We went here on Mother's Day, and surprisingly had no wait. The patio was very nice, and I was impressed by their gluten-free options.
The service was a bit slow, but our server did an amazing job (food was hot, everything was correct).
Great place for brunch. I'd love to go back to see the rest of the menu.
The Communication Breakdown Burger is the bomb, folks. Â With Cajun Tots, it's nothing short of outstanding. Â Great beer selection, as you'd expect in Bend.
The experience itself was a shock to the senses for this out-of-towner. Â What an amazing building and atmosphere. Â There's a movie theater and Turkish Bath in this building... Â It's the damnedest thing I've ever seen. Â Next time I'm in Bend I plan on spending more time at McMenamins. Â By far my favorite Bend landmark. Â it's just so f'n cool! :)
Cool place! Walked down after eating at Deschutes Brewery to check it out. A UofO game was playing in their theater room and it was free to watch, how cool is that? Then there was a live band playing in another room, also free. The soaking pool looks awesome. I stopped in at the restaurant and had the dessert sampler. Pretty tasty. I'd love to stay here sometime, this place is awesome!
Review Source:I've been going to Mcmenamins for 7 years, and all because my uncle works there. My family feels so compelled to go there frequently so we can visit him, instead of just going to--you know, his house. One word I would use to describe this establishment: overrated. The atmosphere is nice. I love the building and the way everything looks. The food however, leaves a lot to be desired. I've tried many of the menu items at this Mcmenamins over the years. My all time favorite, the Seared Ahi Tuna, is no longer on the menu. Figures. Their fish and chips are pathetic, a brick of fish placed next to some soggy fries. Their maccheroni and cheese is way too salty it literally made me sick to my stomach. Their pizza was pretty good, but not enough to really make me want to order it again. Today I tried a cheeseburger, and was actually quite satisfied. Not the best burger ever, but I'll definitely be getting a burger there every time I go from now on. I really like their tater tots and when dipped in the imported Portland ketchup its absolutely amazing. Of course, there are many other aspects to Mcmenamins besides their food. Their brews are probably their most prominent feature, and I cannot comment on them as I am under 21. Their movie theater is nice and very affordable, it's my favorite thing about this particular Mcmenamins. Tickets are only $3. The Turkish bath soaking pool is very nice, although I haven't been in it in quite sometime. I've never stayed in the hotel, so I can't comment on that either. Overall, the food at Mcmenamins is mediocre at best, but then again, Mcmenamins isn't really about the food. It's a place to enjoy a movie or some live music, probably with a beer in hand, and munch on some food while you do so. I personally do not care for this Mcmenamins at all, but maybe that is because I'm under 21, however even if I was, I would rather take my business to Deschutes Brewery down the street.
Review Source:We spent our afternoon around the fires at the little bar at the back of school. Our bartender was very attentive and poured great drinks -- I recommend any drink with juice as they use fresh juice for every drink. We ordered a little bit of food and enjoyed all of it -- canjun tater tots are awesome! It was nice sitting around the big fires on a nice crisp Bend day.
Review Source:Super cool venue. Â I am grateful that McMenamins has a Bend, OR, operation. Â I go to McMens for food, coffee and dessert, to soak in the soaking pool, to watch movies, and to hear live music. Â I especially like the Fireside Pub, which offers much more intimacy than the rest of the place (not to mention a pool table).
Review Source:This is the coolest looking interior I have seen in an English-American pub.
As an aesthetically drawn person, I can say I would go back just to see this again. Otherwise, their beer selection is good, although we were spoiled later by Deschutes  at the Public House.
We pre gamed here before dinner, and were eager to stay longer. Â We'll be back for a bite when we are in town again.
We stayed in the nunnery--what a hoot! It was lots of fun and affordable--only $295 for four bedrooms, six people, and a dog. And they bring you a French press, freshly ground coffee, and the paper in the morning. Also, it's easy to eat and drink at the brew pub in the main building, my hubby enjoyed the fire pits and whiskey bar behind our house, and it was very quiet so our kids slept soundly. Also, it's right downtown.
