The Brown Owl reopened its food truck outside in the Box Factory in early May.

The Brown Owl’s food truck returned last month to its parking space outside the pub with the same name in Bend’s Box Factory.

Along with the menu of snacks, small plates and mains is the return of the truck’s original “sando” ($14), a buttermilk-fried chicken sandwich topped with a fried egg, a slice of cheddar cheese and mixed greens tossed with mustard.

In addition to old favorites, the new menu includes creatively designed plates, some of which have already become new favorites. Last weekend, the truck sold out of the fried polenta ($11) with grilled corn, drizzled with a pear tomato cream sauce.

One bartender said the new offerings are more snack-centric, to satisfy customers’ desire for smaller dishes.

I tried the pork ribs ($14), whole roasted carrots ($11) and the mac ($12), which were each plated with care on white porcelain plates. The three ribs were deliciously tender, coated in just the right amount of barbecue sauce and decorated with a generous handful of roasted peanuts and green onions. The sauce was rich in flavor and sticky enough to warrant messy fingers.

While the finger-licking-good pork ribs may be easy enough for one to gobble up, the whole roasted carrots are an ideal plate for sharing. Elements of salty, sweet and crunchy allow the sweetness of the honey to shine through as the most forward flavor, with the carrots the star of the dish.

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The whole roasted carrots sit in a hot honey sauce underneath a lemon dill mayonnaise and finely chopped candied walnuts for a plant-based treat that is sweet enough to be enjoyed as a dessert.

The macaroni and cheese is a hearty bowl of conchiglie pasta shells, more commonly known as seashells, that allow the cheesy sauce to adhere to the pasta exceptionally well. It’s a true comfort food dish that owner Lisandro Ramon warns may make diners a little sleepy. It’s garnished with breadcrumbs, which add a subtle crunch to the sinfully cheesy sauce.

The inspired small plates are a welcome accompaniment to the pub’s extensive beer, cocktail and cider menu. Food orders are accepted at The Brown Owl bar and customers are given a buzzer that notifies them when the order is ready to be collected at the food truck window.

Location: Box Factory, 550 SW Industrial Way #120, Bend

Contact: 541-797-6581, brownowlbend.com

Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Monday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday (hours for the pub truck and pub are the same)

Price Range: $3-$14

Cuisine: New American