Housed in a Craftsman bungalow in the heart of Bend, Oregon, married chefs Ariana and Andres Fernandez opened their Northwest-ingredient focused Ariana Restaurant in 2004. Step into the airy dining room and you’re welcomed by warm, sophisticated textures along with unique art and decor that Ariana has collected herself, “It is definitely an extension of our home. Respecting the building that is here and making it ours- this feels like us in this space."
The front corner of the restaurant is especially cozy since the addition of the Perch banquettes. “This area is usually seated with couples, and they always get to chatting, and then they’re friends by the end of the meal,” Ariana reports. "We’re always trying to give people the best experience we possibly can, in every way, like trying to make people more comfortable with these banquettes.”
Unique interior details like modern pendants over the bar and the handmade live edge benches elevate the space and bring interest, “It’s a labor of love- whenever we have time or money we try to update and fix things up.”
Along with their menu that utilizes the bounty of Northwest ingredients, Ariana Restaurant has an extensive wine list that highlights selections from Oregon and Washington.
The wall between the front of house and Ariana’s kitchen has one of many unique details that can be found throughout the space. Collected art, greenery, and high-end functionality are themes throughout Ariana Restaurant’s interior. Plants play a big role in the decor at Ariana, and bring life to the space. Chef Ariana shares, “I love the plants and I love the whole bar because we worked so hard on it together. Every single thing in here is something meaningful to me, or to us or our family."
“For the banquettes I wanted something that was low and felt like furniture. We’ve had the idea of doing something like this for a long time," explains Ariana. "I stumbled upon Perch, and I had a sample image of what I wanted, and they said they could do it. It was meant to be!” Ariana takes a moment to enjoy the leather banquettes at the beginning of each day: “They’re so comfy, aren’t they?! I sit in them every morning, and do my prep list.”
Perch created custom leather banquettes that encircle the restaurant and create a warm, luxe feeling in the space.
Chef Ariana and Chef Andres work together to create a fine dining experience that is influenced by French and Italian cuisine, and is rooted in beautiful Pacific Northwest ingredients: “Bend is a beer town and a pub town, but we wanted someplace where you go for your anniversary or for a special date, and that’s what we do.” The restaurant is equal parts luxury and comfort. “We’re trying to find a balance by having a little bit of modern touches.”
Thank you Chef Andres and Chef Ariana. Your restaurant is beautiful and we adore how the banquettes turned out- we look forward to dining at Ariana next time we’re in Bend!