The Coeur d’Alene area offers an extensive array of dining choices...from pizza to four star cuisine. It seems there’s something exciting happening every week with familiar faces opening new places and newcomers bringing another taste to the table of culinary selections. Successful restaurateurs are doubling their fun with expansions while old favorites are invigorated with new owners and updated menus. The biggest challenge with dining out these days is deciding where to go!

Summer 2009

Just opened in mid-town Coeur d'Alene is Grumpy's Restaurant, 726 N. 4th Street. Owners Joe Chapman of Henry's fame and Dana Musick of Bambino's are joined by head chef Garad Crawford. The facility, featuring the iconic copper fireplace from Henry's, seats 48 diners for lunch and dinner. Grumpy's is open Monday - Saturday 11am - 9pm. 667.1717

Barrel Room No. 6, owned and operated by Coeur d'Alene Cellars Winery has begun hosting private events only at its 503 Sherman Avenue location. The facility holds up to 120 people and offers fine wine, hors d'oeuvres and full dinner options. 664.2336

The site of the former Pizza Shoppe, 503 West Appleway in Coeur d'Alene is now occupied by a Pizza Factory. It joins franchises in Hayden and Post Falls. 765.3434

Rosa's Italian Market & Deli, 120 East 4th Avenue in Post Falls, is now serving fresh hot and cold sandwiches, soups, salads, breakfast sweets and sandwiches, specialty drinks, and picnic lunches. Owner Tina-Marie Schultz also helps coordinate the Bonaventura Lodge's annual Festa Italiana held in October. Monday - Friday 7am - 6pm, Saturday 8am - 5pm. 777.7400

Owner Connie Naccarato and partner/executive chef Jason Rex opened a second location of their popular Spokane eatery, Scratch, at 501 Sherman Avenue in downtown Coeur d'Alene. Scratch serves up contemporary modern dishes with an Asian flair. Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. 930.4762

Post Falls' oldest existing business, The Slab Inn, celebrated 75 years in June. Deborah and Randy Berlin have owned the business located at 800 West Seltice Way for 12 of those years. The Country Rock bar features lives bands Friday and Saturday nights and Karaoke Monday - Thursday. 773.5440

Located at the Hayden Lake Marina, 3799 E. Hayden Lake Road, the site of the old Everett's on the Lake is now The Boat House. Enjoy lake front dining, a friendly atmosphere and an extensive array of food, beers and wine. 762.5057

After being closed for a year, the historic Roger's Ice-Cream & Burgers, 13th Street and Sherman Avenue in Coeur d'Alene, has a new owner, Mark Randolph. Randolph plans to specialize in home-made french fries, burgers of all types and, of course, great ice-cream. Open Monday - Thursday 11am - 9pm, Friday and Saturday 11am - 10pm and 11am - 8pm on Sunday.

My Place is now open in the former Mike's Coeur d'Alene Cafe location at 1801 Sherman Avenue. Owner Rocco Zito and chef Frank Ciccone dish up eclectic cuisine with strong Italian influences. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 665.2277

Chef Everett Fees has joined ROW Adventure's Syringa Cafe at The River Dance Lodge in Central Idaho. Fees was previously at Bistro on Spruce in Coeur d'Alene who have welcomed Chef Matthew Curmi.
Fresh made donuts and pastries can now be found at the family owned Donut House, 8761 Government Way in Hayden. 772.5771

Winter 2008/2009

Rustlers Roost is at home in a new building not far from their old location at 9727 N. Highway 95 in Hayden. They continue to serve breakfast (all day) and lunch daily with the familiar Western rustic decor. Owner Woody McEvers will continue their covered wagon catering, as well.

The owners of Ciao Mambo plan to open MacKenzie River Pizza Company in early 2009. The site of the popular Montana pizzeria will be the former America’s Cheesecake Cafe building at Hwy 95 and Canfield Ave. near Silverlake Mall.

GW Hunter’s slogan, Got Elk?, is audible as well as edible. The ring on the Post Falls restaurant’s phone is a bugling elk!

