Coeur d’Alene couple continues to impress
By Jillian Chandler
For the past 13 years, Viljo and Autumn Basso have been serving up unique and distinct flavors to North Idaho diners—delighting the taste buds of locals and visitors alike day after day. Offering four distinct dining destinations, the couple is proud to provide each guest a unique—and delicious—meal, no matter where they choose to take a seat.
The first in line of their family of restaurants was Syringa Japanese Café and Sushi Bar. Satisfying customers since 2007, Viljo and Autumn have been serving guests the best sushi and modern Japanese cuisine North Idaho has to offer! Using only fresh high-quality ingredients and wonderful flavors in each dish they serve, guests will taste the difference. And with a flair for originality and excellence, Syringa continues to stand apart from the rest.
Down the street from Syringa is where you will find The Bluebird, a midtown eatery, which the husband-and-wife team opened in 2016. It quickly gained a large following that continues to flourish. In their endeavor, Viljo and Autumn have delivered a casual neighborhood bistro-style restaurant. The Bluebird is an eclectic Northwest bistro—the menu inspired by the couple’s 25 years of culinary travels and adventures. “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. Seasonal as much as possible, the menu items change frequently with specials offered weekly, allowing diners to try something new each time they visit. Whether you choose to stop in for lunch or dinner, the menu selections are sure to please. Pair your meal with a glass of wine from their outstanding wine list or something from their great selection of beer, ciders and sours. And for those wine lovers, they invite you to join their monthly wine club.
If you’re looking for a strong brew and freshly made baked treats, stop in next door, where you’ll find The White Pine, midtown’s favorite coffee café since 2018. Serving up DOMA Coffee, all syrups are house made with no artificial ingredients, and the delicious fresh pastries are baked in-house daily. From croissants and scones to macarons and more, it's the perfectly quaint little spot to warm you up on a cool summer morning or brisk fall day.
When dining options offered by the couple seemed like they couldn’t get any better, the Bassos added yet another restaurant to the mix—Monarch Ramen + Noodle House. Opened fall of 2019, the intimate and casual 42-seat restaurant features a menu of house-specialty ramen and noodle dishes (including “build-your-own” ramen), as well as a variety of small-plate options. “We are excited to have filled a void and bring new flavors to town,” states Autumn.
Whether you take a seat at Syringa, The Bluebird, Monarch or White Pine, Viljo, Autumn and their staff are ready to serve you and help create a dining experience you’ll savor.
“We feel so blessed to be a part of this amazing community,” says Autumn.
Monarch Ramen + Noodle House
1401 N. Fourth St.
Coeur d'Alene
208.966.4230
The White Pine
814 N. Fourth St.
Midtown Coeur d'Alene
208.966.4131
The Bluebird
816 N. Fourth St.
Midtown Coeur d’Alene
208.665.3777
Syringa Japanese Café + Sushi Bar
1710 N. Fourth St.
Coeur d’Alene
208.664.2718
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