Mazzah Mediterranean Grill: Classic Cuisine

Mazzah Mediterranean Grill is a favorite of Boise diners who crave the exotic flavors of the region, and has been voted 'Best Mediterranean Restaurant' four years in a row. Whether you're craving a lamb gyro with tender slices of grilled meat, tzatziki sauce, feta, and lettuce cradled in pita bread, chicken kabobs with flavorful lemon basmati rice, tender chicken shawarma with grilled onions, or any of their other yummy dishes, you’re sure to find something you like here. If you're in a hurry, you can even call in your order and have it ready to eat when you arrive. Their family-friendly service includes a children’s menu replete with kid-friendly items like grilled cheese and chicken strips with fries. With a warm, welcoming atmosphere, good food and reasonable prices, Mazzah is a great choice for lunch or dinner.

Mazzah Mediterranean Grill
1772 W. State Street
Boise, ID 83702
(208) 333-2566

Le Coq Rouge: French Food Done Right

Head to Le Coq Rouge – the red rooster – for an intimate evening of non-fussy, haute French cuisine. Their candlelit tables dressed with red checked cloths lend a warm, romantic ambiance to the space. It’s the kind of place to linger over a nice bottle of wine and a meal that truly satisfies the senses. Le Coq Rouge's menu changes daily – always highlighting the freshest seasonal ingredients available. Seafood lovers must try the all-you-can-eat mussels bathed in a variety of flavorful broths. Truffle ravioli, beef bourguignon, duck in honey lavender sauce, and lamb in red wine sauce are some of the rotating entrees that receive accolades from diners. With a great wine list, succulent desserts and attentive service, Le Coq Rouge is a must-visit spot for a night out with someone special.

Le Coq Rouge
1320 S. Maple Grove Road
Boise, ID 83709
(208) 376-9463

Bitter Creek Ale House and Red Feather Lounge: Enjoy the Drafts

Bitter Creek Ale House is the go-to spot for a pint and a bite. With 39 draft beers from regional craft brewers, plus a great food menu committed to using locally sourced ingredients, patrons never leave disappointed. The vibe at the Ale House is homey and laid back. It’s the kind of place you can take the family or go for an informal date. Their delicious burgers, sandwiches, salads, and a few choice entrees give diners options enough to please a variety of appetites. In warm weather, enjoy the outdoor patio on Boise’s happening 8th Street. In the evening, head over to the Red Feather Lounge for handcrafted cocktails, small plates for noshing, and live music from some of the area’s best musicians.

Bitter Creek Ale House and Red Feather Lounge
246 N. 8th Street
Boise, ID 83702
(208) 343-3119

Fork: New Age American Cuisine

Did you know that forks didn’t come into use in Europe until the 1600’s? Well, not to worry, there are plenty of them at Fork, this little gem, and you can use one to deliver some of their delicious fare to your eagerly awaiting mouth. Fork relies on local, sustainable, and hand-crafted cuisine to make this delightful café a standout in the Boise restaurant scene. Committed to using ingredients from Boise and the surrounding area, the menu can best be described as new American cuisine. Fork offers interesting takes on old standbys like chicken pot pie, ale-braised short ribs, and grilled pork chops. The ambiance is elegant yet relaxed in this renovated bank building in the heart of downtown. With exposed bricks and high ceilings inside and a lovely patio for dining out in warm weather, Fork is sure to please both your eyes and your tastebuds. Open daily for lunch and dinner.

Fork
199 N. 8th Street
Boise, ID 83702
(208) 287-1700

Big Juds: Burger Heaven

For burger lovers, few things are as satisfying as biting into a juicy grilled meat patty slathered with your favorite condiments and sandwiched between a soft bun. If this is your idea of nirvana, head directly to Big Juds for a giant burger that’s sure to satisfy. They’re famous for their Man Vs. Food Burger, a monster-sized two pounder with mushrooms, bacon, Swiss and bleu cheese that was featured on the TV show of the same name. If your appetite is less ravenous, a huge variety of smaller – though still hefty – burgers are there to please you. In addition to the basic burger, there’s a bacon cheeseburger, a Hawaiian burger, a hickory burger and a spicy jalapeño burger. Back it up with an order of thick-cut fries or tater tots and one of their super-thick shakes.

Big Juds
1289 Protest Road
Boise, ID 83706
(208) 343-4439

Bar Gernika: Taste Basque Bliss

Bar Gernika is the superb anchor of Boise’s Basque community. Both a tavern and restaurant, the decor nods to the building’s former life as the Cub Tavern, a local legend for over 40 years.  The look—recently recognized by Preservation Idaho—is clean, chilled-out, and just a little exotic, a perfect host for luscious Spanish/French cuisine like chorizo sandwiches, lamb stew, and paella. Every night is special here, but come on Saturdays for tender, peppery beef tongue, served until it runs out. You’ll clean your plate, but hang on to the tomato sauce—dip a hunk of crusty garlic-infused bread, shut your eyes, and picture the sunny Andalusian hills. When it’s nice out, linger on the patio; when it rains, hunker down inside, order croquetas and crack open a local craft brew. Rain or shine, Bar Gernika guarantees a friendly adventure. The restaurant is closed on Sundays.

