Opening this week, new restaurant aims to be Eagle ‘go-to destination’ — with ‘rad’ patio
When Buster’s Sports Bar & Grill closed early this year after a run of more than two decades, it left a gap in the Eagle community.
An expanding Nampa restaurant could help fill that void starting Tuesday.
Holy Cow Idaho will open its second location in the former Buster’s at 1396 E. State St. Since 1999, Buster’s had been a “go-to destination” for area residents, real estate broker Ron Ramza told the Idaho Statesman in January.
Holy Cow owner Dylan Hutter believes Holy Cow can be a similarly accessible spot: “Absolutely,” he says. With about 70 seats inside and another 60 or so on a planned patio, it also will be able to handle large parties, he added.
Like the original Holy Cow opened in Nampa three years ago, the Eagle concept will focus on creative hamburgers. In other words, it is not a rebranded Buster’s. “It’s not a sports bar by any means,” Hutter says. “At all. It’s a full-service family restaurant, just like Nampa.”
Holy Cow in Eagle does have some TVs. “Half of them will be digital beer menus,” Hutter says, “the other half will feature local sports programming and otherwise.”
And if you’re looking for a mouthwatering burger? You’ve got decisions to make.
Burgers, more
Behold the signature Holy Cow burger — a $22 behemoth. It’s two 1/3-pound grass-fed beef patties, double bacon, American cheese and Holy Cow fry sauce — served between two grilled cheese sandwiches. “Every time we bring one out,” Hutter told the Statesman in 2021, “you tell a customer, ‘Best of luck.’ ”
Slightly less-hefty options include The Classic ($10, a 1/3-pound grass-fed patty, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle), the Super Deluxe ($14, a bacon cheeseburger) — or gourmet-leaning creations such as the Rude Boi ($14.50, a 1/3-pound grass-fed patty, charred jalapeño, housemade pimento cheese and roasted jalapeño aioli on a toasted brioche bun).
Besides hamburgers, the menu also includes meaty sandwiches, baskets, chicken wings, fries — and, this being Idaho, finger steaks (prime sirloin, no less). Holy Cow also has 26 taps, although alcohol won’t be available for another few weeks. Hutter expects to have about 20 beer taps, four cider taps and a couple for draft wine, he says.
Holy Cow will be open exclusively for lunch during the first two weeks: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Tuesday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, through Saturday, Oct. 29. In November, Hutter plans to expand hours to 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, before adding Sundays in early 2023.
Future patio
Oh, and if you enjoy patio dining? There’s good news and bad news.
The good news? Hutter is setting the bar high for Holy Cow’s patio. The bad news? That means it won’t open until next year. “We want a rad patio,” he explains, “and we’re going to put a lot of resources into it.
“I’m having a landscape architect draw me out plans to really make an amazing patio for next spring.”
For now, Holy Cow will focus on getting things up and running — and becoming acquainted with locals. Many Holy Cow newcomers in Eagle undoubtedly will have fond memories of visiting Buster’s. After attending local high school sporting events, playing golf nearby — or just for beers.
“The Nampa location, we’re where people go for after football games,” Hutter says. “We’re where people go for a fun destination. We want to serve Eagle in the same way.”