This massive new restaurant will ‘take business’ from others. But Eagle is hungry for it

Nikolai Castoro normally doesn’t visit Eagle much.

He spends most of his time in Boise, where he raises a family and owns two prominent restaurants.

But Castoro knows a thing or two about the suburb northwest of Idaho’s capital city. Enough to envision how the dining scene might be rocked by his newest venture, Coa Del Mar — all 10,000 square feet of it. That’s roughly the same size as his Southeast Boise flagship, Barbacoa, which plows through more liquor than any other Treasure Valley restaurant or bar.

“In Eagle,” Castoro says, “you only have a handful of options. As big of a restaurant as this is, yeah, I’m sure we will take business from other restaurants.

“But I’m sure we’ll also fill up, too,” he adds, suggesting that overflow traffic will frequent other businesses.

Perched along Eagle Lakes off Riverside Drive and S. Anacona Lane, Coa Del Mar will have a total capacity of about 400 — indoors and on a large patio.

“It will impact other restaurants,” Castoro explains, “but Eagle needs more restaurants. So that’s what we’re bringing.”

Much like Barbacoa’s flaming “Hot Rock” steaks, this place plans to sizzle in Eagle.

And city officials? They’re already fired up.

Groundbreaking ceremony

Sending out a press release, the city of Eagle and Chamber of Commerce hosted an official Coa Del Mar groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday. If all goes according to plan, they’ll enjoy a ribbon-cutting later this year. Coa Del Mar, 2121 E. Riverside Drive, currently is planning to open Dec. 1, Castoro says.

The fine-dining destination will employ around 250 people, according to the release, “giving Eagle’s booming local economy a boost along with providing a desirable new restaurant.”

Desirable? That’s one way to put it.

Since opening in 2007, Barbacoa has evolved into a flamboyant, mega-popular Boise behemoth.

Are you an Idahoan who gets hot for Barbacoa’s signature “Hot Rock” Filet, a $60, 10-ounce filet mignon served with flamed cognac sauce? Do you find the IceTini — a martini in a glass made of ice — to be the coolest thing ever?

Coa Del Mar will serve those.

Like Barbacoa, Coa Del Mar will specialize in Latin fusion cuisine. “It is a sister restaurant,” Castoro explains. “We just don’t like to say ‘Barbacoa 2.’ ” Meanwhile, Coa De Jima — which opened in downtown Boise in 2021 — is Barbacoa’s upscale Mexican-food sibling.

Similar concept, new menu

Coa Del Mar will have its own distinct personality, Castoro says, with steaks and other entrees — and a heavier focus on seafood. “Like Coa De Jima, it’s just a completely different menu,” he says. “We’re getting all of our seafood flown in fresh from Hawaii and California. We’ll also offer local offerings — trout and salmon and whatnot.”

Similar to Barbacoa, Coa Del Mar is near a pond — or in Eagle, a “lake.” About 20 tables will fill a covered patio that butts right up to the water, Castoro says. And like Barbacoa, that patio will be enclosed with temporary walls during winter.

Coa Del Mar will join an Eagle community that has watched restaurant options improve steadily in recent years. In 2020, Coyne’s opened at 676 E. Riverside Drive, serving refined, higher-end cuisine. That same year, Crave Kitchen & Grill debuted at the Bridges at Lakemoor with a blend of casual and upscale dining.

Coa Del Mar will add yet another option — a stylish concept that’s proved to be successful in Boise for a decade and a half.

Still, jumping into the Eagle fray, wouldn’t it actually have been easier just to open Barbacoa 2?

“We want to do something different,” Castoro says. “Barbacoa’s great where it’s at, and we have fun, and people love it. But it’s nice to just give a different offering.”

This story was originally published March 9, 2023 at 4:00 AM.