, lounge jazz and tango playing in the background. The cocktails are superb and the service is excellent. Extremely friendly. We came here on a Tuesday evening. 8:45 Made a reservation but probably did not need it. Deposit of $10 per person required when made online, but applied to your final bill. Ordered Roasted asparagus & burrata, Roasted beet & strawberry salad, Little Gem salad, Short ribs, Italian polenta & soft cooked egg. For desert we shared the Cannoli tiramisu. It is the most exquisite dinner I have had in a long time. Come here if you are in Bend Oregon! read more

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We came for drinks after an early dinner and were treated so rudely we walked out. My son is in the industry and was excited for us to enjoy a drink at this spot, but we were all put off by the hostess. She acted like she was so put out to accommodate our party of 4. We had a great meal at Ariana (fabulous) and just wanted a nice place to enjoy a cocktail. First, we were scolded for stopping in without a reservation. I usually make them more to be considerate for staffing etc but wanted to leave the evening open since we didn't know what our sons might want to do post dinner and they are local. We then and heard what great trouble the hostess would have to go to in seating us. Once we sat we waited for someone to come to the table for quite some time. We all decided that the vibe was terrible after our initial reception and wasn't improving, so we left. Beautiful venue but certainly not an engaging experience. read more

This is a quaint restaurant with old brick walls and a modern mirrored bar. The furniture is a mix of the old velvet and modern day lights and a retro turquoise inspired wall. The cocktails are the same. A mix of old with a modern twist. The menu is small and mighty. I had the scallops which were cooked to perfection. My friend has the halibut. For desert we ate the matcha cake. It was creamy, delicate and light. Jesse was a great waiter! He addressed the drink, dinner and desert menu leaving us pondering to think about each dish we invited to taste from the menu! A great place to stop snd have a drink with friends too. I loved the music selection playing in the background too. I walked into Pink Martini. read more

Another great addition to Bend's food scene. Swanky interior do very well thought out. Any time carrots are on the menu I always make sure I order them and you should too. Highly recommend the Black Cod, Short Rib and the date cake. My only knock was our first course arrived before our cocktails. ‍ read more

Dear Irene - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bend, Oregon

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LOVE the vibes in here. Such a beautiful space. The hostess & server were very nice and attentive. The food was good but not great - we got the little gems salad, five spiced quail, and the short rib. We finished with the matcha tres leches cake which was amazing, must get this is you dine here. Would give the food a 3 overall and ambiance/service a 5. read more

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UNREAL! From the ambiance, to the service to the FOOD. We ordered a good portion of the starters and everything was a 10/10. The flavors are to die for. The bread with the olive butter, the albacore tostadas, the prawn dumpling, the crab arancini, burrata, Milanese and the scallops! Wow! I don't usually write reviews but I'm sitting here with my family and we can't stop raving. read more

Celebrated my birthday last night. It's our 4th visit to Dear Irene and each time is better than the previous one, which is a challenge given it's been outstanding every time. I have to say that last nights dinner was stupendous. The scallop entree with the squash and pomegranate is probably the best entree I've had in nearly 50 years and even beat out any of the 10 courses I had at Alain Ducasse's Paris restaurant at its prime in 1999!! The ambiance and service were excellent. Enough said!! read more

Yeah, so Dear Irene's other name should be "Dear New-King." This place is phenomenal. On the soft opening, the drinks were perfect, service was over the top impressive on all counts. The plates were very creative; where can you have some Chinese 5-spice with Sichuan peppercorn pig ear and then.....foie? Cocktails were well balanced and creative. There was a solid mix of spirits Aperol to Vodka. Plus, they had a drink with Negroni Jelly, are you loco bro? The short rib was an extremely impressive reduction sauce with a perfect crunch factor with green peas. With the bone marrow mixed in, it was exceptional. Not a single dish was over salted. We had a couple Zerts and they were just stupid delicious. Just get one of each. Seeing 10 years of "New" restaurants in Bend, This has been the most exciting. The owners are so friendly and casual. This is the best restaurant in Bend before they've formally opened. What a sexy, swanky, touch-me-daddy, perfezione kind of place. read more

Dear Irene - Negroni Jello! Welcome to Heaven. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bend, Oregon

Hands down one of the best meals of my LIFE. Started with the sourdough, blistered peppers, tomato peach and burrata salad, short ribs for the entree and sticky date cake for dessert. Everything was 10/10, next level good. Easily the coolest restaurant I've been to, the decor is perfection and the vibe is small, cozy and chill. Attentive, friendly staff. Can't wait to go back! read more

The decor is gorgeous and the drinks are creative, unfortunately that's all we would come back for. We really wanted to love this place but found that the food fell flat. We felt that the menu items were described in a way that was not representative of the food presentation itself. The price point also felt high for the lack of quality. read more

Magic. This place was pure magic. We were visiting Bend from Chicago. My husband has celiacs. So we ordered the scallops and the short ribs. Hands down the best short ribs I've ever had. Our server was excellent and the ambiance and drinks delightful. Highly recommend. read more

Dear Irene has some of the best cohesion between their menu, service and overall vibes we've experienced in a restaurant. It's clear that every minor detail has been carefully thought out to enhance the collective experience. The staff was very knowledgeable and accommodating to our needs. We started the night with cocktails - the Dear Irene paired nicely with caviar & one Al Pastor Mezcalita turned into two. The presentation of the Lamb's Tongue & Foie Gras was wonderful, and it essentially melts in your mouth. The tai snapper combines so many different flavors that tie together wonderfully. We hope to come back to Bend - mainly for Dear Irene - Soon! read more

Dear Irene - Lamb tongue - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bend, Oregon

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I've been here twice now - once for dinner and another time for drinks and appetizers. First we have to talk about the ambiance of this space! It's great, I love it! For anyone who has been in Bend for awhile - it is where Wall Street used to be and I had a lot of fond memories in that space. But I love this entire revamped vibe and it is like we grew up and moved to the big city! The drinks were delish! Probably a little pricier than some places in Bend but also not really. These are typical craft cocktail prices in Bend. The food was amazing! As appetizers I've had the grilled avocados and the grilled cheese with duck eggs. You have to get the grilled cheese with duck eggs! They are perfect. The citrus burrata salad and the short ribs are also things I've had, and would recommend. I can't wait to go back and try more of their menu! read more

Dear Irene - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bend, Oregon

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We've been to Dear Irene twice now- once for dinner with friends and most recently for birthday drinks before another dinner reservation. The ambiance is very speakeasy-esque and the menu is simple but exquisite. If you need lots of options (that aren't whiskey/bourbon), this might not be the spot for you, but if you want top notch service and even better food...make a reservation now. It's always on our short list of recommendations for Bend! read more

Dear Irene - Interior - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bend, Oregon

Great cocktails, beer on tap, tasty and creative food, plus we loved the decor (check out the bathrooms or sit at the bar) for this relatively new spot. Not a large restaurant so limited seating, mainly bar or bar top tables and just a few entrees on the menu (more choices with apps) but wifey and I had a great date night and will be back. read more

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