Good Food!

Good food can be found when we eat out. For many of us, eating out is a delight. We have no cooking to do, someone waits on us, and there are no dishes to do when the meal is done. As long as the food was tasty and the service was good, dining out is a special treat. Do you enjoy eating out?

THE HIGH END
Good food, from cheap to expensive, can be found throughout Idaho. In many towns in the state, the ambiance of restaurants serving the more costly fare is similar to those in similar towns in other states.

For example, I have had the good fortune to dine twice at the top-rated restaurant Beverly’s at the Coeur d’Alene Resort. The food is superb, the ambiance is exquisite, the service is top notch, and the view of Lake Coeur d’Alene is special. Like many high-end restaurants in Idaho, the chefs use local and Northwest products in their preparations. The resort is an award winner, and so is Beverly’s. The AAA Tourbook rates the Coeur d'Alene Resort and Beverly's at Four Diamonds! Do you have a favorite up-scale restaurant in Idaho?

Some mid-range and low-end eateries in Idaho, on the other hand, can be interesting places to eat. Some have historical backgrounds and some have unique themes. Some have a cultural background. Basque, for example. The Basques originally came to Idaho as sheepherders from their home in the Pyrenees, the mountain range straddling France and Spain. Over 15,000 Basques now call Idaho home, and a large number of them live in the greater Boise area. I love Basque food!

MID-RANGE
Bar Gernika, the Basque pub and eatery in Boise is a favorite mid-range restaurant. I love the lamb stew and the paella at Bar Gernika and, one of these days, I will try their beef tongue with tangy Basque pepper sauce. This specialty is served only on Saturdays from 11:30am until it's gone (usually by 1pm!). Located at 202 So. Capitol Blvd., just around the corner from the Basque Museum and Cultural Center in what is known as the Basque Block.

From time to time, I eat out in a mid-priced chain restaurant. The food is not always perfect, but the price is right. I have tried Olive Garden, Red Lobster and Applebee's, among others. How about you? Do you have a favorite mid-range eatery in Idaho?

THE LOW-END
On the inexpensive, low-end side, a good burger fills the bill. I must eat a lot of them because I have quite a list of favorites. They are:

• Wheeler‘s Handout, Nampa, Idaho. Order the rectangular-shaped “Long and Juicy“ with special sauce
• Hudson’s Hamburgers, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. A good burger hand-formed with freshly ground beef
• Good Times - Burgers & Frozen Custard, Boise, Idaho. Similar to the In 'N Out Burger chain, Good Times serves up good portions at a good price. Popular with the locals
• Westside Drive-In, Boise, Idaho. This legendary favorite has great burgers, onion rings and shakes, but Chef Lou also serves drive-thru prime rib, pasta, and a potato-like ice cream treat to behold!
• Rupe‘s Burgers, Blackfoot, Idaho. Great sit-down atmosphere inside, or have a carhop bring a double burger and fries to your car
• Lazy D'S Restaurant, Shelley, Idaho. Tasty burgers and french fries, plus other food they're happy to make just like you want it
• Grumpy's, Ketchum, Idaho. This sports bar serves up a pretty darn-good burger and giant mugs of ice-cold beer. Don't be shocked by the sign outside that says, "Sorry, We're Open", or the welcome mat that says, "Go Away". It's only in fun!

I admit that I stop by a McDonald's or a Burger King once in awhile, and I also have something of an addiction to Taco Bell and their hot sauce. Do you have a favored Idaho burger or other convenience fast food?

THE “HIGH-CALORIE” END
“I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream“, is a phrase we all learned as kids. If you are in Victor, Idaho and you feel a scream coming on, head for Victor Emporium’s Old Fashion Soda Fountain Shop on North Main. The soda fountain has been around for 57 years and is a favorite among both locals and tourists. Enjoy a float, a sundae, a malted milk or the world famous huckleberry milk shake. This, too, is good food! Do you have a preferred Idaho ice cream shop?

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