 |
 |
| Northwest Wine Fan Visits The Blacksmith |
| Ambience: The Blacksmith exudes rustic charm with its vintage red brick walls and timbered ceilings. As you enter the restaurant you find yourself in a foyer with a waiting area and a great view of the kitchen. To your left is the wine bar and cocktail lounge with about a half dozen tables and a tasting bar. In the main dining area you enjoy a mixture of brick and rich sienna stucco walls with ebony black chairs and tables. Service: We have been to Blacksmith on many occasions including a wine dinner, a holiday dinner and for family celebrations. Of the times we have frequented the restaurant we have been warmly greeted and asked to wait while they prepare our table. Not sure why when the restaurant seemed less than half full at the time and we had reservations. The dining room service though is really good. The waitstaff knows the menu and is engaging when working with you on your choices for the evening. The Food: A menu that is always evolving! What you have one night might not be there the next. Some might feel this a distraction, but the Wine Fan likes the idea of adventurous dining. You could enjoy some of their signature dishes like "Not Your Mother''s Meatloaf" and "Campfire Trout" one time, but not again for a few weeks. Their menu offers plenty of choices. Starters, salads, a la carte entrees and a la carte sides, main entrees, and a prix fixe "Chefs Choice" tasting menu. With all this and a dessert menu to be envied you will not lack for choices. When we visited the first time at Blacksmith it was with wine club member Kevin. We had come for a Schug wine dinner. We came away from that experience with an appreciation for their small dishes, the preparation and attention to detail. Check out their starters! Over the holidays we brought a group of people with us and a couple of bottles of nice wine. We worked our way through starters that included Tuna-Avacado Terrine, Wild Mushroom Bread Pudding and Grilled Carolina Quai. All were good (and plated beautifully) with the Quail getting the nod as the favorite. Salads chosen were the Grilled Bread Salad and the Poached Pear Salad. Both were very good, but perhaps a tad too much Balsamic on them. The soup we chose was the Tomato w/ fennel. Now most soups seem to come to the table lukewarm, but not here. Hot and tasty, just the way we like it. Entrees for the evening included a New York Strip steak, Campfire Trout, Lobster Enchiladas, an Arctic Char and Swordfish Caribe. All were nicely prepared and we were surprised how much we all enjoyed the Lobster Enchilidas. Another favorite was the Arctic Char served with mint mashed potatoes. That night we shared the Dessert Sampler for six. All we can say is that this is worth the trip to Blacksmith alone. We went again just a few weeks ago and had the same wonderful experience. From the Scallop appetizer, the Caesar Salad and the Swordfish, Campfire Trout and Duck entrees we were delighted once again. Wine Menu: The wine menu has some very good choices for you. With well over a hundred choices and almost half of those being Northwest wines there is something for everyone to like. Prices range from $26 (Maragas Legal Zin) to $280 (Caymus Special Select Cabernet Sauvignon) for red wines and $25 (several choices) to $300 (A magnum of Perrier Jouet Champagne) for white wines. Glass pours range from $7 to $15. Recommendations from the wine menu include the Syncline Rousanne, Chateau Ste Michelle Ethos Chadonnay, White Rose Quiotee's Lair Pinot Noir, Bergstrom's Bergstrom Vineyard Pinot Noir, Cuneo Bricco Red, Northstar Walla Walla Merlot and the Woodward Canyon Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon. Wine Service: The stemware is acceptable if not exciting. Of the times we have brought wine with us our servers have all been right on the mark. We recently brought a bottle of 1990 Mumm WInery Lake sparkling wine that our waiter immediately brought us stemware and a wine bucket for. Quick and efficient, just the way you'd want it to be. Overall Impression: Great food and service. We have enjoyed our experiences here and look forward to going again! |
 |
| The Blacksmith Restaurant 211 NW Greenwod Ave. Bend, OR 97701 541-318-0588 Open 7 days a week for dinner 5:30 to close Chef/Owner: Gavin McMichael Executive Chef: Todd Wallenbeck Food Prices: Moderate to Mildly Expensive Wine Prices: Moderate Corkage: $10 Reviewed by Tim and Carolyn Sinniger August, 2007 |
| Talk To The Cellarmaster: |
| Tim Sinniger |
| Name: |
| Email: |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|