Cease & Desist Book Club feels like the kind of place you discover once and immediately want to…read morebring people back to. The whole atmosphere is dark, cozy, moody, and feels more like a hidden lounge than a typical downtown bar. Between the lighting, music, books, and dramatic cocktail menus, the vibe alone makes the place worth visiting. We tried the espresso martini, Painkiller, and Bloody Verde. The espresso martini was smooth and easy to drink without being overly sweet, and the Painkiller had that creamy tropical flavor that somehow still worked with the darker speakeasy atmosphere. Keeping it honest though, the Bloody Verde just wasn't for me personally. I can still appreciate the creativity behind it, but the flavor combo just didn't match my taste buds. That being said, if you like savory spicy cocktails, you'd probably feel very differently about it. Service was friendly, drinks came out looking great, and the music really tied the whole experience together. Definitely feels like one of Spokane's more unique cocktail spots if you want something moodier and more relaxed.

We loved Cease and Desist. The bartender was friendly and helpful. It was dimly lit with a lovely…read moreaesthetic bar! Drinks were on point and perfectly made. When we return to the Spokane area, we will definitely return!

Ambiance and service reign supreme at this festive bar. For Christmas Cheer this is THE PLACE to…read morebring friends and family. Decorated like Santa's personal bar this place is hopping and they have popcorn popping. (I hear you can bring in food from Cochinitos' next door). The drinks are creative and artfully mixed and served with efficiency and a smile. If there is a waiting line outside, don't let that deter you, it's worth the wait.

We were in Spokane for business and stopped in at the recommendations of several locals…read more You know that movie scene where a stranger walks into a bar and a record scratches and the music stops and all the regulars turn and stare. That's this place.

Hogwash Whiskey Den has such a cool vibe, and the food definitely delivered. The burger was…read moreabsolutely delicious and flavorful, and cooked perfectly. The tater tots with the sauce on top were also a standout and something I'd order again without hesitation. That said, the service wasn't the best, especially for a first visit. I had a few questions about the menu and drinks, but our server seemed rushed and a bit annoyed, which made the experience feel less welcoming. Ordering drinks felt a little hurried, and while my husband really enjoyed his, mine were just okay. Overall, the food was great and the atmosphere is worth checking out, but I do wish the service had been a bit more attentive and helpful, especially for someone new to the place.

We had the privilege of being taken to Hogwash Whiskey Den, and it truly felt like a hidden gem in…read moreSpokane. The food was so good, and the drinks were just as impressive. Everything we tried was done really well. The service was great, laid back and casual. The menu does rotate, so that's something to keep in mind. We came in a little too late to try the mac and cheese, which was a bummer, but the other sandwiches more than made up for it and were absolutely worth it. Overall, such a great spot with an awesome vibe. Easy five stars and definitely a place I'd go back to.

This place is crazy ... it's INSANELY tiny but the drinks are out of this world. If you're looking…read morefor a truly unique experience ... this is the place to go.

One of the best bars I've ever been to. From the bartender to the drinks everything was phenomenal…read more So welcoming, it's the perfect neighborhood bar and will now be a go to spot whenever I'm in town.

I will be coming back SPECIFICALLY for the hummus! They rotate flavors and they were all so…read moreincredibly delicious. The cocktails were amazing, the bartenders are super knowledgeable and can substitute or make something up--with or without alcohol. The vibes are immaculate

Such a lovely, casual place to meet up with friends! Two of my favorite people were coming through…read moretown on a long road trip back to the westside of the state, and I was looking for somewhere somewhat quiet and close to their hotel that we could catch up. Being full of plants and dog friendly added to the appeal for our crew. The service and cocktails were top notch, though I was a little sad that most of the food options I was interested in were not available. The charcuterie and hummus plates were nice, and ample servings for our whole table. Our small group had a great experience, and I truly hope more people will recognize what a gem this place is!

Super friendly service. Good food, especially considering the place was full. Cool to see the menu…read moreevolving.

We went to Agave tonight for dinner and drinks before a show, and honestly, this place has a lot of…read morepotential. The atmosphere was really enjoyable -- the space has a great vibe, the drinks were well made, and overall it feels like somewhere that could become a favorite spot downtown. The food was decent as well, though not especially memorable. Unfortunately, the service completely overshadowed the positives. From the moment we walked in, we felt more like an inconvenience than welcomed guests. The host greeted us while remaining seated at the bar and simply told us to "sit anywhere," which immediately set an odd tone. When I asked for paper menus, I was told they only use QR codes. Normally that wouldn't be a huge issue, but the menu was around 15 pages long with tiny font, making it frustrating to navigate on a phone. Once our food arrived, we essentially never saw our server again. No check-ins, no refill offers, no asking if we wanted another round of drinks -- nothing. Meanwhile, staff members were gathered at the bar loudly talking among themselves and openly complaining about being there, which was uncomfortable to listen to as customers trying to enjoy a night out. Eventually, we had to walk up to the front bar ourselves just to pay our bill. That was the most disappointing part because the restaurant truly has the foundation to be excellent. The ambiance and drinks are already there, but hospitality matters just as much as the food. A little attentiveness and genuine customer service would have completely changed the experience. We absolutely would have ordered more drinks and likely stayed longer if anyone had checked on us. Hopefully management takes service more seriously, because this place could be great with the right staff culture and attention to guests.

