New eating establishment 'Dish'-es up affordable and healthy fare

SANDPOINT — A new family restaurant which focuses on health and affordability, and with a bit of a flare as well, has come to town. Proprietors, Laura and Gary Peitz, recently opened “Dish Home Cooking.”

“We bring a little bit of flare and at the same time we’ve concentrated on a healthy eating alternative,” Gary said.

With the addition of Chef Gabriel Cruz, Dish Home Cooking promises a fresh new look to its menu.

“Dish offers all natural foods, all fresh foods and certainly a wide assortment of ‘comfort foods’ as well as some old favorites,” said Cruz.

The menu focuses on bringing in people from all walks of life.

“We’ve placed an emphasis on good quality side dishes that come with each of our entrées,” Cruz said. “Freshness and variety of our side dishes are really where we are pushing.”

Gary and Laura bring a combined 40 years of food and beverage experience.

“We’ve worked in many restaurants during our lives,” Laura said. “We’re bringing something new to Sandpoint, and something exciting. Our food is a little different.”

At the Dish, all natural free-range eggs are used, as well as free-range chickens. Any beef served is all natural — no antibiotics.

“We pound our own meat and make our own gravy,” Chef Cruz said. “It’s important to us that we can do that. We don’t want to be the tourist restaurant, but instead the neighborhood restaurant where we are feeding our community good, wholesome food.”

When the Peitzes opened their restaurant, one of their initial goals was to bring a true breakfast house to Sandpoint … and good coffee.

“We serve breakfast all day, and it’s amazing the response we’ve received to that. I’m guessing that about 25 percent of our lunches are breakfast items. People love it — especially on the weekends,” Laura said.

Menu items are numerous and include foods like omelets and scrambles for breakfast, or something a little different like “Pancakes Banana’s Foster.” Lunch items include the Dish Hamburger, curry chicken pot pie, bun-less veggie burger, Mediterranean salad among many others choices. Dinner might consist of rotisserie chicken, buffalo meatloaf and fresh fish with all the trimmings.

“A friendly price point is certainly something that we are striving for, and we are accomplishing that,” Gary said. “So the whole idea was to bring a nice restaurant to Sandpoint where everyone can afford to eat, and again … with a comfort food approach.”

Laura’s taste for style in furnishing and decorating Dish Home Cooking is evident in the spacious 2,200 square foot eatery. The restuarant gives the feeling of comfort and warmth with its wood furniture, warm colors and a spacious high ceiling. Cabinetry comes from Misty Mountain Furniture, and Dish’s counter, which seats eight, displays a ground steel plate counter top. The works of local artists grace the walls of the restaurant.

“It’s not pretentious. It’s not doldrums,” Laura said. “Come in and just enjoy the space. We are making it affordable so you can truly dine. That’s important to us. One of the things we really strive for is creating a restaurant where there is a buzz — where people are having fun.”

Dish seats up to 50 people and employs 20 full and part time employees. It offers a full espresso bar with favorite espresso drinks. An assortment of Mighty Leaf teas and brewed coffee from DOMA are available, as well as an assortment of beer and delightful wines.

“A very important part of our restaurant is the drive-thru aspect,” Gary said. “We have the best coffee in town, and you can call ahead and get any of our food through the drive-thru. Or if you are in a hurry, certain foods are available from the menu board outside.”

Dish Home Cooking is easily accessible, has ample parking and located at the corner of Division and Highway 2. Come in any time Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on Sundays 7 a.m. until 2 p.m.

“We’re closing Sunday night so we can have some sanity and family time,” Gary said.

For more information call Dish at (208) 265-6100 or log on at www.dishsandpoint.com