The Bank: Barroom & Eatery — Restaurant in Sandpoint

I’m not much of review guy, but i felt like sharing my experience for chef’s sake , since it seems like kitchen is only one that cares about this restaurant. Anyway. Brussel sprouts- great, well charred,touch of spice with hint of this “smoked” pomodoro sauce at bottom. 9/10 focaccia- if you gonna step away from traditional recipe, you have to make it wow. Focaccia not air-y at all, hard, boring😐. Buratta ok, but for the price of the dish maybe touch of nice olive oil and sea salt on top? Herb butter was beautiful. I would have cried from happiness if that focaccia was spongy and crispy on sides with some olives stuck in there….anyway 4/10 sorry.

hanger steak- love hanger, cut it always bit gamey/iron-ey due to its location, temp great, but who salted the steak for god sake!?! Zero salt. And i’m not into aggressive seasoning department neither. Such a torture. I know, people would say, put the salt and shut up, i know i know, again, just my feedback to the chef. Fries ok 6/10

cod- chef, 1/3 of asparagus from the bottom needs to go. That part has tone of fiber, it is chewy, unpleasant, please. This is 101 asparagus prep. this “majoram thathziki like sauce” was flavorful but so imbalanced… too aggressive.flavor is great but, I mean acidity is tru the roof. Also all of the sauces as very viscous. Cod sauce, panna cotta bery/ mint sauce. So runny they dont stick to the object (major actor of the dish) , you have to thicken your sauces. It also gets messy trying to handle food without dropping all over your cloth. Fish was tasteless. It has soft flaky texture, but moisture from the sauces at the bottom of the plate oversaturated it ,so it was getting into mushy texture…..sorry. 6/10

panna cotta- it means “cooked cream” in Italian. A Cream- Not truffles. What is with kids portion. Looked embarrassingly small. I’m not some “cheap guy can we have more bread kind ” but it looked so small , on a small plate, sliding around swimming in those sauces…such a pour presentation. Reason i am crying about portion and presentation is because flavors were great. Hint of nuttiness from almond, and then citrus from berries ,followed by freshness of mind. Excellent. 8/10.

Restaurant had a great patio with beautiful lighting. Atmosphere is cozy. For me It was ruined with few selfish people who dragged their big hairy dogs inside. Entitled people with their entitled mindsets. It is disrespectful to everybody around, chef owner, everybody. Regardless if you are dog lover or not. But hey, only they matter and their dogs.

Anyway. Hosted was organically pleasant, the runner lady that brought desert in 2 seconds demonstrated how much she is ready to finish up with her shift and go home, and careless to introduce what chef has created /:

My waiter. Great dude. I didn't want to talk about food with him. He told me at beginning we are about to eat at best restaurant ever. So, when he asked how was everything at the end of my meal….i just told him i’m difficult and we had silent agreement:)).I didn’t want him to start crying after my monologue. Lol Besides ,we were already too busy talking about tiny homes production. Lol. Anyway.

Menu was very limited. Priced were ok. Yea…

Thank you for letting us dine in bit late on...

The only good thing I have to say about this restaurant is that the food was decent when we finally got it.

Beginning to end, the service here was horrendous. When we arrived for our reservation the host said she forgot to write it down. She, thankfully, was able to seat our party of 7 but then it was 10+ minutes until a server appeared to get our first drink order. When everyone ran out of water they said they’d bring us more an never did. 30 minutes after ordering, our first appetizer arrived. It took another 20 minutes for the rest of our apps to arrive. They brought the first entree with the last app. 45 minutes later our last entree arrived. They never took another drink order- which is crazy since this is where they make the most money and we would have ordered at least another round, or two since the food was so slow to come out. I wish I could say that the staff cared about our experience at all, but the last server to come to our table and agreed with us that the service was very poor and then walked away. We were more than ready to eat and drink a lot here but two+ hours later we had to leave and go down the street for dessert. I hope this place can figure out some better systems and hire some servers that aren’t so high that they can’t open their eyes. Our group has worked/managed/owned restaurants before and every one of us would have been horrified to work at a place that is so disorganized. Bummer, but we don’t expect this place to be here next summer when we make our...

Our experience at The Bank in Sandpoint was delightful and surprising. Despite its modest size, the establishment impressed us with exceptional cocktails and creatively prepared food. The flavors were unique, showcasing a level of culinary innovation that exceeded our expectations.

The service was another highlight of our visit. Our server was attentive, knowledgeable, and perfectly on point, enhancing our dining experience with professional and friendly service. It was clear that the staff takes great pride in ensuring guests have a memorable time.

Additionally, the little bar area outback added to the charm of The Bank. Quaint and classy, it provided a perfect spot for a more intimate and relaxed setting. Whether you’re enjoying a quiet drink or engaging in conversation with friends, the ambiance of the bar area complements the overall delightful experience.

In conclusion, The Bank in Sandpoint is a gem that offers more than its size might suggest. With exceptional cocktails, creatively delightful food, and outstanding service, it’s a place we will undoubtedly return to and recommend to others. If you find yourself in Sandpoint, make sure to visit The Bank for an unexpectedly...