Coeur d’Alene Brewing - Steam Plant Grill

March 30, 2008
I thought this was a great place. The setting was fantastic. Overall though I think the message/theme is confusing. Is it a brew-pub or higher end eatery with great beer? It should decide and be one or the other. When I was there a family group wandered in, ordered soda-pops, walked around and then left. I assume they did not agree with the food prices or something else. There is the requisite Couer d’Alene Brewery swag on display yet it isn’t clear who is running the place. The brewery or Steam Plant Grill. I on the other hand was perfectly happy to quaff quality brews and enjoy some good pub food. Great Bison burger! If I need to stop in Spokane I will definitely put this place at the top of my list.

January 19, 2008
Jan 2008 - The place is really cool with all the steam plant stuff. We went around noon on a Saturday and the place was absolutely dead. Not sure how busy it gets in the evenings, but I can see the bar filling up fast. The food was ok, and $5 for a bowl of soup, I’ll just stick to the beer. Service could have been better since it was pretty quiet, but not terrible. I’ll go back for sure.

October 7, 2007
Located in an old steam plant, the CDA brewing company has done a great job on this location. It is a real testament to what can be done with an old building. The good here is very good, and a more upscale than some of the other brew pub fare you might find. The service has been excellent and I think that the beers are very good.

May 19, 2007
May 2007 - This is a really, really cool location, inside an old steam plant. We went during the dead afternoon hours, but I can imagine this place does some bang-up business during the happy hour. We didn’t eat -- just a few beers, which were all good. Bartender was friendly and knowledgeable. Nice visit.

February 15, 2007
Beer is good, not great. Ditto for the food. The service was excellent -- friendly people. The location is convenient and the building is really cool... worth a visit to see it.

January 29, 2007
Fantastic restaurant, great beer, great experience.

August 31, 2006
I’m going to agree completely with Bück Dich on this one. I was there with him, tried the same beers he did, ate the same food that he did and had a similar experience as him. I would have to say one of the coolest parts of the place is that you can actually go into one of the old smoke stacks. If you hold the door partially open it creates a vacuum and sucks air in very forcefully. I felt like a little kid again doing this. The bartender lady was cool as well.

May 3, 2006
Very easy to find building by the 2 huge smoke stacks coming off of it. Completely converted old steam plant, very well done and elegant. Cool museum type feel with items and plackards from back when it was opperational. The CDA part of the place is pretty nice, spacious and well decored. Friendly service and a wide selection of CDA beers. Well laid out sampler tray with cheap prices. Great vanilla bourbon stout and 1/2 price appatizers. So-so calimari but great tomato basil bread. Seems like a fun place to hang out if Spokane is as bad as they say it is for beer.

December 28, 2004 [ Updated January 14, 2006 ]
This place is an OK choice for downtown Spokane. (remember, Spokane is a beer dead town). Ambiance is pleasant with a high end feel, but the prices are reasonable. Food or special orders (not on the menu) are OK for at the bar comsumption. Their selection isn’t very good unless you like CdA brewing offerings.