Mary Harvill’s surprising discoveries in Post Falls.
By Mary E. Harvill
My travels last summer regularly took me to Post Falls, Idaho. Post Falls is overshadowed by its more famous cousin, the City of Coeur d’Alene, and is often referred to as the home of the humongous Cabela’s store, the holy grail for hunters and fisherman (though it also boasts homemade fudge, an aquarium filled with native fish and a shooting gallery that’s pretty darn fun in its own right). For those reasons, I hadn’t thought of Post Falls as a destination dining town. 
Always willing to try something new, I did and three times at that. Now I have analysis paralysis when I reach exit 5 in Post Falls. I’ll give you three reasons:
1. The White House Grill. 712 N. Spokane Street, Post Falls, Idaho. If you love garlic, this is the place for you. The restaurant’s motto is “If you love garlic, we love you.” A wide variety of Mediterranean/middle eastern cuisine awaits you—from souvlaki, gyros, various pastas and baklava for dessert. Lively atmosphere and bustling with activity and a friendly wait staff. One waiter was willing to assist us in determining where the lowest gas prices in the Post Falls/Coeur d’Alene area because he was amused that my daughter and I drove separate cars to fill up in Idaho because gas prices are significantly lower than in Washington. The lowest gas prices can be had at the Coeur d’Alene Costco if you are a member. If not, Safeway (right across the street) is a good second choice.
2. The Oval Office. 620 N. Spokane Street, Post Falls, Idaho. A quiet and refined restaurant also owned by the proprietors of The White House Grill and located next door, this is a wonderful spot for flavorful food. The menu offers appealing appetizers, salads, steaks, chicken, seafood and ravioli with a tantalizing array of flavor combinations. Many of the patrons appear in their “resort wear” causing you to wonder if they are out of town vacationers or quasi-“locals” from the Black Rock development.
3. GW Hunters. 615 N. Spokane Street, Post Falls, Idaho. Fantastic steaks, burgers and oddly enough, for an inland location, clam chowder. The dinners cover all the bases, meat, potatoes and a delicious, al dente vegetable accompaniment. For the adventurous, elk, crocodile and buffalo are available.
Bonus advice: If you don’t have a lot of time and smoke cigarettes, stop at Rob’s Seafood and Burgers. 104 W. Seltice Way, Post Falls, Idaho. You can pick up fish and chips, prawns (and the honking huge prawns too) or a burger together with a carton of less expensive than in Washington cig’s. Just don’t let the State Patrol watch you cross the state line with the cig’s in your car. The tobacco tax in Idaho is less than in Washington, so the troopers will wait for you to boost Washington’s coffers. (Pardon the pun.)
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