Restaurants
CEDARS FLOATING RESTAURANT
(Blackwell Island, Coeur d’Alene, 664-2922) Diners can go casual at this landmark restaurant, with a burger or salad bar ordered a la carte. Or, they can sample a wide selection of seafood. There are typically at least six choices nightly. They’re simply prepared, grilled with sauce on the side. The menu also offers a variety of shellfish, pasta dishes and steaks. Desserts are made in-house. The new owners plan to stay the course, though weekend lunches have been added this summer. Smoking is allowed in the bar.
DOWN THE STREET
(1613 Sherman Ave., Coeur d’Alene, 765-3868) For breakfast, Down the Street hits the spot. I loved this place as soon as the waitress offered three potato choices: hash browns, home fries and potatoes O’Brien. The O’Briens were excellent — chunks of taters, fried just right and mixed with still slightly crunchy onions and green peppers. Biscuits were mighty fine, fluffy and flavorful. The thick-cut bacon was crisp and tasted of maple. The country gravy had bits of sausage and was nicely seasoned. The French toast was made with a choice of bread. The cinnamon raisin was terrific, so rich it almost tasted like dessert. A side of sweet spring strawberries was the icing on the cake. Breakfast and lunch served daily. Down the Street has another eatery on Seltice Way in Post Falls.
ESES BISTRO
(780 Mullan Road, Post Falls, 773-4688) This culinary gem is in an unlikely location, in a strip mall near the new mega-chain store. A new chef has continued with the innovative mix of contemporary American cuisine with a dash of European classics. Dinner selections include blackened tenderloin with a cooling papaya salsa, Dungeness crab cakes and a couple of pasta dishes. There’s also a fresh sheet that focuses on seafood. Tuesdays, wines by the bottle are half price. Lunch is offered Mondays, lunch and dinner Tuesday through Friday and dinner only on Saturday.
EVERETT’S ON THE LAKE
(3799 E. Hayden Lake Road, Hayden Lake, 762-4876) For fall and winter, the menu changes nightly. Every evening, there’s a different steak preparation. First, share a lamb satay appetizer or the excellent Asian-influenced green salad. . Don’t miss the house-baked brownies for dessert. A Sunday brunch is served from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Dinner served from 5 p.m. daily.
HIGH MOUNTAIN STEAKHOUSE
(Coeur d’Alene Casino, Worley, 686-0248, ext. 356) A trip to the Coeur d’Alene Casino is like a trip to the Las Vegas of old, say circa 1987, when 50-cent shrimp cocktails and $4 steaks were still part of the draw. OK, so the meals weren’t all that cheap at the Casino’s High Mountain Steakhouse. But they were served in a setting that reminded me of the old-time Vegas casino dining rooms — bright and noisy. The food isn’t fancy, but it is solid. The baked potatoes are absolute monsters. The High Mountain Steakhouse also serves breakfast and lunch and a Sunday brunch. They don’t take reservations, unless it’s for a large party.
HUDSON’S
(207 Sherman, Coeur d’Alene 664-5444) This humble spot has been serving up legendary burgers since 1907. That’s Todd Hudson, the great-grandson of the original owner, manning the grill and deftly slicing thick pickles and white onions. Those are the only garnishes to grace these straightforward sandwiches. No lettuce, no tomato. Definitely no bacon. These babies truly taste like a home-cooked hamburger. There’s no background music, no other sounds besides the meat sizzling. It feels like there’s a hushed reverence for this high temple of burger-dom. They don’t take plastic, so bring cash or your checkbook. Open between 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. every day but Sunday.