This place was recommended from our close friends in Ponderay who know how I like a good B&G plate from time to time. My wife and I stopped by here yesterday for a late breakfast in which I ordered the B&G plate with a side of 2 over-medium eggs. My wife ordered the Denver omellet. They didn't disappoint. The biscuits were a little dry and crumbly but the gravy made up for it. Good texture and flavor but don't forget to add a little hot sauce. My wife enjoyed her Denver. I tried it and it was solid. BTW, a ton of food. Get a to-go box even though I'm a fat guy in which I powered through mine. For me, this place is right up my alley. No frills. Just a old timey hole in a wall place that serves the comfort foods that I like. Service is great, place appears to be clean, and didn't upset my stomach after eating there. 4.5 stars out of 5. Highly recommend for like-minded individuals like myself! Cheers! read more

Hoot Owl Cafe - Denver Omelette w/ white toast - Diners Near Me - Ponderay, Idaho

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A laid back folksy vibe with witticisms on the wall. Service is pleasant, the smiles seem genuine. The biscuits and gravy w/eggs medium, and four link sausages were spot on and the portions generous. My friend had the corned beef hash, hash brown potatoes with eggs; pancake on the side. They've got it dialed in. With coffee bill came $37. read more

Finally went here! I love diners, and even I am stunned why it took so long, but generally I'm not a breakfast@breakfasttime guy. I asked our lovely Hostess/Server what do I want between a Traditional Benny and a Club? It was early enough in the AM, and she didn't hesitate---Benny. Too much goodness, and a box to go for those nice hash browns. Wifey had what might be the largest Sammie I've ever seen her hold for a pic (Irish BLT w/Corned Beef), and could only eat half. These folks are professionals for the 5AM to 2PM crowd. Thankfully, that also happens on a Saturday morning when we're camping in the area... read more

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Stopped by The Hoot Owl Cafe' on a Saturday for lunch. I had my heart set on a sandwich with soup so I was disappointed to find out that there's no soup on the weekend. The place was busy but we were seated right away. We were given water and menus right away along with our iced tea. Then we had a little bit of a wait but it wasn't too bad. We decided to split a triple-decker club sandwich with fries. It was DELICIOUS and plenty for the two of us. (We can eat a lot but we're trying to be good. lol.) The cafe' is decorated with owls everywhere you look. It's cute. I read that they have great weekday lunch specials. We will definitely be back. read more

I thought it was a little spendy until I saw the portions, my breakfast would have fed 2 easy, maybe 3 people. Good food and excellent service, well done. read more

The Hoot Owl is what you'd expect for a diner experience. Upon entering, I was greeted by the staff and the booths of older folks and the wonderful smell of hot coffee. It is a cute, quaint place. Being an older building and a restaurant that has run for many years, there are some things that have fallen through the cracks, like neglecting to clean the windowsill of dead flies. Not the most pleasant site right next to our booth. Service was friendly and quick. We had our food in no time. I got the Eggs Benedict and my husband got the Chicken Fried Steak. Food was mediocre and the portions were unnecessarily huge. read more

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We were back at the Hoot Owl during our recent trip to Sandpoint. Everything was just as we remembered it: Huge portions, friendly service and roomy booths. We enjoyed typical breakfast staples, which were delicious. This time we sampled the Cinnamon Roll as Big as Your Face. That was no lie and we wolfed it down. The best breakfast near town!!! read more

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This place is a local staple and I was super excited to try it but was left extremely disappointed. I'm not sure if maybe the community is blinded by nostalgia or loyalty since it's been here forever, but I really couldn't find anything redeeming about this place except the incredibly kind and hard working staff. It's a bit of a greasy spoon, which I usually love in a charming cozy way but this wasn't that, it just feels kinda sad, dirty, and old. The food was terrible... like the worst hash browns I've ever had terrible. But I tried to give everything an open mind and both my fiancé and I just plain didn't like any of the food we ordered. Maybe it's a personal preference thing but it genuinely boggles my mind whenever this place comes up as the best breakfast in town because in my honest opinion it just isn't even close. read more

Great service great atmosphere. Had the messy burger with fries and iced tea. Staff was awesome and the food was great too!

