Finally! 1st restaurant opens at new Boise River Greenbelt food mecca. Two more next week
If dining outdoors along the Boise River Greenbelt sounds slightly frigid right now, what’s the saying?
Better late than never?
Or wear a coat, wuss?
Restaurants finally have started opening at The Boardwalk Apartment Homes, an $80 million, 234-unit complex at 521 E. 41st St. on the south side of the Boise River. (Hop on the Greenbelt from Veterans Memorial Parkway; The Boardwalk is impossible to miss.) Residents began moving into Garden City’s massive mixed-use complex in 2023.
The hope earlier this year was that restaurant rollouts would begin during lucrative summer patio season.
Instead, the first one, Bao Boi on the River, celebrated its grand opening Wednesday. (Hey, steamed buns do sound amazing right about now, right?)
Two other restaurants — Chicken in a Barrel and Tim’s Burgers — will open next week, according to Michael Talbott, managing partner of Vida Properties, which developed The Boardwalk.
By all appearances, the area will be a popular seasonal Greenbelt draw. The Boardwalk’s ground floor includes six retail suites equipped with garage doors to create an indoor-outdoor social vibe, with expansive plaza seating outside. For now, most hungry customers (ostensibly lots of apartment dwellers) will take advantage of the eateries’ indoor seats.
Bao Boi on the River, a locally owned restaurant and bar, is an Asian concept. Bao Boi shuttered at downtown’s Warehouse Food Hall in late July. At the new Boardwalk hangout? “Get ready for sushi, steam buns and good vibes by the water,” Bao Boi posted on Instagram.
Chicken in a Barrel is a Hawaii-based, family-owned barbecue chain. Chicken and ribs drive the menu. “This one-of-a-kind BBQ style comes straight out of our custom-made, steel drum barrels that provide our delicious, mouthwatering featured meats,” Chicken in a Barrel explains on its website.
Tim’s Burgers is, naturally, a hamburger joint. It will have “a range of options,” according to The Boardwalk’s website, “from thick, classic burgers to elevated variations that offer a gourmet twist on a beloved favorite ... .”
Future Boardwalk food-and-drink attractions include Negranti Creamery + Coffee and Laissez Faire Wine Co.
Negranti specializes in sheep’s milk ice cream and will probably open in January, according to Seth Brink, the company’s president. Negranti also has locations in Boise and Eagle.
Laissez Faire Wine Co. intends to open a tasting room. In addition to serving wine and beer on tap, plans include small bites, Laissez Faire promises on its website — along with a target opening date of 2025.
This story was originally published November 21, 2024 at 1:02 PM.