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    Barbacoa Grill

    4.2 (1.7k reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Barbacoa Grill Photos

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    BARBACOA GRILL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Upscale
    Loud
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Barbacoa Grill

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    Cottonncandy dessert was good
    Jeff F.

    This place is very nice and was our first visit. Cool interior and servers were great. We started with the tableside guacamole, which was very good. We had party of 3 with mother in law - so we opted to split the 2 1/2 lb Porterhouse for 2. Probably the quickest steak we've ever had and it was good. With the rock, it was a good experience with the hot rock. I think in the future, we would each order our own as there was like a giant T-bone and a little bit forward to carve as a table. It was her birthday, so she got the cotton candy desert which was unique. Definitely not your kind of place if you're into the sizzler, as you will have a sizzle hole in your wallet. We will be back for special occasions for sure.

    Bill S.

    3/5 stars Barbacoa is easily one of the most unique restaurants in Boise. The atmosphere is stunning with incredible artwork, a massive wine wall, and over the top decor that makes it feel like an experience rather than just dinner. The tableside guacamole was absolutely phenomenal and was the highlight of the meal. We also ordered the grilled octopus, carne asada, Hot Rock Filet, and the coulotte steak with Cajun shrimp. The Hot Rock Filet was a fun presentation and cooked perfectly. Unfortunately, the coulotte steak was much chewier than expected, although the staff handled it well and removed it from our bill without any hassle. The carne asada itself was good, but the rice wasn't very appealing. The service was friendly but felt a bit chaotic throughout the meal, and the restaurant was noticeably smoky inside, which took away from the experience. Barbacoa is worth visiting at least once for the atmosphere alone, but considering the premium prices, I expected a more polished dining experience.

    Lobster side
    McKenna D.

    My husband and I are visiting from out of town, and after asking several locals for restaurant recommendations, Barbacoa came up again and again. We had an 8:30 PM reservation on a Friday night but arrived about an hour early. Despite the restaurant being busy, the staff was incredibly accommodating and seated us right away. Our server, Ryan, was fantastic--attentive, knowledgeable, and full of great recommendations. The tableside guac came highly recommended, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. I told my husband it was the best guacamole I've ever had (get it spicy if you're into that thing) The prices are definitely on the higher side, but the food, ambiance, and overall experience made it feel worth the premium. Somehow I missed taking a photo of my steak, but it was cooked perfectly and had a great flavor. Personally, I would have liked a little more seasoning, but it was still a very solid steak. Overall, Barbacoa delivered a memorable dining experience with excellent service, delicious food, and a beautiful atmosphere. I can see why it's a favorite among locals, and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone visiting Boise.

    BBQ Duck Quesadilla - IG @bougiefoodieboi
    Kyle W.

    A really fancy steakhouse in Boise with signature tableside guacamole and hot rock steak with a fire show! Reservations are strongly recommended especially the weekend, but usually for the nicer months, most people go for the patio so reservations are mandatory for that. Indoors were pretty empty so you can probably get away with walking in, but for peace of mind, I would recommend a reservation. We went on a Saturday during mid May so people were celebrating Mother's Day and graduation, so we had to make a reservation a month in advance for that dinner service. We got the BBQ duck quesadilla, tableside guacamole, and the signature hot rock filet with a side of zucchini chips sprinkled with cheese. This was more than enough for 2 people as every dish is huge. The quesadilla is delicious, with a good amount of duck. Kind of similar experience to a BBQ chicken quesadilla, but fancier. Tableside guacamole is good - lots of guac but since we were seated outside with a beautiful lake view directly, there were steps so it was not possible to see the guacamole prepared tableside. The server should have mentioned it as we wanted to see the preparation, and we were never informed as such so the premium for the appetizer was not as worthwhile. The hot rock filet was good. I loved the fire show when they pour the mix of cognac peppercorn sauce. The steak was incredibly high quality - really juicy and not much tendon. This is the type of steak I have been seeking in many restaurants that fail to deliver. The zucchini chips side was good, a little flimsy on the batter, but nonetheless satisfying. We got cocktails that were icetinis - a glass with an ice shaped like the glass. They pour a small portion of the drink on the glass and left the rest in the cocktail shaker for us to pour gradually so that the drink is not as diluted, which is a good touch. Service can be improved - I understand the server is fairly new but there should be a minimal amount of experience to serve at such a high end restaurant? Some big misses I had were not giving shared plates until we asked, covering a bit of the show with the arm when pouring the fire cognac, and when requesting the check, he took a pause to place the receipt at the table but failed to see that he placed the check on top of some guac we dropped at the table so my credit cards after payment were incredibly sticky and oily. If people are dropping hundreds for a nice experience, I expected service to be better than that.