John and Tina Hough’s historic Roosevelt Inn features monthly Murder Mystery events which include hors d’ oeuvres, five-course gourmet dinner and a thrilling game of “Body-Body”. www.therooseveltinn.com

Future Riverstone restaurants Tecate Grill and Sangria Grill are on the fast track, as are Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and Hapa Fish, an offshoot of Hapa Grill in Park City, Utah. A locally owned tapas wine bar is in negotiations to occupy the vacated former Joey’s Smokin’ BBQ location.

Downtown Coeur d’Alene now features the revamped Brix Steak and Chophouse. Owner Jerry Goggin installed new signage on the restaurant and created the only upscale steak house in town.

Patricia and Laurent Zirotti have opened Fleur de Sel Bistro at the Highlands Day Spa in Post Falls. The location was originally Carnegie’s at the Highlands. The bistro seats diners from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. 777-7600

Dennis and Linda Lovette opened Big D’s in Rathdrum in the former Wild Bill’s location.

Cafe Courier recently started operation in the Coeur d’Alene area. It’s a restaurant delivery service, bringing take-out to your doorstep. Go to cafecourier.com to see which local restaurants are using the service.

The Songbird Coffee & Dessert House, 315 N. 4th Street, is opening this month with the hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, promising exciting new tastes and desserts in mid-town Coeur d’Alene.

Rick Powers, director of food and beverage for The Coeur d’Alene Resort, was inducted into the Distinguished Restaurants of North America Hall of Fame in October. DiRoNa represents restaurants in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Beverly’s at The Coeur d’Alene Resort is the only Idaho restaurant with membership.

Shelley Webb opened a new gourmet gift basket business in the Coeur d’Alene area. www.lambsandivygiftbaskets.com

Morgio’s Sandwiches has taken over the former Scott-Ja-Mama’s BBQ at 206 N. 4th St. in Coeur d’Alene. Owner Paul Grier has 20 years experience in the hospitality business. Morgio’s is open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the week and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

Babak and Amber Haidari opened Babak Kabab snack shack at 3023 N. Government Way in Coeur d’Alene. With meats barbecued on-site, they’re open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

Greenbriar Inn has their fall cooking class schedule posted at www.greenbriarcatering.com

In December and January the Greenbriar Inn and 315 Martinis & Tapas will be recognizing CPAs and accountants, and raising money for the Women’s Center with featured martinis including “ The Loophole”, “The Write Off”, and the “The Big Fat Refund.”

Summer 2008

Ciao Mambo, the new Italian restaurant at 8166 Government Way in the Hayden Creek Plaza, invites you to "eat like you mean it." Open Sunday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. 772-9555, ciaomambo.com

Michael D’s has always specialized in breakfast and now it’s being served all day long at the popular eatery. 203 Lake Coeur d’Alene Drive. 676-9049.

Brand new is the 315 Martinis & Tapas at the Greenbriar Inn, 315 Wallace Ave. in Coeur d’Alene. Open Tuesday - Friday, with happy hour from 3:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. 667-9660

Fisherman’s Market and Grill added a sushi bar which is overseen by local favorite sushi chef, Travis Whiteside. Catering and sushi classes are available. 215 W. Kathleen Ave., Coeur d’Alene, 664-4800

Baja Bargarita, 115 2nd St., opened in June next door to Toro Viejo in downtown Coeur d’Alene. The new smoke free hot spot features a full bar, blended margaritas, music & dancing for the over 21 crowd.

The former Black Tie Coffee Co. has a new owner and a new name. Jeannie Schell’s Bump-N-Grind coffee shop at 621 N. Spokane St. in Post Falls continues to feature Doma coffee and serve home baked scones.

Capone’s Pub and Grill has reopened their Post Falls location at 315 Ross Point Rd., after an arson fire destroyed the interior in 2007.

Darron and Jill Cole opened the Chicken Basket at 601 Northwest Blvd. in June, with kids’ meals, baskets and buckets, all available to go. Open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Moon Dollars Cafe completed a remodel that expanded their seating and added a 30-seat meeting room. Their lunch menu also expanded to include hamburgers and fries. Beer and wine available. 609 Syringa, next to Dickinson Insurance in Post Falls. 777-7040

The Buttonhook Inn on the water in Bayview is under new management by Jim and Jessica Lippi, who own Ivano’s Ristorante in Sandpoint. The Buttonhook menu features steaks and seafood.

