You might want to get loaded at this Boise brewery’s new restaurant. It’s recommended
After sampling test dishes at Boise Brewing’s new restaurant, Collin Rudeen has figured out what he prefers.
To get loaded.
His menu pick? BBQ Loaded Fries ($12): Sidewinder fries topped with queso, roasted pork, apple slaw, green onions and barbecue sauce.
”So far” and “probably,” he adds, “... of all the things I’ve tried.”
Choosing a favorite wasn’t easy. For the first time in its nine-year history, Boise Brewing, 521 W. Broad St., is slinging food made in-house. It’s part of an expansion that added a kitchen and doubled the downtown operation’s seating capacity. A community-supported brewery with roughly 800 owners, Boise Brewing will unveil the adjacent eatery on Friday.
“We’ve been having the staff taste everything,” says Rudeen, Boise Brewing’s founder. “Every time a new dish comes out, it’s like, ‘Oh damn, that’s good.’ I’m trying not to gain weight working here!”
With the restaurant next to the taproom, Boise Brewing now has an indoor capacity of about 120 people, Rudeen says — or 250 including outdoor patio space. The decision to absorb the spot next door was driven by hungry customers, he explains. “Just getting tired of people asking if we’ve got food — and then leaving because we don’t have food.”
Pub fare
Boise Brewing definitely can fill bellies now.
Loaded fries also come in Classic ($11) and Mexi ($13) versions. Other tempting starters include Taquitos ($10), Street Corn Frites ($12) and Popcorn Cod Bites ($12).
“Elevated pub fare” might be cliche, but it’s precisely what Boise Brewing is attempting to do. Burger fans will find five selections, all served on Gaston’s Bakery brioche buns. A classic double Smash Burger ($16) leads the charge. Additional, creative options include the Poblano Burger ($18) — anchored by a smoked beef patty and cheese-stuffed roasted poblano — a vegetarian Spicy Paneer Burger ($16), a Shrimp Burger ($18) and a double Patty Melt ($16).
All burgers and sandwiches come with fries or a salad. Sandwich choices include Fried Chicken ($16) and Fried Cod ($18).
Among three salad options, a highlight is the Kale & Bacon ($14): baby kale mix with shredded carrots, diced beets, roasted pepitas, spring peas, fresh apricot, sliced watermelon radish and crispy bacon, tossed with carrot-ginger dressing.
Award-winning beer
To help wash down those salads and loaded fries, there’s plenty of award-winning beer. Earlier in May, Boise Brewing won its latest medal, a silver, at the World Beer Cup for Jagged Shard Imperial Red Ale.
On opening weekend, food will be served starting at 2 p.m. Friday, then at 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Normal hours for food service will be 4 to 10 p.m. daily, except on Mondays, when the kitchen won’t operate. (The brewery will be open, however.) Depending on hiring, lunch service could be added, Rudeen said.
If you’re craving even more culinary diversity after scanning the menu? Be patient. Depending once again on hiring, Boise Brewing’s menu might expand.
“That’s where we’ll start,” Rudeen says. “In an ideal world, we’ll have more than that. But with the staff that we’ve got right now, this is what we figure we can crank out.”
This story was originally published May 24, 2023 at 4:00 AM.