I've been scoping this place out for months. Since I did a search for "Au Jus" a few months back, their Lamb Grinder has been on my mind. Yesterday a friend offered to take me out to lunch (for my bday week, yay!!) and told me to pick somewhere I've been wanting to try. Instantly, I picked Bar Gernika. "Lamb Grinder and croquetas, I am coming for you," was my thought. We had a late lunch (about 2:30), so the place was pretty much empty aside from 3 or 4 other patrons. We sat inside because it was chilly (although on a sunny day I would absolutely opt-in for outside seating, their patio is so cute and provides a great view of downtown). I didn't even have to look at the menu, from reading all of the other Yelp reviews, I knew I wanted to try the Lamb Grinder. But, the respectful thing is to give all the dishes a fair chance and look over the menu, so I did. And my initial plan was thwarted. I decided that I wasn't going to get just a lamb grinder. I was going to get the SPICY lamb grinder. Oh baby, I'm so glad I did. Picture this: a soft roll of bread, topped with tender lamb meat with mounds of onions and jalapenos, topped with melted cheesy heaven and served up with an inconspicuous (but divine) bowl of Au Jus. Filling in the gaps on the plate are 5 little croquetas. Goodness, how does one explain a croqueta?! Our waiter described them as a very simple recipe that requires a lot of love. Apparently, there is ground up chicken in them, but they taste like cheesy fried mashed potato balls...but better than that. I could have eaten a plate full of those bad boys. My only complaint is that they gave me 5 of them...just 5. I guess this is to cause you to savor them. They do, after all, deserve more respect than the average french fry. Our server was very kind and helpful. You could also tell he loved the food that he was sharing with us. He was very knowledgeable about the dishes and enthusiastic about Bar Gernika's menu. Way to represent your restaurant well, sir! read more

Bar Gernika - The croquetas! SO GOOD - Spanish Near Me - Boise, Idaho

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This is a great little find. This is a bar with an upscale menu at family friendly prices. I enjoyed the lamb stew with croquettes along side with a Basquelands beer. I have never tried a Basque restaurant before. But I wasn't disappointed. This is a must try everytime your in Boise. The only downside is parking is scarce and you have to pay. So please plan accordingly. read more

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Great local restaurant with yummy food and drinks. A hole in the wall but worth checking out if you want a different experience.

This is a good restaurant. Great food, drinks, and great environment. It reminds me of a little Spanish bar. The only complaint is that the croquetas are way too expensive, but other than that it is a good place to eat. read more

Bar Gernika - Spanish Near Me - Boise, Idaho

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I was visiting in Boise for a few weeks and was passing by Bar Gernika and thought I'd give it a shot. The unassuming facade opened up to a warm and comfortable bar with a few tables in the back. It seemed like there were a lot of 'experienced' customers drinking wine and eating croquetas. I'll start by saying you HAVE to get the croquetas. They are delightfully craveable and a great accompaniment to whatever else you might be eating. They are vaguely reminiscent of mochi donuts in texture, but savory and cheesy. I went a few times and tried the lamb stew and a few sandwiches. It was all very tasty, but I really liked the lamb stew. If you're looking for a casual basque meal in Boise hit this place up! read more

Great takeout meal while visiting Boise. The menu is short because they are busy putting the highest quality into their offerings. The solomo--pork tenderloin with roasted red peppers--was absolutely wonderful. The meat was moist, flavorful, and paired perfectly with the peppers and bread. The lamb grinder was a treat as well. Our whole group enjoyed the croquetas and the tortilla de patatas. Their tortilla is not over salted or too garlicky. It's firm and full of potatoes--just the way it ought to be. They had our meal ready to go right on time, which was greatly appreciated. It's such a treat to find this wonderful Basque food in Boise. read more

