Inlander Restaurant Week is your ticket to experience Idaho five different ways
Inlander Restaurant Week lets you try new foods and revisit old favorites alike, including in North Idaho — all for a deal. Participating restaurants feature three-course meals for the set price of $22 or $33, making it possible to try a lot, even if you’re on a budget. We have your guide to five quintessential ways of experiencing the area.
The COEUR D’ALENE RESORT AND CASINO is underrated as an event destination and yet, any night of the week you’ll find something going on there. Look for live music in the lounge on weekends, and all the excitement you can take in the gaming area or relaxation you need in the spa. Jeans and boots or fancy duds both work here. Have dinner at either CHINOOK STEAK, PASTA AND SPIRITS or RED TAIL BAR AND GRILL, then catch a show or make it a night to remember and stay over. In the morning, enjoy the glorious drive home through North Idaho’s vast grasslands, especially beautiful in the winter.
Post Falls is home to unexpected and delightful international cuisine, a perfect example of the many hidden gems in the Gem State. First up is OVAL OFFICE AND MARTINI BAR, a sister restaurant to nearby WHITE HOUSE GRILL and the newly opened PENTAGON BISTRO across the border in Washington. It’s upscale comfort food with occasional flashes of the chef-owner’s Mediterranean flair.
FLEUR DE SEL is a top-notch gourmet restaurant run by a French James Beard-nominated chef and his lovely wife. All the more charming: They share a building with a spa school overlooking the Highlands Golf Course atop one of the tallest spots in Post Falls. But, oh, the view. And the food! And the service. Fleur de Sel makes even drinks and appetizers feel like a special occasion so gussy up a bit and prepare to feel well cared for and well fed here.
It hasn’t been on-scene for nearly as long as other Coeur d’Alene hotspots, yet THE BLUEBIRD MIDTOWN EATERY was pretty much an instant hit with locals (who probably wish we wouldn’t share their secret). It’s big-city flavors and a small-town vibe. The owners, who have several other eateries in town, are super chill and focused on community, local sourcing and offering really good, eclectic food in a fun, funky environment.
Even if you’re not dining, THE COEUR D’ALENE RESORT is a must-do in Coeur d’Alene with their gorgeous, lakeside location, year-round events, and an understated elegance with a resort casual vibe. Four of the Resort’s restaurants are participating this year, including BEVERLY’S, CEDARS FLOATING RESTAURANT, DOCKSIDE and TITO’S ITALIAN GRILL. Add good food and impeccable accommodations — staycation, anyone? — and you get the picture. So for Inlander Restaurant Week, this is where you go to have a memorable meal in a fabulous setting that is going on four decades of wowing visitors no matter the occasion.
Special Events
Peter Pan: A New Musical
FEBRUARY 22-MARCH 1
CYT presents a new take on the beloved classic Peter Pan. This delightful musical features a rich new score and is filled with magic, delight and just a fairy dusting of heartbreak. $15.26 (adults), $12.96 (children 12 and under); Kroc Center; visit cda4.fun for show times.
Nspire Wedding Show
FEBRUARY 22
This boutique wedding show is intimate and carefully curated — featuring 40 of the region’s top wedding providers, from DJs and florists, to photographers and bakeries. It also includes a fashion show, complimentary mimosas and giveaways. $10 general admission, $25 VIP; 4-7:30 pm; Coeur d’Alene Inn.
Mardi Gras Krew d’Alene
FEBRUARY 29
Get a little taste of the Big Easy right here in Lake City. Enjoy samples of New Orleans-style fare from six local restaurants competing in a lively cookoff. Fortune tellers, henna artists, body painters, art in action, live musicians and a burlesque show add to the excitement. $40; 5:30-10 pm; Coeur d’Alene Eagles.
