Ugly Bettie's ~ Spokane

Thursday I called my wife at work and asked her if she would like to go out that night. Amy was not thrilled at the idea as we both had to work the next morning. I told her we were going to Ugly Bettie’s about 9pm and would be back by Midnight.  I then called and invited our friend Amber who is also a review writer. In no time the three of us were on our way to Ugly Bettie’s for the first time.

We arrived at the destination just as a parking spot became available at the front door. The cover was $7 each and after the doorman had a quick check of our IDs, we were in. The girls choose a table and I went to get us drinks. I found the staff to be friendly and the atmosphere relaxing.

I ordered a Bud Light on tap for Amber, Captain Morgan with Coke for Amy and my drink of choice, the Appletini, total price $13. I have paid $9 and $10 many times for a Martini so I was pleasantly surprised to get one for only $5, what a great price! With those prices I did not need specials.  I returned to the girls with the drinks and a smile. We were very impressed with our drinks they were well portioned and delicious. Next we needed something to munch on and the Bettie’s Sampler Platter sounded just right.

Up on the stage The Scott Pemberton Trio was rockin’ the house and they sounded great. Cool looking big red lanterns hung from the ceiling above them. The area in front of the band steadily filled with music lovers and couples dancing. The band played on as Ugly Bettie’s continued to fill with patrons.

When the Bettie’s Sampler Platter arrived we were ready to eat. The basket included three spicy chicken wings, three provolone cheese sticks, crispy Cajun calamari and beer battered seasoned fries with four sauces on the side. Though the wings were tangy and the cheese sticks tasty when it was gone we wanted more. “Let’s try the Greek Philly,” Amy suggested. I agreed it sounded different and delicious. Roast beef with sautéed onions, roasted garlic, mushrooms, peppers and fresh spinach, served on warm flat bread, in a Teriyaki garlic sauce with Havarti and served with French Fries.

Flowmotion started to play as I noticed every table in Ugly Bettie’s was full. The band was fantastic and their music style was Rock. The band members included RL Heyer, Josh Clauson, Scott Goodwin, Eric Bryson, and Bob Rees.

Bettie’s Greek Philly arrived and was wonderful! We split it three ways and just loved it. Next time it will be the first thing I order.

At fifteen minutes past midnight we were having a good time and not ready to go. Ugly Bettie’s was entertaining and energizing. If we would not have had to get up the next morning we would have stayed until they threw us out.

Rob Washburn and Deb Brown have got themselves an amazing little gem in downtown Spokane. They are located at 211 North Division St. Please visit or call them 509-747-8940 to find out what they have going on next.

Logan Knight ~

Tomato Street ~ Coeur d'Alene

Where can I go on Friday night by myself for dinner and a drink and not have to wait? I was looking for somewhere with a warm ambience and good food. I pondered the possibilities and chose Tomato Street. I chose well. If you are looking for somewhere to go on a busy Friday night this is definitely the place. Tomato Street in Coeur d’Alene is an Italian restaurant and bar that has an upbeat and fun atmosphere and they are very kid friendly. The servers all wear some sort of funny hat and draw their names on the table with crayons when they greet you. Kids of all ages enjoy the paper table cloths for drawing on.

 It was shortly after 7:00pm when I arrived and the place was hoppin’. There were a couple of groups waiting for tables and since I was flying solo I decided to sit in the bar. The bartender was obviously very busy, but still immediately greeted me and asked if I would like to have dinner or just a cocktail. I smiled back and said, “Both please”.

I told her I was craving a fruity white wine so she suggested a Riesling or a Gewürztraminer and offered me a taste of each. She brought me samples of the wines she had suggested and both were very good, but I chose the Gewürztraminer. I decided to order an appetizer instead of dinner so I would have room for dessert, I love their Tiramisu. I was drawn to a new addition on the appetizer menu - homemade meatballs and mozzarella cheese wrapped in dough and baked to perfection in the brick oven. They serve it with their spicy marinara (my favorite), regular marinara and alfredo sauce for dipping. They have excellent pizza so I figured these would be good as well.

I enjoyed my wine while nibbling on this town’s best garlic bread and alternated between the NBA game on the big screen and people watching. I was amazed at how well the seemingly large staff worked together and how much food they were putting out in such a short amount of time. Customers were flowing in and out at a steady rate and no one had to wait more than a few minutes.

