For reasons unrelated to restaurant quality or reputation, we'd avoided Zydeco. Recently, however, along with a couple friends, we decided to give it a shot. Verdict: Zydeco is an outstanding restaurant in virtually every way. No negatives to report. The place is popular - arriving just before opening on a weekday, there was a line to get in. Reservations are definitely a good idea here. Our early arrival in line allowed us to choose a good table in the back, where it wouldn't be too hectic. That too was a good idea as the place gets loud with conversation when it fills up. Music wasn't loud, just the people. The menu isn't huge but there are quite a few, varied choices. Given the meal was a bit of a splurge for us, I essentially ignored the prices, which are not trivial by any means. Fine dining entails spending money. Zydeco has a ton of reviews and as the menu apparently doesn't change, I'll just say everything we ordered was great. Cocktails too. The Bramble Down is exquisite. Service was top tier as well. Timely, attentive, professional without being stiff. The capstone to our experience involved the bill. We actually had a gift card from 2017 - nine years ago. While it certainly didn't cover the whole bill, or even half, it was a nice way to defray costs. Unfortunately, when the server ran the gift card, it showed no balance. Not sure why but perhaps over the years, the card had been erased by stray EMF. Despite that and given we provided the card receipt, the restaurant honored the card for the full amount anyway. Well done. Highly recommended. read more

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WOW‼ Our fourth visit, whenever we stop in Bend. Service is outstanding. ALL WINNERS: Beet Salad BBQ Shrimp - gotta get the bread Blacked Red Fish Carrot Cake Key Lime Pie Pass on the Fried Green Tomatoes. read more

The waiter was very attentive and knowledgeable, even memorizing the drink menu and helping guide our orders. The baby back ribs were absolutely to die for, tender and full of flavor. I had them and was very satisfied. Drinks were great, and we appreciated the non-alcoholic mocktail options for part of our group. The fries were a bit salty and the steak was slightly overcooked, but that wasn't my plate. Overall, still a great experience. The ambience was great and made for a comfortable, enjoyable meal. read more

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We had such a great experience at Zydeco. We're visiting from Seattle and were really impressed. Our server was so kind and took the time to explain the featured items and some customer favorites on the menu. Everything we ordered was delicious. The BBQ shrimp had so much flavor, the oysters from WA were fresh and amazing, and the blueberry lemon drop and passion fruit jalapeño margarita were both so good and really refreshing. And the carrot cake at the end was rich, moist, and the perfect way to finish the meal. I honestly wish I had taken more photos because everything looked as good as it tasted. We left very happy and will definitely come back next time we're in town. read more

Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails - New American Near Me - Bend, Oregon

Service was good. Food tasted really good. Kinda crazy busy and obviously popular. Looks like a fun meetup spot in Bend. ONE NEGATIVE was the bread served with two dishes I had. It was extremely hard and crusty as though it was stale and they tried tro revive it in the oven. I bake sourdough at home and it was not great flavor or texture. read more

Over the moon about this Southern-inspired restaurant! It's a cozy spot located in downtown Bend with a great atmosphere. Even without a reservation, they were able to accommodate us at their communal table in the bar area, which ended up being a great experience. The service was outstanding--our server was extremely knowledgeable and took the time to walk us through the menu, thoughtfully describing each specialty dish. Every item we ordered exceeded our expectations. The BBQ shrimp, roasted marrow bone, shrimp & crawfish jambalaya, and key lime pie were all exceptional. I would highly recommend any of them and can't wait to come back. read more

Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails - Roasted marrow bone - New American Near Me - Bend, Oregon

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1st time trying this place and it was amazing! The redfish was to die for. I wasn't a fan of the risotto but will definitely be back when I'm in Bend. read more

Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails - New American Near Me - Bend, Oregon

5 -- WOW. Dinner at Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails last night and it absolutely delivered! We started with a beautiful bottle of Domaine Serene 2021 Pinot Noir... smooth, elegant, and the perfect pairing for everything that followed. I started with mussels and clams (seafood will always be my first pick) and scallops for my husband--both were incredible. For the main event, I had the blackened redfish (SO good) which is the best I have had outside of New Orleans and the steak lover went all in on the ribeye... and let's just say there were zero leftovers! Every bite was delicious, the atmosphere was perfect, and the best part? Our server Emily never missed a beat all night! If you're in Bend and looking for a fantastic night out--this is your spot. All the tables were full and it was a Monday night! read more

