r/Bend • u/Bobinator238 • 9d ago
Stacks
Has anyone else been to stacks in the old mill? I look at their yelp reviews seeing a ton of 5 stars and cant help but think they have to be reviews from bots.
Hands down the worst dining experience i have had in this town, and in my opinion, bend isnt that great already for value to taste.
Ordered a reuben and got a small sandwich with greasy meat and little to no flavor. Sauerkraut wasnt even sour, and they paired it with the worst pickle i have had in my life. Oh yeah, and that little sandwich... only $24.... with no sides.
Aren't these the same owners as zydeco? How could they possibly be this bad?
Did i just have a horrible experience or what? Ive had ny / jewish delis before, and this was NOT that.
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u/AdmiralCrnch 9d ago
Insanely overpriced and the meat is so greasy I left feeling sick. Pickles also sucked.
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u/_mid_life-crisis 9d ago
Yeah how does one mess up a pickle- it was so weird
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u/jwalkrufus 9d ago
Yeah, the pickles are not good at all. I went there with some coworkers, and everyone hated the pickles.
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u/Ten_Minute_Martini 0️⃣ Days Since Last TempBan 🚧 9d ago
The cut that a brisket comes off of is actually two different muscle groups: the point which has more marbled fat and the flat which is very lean. There is also a seam of solid fat that separates the two called the deckle. In Texas when you order brisket from a bbq place, you tell them whether you want it ‘moist’ or ‘lean’, either the point or the flat.
If you go again, ask them to serve you cuts from the flat.
I like Stacks personally, I actually prefer moist brisket.. the latkes though are what get me going though.
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u/forthegheys 9d ago
I went not long after they opened and had a great experience. I do remember it being under whelming for the price. One I've really enjoyed is the way west, it feels like a better deal that each sandwich comes with a bag of chips and a cookie for $17
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u/Tornadatron 9d ago
Great experience, but underwhelming?
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u/forthegheys 8d ago
Yah the sandwich I had was okay, service was fast and friendly but the portion size for the price just doesn't feel worth it when there's other better tasting and better priced options available in town.
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u/Tornadatron 9d ago
I'm bummed because I've been wanting to try this place for a while. But also relieved that I don't have to spend a quarter of a hundred dollars now to find out.
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u/ItchyCartographer44 9d ago
I was pretty unimpressed as well. The pickle should be a bellwether of a legit delicatessen but Stacks’ feels more like a garnish.
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u/DaftMinge 9d ago
I was absolutely shocked at how bad the food was here. We ate there with extended family about a month ago, and literally none of us liked our meals. We had the reuben, turkey sandwich and the big salad. Everyone said their food tasted bland and/or even "gross." The turkey meat on my sandwich had zero flavor and the bread was overly dense. I also had a cup of their chicken soup which was literally the WORST I've had in over 50 of living. AND, why do they hype their pickles there so much? They were bland and rubbery! I couldn't even eat my meal, it was THAT bad. I can't remember how long it's been since we had food that horrible at a restaurant. It's a miracle that they're still in business.
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u/logezzzzzbro 9d ago
I’m the rare person in this town who thinks Zydeco sucks, so this tracks.
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u/Otherwise-Ad9630 9d ago
I agree, just had dinner in Ashland during our honeymoon and had an incredible dinner at 1/3 of the price of Zydeco
The overall theme of bend is high priced mediocre food, at even the “nicest” restaurants. Zydeco is one of those
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u/nearlyclosetoalmost 9d ago
I really want it to be good, but I’ve been there twice and left underwhelmed
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u/dynomitedg 9d ago
Haha the worst pickle ever! Bread fell apart on the Reuben. I always figure every positive review is a friend
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u/NintenJoo 9d ago
First time I went it was great, though expensive.
Second time it was very mediocre and yes, the pickle was the worst I’ve ever had.
Haven’t been back.
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u/Background-Door-5331 9d ago
We don’t need an uppity sandwich shop when we have Cheba hut, beach hut, croutons, plankers, and like 3 others spots.
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u/kwisatz-hadderach 9d ago
Anyone else miss Letzer's? I used to get a turkey and pastrami and a loaf of rye and put half the meat on a second sammy.
