10 Below — New American / Pacific Northwest, Bend
10 Below established itself as Bend's most serious restaurant by taking Central Oregon's extraordinary produce — high-desert vegetables, Columbia Basin proteins, and the river trout that the Deschutes watershed provides — and applying Pacific Northwest technique with genuine conviction.
The seasonal menu changes with the high desert's growing calendar: the spring ramps and morels from the Cascade foothills, the summer stone fruit and tomatoes from the Deschutes Valley farms, and the fall root vegetables and wild mushrooms that the mountains provide. The sourcing is specific and documented.
The Central Oregon wine program brings Walla Walla Syrah and Columbia Valley Cabernet alongside the Willamette Valley Pinot Noir that Oregon wine culture defaults to — a selection that reflects the kitchen's specific geographic context.
The downtown location and the Bend food community's loyalty have made 10 Below the restaurant that the city's serious diners cite as their benchmark.
Best Occasion: Great for First Dates
Central Oregon sourcing, Pacific Northwest technique, and Bend's most accomplished dining room. The first date where the high desert's agricultural richness provides the discovery.
Best Occasion: Good for Closing Deals
The most serious kitchen in Bend for the deal that benefits from Bend's specific culinary ambition.