Mugsy's: Best burger, best place to get a cold beer, best waitress and best bartender

BONNERS FERRY -- Voted best burger, best bartender, best place to get a cold beer and best waitress for Boundary County is Mugsy’s Tavern and Grill, 7161 Main St. in Bonners Ferry. Owners Michael and Danielle Reasoner purchased Mugsy’s seven years ago.

In the warmer weather, one can sit on the patio and savor the fragrant flowers or the gorgeous wisteria. In 2010, the students from Boulder Creek Academy painted the amazing mural on the exterior of Mugsy’s depicting the wildlife in Boundary County.

Mugsy’s has the largest variety of beers on tap in town, including root beer. Mugsy’s also has a full bar with fine wine. A banquet room is available for larger parties upon request.

Reasoner, voted best waitress, believes that her business is best known for their customer service. She believes that acknowledging every single customer is the key to success.

“We are the Cheers of North Idaho,” she said.

Reasoner does not like her job, she loves it. Her passion for her business is shown in every detail -- including playing games with dining children. The passion is not just in her, but in her customers; customers from Calgary came in on their way home, but had to stop and give a hug to Reasoner and dine before passing through.

Seven years ago, Reasoner and her husband came out to Bonners Ferry to visit her brother. They fell in love with the area and wanted a slower pace of life. She began working at Mugsy’s as a waitress and after a short six months, the owners decided they were going to close. Reasoner had been in food service long enough to know that she wanted to purchase Mugsy’s.

She considers her biggest achievement once taking over Mugsy’s to be implementing her own burger recipe. She was able to prepare this recipe because of her past restaurant experiences.

“They (burgers) are my favorite. I would eat them everyday if I could,” smiled Danielle.

Reasoner is not the only one enjoying her time at work. The employees have theme nights which help keep the moral going, and often customers join in. Theme nights in the past have been 80’s Night, Biker’s Night and Hippie Night.

An interesting fact about Mugsy’s is that the building used to be a Texaco garage. The shape of the bays is still visible today.

Every morning, Reasoner recites her favorite saying to herself, “to create an environment and dining experience that promises and delivers personal guest satisfaction.”

Mugsy’s was also voted best bartender for Boundary County but Lisa Cooke, the winner has recently relocated out of the area.