Cedars Floating Restaurant

“We really enjoyed the food, salad bar and nice views of the lake! We easily made reservations for 4:30 PM online. At this time of day it was not too busy and not loud. The wait staff was very attentive and friendly.”

“A must-visit in the area! I travel often and dine out frequently, so I tend to look for local restaurants that offer something distinctive rather than chain experiences. The Cedars Floating Restaurant is exactly that — a place that reflects the character of Coeur d’Alene. Location & Access The restaurant sits directly on the Spokane River near Post Falls Dam. Parking is straightforward, but once you arrive you’ll walk across a fairly long dock/bridge to reach the restaurant, which is literally floating on the water. When water is released from the dam, the entire structure rises and falls with the river level, which is a pretty unique feature. Ambiance – 5 stars for this category Inside, the design leans into a warm Northwest lodge style with natural wood tones and large windows overlooking the river. The setting is scenic and relaxed rather than overly formal. There’s also a covered outdoor patio. Menu & Food The menu is a well-balanced surf-and-turf lineup—steaks, seafood, and regional specialties. The cedar plank salmon is a signature dish and something I’ll try next time. One feature that stands out is the salad bar, which is well stocked and offered as an option with an entrée. My meal arrived perfectly cooked and at the right temperature, something I personally care about. I took pictures of the prime rib, the crème brûlée, and the bread (delicious and warm, by the way), but didn’t photograph the shrimp with mango because we ate it immediately. Wine & Drinks The wines are on display as you enter. The wine list leans toward Washington State wines, with familiar additions like Decoy, J. Lohr, and Powers, which pair well with most of the menu. I didn’t notice any ports. Service – 5 stars Service was friendly, attentive, and well paced without being intrusive, allowing the meal to feel relaxed rather than rushed. Things to Know Before You Go • The restaurant is primarily open for dinner (no breakfast or lunch), and hours can vary seasonally. • Reservations are recommended. • You will need to walk across the dock to access the floating restaurant, which may be a consideration for some guests. • Pets are not allowed. • Dress is generally casual to smart casual. Bottom line: This is a memorable stop in the Coeur d’Alene area, and I definitely recommend it.”

“The place is nice and not noisy. We ordered the 12 oz New York Steaks, one with garlic mashed potatoes and one with baked potato. The steaks were tender and cooked as ordered. Good flavor. The service was great, very attentive, but not annoying. Was seated quickly and water glasses were filled promptly. Was able to browse the menu and order was taken quickly. The price is a little spendy, but it was a special occasion and it was worth it. I would definitely come back.”

“The serving staff are very friendly, helpful and courteous. The salad bar is adequate. My daughter and I both ordered their popular prime rib. We asked for medium but it came very well done. We don’t return it as we are very conscious about eating food but I could barely eat half of it and my daughter less than a third. Such reputable restaurant should be able to have chefs than can get prime rib cooking right. It’s not difficult. It wasn’t slightly off but way off. Very disappointing. Spoiled our birthdays celebrations.”

“The view and atmosphere is fantastic, coming here in the evening for dinner was a great experience but… The food isn’t great, I had a New York Steak and it just wasn’t that great of a steak, hard to chew, with good flavoring but not enough I’d have to say. The plates and utensils need to be cleaned better, many dirty plates at the salad bar and utensils had rice in between the fork and visible fingerprints all over the knife. If they could just do a more thorough clean it would be much appreciated. The servers were great and removed plates promptly as well as taking care of replacing utensil effortlessly. The non-alcoholic mocktails and other drinks are tasty and well crafted.”