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Came here for a bachelorette party dinner. Our waiter was great. Handled our party of 8 smoothly. Everyone enjoyed their food. I had a steak with carrots and scalloped potato side and it was cooked perfectly. Also enjoyed a classic lemon drop martini with Tito's. read more

Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails - Broccolini - New American Near Me - Bend, Oregon

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We visited Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails last night and it did not disappoint. We started with the highly recommended BBQ shrimp appetizer. Very delicious. I had the Jambalaya for dinner. Maybe the best that I have ever had. My wife had the ribs. She was told beforehand that the meat falls easily off the bones. Truth! We capped our dinner off with Bananas Foster for dessert. We will definitely be back. Highly recommended. read more

Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails - Jambalaya for dinner. - New American Near Me - Bend, Oregon

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Food was delicious. I ordered the Cavatappi pasta. There was a lot of good flavor in it and the pasta was cooked al dente. Shrimp tasted fresh and the sausage wasn't too salty. Everything complimented each other. Service from Ana was great! We had a large party and she did a great job. Drinks and dessert were very meh in my snobbish opinion. They were ok. We drank and ate it but nothing stood out. All the drinks tasted overly sweet. We ordered chocolate cake and carrot cake and they were all mediocre at best. Atmosphere was ok. Sometimes I feel you can't win it all. It's definitely an upscale type of spot. But it was sooooo loud. It was difficult speaking with anyone who didn't sit directly next to or in front of you. All in all, food was great. Good experience. read more

Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails - Cappavatti pasta. Has shrimp and sausage in it. - New American Near Me - Bend, Oregon

We ate here on a recent trip from Eugene and we're excited to see a cajun style restaurant in Bend. The restaurant is nice inside and has a low key upscale feel. The menu isn't very large and I think we both settled on choices quickly, deciding to try the most "quintessential" entrees to share. I chose the Blackened Redfish, and my boyfriend the Jambalaya. Even though we had already decided, the waitress went on her whole spiel through the menu highlights, including what we had already had planned to order. Awkward, but it was fine, and we didn't stray from our original choices. The Blackened Redfish was perfectly cooked and flaky. It was served on a bed of mashed potatoes with a slightly tangy sauce. All of it was tasty, but I was a bit disappointed in the lack of spice to the blackening seasoning and the sauce. Also, serving it on grits instead of mashed potatoes would have made it feel 100% more Cajun, even with lack of seasoning. The Jambalaya fared a bit better, although my boyfriend was also left puzzled by the lack of spice to this classic dish. In all ways it was a very good representation of New Orleans style red jambalaya, with the andouille sausage being particularly notable for flavor. The cornbread it came with was pretty good. We shared a piece of chocolate cake for dessert. A very decadent concoction of chocolate, peanut butter, and caramel. It was one of the better $12 slices of cake I've had. Overall? The service was good, if not a bit awkward with the menu spiel. The food was all very well prepared, but for a Cajun style restaurant they sure could stand to spice things up a bit. It's not cheap, but at least the entrees are a full sized meal and you don't have to order many "tiny plates" to cobble together a dinner. read more

Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails - Blackened Redfish and Jambalaya. - New American Near Me - Bend, Oregon

This is a MUST if you are in Bend Oregon Ambiance is upscale, the menu is absolutely amazing, value for quality and portions is aligned and the service is top notch. This combination is extremely hard to find. If there were more than 5 stars I'd give more! First of all - shout out to Dustin who was the BEST server we've ever experienced. It was our 1st time here (visiting from out of state) and he was extremely knowledgeable with the menu - explained the dishes and provided some highlights. He gave us recommendations (even to the tune of "which of these 2 whites would pair better with my entree") which were always spot on. We ordered cocktails needed a little more time with the menu and I loved his style of asking us to turn our menus upside down which would alert him to come back instead of coming back to check if we were ready (with such an amazing menu it was hard to decide) Cocktails: Bramble Down Bourbon Street - delicious and delicately prepared Starters 1) Smoked Trout Dip - if you like fish this was creamy, smoky and the pickled onions added that extra touch. Flavor explosion! 2) Village Baker Striata Bread & Olive Oil - freshly baked, hard to resist fresh bread and olive oil Entrees: All of these were absolutely delectable! 1) Short rib (on the special menu) was melt in your mouth 2) Blackened redfish - cooked to perfection, perfectly seasoned 3) Caroline Gold Middlins "Risotto" - this is not your traditional risotto, made from mushrooms and not arborio rice. I love mushrooms and would recommend this to anyone who enjoys mushrooms. The texture was like risotto but with such a lovely earthy flavor Dessert: 1) Zydeco Carrot Cake - this is a house favorite and didn't disappoint! Carrott cake is one of my favorite cakes and this was one of the best ever! Highly recommend 2) Cheesecake - also amazing. This review is actually from a visit in May that I'm getting to writing but we are visiting again and am eagerly awaiting my experience to try more things on the menu. Visit if you can :) read more

