Manito Tap House

For over a year now, I've been wanting to try Manito Tap House.  I've read about it in The Inlander Menu, been told by my coworkers, and seen advertisements everywhere but have yet to actually go.  Well that changed today when I was CRAVING a burger, thanks to Food Network and didn't know where to go to ease my need for something juicy and delicious.  Not only was the craving satisfied, I was disappointed with myself that I haven't been before.

I am pleased to inform you that this burger did the trick, plus some.  It didn't just hit the spot, it was INCREDIBLE.  If you've seen How I Met Your Mother, you'll understand exactly how good this burger was to me.  Marshall said it best on his quest to find the perfect burger in the place with the green door and red neon sign, "Just a Burger? Just a burger. Robin, it’s so much more than "just a burger." I mean…that first bite—oh, what heaven that first bite is. The bun, like a sesame freckled breast of an angel, resting gently on the ketchup and mustard below, flavors mingling in a seductive pas de deux. And then…a pickle! The most playful little pickle! Then a slice of tomato, a leaf of lettuce and a…a patty of ground beef so exquisite, swirling in your mouth, breaking apart, and combining again in a fugue of sweets and savor so delightful. This is no mere sandwich of grilled meat and toasted bread, Robin. This is God, speaking to us in food."  Ok, so the burger didn't have a pickle, but the rest was pretty spot on.

Tap House Burger with Yam Chips

Anyway... I ordered the Tap House Burger ($13) with yam chips and my mom ordered the Grand Beef Burger ($10, before add-ons).  We couldn't tell the difference between the burgers, because they both used the same ingredients with the exception of the cambozola cheese and the bacon caramelized onion marmalade that came on the Tap House.  So to make a true comparison, my mom ordered onions and bacon on hers with blue cheese.  Unfortunately we were both so engulfed in our own meals that we completely forgot to try each other's burgers.  But it didn't really matter because neither of us left disappointed.  Both burgers, cooked medium rare, were perfect.  Beautifully pink in the middle, but not rare, yet juicy and delicious.

Grand Beef Burger with Camelized Onions and Bacon
with Jalepeno Cheddar Soup

Since I never tried my mom's burger with the onions and bacon, I can only speak to my marmalade slathered beef between a bun.  It sure was tasty!  I will definitely be going back for my next burger craving as well as their ultimate beer selection.  Before I get to my favorite drink of choice, beer, let me tell you about the wonderment of the sides that sat neatly along side our burgers.  The Yam Chips were to die for.  They were tasty with just the right amount of salt, but kept the integrity of the yam and would make a perfect snack alone with a side of micro.  My mom chose the house soup, Jalepeno Cheddar.  Not only do I want the recipe for that creamy and spicy addition, I would make enough soup at a time to always have it on hand.  What made an even better side?  The yam chips dipped into the soup.  Mmm... mmm... Good!

Half of the taps and the keg fridge behind it

Ok, finally... onto the beer.  The tap selection is crazy!  In college, there was a bar on campus that had 44 rotating taps.  It was the place to go for a quick drink or a celebration after finals.  My friends and I made it a goal to "tap out" meaning we tried every tap before our college career.  Because we always accomplish our goals, we finished the tap out.  (You caught me, it wasn't the goal, it was the beer that drew us in and kept us coming back for more.  And believe me, we tapped out before graduation!)

Just one page of the Tap List

Luckily for me, the 44 taps I got used to in college surpassed.  Manito has 50 taps and over 55 bottles to select from and none of them are Bud or Miller Light.  (Bravo!)  If you like trying new brews or are a self-proclaimed know-it-all you'll find something you enjoy.  The menu is huge and while I was a little put off by the cross-offs and permanent marker changes, I can't imagine managing a large list like this and not needing to make change fairly often.  Still, I wish it was done in a classier manner.

While there, I had Rogue Ale Honey Mead and Tieton Cider Works Cherry Cider and my mom had North Coast Old Rasputin Imperial Stout on nitro.  The beauty of their tap list isn't just the number, it's the variety and the micros you can't find anywhere else in Spokane.  It was refreshing to see and I've already made plans to go there for New Years Eve with friends (other self-proclaimed beer snobs).

Thanks for reading my rant and hopefully you won't just take my word for it, and experience Manito for yourself.

Left overs!

Learn more about Manito and their wonderful taps on their Website, Facebook, Twitter, and Urbanspoon.

Chairs Coffee

If you haven't been to Chairs Coffee, you need to!  I am by no means a "coffee snob" and don't really know my stuff when it comes to coffee.  However, I do know my chai teas.  My favorite go-to coffee drink isn't an extra hot, skinny white mocha, or a frappachino with enough calories to feed a small village, it's a soy chai.  Simple and easy and not actually coffee at all.

To Go Chai Tea with Nutmeg Sprinkling

With that being said, the ABSOLUTE BEST chai in the ENTIRE WORLD is Chair's.  Ok, so entire world might be pushing it, but I'd be willing to test it.  But really... its the best I've ever had.  The spice flavor comes out intensely, but is smooth and quite delicious.

If you're more of the coffee drinker, their brewed roasts are also great and change with the seaons, but not my typical cup of tea.