    Tableside Guacamole
    Madelon C.

    Splurged and had a wonderful dinner out at Barbacoa. We love coming to Barbacoa and taking guests that are not from Boise so they can experience the Firerock Filet. While the price point here is higher than a typical date night for us, our experiences have always been worth the price tag. The staff is attentive and offers great recommendations. The table side guacamole is a must. So good and they tailor it to your requested spice level. Be warned, it is enough guac to feed a table of 6. So good. The Firerock entree is a crowd pleaser, and tastes amazing. You can't beat the experience of it getting flambéed at your table. I've also tried various cocktails and have never been disappointed. They serve their martinis in an ice glass (yes the glass is made of 100% ice). The presentation is so fun. This is definitely our go to for special date nights.

    Alexandra S.

    This was the most amazing meal in the most incredible space. I cannot get over the decor. I've never encountered such immersive dining experience. The food is excellent: creative, thoughtfully presented, and delicious. Absolutely loved the plating and drink presentation. But the stuff inside makes me want to chain myself to one of those swivel chairs with fleur-de-lis bronze trimmings.

    Flaming up the area on The Rock. The food was amazing.
    Susan C.

    All I can say is don't miss this place! Take a moment to take in the ambiance of the space, it's like an art installation. The views with the wide open doors is gorgeous. And most important, the service is impeccable. RICH was the best in presentation, service & over all experience. We wanted for nothing u see his watch. His sidekick, I feel horrible that I can't recall his name, was amazing as well.

    Medusa
    Pam B.

    Excellent food and service! Head to the bar area for an early dinner and happy hour drinks! didn't even need a reservation and we got a booth under Medusa

    Amber D.

    We came during a busy time and generally they like for you to have reservations but fortunately they had room in the VIP section so we were sat in seconds. The room is cute and has good vibes but it definitely is VIP. Closed off to any people watching. We got the crab bisque, flatbread stuffed pepper and it was amazing!! I ate all of my plate. The waitress was very kind and attentive. I had found something in my food and I wasn't sure what it was so I asked the waitress and she wants sure. Honestly, I wasn't pressed about it and still ate the whole thing. She said the manager was going to comp me but I told her NO! I ate the whole thing I Will absolutely pay for it. She still took it off so I left a %50 tip. Excellent food, service and prices. Must recommend!

    Dani S.

    It's been a few years since I have been to Barbacoa. Tonight we came in for my husband's company late Christmas Christmas party. Last year we celebrated at their sister restaurant Coa Del Mar and enjoyed every bit of it. My husband and his co workers can't get enough of the filet hot rock. It was an unanimous vote to come to Barbacoa to celebrate our post holiday dinner. Our first interactions coming in was not pleasing. I will have to say, the hostesses were quite rude and unorganized. Our table had already checked in and sat. We were the last ones to show up. The hostess had a hard time locating our reservation even though our party was already somewhere in the dining area. We repeated the reservation name to her several times. Clearly she wasn't paying attention since we had to say it over and over again. After several attempts, she finally located our party. "Someone will guide you to your table". After standing there for a bit we realized no one was going to "guide us" anytime soon. It's such a shame that we started our experience with this kind of service. We ended up just locating our party on our own. She was completely useless in the help department. Our server had gotten drinks started for our table since we got there late. She got us squared away after we got ourselves situated. We breezed over the menu while she grabbed our sodas. Guac was also started for the table. The table side guacamole never disappoints. We toasted, enjoyed our appetizer and hung out till our server was ready to take our orders. I ordered the ribeye tonight. My husband got the filet hot rock with a couple of his co workers. I asked for my ribeye to be really well done. With my new kidney, I can't really have undercooked steak. Our server reassured me that my steak will be cooked well done and that it was going to be great. For my side I got some asparagus. I have had the asparagus every time I have eaten here and it's always fantastic. It was busy tonight and there were quite a few of us in our group so our food did take a minute to get prepared. But after everything was dropped off, I knew it was worth the wait. Our food looked phenomenal! The gentleman who poured my husband's cognac sauce did a great job, great presentation. I got my beautiful ribeye on a black board placed in front of me. My friend next to me ordered the salmon. On her salmon was a vibrant orchid. It added such an elegant touch to her plate. Everyone's food looked fantastic. This is where I compliment the chef. My ribeye was juicy, flavorful and it had outstanding char marks on it. For my ribeye to be cooked well done, it was so tender. The sauce that was paired with it was tangy and spicy. It was the perfect sauce for my ribeye. The asparagus once again was money. I ate a little more than half of my steak and I look forward to finishing it tomorrow. Dessert was a must after we finished dinner. I have had the fried ice cream pops in the past. They are too good! But the bananas foster was calling my name tonight. Our friends next to us ordered the same dessert. The rest of the party got the fried ice cream pops. The presentation for the bananas foster was magnificent. We dug right in after the flame went out. The bread pudding was divine. The gelato that came on the side was sweet and creamy. Paired together the bread pudding and gelato was the ultimatecombination. As full as I was, I had to finish this lovely dessert. Our start wasn't the best. The hostesses are the first people to set the tone of your dining experience. I'm happy that our server, the vibe and of course the food made up for such horrible first interactions. Our server was on point and so was everyone else who tended to our table. With Barbacoa having such a rich and romantic vibe, it resonates in their food. Everything about tonight was lovely. Looking forward to coming back when it's warmer so we can sit out on the patio by the water. I can't think of a better way to enjoy to have dinner.