What a great find! Super cute restaurant with a HUGE menu, great food, and big portions. You can't go wrong here. Make sure to check the specials. read more

We were visiting the area and found this place on Yelp. It's the kind of place I like to find in any town. It's the kind of place locals go to on their way to work regularly. Just a small hole in the wall breakfast place with really good food and friendly service. I passed on my standard Chicken fried steak and eggs for a similar Dels chicken. Basically the same but chicken instead. It was great. She ordered the Taco Breakfast Burrito which was awesome. I had to get a pancake on the side and they make a good pancake. If your visiting Sandpoint it is worth the short drive to get a great breakfast. read more

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My family from Arizona came, and I sent them the The "Hoot", they said the staff was so friendly /, the food was fantastic, and could feed an army. They said they saw how Papa Kohal was treated, and they said this place is so rare! We love the hoot owl café! ​​ read more

Unreal sizes and taste is extraordinary! Best hidden Gem in North Idaho! Very reasonable prices! read more

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When my family and I were first looking to relocate to north Idaho, our real estate agent recommended this place rather emphatically. It has since become a semi regular place for us when we're looking for breakfast or lunch of the sort that ends up being just about the only meal we'll eat that day. I can't recommend it from experience, but Green Eggs & Ham is what really put Hoot Owl on the map. But for my money, it doesn't get much better than their Ranch Burger. Breakfast or lunch, that's my go to along with an endless cup of coffee and tall glass of ice water. Whoever decided to mix ranch dressing and barbecue sauce deserves and Nobel effing Peace Prize. My wife has tried a number of their omelette and scramble offerings and never been disappointed. And then there's the cinnamon rolls. Brace yourself because it's literally the size of your face. Dripping in frosting and served with roughly half a cube of whipped butter, the cinnamon roll is an event unto itself, and definitely a prime item for sharing with the table. The atmosphere is very cozy and...Rural. It feels like something out of a period film; very down to earth and eclectic with lots of owl knickknacks all over the place. If you've a bad back or bad posture, I'd recommend a table over a booth as the booths are a little short in the seat and very straight backed. Parking is usually not bad, even when they're busy (which is often), but it's in a dirt lot that shares its real estate with a drive through coffee shack. Lots of potholes at the entrance, so depending upon your vehicle, get ready to slalom a bit. The restaurant offers free WiFi to guests and is relatively kid friendly with plenty of high chairs, decks of cards at the table, etc. Service has always been friendly and expedient. They recently started tacking on a 3% surcharge for card transactions, but if you pay cash you get a discount...Of 3%. Heh. Anyway, if you're in the area and you want a big meal at a decent price, this place is fantastic. Forgot to mention prices, but a half pound specialty burger with fries ranges $13-$16, and similar pricing on other entree menu items. Get you some. read more

Absolutely fabulous food and great service! We found the restaurant on Yelp and loved it at first site - the building has so much character! The staff were welcoming, we met the owner, and the food was delicious. We highly recommend the Hoot Owl Cafe and we'll visit again when traveling through. read more

Hoot Owl Cafe - The Turkey Crunch - Diners Near Me - Ponderay, Idaho

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The Hoot Owl cafe is amazing with great service. The food is fresh and prepared with love. Met the owners today for the first time: They are great people. This is a must place to eat at. read more

Today was our first time at Hoot Owl Cafe & WOW, what took us so long?! It was very busy on a mid-Monday afternoon which is a great sign. We noticed big portions & delicious looking meals when we walked in. The food was absolutely amazing - perfectly seasoned, even my two year old was eating off of everyone's plates. Our server was so friendly and thoughtful as well. This is definitely our new go-to spot!! So worth the drive from CDA! Prices were awesome too! read more

This little place is the absolute bomb!!! It is the quintessential hole in the wall that you read and hear about. Food is yummy, prices right, and service is home town top notch. If you leave here hungry, you are not human. Very generous portions. Go. Your welcome. read more

The food was beyond good! We were only up there for a wedding for a couple days and we ate breakfast there both mornings because it was so good the previous day. The setup inside was really cute and they have signs hung up all over with funny sayings. Both waitresses we had over the weekend were super sweet and stayed on top of refilling our coffees and checking up on us. read more

Hoot Owl Cafe - This is the Hot Totty scramble. - Diners Near Me - Ponderay, Idaho

