This place is awesome but every time I call for a reservation, they're doing something offsite

If you want to try authentic basque food Eli's is your place. I was in town for a wedding and wanted to try this delicious food since I've never seen a Basque restaurant in any state other than Idaho. Who would have thought? The food here was not spicy and full of flavor. We tried the beef meatballs in a delicious orange tomato based sauce. These delectable meatballs tasted differently than your typical Italian fare with different spices and were so tender they almost melt in your mouth. Another winning dish is the cod in lemon-cream sauce. It was baked to perfection with citrus and creamy sauce swimming with super tender pieces of fish. All of Epi's dishes come with soup, salad, and bread. It's like a three course meal for a one course entree price! Go here with your adventurous food loving family and enjoy all the many flavors of Basque food. read more

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I've eaten here a few times now... & each time it's felt like eating with extended family. I love the concept of soup & salad before the main entree, & their wines are all superb. And $7 for a glass of quality wine is an extra bonus. Whether planning a romantic dinner or have a group dinner u r planning- this restaurant can meet your expectations. Note: no gluten free options are available without pre arrangement with the chef. read more

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Definitely an experience to remember! This place was packed on a Saturday night and we got a table outside. What a treat to try some unique flavors and great quality food. We started with the Ham Croquettes and they are cheesy delicious fried balls of yumminess. The mushroom soup was my favorite thing we ate- a little spicy but so creamy and flavorful. The salad was a little underwhelming, just a light vinaigrette on some lettuce with shredded carrots and one cherry tomato. I chose the meatball and my mom got the sizzling garlic shrimp. The meatballs are... unique. Definitely house made- did not expect the flavor. Very finely ground meat but flavorful. The shrimp was tasty- no leftovers there! A unique must-try restaurant when in Meridian! read more

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Epi's has a great halibut dish! You will need a reservation on most nights - it's a small house located in Downtown Meridian. The staff is super nice and attentive. read more

Nice quite place. Excellent food and service. Probably the best service that I have ever received.

Excellent authentic Basque food Good beer and wine selection Great service Charming ambiance read more

I have been fortunate enough to have enjoyed a night of dining with this establishment on several important dates in my memory. Graduation, celebration of a new nephew, meeting my then girlfriends parents for the first time over some great meals. I can easily say that even at this point the fact that I've listed so many special events being hosted at the same establishment should already be a glowing recommendation of not just their food, but if the glowing services received. The first time I came to Epi's they sat us on the enclosed patio because the inside was more packed than the Bon Marché used to be on Black Friday. I was grateful for the near immediate service despite the state of business within. How extremely professional that they made every interaction seem normal and without rush despite the actual dinner rush happening all around them. My guests enjoyed their meals but I especially remember that when I ordered the lamb the lovely waiter and waitress came back to let me know they only had half a piece of shank(I believe that was what was said) and it is not enough for the serving. Instead of just offering me an alternative completely they offered to still cook me the lamb that was left and supplement it with a type of roast stew. I was ecstatic to hear that by complete coincidence I would be trying both of the meals I had been warring to choose between! The atmosphere was homey, and calm despite the noises of deep and youthful conversation within. The porch gave us a lovely feeling of being outdoors while staying warm (which incase anyone forgot is usually the use for a patio) and in fact their heating did keep the chill from touching us when we were staying through the late evening. Despite the chaos in the background that I likely only noticed as someone who worked in the food industry and has also been reviewing for some time, you likely never would have known they were running on overheated all cylinders. So very professional, friendly, accurate, it was a splendid showing of how a restaurant should be run. Come by Epi's sometime to celebrate something memorable and make it just that much more. read more

It had been over a decade since I last ate at Epi's, and I am happy to report that not much has changed! Yes, ownership is still in the family and the same cook is at the helm. The croquettas were fantastic and the chorizo was as good as it gets. The rib-eye was cooked to perfection with a healthy serving of potatoes. The halibut was very good with a lemon sauce. We didn't do the squid ink soup but European family members have previously given it rave reviews. The filet medallions were superb and the pork chop was dry tasty. Wine selection was awesome too! Topa! Support our local treasure in downtown Meridian and have a relaxing family dining experience with your loved ones. read more

