Deschutes Public House - Originally Published 2009

The lessoned learned from the road is that to really enjoy a place, you need to eat local.  The fare in Bend tends to lean towards pub grub.  Deschutes Public House delivers the goods.

I know what’s you’re thinking.  Bend is miles from the ocean.  But that makes no difference because the oyster shooters were worth it.

This is a can’t miss appetizer called “Buffalo Shrimp”.  Super hot and very nice.  Watch out, though.  The flavor will stay with you a while.

The only problem with this place is that I don’t live closer to it.

The Black Sheep Pub - Originally Published 2008

The Black Sheep is a great, low stress pub where you can forget about the fact that you just drove for twelve hours straight.  The menu has all the standard pub fare plus some vegetarian selections. 

They have a great selection of beers and a knowledgeable staff.  I hate when I ask for a drink recommendation and the server tells me she doesn’t know because she doesn’t drink.  Big thanks to the crew from The Black Sheep for recommending the Framboise Lambic.  Now Mai has a beer she can drink.

Trader Sam's - Originally Published 2011

I hate to be the person to do it, but I’m going to tell you the truth about one of your childhood memories.  Let me paint the picture.  Remember when your parents would take you and your siblings to Disneyland in the summer?  And do you remember when they let you go explore the park on your own?  Your dad would tell you something like, “Keep an eye on your sister.  We’ll meet you at Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride at 4:30. Your mother and I are going to take a ride on the Monorail.”

“Taking a ride on the Monorail” was actually a euphemism for “We’re going to go and get a drink”.  Thankfully, the visionaries at the Magic Kingdom have opened Trader Sam’s, a tiki bar that will allow a whole new generation of adults to take the ride.

You can sit outside of the bar and enjoy the afternoon, but remember this is a Disney-fueled tiki bar, but I recommend that you take a seat inside.  Aside from rum-heavy fruity drinks, the Imagineers have also dropped in some surprises.  Certain drinks trigger rain to fall, a volcano to erupt, or a ship-in-a-bottle to sink. 

In typical Disney fashion, they have pulled out all of the stops when building this place.  Just take a look at the men’s room.  Tiki wallpaper, tiki door handles, and tiki sconces.  They could have scrimped, but that just isn’t the Disney way.

So aside from the décor, how are the drinks?  Really fine.  Don’t let the fact that you’re in the Disneyland Hotel deceive you.  They pack a punch.  While we were there, we watched on guy seated at the bar proudly announce to his wife, “So I’m drunk!”

Shrunken Zombie Head – Lots of rum.  Not for the inexperienced.

Piranha Pool – Kind of like a Blue Hawaii.  It has a sweet that doesn’t let up.

Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Room – The Trader Sam’s pina colada.  This was my favorite of the bunch.  Rumor has it, if you don’t rattle off all of the tiki’s when you order, then no drink for you. 

How about the food?  It’s good bar food.  We tried the Pu Pu Platter, the lettuce cups, and the Ahi Poke.  All of it worked.