The biggest downside? As we were venturing to the soaking pool, we were told that it was closed because someone had vandalized the fountain. This was one of the primary reasons we stayed here, and though we understand why it was closed, they wouldn't give us free passes for the next time we were passing through town (it's free for hotel guests and $5 for everyone else). Bummer!
Pros: They have amazing vegetarian food! A lot of options for us picky eaters. Amazing desserts, and the best chai tee in town. Convenient location as well. Not always parking available but to be fair, that's the City Of Bend's fault for only allowing 2 hour parking.
Cons: A little overpriced but it is expected. The theater is always over packed, too, unless you plan to wait in line for an hour, don't expect to make it to the movie. The servers could learn to smile more. I've eaten here well over 15 times and they never smile. They make me feel sad for them.
A minus 1 star for not calling me back after they interviewed me 3 years ago. It was rude to not follow up or return my call.
I've stayed at every McMenamins Hotel. Â I've rented space at various McMenamins for a birthday party, company xmas party and my own wedding. Â Old St. Francis School is by far the best McMenamins lodging! Â They capture the spirit of the old McMenamins, you know, before the service got crappy and food so-so. Â Everything about this place was great - staff, food, experience! Â Props especially the room with the double clawfoot tubs. Â Fantastic!
Review Source:Food/Drinks:
Cajun Tots - YES. Crispy on the outside, goes perfectly with McMenamin's ketchup. I would definitely recommend cajun tots over regular fries/tots.
Uptown Burger (bison burger, blackberry BBQ sauce, brioche bun) - Bison tastes just like lean ground beef. Overall, a pretty good burger.
Wildflower Wheat Beer - Excellent! Tastes a little bit like chamomile but not in a weird way. Â A+, would order again.
Service:
We went on a Sat around 7pm. Â Surprisingly, the restaurant wasn't that crowded. Drinks came out right away, food took a bit longer but we had a big party so it's understandable. Â Our server was friendly and checked back to make sure we had everything we needed.
Next time I'm in town, I'll have to check out the outdoor patio and theater. Â Until then: Good scores all around!
It's hard to fault anything about this place; you can step out of your room, walk 20 feet, catch a cool movie, enjoy some whiskey and a cigar, then pop back into your room, put on a towel, and soak away the smell in the pool, If you're feeling up to it, you can often catch a concert in the evening, and all without leaving the hotel.
Review Source:The wife and I loved the room and the grounds, but the service was very slow. Â We sat outside in one of the seated areas and after about twenty minutes, we had a waiter come by and placed a order for drinks and a menu.. Another twenty minutes passed and the drinks and menu arrived. Â We thought we give it another try the following day and had the same, slow service. The rooms were super great, but we are done with the food and drink portion
Review Source:We stayed at Old St. Francis for our anniversary recently and simply had a wonderful time. This is the third hotel we have stayed at and was by far the nicest. We opted for a king room which at $145 a night seemed fairly priced. Along with our big comfy king bed we got a nice flat screen TV, a nice cozy armchair and a huge shower and bathroom.
We stayed in the Klondike Kate room which like most McMen's comes complete with a history of the person who inspired the room. Because this is more of a wood lodge kind of place it lacked the amount of detailed painting you would normally find in a McMenamin's but they made up for it with the furniture the photographs throughout the property. While staying at the hotel you do get free access to the movie theater and soaking pool which really sweetens the deal. We enjoyed the soaking pool here with it's open roof and calming teal tile. The theater is fun too, lots of cozy couches and a bar in the theater so you can sip a rubenator while you watch.
Food and beer were lovely as always, especially the black and tan brownie which made the perfect late night treat. Before departing we picked up a few muffins to go. The raspberry muffin was awesome. The cinnamon roll was decent and the chocolate chip cookie totally rocked.
Overall we are more than happy we choose to stay here while in town, we had a great experience and we were happy with the amount we paid.