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Hard to beat! Gre vibe, outstanding service, and food with a lot of flavor :: all this is what you're looking for, for sure. The BBQ shrimp starter has a total southern charm and requires the sourdough bread to sop up th sauce. The pork chop slayed, as well as the bone marrow short rib pie. Shazam! Pay attention to what you want or be ready for a wait staff effective at the subtle upsell ... hey, they've got a business to run! read more

My favorite place in Bend. I have been several times and am never disappointed. Everything is good. Chicken, steak, salad, fish. The BBQ shrimp is my favorite. But seriously haven't had a bad thing here. Staff is helpful but not annoying. Perfect balance. read more

This restaurant is truly an amazing find--great food, incredible cocktails, and top-notch service every time. We've visited twice now, and it's officially become our go-to spot whenever we're in Bend. Can't wait to come back again! read more

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Not bad but I I felt a bit underwhelmed and felt the dishes were a tad bland. - BBQ Shrimp: pretty good, served in a sweet bbq sauce not much else to say. - Fried frog legs: this was on the specials menu, I mostly ordered out of curiosity since I hadn't tried frog before. It was interesting I'd say but don't think I need any more frog lol. The breading was nice thin but crispy with a light sauce coating. It was cooked well and on 1st bite honestly tastes like chicken. But the aftertaste was unpleasant to me- I can only describe as science class dissection/formaldehyde type flavor. - Jambalaya: just ok, mostly tomato flavor, lacking in spice and flavor. Cornbread it came with was pretty good tho. Ambience is classy/upscale and prices are on the higher side but still reasonable. read more

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This place is a gem! The food here is top notch and delicious. Flavors are on point. The drinks and cocktails here are delicious too. It's perfect for a date night. read more

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Have always loved this spot. The food is delicious and I love everything I've had here over the last 15 years. read more

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Zydeco usually has a very nice ambience & we typically get good service as well. Their food is good, not great. The standout for me is the bbq shrimp! I really wish they had more specials or changed their menu on occasion. It seems to be the same as when we moved to Bend 4 years ago. For that reason, we only come in 1-2x a year. read more

It's kind of all been said already. Great laid-back atmosphere. Sensational food. I maxed out on the nautical vibe and had mussels and clams as an appetizer then the bouillabaisse for my main course. Both were spectacular! We had a couple of cocktails each - stellar! Topped it all off with key lime pie and tres leches cake which were both tip-top. An exceptional meal overseen by a highly knowledgeable and friendly waiter. Impossible to find anything but great things to say about Zydeco. VERY highly recommend. read more

This is a long overdue review. They change up their menu items weekly? My friends and I did family style and the waitress knew right away. I really enjoyed all the food we ordered. My friends said the pasta was a little under cooked but I thought it was a perfect al dente but to each their own. Our waitress was very nice sweet and personable. I would definitely come back when I visit Oregon again! read more

Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails - Everything was so delicious, I wish I took a picture of the menu. - New American Near Me - Bend, Oregon

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Was there to celebrate my partners birthday. First server was great. Food was good. We then had another server for the rest of the evening who made us feel like she didn't want us to be there. Zero interactions or enthusiasm about us being there - tried to take our food away while we were still eating and then got annoyed when we ordered dessert - and threw our check on the table with out saying anything- clearly was just just trying to get us to leave since we were the last people there. Killed the experience for us. Fire her immediately. The hostess also denied my service dog being sat inside - also illegal. Just fyi. read more

Great atmosphere! The blackened redfish was fabulous. Hubby had the pork chop and it was gone!! Service was amazing!! Do yourself a favor and go!! read more

I never really understood why some restaurants only open for a few hours a day until I came to Zydeco Kitchen. Most of us are used to places that open for a lunch rush and don't close until the wee hours of the morning. By that time, you've gone through several shift changes and an exhausted line staff. That's not what you'll get here. The staff at Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails are on point. Everyone is smiling and moving. We dressed up thinking this place was gonna be hoity-toity but the atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming for all. You can choose to sit inside or outside where they basically built a dining area over parking spots. We ordered the bread appetizer and a halibut and shrimp ceviche appetizer that was just delicious. The saltine crackers and garlic aioli spread that came with the ceviche were in point. The bread may seem like a simple dish but it paired perfectly with the oil they provided and the aioli from the ceviche. Our main course included the jambalaya and grilled red fish. Both dishes were delicious and full of flavor. Of course we had to top off dinner with the carrot cake. Yum! read more