After much research we decided to try Bar Gernika. I want to say first, I am familiar with Spanish foods and tapas. So going in I was just hoping it might be a pleasant surprise. And it absolutely was. The atmosphere would remind you of the small rustic bars that serve good beer and food in Spain. We ordered the croquettes and Spanish tortilla to start. You should use the sauce that sits on the table. Vinegar Chile sauce. Then we ordered the chorizo sandwich with sweet red pepper n onion sauté. Perfect! The chorizo doesn't have that strong flavor some might but extra good. We also ordered the Salomo sandwich with sautéed red peppers. A little salty but otherwise very good. For dessert we ordered the flan and rice pudding. What a great way to end the meal. But let me emphasize...order croquettes! In fact order double order. Omg!! I almost forgot the soup! The soup was more like this delicious, rich stew. Wow depth of flavor! Beans, shredded meat, tomatoes. So yum! read more

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We went here based off the recommendation of a friend since we are visiting from out of town. We had to wait a good while (30 + min) for food after a long hot day at the zoo. It was pretty busy and they only had one cook, they said. We ordered the lamb melt, the cheese melt and tuna melt and all were sub par. Super dry bread, the cheese was already hardening from sitting too long, and the tuna was still cold. I ended up putting ketchup on the tuna melt to make it go down easier. I remarked that I make a better tuna melt sandwich, to which my daughter emphatically agreed. My son said the lamb tasted like beef and it had zero flavor. I took a bite and agreed. The croquettes were tasty to my 3 year old, I thought they were interesting, but nothing too exciting to write home about. The French fries tasted average. The wheat lager I got was gross and I ended up sharing it with the hubby. I guess I don't like German beer. ‍ Overall, we spent $77 plus tip for 5 meals and we wouldn't come again. Seems like a lot of locals like this joint, so they have that going for them. If you're adventurous, feel free to give them a try and come up with your own conclusion. read more

Bar Gernika - Beer was gross. - Spanish Near Me - Boise, Idaho

We picked this place since it was on Triple D. Had the croquetas they were yummy and hot out of the fryer. Our server was knowledgeable and very friendly and attentive. Had the Lang grinders, spicy, and they were great. The best however is the creamy garlic salad dressing. One complaint is the bathroom is right next to the tables. Great experience. We will be back. read more

Unique and authentic food...awesome fries...outstanding people who obviously love what they do. This is a great place to introduce out-of-town guests to Basque food and an overall great experience! This is a Boise classic and I was grateful that a friend introduced me to Bar Gernika when I first moved to the area. I've been going ever-since! read more

I was in town for work and was craving something like cheese curds so I saw the picture and figured close enough! The price was great and it was open late. About 9:30pm on a Tuesday. As soon as I walked in they greeted me and asked me to sit anywhere. The food was amazing I got a half Solomo sandwich with Croquetas. Delicious! The Croquetas with the "Tiger Blood" which was sweet and sour sauce (little spice) made it better as suggested by the waiter. read more

Bar Gernika - Solomo half sandwich and Croquetas - Spanish Near Me - Boise, Idaho

You have to try the kalimoxto. Don't ask questions, just do it. Everything on the menu is amazing & the people working there are great.

The signature side cheese balls or whatever they are called are very good. The sandwhich I got tasted like something a 10 year old would make for himself to eat, like they just threw peppers and meat between a baguette. Cool spot though read more

