A popular and award winning Coeur D’Alene restaurant has just opened a second location in downtown Spokane. Fire Artisan Pizza, located at 816 W Sprague, offers fresh ingredients cooked in a 900 degree wood-fired oven and a new design to Spokane’s downtown.
“We serve only pizza with salads. It is gourmet food with a rustic style, people call it Neapolitan- Classic Old World Style.” said manager Chris Watkins.
Customers are offered an impressionable drink menu; cucumber water, and a menu of craft beers and wine
“We pride ourselves on having a pretty eclectic set of craft beer and our wine is very good,” Watkins said.
When visiting a new restaurant, the atmosphere plays a large part in the full service experience. Fire Artisan Pizza was designed by HDG, a local design group with global vision. HDG’s award winning design and architect team is Joshua Hissong and Armando Hurtado.
“We want it to seem rustic, with the barn wood tables and the bricks on the walls, but it always ends up being comfortable, comfortable enough to wear jeans and a t-shirt or dresses and suits,” said Watkins.
Fire Artisan Pizza has two locations- Spokane and Coeur D’Alene. The original location in Coeur D’Alene has been given a five star ratings since it has been running; the restaurant was titled “Best Pizza” and “Best Atmosphere” in a 2012 Readers Poll.
The pictures on the wall, all black and white photos, and red walls offer a New York city style. At the bar, old films, such as The Invisible Man, play. While in the restaurant, customers conversation and silence is privy to indi tunes from the background speakers. Windows line the entry, allowing those walking by to peer in, and outside lighting to flood into the restaurant.
“I love everything,” said Watkins. “This place has a cool environment and amazing food.”
Fire opened January 31st, and already the customers seem to have found a favorite.
“Our Billy Pizza is the most popular right now,” said Watkins. “Which has goat cheese, roasted red pepper, Kalamata olives, tomato sauce and fresh arugula.”
Frozen pizza may be something college students love to eat, but Fire Artisan Pizza may offer competition. The pizzas are made from fresh, organic ingredients that are locally sourced when possible. The prices for a pizza range from $11 to $30.
“Our menu is full of unique styles of pizza,” said Watkins. “Fire artisan pizza definitely offers something unique to its customers.”
Some of the unusual pizza’s offered are the Camino: roasted chicken breast, kansas city bacon, red onion, aged white cheddar and mozzarella cheeses, chipotle bbq, finished with fresh cilantro and habanero sea salt; Gordy: dates, gorgonzola and mozzarella cheeses, olive oil, finished with balsamic reduction; and the Thai: sweet chilli sauce, mozzarella, roasted chicken breast, cashew saute sauce, serrano chilies, green onions, finished with cilantro, cashew and sriracha;
To finish the meal, Fire offers a sugary dessert: bittersweet chocolate chip cookie with gray salt and vanilla bean ice cream on top.