I’m not sure who first said that “breakfast is a love letter to your body,” but I wholeheartedly agree. There is something beautiful about starting the day with a nourishing meal. I spent YEARS eating a cold, loveless breakfast in a car, on a train, or at a desk and then came the years of intermittent fasting. (Please don’t come for me if this works for you. It just wasn’t for me and my body.) I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the more I truly cherish myself, the more I cherish my breakfast. It feels like a time to reset, to set myself up for success, and to remind myself each morning that I am valuable. The older I get, and the further along I come in my journey of self love and healing, the less interested I am in being out late. I’ll take a breakfast date with long conversations over eggs, bacon, and hot coffee any day!
Luckily, our sweet town of Coeur d’Alene has a wealth of breakfast spots. I’ve compiled a list of my favorites, and I’ve even included a short interview with the wonderful staff of each. I hope you save this list for your next breakfast adventure. Enjoy!
Dockside
My Take: The breakfast at Dockside stands on its own and provides the elevated experience we’ve all come to expect from the Coeur d’Alene Resort. Add in premium panoramic views of Lake Coeur d’Alene, and you have the perfect venue for transforming breakfast into a banner moment. I recently visited with a friend, and chose the Lakeside Breakfast. My eggs and bacon were cooked to perfection, and the hashbrowns were just the right amount of crispy. My friend opted for the classic eggs benedict and raved about it! I can’t wait to return and try their avocado toast!
Here is some of my interview with Courtney Nehlich, Marketing Manager for the Coeur d’Alene Resort:
What sets Dockside apart from the other breakfast spots in the area?
Dockside’s prime lakeside location in Coeur d’Alene provides guests with a unique and scenic dining experience, allowing them to take in the natural beauty of the Northwest while enjoying their meal.
What is your most popular breakfast menu item?
The BBIT (Best Breakfast in Town: featuring scrambled eggs, bacon, ham, sausage, onion, bell peppers, tomatoes, crispy hash browns, Tillamook cheddar and Monterey jack cheese served in a cast iron skillet)
What should folks expect from a Dockside breakfast experience?
At Dockside, guests can enjoy a blend of traditional and unique breakfast dishes made with quality ingredients, accompanied by friendly and efficient service, all while taking in a relaxing waterfront views.
Garnet
My Take: When I first moved to Coeur d’Alene from the suburbs of Chicago, I found myself fangirling over my sweet new home and its dreamy views, but I missed the hot restaurant scene in Chicago. I was never more acutely aware of this as when my uber picky mother would visit. I could always please her with a visit to Garnet, though! With their scratch-made breakfast items, duck eggs (a boon to foodies and health enthusiasts . . . both describe my mother), addictive lemon curd, and creative items like breakfast spaghetti, Garnet’s menu can please even the pickiest palates. I love that, despite my sensitive stomach and laundry list of dietary restrictions, I always have plenty of choices at Garnet and leave feeling nourished.
Here is some of my interview with owner, Kristin Von Till:
What sets Garnet apart from the other breakfast spots in the area?
There are a lot of breakfast options in our area. I think we set ourselves apart by the sheer amount of work we do. Much of our menu is made from scratch: sausage patties, duck sausage patties, biscuits, gravy, lemon curd, corned beef hash, pork fried steak. Our potatoes come in as whole potatoes in boxes. We have a 3-stage process to prep them.
In our first location we had a bumper sticker on the door that said “Love People and Feed Them Good Food.” We do what we do and how we do it because we love to make people happy.
What is your most popular breakfast menu item?
That’s a tough one. We have a few dishes that consistently sell a lot, like the pork fried steak or the breakfast spaghetti. We have some dishes that don’t sell as much but are greatly loved by the regulars, like our duck confit or salmon and eggs breakfast.
In the end, I think our most popular item is our home-made lemon curd, which we serve with a raspberry freezer jam for guests to use on their toast. It’s a peanut butter and jelly thing, two great tastes that amplify each other. Lemon curd is also great on our berry stuffed french toast, or a blueberry pancake.
What should folks expect from a Garnet breakfast experience?