    Baked Salmon
    Nicki P.

    I've been here three times and I'm always impressed with the atmosphere and experience. We sat in the bar for this visit and had a three course dinner. Started with a few appetizers, and of course had to get the table-side guacamole. It's made custom to heat preference so we got medium this time. Ryan was our server and attentive the entire time. I ordered the salmon for dinner and it was incredible! A few friends of the steak, and it looked great too. We got a couple desserts to share, the ice cream donut and crème brûlée. Overall amazing meal and service.

    Birthday Cotton Candy
    David M.

    Great decor and location, especially with Halloween additions. Service is always top notch at this restaurant and their others. Love their "BOGO" (buy one, get one) drink specials during happy hour. Everyone loved their meals. The rib entree is HUGE (sorry, no pics). Definitely need a to-go box. My carne asada could have used some more seasoning. Chose the hot rock and sauce and even though the sauce is delicious, it doesn't say "carne asada". Could have had some different and additional sides to make your own tacos but still a good dish. Would not order this entree again with all of the other good options. Would some here again.

    Eric D.

    The service was outstanding. The food was amazing. And the atmosphere was very pleasant and welcoming. I spent my birthday here with my girlfriend and her friend and her friend's boyfriend. We want to come back for more tasty entrees.

    Pomegranate Martini

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    Barbacoa Grill Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Barbacoa Grill

    Do they have mocktails for recovering alcoholics or kids? I love the chill, but cannot have alcohol. Thank you in advance

    Yes they do.

    Price of porterhouse steak?

    $120

    Can you make reservations for happy hour?

    The bar is open seating so I assume not. You can call them.

    What is the dress code?

    All over the board. Some people were dressed up, others super casual.

    Are kids allowed at the bar area?

    Kids can go into the bar area but not at the bar top.

    Are there gluten-free and dairy-free options?

    Peter, We have a gluten free menu. As well as almost all of our dishes can be adjusted to be… 

    Is there bar seating that is first come/first served or do you HAVE to have a reservation?

    Our upper bar and rooftop bar are first come/first serve.

    When will the rooftop bar open this year? Thank you, I look forward to it :)!

    Our Rooftop patio opens May 5th but is weather pending.

    Do they still have Sunday HH, if so what are the times?

    Happy hour is BOGO 7 days a week from 4pm - 6pm. All alcoholic beverages under $15

    How does happy hour BOGO work? Does it include entrees?

    No, order your 1st drink by 6 pm and the 2nd one is free. I enjoy their bar menu and specifically… 

    There's a rumor that there's a Vegan secret menu? Can someone confirm and if so what's on it?

    We do offer a Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten Free menu upon request. Hope to see you soon!