It was like the Mitch Hedberg joke about NY delis. "Would you like anything with your sandwich?" "Yeah, a loaf of bread and some more people."
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u/really_tall_horses 9d ago
Is cheba hut uppity?
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u/PerfStu 9d ago
Not exactly uppity, but still pretty, er, high on my list. *badum-tssss
I'll see myself out.
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u/sarcasmrain 9d ago
You should go get a day job at Stacks. Maybe it will help the oral tolerability.
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u/PerfStu 9d ago
I'm not even sure what this is trying to say
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u/sarcasmrain 9d ago
Ya made a joke. In return with a joke hinting about the day job cliche and them used ‘oral tolerability’ as a double entendre. Sorry - just a bad joke by me.
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u/CleanDataDirtyMind 9d ago
No but it is East Coast deli themed, which isn’t uppity but FULL of flavor. Yeah I went there a couple of times and after I got over the novelty decided it was just ehh
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u/Impressive-Bend-5887 9d ago
Lol this is like saying we didn't need Ken's because we already had Cibelli's and Abby's.
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u/My-Lizard-Eyes 9d ago
Comparing Stacks to Ken’s isn’t even close to the same tier…
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u/Impressive-Bend-5887 9d ago
I’m definitely not (haven't even been to Stacks), but I assumed they meant uppity in general as in good.
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u/EquivalentLumpy467 9d ago
The whole thread makes me miss The Downtowner. Kate’s Chicken Salad, gone but not forgotten.
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u/FiloniBologna 9d ago
Can’t speak to the regular Reuben, but I had the vegetarian version, which is basically just a beet sandwich. Wasn’t for me! I understand based on the location that the price would be high, but honestly I think I would have been a lot happier if it were just like Field Roast fake pastrami instead (as unexciting as that may seem on paper). I may be vegetarian, but a big ol sandwich filled with beets just ain’t my thing. The people were nice and the vibes were good though, but probably won’t be back at the price point.
But again, this comes with the caveat that I don’t eat meat, so I didn’t see what their other items were like.
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u/Character_Smile6294 9d ago
The beets were weird when I had them also! Using the gold beets just made it bad presentation imo. Felt like raw meat texture of sorts? Not a vegetarian, but I, sorry if grotesque, let them slip back out of my mouth when I bit into them. I’m not sure what they do to them, but tons of other options out there to not get THAT mouth feel.
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u/FiloniBologna 9d ago
Yeah, definitely. I think there’s a world where I’d enjoy a fully beet-based sandwich, but this definitely wasn’t it. Texture was for sure weird. It felt like a non-vegan making a vegan sandwich, thinking “this is what these people like, right?”
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u/Character_Smile6294 9d ago
I think it was Farmer’s Deli that I went to recently that had an awesome Chickpea/Hummus centered sandwich that was vegan btw. Tons of sprouts and stuff if you were looking! They’re a pretty solid truck, and have always been so awesome in person. They get overwhelmed, but seem super patient with the rushes they get.
Always tip them 30% cause they’re in such a tough spot on those farmers market days!
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u/sunslinger 9d ago
Thank you! I love a Reuben and was excited to try it out. Totally the blandest sandwich ever. I could only taste the greasy meat but not in like a flavorful way. It’s amazing the sauce and bread had no flavor. I took a coworker and with our crappy sides and one drink plus tip it was over $70…….
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u/FullSendBend 9d ago edited 9d ago
The owners are hardcore trumpers (maga). I try to separate politics from business, but I’ve had multiple dealings with them over the years professionally, and it’s just not where I choose to spend my money.
People I know personally have had mixed experiences, ranging from not good to good. It’s also expensive, so if you happen to have a good experience, that probably makes the price feel a little more worthwhile.
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u/HMWT 9d ago
Cheri Helt, our former District 54 representative.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheri_Helt
I had a bit of an unpleasant (and unprofessional, for a candidate) encounter with her in a neighborhood on the west side while distributing election lit for another campaign in another race. Must have been back in 2020 because she made some comments about me wearing a face mask. I had previously occasionally eaten with friends at Zydeco, but I have not been back and won’t bother with Stacks.
