Dogwood Cocktail Cabin
The long-vacant, former Astro Lounge location next door to Barrio on Minnesota Ave. has undergone some major renovations. New front windows, as well as a bohemian log cabin vibe, are additions that owners Doug and Phoebe Pedersen built into the Dogwood Cocktail Cabin. The focus of the new bar will be handcrafted and house-infused cocktails, along with small plates from across the map in the "dark and romantic lounge," as Doug Pedersen described it. Similar to the branch location in Crested Butte, Colo., Dogwood is simply moving from one ski town to another. They plan to open May 10.
Laughing Planet
A favorite of the herbivores of Eugene and Portland, the delectable and responsibly-sourced burrito chain, Laughing Planet, will take over the former Taylor's Sausage Deli & Pub, located at 913 NE 3rd St. Laughing Planet's website confirmed that the building will be fully renovated before the restaurant opens in June. These are not traditional Mexican burritos (although they have those as well, like the Holy Mole, with a rich mole sauce), but a fanciful Portlandia twist on the fare—healthy and clever, like the Elmer Fudd, which is stuffed with tasty mashed potatoes! And the Che Guevara, filled with brown rice and yams.
Cabin 22
Last week, the newest addition to Bend's Westside drinking and dining cornucopia broke ground on a patio renovation project on the former Blue Pine Kitchen parking lot (see the Facebook page for a mockup of what the new, 10 Barrel-esque roadside seating area will look like). Cabin 22 has plans to open its pub by the middle of May with a dozen TVs, live music and 22 beers on tap. Owner Mitch Cole, who recently sold the Elk Lake Lodge, has brought his chef, Sage Schiffman, to Cabin 22, creating a new-American upscale bar menu at a price point of $10-15 a plate.
"That space on the westside was a great opportunity for a good bar with food," said Cole. "A step up from Cascade West across the street, but we're not Arianna. We are more bar-focused than Blue Pine, but our food is going to be impressive. We've got some Italian, some Asian, curries, salmon, crab and crawfish, burgers, and sandwiches with bread made in-house."
