Spokane, WA

Now that I’ve graduated from college and actually have some amount of expendable income, I like to fancy myself a restaurant aficionado. Lucky for me, the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene area happen to boast an excellent variety of quality restaurants.

My most recent adventure took my girlfriend and I to The Elk Public House on the outskirts of downtown Spokane, 1931 W Pacific Ave. Having heard The Elk boasted great food, at low prices, with cheap beer, my expectations were high as the sun set low. My expectations were quickly exceeded by The Elk’s great food, fantastic atmosphere and excellent location. Nestled in the heart of historic Browne’s Addition, The Elk exudes a community bar and grill feel.

Arriving at about 7:30 on Friday night, right when the place was getting busy, we grabbed the last remaining table on the outdoor patio. What a great place to sit! The sound of music piped outdoors along with chatter from neighboring tables was pleasant as we perused the menus. Originally expecting a younger crowd, I was pleasantly surprised to see a demographic that spanned all age groups. In the corner sat a family celebrating their daughter’s volleyball victory. Across the patio an elder couple sampling the local wine selection, and near them a group of college roommates going pint for pint. Comfortable seating throughout, and eclectic decorations add to the neighborhood feel of The Elk.

A varied menu featuring entrees from chicken Parmesan to a black bean burger, and jumbo ravioli to a hearty chicken caesar salad provides plenty of options. We settled on the chicken parmesan and the moon burger. Much to our delight, tasty and healthy portions returned to the table following our order. Choosing a beverage proved to be an even more daunting task. Featuring a wide selection of microbrews, local and national wines and mixed drinks there is something to quench everyone’s thirst. I settled on a pint of blue moon, accented nicely with an orange slice, to wash down the remnants of my burger. After a delicious dinner for two, with two drinks, my tab sat at only $22.

Maybe it was the food, maybe it was post-dinner moonlight walk through Browne’s Addition or maybe it was the second beer. Whatever the reason, my night at The Elk Public House was one to remember, and will surely be one to be repeated.

Make the trip west of downtown, it is worth it.

And hey don’t forget, let us know what you think of this place? Did you like it? Did you get to explore the west side more? Let us know. And hey, if you’d like to contribute to the site and write about the things you like to do around the area, just let us know! We are looking for more contributors.