On a stormy, cold night in midwinter, the building seems to glow from the inside out. Strings of lights twinkle through the windows and warm smells float through the frigid air. From inside, soft sounds of muffled laughter and quiet conversations seep under the illuminated glass doors.
This is Papillon, the new Moroccan restaurant in town that launched its soft opening on Feb. 6. Miki and Kamal Bekkari, the owners of the breakfast restaurant, Blissful Spoon, and the underground speakeasy bar, Cellar 65, have now opened Papillon as an “upscale modern” evening dining experience.
The dinner restaurant was the Bekkari family’s original vision for the space they leased in Downtown Bend, but before the restaurant could come to fruition, the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the nation. They quickly adapted the space into Blissful Spoon which offers a wide variety of grab-and-go gluten-free pastries as an option that appealed to many customers when the nation entered quarantine. But as life began to return to normal, the Bekkari’s dreams for nighttime dining grew.
In August of 2024, they opened Cellar 65 which serves a wide selection of Mediterranean tapas and meals. And now, in the space that Blissful Spoon occupies in the daytime, Papillon opens its doors at night to welcome customers to an atmosphere of authentic Moroccan culture and cuisine.
Mealtime in Morocco is centered around family and friends where people gather together to fill their bellies full of spiced meat and simmered vegetables, a place where full-belly laughs and hearty conversation accompany fragrant meals. This radiant culture is mirrored in Papillon’s glowing ambiance; large wood tables are outlined by cushioned benches and chairs for many, the friendly waitressing staff are well-versed in the nuances of the artful menu and it is not uncommon to see the appearance of the executive chef, Kamal, who grew up in Morocco.
“A love of food is what we’ve always had and that sense of community and bringing people together through food,” says Miki.
Papillon is also happy to offer a table to a couple just wanting to share a decadent dessert or anyone ready for an escape from the frosty air of Bend’s winters.
Featured on the menu are some of their family favorites including braised lamb shank, vegetable tajine and sticky rib tanjia. Smothered in the traditional Moroccan spice mix, ras al hanout and smoked paprika, these tasty ribs are slightly sweet and cooked until the tender meat is practically falling off the bone.
And behind the elegant dishes are locally sourced ingredients that are carefully prepared by the chefs in the kitchen.
“We definitely do a lot of seasonal and local suppliers,” explains Miki, “We’re not buying bags of dressings and things, and you know, squeezing them into a tube.”
The type of clean eating that Papillon offers, along with the vibrant meals that are served in each piece of colorful dishware, reflect the restaurant’s Moroccan roots. Bend has a small array of Middle Eastern inspired restaurants but Papillon is the first restaurant to display such an authentic Moroccan menu and atmosphere.
On these evenings, when the bitter snow is whipping past, there is no sacrifice in stepping through the illuminated doors and tasting the vivid flavors of warm dishes cooked with passion and experience.
Papillon is open from 5-9 p.m., Thursday through Saturday.
