This new restaurant is ‘killin’ it’ — and closed for now, Boise. Why will make you high
Wepa Cafe owner-operator Art Robinson is feeling optimistic about his new ethnic restaurant.
“We’re almost nine months in,” Robinson says, “and lovin’ it. Killin’ it. We’re getting great feedback from everybody.”
Starting Tuesday, June 21, though, Idaho’s only Puerto Rican restaurant will close. For one week.
For a positive reason.
After the space reopens June 28 at 175 E. 35th St. in Garden City? Customers will feel a little high.
Wepa will introduce a much-anticipated new patio a few days later — up on its roof.
Partially covered, partially shaded and partially exposed to beautiful Idaho sunshine, the patio will seat about two dozen, Robinson said.
The rooftop hangout will have its own bar with beer, wine and canned cocktails. And it will offer what Robinson calls a “modified” food menu.
“I guess the best way to describe it is there will be times when we will only be running a bar menu up there,” he says, “and times we will have the full menu.”
Details are being ironed out. But one thing is certain now. Robinson expects the rooftop patio to be a hit. After all, this is Boise — outdoor-dining center of the universe. And Wepa definitely is living large outdoors. It already has a street-level patio. “Between the two outside patios, it doubles our occupancy versus inside,” Robinson says.
When Wepa Cafe returns to action, the hours will be 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The rooftop will be open from 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. Wepa is closed Mondays.
On the final hour of operation each day, Wepa will only offer its bar menu. Unlike the main restaurant, the rooftop will not take reservations. “It will be first come, first served,” Robinson says. However, the upstairs patio will be available for private events.
The week of down time will be used for deep cleaning, getting equipment up and running, and training staff, Robinson says. Also, “a few days of R&R, to be honest,” he says.
Then it’s back to work. Serving pernil, carne frita and Wepa’s signature, plantain-based dish: mofongo.
On a promising new rooftop.
“The folks who have come up and taken a quick look, they’re excited,” Robinson says. “I’m excited. We’ll see. I’m banking on it, and hoping that it’s going to add a whole new aspect to what’s been a successful launch so far.”
This story was originally published June 21, 2022 at 4:00 AM.