‘Quirky’ cocktail bar brings high-end food, drinks to downtown — in Nampa, not Boise
Every cocktail at The Sick Stag in downtown Nampa comes with a story.
The Basil-Bliss Bombshell — featuring gin, Luxardo Maraschino, Hpnotiq, lime cordial, basil and lychee-elderflower foam — is just one of the more than two dozen specially curated drinks owner Has Mahmood and his team make Tuesday through Sunday at 1219 1st St.
From the outside, it’s an unassuming spot with a single glass door marking the entrance. But down a set of stairs beneath the 1900s-era building, The Sick Stag comes alive, offering a chic retreat for patrons 21 and older.
The bar had a soft opening in late December with limited hours, but it will be hosting a grand opening celebration from June 11 to June 30 with 20% off all checks, excluding happy-hour-priced items.
“We’ve had a lot of people say: ‘Thank you. Thanks for being here. Nampa needed this,’ ” Mahmood said. “It caught me by surprise, because I expected a lukewarm reception to start, but people were excited, which in turn got us very excited.
“It felt like home right away. It’s kind of an indescribable feeling.”
Mahmood and Nampa native Derek Cooper teamed up to bring the elevated cocktail bar’s concept to life. The Sick Stag got its name from the Aesop’s Fable by the same name, which teaches that evil companions bring more hurt than profit.
“The moral of this made sense in the realm of surround yourself with good people and choose your friends wisely,” Mahmood said.
While elevated drinks and appetizers are the focus, The Sick Stag is also a feast for the eyes. The bar is filled with whimsical artwork, taxidermy and intimate spaces. There are half-moon booths set inside cave-like rooms, each one with its own theme — from an aristocratic British library feel to equestrian to floral. The rocks lining some of the walls are rumored to have been brought from the Owyhee Mountains when the building was first built.
Complementing the libations is a small-plate menu from chef Richard Jimenez. Popular items include the white bean dip featuring great northern beans, whipped duck fat, brown butter breadcrumbs and crostini as well as a chicken sandwich that includes grilled chicken, truffled mushrooms, parmesan crumbs and truffle aioli.
On a Thursday evening in June, The Sick Stag’s bar was lined with patrons, one of whom was celebrating a birthday. Out came a complimentary birthday cake shot as the bartender used a bubble gun to send bubbles floating through the air.
“We try to be hospitable, make you feel warm,” Mahmood said. “I was even told we’re probably pretty quirky.”
