Casual Dining In the Spokane Area
Looking for a relaxed, but delicious, night out in Spokane? The city is filled with amazing local cuisine that won't break the bank and will have you leaving satisfied and longing for your next night out!
Flavors of Spokane
Housed in the erstwhile North Hill Masonic Temple, NORTH HILL ON GARLAND PUB places equal emphasis on food and drink. There’s a large selection of red and white wines, craft cocktails and non-alcoholic mocktails, plus draft and bottled beer — all of which are balanced out by thin-crust pizzas, hearty sandwiches and comfort staples like pot pie and mac ‘n’ cheese. It’s a natural drop-in destination if you’re already doing some holiday shopping at the small businesses in the Garland District.
Best known for its artisan pizzas like the Wellington (topped with cream, house cheeses, asparagus, cremini mushrooms) or the Columbia (chipotle tomato sauce, chimichurri pork, red onions, black beans), the Audubon–Downriver neighborhood’s FLYING GOAT also dishes up a delicious mix of gourmet sandwiches and salads. Picking up a gift card for a stocking stuffer is a great excuse to dine in yourself.
![Casual dining in Spokane Washington](https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/inlander-blog-content/Piccolo-MeatballPizza.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=f35b1282b30c0843935d80cd03648a88 320w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/inlander-blog-content/Piccolo-MeatballPizza.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=9f453463443e5b4f0706c425e30dd067 540w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/inlander-blog-content/Piccolo-MeatballPizza.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=1c4abe585dba58b61f178e49a1c7c6cc 768w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/inlander-blog-content/Piccolo-MeatballPizza.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=2ba39a4663321eb6b7b797ae1e76ee57 960w)
Just to the west of downtown Spokane in Browne’s Addition is THE ELK, a longtime favorite of locals who want good food in a laid-back atmosphere. Traditional corned beef Reubens, the Santa Fe sandwich — a breaded, pan-seared chicken breast with roasted poblanos and melted Monterey Jack cheese — or the bulgogi beef tacos are indicative of what’s on offer alongside a satisfying mix of local craft beers and cocktails.
REMEDY up on the South Hill kicks things up a notch by bringing an unconventional culinary flair to classic dishes. House favorites include the Drunken Clams, which steams fresh clams in garlic butter, red onions, cherry tomatoes and pilsner from local brewer Brick West. Even the otherwise unassuming duck breast is served alongside wood-fired fennel, a piquant spiced orange gastrique and a side of fried sourdough bread.
“Like a lot of businesses around the world, I feel like we missed the holidays last year,” says Celeste Shaw, who owns CHAPS near Latah Valley just off Highway 195. “Even though there are still limitations in place, we’re still looking forward to reinviting people to join us. The holidays are still the holidays, and I love the camaraderie.”
She and her staff are cutting the Chaps Christmas tree together at Swenson’s Tree Farm, and she’s looking to decorate a second tree and hold a special Christmas breakfast with Santa to benefit disadvantaged schoolchildren in Spokane Valley and Sprague. Through gestures like that, Shaw is using the wholesome comfort food she serves, like handmade baked goods and her grandmother’s oatmeal, as a way to bring the community together.
![Where to eat in spokane this holiday season](https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/inlander-blog-content/INL_Bruncheonette102116_MG_0005.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=203a430f82a08213fc2d94ff4e15dbee 320w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/inlander-blog-content/INL_Bruncheonette102116_MG_0005.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=cdbdb75201d43de7d2fe7f3cfa41fd8d 540w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/inlander-blog-content/INL_Bruncheonette102116_MG_0005.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=5295279db89f978797c3de1c74e0624a 768w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/inlander-blog-content/INL_Bruncheonette102116_MG_0005.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=e42c094f24ef53714845cd2f6a35ef14 1024w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/inlander-blog-content/INL_Bruncheonette102116_MG_0005.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=efa0f23434a93e93b3aa22d3678994ca 1200w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/inlander-blog-content/INL_Bruncheonette102116_MG_0005.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=29678c27897b9da1c5cd93e59f634295 1440w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/inlander-blog-content/INL_Bruncheonette102116_MG_0005.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=a0d0c633927aabe58b2a1bb2fd3a8f3f 1920w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/inlander-blog-content/INL_Bruncheonette102116_MG_0005.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=345d9bd5f6321c07b929cbd71df46423 2560w, https://visitspokane.imgix.net/images/inlander-blog-content/INL_Bruncheonette102116_MG_0005.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=521aed0824df9804cb87ac333f06db67 3840w)
Spokane's Best Burgers & Brunch
And who can talk casual dining without mentioning burgers and brunch? In poll after poll, WISCONSINBURGER on the lower South Hill on the edge of the South Perry District is consistently rated one of the top burgers in Spokane. The Awe Geez makes an indulgent feature of the Badger State’s prize exports, namely cheddar cheese and (deep-fried) curds, while the Port Washington offers an alternative take on the burger in the form of a marinated portobello mushroom cap topped with spinach and gorgonzola on a pretzel bun.
At the aptly named BRUNCHEONETTE near the Spokane County Courthouse, you’ll find tantalizing combos like blueberry muffin French toast or tamale waffles as well as quintessential diner fare like biscuits and gravy or chicken-fried steak. The food is made from scratch as much as possible. “My staff is really passionate about food, so that makes every dish fun to make because there’s so much love that goes into it,” says owner Jolie Forral. “We really put a lot of care into what we’re making.”