Cheers to Vintage Vines, Forza Coffee

If we were stopping after work to wet our whistles, it would be at the neighborhood establishment. You know the place, the one you’ve chosen to be your personal version of Cheers.

We, of course, means your humble correspondents, except on this occasion. This time we met our wives, who have no interest in a place with a predominantly deep-fried menu and ESPN. So we rendezvoused at one of our two nearby options for a glass of wine and an appetizer.

We go to Vintage Vines or Forza, both convenient for our Valley residences.

Vintage Vines, located just north of the intersection of Evergreen Road and Sprague Avenue, could be described as eclectic. It’s not quite as cozy as it could be with its bright lighting and white walls. However, that is nitpicking and there was no nitpicking with our choices and experience.

The last time we were there we enjoyed two nice appetizers, which was just enough for us as we solved all the world’s problems on a dreary evening. We were warmed by a glass of wine, a San Julia Malbec and a Franco Serra Barbera blend.

We eyed the lunch/dinner menu but nibbled on an amazing brushetta special and a marguerite flatbread during our nice, long visit, and if the world wasn’t a better place when we left, our peace of mind (and stomachs) were.

We’ve never stopped there without seeing Kelly Warner bustling about. She always has time to describe the wide variety of bottles, wine and beer, that line the shelves. It’s also fun to see what she might have open or on tap on any given night.

Another time we weren’t out to fix the world but we had a lot of catching up to do so we met at Forza at Fourth Avenue and Sullivan Road.

Forza, headquartered in Tacoma, has a Valley and South Hill location. It’s an all-day coffee shop that has beer and wine as well as sandwiches, small pizzas and appetizers. As caffeine gives way to adult beverages, there is the occasional evening of live music, which is a nice touch but can border on too loud for intimate conversation in the small establishment.

We stumbled into good music plus a wine tasting from Chelan’s Vin du Lac, which was very pleasing and went well with our focaccia bread and pita with hummus. It was just enough to get through the evening.

It’s always nice if you can snag a chair around the fireplace, especially with a morning coffee or when stopping in for a good craft beer on tap after a bike ride.

We haven’t found a “Cheers for Couples” in Coeur d’Alene but we have had a similar experience numerous times at the Cellar, a downtown restaurant on Sherman Avenue that features fine wines and outstanding food. Presumably, with it’s pleasant atmosphere, it would serve the same purpose, and you wouldn’t go wrong if the evening morphed into dinner. (It’s also under new ownership, just this past weekend. Adam Hegsted, who also owns the Yards Bruncheon and the Wandering Table, has purchased the restaurant from Patricia and Tom Power, who have retired.)

We know there are similar places throughout the area. For instance, friends took us to Mezzo Pazzo on 57th Avenue off Regal Street for a very nice evening, and another delighted us with the Hop Shop on Grand Boulevard at 38th Avenue, where there is no food but terrific beer. We don’t get to The Left Bank downtown on Washington Street often enough. Our North Side discovery is Tonicx/Ash St. Tacos Bar and Patio, on Ash Street just north of Francis Avenue.

And there are others, including winery tasting rooms, but we’re emphasizing the close-to-home, Cheers for Couples, when a good wine beats a cold beer.

It’s a different dynamic but one we find enjoyable as we get older and don’t have to feed children. We can catch up, enjoy a glass and satisfy our appetite with unique appetizers instead of spending time in the kitchen.

What to do?

What to do when we find a place that doesn’t meet our expectations of cleanliness, friendliness and bang for the buck, to say nothing of well-below average food?

Recently we stopped at a place that would qualify as a Hole in the Wall, which we have written about in the past. Those are the places you rarely see or notice and then one day recall at just the right time to catch a meal.

Unfortunately this one didn’t meet our expectations in any way, shape or form.

We won’t bury the place, it has been in business for a long time so someone likes it. Mostly we’ll forget about it, but if it comes up, word of mouth won’t be forgiving.