My appetizer was fantastic. I love meatballs but rarely order them in restaurants for fear of getting a “Costco” meatball. These meatball and cheese stuffed “pillows”are obviously made onsite by the Tomato Street crew. Unfortunately, I could only eat about a third of the plate and was forced to take my Tiramisu to go. I couldn’t bear to leave there without it.

Both the service and the food are amazing. You won’t have to wait forever, you will have a great time and feel comfortable no matter if you are dining alone, with your sweetheart or with your family and friends.

Freelance Writer ~ Amber Melom

Tomato Street Coeur d’ Alene

221 West Appleway Avenue
Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814-9306
(208) 667-5000

The Wine Cellar ~ Coeur d' Alene

“Wow that was fantastic!” I said to my wife as we exited the back door of the Wine Cellar. Located in downtown Coeur d’Alene the Wine Cellar proved to be the best dining experience I have had in years. The service, atmosphere and the food mixed magically for a delightful date night.

We arrived shortly after 7pm; the music was just starting as we sat near the stage at a table for two. Heather introduced herself as our server and asked if we would like to start with something to drink. My wife ordered two glasses of Columbia Crest H3 Merlot just as the skilled musicians of the Bones, Bolan, and Nelson group filled the air with blues music.

For our appetizer I chose the Artisan Cheese Plate; an assortment of cheeses, fruit, Spanish olives and herb crackers served with Italian salami, prosciutto and sopressata. The plate’s arrival was met with welcome as our server set it before us. The addition of blueberries, cranberries, and honey helped to make the appetizer a culinary treat. A perfect portion for the two of us as we finished it off with delight just as our salad arrived.

A mix of delicate spinach leaves with a roasted garlic Dijon dressing tossed, chopped eggs, dried cranberries, honey Cajun pecans and crispy pancetta was set before us. My wife and I shared the fresh and delightful salad as we sipped our wine.

Our glasses of Merlot had been reduced by half when our entrees arrived. I had chosen the special of the night, Prime Rib with garlic mashed potatoes; my wife selected Beef Tips En Croute from the Wine Cellar’s January Fresh Sheet menu. The prime rib was tasty but I found myself coveting the filet tips, mushrooms and Gorgonzola wrapped in a puff pastry atop a red wine reduction sauce that sat upon my wife’s plate. Just one taste was all it took to confirm what I was thinking, “I should have ordered the same thing”. However my wife offered to share and I was able to enjoy them both.

“We need to visit this place on a regular basis,” my wife said to me with a smile as we were finishing our glasses of wine. Just then our wonderful server Heather presented a tray of house made desserts for us to choose from. The clear choice was a martini glass filled with lemon mousse and blueberries, a perfect dessert to conclude our meal.

With a friendly staff, wonderful music and delightful food the Wine Cellar has captivated my attention and secured a permanent place at the top of fine dining choices for date night. Now you, “Know before you go!”

Logan Knight ~

The Wine Cellar ~ 208-664-9463
313 East Sherman Avenue

http://www.thewinecellarcda.com/

Scratch ~ Coeur d'Alene

Upon entering Scratch in Coeur d’Alene Idaho I noticed the dining area was softly lit and the colors of the room helped to contribute to a warm and romantic atmosphere. We were greeted and shown to a table. Within about thirty minutes of our arrival every table was full.

My wife and I chose to start our dining experience with two glasses of ice water and an appetizer. The menu provided us with ten different deliciously described selections. We chose the Crab Cake, made with fresh blue crab, baby spinach, caper popcorn, lemon and cream fraiche.

The dish arrived and was neatly presented on the plate. Two warm crab cakes set atop uncooked spinach leafs, then drizzled with cream and sprinkled with capers. I found the combination of flavors to mix well together.

Our salad choices were limited to a traditional Caesar or the Scratch Signature. We selected the Scratch Signature Salad. The salad combined baby spinach, bits of hickory bacon, fresh apple slices, candied walnuts, a reserved portion of brie, and pomegranate vinaigrette. The salad was an excellent choice and extremely tasty.

 The Scratch menu offers fifteen different entrees to include fish, lamb, chicken, pork, beef, duck, seafood and pasta. I was having a difficult time deciding what to try. My wife and I chose to share the Scratch Signature Steak.

We also ordered two glasses of Angeline Merlot. As our server set the main entrée onto our table I could see the steak was seared black and dripping with juices. The steak was sliced and laid over top of small baked red potatoes with Brussels sprouts on the side.

We ended our diner with a slice of Chevre Cheesecake topped with huckleberries in cream sauce. This was the perfect choice to finish our meal. My wife and I found Scratch in Coeur d’Alene to be an enjoyable, romantic dinner experience. I would certainly recommend Scratch anytime. Now you "Know Before You Go!"