We are now hearing the owl hoot anytime we are near. It calls, "You know you want my amazing food! How about a waffle!" LOL We are now hooked on the Hoot Owl. Their Liege Waffle will make you melt right in the booth. You won't believe the glory you are tasting. Eggs Benedict is amazing with portions that will fill a mountain man. The service is superb and with smiling faces. The ambiance is an old fashioned diner, but feels like everyone in there is your neighbor and you are all happy to see each other. It's a warm, friendly, delicious experience. Don't miss out on one of the finest experiences in all of the panhandle. read more

Mary and I stopped in for breakfast on Saturday, our first visit. This building has been here for a long time and looks the part, the inside is eclectic and worn, but with old style charm. While worn, everything was clean. We were greeted by friendly staff and seated; the coffee came right out. We split and order of the Hashbrowns Supreme; hashbrowns with peppers, onions, scrambled eggs, ham, cheese, and topped with country gravy. A huge serving came out, even split on two plates, each was enough for two people, it was delicious! Get in here and give this place a try. read more

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Awesome food. I do have one suggestion though you may not want to eat the day before. Portions are huge

Best little greasy spoon in town so good that when you get there, you might even have to wait to get in but trust me it's worth the wait. Don't go anywhere else! Staff is super friendly and the food is delicious. read more

I'd like to say don't come here but only because I want it all to myself!! This place has all the charm, taste, and love of your grandmas house! Don't pass this one up read more

Food and service were amazing! We were there for breakfast, my husband had the corned beef hash & i had the sausage links. So very good, huge amount. So good my husband wanted to come back for lunch. read more

Great breakfast! Had the Bomb Diddy which was in fact bomb. Fun friendly service. Wish I lived here so I could try everything!

We stopped here for lunch while waiting for paperwork to be completed on a purchase. Food was GREAT! Service was terrible. I asked for coffee and it took quite some time to get it. I even asked twice. They did apologize after they finally brought it. Then it took almost 20 minutes to get them to let us check out and get to go food containers. Nobody ever came back after our food was served, and ask how it was, or ask if I wanted a refill on my coffee. read more

Couple years later and nothing's changed. That's a GOOD thing, too! Fabulous people here making fantastic food at small town prices. If you like home style food with the friendliest staff, you will not be disappointed. CFS was so big I had to take half of it home! The gravy was near perfection with big chunks of sausage and a good peppery zing. The wife had the Redneck Benedict which also came topped with sausage gravy. That, too was a pretty good sized portion. Nothing I would change here... absolutely nothing! read more

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Hoot owl is the tits. 5 stars. Great staff, consistent food. Definitely go here. Unless you are mean, then go away. read more

Hoot Owl Cafe - Breakfast burger (no bun) - Diners Near Me - Ponderay, Idaho

What else can I say about the Hoot Owl that hasn't already been said by others? Homemade, huge portions, fresh and delicious. Service was great. The waitresses were constantly walking around and offering coffee or anything else we needed. This place has been around forever and it looks that way because of the decor, but the allure is real. I have been here many times and it's still amazing. If you want to eat great food and feel uncomfortably full the rest of the day, then come here. Breakfast is key but if you have things to do, I would suggest ordering the half orders or take food home. Don't try and finish it like I do every time. Time for a nap! read more

OH Loved - This Place Love Love... TIP: Come on Free Cookie Friday... It was like a blueberry muffin cookie (Muffooki?) We had a group that expanded at the restaurant to 8 to 10... We loved the food, the people cool & service too Our team ate various breakfast to lunch items - BLT, Pigs in the blanket, I had the corn beef hash/Eggs - SCrumptous - where is pictures - got to take more LOL Nice stop, nice people and guest - clean good ez access to the road read more

It's been my experience that any eatery with a dirt parking lot is gonna be great. The Hoot Owl did not disappoint! The rustic charm is welcoming. The food is delicious. The staff are very friendly. read more

Delicious breakfast with wonderful service- I had the green eggs and ham and it was so good! read more

