The Barrel Thief Lounge

Excellent cocktails and surprisingly amazing food. Had the Cubano sandwich and really enjoyed it. Pretty empty for a Saturday evening. I guess this is Bend’s new secret delicious spot.

Solid drinks, fun mixes along with some hard-​to-​find traditionals (and no skimping on pours), terrific ambiance, and REAL Absinthe fountains! Our bartender/​caretaker for the evening was pleasant, fun and kept good track of us. They must not sell a lot of food because as soon as we ordered our first round and an appetizer she took all the menu’s away (she did pause and offer to leave a solitary drink menu behind and then ended up piling the menu’s a bit beyond but thankfully still within reach).
And maybe that’s why we should’ve taken the hint and not ordered «dinner». Portion sizes for price are way too small. Yes, I totally loved the Pringles, but Pringles are silly cheap so they should be a bit more generous with them. Pulled Chicken Wrap-​ie thingy needed some serious spunk (side note, my chicken had a big chunk of bone. Which all in all is okay because it’s «real» but I’m easily of the ‘tender stomach species’ so it almost got spat out with vigor). Ingredient list sounded super neat but overall it was pretty darn bland. Even a shaker of salt would’ve been an upgrade. Which is odd in a place that pickles everything they can!
Cubano got high marks for flavor overall but was lacking mustard (and when a mustard disliker complains there isn’t enough mustard on a Cubano, you know something is up). And again, a pretty small sandwich for $ 14 regularly. Thankfully we got $ 2 off each sandwich due to it being Happy Hour… but even @ $ 12 it was pretty skimpy-​wimpy.
Speaking of HH… $ 2 off «panini’s and dogs» and then a good list of $ 6 drinks. I hate to call them this, but they were well drinks. So vodka cran, rum and coke, etc. They did have a few Mules too. So if you don’t like super fancy pants drinks, HH might be swanky.
We voted that we’d go back but only under certain conditions. 1) Our nerdy beverage friends were visiting. 2) We weren’t eating anything except appetizers. 3) Tasting visit only.

I was very pleased with everyone we were touched by! Our server was busy, yet very knowledgeable and multi tasked well. I ordered an Old Fashioned and it was delicious. We had the wonderful opportunity of trying out the tasters and gettin’ the run-​down from the owner. Our Pork Belly Bahn Mi was awesome and I love that it was accompanied with Pringles! Yum! We also got to speak with the chef who clearly enjoys his job! Overall, wonderful experience and I’m looking forward to bringing my family and friends.

This place is fantastic!!! A wonderful and inviting space. The outdoor patio looks awesome although the weather was a little too cold to enjoy. They also have an courteous and welcoming staff and of course amazing drinks!

Great addition to the Bend cocktail/​food scene. I have enjoyed their spirits for some time, so it’s nice to be able to get a meal and cocktail in a very welcoming environment. My Sazerac was very good, and the ‘flying sipper” was great. Food menu is small and simple, but our choices, the Pulled Pork Rice Bowl and the Pork Belly Cubano were both very good. Only thing we felt was a bit out of place was the choice of Pringles as the chips accompanying the Cubano. At $ 14 for the sandwich it does cause you to pause a bit, and definitely cheapens the presentation. I would prefer they serve some good homemade chips and elevate the sandwiches a bit. Other than that great service from Kaylee and a very nice evening. Can hardly wait to hit this places outdoor patio when it gets warm.

Time to break up the microbeer scene in Bend at the Barrel Thief, Oregon Spirit Distillers.
Mixologists were knowledgeable and experienced at their craft using fresh muddled ingredients. All of our drinks were delicious. My favorite was the Sazerac with their rye whiskey and absinthe.
Our food was also fantastic, starting off with charcuterie and cheese plate top off with their chefs house made pickled vegetables. The rest of our food was fresh and well-​made with engaging ingredients.
And, yes, they have a thought out draft beer selection to back up any of their spirits!

I’ve only been once. Didn’t see the flight that they offered on the menu so I totally missed out but will make up for it the next time I go as well as trying their food. Such a nice place to relax and enjoy. I’m looking forward to my next visit.

The ambiance is awesome, the drinks are fantastic, but the server/​bartender needs to work on being a server/​bartender!
I don’t need to hear how swamped you are, how management sent home the other server;
I also don’t want to hear something is «86’d» when inquiring about it. Colloquialisms are not appropriate when talking to diners. Are you going to ask me if I need that ‘on the rail’ next?
We were told we couldn’t take pictures of the absinthe setup.
We were told we couldn’t move the tables together, she’d do it.
Not a friendly environment when this person is working.

Need a kicked back, low flying place with great cocktails made by an excellent distillery? This is your place!

A very chill environment and great drinks. The service was excellent and all spirits are made in-​house. One of the only places in town that has absinthe service and serves Moscow mules in copper mugs. All in all, a great experience.

The lounge had an inviting ambiance from the moment I walked in the door. The classic cocktails are spot on and the service is impeccable. Will definitely return.