Changing name and culinary concept, Boise restaurant unveils ‘big news’
A familiar restaurant building at the Boise Spectrum is searching for its je ne sais quoi again.
Country Bay Bistro, which serves seafood and steak at 1749 S. Cole Road, plans to become Amélies, “a French-inspired restaurant bringing timeless flavors and elegant charm to Boise.”
That’s according to a Country Bay Bistro post on social media with the title, “Big news!”
The transition will happen around mid-June, owner-chef Jason Wang said Tuesday, pausing at the cash register in between seating lunch customers.
A spacious restaurant with lots of seating and towering ceilings, Country Bay Bistro opened just over a year ago where O’Crab Cajun Seafood had closed after a stint that began in 2021. Before that — from 1998 until 2020 — regional chain McGrath’s Fish House operated in the building.
Wang said he is making the change from Country Bay Bistro to Amélies because he wants a new direction for the restaurant. He also has more culinary experience with French cuisine, he said.
The Amélies menu will be smaller than Country Bay Bistro’s “commercial”-style array of choices, he said, allowing increased focus on high-quality dishes.
“Join us for the next chapter in Jason’s culinary journey,” Country Bay Bistro wrote online. “Bon appétit!”
This story was originally published May 13, 2025 at 1:15 PM.