5 Best Restaurants in Spokane and Eastern Washington, Washington

After acclaimed restaurant Caspar Fry closed in 2022 following a decade-long run, Francaise opened in the same spot just a couple of months later, bringing the flavors of France to the South Perry district. Much of the interior is the same and it's still a great spot to meet friends for brunch, and to enjoy an array of cocktails with such dishes as croque madame, rolled French toast, omelets, or the ultra-rich macaroni with truffle sauce. The dinner menu includes coq au vin served with smashed potatoes, dry aged pork ribeye, escargot, and French onion soup. Beignets are available for brunch and as an after-dinner treat.

Downtown Walla Walla is home to some excellent eateries, and Hattaway's on Alder has continued to raise the bar even higher with innovative and delicious dishes like Dungeness crab fritters, pecan crusted cod, and shrimp perloo risotto. Tasty starters include the pimiento cheese with crostini and the smoked oysters with Walla Walla sweet onions. Chicken cassoulet, braised beef cheeks, and curry fish chowder show the versatility of restaurant's menu. Friendly co-owner Lindsay Hattaway is likely to stop by your table and say hello.

Chef Maximilien Petty, founder/owner of the Eden Hill and Big Max Burgers restaurants in Seattle, opened Kinglet in the former space of Whitehouse-Crawford in 2022 and quickly received acclaim for the elevated dining experience it offers. From small plates in the bar to the seven-course tasting dinners, available both in the dining room and at the chef's counter, the emphasis is on savoring delicious and artfully presented meals. Offerings change seasonally, highlighting local produce and purveyors, and might include the Walla Walla Waldorf salad, fried chicken thigh, or gouda cheeseburger in the bar, while tasting dinners might include Snake River steak or rack of lamb as entrees, perhaps with a chicken liver mousse starter. Reservations are essential for tasting dinners.

Tucked into a strip mall in south Spokane near the Creek at Qualchan Golf Course, this neighborhood restaurant serves a wide-ranging menu that changes frequently. Some standards include salmon with asparagus and fingerling potatoes, seared scallops, bistro salad with gorgonzola and figs, and rich desserts. For a sweet ending to your meal, try the seasonal fruit cobbler, peanut butter chocolate cake, or the "bucket of love" (gluten-free flourless mini-chocolate cakes dusted with spices). Sunday brunch features varied choices, from English-toffee-banana-pecan French toast to corned-beef hash with apples.