Recently Reviewed

by Inlander Staff & r & & r & Top of India -- Some so-called ethnic restaurants go to great lengths to transport you back to the mother country; Top of India never lets you forget that you're lunching in the Valley. But that's not the point here. Because unlike those flashy Indian restaurants that are all sitar and no saag, Top of India trades d & eacute;cor for flavor and bloated prices for delicious economy. The lunch buffet -- 20 different items, all you can eat -- costs only seven bucks. We destroyed several plates piled high with naan, fried potatoes, various succulent curries and flaky somosas with a nice, cold mint sauce. 11114 E. Sprague Ave., 927-0500 (Reviewed 2/16/06, JPS)





Bluefish -- Pan-Asian cuisine in an enormous array of price-points, with a few traditional menu items to lure in timid diners. The satay sticks are fun and not too expensive, and there's a creative sushi and sashimi menu. The food's good, the drinks are sophisticated and the atmosphere is sleek and cool -- unlike anything else in Spokane. 830 W. Sprague Ave., 747-2111. (Reviewed 2/9/06, LM)





The Service Station -- This new North Side caf & eacute; features fair-trade Ethiopian coffee that's smooth and full-bodied along with plenty of pastries to keep you going. The Rockslide Brownie is decadent and rich; the raspberry oat bar, flavorful; and the pumpkin bar, a cake-like sweet dream. There are various other baked goods -- from cheesecake to biscotti. On the savory side, soups of the day, panini-style sandwiches and Fery's gourmet salads fill the bill. Owners Scot and Debi Robinson are dedicated to giving back to the community -- offering an upscale, comfortable hangout and giving proceeds to Spokane youth organizations. (Reviewed 2/2/06, SH)





Bittersweet Bistro -- Bittersweet Bistro serves up sweet and savory crepes in unexpected combinations -- with lots of fresh vegetables, tangy cheese and eggs -- that create a unique breakfast experience. The crepes are done to perfection, and the portions are large. Maple pecan and dark chocolate/orange scones are outstanding, and the chocolate filled croissant is a treat. Grab a seat at the window for one of the city's most spectacular views of St. John's Cathedral. You may, for just a minute, think you're in France. 1220 S. Grand, 455-8658 (Reviewed 1/19/06, LM)





Molly's Family Restaraunt -- For what it is -- a nice little three-meals-a-day family restaurant -- Molly's is surprisingly good. The dome of nachos we ordered was delicious, and pretty visually appealing, too -- a m & eacute;lange of yellow corn tortilla chips, avocado, cheddar cheese, beans, beef, etc. Nachos can easily be boring and plain; these were flavorful, spicy and rich, and surprisingly good. Only one of us was man enough to order the gargantuan Molly Monster, a burger so heavily encumbered by toppings that it ceased even to resemble a burger. We finished with bulging stomachs and looks of pleasant surprise. 224 S. Lincoln St., 624-4413 (Reviewed 1/5/06, JPS)





Liberty Caf & eacute; -- This haven in the Liberty Building fills the bill quite nicely for sustenance when shopping in downtown Spokane. The vegetable curry with chicken ($8) is an aromatic and nicely spicy dish. Don't pass up dessert. Fudgy brownies, macadamia cookies and many other pastries and baked goods will satisfy your sweet tooth. 404 W. Main St., 747-6449. (Reviewed 12/22/05, SH)





Salty Dog -- At the Salty Dog in Deer Park, the Quonset hut exterior belies a warm, wood-paneled sports bar inside, and the fried fish is some of the best around. It's a straightforward pub menu -- fish and chips, popcorn shrimp, burgers, steaks -- with extra care and attention to detail. In season, they use fresh halibut, hand-cut and dipped in a light batter, then served with tartar sauce made fresh on the premises. The burgers are hand-formed with extra lean ground beef from Eggers Meats. 718 S. Main, Deer Park, 276-1990 (Reviewed 10/27/05, AC)





Java on Sherman -- This Sherman icon has anchored the downtown district for 11 years now, and its renaissance d & eacute;cor and comfy couch give it a cozy feel. You can get lunch and breakfast here, with the Java Benedict (a bagel with ham, eggs, Hollandaise sauce and cracked pepper) and Java huevos (two steamed eggs with cheese served over beans, with sides of salsa, sour cream and tortillas) being the local favorites. And don't miss the Bowl of Soul -- a blend of coffee, espresso, Mexican chocolate and steamed milk. 324 Sherman Ave., CdA, (208) 667-0010. (Reviewed 10/13/05, SH)





Caf & eacute; Marron -- From the folks behind Luna, Caf & eacute; Marron took over the little spot in Browne's Addition previously occupied by the Cannon Street Grill. It's nice to see a wide price range -- three gourmet sandwich offerings check in at the $10 mark. For dinner, I had the Duck Confit ($19), which was served on a bed of lentils, with a neat little green apple-celery relish and just a hint of mint. 144 S. Cannon St., 456-8660 (Reviewed 12/8/05, LM)





La Katrina -- You know a Mexican restaurant's the real deal when the menu features brain and tongue on its first page. The rest of the menu at La Katrina is more standard fare, but with one difference -- it's long. The gastronomes who crowd the restaurant's spacious front dining room every day at lunch would attest that it's a neighborhood favorite. 510 S. Freya St., 535-4263 (Reviewed 12/1/05, JPS)





Ferrante's -- Ferrante's is one of the South Hill's most urbane yet casual stops for lunch and dinner, especially for families. The caf & eacute; is designed to create the illusion of sitting outside in the evening on the patio of an Italian caf & eacute;. Lunch selections include Italian favorites like thin-crust pizza ($9.50-$14.25), calzones ($10.25-$11.75) and paninis ($7.95). Our enormous spinach calzone ($10.25) -- the biggest we've seen -- glistened as it beckoned us to explore its warm, fragrant depths. The Mediterranean salad ($9.25 for a whole) was also huge and definitely made for sharing. Ferrante's is also one of the few places around town where you can get real Italian gelato in about 10 different flavors ($2.60 for a single scoop). 4516 S. Regal, 443-6304. (Reviewed 8/11/05, MC)