As for the rest of Chairs, its a great, locally owned shop that takes pride in it's products and service.  The ambiance is super cute with a large sitting room full of unique tables and chairs.  It's the perfect place to spend lunch with a friend or an intensive study session.  When I was in college, there was a coffee shop called the Daily Grind that really set the standard for study sessions, and Chairs far surpasses that environment.

As far as the baristas and serving staff, they are phenomenal.  The owners (2 younger men) are often behind the counter and at least one has been there almost every time I have.  They are really friendly and happy to help.  When I say that this is a good place to sit and eat, I do mean that.  While they don't dally on making your coffee and lunch, it's not the speedy drive through like Starbucks or Dutch Bros might be.  Their sandwiches are always amazing (most are organic or vegetarian too), while slightly more expensive, they do take a little bit of time, so plan on waiting 10+ minutes for lunch.   But in the meantime, you can play board games or browse the art from local artists from the walls (like those on the right, and sorry I don't remember the artist).

Chairs also takes pride in their eco-friendly practices like using Square to pay on their iPad cash register, fun mugs if you're eating/drinking in shop, and their text-based punch card.  And if you sign up for their texts, you can get pretty decent coupons and promotions at least once a week.  You can also get 10% off your order for taking the bus or riding your bike, and I'm all about the discounts!!

I'm not sure how much more I can say about a coffee shop, except you should take the time to visit at least once.  Oh, and TRY THE CHAI!  :)

To learn more about Chairs and the rest of the neat little place, visit their Website, Facebook, Urbanspoon.

Steelhead Bar and Grille

Tonight, after an office holiday party, my mom and I went to one of my absolute favorite restaurants, Steelhead Bar and Grille.  Steelhead is a great little place downtown directly across from Riverfront Park with a super happy hour and great food at a decent price.  I've been here 6+ times and have yet to be disappointed by the experience.

Seared Ahi Starter

Tonight we were looking for a light meal with drinks.  My mom had a Kootenai Kazi, a huckleberry kamikaze, that was DELICIOUS, and the Seared Ahi Starter.  I decided to go with what I love and got a Mojito and the Smoked Steelhead Starter (both of which I've had more than twice).  Yet again, we were NOT disappointed and in fact, this was one of the best dining experiences we've had in months.  My mom even said that her tuna was the best thing she'd eaten in Spokane yet. 

The tuna was perfectly cooked with a nice crusting of sesame seeds and was served with their wasabi vinaigrette   Oh. em. gee. was it good!  The flavors blended together so nicely and left a light spicy feeling that didn't burn but was just enough to remind you of wasabi.  There were 7 slices of tuna which is a great size for an app considering most places give you 3, maybe 4 slices if they're feeling generous that day.

Smoked Steelhead Starter

The smoked steelhead is one of the restaurants specialties (I guess it helps that it's the fish the place was named after).  It is perfectly proportioned with crostinis and salmon and cream cheese.  The steelhead is nicely seasoned and showcases the flavor of the fish rather than hiding it with unnecessary add-ons.  The entire dish is well rounded and a really good addition to a meal or by itself.  

For those of you who haven't been to Steelhead before, I HIGHLY recommend it.  The atmosphere is relaxed and cozy, but not like a sports bar is.  They have great couch seating by the fireplace to have drinks and catch up with old friends, bar seating, high top tables, and a quaint outdoor patio for the summertime nestled in the alley between Steelhead and Mizuna.  

During happy hour (3-6pm daily and 9-11:30 Mon-Thurs, and all day Sunday) some mid-to-top shelf liquors are $5, Domestic drafts are $3 ($5.50 for a 32 oz. Schooner) and all apps are $6.  A darn good deal for a late night outing or an early dinner, if you ask my light wallet!

To learn more about Steelhead and their AMAZING fare, visit their Website, Facebook, or Urbanspoon

Spokane Dining

I've lived in Spokane for over a year now, and I am constantly looking for new places to eat.   Whether it be a quick bite on the go, a place that doesn't mind my sweaty biking attire, or a nice date-night restaurant, I don't like to get bored (or disappointed) with my dining experiences.

UrbanSpoon  and Google+ Local have become my absolute go-tos when looking for a place for dinner.  With the exception of a few misses, it is typically spot on with the ratings and reviews, but there just isn't enough personal touch for me to get a good feel of the food and atmosphere.

It wasn't until a recent trip to New York did I finally decided that the world needed to hear MY opinion on all things food (and, yes, my opinion is that important).  :)  But in all seriousness, I really do want to share my humble opinion about the restaurants I've visited, specifically in Spokane, because I haven't found anything that compares, and darn it, Spokane is a city too!

My ultimate goal is to share my honest experience of all (hopefully all) restaurants, cafes and bars I've visited and tell you about the atmosphere  wait staff, food, price, etc.  And maybe if I get really crafty (and remember to do this each time) I'll take a photo of my food/drink to give your eyes something to look at other than my terrible vocabulary.

While this is just one girl's thoughts, I want to hear what you think of these places too because there is always the chance I caught them on an "off" night.  And if you have suggestions of places for me to try, I'm ALWAYS up for something different.

Enjoy!