White Sparrow Country Store — Restaurant in Idaho

Having stepped into the establishment on it's soft opening day, I have to say that I was thoroughly impressed! They have a variety of fried pies (turnovers), ice cream, and what I'm going to call gourmet drinks due to the quality.

Pros: Service- Staff was very friendly and welcoming, my sister and I received our order in a reasonable amount of time. The cook came out and asked us for our critique, showing that she was open to constructive criticism and a desire to do better.

Food- The pies were super fluffy; I took a bite and the pastry sprang right back up instead of staying flat. There is adequate filling and it IS filling- wonderful flavor. NOT GREASY! The mixed soda & ice cream were definitely gourmet quality. Plenty of variety for you to choose from.

Atmosphere/Aesthetics- Bree & Bud accomplished their goal in the familiar store feel while bringing a fresh look, very pleasing to the eye. Being a local to Archer, I’ve seen every re-incarnation of this place since Llyod’s General Store back in the 90’s. So yes, they did their job and did it well. I was especially impressed by the flooring in the retail area which reminded me of a quilt pattern- very original- and the wall with the flowers and stylized sparrow was gorgeous.

Cons:

Service- First day hiccups. I’m cutting them slack, having worked in retail and at a grand opening, not everything is gonna go right.

Food- First few bites, I got more pastry than filling in my dessert turnovers. Some might complain about that. (Though I would simply recommend people to squeeze the bottom so you get some of both in every bite). We learned that the pies are fried in peanut oil, I would put a peanut allergy warning up where it can be readily seen; that way if anyone with a peanut allergy comes in, you can’t be held liable.

Atmosphere/Aesthetics- Everything was clean, save for the outside table that had dead bugs on it. I would have that cleaned before opening for business and have it periodically cleaned throughout the day. As a customer, that was off-putting. When I went into the restroom to clean off a glob of chocolate from my shirt, I went to throw the now used paper towel away but found that there was no garbage bucket. I honestly didn’t like having to take something out of the bathroom and throw it into the garbage can by the register. I did bring this to Bud’s attention & I’m sure this has been rectified.

All in all, I want this business to do well and to stick around for many years to come, because the White Sparrow Country Store has made its way into my heart (as well as...

I really wanted to be excited about my first visit. After reading many positive reviews, I was ready to experience what everyone else had. Unfortunately, my experience did not reflect what others had shared in their own reviews. First, the store itself. Some of the pictures may lead you to believe there is an extensive store of items to choose from. In reality, the store is about as big as a large living room. Though the items in the store were high quality and attractive, the pricing was.... well, unpalatable. I didn't buy anything in the store, though there were many things I would have had the pricing been much, much lower. The restaurant itself is cute. The menu is limited to ice creams, fried savory pies and fried dessert pies. We chose the couples dinner, which includes 2 savory pies, 2 dessert pies, 2 chips or french fries, and 2 large drinks for $45. Both of us chose the chicken pot pies. They were fairly disappointing and I would compare them to a Banquet pot pie. Just really underwhelming. I'm pretty sure the pies are prepared ahead of time, and then reheated. In fact, the customers ahead of us returned their pies to the counter because both of them were still frozen in the middle. The 2 dessert pies were delicious. We had raspberry and strawberries+creme. Lastly, the customer service..... oof. We were helped by a young woman who was really not interested in our entire existence. When we were ordering, she said we had our choice of chips or fries. When I asked what kind of fries, she said they were russet potatoes. Ok, literally she is correct but we all know that isn't what was being asked. I don't think she smiled the entire time we were ordering.... We got our order to go, and as we sat at the counter waiting, she brought out a to-go bag and said "Here you go". We verified the contents and found we were missing our fries. My wife asked her, and she said something like "Oh, ok, they're right there" pointing toward the back. It was clear she had forgotten them but didn't care. When she brought the fries out, we both said thanks and she said "yeah". Overall, I was pretty underwhelmed and unimpressed. I don't expect anyone to kiss my customer rear-end, but for $45 it would be nice to at least get a thank you. Neither of us is likely to return. Edited to add: The establishment did reach out here (see response below) and did make a refund as promised. I do appreciate them for that and commend their efforts, that's nice to see these days and may have just convinced us to give them...

Ohhhh...I'm in heaven! 5 Stars!

Staff: Cheerful and friendly. I met the store owners, the handsome Bud and his lovely wife, Aubree. Bud was pure hospitality and his wife thanked us for coming. One of the cooks Elise, came over and asked how the food was. Well darling, let me tell you!

Food: Among the items I purchased, I've got to say I love the bacon turn over "Don't go bacon my heart". And for dessert, the nutella and strawberry turn over was the best!

First off, I love how fluffy and warm the turn overs were! When you bit in them, steam arose, but there wasn't any grease! (hallelujah!) The bacon, eggs, and cheese entered my mouth and my taste buds did a "high-five"! A beautiful combination of yeasty bread, chewy bacon, cheese, and rightly cooked eggs with enough filling in them to satisfy anyone. The nutella and strawberry dessert was one that Aubree (the owner) had recommended on their Facebook site. I was skeptical but the combination of melted hazelnut chocolate and strawberries with sauce was a confection of sugary delight that won me over and made me want to melt. ^W^

(I also learned from the cook, they use a peanut based oil and that's why you don't have the grease.)

Food court: Four tables, one outside. Those inside have napkins (trust me, you'll need them!), and a large shaker of powdered sugar (to add that fine dusting to your scrumptious dessert).

Shop: Good, clean, rustic. One wall was beautifully painted with stylized flowers and birds. They have scented and unscented candles, home decor, and nice smelling soaps. (Guys! You've GOT to look at the wooden floor! It's design is stunning!)

Store: Some grab and go soda pop, candy. Some other food items like mac and cheese or diapers.

Remake of the store: I recall when it was Lloyd's store and several other places in between. I didn't know if anyone could make it feel as welcoming as the Lloyds. But I feel we've got a winner! Finally!

Cost: The food sandwiches are $3.99 each and the pies $3.25 each. Mixed sodas are $1.75 for 24oz. A waffle cone with 1 scoop is 3.99. All USD. The food quality and taste is worth the price!

I can see that this could become a favorite "hot spot" for the local teens because of the desserts. It's also a nice stop and shop for travelers, due to the country goodness of not only good eats but a shop side as well. I've been there twice and both times were wonderful. And it's only their first day! :D

Make sure you ask for a doggie bag, you'll need one. ;)

Good going White Sparrow Country Store! I'll be...