Papa Bird's is very hard to find, their sign is not up yet, it used to have another name, and the phone books do not even list the place, but if you find yourself in Bonner's Ferry Idaho, about 30 miles south of the Canadian border on route 2, stop and by all means eat here and savor Italian food presented in an unpretentious atmosphere by a very talented chef. We stumbled onto this place through the recommendation of the front desk clerk, who also was dining there.

Papa Bird's brings the best of Tuscany to the far inland Northwest. Pizza seems to be the staple, but the pasta dishes are fabulous and very under priced! Papardelle with vodka cream sauce and hot garlic zucchini was my choice. My wife had three cheese and meat and spinach lasagna. Each was a very ample half-order, coming with a Gorgonzola-topped mixed green salad.

We shared a very reasonably priced bottle of Columbia Crest Washington State Two Vines Cabernet, (2005) and managed dessert--a chocolate vision of heaven.

Pull off the main road (not hard to do) at the Best Western and walk through the tunnel to the mall and Papa Bird's--you will not be disappointed. You will be treated to top drawer Italian at Olive Garden prices! Maybe their sign will be up.

Bellisimo!!!!!