10 ways to get a real taste of Boise: New spots and beloved staples

Summer travel season is here, and the Boise area continues to grow as a destination. Travel to the City of Trees has increased over the past five years — more than 20 percent — as more conventions and vacationers hit town.

Now Boise is named as one of 23 U.S. cities for Cheap Summer Travel by Forbes. (Where would we be without them?)

So, that begs the question: Where to eat?

Whether you’re traveling to Idaho, or live here and are entertaining friends and family, here are 10 ways to get a real taste of Boise.

When you’re eating out in Boise, take your sunglasses. Here, the idea of “dining out” gets taken literally, as nearly every slice of sidewalk at local Downtown restaurants is filled with al fresco tables and chairs.

And in the summer, they’re packed with people.

If you can get one of the outdoor tables on 8thth Street between Bannock and Idaho streets, grab it. Patios line both sides of the popular dining corridor. You’ll find everything from bratwurst and German beer at Prost! to pizza by the slice at Pie Hole and upscale vegetarian and organic cuisine at Wild Root Cafe.

Other area outdoor hotspots to note:

• Barbacoa Grill, 276 W. Bobwhite Court, in East Boise, where you can enjoy this fine-dining restaurant’s American and Spanish fusion food — try the signature table-side guacamole and a martini in a glass made of ice — with a view of the ParkCenter Pond; and Cottonwood Grille, 913 W. River St., just off Downtown, with its shaded, Greenbelt side patio, waterfall and Basque-inspired Northwest cuisine.
  
  

• Want a view of the Boise River to chew on? The Sandbar Patio Bar and Grill, at The Riverside Hotel, 2900 Chinden Blvd., Boise, offers a dog-friendly patio and sits along the Greenbelt with loads of bicycle parking. The Sandbar also offers live music daily by local and regional musicians and bands.

Boise-made gin? Oh, yeah. And vodka and rum, too. Check out Bardenay Restaurant and Distillery, 610 W. Grove St. Great fact: Bardenay is the first restaurant and distillery combo in the United States. Yes, it’s true. The History Channel did an episode about it. Now you can sample distiller Kevin Settles’ original take on these spirits, and his bar staff’s rendition of classic and neoclassical cocktails. The booze is paired with with an eclectic menu that blends Northwest fresh-style cuisine with Basque, Asian and other culinary flavors.

Open: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sundays and Mondays, until 10 p.m. Tuesdays to Thursdays, and until 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. It serves a late-night menu Wednesday-Saturday.

Want to explore more craft cocktail spots?

• The Modern Hotel and Bar, 1314 W. Grove St., is known regionally for its creative, unusual take on cocktails and food from its James Beard semifinalist chef Nate Whitley. The Mode Lounge, at 8th and Idaho streets, offers a dazzling deco decor and eclectic concoctions. The Matador, 215 N. 8th St., pours 100 varieties of tequila and has a wide repertoire of creative mixed drinks. Just around the corner at 705 W. Bannock St. is Saint Lawrence Gridiron, with a Southern feel and a focus on bourbon. If you like gin — and other libations — stop in at Juniper, 211 N. 8th St. Just a few blocks away you’ll find Chandler’s Steakhouse, 981 W. Grove St., with its signature 10 Minute Martini and live jazz nightly.

Local brews

The Treasure Valley’s local brewery scene is happening.

If you’re in downtown check out the popular Payette Brewing Co. tasting room and expansive outdoor beer garden 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, at 733 S. Pioneer St., Boise, 208-344-0011, near the Boise River Greenbelt. They have 16 taps for their signature brews like North Fork Lager and Rustler IPA, as well as Boise’s Meriweather Cider, Split Rail Winery, nonalcoholic Idaho Kombucha and premixed Anytime Cocktails. Queens Food Trailer is there to alleviate hunger pangs.

You also can head over to Mother Earth Brew Co.’s new tasting room and patio from 2-9 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays, noon to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and noon to 8 p.m. Sundays, 406 S. 3rd St., Boise. Based in Nampa, Mother Earth is Idaho’s largest-producing brewery, and it just won a silver medal with its Boo Koo IPA at the annual World Beer Cup in Nashville.

Sockeye Brewing’s Neckar Coffee Oatmeal Brown and Boise Brewing’s Jagged Shard Imperial Red Ale also brought home silver.

Over in Northwest Boise check out Sockeye Brewing’s new tasting room and restaurant at Sockeye Alehouse, including a large outdoor patios and a nine-hole indoor putting course. It’s at 3823 N. Garden Center Way, just off the state’s only dogbone roundabout at 36th Street and Hill Road. It features rotating taps of one of the area’s most established breweries, plus a full cocktail bar and wine list. It’s open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays. 208-233-5200.