My husband and I absolutely LOVE McMenamins! It is our goal to visit every one in Oregon and Washing within 5 years. And, I have to say this is our favorite location. The outdoor seating is ample. There is even a side patio where you can dine with your dog! The happy hour options are amazingly priced. We always feel like we're stealing when we leave paying under $25! They staff is very attentive and friendly. A lot of the locations have employed very lazy and rude employees that really give the dining experience a largely negative impact. But, Old St. Francis school is truly one of the best restaurants in Bend. The beer options are tasty and the food is always delish!
Review Source:What happened!?!? Â McMenamin's has always had dependable Burgers.. Â Today, buddy and I rolled over to St. Francis McMenamins because Hardy's (best burger in Bend) was closed and we had a Burger itch. Â
So, $10.75 for a Cheeseburger, I asked for Swiss. Â Buddy had the Wilbur (Bacon, Cheddar and Egg). Â My buddy asked if there were any onions, and the server said no. Â Just a pickle spear. Â I stated good, neither of us want onions (because onions are NOT edible). Â She chuckled. Â We both chose Cajunized Tots with the burger. Â He ordered a Ruby and I ordered the Nut Brown whatever on Nitro.
Beer came first, it was meh OK, I've never been impressed much with their beer. Â It's OK but stagnant, innovate people! Â Then came the Burgers and Tots. Â Tots were great, how can you mess that up? Â But our Burgers BOTH had onions on them, we pulled the onions off and layed them out on the table so she would clearly see them. Â We added our condiments of choice and continued to eat. Â Something changed. Â The meat quality was ... cheap. Â Just didn't taste very good. Â And they must have changed the Buns, the new Buns are HORRIBLE. Â OMG!!
Anyway, our server was sexy and friendly enough, but she didn't show back up until we had eaten the Burgers. Â I pointed out the onions, because she didn't notice our onion sacrifice stating "by the way they DO come with onions, just in case you're ever asked again" and she offered to ... re-make them?? Â Can you not see that we ate them, who wants another burger that most likely has been spit on on a full belly? Â Nah. Â Any tab credit? Â Nope. Â OK cool, never see you or St. Francis McMenamins again. Â Baddow.
I'll try another McMens location, but I'll never be back to this one.
I've eaten at the McMenamins in Eugene quite a few times, and never had any problems with it. It was very "bar food". We had heard good things about the St. Francis School, so we thought we'd try it out.
Right after we sat down we ordered drinks. My husband and I ordered beer and my brother ordered a soda. The soda showed up shortly, and it ended up being really syrupy. Something was obviously wrong with their machine.
While waiting for our beer to show up we started looking at the menu. As I said, I've been to the location in Eugene numerous times, and it is just okay food at pretty average prices. Well, apparently not at the St. Francis location. The prices were shocking for what we were expecting. Their fish and chips were $18 (which is what I was craving and why I had decided on going here).
During the whole time we were looking at the menu our beer hadn't shown up. We waited... and waited... and waited. Eventually I managed to flag down our waitress. I asked about the beer and she said that it was really busy and had to come from the bar. Well, as far as I could tell, there is a bar in the restaurant. I know they have another one on the other side of the building. Was she telling me that our beer had to be brought from over there? It seemed ridiculous. I could see the bartender at the restaurant bar from where we were sitting, and he was chatting up the lone person sitting there. Quite obviously not busy.....
We must have waited 15 minutes with no drinks. Finally, I suggested going somewhere else, and that's exactly what we did. Fortunately the waitress turned down my offer to pay for the soda.
I have been to a few of these restaurants and this one was just as yummy and charming. Whatever you order, make sure it comes with a side of Cajun tots.
This time I had a burger loaded with cheese & bacon, think it was called the communication burger, and it was delicious. BF got the Cuban which was pretty good too.
Highly recommend this place. "Thank you for coming" server was great!!
I'm a fan of McMenamins, but strictly for the drinks. Since I was last in Bend, the prices have gone up significantly, while the food seems to have gotten worse. On my last visit I ordered their slider special, which included a duck sausage burger and garlic fries. The sliders were a bit overdone, but still edible. The fries were just plain sad and very underseasoned, despite the scallions and garlic.
