The average Bend resident, I suspect, knows a limited section of Redmond — U.S. Highway 97 south of the city center, of course, and probably the main streets through the downtown core.

But some of Redmond’s most pleasant dining surprises are along that stretch of State Highway 126 that runs due west toward Sisters. You might not consider stopping at these friendly spots if you didn’t know they were there.

None has high visibility from Southwest Highland Avenue, as eastbound 126 is known here. But Jody’s Drive-In, La Posada and the Rimrock Taphouse are all places that I’d be pleased to visit again.

Jody’s Drive-In

Jody’s is a tiny burger-and-shake shop at the corner of 14th Street, a block east of Rite-Aid. There’s really no place to sit inside, save a narrow bench by the window. You order at a counter held atop a sheet of corrugated sheet-metal, then wait 10 to 20 minutes for preparation. Everything is made from scratch.

My burger was one of the best I’ve had in Central Oregon. The Smoke House burger ($8.75) came with bacon, cheddar cheese and grilled Walla Walla sweet onions. Topped with barbecue sauce, it contained a full one-third pound of ground chuck, perfectly cooked to retain its juiciness.

Tomato, lettuce and pickles also nestled within its egg-rich bun. And on the side, instead of fries, I enjoyed an order of “tater tots” with a house-made fry sauce.

Seating is outdoors, at three picnic tables in front of the little house or at several more behind, shaded by a large tree. I shared my table with a couple who raved about Jody’s chili and a vanilla shake that was “not too thin, not too thick, just right.”

La Posada

La Posada, translated from the Spanish, means “The Inn.” And while this cozy Mexican cafe is not an inn in the traditional sense — it doesn’t offer lodging — it is the sort of place where one can be comfortable for long periods of time.

Very well maintained, with a tile floor and a central television tuned to World Cup soccer, La Posada is far from fancy, but it’s very good. Two lighted display boards behind the counter offer a menu that ranges from individual items — burritos, enchiladas, tacos from $2.80 — to more elaborate combination plates with beans and rice.

A charming woman greeted me, took my order at the counter, and delivered it to the cook behind: “Numéro catorce!” she offered. Within five minutes, I had my No. 14 combo selection, with an enchilada and a chile relleno.

A plump Anaheim pepper in a savory egg batter sat side by side with a cheese enchilada rolled in a corn tortilla. Smothered in a mild ranchero sauce and topped with shredded lettuce, the dish was accompanied by moist Spanish rice and refried beans of perfect consistency.

Rimrock Taphouse

With 52 taps along the back wall of this modern beer purveyor, there are enough brews at Rimrock for every week of the year. There’s also a selection of wines, ciders and kombuchas, five televisions tuned to sporting events, and a spacious patio area with a central fire pit.

The choice of food is far more limited. Besides pretzels and nachos, there’s an assortment of flatbread pizzas, a hummus plate with salami, chicken wings and a couple of sandwiches, a French dip and a chicken-bacon ranch wrap.

I ordered at the counter from a busy bartender and was pleased that my French dip was delivered from the kitchen so speedily. A stack of thinly sliced beef, roasted well done, was served with melted Swiss cheese on a toasted French roll, and presented with a side of au jus — surprisingly, not very salty.

The sandwich was adequate, but not memorable. I preferred with accompanying red potato salad, made with bacon and sprinkles of dill and paprika. I’d come back to have that with my beer.

— John Gottberg Anderson can be reached at janderson@bendbulletin.com.