Where we come from has a great food scene, but there is one genre that is painfully missing...Basque! We often travel to Boise for work and Bar Gernika was suggested to us by several individuals. It was a rainy Saturday night when we walked the short distance from our downtown hotel to this quaint little corner spot. Usually downtown Boise is crazy on a Saturday night, but I think the rain and the Hockey game were keeping the area a little more quiet. That being said, Bar Gernika is a TINY place, and even though there was only one party ahead of us, we still ended up waiting about 15 minutes for a table, and about another 20 minutes for our food. Typically this would hurt a restaurants score, but we weren't in a hurray that night, and really...what do you expect from a truly family run place? You don't come to places like this for a quick meal. We ordered the Lamb Stew and the Lamb Kabab , both with the Croquettes. The Lamb Stew was lovely. Very home-style feel and satisfying on a cold rainy night. The meat in the Stew wasn't nearly as tender and Lamb(y) tasting as the Lamb on the Kebab. The lamb in the stew tasted more like beef, with a similar texture, but the lamb on the kebab was a wonderful medium rare center and very tender. The Croquettes were every bit as good as others have said. Having never had one before, my mouth didn't quite know what to make of that first bite. If you have never had one before, it is like a breaded deep fried mashed potato ball, but the potato on the inside is as smooth as silk. Supposedly they are popularly eaten with the house Tiger Sauce, but we found it elegant to cut one in half and then slather a healthy amount of butter across the top, or dip them in the stew. The veggies that came with the Kebab were decent, and had a sort of vinegar note to them. On the recommendation of a regular, we ordered the chocolate mousse for dessert. When they brought it out I was afraid that it was going to taste like Jell-O instant pudding...Not. Even. Close. This mousse taste like they took a high end chocolate bar, melted it down, mixed it with rainbows and a fluffy cloud and then put it in a little bowl. I am going to have dreams about that mousse. The best part was the check. We had two entrees, a glass of wine, and dessert and the total bill came to about $30 before the tip. Realize, it isn't a ton of food, so I wouldn't go if you are super starving, but it is definitely enough to satisfy a normal eater. We are thrilled to have found this place...You think they might consider coming to Utah? read more

Bar Gernika - Lamb kebab - Spanish Near Me - Boise, Idaho

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Wow! Casual divey ambiance (love it). I had been wanting to check this place out for a long time now. Why ohhh WHY did it take me so long?! A friend and I stopped in after work and decided to split the lamb kabob (added an extra skewer to the standard order) and a spicy lamb grinder. We got the fries and croquetas as our sides. The fries were fresh cut and crispy. The croquetas were much better than anything I had while in Spain. The grilled veggie skewer that came with the lamb kababobs were very tasty, simply seasoned, as was the lamb. The spicy lamb grinder was spicy, with plenty of pickled jalapenos, grilled onions and bells peppers, covered in cheese and served with hot au jus. Mmmm still thinking about it all. I need to go back to try their dessert. Well mostly just want to try the rice pudding. I want to take this place back to Phoenix with me. read more

How do I love Bar Gernika? Let me count the ways! Croquettas are proof that God exists--dip them in tiger sauce and your world will be forever altered. The spicy lamb grinder is two meals worth of greatness, and the fries were perfect! Add in the friendly service and excellent selection of microbrews and imports on tap--oh, and you really should try a kalimotxo (that's Coke and red wine, just trust me)...I've been coming here for years and have never been let down. It was a great way to warm up on a grey and rainy day in Boise! read more

Bar Gernika - Köstritzer Schwarzbier on tap- delicious! - Spanish Near Me - Boise, Idaho

BOISE, ID: Happy to visit this famous bar in the Basque area of Boise. I had been checking out the sandwiches in the photos for awhile before I made the trip. The ambience is nothing fancy; Basque-y looking darkish interior with pretend exposed ceiling beams and wood trim/chairs/tables. It's a small dining area and is packed at lunch. I sprung for the Spicy Lamb Grinder and the Croquetas. The Lamb Grinder (4 stars) was awesome; spicy meat, crisp/soft baguette, peppers and cheese, like a Philly Steak Basque Style, included au jous, which was fine, I didn't dip it a lot. The Croquetas (4 stars) were delicious and a rare experience, order them. Crispy exterior and a tasty but lightly flavored soft interior. Must be tried. The big winner of the meal was the sweet/spicy Tiger Sauce: awesome!! So delicious I could drink it. Like a sweet Tobasco glaze; it was amazing on everything. The waiter was kind of rude. read more