A later visit that evening was very pleasant, as the multiple rooms in the establishment made it easy to find seating and have great conversation with friends. They have house cider, which was surprisingly strong and refreshing. Their other in-house brews are also good, especially when made into a milkshake. The tater tots aren't bad, either.
The restaurant food, I would give 2 stars. The bar and brews earn at least 4 stars. Three stars, it is!
Excellent food, excellent beer, excellent staff!
This is one of the best places to eat in bend--they have excellent beer and excellent food!
We ate dinner at the main restaurant this weekend, and the food was excellent, as usual. We then went to O'Kanes for a supplementary beer. The atmosphere was, again, excellent. Standing around one of the several fire pits, the other patrons were talkative and friendly--we went back the second night after eating at the Bend Brewing Company.
The only problem was that they only had the 12 year old MacCallan scotch--I prefer either the 18 or the 21 year old versions.
Only reviewing the pub/restaurant: There is a really nice selection of beers here and it's well worth a visit just for them, but I wouldn't call any of them stellar. Fairly run-of-the-mill. Porter is probably the best, but both pale ales are solid.
The food, however, was really enjoyable. Big portions and good flavor. Baked mac and cheese was tasty, and my wife's chicken sandwich was well-done with the avocado. I'd definitely go back.
I love the vibe of all McMenamins estates and this one is just as nice. Â We only had beer here no food, but since McMenamins has mostly standardized their food I am sure it is on par with the others. Â I had the Spider Bite Robust Porter (nitro tap) and it was pretty darned good. Â I love that they have an old wood stove/furnace in the middle of the main bar/restaurant, It was a cold day and felt amazing.
I think it would be fun to stay here, but it is kinda pricey. Â I would stop in and catch a flick or a beer the next time I was in town.
Oh also our server was amazing, i would give him 5 stars.
I will have to try the food on my next visit to Bend. From what I have seen of this place though, it was pretty amazing. Actually, a pretty new concept for me. Pub/restaurant/movie theater/chill spot. Extremely spacious, very "mountany." (sp? lol). Â They have these cabins you can rent out, very cool!
I was up there with a buddy of mine and met up with his ex wife and her kids. Very fun bunch of folks to drink with. Again though, I could not keep up, being the extreme light weight I am :). Again, I'm more of a "food" connoisseur, rather than a drinker.
Very "white" though, not a bad thing...but I have to admit, it was odd being the ONLY asian up there in Bend, wait a minute, I did see another asian, she was one of the owners of the Japanese restaurant there lol.
Never heard of this place, didn't even know that it was a chain, I would definitely recommend the one in Bend, OR. VERY VERY COOL!!! :)
Gayle and I were driving up from the Bay Area to Pasco WA for a Family Wedding and decided to hang out in Bend for the afternoon and stay the night. Her 2 sons and their families did the same, although we arrived several hours earlier. By the time we all got together, everyone wanted a bit to eat and the Old St. Francis School came highly recommended for a group like us.
Folks seem to love or hate the McMenamins chain of bars, restaurants, and hotels, but I have always found their business model and execution of it to be fascinating. The old Poor House at Edgefield (outside of Portland) is like an adult amusement park. Â And then there's the Kennedy School (also in the Rose City) which like Old St. Francis has been lovingly re-purposed, while keeping much of the original academic charm. One of these times, I'd actually like to stay overnight and maybe see if rooms like Altar Boys are really haunted.
All of us had a great evening here. The highlight was our waiter who really  knew how to charm Gayle's 5 year-old granddaughter. Her mother (who is a waitress) was especially impressed with his ability to speak directly to the Kid and help her make informed menu choices. Plus it didn't hurt to be served a cherry lemonade in addition to the Shirley Temple that was ordered.
Gayle and I split the Halibut, which was not only delicious, but along with a few group shared appetizers was about the right amount of food.  I also ordered a cup of some sort of corn chowder which was "lick the bowl" good. The rest of the Family enjoyed their choices as well. There was also beer and wine all around and the evening easily turned into a comfortable and fun family gathering. Yes the McMenamin's food and drink "Deal" is very similar in each of their unique properties.  And in Bend, there just might be better dining options out there. Yet as I continue to receive a total  service/food/atmosphere experience the exceeds the sum of their parts, you'll find me at a McMenamin's every time I'm within a few miles.