Logan Knight ~

Knitting Factory ~ Spokane

It was a chilly New Year’s Eve when I arrived at my destination with my wife and a couple of good friends. The doors of the Knitting Factory opened promptly at 9 p.m. for their annual New Year’s Eve Euphoria party. This was my third visit to the premier concert house and my first evening in downtown Spokane on New Year’s Eve. My previous visits to the Knitting Factory were for live concerts. On each occasion I had watched the concerts from the upper VIP section of the Knitting Factory. I was disappointed to discover the upper VIP section had been closed for the 2012 New Year’s Eve Euphoria party. Instead the VIP section had been relocated to the main level next to the dance floor. This would prove to be the perfect location at the stroke of midnight when balloons and cash would be released and rain down onto the patrons below.

Hoisted high above everyone hung a huge cargo net filled with balloons, cash and prizes. All of the contents were to be released at the dawn of the new year. Two thousand and twelve dollars worth of cash and prizes rested within the huge net. The net had been purposely positioned over the dance floor and could not go unnoticed. As the Knitting Factory continued to fill with patrons, lights and music began to flash and thunder throughout the venue. From the center of the stage B Mega and DJ Kowax from NOW 105.7 FM radio were hosts for the party.

Lines of customers grew rapidly at the bar as the dance floor swelled with partiers. My wife and friends and I chose a table overlooking the dance floor.  Our table was covered with festive decorations and as our lovely companions sat down my buddy and I headed for the bar. I ordered two Gray Goose Appletinis, and he requested two well drinks with rum and two beers. Returning to our table we gave the ladies their drinks and we enjoyed each other’s company. The drinks were delicious, the music was good and the dancing was fun. Perhaps next year’s Knitting Factory Euphoria party will be even better! Happy New Year everyone.  Now you "Know Before You Go!"

Logan Knight ~

Find out what’s going on next at the Knitting Factory in Spokane! http://sp.knittingfactory.com/

Alpine Bistro ~ Spokane

December 17^th 2011 was a Saturday night just like any other night but with one exception. It was my seventeenth wedding anniversary­. Seventeen years of marriage on the seventeenth and my wife wanted to do something special.

She had seen a flyer for a four course dinner at The Alpine Bistro for the night of seventeenth. She quickly called and made us reservations which resulted in an unforgettable evening together.

When we arrived, we were greeted at the door with a warm smile and hello. Barb Snyder and Mandy Emerson were serving that evening and looked as happy to be there as we were. The inside was warmly lit and a fire burned near the front window. The atmosphere was intimate and although the bistro was filled with many guests I found it to be very private and extremely cozy.

We were shown to a nicely set, softly lit table for two. As we sat and sipped our water Don Townshend introduced himself, thanked everyone for attending the dinner, then offered to answer any questions about the four different wines that were being served.

Our dining experience began with a half glass of Sauvignon Blanc and an appetizer. The Shrimp Scampi was seared, blanketed with garlic and wine sauce then served with crustinis. Perfectly portioned and designed to prepare our appetite for the second course.

Quickly to follow the appetizer was their Cranberry Walnut Salad accompanied with a half glass of Sangiovese. Crisp romaine and fresh spinach was topped with cranberries, walnuts, blue cheese, and bacon. The powerful bacon flavor almost completely dominated the salad and should have been prepared with a bit more delicacy.

The main entrée was served with perfect timing as we finished our salad. Alpine Bistro’s German Steak was prepared by Melissa Sneed. The New York steak was topped with black forest ham, half a pear and a slice of melted Swiss cheese. The entrée was served with baked red potatoes and Townshend’s Vortex red wine. The flavors mixed miraculously together and the Vortex wine served only to enhance them. This delicious steak instantly became one of my personal favorites. I found the dish to be a bit over portioned within a four course meal.

The Vortex wine also became an instant favorite for me and my wife. We have added the wine permanently to our personal home selection.

Townshend’s Viognier white wine, a late harvest sweet wine, accompanied the fourth and final course, the dessert. Mango and pear crisp with walnuts then topped with vanilla bean ice cream. This dish was perfectly portioned and a most delightful end to the meal.

My experience at the Alpine Bistro was truly unforgettable and one I look forward to repeating again and again. I definitely recommend an intimate evening at the Alpine Bistro. Now you "Know Before You Go!"

Logan Knight ~

http://www.alpine-bakery-spokane.com/