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Always love following Guy around the country on a Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives pilgrimage... So I found myself in Boise and ended up at Bar Gernika! I ordered the Solomo Sandwich - Marinated pork loin with pimentos and served on a freshly baked French toll. In a word... AMAZING! Opted for the French fries (Idaho, right?) and they were fresh/crisp and delicious. For $8.75 this was the perfect pit stop prior to heading to the airport. If I lived here I'd definitely order a few of the craft beers, as they have a great selection on tap/in bottle available (But work calls!) Here's the rundown: Satisfied? Yes Return? Yes Advocate? Yes read more

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We came here for some drinks and snacks on a warm Saturday afternoon after exploring the nearby Basque Museum (also recommended). Decided on a Basque cider (they had two available; both similar) and a Kalimotxo (because, why not, it's Basque, right?). We opted for the additional chorizo with the (generous!) cheese plate, and were not disappointed. Apples, three types of cheese, plenty of bread, and a good helping of chorizo made for just the right amount of grub for a light meal/heavy snack for two. They had a beef tongue special on menu at the time, which looked great, but sadly wasn't hungry enough to go for it. The outdoor seating faces a wide pedestrian thoroughfare, where we saw a number of folks heading across for what we figured must have been a sports events (team jerseys abounding). Nice ambiance, and the server was very attentive, despite a fairly full interior bar for a midday stop. read more

Bar Gernika - Cheese board (with chorizo), Kalimotxo, and cider. - Spanish Near Me - Boise, Idaho

WARNING! The croquettas are dangerously amazing... especially when you're 6 months pregnant! I have always walked by this establishment however, was never able to pop in. Man oh man, I am so thankful I finally made it in. Now I will admit, I ordered a grilled cheese (this kiddo I'm growing doesn't like me eating meat) however, some of the other dishes my friends ordered looked incredible. As I said before, the croquettas are a must! We also ordered sautéed mushrooms as an appetizer. I could have just ordered those two items alone and would have been happy as a clam. My grilled cheese was also great with the scallion bread it is served on. Since we ordered the croquettas as an appetizer, I was able to try their house made French fries that were perfectly crispy and seasoned very well. As I write this review, I am drooling over the next time we get to visit. I'll have to work on getting some more steps in prior though haha! read more

Cool spot with a little more to offer carnivores. I eat fish and ordered the tuna melt on the advice of reviews online and our server. It was fine but nothing special-- the cheese was cold and not actually melted and the tuna itself wasn't heated all the way through. I would have loved to try the croquetas but they (and all the Basque offerings on the menu) are made with meat. They had local beers and Spanish wines as well, which was definitely the highlight of the meal. I had a local beer which was really tasty! The atmosphere is also really wonderful-- love the art on the wall and the very European architecture and decor. If there's room you might sit outside and do some people-watching on Basque block. Otherwise, spend time indoors with the friendly clientele, staff, and free-flowing drinks! read more

Solid Basque fare, but you better like lamb or the choices are sparse. The server and chef were both very nice, but overwhelmed by a crowd so things got pokey. Great grilled cheese too and the hot sauce is delicious for dipping the copious serving of fries. nice ambiance too. Old county chalet. read more

Definitely get the lamb sandwiches over the pork ones. The pork was tough and chewy, while the lamb was succulent and went well with the peppers and the dip. The croquetas were also superior to damn near ever other croqueta I've had (probably the Idaho potatoes?) so no matter what you get, go for those. The idea order here is probably the lamb dip with a side of croquetas. read more

Came here for an early dinner (or late snack?). I immediately dug their vibe--a very casual pub atmosphere. Dining companion and I shared a chorizo supreme (Chorizo sandwich with grilled onions and pimentos), which we both enjoyed. The sandwich didn't taste astronomically fabulous or anything--but it was good. However, the croquetas rocked my socks! So delicious it left me wishing I'd ordered a full order of them off the 'tizer menu (instead of the side with the sammy)! Hands down the best croquetas I've had the pleasure of consuming. A little bummed they don't have cocktails--but it does seem like more of a beer/wine good grub kinda place. Enjoyed a glass of Quinta Hinojal (very nice). Service was prompt and friendly. Overall (without the croquetas): a solid 3 star. With the croquetas: 4. read more