So McMenamins and I have somewhat of a love-hate relationship. I've learned to work around this, successfully avoiding the unpleasantness and enjoying the finer points with relish.
To start with, McMenamins St Francis has amazing atmosphere. Whether it's the 24/7 Grateful Dead music in O'Kanes, the couches in the theater, the artwork on the walls, or the turkish bath, I just love it! There's something zenlike, quirky, and welcoming about the McMenamins style.
The prices aren't too bad, especially during happy hour (which is after 9 now to). The staff is pretty good, not great nor bad.
Onto the regrets. McMenamin's food is only okay. They need to mix up their menu maybe, it's a problem I experience at any location, not just St.Francis.
Thy are also notorious for skimpy drinks. Talking with former employees, I'm disappointed on how stingy they are. For starters, their pint glasses aren't pints (<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fhonestpintproject.org%2F&s=03f70d9db8cd7f8739a423ed3420b3092946630b78c84af8198306de6b7b023b" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://honestpintproject…</a>). They are also notorious for measuring shots to the micro-ounce. Even the most loyal regulars and chummy bartenders won't result in a stiff drink. Management are very strict, so I hear...my comparable sobriety being  another form of proof.
So yes, go see a movie, hop in the bath, book a night here, etc. Just don't expect to be wowed by the food or drink.
Stopped in here last Friday night (2-18-11) after bailing on "WinterFest" and discovering the Pine Tavern was closed for remodeling. Â
As we were driving around downtown Bend on a bone-chilling Friday night at 6:30, decisions...decisions. Â Why not pop into McMenamins?
We've been here a couple times but not frequently enough to say we are regulars. Â
The movie gig is fun IF there is a movie playing that you want to see. Â Cheap tickets and you get to enjoy real hamburgers and pint of their best all while enjoying a film on the big screen....but feeling like it's your own living room. Â Drawbacks to this affair can be:
1) It gets crowded. At $2 for a movie, you can well imagine the line starts forming early. Â Especially if it happens to be a popular release.
2) The movies are no longer playing in the theaters, hence the $2 price. And there is usually only 3 showings per day. Â With the last one being for adults only.
3) Not enough tables near the chairs so you can set your brew and fries down. Â Get there early to score the best seat in the house with a table nearby. Â Otherwise, it can be hell trying to juggle your Black Butte Porter in one hand and your Angus Pepper-jack Jalapeno Cheeseburger in the other.
Still, if the moon and stars line up and they are showing a film you want to see and you get there early, it's not a bad way to go. Â Give it a try.
We've also been to a wedding here. Â Not just the reception but the entire service. Â I would say it was nicely done. Â Not where I would have gotten married, I'm more of a "get married in Reno by Elvis" kind of guy but for those interested in pursuing this route, the one we attended was well organized and tastefully done.
Back to this past Friday night. Â There are several "entrances" into this facility and we came in off Bond St near Franklin. Â It appears to be the main one for the restaurant. Â
Upon entering, we were promptly greeted by the host and seated immediately in a quiet booth for two. Â The atmosphere was lively with lots of conversations going on around us but the lighting and ambiance of our little booth was perfect for intimate conversation. Â It was nice.
Our server, Daniel, was spot on for suggestions and recommendations without being too pushy. Â We both enjoyed their new Pale Wheat Ale at his urging. Â We weren't disappointed.
For dinner, my wife and I shared a bowl of clam chowder. Â Which was tasty but we both agreed it needed a bit more salt. Â Better to add your own than have it be too salty. Â
Lori had the Wilted Spinach Salad as her main course, which was delicious. Â Just as we remembered it from a previous visit. I opted for the East African Curry Rice with Chicken bowl. Â It was also tasty by different than expected. Â I would order it again. Â
With tip, we were out the door at $43. Â A nice dinner for two. Â By no means the most romantic setting or the best food. Â But as my three star rating says: Â A-OK.
