Central Food
Casual, yet innovative and refined — that's the m.o. at Central Food. The menu often changes according to the season, but you can't go wrong with the Korean pork sandwich, the Bibimbap with housemade kimchee or the terrine with mushroom mousse and a poached egg. The restaurant welcomes those with specific diets with open arms — celiacs, vegans and carnivores can all unite and not be jealous of each other's options. Sandwiches at Central Food are composed between their daily-baked bread. Purchase a loaf to take home. You won't regret it. 1335 W. Summit Pkwy. • 315-8036 • eatcentralfood.com
Chinook Steak, Pasta and Spirits This restaurant at the Coeur d'Alene Casino incorporates locally foraged mushrooms, bitterroot, camas root and shore-netted sockeye. The diverse dinner menu offers an array of surf and turf entrées, from the lobster tail dinner and sauteed catfish to filet mignon and veal marsala. In the summer, order the huckleberry ice cream, showcasing North Idaho berries, that's made right at your table and flash-frozen using liquid nitrogen. 37914 S. Nukwalqw, Worley, Idaho • 800-523-2464 • cdacasino.com
Clinkerdagger With excellent food, service and view of the river, Clinkerdagger sets the standard for reliable fine dining in Spokane. The restaurant's famous Broadway pea salad, lobster bisque, rock salt prime rib and crème brûlée have become beloved favorites since the restaurant opened during Expo '74. Want to try something new? Order off the seasonal menu, featuring fresh and locally grown ingredients. 621 W. Mallon Ave. • 328-5965 • clinkerdagger.com
Clover The quaint location in a refurbished, turn-of-the-century Craftsman bungalow is enough to draw diners inside, but the award-winning cocktails and a menu of local ingredients will keep them coming back again. Herbs are grown in an on-site greenhouse, and almost everything is made from scratch, including the bread used in all of Clover's dishes. Bakery items are also offered for purchase to savor at home. Fresh, seasonal ingredients are highlighted on the ever-changing menu depending on the time of year, but for dessert you really should try the melt-in-your-mouth orangesicle cake. 913 E. Sharp Ave. • 487-2937 • cloverspokane.com
Fleur de Sel Located in the same building as the Highland Day Spa, with views of the neighboring golf course, Fleur de Sel caters to diners who are looking for French cuisine at an affordable price point. The restaurant changes its menus seasonally, but the best time to visit is in summer, when you can dine on their cozy, sun-drenched patio. And don't leave too early — you'll want to stick around and sample from Fleur de Sel's much-lauded dessert menu. 4365 E. Inverness Dr., Post Falls, Idaho • 208-777-7600 • fleur-de-sel.weebly.com
Hay J's Bistro The blocky strip-mall exterior — and book-cover first impressions — are immediately overturned the second you open the door. Inside, Hay J's Bistro is pure class, with candle flames flickering atop wine bottles at the tables, and metallic vine sculptures wrapping around wine bottles on the walls. With a wine list boasting 100 choices, and a wine bar next door, the selection manages to live up to the hype set by the décor. The menu boasts steaks, tapas, burgers, pastas and risottos — but seafood remains most popular. 21706 E. Mission Ave., Liberty Lake • 926-2310 • hayjsbistro.com
Max at Mirabeau Max at Mirabeau is the Spokane Valley's answer to fine dining. They pride themselves on creating innovative cuisine with the freshest locally sourced ingredients they can find. For that, Max at Mirabeau has been awarded with a slew of awards at Epicurean Delight and has earned a faithful following that extends well beyond Spokane Valley. 1100 N. Sullivan Rd., Spokane Valley • 922-6252 • maxatmirabeau.com
Luna Up on the far southern edge of Spokane's South Hill, Luna somewhat hides in a mostly residential neighborhood pocket off Regal Street, but don't let its lower visibility keep you from finding this gem. The natural-light filled restaurant offers a seasonal, scratch-made and local-ingredient focused menu, not unlike its regional counterparts. Though it offers favorites like wood-fired pizza made in an oven imported from Naples, Italy, Luna also caters to those with gluten sensitivities. In the summer, don't miss the chance to sit on Luna's beautifully shaded patio. 5620 S. Perry St. • 448-2383 • lunaspokane.com
Mizuna Originally a vegetarian restaurant, Mizuna has expanded its menu over the years to meet the needs of ominvores, too. But rest assured, vegans and vegetarians — your offerings are still prepared on a separate workspace and grill. Mizuna's menu changes seasonally to showcase fresh, locally sourced ingredients. A great wine selection, dim lighting, exposed brick walls and elegant décor make this one of Spokane's most romantic restaurants. Sit in the alley in the summer and pretend you've been transported to a quaint European city. 214 N. Howard St. • 747-2004 • mizuna.com
Palm Court Grill Several years ago, the Davenport Hotel renovated its Palm Court Grill, adding a bar in the middle of the space and televisions for the sporting crowd. Along with this change came the decision to drop the restaurant's dress code, making for fine dining in a more casual, relaxed environment, despite the historic hotel's elegant atmosphere. Based on your mood or occasion, go for the exquisite, salt-crusted prime rib, or for the equally tasty charbroiled cheeseburger. Don't fret, non-omnivores — there's also a roasted butternut squash ravioli and vegan stuffed peppers on the Palm Court's dinner menu. Should you want to go with a true Davenport classic, order the famous Davenport Crab Louis salad. 10 S. Post St. • 789-6848 • davenporthotelcollection.com
Santé Restaurant & Charcuterie There are many reasons everyone raves about this local, fine-dining stalwart. The award-winning, French inspired eatery, run by Chef Jeremy Hansen, is unlike any other in town, with its unwavering adherence to sustainable food practices, including a nose-to-tail butchering philosophy and the careful selection of only the best ingredients from area farms. Almost every item (save for things like cheese) on the menu, from the meat to the sauces and bread, are made in house, and the staff at Santé can tell you exactly where each ingredient in your dish came from. 404 W. Main Ave. • 315-4613 • santespokane.com
Scratch Scratch originated in downtown Spokane with a full bar, a larger menu and location, and the connected Rain Lounge bar, compared with its sister restaurant of the same name in Coeur d'Alene. Located at the corner of Fifth Street and Sherman Avenue, Scratch CdA is a cozy place for a leisurely weekend breakfast, lunch al fresco on a warm summer day or an intimate dinner any time of the year. Their open floor plan and low-slung booths lining the abundant windows create a casual vibe, while the wine list and a seasonally varying menu provide for fine dining. The chic vibe of Scratch Spokane and its convenient location near several performance venues makes it an ideal stopover before or after an event. 1007 W. First • 456-5656 • scratchspokane.com | 501 Sherman Ave., Coeur d'Alene • 208-930-4762 • scratchcda.com
Wild Sage American Bistro At Wild Sage, Executive Chef Charlie Connor wants everyone to be able to enjoy the restaurant's delicious dishes, and for diners to feel good about their choices from a health perspective, too. Connor is gluten-intolerant himself, so anyone with sensitivities can trust they'll be taken care of on that front. Aside from that, the creative, diverse and always-local menu ranges from coconut curry pasta to steaks and burgers. The one item at Wild Sage that you really must try at least once is the incredibly savory and creamy Yukon gold potato taquitos. 916 W. Second Ave. • 456-7575 • wildsagebistro.com
