Baffled, Boise? This Seattle restaurant opening downtown next week is new — capisce?

Repeat after me, Idaho: Ta-vo-la-ta.

Playing up pasta and twisting tongues (in Boise, at least), a new Italian restaurant from Seattle plans to hold its grand opening Monday, Nov. 13. Just don’t mistake it for two longtime local staples — also downtown.

Joining Alavita and a’Tavola, Tavolata will debut on the ground floor of The Lucy apartment building at 524 W. Grove St.

An Ethan Stowell Restaurants concept, Tavolata will offer an “approachable, neighborhood-style experience,” according to a media release. The chain has two locations in Seattle, one in Redmond and one in Spokane.

To clear up the Scrabble variations: Alavita has dished up Italian meals at 807 W. Idaho St. for a decade. Slightly longer-running a’Tavola serves gourmet sandwiches and soups at 1515 W. Grove St.

Either way, there’s a potential niche for Tovalato. Talovato. Tavolata! (Give us time, Mr. Stowell. Idahoans are meatballs, but we’ll get it.) Blocks away, Asiago’s, a longtime Italian restaurant on Main Street, shuttered at the end of 2022.

At nearly 5,500 square feet, Tavolata will feature an open dining area capable of seating up to 100. A full bar will pour wine, beer and craft cocktails. Guests will be able to dine on an outdoor patio during warmer months.

A “delightful exploration of modern Italian cuisine,” Tavolata’s menu will highlight “house-made pasta and hearty meat dishes,” according to the release, plus “appetizers, salads and desserts crafted from fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from local farms and producers.”

Open daily from 4 to 10 p.m., Tavolata is priced to slide seamlessly into the downtown Boise dinner scene. Perusing the menu — which is online now — you’ll find pasta in the $19 to $23 range. Gnocchi is $22 and $25. Those meatier dishes include roasted half chicken ($26), double-cut pork chop ($28), sea scallops ($38) and New York strip steak ($38), all served with sides. Tavolata’s website promises that it also has gluten-free pasta, vegetarian and vegan options. Takeout is available.

Signature cocktails are $13. Draft beers are $7. There’s also a formidable wine list.

Happy hour is 4 to 6 p.m. daily, with a selection of small plates and pasta selections, plus discounts on some regular-menu items. Normally $16, the official Tavolata salad is $12. A salumi (aka charcuterie) board drops from $19 to $15. Select draft beers cost a buck less. Four wines are sold at $8 a glass, $32 a bottle.

CEO and founder Ethan Stowell was Food & Wine’s Best New Chef in 2008. He’s also been a James Beard Award nominee or semifinalist a dozen times. In a statement, Stowell said that he is “thrilled to become part of Boise’s vibrant restaurant scene.”

“We look forward to connecting with the community,” Stowell continued, “and sharing our passion for Pacific Northwest-inspired Italian cuisine with our guests.”

Just remember to say it slowly: Ta-vo-la-ta.

This story was originally published November 6, 2023 at 4:00 AM.