Should the mood strike and we are in the area, we'll go again. Â But I wouldn't say McMenamins is a destination place for us to go and dine.
If you're looking for a fun inexpensive way to catch a movie McMenamins is the way to go.
They have couches instead of traditional seats, you can order off the McMenamins menu and they bring it straight to your seat, and the 9pm showings are 21+ only.
Great twist on the same ol' dinner and a movie.
I'm a McMenamin's Crasher. Â
If there is a McMenamin's joint and it has a bed. Â I'm there. Â
If it has a soaking pool, I'll be in a perfect rapture.
The Edgefield and Kennedy School both have notches (many) on my belt, but Old St. Francis School beckoned me from the land that is Bend. Â
On a recent road trip, I specifically designed our route such that we'd go all out of our way, just for the chance to stay here. Â I'm so glad we did. Â We arrived in the early Fall, so the look of the St. Francis was that of a cozy, X-mas light-adorned country inn. Â This was so inviting and welcoming after spending time in drabby southern California. Â
My sister and I had a room here. Â The rate was pretty decent. Â It took us a while to find the lobby. Â We entered from a street entrance, but we were nowhere near the lobby. Â So, we basically took our first tour of the facility:
**************************************************Â******************************
o  Cool bar in the front  :::::  [CHECK]
o  Turkish Soaking Pool  :::::  [CHECK]
o  Movie house (previously parish hall)  :::::  [CHECK]
o  Another cool bar out back with fire pit outside  :::::  [CHECK]
o  Neat Restaurant  :::::  [CHECK]
o  Awesome, woody, lodge hotel  :::::  [CHECK], [CHECK], & [CHECK!!!]
**************************************************Â******************************
So yes, we checked in here. Â Man, there's something about checking-in to a McMenamin's lodge. Â It always feels like you're checking in for a fun stay!
I definitely loved all the wood-paneled walls here. Â Our room was midway down the hall from the lobby. Â Oh man! Â Our room was the BOMB!! Â First off, we had the biggest bathroom!! Â It was almost as big as our room itself! Â I have to describe it. Â You enter the room, and to the left was the entrance to the bathroom. Â The bathroom's length was the same as our long room. Â We had a "loo" (which was in a sort of stall like at a school), then we had TWO huge clawfoot-tubs, and then we had two showers!! Â Man!! Â This would be the perfect spot for ending a day after mountain biking, skiing, or fly fishing (I'm obviously making mental notes here, eh?).
But yeah, we also had a dope room. Â It's stained-wood walls were warm and cozy. Â We had a nice bed, a sleeper sofa, a desk, and an armoir with TV (they had a cool Outdoor Life channel here. Â Must be a Bend channel or something...anyway, it had some cool programming). Â
So, we chilled here a bit, then we slipped out for a bite (walked to Deschutes Brewery Pub and Seven). Â Then we came back and I had to get down to business: Â The Turkish Soaking Pool. Â Man, there's nothing like ending the day with a warm soak. Â I love where McMenamins goes wit their pools. Â This one is totally different from their others. Â This one is mostly indoors, but I totally think the roof is open to the sky. Â The room is mostly tiled. Â The pool is fairly big and there is a neat fountain in the center. Â
It was heaven. Â (I basically stayed in the pool until I was a "corey g raisin".)
We later grabbed a brew and dessert later in the evening  at the bar which was open late.  Then we walked back to our room.  I loved walking by the fire pits which were smoldering outside on our way back to the room.
Another success. Â I can't wait to come here again (and again, and again, and again). Â I also can't wait to explore another McMenamins Hotel: Â they're 3 for 3 with ME!
I took the kids (ages 8 and 5) here for lunch after they'd had their first cavities filled at the dentist. Â Had been hoping for a nice soup but the only soup on the menu was chili which my kiddos do not like. Â Opted for a burger (which my son and I split) and the macaroni & cheese (from the adult menu for my daughter as she loves rich, sophisticated mac & cheese). Â Service as always was relatively slow. Â
When the waitress brought us our meal ... my daughter complained that her mac&cheese was spicy. Â This didn't make sense so I tasted it and sure enough, it had a very strong taste of horseradish. Â We sent it back and as it was being remade the waitress explained that the cook had mistaken the creamy horseradish for the cream based sauce they use for pasta dishes. Â When my son and I had finished ... the waitress brought out my daughters mac&cheese. Â The problem was rectified but there was no offer to take a % off. Â Bill came to over $30 and I walked away with a bad taste.