Hoot Owl Cafe - Green Eggs and Ham - Diners Near Me - Ponderay, Idaho

Four stars for massive quantities of greasy spoon comfort food in a divey setting busting with charm. Honestly the food is not great but there's a shit-ton of it. I appreciate this. You may not. The quality is on par with truck stop food. Get the half order of chicken fried steak if you want what's a usual "full order" at any other restaurant. Get the full order of you want to share. The gravy has that artificial, oily-slick quality to it that indicates to me origins in a concentrate where you just add water. Not great, but it hits the spot if you know what you're getting. Steak itself was fine. Biscuits are quite good. Toast is fine and the "butter" is not butter, but some cheap margarine/oil blend that is butter-like. My eggs were cooked to spec and swimming in oil. Hashbrowns were very good and crisp. Soda comes in a can and will cost you two whole fucking dollars which shouldn't outrage me but it does. Cinnamon roll is pretty big but not truly as big as my face... Maybe two cells phones lying side by side. It tasted pretty good and had good texture. It's a cinnamon roll. By the review so far you'd think I was throwing this place firmly under the bus. I'm not, just trying to be descriptive because if you come in looking for "four-star" quality in the food you'll be disappointed. The service was great and the atmosphere is home-grown and welcoming. There are ancient trivia cards at the table to impress your friends and lovers with your knowledge of "When Harry Met Sally" and the life and times of Gerald Ford. And again, the portions were massive, which was exactly what I was craving on a cold, rainy, shitty Saturday morning during this sad sack "winter" of 23/24. It hit the spot and I enjoyed the humble environs. Pay cash if you want brownie points with the business owner. read more

We drive from Spokane just to have breakfast here a few times a year. Tasty, hearty portions and we've never been disappointed. Super friendly staff and quick to serve you. (The place is always busy) Warm, kitschy decor that always keeps us guessing what's new. They LOVE cash, but do accept card payment we'll be back again soon! read more

Hoot Owl Cafe - Traditional Eggs Benedict with shaved Black Forest ham - Diners Near Me - Ponderay, Idaho

What an amazing surprise this place was. Yes, from the outside it doesn't impress. The food and service were top notch! I had the homemade corned beef hash with eggs over easy and hashbrowns. Loved the hash, very clean and tasty. Hashbrowns were perfectly cooked as were the eggs. Wife had their unique version of eggs benedict. Amazing sauce! Really tasty. We'll be sure to return next time were near Sandlake. We were there near the end of their day and watched them spotlessly clean the whole establishment. How often do you see them invert the chairs and wipe down the legs thoroughly? read more

This small cafe is a well visited spot in Ponderay. It was very busy! When I finally got a seat, the service was fast. I ordered the corned beef hash, which was sadly mostly diced potatoes with corned beef mixed in. I was hoping for more meat. The hash browns were perfectly crisp and the eggs cooked to order. I was surprised by how great the sourdough bread toast was. I also ordered a giant cinnamon roll and Leige waffles to go. The cinnamon roll filled the entire styrofoam to go container! The Leige waffles were authentic. Just like how they make them in Europe. Crisp and hearty with sugar crystals melting in my mouth with every bite! They were so good that they didn't make the drive home. I will definitely come back for those waffles the next time I'm in town! read more

Hoot Owl Cafe - Corned Beef Hash, Hasbrowns, Eggs, Sourdough Toast - Diners Near Me - Ponderay, Idaho

Cute place. Service was very good and the food was great! Portions are huge! You could tell that people Love this place and they have many regulars. read more

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We've eaten here before, but not since the new owners took over. Breakfast was as delicious as it's ever been. My dad had Green Eggs and Ham. I had the Redneck Benny. His dish had a nice and thick slice of ham, topped with eggs, pesto, fresh spinach, and slices of bright green avocado. Mine was a fluffy and flavorful biscuit topped with a fried egg, sausage patty, and sausage and pepper gravy that was rich and creamy. The coffee is hot and the service is great. read more

Hoot Owl Cafe - Redneck Benny - Diners Near Me - Ponderay, Idaho

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They were quite busy on a Thursday late morning. Kimberley provided excellent service and fabulous retorts! The menu is extensive with lots of really cool specials. Making a decision was hard. But we started with iced coffee and a monstrous cinnamon roll - it was one of the best we've had. Patrick chose the breakfast hamburger - it was pretty decent. I had the green eggs and ham - ham steak covered with cheese, eggs scrambled with lots of green veggies. It was pretty rich - I could only eat half. Of course, the cinnamon roll might have contributed to that! I also love that it's a family business - the youngsters working were extremely attentive to refills, bussing plates, and rolling silverware. Love that work ethic! Great rustic charm. read more