Restaurants Ready For Carbo-Loading Bloomies

Bloomsday is now upon us. On Sunday, more than 50,000 runners will pack the streets of downtown Spokane to compete in the annual 12-kilometer run.

Runners looking to lower their race time or add strength for climbing the grueling Doomsday Hill will need to do one thing in addition to donning snazzy running shoes and T-shirts: carbo-load.

That’s right. By eating a ton of carbohydrates, runners will gain an abundance of energy that will help them maintain a steady pace during the entire race.

No need to be serious about this activity, either. Bloomsday participants can make a social event out of carbo-loading by heading to area restaurants today, Saturday and Sunday. Here are some area eateries that will go to extra lengths to help runners get those important carbos:

The granddaddy of all Bloomsday carbo-feeds occurs at the Sheraton-Spokane Hotel Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. On the menu is linguine Alfredo, spaghetti marinara and mostaccioli with vegetable sauce. Adults eat for $6.95. Children ages 10 and younger get in for $3.

Though Sully’s, 259 W. Spokane Falls Blvd., isn’t normally open for lunch, it will be on Saturday and Sunday. To help runners in their ingestion of carbos, Sully’s is giving a 10 percent discount on all pasta dishes all weekend long. On Sunday, the downtown restaurant and lounge will open at noon for sandwiches.

Fugazzi, 1 N. Post, has five savory items on the menu to fuel runners. They include roasted vegetable lasagna, tuna puttanesca, spring vegetable risotto, orecchiette and linguine with chicken. Prices range from $11 to $14.

Luigi’s downtown, 113 N. Bernard, will prepare six pasta specials today through Sunday. On race day, the restaurant will open at 7 a.m. to serve patrons complimentary coffee and rolls. It will reopen at 10:30 a.m. for lunch.

Luigi’s in the Valley, 329 S. Dishman-Mica, will serve up four heart-healthy pasta specials throughout the weekend. All dishes are made to order. On Sunday, the Italian restaurant doesn’t open until 4 p.m.

Rock City Cucina, 505 W. Riverside, claims to have the best pastas in the universe. And, the Italian cucina has 16 kinds to choose from. On Saturday, the chef will prepare a special Bloomsday pasta dish.

The folks at Rock City also want people to know that microbrews have lots of carbohydrates, too. Rock City has 13 of them on tap.

On race day, Rock City Cucina opens at 7:30 a.m. for free Gatorade and coffee. Runners are also invited to do any last-minute stretching inside the restaurant.

The chef at Clinkerdagger, 621 W. Mallon (Flour Mill), will prepare a colorful variety of fettuccine dishes for carbo-hungry patrons this weekend. Clinkerdagger will have a special Bloomsday lasagna and pasta salad on the menu today and Saturday. The restaurant can fulfill all special requests if given ample notice (like a day). Call 328-5965.

Runners might want to make Cyrus O’Leary’s, 516 W. Main, a stop on their carbo-loading tour. This downtown fixture has a light, low-fat fettuccine on its menu. However, runners planning to burn some major calories come race day might want to indulge in the other pasta varieties available. These include spinach lasagna, baked spaghetti, fettuccine, seafood fettuccine, fettuccine primavera and chicken fettuccine.

Bloomsday racers can feast on all-you-can-eat pasta, salad and potatoes for just $4.99 at the Spokane Salad Company, 430 W. Main. On Sunday, the restaurant opens at 6:30 a.m. and will serve a $3.99 breakfast buffet.

Tomato Bros, 6220 N. Division, has five pastas on the menu. There won’t be any designated Bloomsday specials, but dishes range in price from $5 to $10, so they’re already inexpensive. Tomato Bros. also has ample room in the restaurant, so you can make carbo-loading a group effort.

Cucina, Cucina cooks up 14 different pasta dishes. The Crescent Court restaurant’s specials vary from day to day. On Sunday, Cucina, Cucina will open at 7 a.m. with espresso and scones.

Today through Sunday, Rocky Rococo, 520 W. Main, will be serving Bloomies pasta, salad and garlic bread for just $3.99. The restaurant will open early on Sunday - 10:30 a.m.

The Olive Garden, 221 N. Wall, has different pasta specials every day. This weekend, the downtown restaurant will be preparing a couple of Bloomsday-related special dishes. One includes a 6-ounce steak, fettuccine Alfredo and all-you-caneat soup, salad and bread sticks - all for $9.95.

The employees at the Spaghetti Factory, 152 S. Monroe, will get into the spirit of Bloomsday by suiting up in running attire today and Saturday. As far as food specials go, customers buying spaghetti today and Saturday get their second plate free. On Saturday, the Spaghetti Factory will open two hours early - at 3 p.m.

O’Doherty’s, 525 W. Spokane Falls, has its special lasagna, along with potatoes, carrots and salad, for just $8.95 today and Saturday.

For only $5.99, customers at the North Side Spaghetti Station, 718 E. Francis, can suck down all the pasta they can eat. Plus, they also receive salad, bread and dessert.

Spaghetti Station in the Valley, 11204 E. Sprague, will dish up a special Doomsday platter for runners. It consists of an extra large helping of spaghetti and meatballs.