Syringa Japanese Café and Sushi Bar has been satisfying locals since 2007, and since day one, owners Viljo and Autumn Basso have been serving guests the best sushi and modern Japanese cuisine North Idaho has to offer! High-quality, fresh ingredients and wonderful flavors are used in each dish they serve. With a flare for originality and excellence, this quaint little restaurant has set itself apart from the rest.
“We feel so blessed to be a part of this amazing community,” says Autumn. “We are fortunate to have a crew that is passionate about great service and providing our customer with a quality product.”
In 2016, the husband-and-wife team opened The Bluebird, a midtown eatery, which quickly gained a large following that continues to grow. Viljo and Autumn have delivered a casual neighborhood bistro-style restaurant offering a cozy rustic interior, with reclaimed warm rustic wood and metal, and vintage photographs decorating the walls. The Bluebird is an eclectic Northwest bistro—the menu inspired by the couple’s 20-plus years of culinary travels and adventures. Seasonal as much as possible, the menu items change frequently with specials offered weekly, allowing diners to try something new each time they visit.
“We have a daily scallop special and the tater tot poutine (Cougar gold cheese sauce, pork belly and green onion),” says Autumn. “Our fried chicken (breast, thigh, leg and wing with honey miso glaze and pickle) is a must try. And you can’t pass up dessert. Kayla Carey, the manager of our White Pine Coffee Shoppe, makes the desserts for The Bluebird, and she just works magic.”
To accompany the deliciously unique menu, The Bluebird has an outstanding wine list offering incredible selections from all over the world. In addition to the wine, they have a great selection of beer, ciders and sours.
The Bluebird has found its home in Coeur d’Alene’s midtown, and the neighborhood couldn’t be happier. “Our goal was to open the kind of restaurant we like to dine at and bring more dining variety to Coeur d’Alene,” says Autumn. And guests continue to eat it up.
When it comes to what makes both Syringa and The Bluebird distinct, Viljo says, “At each place, we’ve had the ability to create, in our small place, a friendly local neighborhood vibe. The food is unique, the customers are unique and the employees are unique.”
More is on the horizon for Viljo and Autumn, as Syringa will make its new home in its bigger location just up the street at 1710 N. Fourth St., in the former Bistro On Spruce location. Set to open by 2019, Autumn says she loves the new restaurant space, and they plan to “Syringa-fy” it.
“We hope the transition to the bigger place is fairly seamless for our customers,” she says. “We are still going to be a local neighborhood restaurant with the same friendly faces.”
The new location offers guests ample parking, has more seating and a private banquet room, which Autumn says they hope to rent out in the future. She adds, “We’re really excited to be next to Slate Creek and the Corner Bar!” They will continue to host beer and winemaker dinners (at both Syringa and The Bluebird), and customers can keep up with upcoming events on their Facebook and Instagram page.
Whether you take a seat at Syringa or The Bluebird, Viljo, Autumn and their staff are ready to serve you and help create a memorable—and delicious—dining experience.
The Bluebird
Midtown Coeur d’Alene
816 N. Fourth St.
208.665.3777
Syringa Japanese Café & Sushi Bar
Coeur d’Alene
1401 N. Fourth St.
208.664.2718
Syringa Japanese Cafe & Sushi Bar
New Location Coming Winter 2018/2019!
Coeur d’Alene
(Corner of Fourth and Spruce) 1710 N. Fourth St.