Food wasn't up to a standard it once was. I ordered halibut ceviche and it had 3 tiny flecks of halibut in the whole dish. I also ordered the beet salad. It used to have a bed of arugula and pistachios. Now it's a plate of beets with three small pieces of lettuce on top and a couple bits of pistachios. Underwhelming. The service however was top notch. Very friendly staff and quite attentive. read more

My wife and I were in Bend to Jerry Seinfeld and were looking for a new place to eat. While searching Yelp, Zydeco Kitchen came up. I will just start this review by saying if you haven't been here before, this is a must try. First, the atmosphere felt very comfortable, you could easily come here dressed up or dressed more casually. The service was great from start to finish. But the food was the star of the show. My wife and I each had a couple of Old Fashioned's to drink. We started off with the BBQ Shrimp with a Southern Grit Cake. We paired this with the Village Baker Straita Bread and Oilive Oil. This is served with a Cane Syrup Butter. All the reviews said to get the bread, well make sure and get the bread! In fact, we were asked if we wanted the bread. This is a must to soak of some of the sauce from the BBQ Shrimp dish. The BBQ Shrimp were cooked perfectly and plated on top of a Grit Cake that was served with an extremely flavorful sauce with just a little bite that complimented the shrimp perfectly. Again, make sure to soak some of the bread in the sauce. We also went with the Fried Green Tomatoes, which were fried to perfection. Crispy on the outside and perfectly cooked on the inside. It was the right time of the year for Fried Green Tomatoes. For an entrée we went with the Blackened Redfish which was served with mashed potatoes, spinach, Dungeness Crab, and Zydeco Sauce. Being a fan of the south, I immediately knew we had to try the Redfish. This fish was cooked perfectly. The blackening and Zydeco sauce complemented the fish without taking anything away from the flavor of the fish. Plus, you can make any dish better when you add Dungeness Crab. We finished up our meal with a slice of their Chocolate Cake. Overall, we were very pleased with our experience at Zydeco Kitchen. We'll certaily be back here again. If you live in Bend or you happening to be traveling to Bend, Zydeco Kitchen is a must try. You will not be disappointed. read more

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Awesome place! We couldn't find a reservation but we did find a seat at the bar. Ricky, the bartender, was awesome, quick witted, funny and he knew his stuff. Recommended frog legs, not a big frog leg guy, but these were hands down the best ones I have ever had. I ordered the bbq ribs, awesome and the wife the blackened fish. She loved it. Over all great portions, great atmosphere and amazing staff. I can't wait to visit Bend again, hopefully soon! read more

Atmosphere: Wasn't too loud, although if you focused you could sometimes overhear other tables as they talked. They have a nice looking patio as well, but we chose inside due to it being a bit too cold for us. Heaters are provided outside. Reservations are recommended as we were seated right away. They were not hard to make though. Good date spot! Service: Our server, Dwight, did an amazing job from start to finish. Personable and fun while also providing small, professional, touches that went a long way to elevate our meal. He even was able to recommend some local places to see and answered our questions about parking. While we were seated, the executive chef/owner of the restaraunt also came and check on us which was a welcomed surprise. Food and Beverage: Food was great and felt reasonably priced. We each took home some of our entree to finish later and enjoyed a cocktail as well. The Strawberry Sparkler was light and refreshing while the Watermelon Sunday was deliciously smokey. I do wish there was more liquid in the Watermelon Sunday as it appeared to be filled with a lot of ice, but that was probably just because I loved drinking it so much. Feedback: - A Half-slab of ribs for a reduced price would have been preferred over offering only a whole-slab. Didn't mind the leftovers though! - The bread was tasty but a very small portion (albeit cheap at only $5). Perhaps offering more bread would be appreciated. read more

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Had 4:45 pm reservations on a Saturday afternoon, and by the time we finished, the place had completely filled up. Our server was absolutely amazing. Very friendly, knowledgeable, and made it very clear that were to have the BBQ Shrimp on a Southern Grit Cake, and some Village Baker Striata Bread & Olive oil to mop up the sauce. When I say that every table ordered this same combination, that is how good this dish is! I had the Shrimp and Crawfish Jambalaya. The flavor was amazing with the right amount of spice, but the dish was absolutely packed with shellfish and andouille sausage. A slice of cornbread came with it. There was a hint of jalapeño, but it also had real corn kernels in it. My partner had the Cavatappi Pasta, and while the bite I had was nice and creamy, she really enjoyed it. We finished with a slice of carrot cake (to go) and not only was it huge, it was delicious. This restaurant is a "do not miss" if you are in Bend. read more

