Churchill's Steakhouse Don Draper would fit in beautifully at Churchill's, with its luxurious, masculine décor, top-shelf cocktails and traditional (in all the best ways) takes on sides and steaks. The star of the show here is the USDA prime Midwestern beef that's dry-aged, then cooked at 1800 degrees. The sides are à la carte, and the Cougar Gold mac and cheese is worth every single calorie. 165 S. Post St. • 474-9888 • churchillssteakhouse.com
Hydra Steakhouse You'd be hard-pressed to find many other eateries that have been thriving in Sandpoint since 1975. One of those is the Hydra, which continues to produce reliably priced and tastily cooked steaks, including their well-known baseball-cut top sirloin, which comes in both 8- and 16-ounce sizes. If beef isn't your game, that's fine. The Hydra also has a full seafood menu in addition to pasta, sandwiches and other options. 115 Lake St., Sandpoint, Idaho • 208-263-7123 • hydrasteakhouse.com
Masselow's Steakhouse Masselow's is the only Eastern Washington restaurant to have ever received AAA's Four Diamond Award, an honor earned by stringent attention to detail. Every detail. The décor is beautiful, without being stuffy or pretentious. The food is carefully (and locally) sourced. The service is unparalleled. And the complimentary fry bread is a lovely nod to the rich Native American history in our region. Northern Quest Casino, 100 N. Hayford Rd., Airway Heights, Wash. • 481-6000 • northernquest.com/resort/dining
Spencer's for Steaks and Chops Spencer's delivers top-notch, no-nonsense food in a decidedly elegant setting. They use the highest quality dry-aged USDA Prime cuts and cook them at temperatures up to 1600 degrees to sear in the juices. The filet is so tender, you almost don't need a knife. For dessert, the strawberry shortcake gives you the most bang for your buck. Doubletree Hotel, 322 N. Spokane Falls Ct. • 744-2372 • spencersforsteaksandchops.com/spokane
Wolf Creek Steakhouse Wolf Creek is the little-sister restaurant to Coeur d'Alene's famous Wolf Lodge Inn. Yes, you can order the Sweetheart dinner for two — a 34-ounce, center-cut sirloin — here too. Located just off of I-90 in Spokane, the décor and relaxed atmosphere remind one of a mountain cabin. 104 S. Freya St. • 535-8972 • wolflodgerestaurants.com
Wolf Lodge Inn Steakhouse The Wolf Lodge Inn Steakhouse may be out of the way, but you'd be hard-pressed to find an Inland Northwesterner who doesn't think it's worth the drive. Go for the simple, classic steaks; return again and again for the friendly service and quirky Wild West atmosphere. Start your meal with creative appetizers like the beer-batter-dipped fried mushrooms ($8). Don't fill up too much, though; the steaks are so big it's not unusual to share. The classic 32-ounce Rancher ($46), half center-cut top sirloin and half rib-eye, is legendary, but if that's not your style, there are myriad other delicious meat options to choose from, all prepared over applewood. 11741 E. Frontage Rd., Coeur d'Alene • 208-664-6665 • wolflodgerestaurants.com