Bar Genika is small but good, has small inside eating area and bar and small outside area, bit noise and close, but the food and ice tea very good. I had the spicy lamb grinder, it was amazing and huge, everyone else at the table enjoyed their food too, some of the best ice tea I've had in long time. Large serving fair price! read more

I was in Boise and thought...hmmm...I wonder what Basque food is like? I don't know if it is authentic, but MAN is it good. Plus, the atmosphere is like i like it. Nothing pretentious, not a college bar...but a trendy little hole in the wall place that makes you feel like you know a great secret after eating there. I had the lamb stew (amazing), and the croquetas (who doesn't like incredible fried food?). I got a nice glass of rose wine and my husband and I shared the flan for dessert. To top everything off? Our bill was around $32 for 2 dinners, 2 drinks, and a dessert. Fabulous! read more

We stopped in here with some friends for lunch and the place was pretty packed, but we were still able to get a table even though we had a fairly large group. The service was fast and attentive. Our drinks never ran empty and we were never left wondering where our server had gone. While service was great, this place really shines on its food. Freaking fantastic. We got to try many different things on their lunch menu, since we all pretty much ordered different things. I loved everything that I tried. I had the Chorizo Supreme sandwich and my wife had the lamb grinder. I can't remember what all of my friends ordered, but everything I tasted made me want more. If I'm ever back through the area, I'll definitely want to stop here again! read more

Extra spicy lamb grinder is crazy spicy, so good! The service is really good too and great rotating beer selection. Get the soup as a side, never disappoints read more

I've been here a few times the last time I came with my mother she was visiting from Oregon and we stopped here before she got on her plane we had breakfast customer service is good food was great very clean very friendly I would definitely come back again and I would recommend to anybody read more

Cleverly hidden in plain sight! The food was simple but suuuuuper flavorful. They have an 8 beer tap list BUT the variety is good. Also the two guys working today *couldn't hear their names over my screaming kids, yes we are THOSE people* were amazing. Super informative and hospitable. They answered about 100 questions we had about the area, food, drinks ect. Also they were super pleasant and kind to our kids which can make or break it for us. I had the carrot bisque which was very creamy and a little sweet. My son tried the burger which looked and smelled amazing, it came with pickled onions which I did try and they were very tasty. The croquettes were hands down my favorite. Crispy outside and gooey inside. I could have eaten a bucket of these damn things read more

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I wouldn't go way out of my way to go here but the food was solid. If you like beer and wine they have lots of choices. I had the Spicy Lamb Grinder. Sort of a cross between a cheese steak and French Dip The bread. A chewy French Bread. Not like Gonella for my Chicago Friends but like some kind of Artisan French you would get at Costco. The meat. A thin sliced lamb that was lean and fairly tender. Grilled with mushrooms, onions and green peppers. The spicy, jalapeños and pepper jack cheese. Well seasoned and served with a cup of au jus. The French Fries. These get 5 stars but I'm in Idaho so they should be good. Fresh cut and fried crispy. Just the way I like them. Overall I enjoyed the lunch and the total experience of a nice corner bar with good cheap food. The whole time I was there the place was full. There was never a wait because as one or two tables would open up more people would walk in to fill the seats. The cost. $13 with tip. That included a can of coke. read more

The only thing better than the Solomo sandwich is the Double Solomo! The Croquettas are absolutely delicious. I've eaten here for more than 2o years and always enjoy the food, people, and ambience. Five of us came in for dinner and drinks. The waitstaff were attentive and delivered bad news with tact. The bad news you wonder. We were there too late for the Tongue Saturday. Tip of the day: get there EARLY so you can have the tongue. read more