    View All 12 Questions

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    The James Kitchen and Bar - Ceaser salad

    The James Kitchen and Bar

    4.3(108 reviews)
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    I want to give this place another Star, I really do but I don't know that it's deserved!?…read more I will start by saying this place is right up my alley! A great upstairs bar, patio space outside, lots of whiskey and Bourbon and other great things. I will say the one Star drop was just the very very average to below average food! I have been here a couple of times, good cocktails! Came in one night to watch a Bball game and have some dinner. I have been on a quest of the best Fish & Chips in Boise and figured from the feel of this place it might just hit a little something! I was, well disappointed I guess is the best way to say it. Fish & Chips were OK, very OK, but cold or at least not real warm! I get it, kitchen is downstairs and it has to come up but that is something they should be good at. This was not a very busy night and I don't think that had much to do with anything! I will come back for the patio, might even have a bite here again but I don't think I would order the Fish & Chips again, just wouldn't be worth it! Great location, patio but very average and not very warm food! KT

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    I had such a great experience here while traveling! Yesterday I noticed the online wait time was…read moreabout an hour and a half, so I ended up eating somewhere else. Today I decided to order ahead, but I accidentally scheduled my pickup an hour later than I intended because my laptop was set to a different time zone. I called the restaurant, explained what happened, and they were incredibly kind and accommodating. Even though the restaurant was absolutely packed when I arrived, they were able to get my order ready much earlier than originally scheduled. I really appreciated them going out of their way to help me. The food was fantastic! The Honey Badger pizza was delicious, the Everynight salad was even better. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and worth every bite. Between the outstanding customer service and the excellent food, this place definitely earned five stars. If I'm ever back in the area, I'll absolutely be coming here again!

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    Ram Restaurant & Brewery

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    2.9(271 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    My wife and I brought our daughter here for lunch today, Sunday, at about 1:30…read more First off, it's downtown and yet they have a large, free parking lot, so I loved that. Second, and I doubt this is the case during football season, the place was not busy at all. The inside is dark wood, tables and booths. I liked the ambience, I kind of pub feel. However, it was a beautiful day, so we sat on the patio, and this was nice. Our young male server, and I apologize because I did not get his name, but he had dark hair and a beard, did an excellent job of taking care of us. My daughter and I had the Red Eye(?) IPA, which we both enjoyed. She had the shrimp bowl, my wife had the French dip, and I got the Pacific-something seafood melt. My daughter really liked her choice. My wife said that, while there was plenty of meat on her sandwich, she has had French dip sandwiches elsewhere with more flavor. Likewise, my crab, shrimp, and artichoke sandwich was not as flavorful as I would have liked, and mine was served kind of open-faced. When I put it together ingredients were falling out as I ate it. So, I was not that impressed with my choice. My wife and I liked the fries, hers the sweet potato, mine the regular. Crispy and well-seasoned. My sandwich was $22, and my wife and daughter's entrees were $19. With two beers and a soda, the bill came to over $100 including the tip. So, not inexpensive. I'm not sure we would drive from Star to this location again, based on the food and prices.

    I shouldn't even give one star but the gentleman was nice. Except he didn't mention it was paying…read more18 usd for a watered down bloody marry 3 quarter full of ice. When I got my bill I about lost it. Not to mention the clam chowder was was sweet! Never eat here again terribly disappointed.

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    Ram Restaurant & Brewery
    Ram Restaurant & Brewery
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    3.9(73 reviews)
    1.4 mi
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    Pengilly's Saloon is, without a doubt, a Boise treasure. Located in the heart of the Old Boise…read moreHistoric District, walking through the doors truly feels like taking a step back in time. It is no wonder Esquire Magazine once called this spot "the one true classic in Boise." The atmosphere is steeped in history, featuring a stunning 114-year-old hardwood Brunswick bar and a beautiful turn-of-the-century National Cash Register. From the vintage cigarette machine by the door to the classic pool table, every corner of the saloon radiates character and charm. The history here is fascinating--it originally served as a grocery store before transitioning into the Stockman's Pastime Bar in the 70s, eventually becoming the Pengilly's we know and love in 1976. That legacy is felt in the soul of the building. The service is consistently excellent. The staff is always friendly and welcoming, making every visit a great experience. Whether I'm ordering a Sex on the Beach or sticking to a Shirley Temple when I'm the designated driver, the drinks are always spot on. My fiancé usually goes for a double Jack and Coke, and we always have a fantastic time soaking in the live music performed by talented local artists. If you are looking for an authentic, historic, and lively spot in Boise with a warm atmosphere and great vibes, Pengilly's Saloon is the place to be. We can't recommend it enough!

    Ambiance of this place was fantastic. At first we were hesitant as we didn't know what the crowd…read morewould look like. Come to find out, it's all ages! The band that played was amazing and the servers were great at checking up on us for drinks. Lovely place to meet people and dance with live music. Would definitely return if I come back to visit Boise in the future.

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    Pengilly's Saloon
    Pengilly's Saloon
    Pengilly's Saloon - The bar itself was made in the late 1800's.

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    Barbacoa Grill - steak - Updated August 2026

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