Episode 3: Saranac Public House
Special Feature: Magic Lantern
As a guy I know the stress-and-strain of coming up with amazing date ideas or, if anything, an evening to prevent your rolling stone from catching any moss as so to speak. Many times we fall back on the comfortable classics of bowling, long walks, or the famous dinner and a movie. After a time these events can become dull and can be an obvious cop-out for a momentary lapse unimaginative judgement on the date planner. However, there is a solution to keeping one of the classics going while also adding a bit of spice a movie at the Magic Lantern Theater and dinner at the adjacent Saranac Public House will make you glad that you haven't abandoned traditional date ideas.
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| Worth the walk from one to the other |
I often find myself telling people where to find the best pizza, sushi, ribs, etc in Spokane, but I boast one dish above all good old fashioned mac-and-cheese. Saranac by leaps and bounds delivers the creamiest, tastiest, brie infused, bread crumb topped, and never seeming to satisfy mac-and-cheese. You can order an entire bowl for yourself or choose it as a side for a wonderful sandwich or salad. Vegans praise! They have a version of their signature side meant just for you. Be sure to order the chicken caprese sandwich where they take a pounded chicken breast roll it in panko crumbs, then pan fry it topping on a toasted kaiser bun with lettuce, tomato, prosciutto, creamy pesto mayo and melted mozzarella meant to match the cheesy goodness I know you will order. If you are in the mood for sweet and tangy they have a Hawaiian pulled pork sandwich topped with light sweet mustard slaw that will put you back in the luau before you know it.
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| What is praise without pictures? |
Saranac is also a great place for the split decision form of dinner dating. You intelligently, after reading this article, want to have some amazing mac-and-cheese, but your date doesn't even know what continent they wish their next meal to be. Have no fear! Saranac has you covered. From a vegan conscience Yaki Udon Stirfry with an array of fresh veggies and choice of tofu to the all-American-and-then-some Grilled Meatloaf with rosemary gravy and garlic mashed potatoes Saranac will fulfill every desire your taste buds could want. Sit down and wish you went out for tacos? They already anticipated your arrival. Wish you had went out for Asian? They have a Thai Rice bowl that will make you believe in the power of spicy peanut sauce. If you're like me and want pizza with every meal order one of their flat-breads as an appetizer. I suggest the Onion Goat with carmalized onions, baby spinach, goat cheese and toasted hazelnuts to get you a perfect first step for an entire evening boasting with good flavors.
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| Chicken Caprese with side salad |
If you're tired from the same expensive commercialized over budgeted Hollywood flops that we all have come to expect from traditional movie theaters may I suggest a trip to the Magic Lantern. With a $4 bottomless, yes I said bottomless, popcorn, fresh baked cookies, and barista style lattes and cappuccinos all reasonably priced you will feel as though some one extinguished the hole burning in your pocket. Spokane this is your one stop shop for independent, foreign, and Oscar winning films of taste that will supply much added conversation topics for you and your date. Whether you choose to eat before or after the film is of no consequence for the Magic Lantern is housed in the Saranac building which holds the Saranac Public House with an inside entrance.
The Magic Lantern has always housed a cozy home like atmosphere with movie screens substantially smaller than the norm and seat numbers to match you will find comfort in the like minded patrons you share this warm space with. Be sure to show up on time because each movie lacks the normal half hour of commercials and previews that drown out our senses before mainstream cinema viewings and you will most likely not be allowed to enter once the show has begun like any good theater show. The Magic Lantern is home to a yearly foreign film festival that will put you on the edge of your seat where sometimes you can meet one of the makers of these prize winning masters of the silver screen. Though the festival just ended you can spend this next year getting to know your local independent theater a bit better by becoming a regular patron.
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| Your entrance to enjoyment |
Like every post I wanted to give my thanks to the wonderful people at both the Saranac Public House and the film masters at the Magic Lantern Theater who both continue to serve the public the best way they know how. I wanted to pay particular respects to the cooks at Saranac Public House for their keen ability to master techniques of multiple dish dignitaries that represent the ingenuity that all restaurants should seek their aspiration towards. Thank you again to all my contributors listed at the bottom of this post.
Saranac Public House
Food: Best Mac-and-Cheese, and truly a bit of everything
Atmosphere: Your hometown bar
Price:~$8-$15 assuming you want a drink
21 West Main
Avenue, Spokane, WA
509 - 473 - 9455
Magic Lantern Theater
Food: Bottomless Popocorn and lattes
Atmosphere: Like watching a movie at home
Price: $8 tickets, $4 popcorn, removing the need to take a second mortgage out for a trip to the movies: Priceless
25 West Main
Avenue, Spokane, WA
To rent the theater call (509) 209-2383
For movie times either call or go to http://www.magiclanternspokane.com/
If you try either Saranac Public House or Magic Lantern because of this post please comment below!
Contributors:
http://www.yelp.com/
http://www.inlander.com/
http://www.saranacpublichouse.com/Saranac_Public_House/HOME.html
http://www.magiclanternspokane.com/
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