Whether you're brunching with friends, nursing a night of overindulgence, or just really love mixing vodka, tomato juice, spices, pickled veggies and various other toppings, these locally created bloody marys should do the trick.
Dockside
115 S. Second St., Coeur d'Alene
What we got: Bloody Boss, $35
This colossal drink is what happens when a bloody mary gets hungry. At 64 ounces, it's served in a fishbowl-sized glass with no less than four skewers, not of greenery, but of gooey, grilled and savory goodies, like a sausage link, grilled cheese sandwich and ham slider. Crispy bacon peeks out from underneath the smorgasboard, which also includes shrimp, pickled asparagus and olives. The restaurant at the Coeur d'Alene Resort sells around 10-15 of these behemoths a week, says the resort's Amy VanSickle. Whether it's the vodka or the coma-inducing carbs, this drink might also have you considering making your trip to Dockside an impromptu overnighter. (CARRIE SCOZZARO)
1898 Public House
2010 Waikiki Rd.
What we got: Build-your-own Bloody Mary, $14
If you've been sleeping on 1898 Public House because it's "too far" in its North Spokane location at the former Spokane Country Club, it's time to get over it because you're missing out on one of the best breakfasts in town, not to mention one excellent build-your-own bloody mary bar. The bar brings you a glass with a well vodka, and you go to town on a table full of tantalizing options, from the requisite asparagus spears and olives to the more exotic additions (grilled shrimp and house-cured candied bacon? Yes, please!). The house bloody mary mix is none too shabby, either. Drink that bad boy alongside a smoked brisket omelet or a smoked salmon omelet and your day is off to a great start. (DAN NAILEN)
Incrediburger & Eggs
909 W. First Ave.
What we got: Incredi-Mary, $6
It goes without saying that the burgers at Incrediburger are the star attraction, but the "beverages" section on their menu is hardly anything to sniff at. From boozy milkshakes to fruity mimosas, the downtown hangout puts a nice spin on breakfast drinks and classic diner staples. Their bloody mary, appropriately called the Incredi-Mary, is a delicious take on the Sunday brunch concoction: Served in a salt- and spice-rimmed pint glass and garnished with a dill pickle spear, a green olive and a slice of lime, it makes for an herby, slightly sweet, slightly spicy sip. Pair it, as I did, with their fried chicken sandwich, and presto — goodbye, hangover! (NATHAN WEINBENDER)
Press
909 S. Grand Blvd.
What we got: Bloody Mary, $8
People love, love, love the Press bloody mary scene; it won the Inlander's Best of the Inland Northwest poll for bloodys way back in 2014, and it's been serving 'em up on weekends since long before that. After a brief pause, we're happy to report the build-your-own action at the lower South Hill spot is back every Saturday and Sunday from 10 am-3 pm, and delicious as ever. Myriad hot sauces, horseradish options and flavor additions await after you choose either the spicy or standard mix and your vodka or gin. You'll want your veggies, of course, and Press has them waiting for you — along with bacon from Remedy that really pulls the whole beverage together. (DAN NAILEN)
Ten/6
726 N. Fourth St., Coeur d'Alene
What we got: Bloody Red Gator, $9
Ten/6 doesn't have a hard liquor license, so their version of a bloody mary is an innovative spin on their Louisiana-inspired menu. To their spicy, house-made mary mix they add dry, filtered sake for the beginnings of the Bloody Red Gator. The garden-y garnishes include lemon, lime, green olive, pickled okra, a house-made pickle, pepperoncini, celery, house-made andouille sausage and a mess o' fried sweet onions. It's topped with Red Gator mix for an added kick, y'all. Pair the Gator with Ten/6's NOLA red beans and rice or the "Jazz Kitchen" hash with ham and collards and you're set for the day. (CARRIE SCOZZARO)
Boots Bakery & Lounge
24 W. Main Ave.
What we got: Bloody Mary, $9
Boots Bakery isn't the first place I think of when I consider bloody marys, but I was told they mix a good one, so I had to investigate. The Boots bloody has a sweeter, juicier taste than I'm used to in my bloodys, thanks to a base of "Very Veggie" organic tomato juice from R.W. Knudsen. The spicy kick is still there though, via wasabi powder and their house-made Worcestershire. It's served in a tall glass and garnished with lemon, asparagus, pickle and olive (sorry, no oversized veggie burger on top). While Boots isn't an ideal hangout for, say, watching the Super Bowl (no TVs), it is for reading a book whilst munching some vegan snacks. (QUINN WELSCH)
Boombox Pizza
221 N. Division St.
What we got: There's Something About Mary, $17
Boombox Pizza doesn't mess around with its mary. The drink — voted the best in the region by Inlander readers in 2019's Best Of poll — comes with a full slice of pepperoni pizza, a skewer of Canadian bacon, pepperoni and salami; pickled asparagus, green beans, olives, celery and a sausage stick. That's all on top of 32 ounces of blood-red liquid, containing two shots of vodka and the bar's house bloody mix. The bartenders' trick for making sure all that hot pizza cheese doesn't slide into your drink is chilling hot slices for a minute or two before skewering it through the crust to become the pièce de résistance of this spectacularly over-the-top concoction. (CHEY SCOTT) ♦
ALSO TRY:
Bruncheonette
1011 W. Broadway Ave.
Davenport Hotel
10 S. Post St. (Sunday brunch)
De Leon's Taco & Bar
10208 N. Division St., 1801 N. Hamilton St., 2718 E. 57th Ave.
Cricket's Restaurant and Oyster Bar
424 Sherman Ave., Coeur d'Alene
The Elk
1931 W. Pacific Ave.
Garnet Café
315 E. Walnut Ave., Coeur d'Alene
Logan Tavern
1305 N. Hamilton St.
Lost Boys' Garage
6325 N. Wall St.
The Onion
7522 N. Division St., 302 W. Riverside Ave.
Outlaw BBQ
4429 W. Wellesley Ave.
Rock City Grill
2911 E. 57th Ave.
Trinity at City Beach
58 Bridge St., Sandpoint
Wolf Lodge
11741 E. Frontage Rd., Coeur d'Alene
