Bite of Bandon Returns in 2025 for Taste-Testing South Oregon Coast

Published 01/22/25 at 5:55 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Bandon, Oregon) – 15 restaurants, a raffle, silent auction and a live one, plus maybe some dishes just released for the first time – all that is crammed into three hours in the little burgh of Bandon. (Photo Alloro Restaurant & Wine Bar)

The Bite of Bandon is back on Saturday, February 22, going from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., all to benefit the Bandon Community Youth Center, where it's held (1200 11th St. SW). Tickets are $50 for the over-21 event.

Danielle Smith is director of the center and organizer of this moving feast, and she – and apparently the whole town – are jazzed up about its return.

“It's pretty cool, 'cause it's pretty unique,” Smith said. “You get a taste and a sample from 15 different restaurants, but you also get three different colored tokens. The tokens represent 'best display,' 'best sweet,' and 'best overall.' “

With these tokens people vote on the best of the Bite of Bandon Fundraiser.

This year, it's all local. Look for: Alloro, Angelo's, B&B Burgers, Bandon Brewery, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Broken Anchor, Coastal Mist, Coos Food CO-OP, Farm & Sea, Lord Bennett's, Raven Saltwater Grille, Southern Coos Hospital, The Honeyed Goat and Warehouse Coffee Cafe.

It's become a south Oregon staple, even though it was MIA for a few years. COVID killed it for awhile.

Also see Oregon Coast History: Debunking the Beach Bill Myth at Cannon Beach What if part of that visit never happened? Details are delightful

“This is our first year back doing it – we haven't done it since COVID,” Smith said. “The time just wasn't right to have it. But we're doing it again and we're excited.”

There's always a massive groundswell of interest in the event and it always sells out quickly. Then again, there are only two hundred tickets. About half were already sold out last week.

Aside from the few years it was gone, it started around 2003. Yet that was a rocky beginning. Back then, one boardmember came up with an idea to do a tuna feed.

“Basically a tuna barbecue,” Smith said. “They were selling tickets to it and it ended up not very popular at all. It hardly sold any at all; super unsuccessful. So then they thought: 'what else can we do?' and they came up with Bite of Bandon Fundraiser.”

This time around the structure has changed a bit, Smith said. It's more of an event where you can grab the best dish of many restaurants all in one place.

https://byo.bandonyouth.org/bite-of-bandon.

Also on the south Oregon coast:

January 29 - March 5, 2025. The Coos History Museum Hosts "Mysteries of the South Coast." It's the annual winter class taught by Steve Greif weekly on Wednesday nights from January 29 to March 5, 2025 from 6 to 7 p.m. Here, you'll get a six-week trip into the unknown of Oregon's southern shores – its secrets.

This program will be hosted in-person at the Coos History Museum, with an admission price of $80 for non-members and $75 for members. Reservations can be made online by phone at 541-756-6320 or register in person at the museum’s front desk. Program fills up fast, so sign up early. 1210 N Front Street Coos Bay, Oregon.

Each Wednesday in Coos Bay: Bay Area Farmers and Artisans Market. It runs until April 30 at The Black Market Gourmet Building. Many of your favorite vendors will be there – and some that are about to be your faves. Look for meat, eggs, produce, baked goods, candy, coffee, jewelry and custom crafted gift items, unique clothing and even a Plate Food Truck. 999 North Front Street Coos Bay, Oregon. 541-404-6045.

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Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast.

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