Food Notes: Sweetwater's Tropic Zone opens in Downtown Boise

Editor's Note: Due to a family emergency and some equipment woes, Sweetwater's Tropic Zone, 205 N. 10th St., Boise, will not open this weekend as planned. Look for the Island cuisine themed restaurant to open on Thursday, July 16.

Sweetwater's Tropic Zone, 205 N. 10th St., Boise, which plans a menu of island cuisine with spicy dishes from the equator, will have its soft opening starting Friday, July 10. A grand opening will come later this summer.

Owners Sue and Joe Zimmerman and Nathan Drake spiffed up the former MilkyWay spot with bright and colorful decor and the expected fish art on the walls.

The Zone will serve up exotic bites inspired by Trinidadian, Jamaican, Cuban, Polynesian and Hawaiian cuisine. Expect menu items such as Gator Tots and Conch Fish Fritters. The fish will be flow in by Jet Fresh daily, Drake said.

The restaurant also will feature a raw bar up stairs with a variety of fresh oysters and will serve tropical wine drinks and island beers, such as Carib. Once the owners finish their search for a liquor license, look out for the rum.

Hours: Lunch will be from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, with a light menu served until 4:30 p.m when dinner starts. The restaurant will close at midnight Monday through Thursday and 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday.

MORE DOWNTOWN DOINGS

Taj Mahal Indian Restaurant, 10548 W. Fairview Ave., Boise, will take over the space vacated by Gino's Grill at 150 N. 8th St.

Sohail Ishaq hopes to have the new Taj Mahal open by the end of July.

Shige Japanese Cuisine will open a steakhouse concept across the veranda and should be open by mid-August, owner Shige Matsuzawa said.

The two restaurants plan to work with area artists to redo the atrium interior, which currently is decorated with Fred Choate's trompe l'oeil and faux finishes.

Also, another Japanese restaurant and sushi bar will open in Downtown soon.

The locally owned Osaka Japanese Sushi and Bar will take over the space formerly occupied by Tacabi - aka Koi - in The Mode Building at 8th and Idaho Streets.

General manager Jeff Kempthorne, formerly of Happy Fish Sushi, says they will have this new venture up and running by August.

KIDS EAT FREE AT TACO DEL MAR IN JULY

All Taco Del Mar locations will serve children 12 and younger after 5 p.m. each day. Receive one free kid's meal with the purchase of an adult meal at the regular price. Kid's meals come with a Kids Kit book, filled with earth-friendly projects and riddles.

There are seven Taco Del Mar locations in the Valley. Find a location at www.tacodelmar.com.

WINE DINNER

Winemaker Scott DeSeelhorst of Snake River Winery shows his chops, sautes and inventive side in cooking a wine dinner at Life's Kitchen, 1025 S. Capitol Blvd., Boise. DeSeelhorst will create a Mediterranean Nights-themed meal paired with his Snake River wines. The evening benefits Life's Kitchen, a program that teaches at-risk youth culinary and life skills. 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 17. $75 per person. RSVP by Monday, July 13, at 331-0199.

COCKTAIL LAUNCH

The Modern Bar has unveiled its latest in the Trey McIntyre Project cocktail series created by mixologist Michael Bowers. If you stop by, you can try the exotic Lia and the unpretentious Jason, cocktails named for dancers Lia Cirio and Jason Hartley. Bowers created the drinks for the 9+1 art exhibition in May, in which artists working in diverse media created visual, literary and culinary artworks inspired by the dance company.

Submit dining-related news doland@idahostatesman.com.