Cafe Rio

On a scale of casual dining, Coeur d’Alene’s Cafe Rio is somewhere between the convenience and price point of fast food and the made-to-order appeal of casual chain restaurants like Olive Garden. The result is a definite step above the usual Tex-Mex meals mumbled into drive-thru speakers, with an emphasis on freshness and flavor. The sweet pork barbacoa, for example, is featured in salads, burritos, tacos and enchiladas. It’s one of the many award-winning menu items in this Zagat-rated restaurant. (July 2013)