Positive Pizza

"Upbeat" is a good word to describe the atmosphere at MACKENZIE RIVER PIZZA, located at Highway 95 and Canfield in Coeur d’Alene. Mackenzie might even give the nearby Olive Garden a run for its money.

MacKenzie offers a well-dressed package, typical of its parent company, Glacier Restaurant Group (which last year brought Ciao Mambo to Hayden). Expect a clean, semi-bright urban lodge: raw pine and brick, dark greens and browns, images of fly fishermen, suspended lighting, a perimeter of well-partitioned booths and open high-top seating along the handsome bar.

Although it looks like a chain, it feels friendly and almost local, with an abundance of servers and a family-friendly, boisterous vibe.

“The training to get in here was intense,” says server Brittany Wilson. Indeed, Glacier’s restaurants are known for their service, which was excellent the night we visited.

“We expect our employees to have an upbeat approach to life, and to come to work filled with positive energy,” intones MacKenzie’s Website. “Our guests can feel the difference.”

MacKenzie ups the ante with a range of sandwiches, salads and pasta like the Broadwater Bag — roasted chicken, basil-marinated tomatoes, prosciutto, garlic chunks and herbed olive oil over bowtie pasta ($12). Starters range from wings ($8) to Lodgepoles, their version of breadsticks ($3.75), to Rollino ($6.50) — pizza crusts of pepperoni, basil and mozzarella, served with marinara.

The Maverick sandwich ($8.50) features MacKenzie’s trademark bread — warmed sourdough or natural grain — topped with sliced beef, onions, peppers, mushrooms and provolone. Panini sandwiches like the chicken pesto ($9) or turkey pear ($8.50) sound good, too.

But how is the pizza? The Athenian (garlic, spinach, sliced tomato, roasted red onion, Kalamata olives, feta cheese) was full of flavor. Options range from the traditional Stockman (beef, pepperoni, bacon, sausage) to the Southwest-influenced Bell Ranch (fajita chicken, barbecue sauce, black beans, onion, jack cheese) to the outlandish Jamaican Jerk Chicken. All 21 standard pizzas and the create-your-own offering are available in small or large ($6.50-$15.25), with a slight upcharge for thin crust.
— CARRIE SCOZZARO

MacKenzie River Pizza Company, 405 W. Canfield Ave., Coeur d’Alene, is open daily 11 am-9 pm (Fri-Sat until 10 pm). Visit mackenzieriverpizza.com or call (208) 772-5111.