Holiday restaurant picks: Leave the cooking to someone else

Not interested in messing up your kitchen? Well, you don’t have to thanks to Boise-area eateries that are open during the holidays. Here are a few suggestions:

Open Dec. 24

Angell’s Bar and Grill Renato, 999 W. Main St., is going old-school with a four-course Christmas Eve menu ($49 per person, from 5 to 10 p.m.) that features French-style tableside service.

The first course includes a choice of flamed-at-the-table Greek saganaki cheese or baked escargot.

For a second course, choose from a classic Caesar salad (tossed at the table) or seafood bisque.

The main course options (not prepared tableside) include duck a l’orange, herb-roasted prime rib, seafood pasta, French-cut pork chops, lamb porterhouse chops and cedar paper-wrapped salmon.

The dessert course includes a choice of assorted sweet treats off the tray or you can drop a few more bucks ($6) and go for a flambéed cherries jubilee or bananas Foster.

For reservations, call (208) 342-4900.

Barbacoa, 276 Bobwhite Court, Boise, will serve its regular menu and holiday specials from 4 to 9 p.m. Reservations: 338-5000.

Menu: Barbacoa-Boise.com.

Bella Aquila, 775 S. Rivershore Lane in Eagle, is open for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and dinner from 4 to 8:30 p.m.

Make a reservation now at the beloved Italian restaurant, where you’ll find a large menu of appetizers, freshly made pasta, entrées and desserts, not to mention some holiday specials.

Phone: (208) 938-1900

Brick 29, 320 11th Ave. South, Nampa, will serve its regular menu from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Reservations, call 468-0029.

Menu: Brick29.com.

Emilio’s Restaurant at The Grove Hotel, 345 S. Capitol Blvd., Boise, will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Reservations: 333-8002.

Menu: GroveHotelBoise.com.

Lock, Stock and Barrel, 1100 W. Jefferson St., is serving lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner from 5 to 10 p.m.

Expect to find the regular menu (steaks, slow-roasted prime rib and seafood) supplemented with holiday specials. Lock, Stock and Barrel offers happy hour from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for those interested in getting an early start.

For reservations, call (208) 336-4266 or visit lsbboise.com.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House, 800 W. Main St., Boise, will serve its dinner menu along with holiday specials from 5 to 8 p.m. (Happy hour is 4:30-6:30 p.m.) Reservations: 426-8000 and Ruthschris.com.

Solid Bar and Grill, 405 S. 8th St., Boise, will have its regular menu from 11 a.m. to close. Reservations: 345-6620 or online at SolidBoise.com.

Tavern at Bown Crossing, 3111 Bown Way, Boise, will serve its regular menu from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Reservations: 345-2277 and TavernAtBown.com.

Twigs Bistro and Martini Bar, 3690 E. Monarch Sky Lane at The Village at Meridian, is offering its regular menu throughout the day (11 a.m. till around midnight) and hot drink specials.

The all-day menu boasts lots of appetizers, inventive salads and pizzas. Entrées includes pork osso buco, truffle penne pasta, pan-seared sockeye salmon with zesty corn relish and a black-and-blue New York strip steak crowned with Gorgonzola fondue.

No reservations required.

Online: twigsbistro.com

Open Dec. 24 and 25

Berryhill & Co., 121 N. 9th St., will be putting out a big prime rib buffet spread ($30 adults, $20 kids under 10) from 5 to 9 p.m.

Expect to find chef-carved prime rib and hickory-smoked ham alongside Parmesan-Brie bass, baked macaroni and cheese, garlicky mashed potatoes, wild rice pilaf, spinach and cranberry salad and desserts galore.

Reservations are highly recommended and can be made at (208) 387-3553 or johnberryhillrestaurants.com.

Chandlers, 981 W. Grove St. at Hotel 43, is serving its regular menu and a special Christmas menu (5:30 to 10 p.m. on Dec. 24, 4 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 25).

The three-course prix fixe menu ($47 per person) starts things off with a choice of a steakhouse-style wedge salad or lobster bisque.

Choose from a list of entrées that includes slow-roasted prime rib, pork osso buco, trout amandine, duck two ways, veal picatta and pan-seared lamb chops with apple-mint chutney.

Finish the night with fromage blanc cheesecake or chocolate mousse. Or spend a few extra dollars and get a Belgian chocolate soufflé ($12) finished with Grand Marnier cream and chocolate sauce.

Reservations are highly recommended and can be made at (208) 383-4300.

Cottonwood Grille, 913 W. River St., Boise, will serve from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 24 and dinner only from 4 to 9 p.m. Dec. 25 from its regular menu, with featured items. Reservations: 333-9800 and CottonwoodGrille.com.

The Modern Hotel and Bar, 1314 W. Grove St., is serving dinner both nights from 5 to 11 p.m.

Don’t be surprised to find seasonal offerings such as shepherd’s pie, gnocchi with roasted pumpkin or succulent pork belly with bright carrot mole and caramelized fennel. Chef Nate Whitley also will be whipping up some holiday specials.

No reservations required. The restaurant serves diners on a first-come, first-served basis.

Online: themodernhotel.com

Saint Lawrence Gridiron, 705 W. Bannock St., is closing early on Dec. 24 (open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.), but the popular gastropub will dish up items from its Americana-inspired menu on Dec. 25 from 4 p.m. to midnight.

Online: saintlawrencegridiron.com

Tres Bonne holiday goodies

European chocolate and beer. What else do you really need this holiday season?

Tres Bonne Cuisine, a small European restaurant and market at 6555 W. Overland Road, is celebrating the season with a well-stocked bottle shop (imported brews, wines, Champagne and other bubblies) and a choice selection of European Christmas goodies. Expect to find holiday-themed chocolates, cookies, marzipan and much more.

On Dec. 18 and 19, the restaurant will offer a European Christmas menu from 5 to 8 p.m. that features yuletide specialties from Scandinavia, Poland, France and England.

Online: tresbonnecuisine.com

This story was originally published December 15, 2015 at 9:17 PM with the headline "Holiday restaurant picks: Leave the cooking to someone else."