Recently Reviewed

by Inlander Staff


Maggie's Grill -- Maggie's seat-yourself, order-at-the-counter style of dining adds a new twist to South Hill neighborhood dining. The menu includes a little bit of everything: sandwiches, wraps, salads and hot entrees like lasagna, chicken pot pie, flat iron steak, roasted honey ginger chicken and broiled lemon shrimp skewers. The Thai chicken noodle ($11) was quite pleasant and spicy with a rich, tangy peanut sauce, thick noodles, grilled chicken and crispy cabbage slaw that added texture and coolness. The pan-seared ahi tuna ($15) -- encrusted with black sesame seeds and served with wasabi aioli -- was also very tasty. The timing between salad and main entr & eacute;e course was off, but the owner made up for it with complimentary desserts. 2808 E. 29th Ave. Call 536-4745. (Reviewed 3/31/05, LM)





Ming Wah -- At Ming Wah, Chinese-American dishes are created and served with an extraordinary level of care, precision and speed -- and at throwback prices. The lunch menu features eight different three-item combination lunches with (egg drop soup and tea included) for $3.75-$4.50. The almond fried chicken featured bite-sized pieces of fried white-meat chicken covered with creamy white gravy and sprinkled with chopped toasted almonds. The subgum chow mein was outstanding, with diced chicken and veggies in a delicate sauce over crunchy noodles. The egg foo young was delicious, topped with a dollop of brown gravy and barbecued pork. Simply put, this is some of the best Chinese food you'll find anywhere in Spokane. The service, too, is excellent. 1618 W. Third Ave. Call 455-9474. (MC)





Lindaman's -- Lindaman's breakfasts offer a refreshing change of pace with excellent service and a relaxed atmosphere. Breakfast orders are taken at the coffee and wine bar. Items include pastries ranging from muffins ($1.95) to blackberry strudel ($2.25). The Express Eggs ($3.95) come in three different varieties: Mexican (with hominy, guacamole, cheddar and tomatoes), the bacon-and-eggs and fresh herb. Other choices include things like granola, yogurt, and fresh fruit (including some gorgeous slices of seasonal blood oranges). The delicious egg creations come with biscotti but the oatmeal coffee cake ($2.25) or the almond-infused tea cake ($2.25) both make an amazing complement. 1235 S. Grand Blvd. Call: 838-3000 (Reviewed 3/3/05, SB)





Caife Cistin -- OK, so maybe Ireland isn't really known for its rich, fresh coffee beans, but Post Falls' Caife Cistin is known for offering a variety of the region's best roasters. The caf & eacute; is comfortable and decorated with art by local students. The latte we ordered was clean and bright with none of the murky burned beans essence that sometimes mars even the most conscientious latte. The Americano -- made from Portland Roasting Company's finest -- was also an above-par coffee concoction. The baked goods -- many supplied by Spokane's Sweetwater Baking Company -- include bagels, muffin tops, cookies and a variety of bars. In addition to the coffee, Caife Cistin offers Evivva Yerba Mate and a variety of specialty tea products. 2600 E. Seltice Way, Suite E. Call: 208-773-9510 (Reviewed 11/11/04, SB)





Cap'n Juicy's Super Duper Weenies -- A hot dog is a hot dog is a hot dog, right? Not at Cap'n Juicy's, where you walk up to the order window and choose from creations featuring the standard-sized all-beef New York deli-style dog, or, for about a buck more, one of the quarter-pounders The $2.69 New York Coney (with chili sauce, mustard and onions over a kosher dog) is satisfying with mildly spicy meat sauce and sweet, diced onions. The $2.69 Reuben Classic (sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and special mustard over a Polish sausage) came with a blanket of kraut-laced melted real Swiss filling the bun gap above a moist Polish sausage. Big and juicy they are, so grab lots of napkins. 114 N. Howard St. Call 455-6750 (MC)





The Porch Public House -- The Porch's rustic yet sophisticated log cabin ambience is most inviting and compliments its Hayden Lake neighborhood. The menu resembles the Elk's in Spokane. There is also a fine selection of tap beers, wine and hard liquor. The Pork Burrita's ($8.95) roasted chunks of tender, mildly spicy pork filled a large, crispy flour tortilla that had been folded once and grilled and topped with shredded lettuce, tomato-onion salsa and sour cream. It was huge and came with a generous portion of ranch-style black beans. The Salmon Cakes ($9.25) were moist on the inside and crispy outside, topped with a soothing light sour cream/dill sauce, and the bacon and smoked cheddar potato cakes were sublime. 1658 E. Miles Ave., Hayden Lake, Idaho. Call (208) 772-7711. (MC)





Kim Do Vietnamese Restaurant -- Kim Do makes it easy to enjoy authentically prepared Vietnamese dishes -- and great service. Each table is outfitted with a stainless steel spoon/fingerbowl/chopstick caddy and a stunning array of condiments. Menu items include appetizers, noodle soups, rice dishes, noodle dishes and can be ordered by number. The fresh spring rolls (2 for $2.50) are terrific, translucent rolls filled with shrimp, noodles and vegetables and served with peanut sauce. The Pho Ga noodle soup ($5.50) is satisfying, but the real slam dunk may be the bun thit nu'ong cha gio ($6), a diverse rice vermicelli noodle dish with grilled sliced pork, deep-fried egg rolls, bean sprouts and lettuce. 2018 N. Hamilton St. Call: 487-7700 (9/2/04, MC)





Publication date: 04/07/04