Blissful Spoon, a European bistro in downtown Bend with an abundance of gluten-free options, was not founders Miki and Kamal Bekkari’s original vision.

They wanted a nighttime venue with family-style dinners, tapas and specialty desserts rooted in the recipes Kamal grew up eating in Morocco. But when the pandemic hit, the husband and wife team had to reenvision everything, Miki said.

This week, the Bekkari’s original vision comes to life with the soft launch of Papillon, held Thursday through Sunday.

Papillon will specialize in elevated Moroccan cuisine with tapas, family-style meals and curated cocktails and wines. The name, which translates to butterfly in French, is a nod to one of Morocco’s spoken languages and the restaurant’s metamorphosis from daytime bistro to late-night dining.

The versatility of the menu is intended to allow diners to make the space what they want it to be, Miki said.

“Like they do in the Mediterranean, it can just be yourself, or it can be 10 of your friends that all come together,” she said.

The Bekkaris keep a close eye on social media chatter about what Bend residents hope to see in the local food and beverage space. They’ve seen comments requesting more ethnic options and late-night dessert. They’ve also noticed those yearning for the return of Joolz or Kebaba.

Papillon is not trying to re-create what has been done before; rather, it is making room for a modern take on Moroccan cuisine.

“We have a head chef who is Moroccan, and it brings that authenticity to the space,” Miki said, of Kamal.

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A hidden speakeasy

In 2023, the Bekkaris opened Cellar 65, an intimate speakeasy beneath Blissful Spoon influenced by Morocco, Spain and other flavors of the Mediterranean. It hosts special event dinners that include a five-course meal with wine pairings, allowing diners to be transported to countries across the Mediterranean without having to leave Bend.

The speakeasy allowed the Bekkaris to test recipes and learn what resonated best with customers, shaping the final vision of Papillon, Miki said.

Elevated Moroccan

Papillon’s menu will feature shareable plates for two, such as a full rack of slow cooked ribs ($49) and Cornish game hens with preserved lemons and couscous ($45). There’ll also be duck à l’orange ($32) and a medley of tapas.

Like all of the Bekkaris’ restaurants, everything will be made from scratch — not delivered in trucks by suppliers or squeezed out of bags.

“It’s just good, hearty, clean eating,” Miki said.

Papillon will be open from 5-9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday (the same operating hours as Cellar 65).

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Details

What: Papillon by Blissful Spoon

Location: 65 NW Newport Ave., Bend

Contact: blissfulspoon.com or 541-241-8181

Hours: 5-9 p.m. Thursday-Saturday

Price Range: Tapas $8-$16, mains $20-$32, dishes for two $45-$49