We also know that the employees we have, who for the most part have been with us since 2002, are also a very important factor in our success equation.  The consistency we have built over the last 10 years shows.  We are a well-oiled machine that needs a bit of oil now and then.  Nothing and noone is perfect.  I truly believe in the human factor.  It makes us real.

We do our best everyday, and are grateful for the opportunity to keep on doing!”

Linda of Cheerleaders

Our children were 7 and 11 when we bought Cheerleaders and are 17 and 21 now.  They have grown up to be wonderful adults with boque experience and fantastic work ethic. They both still work with us today.

We have gained so much over the years.  So many friends we can’t count them all.  Our regulars sustained us through the latest recession and we were able to stay afloat long enough to make the move to our new location.  We were and still are so grateful for the opportunity to move to a smaller location.  Downsizing was the smartest thing we could have done.  This community has been good to us and of all the years Cheerleaders has been around I feel we have been in the position to give back to our community as well.

We would love to meet you if you have not tried our place yet.  It might give you a good feeling when you leave.  I am sure it will give you a full belly and a smile or two.

Al and Linda Larson
Cheerleaders Grill

Cheerleaders Grill & Pub
3081 N Hwy 97
Bend, OR 97701
(541) 330-0631  (Click the map to pull up directions)

Cheerleaders Grill & Sports Pub
(1 review, average rating: 5.0/5)
Cuisines: Bar & Grill
(541) 330-0631
913 NE 3rd St Bend, OR 97701

Breakfast
Reviewed by Terry & Kathy
Overall
Food
Services
Atmosphere
Price Range (per person): $0-$10 Visit Again?: Yes Party Size: 2
We were impressed with the Sports decor in the Restaurant. At our table was a bulletin board with Thank-you letters from the various organization that Cheerleaders Sports Bar and Grill has supported over the years.
The waitress was cheerful and efficient. Our order was ready quickly and the food was wonderful. The waffle was light and tasty. The kielbasa egg scramble with homestyle hashbrowns was a hit with my friend Kathy. We cannot say enough about the service and food. Our waitress even shared a picture of her newest grandson which we enjoyed seeing….Thanks Cheerleaders Bar and Grill you hire great people and the food was awesome!
Order: Waffle, link sausage, Kiebasa scrambled eggs, homestyle hashbrowns, toast, hot tea, and tomato juice

We are looking forward to seeing you soon at our new location. This site will be a community resource and all things Central Oregon!

(Link to the original article)

Owners relocate and remodel near The Riverhouse

06.21.2010–     (Bend) – Locals’ favorite Cheerleaders Grill pulled up stakes earlier this month and moved to Bend’s north end. Longtime Bend residents and Cheerleaders owners Al and Linda Larson worked with Compass Commercial Broker Robert Raimondi to relocate to 3081 N Business 97, a pad site in front of The Riverhouse hotel.

“These folks were fun to work with,” said Raimondi about the Cheerleaders Grill crew. “They exude excitement, and it really shows in how they manage their business on a daily basis.”

Cheerleaders Grill is a family-friendly restaurant that specializes in home-style breakfasts and lunches, including biscuits and gravy, pancakes, burgers and burritos. The restaurant is open 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.

The space underwent remodeling to house its new occupant. Compass Commercial Development Services Manager Steve Hendley oversaw the project. Cheerleaders Grill reopened in its new location on June 8, hosting a crowd of loyal regulars, as well as Riverhouse hotel staff and guests.

The Larsons pride themselves in the family-like atmosphere created by a tight-knit group of regulars at Cheerleaders Grill. “Bend tells us what we are, and we always listen to our city,” Linda Larson says. “We want to make people feel like they’re coming home.”

And it should feel that way: Cheerleaders Grill’s own family is made up of eight original employees who’ve served the company since 2002. “The people at Compass Commercial opened up their arms and became part of that family,” Mrs. Larson said.

The new location, secured by Compass Commercial, further emphasizes the homelike vibe, says Mrs. Larson, who points to the beautiful, park-like feeling created by The Riverhouse’s scenic landscape. The grill includes a garden-side patio for outdoor seating.

