The Bernklau — Restaurant in Sandpoint

Cute place, but the food and the service are what matters most. My wife and I stopped by on a Friday around 2pm, there were only a few customers scattered amongst the dozen or so tables (some indoors, some outdoors). As we walked in, I observed five employees standing behind the order counter chit chatting. (Not a good look.) We made our selections from the menu posted on the wall and paid for our meal (a salad and a sandwich). At the time you order you are given the option of adding a tip onto your total, which I did. After waiting 30 minutes for our food to arrive a young lady came out to our table to explain that they had lost our ticket and had just now started working on our order. She was apologetic and explained that they were very busy. I looked up to see only one other table occupied and thought to myself...busy? She did offer us a piece of cake, which I declined. I do remember from my high school history classes someone famous making a similar offer. The food did finally arrive, and I will give them a five for presentation, but my sandwich had the thinnest slice of meat i have ever seen. If I was blindfolded, you never would have convinced me that there was meat on that sandwich. The taste was overpowered by the dressing. I tried to like it but gave up after a few bites. My wife did say that her salad was okay. She is very sweet, and it takes a lot for her to not like a place. I live locally and like to support local businesses, but I won't be back...

The Bernklau in Sandpoint comes close to exceeding expectations. The atmosphere is modern and refined without feeling overdone. Inside, the space is clean and well-designed, and there’s plenty of outdoor seating for nicer days.

It’s an order-at-the-counter, take-a-number setup. Our order got mixed up, which caused a bit of a delay and some confusion, but one of the employees, Amelia, was quick to step in and make things right. She handled the issue with patience, offered a sincere apology, and made sure we got exactly what we ordered. On top of that, she gave us thoughtful recommendations that ended up being spot on.

The crepes were a hit across the board. We tried a few varieties, both sweet and savory, and each one was well-balanced, well-prepared, and clearly a foundation on the menu.

There seemed to be plenty of staff working, so the hiccup with the order felt more like a coordination issue than anything else.

If there’s one improvement to suggest, it would be to add a proper menu to their website. Having that online would make it easier to plan ahead.

All in all, The Bernklau is a stylish and promising spot that’s well worth visiting...

A Rare Find in the Mountains

Tucked away in the charm of Sandpoint, this coffee shop feels like a secret you almost want to keep to yourself—but it’s too good not to share.

The atmosphere alone is worth the visit—warm, inviting, mountain-modern. It’s the kind of place where time slows down just enough to let you breathe.

But what truly blew me away was the baristas. I’ve been to coffee shops all over, and very few have staff this knowledgeable. We’re talking next-level expertise—not just about beans and brews, but about flavor profiles, extraction methods, even the nuances of regional roasts. Most baristas would nod politely and offer you a dark roast. These folks walk you through the experience of coffee.

And then there’s the wine. The selection is simple but elegant—every bottle feels intentionally chosen, like someone with real taste curated it for just the right vibe.

The coffee? Impeccable. Smooth, complex, balanced. Not one bitter note, just pure satisfaction.

If you’re in Sandpoint and you care about quality—go here. Sit, sip, and soak in the mountain magic. You’ll understand...