AMAZING food. Tasty and huge portions. You won't go hungry. Unique environment. Friendly staff.

Delicious, generous portions of traditional breakfast foods. A locals' diner with a lot of retro decor and character; not a yuppy cafe. Staff is super friendly. read more

Always one of our local favorites! Large portions, friendly service & staff. Def a ma & pa feel, with outdated decor and seating- but I love it-- and it makes you feel like your eating at Grandmas house. Small town cafe- people come from near and far to enjoy this quaint location! read more

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Places like this are far and between anymore! True ma and pops!! There is no possible way you can leave this place hungry and you won't find prices like this anywhere!! Seat yourself and see!!! You won't be disappointed if you are then you are in the wrong place all around!! read more

Just off the highway, judging by how full the parking lot was on a Tuesday morning, we had a good idea that we picked a great spot. The decor is silly and fun. Staff are friendly and prompt. The food is absolutely incredible! The intentionally goofy descriptions only add to the overall experience. We stuffed our faces and loved every bite. Won't need to eat again until dinner! read more

Long wait, extremely greasy food, and felt like we we're getting stared at by almost everyone. Very strange experience there. But I hear they are a great family restaurant. But I have a feeling only the locals go there and it's the same people so when you're new they stare you down. There's a lot of negativity in Northern Idaho regarding new people to town. That's all I can guess, I really don't know. read more

This is a comfy little diner with lots on their menu. Servings are huge! You will not leave hungry and may want to skip lunch.

One of the best breakfast places I have been to in a long time. I recently got a yelp account and have been reviewing some of my best restaurant experiences over the last couple months... this one made the cut easily! Pancakes are huge, and they will give you little cups of peanut butter if you ask. As a side note, if you haven't tried peanut butter on your hotcakes, you are missing out. Eggs, bacon, and hash browns were all excellent. Menu had tons of stuff on it. When I come back, I want to try one of the omelettes or other items. Prices are unbeatable, for two people to get big, great tasting breakfasts w/coffee it was around $20. Service was quick and employees were great. The sign outside that says "Voted best breakfast in Ponderay" (or something along those lines) is telling the truth. You will be happy you stopped to go here! read more

Hoot Owl Cafe - Diners Near Me - Ponderay, Idaho

If you've read some of the reviews or looked at some of the pictures you already know that this place serves large portions. My wife couldn't finish the one pancake that she had and I even helped her! However, bigger is not always better. It was good but I can't say it was the best pancake I ever had. I can't say that their corn beef hash was excellent! It's homemade and the real deal! I'm giving this little restaurant a five star rating although I didn't feel that things were quite as clean as what I would like. Fortunately that's not a big turn off for me and I hope it isn't for you because this is a really great place fun and friendly service and I know you won't be disappointed. read more

Good ol Ma and Pa roadside cafe. Evidently an area icon that has been in place for eons. Menu has so many choices don't know how the chefs keep things straight. Many with unique and whimsical names. Come in grab an empty seat and enjoy a meal that has more quantity than needed but will satisfy you for an entire day and then some. read more

Great food, happy service! Now open in the afternoon. The best chicken fried steak you'll ever have. But don't order the full order, unless you are very hungry. The potion is gigantic. read more

This is one thing for the best places to eat breakfast in town! They are always busy but we never have to wait long for a table! Food portions are gigantic! The chicken fried steak is the best all around!!! read more

This is the BOMB DIGGITY Breakfast spot man!! & EVERYONE knows it! It's usually packed full on the weekends. Oh! & Also!! Every single Monday they have a soup kitchen from like 4 pm til like 630 pm, or some thing in that time range. Very nice waitresses and owners! Don't let the ghetto outside appearance scare you off!! Lol!!! read more

Hoot owl is a staple in northern idaho. If you serve portions this big it's really hard to get below 4 stars. Always tasty, always affordable. The folks here are real nice too. Give these guys your money read more

Good breakfast spot. It's small inside and kinda knick knackish. I'm concerned there is a need to dust and clean those items. We had take out and did not get to sit inside as it was super busy. Our food was good. read more

Completely awesome add my review to the others. Food is basic and very good, but the atmosphere and surroundings are from another era. Worth the search to find. read more

I got the Redneck Benny and it was amazing! Huge biscuits with amazing gravy. Lovely little restaurant and i will definitely be back to visit! read more

Hoot Owl Cafe - Redneck Benny - Diners Near Me - Ponderay, Idaho

UPDATE: We used to LOVE the Hoot Owl... then they sold it. The prices have gone up, the quality of the food is now average, at best. A couple of the staff are rude, and one person in particular, the "host", is not only rude, but he acts like he's angry at the customers and can't be bothered. He has the biggest chip on his condescending shoulder and is incapable of a smile. He'll ignore you then finally, begrudgingly, will seat you. Needless to say, we haven't been back in about 6-8 months, so to be fair, things may have gotten better since then. read more

Food was good !' service fast !!! Strate out of the 1960-70s pray it lasts 50 moor years!!! Breckfast/ lunch only!!! BUMER!!!!

