Affordable Fine Dining, Really

The sharp contrast when coming off the streets of downtown Spokane into the exquisite interior of Sante’s Restaurant is incredible.

Immediately, the busy sounds of traffic are left on the streets and an overwhelming calm washes over customers stepping into Sante.  White walls with sophisticated photography encourages a sense of peace as delicious smells waft throughout the restaurant.

Sante, short for Votre Sante, or ‘to your health,’ is a humble eatery and coffee shop connected to Auntie’s Bookstore.

Offering exquisite French cuisine is what makes this downtown restaurant stand out.  The authentic foods served are so mouth watering and decadent, I’ve not been able to stop thinking about them since I ate there last.

While some menu items seem expensive, almost uncomfortably so, knowing how to order keeps the elite five-star food at reach.

Sharing is the best plan to keep when going to a less afordable location. Bring a friend when exploring the menu; it will allow you both to try a few different options, share the bill and leave feeling full.

When I went, my friend and I had one of the appetizer platters featuring baked baguette bread, Brie cheese, duck proscutto and apple compote.  The flavors were so complex we were both fairly full before even starting on our main course; a beautiful sandwich with some of their signature cheeses and salami meats and a hand-crafted seeded mustard, with a salad and home-made dressing on the side. Yes, it was good.

The staff at Sante had no problem splitting the meal for two and it provided a filling meal for $18 exactly.  No, it wasn’t ove budget though, because it was just $9.00 each.

If not time for a full meal, Sante offers their meats and cheeses for customers to buy by the pound. Don’t miss out on the rich French press coffee as well! The coffees are so original it makes customers want to try some of the crazy concoctions.  A mandarin orange white mocha sounded odd…fruit, coffee and chocolate. However, the creamy, delicate latte was so delicious each different taste bud comes alive.

Spend an afternoon at Sante! To your health, everyone!