Bend’s Belgian-themed brewery Monkless Belgian Ales announced this week that a lease had been signed for a new restaurant space—a new direction for the brewery which has hitherto operated only as a production brewery with a tasting room. The new space on the edge of Bend’s Old Mill District is one that has seen a number of restaurants cycle through, most recently Craft Kitchen & Brewery.

The brewery issued an early press release about the restaurant space this evening:

The Brasserie at Monkless Belgian Ales will be a highly curated restaurant and taproom that fuses the delicious tastes of European Cuisine and intentionally pairs them with Belgian Beer. With Monkless’ award-winning Belgian-style ales, food presented by a Michelin star trained chef from San Francisco, and accompanied by some of the most impressive views the city of Bend has to offer, they expect the new space to dazzle and delight.

“We’ve been looking for the ‘right’ space to come along for an expanded taproom and restaurant for months, and when the historic Greenchain Building in the Old Mill District opened up, Robin and I knew it was the right fit.” said Todd Clement, founder and head brewer of Monkless Belgian Ales. Their existing taproom, located at 20750 High Desert Lane on the Northeast side of Bend is planned to remain open 2-3 days a week once the restaurant opens.

The Brasserie will be located at 803 SW Industrial Way with sweeping views that overlook the Deschutes River, Les Schwab Amphitheatre and The Old Mill. The newly expanded 1,200 sq. ft. deck off the rear of the restaurant is impressive to say the least. The space was renovated recently to include a covered deck, exposed beam ceiling and gabled front entrance. The Brasserie at Monkless is expected to open late summer/early fall and will undoubtedly be ‘the go-to spot’ to take in views of the river, watch the goings-on at the amphitheater and, of course, drink Belgian beer.

It’s important to note the detail that the brewery and (original) tasting room will still be located at its current spot in northeast Bend, with no plans to change. So this is an interesting and welcome development that will be one to watch towards the end of the year.