Upstairs Downtown Isn’t Either At Its New South Hill Location

Upstairs Downtown will soon be history.

But before you start crying in your white bean and sage soup over the demise of that lovely restaurant, you should know that the entire operation is migrating to the South Hill.

Chef Karla Graves and her husband will try to turn around the bad restaurant karma at the former Cafe Grand, which was the former Amore. They’ll call their new spot Paprika, A Little Cafe. (It will be on Grand, just next door to Baskin-Robbins, across from St. John’s Cathedral.)

The couple had been looking for ground-floor space - their current location is difficult to reach, especially at dinner when the doors are locked at the Skywalk entrance.

“We wanted better visibility to increase our dinner business,” said chef Graves.

To stay at the downtown Spokane location, the pair also would have faced major renovation of the kitchen.

“I don’t even have a professional stove there,” she said. “Larry calls what I cook on my Betty Crocker stove.”

That she can turn out such marvelous food on subpar equipment is amazing. And she hopes that at the new location, with new tools, she will be able to accomplish even more.

The menu will look familiar to loyal customers, but Graves plans on expanding the offerings.

Look for Paprika to open sometime next month. Call 747-9830 to inquire about reservations.

Sushi alert

Takara, Coeur d’Alene’s sole Japanese restaurant, reopened a few weeks ago, after remodeling. The restaurant’s sushi bar was expanded to 14 seats.

Other developments on the raw fish scene include an expanded sushi bar at the Suki Yaki Inn, which is under new management.

Also, Shogun, the Asian eatery that elevates stir-frying into a form of entertainment, also has a small sushi bar that I’ve heard good reports about.

Rock City rocks on

Rock City recently introduced a new menu and a new look.

The popular downtown Spokane restaurant’s updated atmosphere will feature flashy new booths and an expanded seating area, near the bar.

Among the tasty new entrees are teriyaki salmon with pineapple salsa; seafood fettucine swimming with shrimp, clams and scallops; and a pan-seared sole.

New pizza selections include a goat cheese with sun-dried tomatoes and a pie topped with Dungeness crab and artichoke hearts. There’s also a pizza that combines the restaurant’s two most popular tastes. The East meets West is half Thai and half buffalo chicken with spicy white meat, green onions and sinus-clearing sauce.

Rock City also has added a lineup of burgers and sandwiches called paninos made on the restaurant’s own thin, delicious focaccia bread. They’re served with a side of first-rate “Italian” fries. (The sprinkle of Parmesan cheese must qualify them for the ethnic label.)

Most restaurants use their new menus as a device to jack up the prices, but they have remained pretty much the same at Rock City. Salads and soups are still served a la carte, but at $2, it’s one of the most reasonably priced Caesar sides around.

Rock City is located on the corner of Riverside and Stevens. Call 455-4400 for reservations.

Cafe Roma’s new stuff

Cafe Roma has added a few new dishes for spring.

Joining the lineup of innovative Italian meals is an angel hair pasta with a touch of saffron; scallops; mussels; and scampi.

But the juiciest news is that Cafe Roma has added a juice bar that offers a huge assortment of fruits and veggies. And you’ll be able to sip an apple, carrot and pineapple cocktail on the outdoor patio as soon as the weather warms up a bit.

Call 534-5540 for details.

Deja chew

A friend who had a serious jones for the cheezer sandwich at the defunct Hoyt’s sent me to Schlotzsky’s Deli.

This chain has two locations in Spokane, one in NorthTown, the other at 420 W. Francis.

What distinguishes this place are the freshly baked buns. (There’s even a T-shirt that says so.) Served soft and still warm, they come in sourdough, wheat, dark rye and jalapeno cheese flavors.

My buddy urged me to try the vegetarian, which comes with marinated black olives, sliced cucumber, onion, lettuce, tomato, melted mozzarella and ranch dressing.

“It’s not quite the same as the cheezer, but it’s good,” he said.

I agree. I also liked Schlotzsky’s pizza - individual-size pies baked on sourdough crusts. The barbecued chicken with jalapenos is seriously spicy.

Small bites

The rotisserie chicken joint on North Division has got to feel a little schizophrenic. First, it was Kenny Roger’s Roasters, then Cassidy’s. Now, it’s Kenny Roger’s again. We’re going to start keeping a running tally.

You still have a couple of days left to take advantage of the special prices for Dewey’s East 10th anniversary celebration. Today and tomorrow, dinner prices will be rolled back, so any two meals are $19.96.

Choices include the honey barbecued baby back ribs, Chilean bay shrimp fettucine, Oriental shrimp stir-fry, baked king salmon, a seven-ounce prime rib and grilled halibut, among others. Call 928-7779 for reservations.

The Spokane Food Bank’s second annual Bite will be May 22 at the Arena. The event features Spokane-area restaurants, wineries and microbrews. Look for details in an upcoming column. Tickets are $35 or $60 a couple and are available at Dutch’s, Vino! and Spokane Wine Company. Or, call the Food Bank at 534-6678.

, DataTimes