There are several other beer tasting rooms peppered throughout Downtown, including

Barbarian Brewing Downtown Tap Room and 10 Barrel Brewing.

Basque-ing it

Whether you’re visiting or just don’t get Downtown much — croquetas are a must. These deep-fried balls of deliciousness are as Boise as they are Basque. You’ll find them at Bar Gernika, 202 S. Capitol Blvd., named for the Basque city in Spain. Bar G, as the locals call it, is a landmark on Boise’s Basque Block, along Grove Street between Capitol Boulevard and 6th Street. Regulars gobble up Basque specialties, such as lamb grinders, solomo (roasted pork loin) and chorizo sandwiches. They also pour regional beers and Spanish wines. (Just say garagardo gehiago mesedez [pronounced Gah-da-GAR-do GAY-ah-go mesh-EH-dess] — “more beer please” in Basque — and you’ll fit right in.)

Fries in the Potato State

Where are you going to try french fries in the potato state? Boise Fry Co., 204 N. Capitol Blvd., and four other locations in the Treasure Valley. This small, locally owned chain serves up a rainbow of great, crispy thin-cut fries, including russet, sweet potato, yam, purple and Yukon gold (depending on availability). These fries go great with BFC’s gourmet burgers — beef, bison, turkey and vegan — and a variety of toppings and house-made condiments. And it’s all locally sourced when possible. You’ll also find local beer on tap and a selection of regional and local wines.

Open 11 a.m. -9 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays, until 9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and until 8 p.m. on Sundays. 208-949-7523.

For starters

Time for breakfast? Head to Goldy’s Breakfast Bistro, 108 S. Capitol Blvd., for eggs to order, gourmet sausages, crisp home fries, ridiculously good Benedicts and lavish pastries. This place was written up in Bon Appetit magazine as one of the 10 best places for breakfast in the country. There might be a wait, but no worries. Just mosey on down the block to Goldy’s Corner for a cuppa joe and an appetizing pastry and wait for a table.

Open 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Mondays to Fridays, 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. 208-345-4100.

Tacos Boise style

Boise is suddenly taco central, with three fusion taquerias.

• Calle 75 Street Tacos, a former street vendor, with its hip brick-and-mortar spot at 110 N. 11th St., serves a variety of street-style tacos and original salsas and sauces on organic, white and blue corn tortillas made daily in house. Their tacos come in a wild variety from traditional carnitas to octopus, plus a smattering of entrees from chef Tito de la Garza. They pour a full bar, including margaritas and craft cocktails. Open: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays, until 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and until 9 p.m. Sundays. 208-336-2511.
  
  
• The Funky Taco, on the corner of 8th and Bannock streets, is a fast-casual spot with a light and airy space, and a colorful interior mural by Boise artist Cody Rutty that’s done with flair. It’s turned the corner into a taco hot spot with its unusual mixes of Asian, Indian, Mexican and Americana cuisine, all fused into a taco. Co-owners Justin Archambo and Amy War make their food and the ambiance aesthetically pleasing, like they did with their food truck — using a sleek converted Airstream Trailer instead of a traditional boxy vehicle. Beer and wine are available. There are occasional concerts featuring local and regional bands. Open: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays to Thursday, and until 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 208-991-4106, TheFunkyTaco.com.
• Tin Roof Tacos, 115 S. Broadway Ave., puts more of a Tex-Mex spin on its tacos with barbecue brisket, pulled pork and Baja shrimp. They even pour Texas-brewed Shiner Bock beer. This joint was featured by TheDailyMeal.com as Idaho’s contribution to its feature Best Tacos in Every State. This family-owned spot also serves breakfast tacos filled with chorizo, jalapeno sausage or bacon and eggs. Open: 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. Online orders taken. 208-336-6461.

Slice of life

Looking for a slice of pie that will rock your world? Check out The Wylder, 501 W. Broad St., a locally owned, upscale pizza joint that really has flair. Executive Chef Jennifer Minichiello puts unusual spins on traditional red and white pizza sauces with a selection of ingredients from traditional to intriguing. If pizza is not your thing, then order the fried chicken or lasagna supper. They also pour a great selection of craft brews, wines and craft cocktails.

Open: 11 a.m-10 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays, until 9 p.m. Sundays and Mondays. 208-209-3837.

Sushi on the side

If you’re staying near the Boise Airport, stop in at Willowcreek Grill and Raw Sushi, 2273 S. Vista Ave. The menu is incredibly diverse, from traditional pub fare to Asian fusion. Open: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays. 208-343-5544.

This story was originally published May 21, 2018 at 7:42 PM with the headline "10 ways to get a real taste of Boise: New spots and beloved staples."