“We’re grateful to Bend for the continual support we’ve had, and to be given the opportunity to keep serving good food to great people,” Mrs. Larson said.

Cheerleaders Grill & Sports Pub
Category: American
913 NE 3rd St
Bend, OR 97701
(541) 330-0631
Price Range: $$
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Parking: Street, Private Lot
Attire: Casual
Good for Groups: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Takes Reservations: No
Take-out: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only

Renge’ G. said: “Went there for dinner just as happy hour was ending a few nights ago. We were in time for happy hour, but it took a few minutes to dry off the table outside (one of our rare…”   read more »
4 reviews for Cheerleaders Grill & Sports Pub
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Review from Tripp K.

19 friends
46 reviews
Tripp K.
Richland, WA
8/22/2011
After driving about 10 hours straight from California on my way back to Washington with 3 of my daughters I caught this small diner of the freeway.  We got there after the breakfast rush and it was a pleasant stay on their patio while we waited for our breakfast.  My daughters omelet was as big as her arm, my shake was thick enough to eat with a fork, and the hamburger patty on my other daughter’s plate could have served all of us.  It was a fantastic meal to have after a long night of driving.  Plus it was nice to see a diner with soo much hometown pride.

Review from Tessa S.

Tessa S.
Bend, OR
6/21/2011
Fantastic. Food is incredible, prices are super cheap, service is great. Super establishment.

Jen F.
Bend, OR
2/23/2007
Dining out in Bend can get to be a tiring affair. Many of the restaurants are pretentious, “fine dining” affairs. Sometimes after a long day of work I want to go somewhere comfortable with good food, without worrying about panty hose and whether my kids will trash the place.

Cheerleaders fits the bill and is a great place to grab a good burger with family or friends! The decor is like a sports bar, with team photos and banners adorning the walls. They sponsor local teams and their trophies are proudly displayed in the dining room.

Burgers are about average-size, which is perfect for me! I can’t stand unhinging my jaw just for that first bite of my tasty burger, and that is not a problem at Cheerleaders. They have a few varieties on the menu or you can build your own from a list of toppings (including “old shoe”).

Milkshakes are huge and delicious. They mix ‘em up right when you order them and bring them to the table in an old fashioned class with the metal container. Extra milkshake-y goodness… yummm!

The service is a little on the slow side, but if you aren’t in a hurry that isn’t a big deal. There is a game room, so bring quarters for the kids (big and small) so they can play while you wait.

The best deal is on Wednesdays – get a burger, french fries and your drink for the price of the burger! And this isn’t limited to soda. You can have *any* drink – soda, milkshake, beer, whatever!

Laid back and friendly… Cheerleaders is a great, non-pretentious addition to the Bend dining scene.

Cheerleaders Grill
Location: 3081 N. U.S. Highway 97 (at The Riverhouse), Bend.
Hours: 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day
Price range: Breakfast $3.50 to $12.50, lunch $4 to $10
Credit cards: MasterCard, Visa
Kids’ menu: Meals $4.50 and $5 include a drink
Vegetarian menu: Limited choices include salads and a veggie omelet
Alcoholic beverages: Bottled beer and wine
Outdoor seating: Seasonal patio
Reservations: Welcomed for larger groups
Contact: 541-330-0631
Scorecard
OVERALL: A-
Food: A-. Simply prepared but solid diner-style breakfasts and lunches.
Service: A. Patrons are warmly greeted; orders are quickly taken and delivered.
Atmosphere: B. Nothing fancy, but sports memorabilia collection adds interest.
Value: A. Reasonable prices for food and service provided.

Next week: Ariana
Visit www.bendbulletin.com /restaurants for readers’ ratings of more than 150 Central Oregon restaurants.

Brett Favre’s autographed Green Bay Packers football jersey hangs from one wall at Cheerleaders Grill.

Nearby, a banner commemorates the six basketball championships won by the Michael Jordan-era Chicago Bulls.