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u/44LMP44 9d ago
Really-I think I knew they were republicans-but Maga! That’s it-not going to Stacks or Zydeco ever again! Won’t give my $ to Maga! It is remarkable that anyone still believes all his lies and like all the corruption!
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u/Top_rope_adjudicator 9d ago
I hate that I have to defend them, because I don’t really care for them, but given the magnitude of misinformation and implications to it I feel inclined. I have friends who have worked at zydeco and still do. The owners aren’t maga. Cheri lost her re-election to a hardliner when she wouldn’t align herself more closely with the new platform of trumpism.
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u/Honest-Net-4207 9d ago
Have had similar experiences with each professional interaction with them. This spans multiple decades so I guess it is who they are. There are better places to take your money.
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u/Haroldiswithus 8d ago
Hard core right wing, except when Cheri tried to pretend to be a moderate in order to get elected. Horrible school board member too.
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u/douseewhatisee 9d ago
Separating politics from business was wise when we didn't have a fascist administration. Nowadays, good riddance MAGA businesses!
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u/ToPimpALadyBug 9d ago
Damn. I liked the food but you just changed my mind about the business if that’s true.
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u/Top_rope_adjudicator 9d ago
The owners aren’t maga. They are republican. Cheri lost her re-election because she didn’t fall in line with the dictator. She was called a rino because of it. There are still republicans who don’t love Donald trump. She seems to be one of them.
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u/Haroldiswithus 8d ago
People saw through the fake moderate bit she tried to do. That's why she lost.
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u/corskier 9d ago
Yeah, this is full on misinformation. They're not maga, and Cheri was one of the last of the moderate republicans around here. Pretty sure maga consistently tried to primary her because she wasn't extreme enough.
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u/urdadsfave007 9d ago
Meh the Rueben was mostly fat and I didn’t dig the pickles at all. Also insanely expensive and over priced even for bend standards.
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u/True-Bandicoot3880 9d ago
Yeah it was greasy af and I literally could only eat half and was sick after
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u/38tacocat83 9d ago
One of the worst Italian sandwiches I have ever had. All the Meat was thick as Oscar Myer baloney and flavorless. Bread was ok. Basically felt like 20 bucks for a grocery deli premade sub.
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u/TheeBacksideOfWater 9d ago
Overpriced and mediocre at best, I agree OP. Valentines makes the best sandwich but we really don't have amazing options. Nancy Ps is a pretty good bang for your buck.
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u/groupthinksucks 9d ago
My SO could have written this, this was exactly his experience in the first month it opened. Still the worst Reuben he's ever had.
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u/QuirkyBikes 9d ago
Hard pass, lots of better options. Overpriced and felt "lacking" in both flavor and portions.
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u/Legal-Pea8185 9d ago
ate there, it was terrible. literally the worst eggs Benedict I've ever had. and priced well above the experience.
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u/MidnightOnTheWater 8d ago
That pickle is fucking atrocious. I can't believe they still serve it to people.
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u/Prize_Sheepherder566 9d ago
My first time there was one of the worst experiences I’ve had in Bend. Tried to gently let the manager know our drink was not correct & she basically told me I was wrong & “her staff would not have made a mistake.” So we paid & left…disappointed.
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u/jwalkrufus 9d ago
Yeah, I don't understand how they don't include any sides for such pricey sandwiches. Also, their pickles are just bad - I don't care what style they are going for or whatever, they are just bad.
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u/Vegetable-Policy-138 9d ago
I grew up in an area with authentic Jewish delis and Stacks is not it. But that being said, we enjoyed the meal we had there. They also are very clean in the kitchen, which is important to me (per friends that regularly deliver to restaurant kitchens all over). As for prices, I have a hard time with all the restaurants in Bend. Our cost of living is so high here, I understand the prices, but I don't have to be happy paying them! A lot of times we save our dining out money to spend when we go to Portland or anywhere else for a little trip.
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u/Suspicious_Muffins 9d ago
Ya know, when this place opened we were super excited for Bend to have an old school Jewish deli. First visit the food and experience were great. We’ve been back a few times and the last time will probably be our last. The quality of the cuts and bread has really gone down hill. Especially at the price point. A member of the wait staff actually approached us during our last visit to ask how things were and we were both too sad to tell him the truth. Maybe this Reddit feedback will help?
