BARDENAY - EAGLE

155 E. Riverside Drive, Eagle, 938-5093

www.bardenay.com

What do you have to be getting right to be the top vote-getter — by a wide margin — again in this category?

Everything.

When Bardenay owner Kevin Settles opened this location in 2004, he pulled off a sweet trick. When you’re relaxing on its expansive deck, it’s easy to forget that you’re in the middle of a busy commercial district. The sound of the river rushing by might be the loudest thing you’ll hear.

“So many patios seem to be in noisy places,” Settles says. “And here, you’re not sucking up car fumes.”

The expansive drink and food menus also are big draws. And while it’s trendy to think local, here you can drink local, too. The gin is made at the Eagle Bardenay, the rum comes from the Bardenay in Downtown Boise and the vodka is produced at the Bardenay in Coeur d’Alene.

The attentive staff play a key role in the Bardenay patio experience, too, from adjusting umbrellas for just the right amount of shade to hooking you up with sunscreen.

“You can have the best spot in the world, but if you don’t have decent service, you’re not going to reap the benefits,” Settles says.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

• Reef, 105 S. 6th St., Boise, 287-9200, www.reefboise.com

• Cottonwood Grille, 913 W. River St., Boise, 333-9800, www.cottonwoodgrille.com

• Bardenay - Boise, 610 W. Grove St., Boise, 426-0538, www.bardenay.com

• Lucky 13, 3662 S. Eckert Road, Boise, 344-6967, www.lucky13pizza.com