Both the kiddos said we should have gone to the Taj Palace (their favorite).
The McMenamin's group's "deal" is taking old facilitities and repurposing them. Â Sometimes into lodging. Â Sometimes into restaurants or pubs. Â Sometimes both with amenities like a soakng pool or movie theater associated for one or the other. Â As here in Bend where the McMenamin's used to be a parochial (St. Francis Roman Catholic) school in downtown Bend. Â It is now overnight lodging (with soaking pool) and restaurant / pub (with movie theatre).
I note most of the good reviews here come from folks who are visitors to Bend and also who may be new to the McMenamin's "deal".  Fair enough.  We did the same thing elsewhere.  As example, the first McMenamin's we visited, before the Bend location opened, was in Roseburg that was a converted railroad buidling. We went because we'd heard about the concept, were tourists in Roseburg and decided to stop in.  Poor food, medicore service, ho hum beverages.  Yawn.  But we're slow learners so we tried the McMenamin's pub in McMinville during a tourist visit there.  Darned near the same menu and same exact forgettable food and service experience as Roseburg.  To prove that  we're really slow learners, because McMenamin's got all kinds of "buzz" when opening in Bend and ducked in there to see if we were missing something.
Nope.
Same experience as the other McMenamin's locations but with different atmosphere. Seems to us, ambiance aside which is the changing hook for McMenamin's, the rest is very forgettable.
See Ginger Rs review which probably says it best as inserted here "Avoid the food at all cost. Â Ambiance is everything here. Â Staff is often clueless and apathetic (big surprise)."
Yep. Â
Whether you're a Bend visitor or resident, there are a number of places to eat and drink here that range from good to excellent. Â Try any of them and you'll be better off.
This really hurts. My dad went to the St. Francis school and I find the whole place charming. Not all of the McMenamin's are done as well as St. Francis so it's nice to see some effort.
First of all, my review is for their food since I haven't experienced this place as a whole. However, I thought it was bad enough to write a review. The rest of the place (hotel, venue, movie theater, pub, and AWESOME soaking pool are all great). I think if you're going to be a McMenamin's, you'd better make a chicken sandwich properly.
My dining experience left something to be desired. Our food took a half an hour and it wasn't great, and that was on a Sunday afternoon in a half-empty restaurant. My asiago chicken sandwich was pretty tasteless and the fries were soggy. I've come to realize that the menus at McMenamins are all hype: the execution is pretty poor.
Anyway, this is definitely a place to stop while you're in Bend but don't expect a stellar meal.
A hotel, restaurant, brewery, movie theater, and several bars make up McMenamins' Old St Francis school - making it tough to rate because they all vary in service and style.
The movie theater is one of my favorite haunts in town. There are comfy chairs and cozy couches, with small tables for drinks and snacks. Food and drink (including beer, wine & cocktails) can be ordered from the counter at the back of the auditorium. After you pay they give you a number and just like that you are back watching the flick! Once your food is ready, they bring it directly to your seat, so be sure to find a perch for your number where it will be visible to the wandering servers. Second-run movies are shown, but at $3 admission it's worth it. They even have weekend matinees for families. (Kids are usually not admitted to evening shows.)
The restaurant features slow service, weak drinks, and greasy food. The mac & cheese is one of the few standouts.
Of the bars, I prefer O'Kanes. It is located at the back of the property on the other side of the parking lot from the main building. This is a hidden gem, and in the summer the patio is a great place to gather with friends and enjoy some tasty McMenamins brews!
Special events are well-planned and executed. I have attended several "tasting" events and the food is always great. A recent jazz show was well attended and it was a fun crowd!
If you happen to visit Old St Francis don't forget to wander the property. Check out the old photos and artwork, they are fascinating!
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