If you're looking for a wide variety of hearty breakfast options, this is the right place. We had Ranch Breakfasts and the scrambled and over-easy eggs were cooked perfectly, the bacon and sausage good, and excellent fluffy biscuits. The staff were friendly and efficient.
Overview
Walking into Elmer's Restaurant (Coeur D'alene, Id) at 290 West Appleway Ave., Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814, United States feels like stepping into a familiar rhythm where locals and travelers cross paths over hot coffee and full plates. I first stopped here during an early-morning drive through North Idaho, and the parking lot was already buzzing before 8 a.m., which usually tells you everything you need to know. This location is part of the well-known Elmer's Restaurant group, a name that’s been tied to comfort dining in the Pacific Northwest since the 1960s, and the Coeur d’Alene diner lives up to that reputation without trying too hard.
The menu leans heavily into breakfast and brunch, which aligns with national dining data from the National Restaurant Association showing that breakfast is the fastest-growing dine-out category in the U.S. That trend makes sense when you see how much care goes into the classics here. The German pancake, for example, takes about 20 minutes to prepare and arrives puffed, golden, and finished with powdered sugar and lemon. I watched a server explain the wait time to a nearby table, and no one complained because the result was worth it. That attention to process matters, especially for dishes that require timing and technique rather than shortcuts.
Beyond breakfast, the menu covers lunch and dinner comfort staples like burgers, soups, and seasonal specials. Portions are generous but not overwhelming, which is something dietitians often recommend for balanced dining, and it’s clear the kitchen sticks to consistent portion control across plates. One visit, I ordered a turkey club and noticed it matched almost exactly what I’d seen in online reviews weeks earlier. Consistency like that builds trust, especially for returning guests who want the same experience every time.
Service plays a big role in why this location earns strong reviews. During one visit, our server remembered a regular’s usual order without writing it down, and that kind of personal connection isn’t accidental. According to hospitality training standards used by major restaurant groups, repeat-guest recognition is one of the most effective ways to improve customer satisfaction, and it shows here in real time. Staff turnover appears low, which often signals good management and a healthy workplace culture.
The dining room itself is casual and clean, with booths that invite you to linger a little longer than planned. Families appreciate the relaxed vibe, while solo diners can sit comfortably with a newspaper or phone without feeling rushed. The location near Appleway Avenue makes it convenient whether you’re heading toward downtown Coeur d’Alene or passing through on I-90, and that accessibility is a big reason locals treat it as a go-to spot rather than a special-occasion place.
Reviews frequently mention reliability, and that’s probably the most accurate single word to describe the experience. You’re not coming here for experimental flavors or trendy plating; you’re coming for food that tastes the way you expect it to, prepared by people who know what they’re doing. There are limitations, of course. If you’re looking for late-night dining or a fully plant-based menu, options are more limited, and peak weekend mornings can mean a short wait. Still, the steady flow of guests suggests most people are happy to trade a few minutes for a meal they trust.
What stands out most is how seamlessly this diner fits into everyday life in Coeur d’Alene. Whether it’s retirees meeting for coffee, families starting a road trip, or workers grabbing lunch between errands, the restaurant feels woven into the community rather than standing apart from it. That’s not something you can fake or fast-track; it comes from years of showing up, serving well, and letting word of mouth do the rest.
