We had a fantastic meal here. The restaurant definitely lives up to the good reviews. The cocktails, including the strawberry spritzer and some semi sweet bourbon Drink were excellent. We started with the shrimp and grits for an appetizer. We also ordered bread. For entrées, we did the fillet and the redfish. The fillet was excellent with a fantastic sauce. The potatoes were some of the best au gratin potatoes I’ve ever had. No matter what I would recommend getting those potatoes with your entrée. The green beans with fillet were a bit bland compared to everything else. The red fish was fantastic and well cooked. For dessert we had the Keylime pie, which was also very good. I would definitely get the shrimp and grits again as well as any entrée with the potatoes. Service was excellent. Parking is a challenge in downtown Bend, but there is a nearby parking garage. Reservations would be recommended for indoor seating.
DeLona Bell
Service was fast and friendly. Food was excellent. Ample portions and a fun vibe. We recommend!
Angie Nagel
ZYDECO Kitchen & Cocktails – Good, Not Great
We recently dined at ZYDECO Kitchen & Cocktails in Bend after reading lots of positive reviews and deciding to give it a try while in town. The restaurant has a stylish, inviting vibe, and the hostess was very sweet when we arrived. That said, just a heads-up for future diners: they do not seat anyone even a minute before opening time. It wasn’t a huge deal, but a little surprising given the relaxed Bend vibe.
The bar staff was a highlight — the bartenders were attentive, and what appeared to be a manager or lead was friendly and actively supporting the team, which was nice to see.
We kept it light with appetizers and tried the house-smoked trout dip, the Acadian flatbread, and the barbecue shrimp. The trout dip was easily the best of the three — creamy, flavorful, and well-executed. The flatbread was just okay; nothing bad, but nothing memorable either. As for the barbecue shrimp, it came with quite a kick — a little too spicy for our liking, and it overpowered the dish rather than enhancing it.
Overall, I’d give the experience a solid three stars. It didn’t quite live up to the hype for us, but the service was friendly and the atmosphere was lovely. I’d be open to giving it another shot — maybe with a different set of dishes next time.
James
Atmosphere: Wasn't too loud, although if you focused you could sometimes overhear other tables as they talked. They have a nice looking patio as well, but we chose inside due to it being a bit too cold for us. Heaters are provided outside. Reservations are recommended as we were seated right away. They were not hard to make though. Good date spot!
Service: Our server, Dwight, did an amazing job from start to finish. Personable and fun while also providing small, professional, touches that went a long way to elevate our meal. He even was able to recommend some local places to see and answered our questions about parking. While we were seated, the executive chef/owner of the restaraunt also came and check on us which was a welcomed surprise.
Food and Beverage: Food was great and felt reasonably priced. We each took home some of our entree to finish later and enjoyed a cocktail as well. The Strawberry Sparkler was light and refreshing while the Watermelon Sunday was deliciously smokey. I do wish there was more liquid in the Watermelon Sunday as it appeared to be filled with a lot of ice, but that was probably just because I loved drinking it so much.
Feedback: - A Half-slab of ribs for a reduced price would have been preferred over offering only a whole-slab. Didn't mind the leftovers though! - The bread was tasty but a very small portion (albeit cheap at only $5). Perhaps offering more bread would be appreciated.
Nate Henson
Recently visited Zydeco in Bend for a birthday dinner and had a fantastic experience. The food was delicious, the drinks were excellent, and the service was friendly and attentive. Highly recommend!
Kyle Morgan
Chelsea was absolutely fantastic! She was incredibly attentive to our food allergy, making sure everything was safe without compromising on flavor. The food she served was delicious, and her drinks were perfectly crafted and she found out what flavors we really enjoyed. Friendly, professional, and genuinely thoughtful
Megan Lawrence
Amazing food and staff were friendly & knowledgeable about celiac/gluten free precautions needed. I was told the owners have celiac which made me feel extra safe eating here.
Highly recommend the bbq shrimp and espresso martini (one of the best I've had!)
Kay Driver
Dinner again Pork chop Again! The best.
Eden Korin
10/10! Food was outstanding, drinks were perfect, and our waiter(Dustin) was amazing, and very professional. Will come back as soon as possible ?
This is by far my favorite place to eat! Always have spot on service and the best food every time no matter what we order! Besides that they have the very best carrot cake I have ever had. I order it every time and the people I go with always say yuk carrot cake until they try this one. The cocktails are also amazing There opinions change quickly! I love that they take reservations and never seat us a second passed our time. I can't say enough good things about ut. Forever grateful for this place! Love, Love Love.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Larry Ermold
A Bend resident suggested Zydeco on our first trip to Bend. They became our go to eatery in Bend. The barbecue shrimp appetizer is SO good. So good they sell the sauce by the jar. The entrees are also very good. Bon Appitite.
Kid-friendliness: I never saw a child in this restaurant, but I see no reason not to bring one.
Superb in all aspects. More than a pleasant surprise. Next time I'm in Bend, I will be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Scott Hendison
I found this restaurant on the r/Bend subreddit discussing the best downtown restaurants. It was frequently mentioned, and within walking distance of our hotel so we gave it a shot.
We didn't have reservations, so we had to wait for a few minutes for seats to open up at the bar.
Everything about the experience here was fantastic, and this was one of the best meals I've had in years.
Their pork chop absolutely took first place in my own private "Worlds Best Pork Chop" contest, and the jambalaya that my wife ordered was excellent also.
