Boise’s Tarbush Kitchen is closed for a bit. The reason? A vehicle crashed through it
A man crashed his vehicle into a restaurant’s dining room Sunday night, according to police, leaving the owners with no choice but to close for an undetermined amount of time and leaving the driver facing charges.
Boise Police said officers responded to the crash at Tarbush Kitchen at 5749 W. Overland Road shortly after 11 p.m. on Sunday. A vehicle had plowed through a fence and through the side of the building, coming to rest in the restaurant’s dining room.
Tarbush was closed at the time and no one was injured, according to police.
Police said evidence indicated that the driver was intoxicated. After conducting a field sobriety test, they took the man into custody and booked him at the Ada County Jail on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Tarbush Kitchen is owned by husband and wife Salam and Aseel Bunyan. They have been forced to close because of the extensive damages, and Salam told the Idaho Statesman that he does not know when they will reopen.
“Due to this terrible incident that occurred at Tarbush Kitchen, we will be closed for a few weeks for now,” he wrote on Facebook. “We aren’t sure how long we will be closed for may take awhile. We would appreciate for all our lovely customers to please be patient with us.”
The Bunyans have been cooking Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food in Boise since 2014. Salam’s first local restaurant was The Goodness Land, which he operated at the Boise International Market until 2018, when he and Aseel opened Tarbush.
Salam said he has been touched by the number of customers and friends who have reached out.
“What has happened made me upset and sad, but really half in my heart is very happy because I see people send love,” Salam said.
He said they are still waiting on a insurance assessment, so they don’t know how much the damages will cost. He set up a GoFundMe on Wednesday afternoon for the restaurant.
This story was originally published February 2, 2022 at 6:37 PM.