Amazing, Outstanding, Delicious, Plentiful! Breakfast is out of this world, as is everything about this place! The People, The Atmosphere, The Smells, The Place. The new owners are the best people you will ever meet! Thank you for the best experience and food we have had in a long time! read more

If there were more stars, I'd give it more. This place is AMAZING! The service was perfection. Thank you for a great tasteful and divine meal. I am so excited to go back. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED this place for breakfast. I had the breakfast burger as it was as amazing as it sounded. So much flavor! The hash browns where yummy too. Also the coffee and cinnamon roll with the butter cream frostingis to die for. read more

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Returned there first part of July. It was a Saturday morning about 9:30. Holy mackerel it was packed. Put our name on the list and after about 15 minutes, got the call. My grandson and me for this visit. He had Hash Brown Supreme while I had the full Chicken Fried Steak knowing I'd have leftovers. Both meals did not disappoint. Both of us ate half taking the rest for later. Prices remain reasonable. Service is friendly and pretty fast. The facility is clean for as busy as it is. I love breakfast and, though I'm not in the area often, Hoot Owl is always a must. Give them a try. read more

I really wanted this place to be good. The staff is friendly, quick, and helpful, and the coffee is good. The food is... Just ok. The Bomb Diddly's cream cheese washed out any flavor the canned jalapenos and pineapple tried to give the omelette. The "famous" biscuits and gravy were standard biscuits covered in standard white gravy that is pepper heavy (burns in your throat, not on your tongue). The only redeeming item was the side of bacon. Medium thick cut, not over or undercooked, delicious. read more

Hoot Owl Cafe - The Bomb Diddly, biscuit and gravy, side of bacon - Diners Near Me - Ponderay, Idaho

Biscuits and gravy great service great location great ambiance great trying to get to 85 letters fun place with good food

If you love a great breakfast then you need to stop here and enjoy some fantastic home cooking. Tried the half order Chicken Fried Steak, it was amazing. The wife had the eggs Benedict, it was fantastic. Huge portions so bring your appetite.Great service, friendly folks you won't be disappointed. We'll be back! read more

This place is awesome! The food was delicious!! Between 13 of us, we all ordered something different and there were zero complaints. We all shared the breakfast tots- to die for!! You won't be disappointed if you stop here!! read more

I don't understand the hype around this place. I have gone twice after hearing everyone rave about it and it was bad both times. The first time the biscuits and gravy tasted like a pound of pepper was sprinkled over it and the veggie omelet was not good at all. The veggies were still raw. The second trip I got a wrap that contained pre cooked chicken that you put in the microwave and the salad was boring and plain. I don't get it and I don't recommend it- there are much better spots in downtown sandpoint. read more

Again yelp has come through with a good find! 1st time we went was on Mother's Day and I got the chicken fried steak that was the best I have ever had. Homemade with a great breading. It was very busy but the customer service was as good as it gets. read more

We had a great breakfast here! Despite our party size changing twice--the waitress was helpful and kind--and the food was fantastic, not greasy-and homemade read more

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Fantastic food , great prices, I loved the hometown feel. Nice people. Highly recommend.

Always a favorite! The food is consistently amazing and the environment is fun and energetic.

The minute you enter the establishment it smells like good, hometown cooking. Their decor is a bit tacky but it's okay it's funny tacky. It took a table of four 45 minutes to get our food on a busy Friday afternoon. Oh boy was it worth it ! Their helpings were so huge ! Ordered a "full" chicken fried steak only to be presented with two steaks smothered in gravy. I didn't realize a half was just one which would have been plenty on its own. They are also very fair on pricing - 75 cents extra for a biscuit with gravy instead of the toast that normally comes with the steak. My only gripe is clustered eggs- really kills my appetite when I see scrambled eggs that are just lumped together. I ate around them. The tottys were good ! Need to be more fried or baked though very soggy but edible! Really enjoyed this place. read more

Fantastic classic diner! Small, charming, great food & portions! Service was incredibly friendly, our coffee mugs stayed full. Highly recommend for anyone that loves classic home cooked diner style meals! read more

Wow it was slammed but everything ran so smooth.....best breakfast menu I have seen in a long time OMG. Food and as fabulous and best part....holy crap the prices are INCREDIBLE. I have never gone to breakfast and even after tax was $20.30 and I was full with leftovers. I had supreme hash browns half order. So good. My only complaint is I would have loved water with my coffee and they were so busy I was scared to ask. Great place....now I'm hungry read more

Hoot Owl Cafe - At the bar - Diners Near Me - Ponderay, Idaho

This quaint locals joint can be relied on to please all comers with its extensive menu of classics and a sprinkling of specialties. Bright rooms, classic diner seating, and old-timer memorabilia make this a regular favorite for farmers and townies alike. read more

Hoot Owl Cafe - Green Eggs and Ham never fails to please! - Diners Near Me - Ponderay, Idaho

Cute surroundings, outstanding breakfast! Highly recommend! The pancakes are fluffy and light and the hash brown scramble was excellent. The prices are more than reasonable and you can get half orders, which is good because the servings are HUGE! The only problem we had is not enough room in our stomachs to eat it all! read more

Hoot Owl Cafe - Half eaten pancakes and hash brown scramble. Yum! - Diners Near Me - Ponderay, Idaho

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Awesome for breakfast; haven't had lunch here yet but plan to!! First time we ate here, my coffee was free because I asked PLEASE when I ordered. read more

What a great hidden gem. This is a go to spot and worth the stop. Home cooked food and WARM SYRUP. Easy parking and friendly service.

I'm not sure what the current situation is. However I do know that my dad introduced me to the hoot owl years ago when he lived in Sandpoint and the Meyerdirk clan always looks forward to eating there at least twice when we come up for a couple of weeks. It is one of the little Gems that we love introducing new family members to read more

A community staple. Great food. Awesome owners. Small and friendly old time diner. This page has been a longtime community favorite eatery.