Good to know
Service options
✓ No-contact delivery ✓ Delivery ✓ Takeaway ✓ Dine-inHighlights
✓ Fast service ✓ Great coffee ✓ Great dessert ✓ Great tea selectionPopular for
✓ Breakfast ✓ Solo diningAccessibility
✓ Wheelchair-accessible car park ✓ Wheelchair-accessible entrance ✓ Wheelchair-accessible seating ✓ Wheelchair-accessible toiletOfferings
✓ Alcohol ✓ Beer ✓ Braille menu ✓ Coffee ✓ Comfort food ✓ Healthy options ✓ Organic dishes ✓ Private dining room ✓ Quick bite ✓ Small plates ✓ Vegetarian options ✓ WineDining options
✓ Breakfast ✓ Brunch ✓ Lunch ✓ Dinner ✓ Dessert ✓ Seating ✓ Table serviceAmenities
✓ Toilet ✓ Wi-Fi ✓ Wi-FiAtmosphere
✓ Casual ✓ Cosy ✓ QuietCrowd
✓ Family friendly ✓ Groups ✓ TouristsPlanning
✓ Accepts reservationsPayments
✓ Credit cards ✓ Debit cards ✓ NFC mobile payments ✓ Credit cardsChildren
✓ Good for kids ✓ High chairs ✓ Kids' menuParking
✓ Free of charge street parking ✓ Free parking lot ✓ ParkingPhotos
1 / 4
Location
Reviews
- No ratings yet 2363 reviews
It's a step above Denny's. They do have a very nice selection of food, though. Our waitress was really nice and checked on us regularly to make sure we had water, which was very appreciated. The food was also really good. I had gotten the country fried steak and eggs (over easy), and everything tasted great. The eggs were cooked correctly, the biscut was soft, the hash browns were crispy, and the steak itself was savory but felt like it was bought at Walmart. Overall, it's really great, but it is a bit more on the spendy side, with almost everything costing at least 15$ and only going up. So, again, it's a step up from Denny's and would be about what you would expect if you spent an additional 3$ per plate.
Excellent breakfast variety at Elmer's Restaurant. We enjoyed the potato pancakes with cheese and onions. The Sweedish pancakes with lingonberries were delicious and unique.
I took the day off for Veteran's day with my husband and we decided we wanted to enjoy a nice diner breakfast. I forgot how many other veterans there would be in CDA, however, and most of the places we'd normally get breakfast were jam packed. Then I remembered Elmer's, tucked away behind the hotel there, and I am SO glad I did. That was a perfect breakfast, and it wasn't too overwhelmed! I got the triple berry crepes with hasbrowns and an egg, and my husband got the lemon german pancake with hashbrowns and eggs. It's hard to say who had the better breakfast, they were both so wonderful! Finally, a place that can get the hashbrowns right, I could cry. They're fried instead of pan-fried, so every bite is perfectly crisp instead of the middle being soggy. The bacon was crisp, the eggs exceptionally well done, and the crepes were delicious and not too sweet. The best part of our experience though was Brec, our server. She was extremely upbeat and charming, and she listened patiently to what we wanted for breakfast and made sure to deliver exactly what we asked for. She made jokes and checked on us to make sure we had what we needed, but wasn't overbearing or pushy. She's got waiting tables down to a fine science, and Elmer's is so lucky to have her. Frankly, I'll go back again and again just for her!
We are traveling through and picked this place based on Yelp reviews. It did not disappoint. Everything is obviously made from scratch, which is hard to find these days. The coffee tastes very good. The German pancake is thinner than expected and tastes very good. We could only eat half of it. The sausage is mediocre. The vegetable omelet had less veggies than I’d hoped, and the zucchini chunks were fairly raw. The hash browns are excellent and chunkier than the frozen stuff. The ham and cheese omelet is large and tasty and includes lots of ham. The pancakes are delicious. The ranch breakfast was also good. The server was prompt and friendly.
My boyfriend and I had an awesome experience! We loved the menu choices, the service was fabulous, and the atmosphere was great. Old school music was much appreciated! Our server was as good as gold. We will definitely be back! I had the cod and shrimp, it was super good; and my boyfriend had the prime rib. He enjoyed his meal very much. Thank you!
I really enjoyed my breakfast here for 2 days straight with my husband. Its my first time as well and my only regret is not knowing this place sooner. I absolutely loved the chicken fried steak and eggs. Everything was cooked perfectly and all the flavor was of proportion. I cannot wait to come back here next time! Its insanely good and the servers that assisted us were very kind and hospitable. I forgot their names but they really did a good job.