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Hong Kong's Bamboo Makeover

Hong Kong has long been known by locals as one of the Bend's stalwart Asian restaurants offering up consistently solid takes on Cantonese, Szechwan and

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Hong Kong has long been known by locals as one of the Bend's stalwart Asian restaurants offering up consistently solid takes on Cantonese, Szechwan and Mandarin dishes. Locals also know Hong Kong as home to the Bamboo Room, a little lounge around the back of the restaurant through a windowless door that announces "No Minors". The Bamboo Room is host to one of the original and still best happy hours, or as longtime bartender Linda Morrison calls it the "Attitude Adjustment Hour" because, "you're not allowed to be happy when you're drinking in Oregon." We're willing to challenge that assertion with well drinks for $2.75 a pop and draft beers starting at $2.25.

But when Quick Bites dropped by the Bamboo Room recently it wasn't to suck down low-priced drinks - honest. No, we wanted to check out an unsubstantiated rumor that the once rough-around-the-edges lounge had gotten a makeover.

Happily, our information was right. We found that the Bamboo Room had gotten more than a minor facelift. In addition to new furniture and bamboo floors, owners Mike and Lilian Chu knocked out a wall to expand the lounge's seating area, which they hope will draw more diners to the newly smoke free area.

We also found it to be a nice spot for a casual business lunch. In addition to a full lunch menu with entrées priced at under $7, we found a more than adequately stocked buffet for $4.75 or all you can eat for under $7.45.

We wouldn't mind if they lost the video poker machines, but hey, baby steps, right? (REJ)

The Hong Kong Bamboo Room

530 SE 3rd St., 389-8209. Mon-Fri. 11 a.m. - 10 p.m., Sat-Sun Noon - 10 p.m. Happy Hour 3-6 p.m. (food) 4-6 p.m. (drinks)