The warm glow of Steel

Picture this: You’re strolling around downtown … walking back to your car after a winter wonderland tour of Riverfront Park, maybe, or unexpectedly crossing paths with an old friend while Christmas shopping.

Whatever the case, you’re taking up space on a downtown sidewalk when you realize it’s too cold to stand around outside. And then you realize that you could really use a drink and something warm in your belly.

Now picture this: You look down the street and see a neon sign, shining like a beacon of hope. You head toward the light, and notice a door nestled in the brick wall below. You pull open that door, walk inside, and, there … that’s better.

Eric & I slipped into the Steelhead Bar & Grille the other night, in search of dinner and drinks. What we found was a cozy respite from the biting chill. And some totally amazing potatoes. Plus an oh-so-welcome seat by the front-of-house fireplace.

The potatoes came on the plate with my sirloin steak. They were some sort of gratin concoction. And, truthfully, I wish I would have ordered a great big bowl of ’em, and left the steak in the kitchen. If you’re a potato fanatic like me, you gotta get your fork into a pile of these. Cheesy. Creamy. Awesome.

The fireplace sits just inside the front door. Plush leather seats practically beg chilled patrons to plop right down and stay awhile. A wall of windows makes it easy to watch the world pass you by and an impressive drink menu makes it almost impossible to scuttle away to your next round of shopping. But, seriously, what’s the hurry?

You’ll find the Steelhead Bar & Grille at 218 N. Howard, downtown Spokane.