In 2011, Chad and Meggie Foust decided to leave the fast-paced lifestyle of Seattle and move “home” to Northern Idaho. Their dream was to raise their son Lou in a small town surrounded by natural beauty. When the chance arose to open a waterfront restaurant in Hope, Idaho, the timing could not have been more ideal. They left their jobs and relocated to Sandpoint.
“It was a big jump,” according to Meggie, “but it was the perfect opportunity for Chad to fulfill his dream of running his own restaurant, while I could spend more time at home with our son.”
The casual waterfront restaurant featuring American fare opened its doors for seasonal dining in April 2011. Named after their son, Sweet Lou’s takes a simplistic approach; guests are greeted with a smile and provided with great food, drink and service. Their concept was quickly embraced, and just a year later, the husband-and-wife team opened their second location—Sweet Lou’s Restaurant and Bar in Ponderay.
This log cabin-style restaurant is where you will find home-style comfort food, made with high-quality ingredients, served in generous portions, all at a reasonable price. Add 20 HDTVs for great game viewing and a full bar featuring specialty drinks made with Moonshine and 16 beers on tap to the mix, and you’ve found the recipe for Sweet Lou’s success.
This past year, Chad and Meggie decided to close the doors to the original Hope location and expand Sweet Lou’s to Downtown Coeur d’Alene. In November 2016, Sweet Lou’s Restaurant and Tap House introduced itself to the neighborhood. Open daily, the offerings, service and standards remain consistent with their Ponderay location. You will find the same delicious menu paired with 32 beers on tap and a great wine selection, offered in a casual space that has a more modern and industrial look, but still offers that “welcome to my home” hospitality. And yes, the game will be on for your enjoyment here, too.
Chad is a very hands-on leader and oversees everything from the front of the house to the back of the house, which leads to great service and consistent quality on the plates they put in front of you.
“We are excited to be bringing our model to Coeur d’Alene,” says Chad. “Ninety-five percent of what we offer is made in house. We hand batter each onion ring, cut every steak and smoke all of our salmon, pork and ribs—including bison ribs—right in the kitchen.”
Meggie is a Coeur d’Alene native and is looking forward to being able to give back to the community that raised her. “We wouldn’t be where we are today without our friends and family in Coeur d’Alene,” she says. “It is an honor to have the ability to serve them our favorite dishes.”
Sweet Lou’s
Coeur d’Alene
601 E. Front St., Ste. 101
208.667.1170
Ponderay
477272 Highway 95
208.263.1381
