Dinner at The Bearded Ginger in Spokane Valley, WA

August 27, 2024

Dinner at The Bearded Ginger in Spokane Valley, WA

Don't miss the Mac and Cheese with Beef Brisket from the Bearded Ginger!

My family and I recently returned from our summer vacation in Montana. We try and go every summer since we have family there and we love the natural beauty of the Treasure State. Since I grew up in the Flathead Valley, it's like going home again and it always feels nostalgic. It true that you can always go home again.

But in our case, a trip to MT always includes an overnight in Spokane, WA, the halfway point. We like to break up the nine-hour drive into two days. It makes for a more leisurely trip, especially with kids. We always choose a restaurant in Spokane for dinner when we arrive. This time, my husband found The Bearded Ginger, located near our hotel in Spokane Valley.

So this spot feels like a dive, and if I hadn't checked out the delicious looking menu beforehand, I wouldn't have wanted to stop in. Sometimes you have to trust the process, and focus on the end result, and not the lack of vibes. The locals stared when we walked in, and the place was packed. A very good sign, FYI. We managed to find one last table for four. The server warned us when we sat down that she'd be a while getting to us. We were hungry and more than ready for a cocktail after driving from Seattle.

We waited about twenty minutes, and our server was apologetic. She thanked us for waiting and being so patient and then made us extra strong drinks! We ordered the blue AFM's. They tasted heavy on the booze. We ordered three items to share. The Bavarian Pretzel, the Chicken Wings, and the Mac and Cheese topped with Beef Brisket. She accidentally brought us extra wings, and that's never a bad thing. But we were floored by how good the Mac and Cheese was.

We didn't expect this dish to hit so had. The mac and cheese was perfectly cheesy and hot, and the brisket was super tender and full of flavor. The wings and pretzel were fine, but nothing as great as the Mac and Cheese dish. I would return to this divey spot just for that dish.

We ate until we were full and then returned to our hotel room, to get into our swimsuits and get in the pool. Because that's what one does after pigging out at a dive bar/restaurant right? Day one of our vacation was a win!