Even Stevens debuts Downtown; pho shop opens on Broadway

Even Stevens Sandwiches opened April 20 at 815 W. Bannock St. in the former Moon’s Kitchen spot next to Freak Alley.

The sandwich chain, based in Salt Lake City, shows its benevolent side by essentially donating one sandwich for every sandwich it sells — similar to the Toms shoes model.

Even Stevens doesn’t actually donate individual sandwiches, instead giving the money each month (through a Sysco food distributor account) to various local nonprofit organizations for the ingredients to make sandwiches. The list of recipients includes The Idaho Foodbank, Boise Rescue Mission, Corpus Christi House and St. Vincent De Paul.

Even Stevens has six sandwich shops in the Salt Lake City area and is in the process of opening one in Scottsdale, Ariz. The menu is pretty much the same at all locations.

“A couple of things change seasonally, but the menu is straightforward and set for the most part,” says Boise manager Justin Zora.

The menu may not be large, yet it boasts inventive and affordable sandwiches with fun names. There’s a Cuban sandwich called Mihami Vice ($8.65), and Banh Belly ($8.85), a Vietnamese banh mi sandwich built on a locally made baguette with soy-glazed pork belly, pickled slaw, roasted jalapenos, sliced cucumber and garlicky aioli.

Salads include the Goat Hugger ($7.95) and Blue(Berry) Steel ($7.85), a spinach and mixed greens salad with blueberries, house-made granola, feta and bright berry vinaigrette.

The breakfast menu (served all day) features egg sandwiches, burritos and stuffed French toast ($5.95). The eatery offers Sunday brunch, which is basically the breakfast menu supplemented by unlimited French toast ($3.70) and $3 mimosas.

Besides champagne, expect to find a lineup up of local craft brews, wines and hard ciders — sold in cans and bottles.

Even Stevens is open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Online: evenstevens.com

Pho on Broadway

Pho Le recently opened at 2146 S. Broadway Ave. in the Broadway Park shopping center, a strip mall that sustained major fire damage in 2014.

Located in the rebuilt part of the shopping complex next to Mount Everest Momo Café, Pho Le specializes in traditional Vietnamese fare.

First and foremost, the modern-looking eatery serves big bowls of aromatic pho (beef noodle soup) with side plates of crunchy bean sprouts, sliced hot peppers, fresh basil and cut limes for spritzing up the soup. Bowls of pho range from $7 to $15.

Besides pho (pronounced “fuh”), expect to find $6 appetizers such as cha gio (deep-fried egg rolls), summer rolls and veggie rolls.

Entrées include various vermicelli rice noodle dishes (grilled beef and shrimp and a vegetarian option) for $10.

Diners will soon be able to get a banh mi sandwich made on a crusty baguette with pate, sliced pork loaf, pickled cucumbers, daikon radish, scallion and cilantro.

Wash everything down with an iced Vietnamese coffee ($5) swirled with sweet condensed milk. A beer and wine license is in the works.

Pho Le is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Online: idapho.com

Dinner and a show at Izumi

Izumi Japanese Steakhouse opened May 9 in Meridian, at 3560 N. Eagle Road, in the former Mongo’s Grill spot.

Here, you can sit around a big hibachi grill and watch the teppanaki chefs flip shrimp and make sliced onion volcanoes. The hibachi menu boasts lots of single items, such as chicken, shrimp, scallops, salmon, lobster and steak, and a plethora of combination choices. The hibachi offerings range from $13.99 (griddle-seared veggies with sides) to $40.99 for the Emperor’s Deluxe, a combination dinner that features filet mignon, lobster tail, shrimp and scallops.

The restaurant and lounge also serves sushi rolls, sashimi and nigiri, in addition to Asian fusion appetizers and entrées.

Also expect to find a full-service lounge with Asian-inspired cocktails, big bottles of Japanese rice lager, plum wine and assorted sakes.

Izumi Japanese Steakhouse is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday.

Online: izumiid.com

Kindness closes restaurant, catering

After ending dinner service several months ago, and then closing its restaurant and bar in April, Kindness now has shuttered catering, the last component of the business.

Last month, Kindness indicated on Facebook that it would continue to offer catering services from a new location.

But co-owner Michael Tapia posted an update May 7.

“It is with much sadness that we announce that Kindness, catering et al, is no longer,” Tapia wrote. “Very recent developments have made our transition and long-term business viability impossible.”

Kindness opened in August 2014 at 1109 W. Main St. in the remodeled Owyhee.

Submit restaurant tips and news to scene@idahostatesman.com.

This story was originally published May 12, 2016 at 2:18 PM with the headline "Even Stevens debuts Downtown; pho shop opens on Broadway."