In short, good food, good coffee, and sassy servers (but sassy in a friendly way). We want everyone to feel welcome and enjoy the time they spend with us. On the weekends, we’re generally really busy. If you want something a little more quiet, try to come see us during the week. I think it’s also important to note that it’s a safe space to ask for something to be re-made. If the bacon isn’t crispy enough, let us know. We will always do what we can to make it better.
Nosworthy’s Hall of Fame
My Take: With over 50 years of history, to say that Nosworthy’s is a Coeur d’Alene staple is an understatement. Nosworthy’s provides a classic North Idaho dining experience. When I visited, a dining room full of regulars looked up from their schooners to take note of the newcomer. It all gave major “Cheers” energy, and I half expected Sam Malone to be standing behind the bar. If you’re looking for a great value, high-quality ingredients, and a perfectly executed breakfast without the frills, Nosworthy’s is for you! I thoroughly enjoyed my meal, and for less than $20, I could have fed three people.
Here is some from my interview with Kelly Nosworthy, owner Nosworthy’s Hall of Fame:
What sets Nosworthy’s Hall of Fame apart from the other breakfast spots in the area?
It has been locally owned and operated by the Nosworthy family since it opened in 1974. We have taken pride in offering the freshest ingredients with large portions at an affordable price. We are a big supporter of local athletes in the area and display that within our decor.
What is your most popular breakfast menu item?
It’s hard to narrow it down, but our omelets are very popular. Some of the fan favorites are the Schweitzer mtn and the Chuck’s delight. They are served with freshly-made hash browns.
What should folks expect from a Nosworthy’s Hall of Fame breakfast experience?
We strive to provide a welcoming environment. We serve locally-sourced coffee from Tubbs Coffee Roasters. We are know for our 32 oz. schooners with a wide selection of draft beer, and mimosas. Not to worry if you can’t make it in the morning though, we do serve breakfast all day. We do like to inform our patrons that we are cash and check only, however we have an atm inside for their convenience.
G’s Christmas Tree Farm – 25107 N Regal Rd, Chattaroy, WA
509-998-2051 | https://www.gschristmastrees.com
@gschristmastrees
Open December 7-8 & 14th by RESERVATION ONLY
Bring your furry family members (on a leash please) along on the adventure to help you sniff out the right tree and visit their friendly farm animals at G’s Christmas Tree Farm. Trees are $85 +tax for all sizes. Owners and Operators, Carl and Carol, aim to provide a memorable experience for families creating traditions for years to come. Swags and wreaths are available with prices ranging from $20-75. However, before you snag the first wreath you see, be sure to check out their creative works with either a horsehead silhouette or snowflake wreath! Why be like everyone else when your door can be a unique expression of the holidays? When your tree is safely secured on your car, take a minute to pause for a family photograph by their sleigh or tractor or on the red velvet couch nestled amongst the trees, warm up by the patio firepit with a steaming cup of cider, cocoa, or coffee in hand and don’t forget a cookie or candy cane for the road.
The Old European
My Take: I’ve lived in Idaho for about seven years now, and my life and dietary needs have changed a ton over those handful of years, but one constant is regular breakfasts at The Old European in Post Falls. Regardless of my dietary needs and limitations, I’ve always been able to find something that serves my body, fills me up, and tastes delicious. Gut issues can make eating out tough, but I’ve always felt safe, taken care of, and nourished after a meal at the Old European. The staff has never made me feel uncomfortable when I need to leave an ingredient out of my order or request a substitution.
My absolute favorite meal is the bacon, avocado, spinach, and cheese omelet (without cheese) with a slice of their homemade sourdough on the side. My husband makes a meal of the Ebelskivers and German potato pancakes, and we both leave full and happy.
There is some from my interview with Melynnda Thiessen, owner of The Old European:
What sets the Old European apart from the other breakfast spots in the area?
Our commitment to quality food and quality service. It is truly a commitment. From the time we spend prepping whole ingredients in our foods each day, baking our breads in our own bakery from start to finish using our own nurtured starter, all the way down the line to training our staff to value the relationships they create with guests during each visit. We spend endless hours attending to the finest details that cultivate our values in high quality.
