Luna in Spokane on the South Hill...a MUST!!!

While in Spokane a few weekends ago dropping Greg off to return to college, Jacque and I decided to celebrate our freedom provided by an empty nest by enjoying dinner out with our dear and close friends Roger and Miriam Devaney.  Roger suggested Luna (www.lunaspokane.com) on the south hill in Spokane stating that they had been there recently and really enjoyed it.

Thank you Roger for a great recommendation.  Luna is not your typical Spokane restaurant and if you have not been there, make reservations and head there.  We started the night by sharing a bottle of VaPiano Vineyards Cabernet 2011.   The VaPiano (http://www.vapianovineyards.com) was leathery with tannins and legs that warranted a discussion about what the legs on wine indicate. 

Dinner could not get any better after my starter of their Ahi Tuna Tartar.  I was blessed by having a table that did not want to share in the abundance of raw fresh ahi tuna chopped into chunks sandwiching fresh avocado, on ripe tomatoes swimming is a wasabi sauce with fresh toasted bread on the side.  Ok, so let me tell you whatt I really think…it was awesome!

Jacque had the Lacinato Kale Salad.  Jacque is not a huge kale eater, and I was surprised when she ordered it, but she enjoyed the combination of pistachios and creamy vinaigrette.  Roger had the Caesar salad and seemed to enjoy it.

For dinner Roger had the Spaghetti and meatballs.  This really surprised me, until I was informed that Miriam had this the last time they were at Luna and she thought highly of it.  Roger enjoyed the Italian sausage meatballs and the simplicity of what was gourmet comfort food – I would add spaghetti and meatballs to my list of comfort foods.  

Miriam had a salad and the Roasted Butternut Squash Bisque with Dungeness Crab – again another Luna hit. 

Jacque had Scallops on a parsnip puree with Brussels spouts.  Her dish came with four very large scallops sitting on the parsnip puree surrounded by shaved Brussels sprouts cooked with bacon.  The scallops were large enough to supply Jacque with lunch next day, but it was the Brussels sprouts that she was raving about.

I had the Double R New York Steak.  Seeing Double R meat on the menu and knowing the quality job Rebholtz family did building this brand of meat raised right in Okanogan County (Loomis) I was sold.  Knowing this was a 12 ounce cut of meat I ordered it with a to go box to put half my steak in immediately – 12 ounces of meat is a lot of meat! 

I had no disappointment about the steak, and it was brought out at a perfect medium rare.  The bone marrow demi-glace was maybe a little lite in flavor, I expected it to be richer, and the Gorgonzola potatoes had me questioning that night if there was suppose to be Gorgonzola cheese in the potatoes because I could not tell if it was there or not.  With that said, my steak was awesome, and I look forward to returning to Luna in the future.  The big wide windows and patios make a second visit a requirement during warmer weather.

For dessert we had one butterscotch crème brule with four spoons.  It was served with strawberries on top and was just the right sweet ending to a great meal that Jacque and I finished with sharing a flight of port.  The flight of port in this case was three 1 ounce pours of three different port wines – I wish more restaurants would offer flights.

Again, Luna is a must and I can see Jacque and I returning more then just to see how much we might enjoy dining on their patio.