If you haven't visited downtown Spokane in a few years, it is definitley worth your while. Though Walla Walla seems to be a big draw for its growth and notoriety as a wine region, Spokane presents a different allure that tugs on the hearts of folks seeking that quaint, local feel that a lot of Seattle neighborhoods have lost.
While there are many great restaurants to try in Spokane, and many more vegan options than you'd think (try Rut!), it can be harder to find a restaurant that's not a chain in the immediate downtown part of Spokane. Enter Wiley's.
Wiley's Downtown Bistro is as cute as can be. The window chill is blocked by strands of white twinkle lights set behind tulle, offering an bonus glow from the light of the windows. The hardwood floors are offset by light colored half walls and colorful paintings.
We popped by Wiley's for lunch and sat in a cozy corner table looking onto the street. I was impressed by the number of lunch offerings, a robust menu with a number of sharable startes, salads, sandwiches, wraps, soups, and even a thai PB&J burger that sounded inventive (though not vegan). What I loved is that you can add tofu to any salad ont he menu, and most were vegetarian already, making it easy to swap out a dairy ingredient here and there to make a vegan meal.
I selected the asian salad that came with pea shoots, cucumber, celery, bell pepper, pickled onions, and mixed greens, all tossed in a ginger wasabi dressing that hit just the right balance of sweet, spicy. The tofu came crusted in sesame seeds and was cooked to that perfect pan-saute texture with a slightly crunch on the outside and a firm but moist inside. It was a lovely dish and I would order it again if I went back.
So if you happen to find yourself in downtown Spokane looking for a place to grab a healthy lunch, stop by Wiley's Downtown Bistro where you're sure to have a great meal.
While there are many great restaurants to try in Spokane, and many more vegan options than you'd think (try Rut!), it can be harder to find a restaurant that's not a chain in the immediate downtown part of Spokane. Enter Wiley's.
Wiley's Downtown Bistro is as cute as can be. The window chill is blocked by strands of white twinkle lights set behind tulle, offering an bonus glow from the light of the windows. The hardwood floors are offset by light colored half walls and colorful paintings.
We popped by Wiley's for lunch and sat in a cozy corner table looking onto the street. I was impressed by the number of lunch offerings, a robust menu with a number of sharable startes, salads, sandwiches, wraps, soups, and even a thai PB&J burger that sounded inventive (though not vegan). What I loved is that you can add tofu to any salad ont he menu, and most were vegetarian already, making it easy to swap out a dairy ingredient here and there to make a vegan meal.
I selected the asian salad that came with pea shoots, cucumber, celery, bell pepper, pickled onions, and mixed greens, all tossed in a ginger wasabi dressing that hit just the right balance of sweet, spicy. The tofu came crusted in sesame seeds and was cooked to that perfect pan-saute texture with a slightly crunch on the outside and a firm but moist inside. It was a lovely dish and I would order it again if I went back.
So if you happen to find yourself in downtown Spokane looking for a place to grab a healthy lunch, stop by Wiley's Downtown Bistro where you're sure to have a great meal.