There is a framed baseball-card collection from the ’70s and ’80s. Softball trophies stand in niches beside hockey and cycling jerseys and photos of local youth sports teams.

But don’t expect a sports bar atmosphere. And don’t look for servers dressed like the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders. That’s not what Cheerleaders Grill is about.

This family-friendly establishment succeeds because it doesn’t try to do too much. Owners Al and Linda Larson serve simple but solid diner-style breakfasts and lunches to a regular clientele that has followed them from a former location to a new one. The Larsons are glad to have found a niche, even now that Cheerleaders has moved next to The Riverhouse.

“Ninety percent of our clientele is repeat,” said Al Larson, taking a break from his duty as head chef. And he pointed out that Cheerleaders’ service team, headed by Linda, knows much of that clientele by name. “We’re like a big family,” Al said.

Breakfast all day

When the Larsons bought Cheerleaders in 2001, the restaurant was located on Third Street just south of Greenwood Avenue, in a building now occupied by Taylor’s Sausage Deli & Pub. A previous owner had dressed his servers in striped referees’ shirts with miniskirts, Al Larson said, but that was not his style.

Within a few years, despite having a full liquor license and substantial bar seating, Cheerleaders had begun closing after the lunch hour. That left the Larsons’ evenings free for passions like bowling and softball leagues.

The restaurant’s move last June to a new, smaller location on North U.S. Highway 97 enabled it to refocus on food and service without any suggestion of a bar scene. Today bottled beer and wine are available on request, but patrons are more likely to enjoy a good cup of coffee or a “double slam” milk shake.

Breakfast is available any hour Cheerleaders is open, daily from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. The morning menu ranges from biscuits and gravy to Amaretto French toast, with eggs Benedict and Mexican-style huevos rancheros tossed in for good measure.

I thoroughly enjoyed my Philly steak omelet. Thin, tender slices of beef were wrapped into the omelet with grilled onions, mushrooms and green bell pepper. Swiss cheese was melted inside and outside the eggs, which were served with hash browns and buttered whole-wheat bread.

Filling lunches

I returned twice for separate lunches, and each time — never having identified myself — I felt that I was becoming more a part of the Larsons’ “big family.” The servers remembered my face, greeted me warmly, and were prompt in taking my orders and delivering my meals.

The lunch menu is one of soups, salads and sandwiches. There’s no fancier meal than homemade meatloaf with mashed potatoes and gravy. And Al Larson is especially proud of his chili, which he’ll serve in a bowl or on top of a burger.

But I went with some different directions in my orders, and I wasn’t disappointed.

On my first visit, I had a grilled-chicken club sandwich. Layered between three slices of white toast was an ample meal. The bottom level was a BLT — a classic bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich — with processed American cheese and slices of yellow onion. The upper layer had a tender grilled chicken breast with a leaf of romaine lettuce.

In lieu of french fries, I chose to complement the sandwich with cole slaw. Thanks to the addition of a touch of horseradish in the light mayonnaise blend with white cabbage and carrots, it was one of the best slaws I’ve had in Bend.

When I again returned for lunch, I opted for a hot pastrami sandwich. There was no shortage of peppery meat in this meal: 10 slices stacked upon dark marbled rye, grilled with two pieces of Swiss cheese and served with sliced dill pickles. And the accompanying fries, served with ranch dressing for dipping, were excellent.

The sports collection

Al Larson confessed that most of his restaurant’s sports memorabilia collection is not his own. He purchased some of it, he said, along with the business 10 years ago. The softball trophies and youth team photos are his own, symbolic of his own amateur-league success and of the ongoing support that Cheerleaders has lent as an organizational sponsor through the years.

But most of the collection belongs to patrons who are glad to share their prized possessions — such as the Favre jersey and the Bulls banner — in easy view of an audience of sports lovers.

“If someone has something to display, I’m glad to do it,” Larson said. “It will always belong to them, whenever they want it back.”

It’s a family attitude. That’s just how Cheerleaders rolls.