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Fabulous grilled redfish, with a delightful sauce, delicate mashed potatoes, and a fine Chardonnay accompanying it. Terrific service, even under pressure from thick crowds of patrons. Highly recommended. read more

Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails - New American Near Me - Bend, Oregon

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One of the best meals we've had in a long time. Our waiter was helpful with good info to guide our choices. We started with the bourbon blackberry shrub, one of the best cocktails I've ever had. Delicious! Hubby enjoyed an old fashioned. We ordered the bbq shrimp, their specialty-- that sauce! I could have licked the bowl! Definitely get the bread to sop up every drop! For dinner, we shared the bone-in pork chop. It was definitely large enough for the 2 of us. The Italian peppers were a piquant foil to the richness of the pork. We loved everything about our experience! read more

I can still taste the fried artichoke hearts years later! Love this place and the atmosphere! It's very special If you make it to the rooftop! read more

If you want a dining experience that blends excellent service with delectable cuisine, look no further than Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails in downtown Bend. From the moment we stepped in, the staff made you feel very welcomed, offering attentive and friendly service. The food was all delicious and was so well prepared. The meal started with freshly baked bread that had a nice warm crust outside but with a warm, soft, and spongy inside. A highlight of the evening was the shrimp appetizer, a crowd favorite with a delicious sauce and satisfying texture -made it a perfect start to our meal. The sauce was so delicious every drop had to be absorbed with the warm delicious bread. To complement my dinner, I had a watermelon mezcal cocktail--a refreshing smokiness of goodness. The pasta, featuring shrimp and andouille sausage in a tasso-shellfish butter sauce, was a perfect --rich, savory, and perfectly balanced. The redfish, was grilled to perfection and well seasoned paired nicely with the velvety smooth mashed potatoes. The pork chop was super tasty, tender, and juicy, a true testament to the chef's skill. Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails is about great food with cozy ambiance, and excellent service! Definitely glad we had the opportunity to visit, recommend this spot to anyone who wants the ultimate dining experience! read more

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Wonderful, cocktails, generous portions, delightful weight staff. Highly recommend this establishment.

Return visit to this restaurant on our trip to Bend. We had a 7:00 reservation and our table was ready when we arrived. Our waiter was great. He made great food and wine recommendations. We started with a nice Cabernet and ordered the barbecue shrimp along with the flatbread and oil. The shrimp was especially delicious. For entrees we ordered the redfish, shrimp jambalaya, crispy chicken with rice, and the filet. All dishes were very good. The filet was cooked perfectly medium rare and very tasty. The restaurant is very elegant and a really nice place to dine. read more

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This is one of my favorite restaurants in Bend! Their specials like the frog legs we had this time are always excellent! I also almost always go for the duck confit and it so moist and tender while the skin is perfectly crispy. The service is also always really good. read more

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On a recent road trip to Los Angeles, we decided to stop at Zydeco for dinner after seeing the glowing Yelp reviews--and it turned out to be a great choice. We grabbed a seat at a high-top table in the bar, where the bartender greeted us right away and delivered excellent service throughout the evening. To start, we were served warm bread with an olive oil dipping sauce that was absolutely delicious--simple, fresh, and full of flavor. For our main courses, we went with the salmon and the steak frites. Both dishes were outstanding. The steak was tender and flavorful, paired with perfectly cooked fries--thin, crisp, and seasoned just right. The salmon was equally impressive--moist, flaky, and topped with a delicate sauce that paired beautifully with the root vegetables on the plate. Zydeco delivered on both food and service, making it a spot we'll definitely return to next time we're in the area.. read more

Visited here on my second Bend trip for dinner with my family (4 adults and 2 kids.) Nice environment and kid friendly. Food and drinks were great! Service was great also! (2 of us had steak frites, jambalaya and teres major + 2 kid entrees) read more

Our favorite restaurant in town! You're never going to have a bad experience here and it's always the best for a date night or group dinner. Be sure to make a reservation in advance because they operate quite full in terms of capacity. Food is delicious, I recommend the jambalaya, and the cocktails are top notch! We'll be coming here for many years to come! read more