The Otis Grill

Otis Grill is a new favorite on the breakfast scale for Geo and I.  Have you been here?

This restaurant, located in the Otis Orchards area, might be a little far for you if you are not looing to take a drive, but it just a hop, skip, and a jump from the freeway if you are traveling between Spokane a Coeur de Alene, (or anywhere in-between.)  Otis Grill, located at 21902 E. Wellsley Avenue... in Otis Orchards, WA, specializes in "hometown" cooking... and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and in the spring summer, autumn or winter, too.

The day we went for breakfast, there was snow on the ground.

It was indeed a beautiful biscuit and gravy, eggs and bacon... and pancake day, 

 made complete with maple syrup.

And who does not love Rosie the Riveter, Marilyn Monroe and old cars?

I did say, "hometown"... right?
It's not a fancy spot.  In fact, when you arrive, they invite you to pick your own seating, (in other words, seat yourself...) and evidently the people here feel right "at home."

 If you are wondering about the menu.... here's an idea of what is served:

 And.. if you are adventurous, like James T. Kirk, pictured here on the menu, you can order the quadruple Otis Burger....

 ...at the Otis Grill.

Pete & Belles Ice Cream Shop

I had seen this new ice scream shop out of the corner of my eye while driving... and thought to stop, but I needed a good excuse.  Finally the opportunity arose.... a birthday!



Hooray for birthday's  and ice cream!  Hooray for fun ice cream flavors!










Flavors of choice include such marvelous creations as Birthday Cake, Cotton Candy, Chocolate, Moose Tracks, Rainbow Sherbet, Coffee, Peanut Butter, Oreo, Chocolate Chip... there were a lot to choose from.  They even make it a point to specify which ice creams are not gluten free.  The ice cream is made in Wisconsin... and shipped here.



 I opted for a Hot Fudge Sundae.

 This place offers caffeinated ice cream.  I thought that was a great idea, however you have to be careful ordering if caffeine is not your thing.  Of course, instead of going for coffee break, you could have an ice cream break instead!

Also they make Ice Cream Cakes.... and there is really cake in them.  They are ice cream and cake in one!

Plus...in true "Northwest" form, you can get huckleberries on your ice cream!

But wait.... there's more in store if you visit here...

This ice scream shop is a sister store to the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory which is right next door.  They share the building.  It was fun to go and look at all the chocolates....

Chocolate covered cherries,
Chocolate covered strawberries,
fudge,
caramel apples,
and a wide variety of chocolate confections....
all for sale!

Oh.... and as they say in their nutrition note on their web page,
"This is the best ice cream made, and it tastes so good because it has gobs of rich cream, tons of real ingredients for boat-loads of luscious flavors. You want nutrition, eat carrots."

Colbert Trading Company

The Colbert Trading Company is a convenience store, selling milk, bread, candy, beer and things like that, as it has been for years, but now it has a new twist.  Recently remodeled,  they now offer Take and Bake pizza along with espresso, ice cream, hot dogs, and soup and sandwiches as well as indoor and outdoor seating.  It's a little off the beaten path, but it is sure aims to please both locals and visitors to the area.  They really do have something for everyone.

 There is not a lot of seating indoors, but there is more outside.

 Pictured here is the Veggie Pizza Sandwich, only $2.99 with cheese green pepper, mushrooms and red onion:

Cold Stone Creamery

Ahh.... well, I visited Cold Stone ice cream shop, located at  9502 N. Newport Highway, (at Newport Hwy & Holland Rd  near the Northpoint Shopping Center,)  the other day. It's a nice store and they certainly have a great selection of ice cream!  

I asked it they have any diet ice cream.  The girl behind the counter told me that soon they would be getting a low calorie vanilla, but they didn't have it yet.  She also suggested the sorbets for a lower calorie option.   I was actually just kinda kidding about the low calorie ice cream as I eyes the ice cream cakes in the freezer case,  but I am glad that they have options.

At this place they mix your add-ins into your ice cream for you before they serve it to you and there are also a lot of add ins to choose from. One novelty of being here is that they will sing you a song if you leave them a tip!  I didn't get a song though.  It was quite busy and there was only one person working in the front..... maybe that is why?

So what did I get?  Oh man, you won;t believe it.  Yogurt... frozen yogurt. ( I think I am addicted.)

I ordered cinnamon flavored frozen yogurt, no topping.... small size.   What is wrong with me?   

Maybe on a birthday or special occasion, I will splurge.  Today was just a treat and it was a weekday.

. 

Classic Cafe' (Deer Park, WA)

Just north of Spokane is a little town called Deer Park, and on a recent rainy day, I got to drive there with some friends.  The drive was so pretty.  Our destination was to be a little cafe/coffee shop that we had just heard about, called the Classic.  It is located at 502 S. Main Street.

The place was packed, but not at first.  Apparently, a lot of folks thought it was a nice spot to visit on a rainy day.  They have both indoor and outdoor seating and a drive-thru window.

 At the Classic Cafe, they serve breakfast, ice cream, sandwiches of all kinds, soup and coffee/espresso type of things.  In addition, there are lots of flavors for shakes and Italian sodas too.

Some of us in my group of four had lunch.
This is chili... served with these really interesting "garlic rounds."

Two of us shared a spinach Greek Wrap.  Yum!
Here is only half.

Wraps are served with chips and a pickle, though I read in the menu that you can substitute a small salad for the chips if you'd like.  This wrap was delicious.

We also had coffee, (no photo) and we sampled some treats which we shared.

Below you see the Monkey Bread and an Espresso Brownie.

See the t-shirts on the wall?  Apparently, they make a humongous breakfast platter that they challenge individuals to "master," and whereupon mastering you are entitled to flaunt the feat with a T-shirt.  Our lovely waitress informed us that she had tried it once, and only once.... because it was really really big, but she did it!