Here is an excerpt from our vision statement:
We believe food should be good, wholesome and feed the body to do the purpose God set ourselves out to do in this life. We strive to produce meals to our customers that accomplish this task by our diligent work of preparing, mixing, baking and overseeing the entire process of each meal that leaves our kitchen and lands on each customer’s table.
We believe food should be enjoyed and reminisced with good company. Eating food amongst those we love the most is the best way to enjoy good food. Not only does it nourish the body, but also the soul. Good company begins with good service. We strive to develop customer relationships that are valuable and add meaning to our lives and our customer experience.
What is your most popular breakfast menu item?
The European Breakfast. Why? Because you get your base of eggs and breakfast meats along with the choice of a side dish. Most choose our signature dish of Danish Aebelskivers. This recipe is directly passed down through the family three generations from great grandma Pedersen who emigrated from Denmark as a girl. We never changed the recipe from her mother’s original. Folks from Denmark agree, it’s as close to home as they can get across the pond!
What should folks expect from an Old European breakfast experience?
A taste of the “Old European” world. Each dish has a bit of history in it and is celebratory of what immigrants brought over from their past lives in Scandinavian countries. Is it exactly what you might find in Europe today? Well, in some cases, but certainly not all! It’s far more about the heritage brought over and intertwined into the “New World.” It’s about what they brought over to the Americas and how they integrated it into the culture as they settled. The food tells that story and holds onto pieces of that history.
One can also expect attentive service from a staff that genuinely loves people and relationships. Sit and chat for a while. We love hearing about our customers’ family experiences surrounding food and the heritage they grew up with.
Ten/6
My Take: How can I do justice to the Ten/6 breakfast experience? It’s tough because it’s just that– an EXPERIENCE. When you walk through the doors, you are transported to an alternate world that’s inspired by “Alice in Wonderland” and New Orleans and screams MAXIMALISM. In a modern minimalist world of beige and white and gray with the occasional gold accent, we all need a spot like Ten/6, where there are endless beautiful details to admire. Beyond the decor, the atmosphere is superior, and I have to believe that this trickles down from the leadership to the staff to the guests. The staff, like that at a spot like Disney World, seems to be thrilled to be there and makes every breakfast feel like an event. If you’re lucky enough to be there at 10:06, there is a restaurant-wide toast daily!
The parallels with theme park restaurants ends with the high energy and ambiance, though. The menu is diverse, creative, and has fare to please just about any palate. The food quality and presentation are excellent, not like the gimmicky theme park food that relies on the theme rather than the food to keep people coming. I love the Mad Hatter Platter, as it has a little bit of everything for a classic breakfast. If you’re a decaf drinker like me, their decaf coffee is good enough to drink black!
Here is some from my interview with owner Taylor Taylor:
What sets Ten/6 apart from the other breakfast spots in the area?
We would definitely say the cajun cooking, the Alice in Wonderland theme, the New Orleans influences, the greatest collection of people that make up our staff, the bathrooms, the community support, and the fact we’re in an apartment building. Besides all that…. probably the beignets.
What is your most popular breakfast menu item?
Our most popular breakfast item, besides beignets, is almost assuredly the Eggs Royale. It’s our take on the classic Benedict. We stack Mama Jill’s “ghetto” shredded ham and over easy eggs on an English muffin and cover it generously with our gruyere bechamel (it’s an elegant cheese sauce). It comes with a side of our perfectly spiced herbed breakfast potatoes.
What should folks expect from a Ten/6 breakfast experience?
People should expect to be fed, amused and cherished. Of course we’ve met and tried to serve folks who just don’t love what we’re doing, and that’s ok, but if you lend yourself to our joy and are curious, we’ve probably got something for you.
We also offer the best of a full espresso bar following only the most important specialty coffee guidelines and going every extra mile to ensure each cup of coffee is perfectly executed. Using the best roasters around, Evans Brothers, we are completely spoiled in serving the best coffee.
I hope you’ll come back to this list when you need inspiration for your sacred morning love letter to your body or your next breakfast date!
xoxo Your Favorite Late Bloomer