After visiting an old friend in Moscow, Idaho, we arrived in Spokane in time for dinner. We chose Hill’s Restaurant and settled in for some haute cuisine. We didn’t get to meet the chef, but we did get to meet his brother and co-owner (who was tending bar). At this point in time, DDD had filmed about six or seven restaurants in the Spokane area; but none of them had aired yet (and so they couldn’t advertise it).
![Hill's Anna at Hill's Restaurant](https://www.kenholloway.us/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Hills-300x225.jpg)
Anna in front of Hill’s
Restaurant & Lounge
I would have preferred to order the Ribeye Steak, but I settled for a cheesesteak sandwich. We didn’t have time to drink wine and savor a steak. The sandwich was good. The flavor and texture of the meat was as close to perfect as anyone can get, but the bread was just a touch on the dry side for my taste. Unless you have oven-fresh bread, I guess a cheesesteak sandwich needs to be wrapped in paper before it is eaten (so the moisture and flavor of the meat infuses the bread). Anna had an order of the chicken and smoked-Jack phyllo wraps, which were fabulous. I would definitely look forward to dining at Hill’s again, and I’m sure I will the next time I get to Spokane. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the place—elegant but casual; and the menu is impeccable. Our server took good care of us.
Our next day began with lunch at Elk—a local eatery and taproom in an old residential neighborhood. The bar was impressive, as was the food. The place was very busy and our waitress was attentive and friendly. Despite a big lunch rush, they seemed to have a hard time making change for a $100 bill (or making change at all for that matter). We started with an appetizer of BBQ chicken quesadilla with a dipping sauce. Cheesy goodness. I ordered a beer-braised Reuben sandwich and Anna ordered a chicken Caesar wrap with a chipotle corn pasta (which tasted as odd as it sounds). The wrap was good, and the Reuben was outstanding. My only objection was I would have liked to see a little more meat on the sandwich—even if they needed to charge a little more. I’d be happy to visit Elk again (especially at happy hour) but there are so many great places to eat in Spokane, I doubt I’ll ever get the chance.
![Picabu Burger Cactus Burger at Picabu Bistro](https://www.kenholloway.us/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Picabu-Burger1-300x225.jpg)
Cactus Burger at Picabu Bistro
We drove down to South Hill for dinner at the Picabu Bistro. The place was a bit snug, and they were packed (although DDD hadn’t aired yet). The tables were turning fast and we didn’t have to wait too long. Our server, Nicole, was great and I ordered the Cactus Burger which turned out to be crazy good. They top it with a concoction of caramelized onions, peppers and spices all sauteed in bacon fat—with the bacon. It was super rich, super tasty, with a peppery finish that bites you back. It was a hamburger elevated to its highest form (and it was so good I had to go back later and get another one). Continue reading →