Citing ‘unbearable’ conditions, Eagle fine dining restaurant to close permanently

An Eagle restaurant known for Italian fine dining will shutter soon.

Bella Aquila, 775 S. Rivershore Lane, will close permanently after a last day Dec. 4. The locally owned restaurant, which offers window and patio views along the Boise River, opened in early 2009.

Owners Chad and Amy Cooper shared the news on Bella Aquila’s Facebook page Nov. 17. The announcement was made with “a heavy heart and much sadness,” Amy Cooper wrote.

“It has been a wonderful nearly 13 years,” she said, “but the conditions of operating a restaurant during a pandemic have become unbearable, so it’s time for us to move on.

“It’s been an honor and privilege to serve amazing food in a beautiful location to all of you. We have shared in your birthdays, holidays, weddings, anniversaries, baby showers, and also in your grief with memorial services and celebrations of life.

“We are grateful for your continued support throughout the years, including and especially during the lockdown last year with to-go orders that helped keep us going. We are grateful for our wonderful work family who is with us until the end, and some who have even come back to help us in our time of need. These last few weeks have been very much like ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’ ”

Known for its attractive location along the Greenbelt, Bella Aquila has attracted Idaho diners with an upscale menu of pasta, fish and steak — and a formidable, thoughtful wine list. As recently as 2020, Bella Aquila received a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.

Bella Aquila was founded by Bill and Ellen Cooper. After choosing to retire in 2017, they sold it to their son, Chad — the restaurant’s manager and wine director — and Amy.

“We are too young to retire,” Amy Cooper explained on Facebook, “so at this point it’s a matter of finding what will make us happy for the rest of our lives. We have decided that what we love the most about the hospitality industry is leaving people better than we found them.”

Prior to the pandemic, Cooper wrote, she began teaching women’s self-defense. Her future plans include working with victims of violence.

“Chad will probably also go into the helping profession,” she added. “Thank you to everyone for bringing us into your lives and being a part of our Bella family.”

This story was originally published November 17, 2021 at 3:21 PM.