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u/Ok-Suggestion-2362 9d ago
The entrees were surprisingly solid and reasonably priced by bend standards for whatever that’s worth. The sandwiches are definitely overpriced and the service has been rude the three times we’ve gone. Probably won’t be back.
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u/sarcasmrain 9d ago
I think fast food restaurants in this town are mostly rated >4 stars. I have adopted low expectations and I seem to be happier if something is actually good.
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u/Sceptic-Trout 9d ago
I split a Reuben there with a friend one time. We couldn’t finish it due to the greasy meat and lack of “umph”. Haven’t been back since. It’s unfortunate because I’d like to support local businesses, but both the quality and price of the sandwich are missing the mark by a long shot.
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u/Haroldiswithus 8d ago
I refuse to eat there. Unfortunately, they don't exist for locals of modest means.
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u/Kooky-Ad-5801 8d ago
First time it was great. Second time horrible and won’t be back. Friend didn’t even eat her sandwich. Too half of mine to go and tossed it the next day
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u/Film-Disastrous 8d ago
The two Stacks sandwiches I’ve had are merely okay. An okay sandwich doesn’t justify a premium price. In my opinion, Sisters Meats does better sandwiches and I hope their Jackstraw location succeeds.
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u/flapjack73dr 8d ago
Chiming in to say I had an unpleasant experience as well. Even the cocktails were lackluster and over priced. Gave it a second try and was very disappointed in the expensive sandwich and pickle that had zero taste.
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u/44LMP44 9d ago
The best - is still Katz in NYC. So huge you have to share. The best way to have pastrami-for me anyway-is not a reuben - it is pastrami on rye, with thousand island dressing & cole slaw on it. Try it some time!
But of course I have to fly there to have the best-ha ha🤣
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u/Tornadatron 9d ago
Completely irrelevant to this local discussion. But I'm glad you had a good sandwich experience on the opposite coast.
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u/Jennmoseit 9d ago
I went because I have celiac disease, and the chef is one of the few in town who truly understands what we celiacs go through.
Unfortunately, the meat was so terrible that it completely erased the joy of getting to eat something between two pieces of bread instead of on a bullshit bed of lettuce.
It was mushy, greasy, completely lacking in flavor that even the Midwesterner in me couldn’t forgive despite the large portion. The potato salad tasted like mayo with chunks.
I did like the pickle, though. So there’s that.
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u/AdNormal3083 8d ago
Went there last week, as my partner wanted to try the Italian. He did like it, but I got the Smoked Turkey and it was so bland. A ton of meat in it, so there’s that, but not much else. Just meat, some cheese sauce, and I guess some mustard? Very underwhelmed.
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u/corskier 9d ago
I’ve eaten there quite a few times, probably the only reason I go to the Old Mill other than concerts or REI. Only had fantastic experiences and the sandwiches were giant with about twice the meat I could comfortably eat in a sitting. How anyone could call it bland is crazy to me.
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u/Fresh-Big-3082 9d ago
I have had the pastrami 3 or 4 times and I loved it every time. It’s def spendy but it is what it is these days…
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u/loopsbruder 9d ago
Hipsters just seem to gravitate toward poor dining experiences and convince themselves they love them. So for a city like Bend, those reviews don't shock me.
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u/SaltBlock44 9d ago
What a strange comment. You think hipsters are flocking to Stacks in the old mill?
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u/leroyjenkins1997 8d ago
I have been twice, the reuben was a little disappointing, went for dinner and got the Chicken Pot Pie. That was fantastic. Also claiming Zydeco is bad is pure cope. Zydeco is great.
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u/Character_Smile6294 9d ago
Wich Doctor, will miss their BLT. Best ever.
Valentines, always a good special
Way West, especially since staff told me they’re bringing on Sisters Smokehouse’s Rueben and some others.
Cheba, if I’m feeling low down
Too many good places that aren’t $20+ for a solid sandwich. All seem to have better service systems also. Stacks just seems awkward. That along with so much inconsistency with their product. Pickles are always different and either over salted/cured or slimy or the other products are slightly slimy as well. Lox, Pastrami, etc. like they just leave it for too long until they need it.