We had a fantastic meal here. The restaurant definitely lives up to the good reviews. The cocktails, including the strawberry spritzer and some semi sweet bourbon Drink were excellent. We started with the shrimp and grits for an appetizer. We also ordered bread. For entrées, we did the fillet and the redfish. The fillet was excellent with a fantastic sauce. The potatoes were some of the best au gratin potatoes I’ve ever had. No matter what I would recommend getting those potatoes with your entrée. The green beans with fillet were a bit bland compared to everything else. The red fish was fantastic and well cooked. For dessert we had the Keylime pie, which was also very good. I would definitely get the shrimp and grits again as well as any entrée with the potatoes. Service was excellent. Parking is a challenge in downtown Bend, but there is a nearby parking garage. Reservations would be recommended for indoor seating.
Service was fast and friendly. Food was excellent. Ample portions and a fun vibe. We recommend!
ZYDECO Kitchen & Cocktails – Good, Not Great
We recently dined at ZYDECO Kitchen & Cocktails in Bend after reading lots of positive reviews and deciding to give it a try while in town. The restaurant has a stylish, inviting vibe, and the hostess was very sweet when we arrived. That said, just a heads-up for future diners: they do not seat anyone even a minute before opening time. It wasn’t a huge deal, but a little surprising given the relaxed Bend vibe.
The bar staff was a highlight — the bartenders were attentive, and what appeared to be a manager or lead was friendly and actively supporting the team, which was nice to see.
We kept it light with appetizers and tried the house-smoked trout dip, the Acadian flatbread, and the barbecue shrimp. The trout dip was easily the best of the three — creamy, flavorful, and well-executed. The flatbread was just okay; nothing bad, but nothing memorable either. As for the barbecue shrimp, it came with quite a kick — a little too spicy for our liking, and it overpowered the dish rather than enhancing it.
Overall, I’d give the experience a solid three stars. It didn’t quite live up to the hype for us, but the service was friendly and the atmosphere was lovely. I’d be open to giving it another shot — maybe with a different set of dishes next time.
Atmosphere:
Wasn't too loud, although if you focused you could sometimes overhear other tables as they talked. They have a nice looking patio as well, but we chose inside due to it being a bit too cold for us. Heaters are provided outside. Reservations are recommended as we were seated right away. They were not hard to make though. Good date spot!
Service:
Our server, Dwight, did an amazing job from start to finish. Personable and fun while also providing small, professional, touches that went a long way to elevate our meal. He even was able to recommend some local places to see and answered our questions about parking. While we were seated, the executive chef/owner of the restaraunt also came and check on us which was a welcomed surprise.
Food and Beverage:
Food was great and felt reasonably priced. We each took home some of our entree to finish later and enjoyed a cocktail as well. The Strawberry Sparkler was light and refreshing while the Watermelon Sunday was deliciously smokey. I do wish there was more liquid in the Watermelon Sunday as it appeared to be filled with a lot of ice, but that was probably just because I loved drinking it so much.
Feedback:
- A Half-slab of ribs for a reduced price would have been preferred over offering only a whole-slab. Didn't mind the leftovers though!
- The bread was tasty but a very small portion (albeit cheap at only $5). Perhaps offering more bread would be appreciated.
Recently visited Zydeco in Bend for a birthday dinner and had a fantastic experience. The food was delicious, the drinks were excellent, and the service was friendly and attentive. Highly recommend!
Chelsea was absolutely fantastic! She was incredibly attentive to our food allergy, making sure everything was safe without compromising on flavor. The food she served was delicious, and her drinks were perfectly crafted and she found out what flavors we really enjoyed. Friendly, professional, and genuinely thoughtful
Amazing food and staff were friendly & knowledgeable about celiac/gluten free precautions needed. I was told the owners have celiac which made me feel extra safe eating here.
Highly recommend the bbq shrimp and espresso martini (one of the best I've had!)
Dinner again Pork chop Again! The best.
10/10!
Food was outstanding, drinks were perfect, and our waiter(Dustin) was amazing, and very professional.
Will come back as soon as possible ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Barbecue Shrimp, Beet Salad
Amazing menu items. All delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Creole Blackened Jumbo Shrimp & Grits, Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting & Candied Pecans, Northwest Ribeye Special, Sprouts, Beet Salad
Restaurantji Recommends
Pricey!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: BBQ Shrimp Appetizer
This is by far my favorite place to eat! Always have spot on service and the best food every time no matter what we order! Besides that they have the very best carrot cake I have ever had. I order it every time and the people I go with always say yuk carrot cake until they try this one. The cocktails are also amazing There opinions change quickly! I love that they take reservations and never seat us a second passed our time. I can't say enough good things about ut. Forever grateful for this place! Love, Love Love.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A Bend resident suggested Zydeco on our first trip to Bend. They became our go to eatery in Bend. The barbecue shrimp appetizer is SO good. So good they sell the sauce by the jar. The entrees are also very good.
Bon Appitite.
Kid-friendliness: I never saw a child in this restaurant, but I see no reason not to bring one.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Jambalaya, BBQ Shrimp Appetizer
Superb in all aspects. More than a pleasant surprise. Next time I'm in Bend, I will be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I found this restaurant on the r/Bend subreddit discussing the best downtown restaurants. It was frequently mentioned, and within walking distance of our hotel so we gave it a shot.
We didn't have reservations, so we had to wait for a few minutes for seats to open up at the bar.
Everything about the experience here was fantastic, and this was one of the best meals I've had in years.
Their pork chop absolutely took first place in my own private "Worlds Best Pork Chop" contest, and the jambalaya that my wife ordered was excellent also.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Jambalaya
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