After breezing through 10 Barrel Brewing's soft opening last week, Quick Bites got a closer look at the new pub's operation this week. Owners Chris Cox and Garrett Wales said business has been brisk for the newest member of Bend's brewpub family.
We returned this week to look over the pub's menu, which features many of the brewpub industry standards like mac and cheese, burgers and salads. However, the pub is also offering a strong line up of pizzas ranging from a plain mozzarella and herb pie ($12/large) to an elaborate prosciutto pesto chicken pizza ($18/large). Other interesting menu items include tempura-fried steak fingers ($8) and steamed manila clams served in 10 Barrel's American Wheat Ale broth.
Stop by on Saturday and you'll hit the launch party for 10 Barrel's new, yet-to-be-named pale ale, which is replacing the stalwart Code 24 ale, 10 Barrel's original beer that was launched under the Wildfire brand. But as owner Chris Cox said, "You can't fall in love with a beer." The new beer, Cox said, has a bigger body and a more distinct Northwest flavor with big citrus hops. If you can't wait that long, stop by 10 Barrel for a couple of the other pub exclusive beers like the Belgian Double Wheat and the Sinistor Black Nitro, both of which are an adventurous departure from the well loved, but also well traveled, Northwest beer formula.
If you're looking for a more traditional atmosphere in which to munch a slice of pizza, Versante Pizza has opened at the corner of Reed Market and 3rd in the old Zydeco location. Anyone who has spent a far amount of time on the coast might recognize some similarities between Versante and Fultanos in Cannon Beach. That's because owner David Johnson has owned the Cannon Beach location for roughly eight years and is applying some of the same formula to his new venture in Bend, which he described as family pizza environment. Johnson said Versante, not to be confused with the mobile Veraci pizza joint, offers everything from basic to gourmet pies at a variety of price points. Versante also offers pasta, salads and baked subs. And the best part? In true 1980s pizza parlor style, you can play Versante's old school, sit down Galaga machine while you wait for your pie to rise.
