dining guide
“hop-heads.” Mon – Thur, 4 pm to 12ish. Fri, 4 pm to later. Sat, 5 pm to later as well. Closed Sun. 120 E Sprague Avenue in Spokane. (509) 747-6005. $
Catering
Delivery
Manito Tap House. Reviewed March 2012. With the addition of Gabe Cruz as chef in December of 2011, Manito is living into its name as a gastropub that offers high-quality dining fare to go with their 50 beers on tap. A fun pub atmosphere and friendly service make this a great hangout. Try the yam chips, the inventive veggie burger, Carne Adovada, and the Murphy’s Beef Boxty. 11 am – 11 pm Sun – Thu, but closed Tuesday. Open until 2 am Fri – Sat. 3011 South Grand Blvd in Spokane. (509) 279-2671. www.manitotaphouse.com. $-$$ The Onion. Established in 1978, the Onion is the grand dean of gourmet burgers and casual family dining in Spokane. From the Hula burger with ham and grilled pineapple, the “Big O” with bacon and avocado, to their namesake beer-battered onion rings, The Onion pays attention to details and does more from scratch than many other restaurants aspiring to loftier appellations. 302 W. Riverside, Sun-Thurs 11-11, Fri-Sat 11am-1am. (509) 747-3852; 7522 N Division, Mon-Sun 11-11. (509) 482-6100 (Bar until midnight Sun-Thurs, Fri-Sat until 1). $-$$
Voted Best Mexican 1227 S. Grand Blvd. Spokane WA 99202
(509) 455-7117 Sunday - Thursday 11am to 8:30pm Friday - Saturday 11am to 9:30pm
www.OrderFiesta.com
•Burgers • Rice Bowls • Chicken • Prawns • Kahlua Pork ... & MORE!
Party Packs Starting Under $50 [include teriyaki chicken, rice & mac salad]
Great For company events, weddings, graduation parties, groups!
Coming Soon: Beer Patio on Francis
413-2029 1220 W Francis 7am-9pm daily
Now Serving Breakfast!
327-4270 1724 N Monroe St 10am-9pm daily
Visit us online at EatAloha.com 202
Spokane CDA • March • 2012
Peacock Room. It is all about martinis, cold beer and great music. Known as the place to see and be seen, the Peacock Room contributes to Spokane’s vibrant downtown nightlife. Showcasing a giant stained-glass peacock ceiling, the menu features such items as giant prawntinis, open-faced crab sandwiches and gourmet onion rings. Casual attire. Private Dining room available seating up to 25 people. Mon-Thurs 11-midnight, FriSat 11-1am, Sun 2-midnight. 10 S Post. (509) 455-8888. $$-$$$ The Satellite Diner and Lounge. June 2011 Signature Dish. Colleen Freeman opened the Satellite Diner in 1998 to cater to service industry employees and the bar crowd who wanted a place to go and eat in the middle of the night. Lines out the door almost from day one and a number of awards over the years suggest she did just fine. The Satellite opens at 7 each morning and doesn’t close until 4 am (giving them just enough time to restock and clean). The massive Satellite Scramble is possibly the most popular “drunk plate” in the city but the menu also offers good burgers, a fine Eggs Benedict, and Biscuits and Gravy. Weekends the bar is lined up with Dry Fly Bloody Mary’s for a steal. Open daily. West 425 Sprague in Spokane. (509) 6243952. www.satellitediner.com. $-$$ The Swinging Doors. Opened in May of 1981, the tavern turned restaurant has been in the same family for its whole life. With 27 beers on tap and 60 television screens, The Swinging Doors is a sports fan’s paradise. On the food front, the restaurant is famous for its large portions (which can be split). Breakfast is served all day and the huge pieces of Broasted Chicken remain the most popular item on the golf-themed menu. Show up for on your birthday for a free steak dinner. Open seven days a week from 6:45 am to 2 am. 1018 West Francis in Spokane. (509) 326-6794. www.theswingingdoors. com. $-$$
SEAFOOD AND FISH Anthony’s At The Falls. A welcome addition to the local seafood scene, Anthony’s combines a spectacular view of the Spokane Falls with an unwavering commitment to fresh seafood. So much so that they operate their own fishing company for the sole purpose of supplying their restaurants. The success of this shows up in the always available, rich and flavorful seafood fettuccine and clam chowder, as well as on the fresh sheet. The four course “Sunset Dinners” served Mon-Fri from 4-6 for only $18.95 are particularly good values. 510 N Lincoln. Lunch MonSat 11:30-3, Bar Menu in Lounge Mon-Sat 3-4, Dinner Mon-Thurs 4-9:30, Fri-Sat 4-10:30, Sun 3-9:30, Sunday Brunch (breakfast/lunch menu) 11-2pm, Happy Hour Mon-Fri 4-6 with half-price appetizers and drink specials. (509) 328-9009. $$-$$$ Cedars Floating Restaurant. This is Idaho’s premier floating restaurant, featuring the freshest fish available daily and Midwest Stockyards High-Choice Beef. The Cedars, founded in 1965, floats at the confluence of Lake Coeur d’Alene and the Spokane River. The Cedars