Tucked away in downtown Spokane, this is a great spot for girls' night or date night. It's cozy and…read moremoody in all the right ways. The espresso martini flight is a must if you like espresso martinis!

I have been dying to come here since this place opened! I have been waiting so long for a fun vibes…read morewine and cocktail bar in spokane! They also have started doing a book club which is so cool. The service was relatively quick and their selection is great. I had the Gentlemen Prefer Blondes cocktail and it was delicious. I will be coming back soon.

Cozy bar with a fun bartender. Martinis and mojito. The food we had was all good; truffle fries,…read morecalamari , and lots of fish tacos. We're going to recommend this place to all our friends!

I've given Bistango multiple chances over the years because I enjoy the atmosphere and want to…read moresupport local Spokane businesses, but unfortunately the customer service has been consistently disappointing. Most recently, on a Friday evening around 7 PM, my party was seated near the end of the bar by the restroom area. A server approached me in a confrontational manner and told me to move my chair because it was blocking the walkway. I immediately complied and moved it where he directed. Despite that, he repeatedly pushed and squeezed past the chair in an aggressive way several times afterward and then returned to confront me about it again. The interaction felt hostile, unnecessary, and unprofessional. Unfortunately, this wasn't an isolated incident. On a previous visit, a female server was rude and controlling toward our table, and on another occasion when we were unhappy with a menu item, the response was essentially, "You ordered it, you pay for it," with no attempt to address the concern professionally. The atmosphere is great, which is why we've continued to come back. However, after several visits involving rude and confrontational interactions with staff, it feels more like an ongoing culture issue than a one-time bad experience. I don't expect special treatment, but I do expect basic courtesy and respect. Hopefully management takes these concerns seriously and works to improve the customer experience.

Service 10/10 We made reservations the day of and got a…read moregreat table! The waitress/ hostess was attentive and friendly, but not overly enthusiastic which I really like. Our drinks were always full and she answered all our questions. She brought me beer samples to figure out which one I wanted. The waiter was busy but always greeted and said goodbye to all guests coming and going. Food 10/10 For the tablet we got calamari, the Durkins famous double cheeseburger and the fried bologna sandwich. The food was extremely fresh! The cheese was melted to perfection. We left with full bellies but not feeling heavy. The food was decadent but not greasy. My husband got a mocktail, spiced cranberry and it was fabulous! My husband and I can't wait to go back. We paid approximately $100 with tip, so it's not cheap, but WORTH IT for the quality of food and service.

I was informed by several people that this place was notorious for its burger. So when I came to…read moreSpokane for work, I decided to go ahead and give this place a try. Upon my encounter with one of the bartenders, I was told that they only had one burger. It was a double burger and it came with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and a delicious pickle. The burger was spot-on and much better than I had anticipated. It was fairly large and filling and was cooked nicely. It came with some fries and a dipping sauce that always was a good adjunct to the burger. Burger came it to ~$25.00 which is expensive for a burger, but given inflation and the deliciousness this burger represented, I was satisfied. Ambiance-wise, it is a nice looking bar that serves food, and they make upscale drinks. Definitely was not planning on having drinks here, but the bartender was nice enough to agree to make me a royal aviation as they make regular aviations. I will definitely be back for that and I am looking forward to it. Highly recommend this place!

We had a big group dinner here with a set menu…read more The cocktails are lovely, I got some sort of spritz. Everything is really great but also HEAVY. On the set menu were: -Truffle Ricotta Toast -Lemon Pasta (Limone) - super lemony, pasta is obvously fresh -Vodka Pasta (All Vodka) - so cheesy and yummy -Steak - I love fatty so this was wonderful -Chicken Parm - Can't really go wrong with this one Staff were lovely. The interior of the spot is so gorgeous - I love the blue-gold color palette and the vintage decor.

The ambiance is lovely. Good wine, interesting cocktails, freshly made focaccia ( at $14/ serving…read more-it should be) salads are tasty. But this restaurant is very pricey for inconsistent food. We've been twice now- didn't love it enough the first time but wanted to give it a second chance. The lemon pasta was divine the first time- but my carbonara was unflavored paste- I literally thought I had COVID and lost the ability to taste food but everyone else's food tasted good so that theory didn't hold up. This time I ordered the lemon pasta and instead of creamy, delightful and tasty it was a little bland and watery. The waitress "fixed it " by offering me more Parmesan to thicken it. I'd added prawns- they were nice. My companion ordered the veal parm- the tomato sauce wasn't amazing and the breading was a bit heavy. He wasn't impressed and didn't finish the dish. The risotto was just OK. Again, it's very pricey for just OK. The food isn't trash but if you've had great food you don't want to pay so much for just ok. We would rather spend the money at Luna or Francaise or Wooden City. Dessert was yummy. The first time we went we arrived first seating and it looked like the AARP theater crowd, the last night we went seemed like a galantine's preview! So if you're there for the drinks, appetizers and ambiance it's quite nice. I can't endorse it whole heartedly because the entree's weren't consistently good enough to give the full 5 stars. Service was fine and we tipped accordingly. Good luck!