4 Best Restaurants in Spokane and Eastern Washington, Washington

Right off the Maple Street Bridge, this is the state's oldest railroad-car restaurant; built as an observation car in 1906, it has original light fixtures, stained-glass windows, and mahogany details. Generously sized breakfasts are the specialty here, including unique items like Creole Benedict with lobster, shrimp, and crab. On the sweeter side, there's orange cranberry French toast and cinnamon roll waffles. For dinner there's such comfort food as turkey with mashed potatoes, meat loaf, and chicken-fried steak.

This delicious little café has a modern, sleek vibe, and welcoming staff who will be happy to give details about the delightful French treats, including kouign amann, four kinds of croissants, canelé, eclairs, brioche, palmiers, and an ever-changing selection of macarons. Espresso drinks feature local Walla Walla Roastery coffee; there's a house-made chai and some looseleaf teas too. Decadent tarts and cakes also beckon from the pastry cake, and if you didn't save room for gelato or sorbet, be sure and get a pint to take home.

Set inside Huckleberry's Natural Market, this bistro has a coffee and juice bar, pre-made sandwiches and salads, and lots of items that can be made fresh to eat in or take-out, including sandwiches, salads, burgers, and wraps. If you're in a hurry, call in your order so it will be ready when you arrive; otherwise there may be a wait during the busy lunch hour. Evenings are more leisurely and you can kick by with a beer or glass of wine while your food is prepared, or try the pasta bar available Friday and Saturday evenings.

Finding a modern, city-style coffee shop in a tiny town like Grand Coulee (population less than 1,000) is quite a treat, so hopefully the locals and tourists who come to see the dam and laser show in summer will keep this place in business. An ever-changing menu of lunch specials, from soups to salads to the weekly Wednesday panini, complements standbys like cinnamon rolls, breakfast sandwiches, scones, and other pastries. And of course there is coffee—from drip to espresso drinks, all made with coffee beans from Twisp-based Blue Star Coffee Roasters.