CHOW feels like escaping the city into your artistic neighbor’s backyard.

The marvel started on the walkway to the restaurant, into a yard peppered with colorful sculptures. I breathed in a blend of sugary and savory dishes wafting out the farmhouse-style windows and hurried my pace.

The hostess seated me outside on a tree-shaded deck as I was greeted by a vivid mural with all things Bend: dogs, beer, mountain views and flowers. It was magical.

A nearby ponderosa pine erupting from the deck kept me company as I browsed the menu.

The drink menu brimmed with nearly every drink imaginable, including lemonades, sangrias, beers, wines, teas, hot chocolate, a Thai iced tea, London fog and Bloody Mary. I ordered Metolius Tea’s Sweet Bee Green tea, and it arrived in a teapot with a mug.

Looking around at other lunch-goers, I noted vibrant dishes complete with eggs, cheesy sauces and sizzling bacon. As I sipped my tea, I wasn’t sure what to order, being plant-based and gluten sensitive.

Vegan and gluten-free

When the server came, I asked if they had any vegan, gluten-free dishes. She told me she’d be right back, and returned with a different menu.

It was one I’d never seen before at any restaurant: a vegan and gluten-free menu.

My jaw dropped with excitement and hunger. I saw pancakes, tofu scrambles, portobello mushroom dishes and other veggie options. It’s uncommon to find a vegan option for pancakes, not to mention gluten-free. Along with dishes I could eat were gluten-free options including a three-egg cheesy omelet, huevos rancheros, French toast and more.

I ordered a stack of hot-off-the-griddle vegan and gluten-free pancakes ($13) with bananas foster ($4.50) on top.

The dish was as beautiful as the art sprinkled about CHOW’s yard. Topped with sliced bananas in a thick stack, I bit into buttery sweet cakes to find a fluffy, thick texture.

The bananas foster plunged the pancakes into a gravy-like sauce, creamy and honeyed. Though the dish satisfied my sweet tooth, I still felt a bit hungry. In the future, I plan to have order a side of veggie sausage links ($6) for added protein.

I also tasted the hand-cut roasted sweet potatoes, which packed the perfect punch — sweet and salty with a crunchy outside and soft middle.

For those without dietary restrictions, the menu is heaping with thick cut French toast, burgers, omelets, breakfast sandwiches and salads. Dishes a la carte include cornmeal-crusted tomatoes, hot oats, proteins (bacon, ham, veggie sausage, chorizo, chicken apple sausage, steak), bacon cheddar grits, edamame and more.

Service

CHOW’s staff is attentive and helpful. Servers offered recommendations for dietary restrictions, and food arrived within 20 minutes of ordering.

Details

What: CHOW

Location: 1110 NW Newport Ave, Bend, OR 97701

Contact:541-728-0256 and @chowbend on Instagram

Hours: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Sunday

Price Range: Entrees $12 to $22