Bar Gernika
202 S. Capitol Boulevard
Boise, ID 83702
(208) 344-2175
www.bargernika.com

Goodwood Barbecue Company: BBQ Best in the Boise Area

The barbecue trend is sweeping the nation, and for many this is a great turn of events. Great ‘cue joints are popping up in some pretty unlikely places. Founded in 1999, Goodwood Barbecue specializes in “closed-pit” cooking, which is done using extremely low indirect heat through a number of different hardwoods, which adds subtle flavoring to the meat. While not on par with the legendary barbecue meccas you’ll find in North Carolina and Missouri, Goodwood makes a fairly solid showing with their pulled pork sandwiches and briskets. The ambience is serviceable, with a “casual dining” aesthetic a step or two above your local Wendy’s, but service is uniformly excellent, with attentive and well-informed wait staff attending to your every need. If you’re looking for BBQ in the Boise area, this is probably your best pick. But come with an empty stomach—portions are both gigantic and extremely affordable.

Goodwood Barbecue Company
7849 W. Spectrum Street
Boise, ID 83709
(208) 658-7173
www.goodwoodbbq.com

Angell’s Bar & Grill: Classic Contemporary Fare

For over 30 years Angell’s Bar & Grill has been the first stop for savvy, sophisticated Idaho diners. With fresh seasonal ingredients and an eye for what's hot, Angell’s collects flavors from all over the Pacific Northwest and brings them to downtown Boise. Yes, this isn’t the Angell’s your parents knew; great institutions change with the times, so you’re in for a stylish, contemporary, and memorable meal. The urban-chic interior is great for dates or business meetings but is welcoming enough for families too. Choose from an array of fine aged beef, chops, seafood, chicken, salads, and inventive deserts. Angell’s wine list spans the world and is just big enough to be manageable, with several top-notch by-the-glass selections that won’t hurt your pocketbook. Jazzy live music plays on the patio all summer long. 

Angell’s Bar & Grill
999 Main Street (Corner of 9th and Main Streets)
Boise, ID 83702
(208) 342-4900
www.angellsbarandgrill.com

Asiagos: Napa Meets Tuscany

Locals whisper that Asiago’s is the best restaurant in town. They might be right. The vaulted ceilings, rough brick walls, tiled floor, and retro Italian posters create a laid-back, Tuscany-meets-Napa vibe that warms the coldest Idaho afternoon. Chef Floyd Loomis combines timeless Italian fundamentals with brash creative license, creating a distinctive menu of pastas, entrees, salads, sandwiches, soups, and seasonal specials. (We’re still thinking about the homemade spinach fettuccine.) This is authentic, forward-looking Italian cuisine every bit as good as you’ll find on the coasts—and it comes at Idaho prices. Lunch specials start at $6.95, and many dinner entrees are less than $14. Boutique wines from Italy, California, and the Pacific Northwest pair artfully with the menu, as does the microbrew and import-heavy beer list. Listen to the locals!

Asiago’s is open for lunch and dinner Monday – Friday and dinner only on weekends.

Asiago’s
1002 W. Main St.
Boise, ID 83702
(208) 336-5552
www.asiagos.com

Barbacoa Grill: East Coast Glam, Modern Gaucho Cuisine

Tucked behind Parkcenter Boulevard is a gateway to another dimension; Barbacoa Grill is a bit Wild West, a bit South America, and a lot of Wonderland. Exotic mood lighting shines on walls lined with animal hides, and happy people wait at tree-branch coffee tables under blown glass chandeliers. It's a swanky playground featuring meats slow-cooked on an open fire. It’s tough to marry east coast glam to gaucho flavor, but Barbacoa strikes a perfect balance of skill, verve and humor. A dish called "When Pigs Fly" ($26) could easily be dismissed as a gimmick, but it’s an unforgettable fusion of sensibilities: a luscious double-cut pork chop with chanterelle mushrooms, apples, hibachi cherry wood smoked quail and house-made fig jam. The classics are just as good. Chicken Pot Pie ($15) is moist, bottomless, and packed with sweet mushrooms. This is a seriously expensive evening, but a unique one—especially in Boise. If you’re lucky enough to sit around the gorgeous sub-tropical pond, money will be the last thing on your mind.

Barbacoa Grill
276 West Bobwhite Court
Boise, ID 83706
(208) 338-5000
www.barbacoa-boise.com

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