You’ve got 31 more reasons to stop by the Coeur d’Alene Chamber’s new visitor center in downtown Coeur d’Alene across from Independence Point. Baskin-Robbins has set up shop for summer on the outdoor patio there.

Kevin and Michelle Rogers, owners of TimberRock Winery in Post Falls, opened a retail outlet in Studio 107, a jewelry and art store at 107 N. Fourth St. in Coeur d’Alene. TimberRock offers a half dozen varieties, all made from Yakima Valley grapes. Tasting hours are noon to 5 p.m. every day. 667-5155 or www.timberrockwine.com

The Wine Cellar at 313 Sherman Ave. now offers outside seating. The new Tango Tapas bar at the entrance features a granite bar behind a roll-up door that opens when the weather permits, expanding to about eight seats inside and a similar number on the sidewalk. The tapas bar is open 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Restaurateur Felix Cabrera, of La Cocina and La Cabana fame, has opened his latest eatery, Greensferry Crossing at 1910 E. Seltice Way in Post Falls. Last year the location was briefly Blue Bay but was best known for years as Steve’s Sports Dugout. Felix has created a family style restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Wagner’s Hofbrau, owned by Bill and Roxanne Wagner, is a 5,500-square-foot restaurant at 1726 W. Kathleen Avenue in Coeur d’Alene. Open since March they use bread from the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s Hearthbread BakeHouse for their German style sandwiches. 667-6688

The 5,184-square-foot Coeur d’Alene Red Robin restaurant opened in Riverstone in April. Hours are 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. 765-2421

FALL/WINTER 2007 - 2008

Moose Market brought groceries back to downtown Coeur d’Alene. The iconic corner at 401 Sherman Ave. was for decades the location of Wilson’s Drug. Moose Market now has opened Moose Lounge for cozy enjoyment of wine and beer.

Senor Froggy’s at 7th & Sherman Ave. in Coeur d’Alene closed for business in November. The location was originally Taco Time. No plans for the property have been announced by the new owners.

The Office Bar and Grill, in Coeur d’Alene’s midtown at 816 N. 4th St., is under new ownership. Laurie Schafer and her husband Dwight Hill took over the long-established local bar in August.

Bistro on Spruce, 1710 N. 4th St., is open for lunch and dinner at the site of the old Coffeeville in midtown Coeur d’Alene. They also feature an extensive wine selection and a warm, inviting environment.

Thai Bambo is coming to N. 4th at Annie Ave. in Coeur d’Alene, with construction nearly complete.

Fishermans Market & Grill at 215 W. Kathleen Ave. in Coeur d’Alene is now open with an incredible array of fresh seafood and fish.

Mongolian BBQ vacated their Ironwood location and built a new restaurant on Government Way and Neider Ave. Caruso’s Deli is now occupying the Ironwood storefront joining the Hayden and Post Falls delis.

Nick and Willy’s Take and Bake Pizza opened in the Costco plaza, also at Government Way and Neider Ave. in Coeur d’Alene. Just doors down is the recently opened High Nooner serving up lunch-time gourmet sandwiches, soups and salads.

GW Hunters added an outdoor lighted sign which indicates seating availability at their Spokane Street restaurant in Post Falls.

The King Buffet has opened at 740 N. Cecil Road, across from Walmart in the Post Falls Mall. The all-you-can-eat Asian buffet is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week and features an all day Sunday seafood buffet.

Mangia Italian restaurant now serves breakfast at their Seltice and Spokane St. location in Post Falls.

Hayden businesses are hoping to see an increase in customers now that construction on Government Way in Hayden is finally completed and the road is open. Some favorite eateries such as Sargent’s Steak House, Toro Viejo, the Owl Cafe, Pau Pau’s Kitchen, and Suzie’s Bar & Grill were difficult to access for several months. If you’re going out to eat, head to Hayden and leave a big tip!

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