Dining Out- Indulgent Breakfast

Dining Out- Indulgent Breakfast, by Susan Hamilton
Pacific Northwest Inlander, October 11, 2006

Maggie's South Hill Grill

Maggie Watkins has been in the restaurant business since she was 16 years old. Cheffing at L.A.'s Hard Rock Café and Wolfgang Puck's gave her a lot of experience in restaurant kitchens. So how does Spokane compare to L.A.'s brunch scene?

"Within 10 minutes of my house in L.A., there were so many ethnic restaurants," Watkins says. "There were places where you could get 40 different tacos and 50 kinds of tequila. Spokane doesn't have as many places that offer brunch. That's why I decided to have it at Maggie's."

The cozy, upper South Hill restaurant is a stylish mixture of sit-down bistro and fast-food café. The dining room, bathed in golden yellow and adorned with wrought iron filigree pieces, is very kid friendly. Maggie's also offers an outdoor seating area.

"Our concept is casual, quick and great food," Watkins explains. "We want everyone who comes here to feel comfortable, whether you're dressed for the symphony or you've just come from working on your house.

"You decide how fast or slow your meal and experience will be at Maggie's," Watkins continues. "It's fun and different because table service is provided after you order at the counter."

Brunch at Maggie's includes a Mediterranean breakfast sandwich, with poached eggs, Fontana cheese, proscuitto and asparagus on grilled sourdough, topped with chipotle cream sauce. Besides eggs Benedict, served on Kansas City bacon, Watkins offers crab Benedict served on crab cakes.

"Our skillet scramble is a one-plate meal," she says. "It's got three eggs scrambled with potatoes, corn, jalapenos, sausage and a touch of curry."

The comforting apple-banana pancakes currently on the menu will be switched to pumpkin-walnut for the fall, Watkins says. Specials at Maggie's include French toast stuffed with cream cheese and topped with huckleberry sauce or biscuits with sausage patties and scrambled eggs.

"I want to provide South Hill families with an option for great meals in a hurry," Watkins says. "At Maggie's they can get a homemade, healthy breakfast."