is the perfect setting to enjoy breathtaking views and Northwest delicacies such as Cedar Plank Salmon and a Biergarten Filet. Drive in or boat up to this one-of-a-kind Northwest restaurant. Open seven days for cocktails and appetizers at 4pm and dinner beginning at 5pm. 1514 S Marina Drive, Coeur d’Alene. 208-664-2922. www. cedarsfloatingrestaurant.com $$$ Milford’s Fish House. Milford’s has been doing seafood since before seafood was cool, specializing in the importation and preparation of a wide variety of fresh fish. It is where many of us ever first encountered things like ahi, mahi-mahi, yellowfin tuna, escolar, or swordfish. Although there are now more choices in the area for fresh and intriguing seafood, Milford’s remains one of the best. A great meal can also be had from the bar menu in their comfortable, inviting and wellstocked bar. The dark, rich ambience of the beautiful old building around the corner from the courthouse in which Milford’s is situated can’t be beat, either. Sun-Mon 4-9, Tues-Sat 5-10. 719 N Monroe. (509) 326-7251. $$-$$$ Regal Street Seafood. Heather and Phil Lazone from Northstar Seafoods opened Regal Street as a retail fish market, but the staff includes a trained chef sho can give you cooking guidance and prepares several readyto-eat options like Cioppino – an Italian fish stew – and fish tacos. You can also pick up some harder-to-find bottles of wine in the store. Open Tue – Sat, 10 am – 6 pm. 2812 E 30th in Spokane. (509) 535-1966. www. regalstreetseafood.com. $-$$
STEAK HOUSES Churchill’s Steakhouse. Reviewed April 2011. Carved into the first floor and basement of the Joel Building is this temple dedicated to dry-aged USDA Prime steaks and possibly the only ground Prime burger in the region (it is brilliant and shows up weekly in the basement bar as a $7 special). The dining room has all the pomp and circumstance for a great celebration meal (and prices to match) while the bar below has the intimate feel of a high class club and a separate menu with a few lighter items not offered upstairs. Open daily: 4 – 9 pm on Sun, 4 – 10 pm Mon to Thur, and 4 – 11 pm Fri and Sat. 165 South Post in Spokane. (509) 474-9888. www. churchillssteakhouse.com $$-$$$$ The Grille from Ipanema. Brazilian BBQ. Reviewed August 2011. If you are hungry, this upscale Brazilian barbecue restaurant in the heart of downtown Coeur d’Alene offers an upscale, all-you-can-eat buffet along with the unique experience of Brazilian barbecue. Roving meat waiters (passadores) shave slices of beef, pork, and chicken off massive skewers right onto your plate tableside. The prices for a meal at this meat Nirvana are surprisingly reasonable and the festive colorful space turns any visit into a party. Open 11 am – 10 pm daily. 601 Front Avenue, Suite 101 in Coeur d’Alene. (208) 676-1122. www.thegrillefromipanema. com $$-$$$ Spencer’s for Steaks and Chops (at the Doubletree). Greeted with dark mahogany paneling and crisp linens, Spencer’s is indeed the place for steaks and chops. USDA Prime grade beef is the star, served up unadulterated on plain white china. Don’t deprive yourself of a side dish, though - Dr. Atkins would not approve of the hash browns au gratin, but we sure do! 322 N Spokane Falls Court. Mon-Thurs 11-10, Fri 11-11, Sat 3-11, Sun 3-9. 7442372. $$-$$$$ Wolf Lodge Steakhouse. The Wolf Lodge Steakhouse is the city sibling of the original Wolf Lodge located east of Coeur d’Alene. Here is the place for hearty steaks and more: entrees such as Bourbon Chicken and King Salmon. Don’t forget to order the birthday “potato” for that special occasion: Oreo ice cream rolled in cocoa powder, topped with whipped cream, and set on a plate of hot fudge. 104 S Freya, Spokane. Mon-Fri 11:30-close, Sat-Sun 4-Close. (509) 535-8972. $$-$$$ Wolf Lodge Inn. It is worth the drive to experience the original Wolf Lodge just off Interstate 90 east of Coeur d’Alene. From the simply massive Porterhouse on down, this rambling ‘barn’ has plenty of rustic charm and memorable food for special occasions or just reminder that the best beef is never going to arrive at your plate as a burger. 11741 E Frontage Rd east of Coeur d’Alene. Tues-Fri 5-Close, Sat & Sun 4-Close. (208) 664-6665. Reservations requested. $$-$$$