Looking for a locals, local joint......you found one. You will not find any corporate crap here! This local spot is nothing special to the eye, but that is where the secret is. The old rustic bar/pub has about 6 bar seats and about 8 tables. There are a few patio seats as well. All the furniture and decor has experienced many days of use and would be awesome if they could talk. The service is polite and the cook is out in the open working on an 8 x 8 kitchen next to the bar which adds to the great vibe inside. Since this is such a small joint, the service can be a bit slow at times when a crowd is present. Plan for a chill time with no pressure to move. I ordered the popular Spicy Lamb Grinder with Fries. A few friends at our table ordered the Grilled Mushrooms and Croquettes. The sandwich is served with au jus and very fresh French bread. The lamb was tasty and even better when dipped in the au jus. If you like French dip sandwiches, you will enjoy this dish. The group mentioned that they really enjoyed the mushrooms and Croquettes as an appetizer. The fries were good but nothing special to cheer about. I would provide a higher ranking if the joint were a bit cleaner and the service was a bit faster. But I believe that the vibe would be altered if they made these changes. I hope they do not change. I highly recommend this spot for a great drink of local beer and unique Basque food. Cheers Always! read more

Bar Gernika - Spicy Lamb Grinder with Fries - Spanish Near Me - Boise, Idaho

Lots of stars from other Yelpers, but I didn't really think it was all that special. Came here for lunch with a coworker after checking out the menu. I love paella and knew that I wanted this as soon as I sat down. And who doesn't love fried food? Of course I had to get the croquetas! My coworker settled for the spicy lamb grinder. We arrived before the lunch rush, but it still took quite a while for our lunch to be served. I won't ding them for that... but I wish the food was better. The paella wasn't anything special - some chunks of chicken, some chorizo, and not much flavor beyond that. It seemed like they baked the whole thing in the little dish afterwards because there was a nice rice crust on one end - but that didn't make up for the blandness =/ The croquetas weren't all that great, either. Kinda hard to mess up fried foods, but they somehow managed to do that here. The croquetas were filled with a glue-like substance that I had to have with ketchup 'cause there wasn't enough flavor. Boo! My coworker admitted that the lamb grinder wasn't anything special, "Just like a French Dip..." The chorizo we shared was okay... but I think I've had better chorizo elsewhere - this one just tasted like a hot dog =/ The bill came to about $30 for two people... FOR LUNCH... mehhhhhh Will I come back? Probably not... sorry guys. GUY FIERI FAIL!!! read more

Bar Gernika - Paella and croquetas - Spanish Near Me - Boise, Idaho

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Great food, great beer and wine and wonderful service. Terrific atmosphere. A place you can easily call "my place"

Best tuna melt in town, friendliest bartenders, and definitely don't miss out on the croquettas.

Be careful with what you order by that I mean read carefully on the menu to see what the meal includes and the price of it. My friend ordered a basque dish that was pretty much like ordering a hot dog that costs $7. Hahaha, I say for his meal compared to the price the amount he had, it wasn't worth it. I ordered the lamb stew and it was pretty good, and the entire dish was filling. First time having basque and I'm glad that I chose this place. read more

Bar Gernika - lol sorry for making it upside down - Spanish Near Me - Boise, Idaho

Service was great, timely, and friendly. Food was great and they have a nice selection of drinks. Great pace for lunch and dinner or just enjoying drinks and appetizers with some friends! read more

Awesome server. Quick service. Good lamb stew, grilled cheese and croquetas. Nice outdoor dining, too. Very cool spot to hang out and enjoy a Boise evening. read more

If you want to experience the Basque culture of Boise, this is the place to be. The entire place was full save for two barstools that weren't next to each other, but a friendly patron offered to move so my hubby and I could sit together. They have a good but small selection of craft beer. I ordered the Lamb grinder and my hubby got the spicy lamb grinder. I really wanted to order the Tortillas de Patatas but the bartender said it usually takes about 20 minutes, so we passed on it. I wish we would have ordered it anyway because it took about that long to get our food anyway. There was only one chef working so it took a little while, but the wait was worth it. I loved the croquetas that came with my grinder. They were fried gravy goodness, especially when dipped in Bar Gernika's signature sauce! read more

Bar Gernika - Lamb grinder - Spanish Near Me - Boise, Idaho