Terrific Takeout Tips

About once a week it seems ends don’t quite meet at the end of the day and dinner kind of falls through the cracks. That’s when I get a call at work to pick something up on the way home.

The obvious answer is to hit the burger-chicken-pizza franchises we all are so familiar with. But if I propose that, my wife lays on a stinging silence to convey the message: “I’m still waiting for a decent idea.”

At which time I fill the dead air with a promise to come up with a good plan. Then I hang up the phone and come up with the same dumb plans I always come up with.

And so here, as much for my personal benefit as anything, I’m going to write down a list of good ideas, then cut it out and tack it up for those above-mentioned situations.

At the risk of leaving out your favorite spot, here’s a list of takeout, stop-on-the-way-home-from-work dinner possibilities to mollify the food critics at home.

All the places mentioned here will package dinners for takeout and can be called ahead of time to place your order.

Chicken and side dishes from Harry O’s (508 E. Third; 458-2755). This is great, rotisserie chicken and they have a great selection of side dishes that make a full meal. The danger is that because Harry O’s is downtown, the food might get cold by the time you get home, but it can be reheated.

Foccacio from Great Harvest Bakery (816 W. Sprague; 624-9370). This is round, doughy and cheesy like pizza, but isn’t as greasy or expensive. They’re a bargain at about $3 for a round big enough to feed two or three people. Buy two and you’re in business. Heated up, maybe with some soup, it makes an easy, finger-food meal. They’re sold on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but may be available on other days, too.

Anything from the Thai Kitchen (12722 E. Sprague; 926-8161). Call about a half-hour ahead for this and you’ll be rewarded with spicy dishes that everyone seems to have a taste for. It’s in a convenient Valley location for stopping on the way home.

Seafood at Ivar’s (11618 E. Sprague). The Valley definitely arrived when we got our own Ivar’s, the Seattle-based chain known for quick service and fresh fish. You can get a big fish dinner with fries and a couple bowls of chowder for $12-$14. Just get it home quickly because cold fish will taste like cold fish every time.

Lasagna from Papa Murphy’s (13514 E. Sprague; 924-7272). The pizza is fine at Papa Murphy’s, but the lasagna is a surprising treat. You cook the pre-made pans at home for 20 minutes, and the large size will feed four. They also have good calzones.

Bruchi’s (11101 E. Sprague, 415 N. Sullivan). Really tasty cheesesteak sandwiches and subs.

Mexican dishes from La Chavelas (13817 E. Sprague; 927-8164). The whole range of Mexican cuisine items, most of which travel well and are ready about 20 minutes after your call. Everything comes with rice and beans.

Longhorn Barbecue (2315 N. Argonne; 924-9600). The smoky sauce makes everything tasty, from ribs to ham to chicken. Get some beans or other side dish and some garlic bread and you’re ready to chow down.

Niko’s (321 S. Dishman-Mica; 928-9590). It’s best to know what you like ahead of time with this cuisine, but good traveling dishes are the soups, keftethes (meatballs), spanakopita, tabouli salad and gyros.

For all of these dishes, take the trouble to put them into serving dishes, maybe break open some wine, and you’ll add some elegance and equanimity to an otherwise hectic evening.

Feel free to write or call with your favorite spots for grab-and-go meals.

, DataTimes MEMO: On Your Way is a column on commuter lifestyles. For comments, write: On Your Way, The Valley Voice, 13208 E. Sprague, Spokane, WA 99216, or call Jim Springer at 459-5441.