A new small plates restaurant and bar concept called Global Kitchen Tapas & Wine opened early this month, at 309 Lakeside, in Coeur d’Alene. 

Co-owned by Jason Rex and Jake DeWitt, the business features a menu with a variety of small Spanish-style savory dishes known as tapas, as well as wine and beer.

Rex is the owner of Collective Kitchen at 501 Sherman, and DeWitt has 16 years of experience in the restaurant industry.

“There weren’t any of this style of restaurant in our area yet, and we saw it as a really fun concept,” says DeWitt. “It’s kind of cool because everyone’s able to share food, chat, and have a good time. Our Dungeness crab and calamari are the biggest hits.”

DeWitt says the business has about a dozen employees and occupies a newly remodeled, 3,500-square-foot space formerly occupied by an Italian restaurant.

“We did all of the remodeling ourselves, basically putting in a new kitchen, redoing the bar, and adding new décor,” he says.

DeWitt says so far, the restaurant has been well received in the community.

“It’s been really great,” he says. “Right now, we mostly host private events, but as we get going, we’ll probably pick out some fun things to be a part of.”