Epi's A Basque Restaurant - Sign - Basque Near Me - Meridian, Idaho

Family ran, homemade foods. The best calamari in town! Extremely inviting, wholesome atmosphere. Attentive, kind servers. They entire staff makes you feel like family! read more

Been wanting to try this places for years... after reading all the reviews and seeing Epi's voted as one of the best restaurants year after year.. Granted I did not order the lamb dish which I guess is their signature dish but the rest of the experience was surprisingly bad.. starting with their "salad" which is 1 Roma tomato and a handful of lettuce and some light dressing... pretty embarrassing to call it even a salad.. the bread I'm almost positive was a walmart baguette with cheap tin foil butter.. I choose to reserve judgement til after the apps and entrees. I remember my wife and I wanting so bad to like it.. it has that mom and pop feel and we so badly wanted to like it.. Unfortunately it was not good. Had the blank in squid as an appetizer, scallops which was decent (7.5 out of 10) and the tongue which was over cooked and generally not good. Was not mad... just sad. Maybe they had a bad night, but for what they charge, the bread, butter and salad are again embarrassing... read more

Definitely recommend calling to make a reservation ahead of time. There is very limited seating so if you just show up you were not likely to get a table. In addition if you make a reservation don't show up early because they will ask you to wait until your reservation time. Restaurant is very cozy and seating is not 6 feet apart. However they do sanitizing between guests and change table cloth linens. Staff is very friendly and accommodating. I think they do an amazing job considering the small space that they're working in. Tonight we ordered Croquettes and the mushrooms for an appetizer. For dinner my husband ordered the meatballs and I ordered the fillet medallions. Each entrée comes with a soup and a salad and a side of rice. Be sure to specify if you have a shellfish allergy so your rice can come with veggies instead of shrimp. For dessert my husband got the flan and I tried to Gateau. My most favorite part of our meal where the croquettes. The legend is true, there is good as what everybody says they are! I really could have made a meal just on those! They really were the highlight and the star of the night. The mushrooms we're good flavorful and had a good sauce. Our salad- it had an amazing vinaigrette house dressing on it that was light and citrusy and very tasty. The proportion was perfect in the amount of salad dressing was perfect. My red bean soup was delicious! The portion size was very generous for a cup of soup. I really enjoyed that. My husband had the clam chowder and he said it was pretty good. The fillet medallions were covered in a flavorful white sauce and this side of rice and vegetables was generous and tasted pretty good. My hubby said the meatballs were excellent. Dessert was pretty good as well the flan had a very nice caramel sauce over it which gave it a very tasty sweet flavor. The Gateau Was pretty dense, almost hard to eat but the raspberry sauce on the plate was excellent. This was our first time here and it was really nice. I would definitely recommend going. However as a sidenote I don't think I would recommend taking small children since there is not a lot of room and it is such a small seating area. read more

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Food was great! Service was great! I highly recommend if you are ever in the area stopping by and trying this place out. You won't regret it. read more

Epi's is truly a wonderful restaurant. The food is the best in the valley! I will return to this spectacular spot time & time again! Do yourself a favor & try it if you haven't. Everything on the menu is delicious. Their halibut is a stand out & a favorite in our family. Atmosphere & service always lovely. read more

A little house made into a restaurant which is always cute. Food was ok. Party of four but I didn't hear one single mmmm this is sooo good comment. And we each ordered something different for $40 each: Squid, halibut, lamb, and scallops. Cold 8" or so sliced baguette bread for four people was kinda skimpy. Accompanying dinner salads are nothing more than a scoop of iceberg lettuce, teaspoon of shredded carrots, and one little tomato with Italian dressing. . Service was pretty good although they weren't on top of offering more bread or wine; I had to flag them down for that. I'll close with the fact they don't have paella. read more

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Delicious food, charming atmosphere, adorable setting, excellent service. Be sure to make a reservation.

Fantastic dinner! Top notch food and service. Had reservations and we were sat right away! There are a few new "restaurants" popping up locally charging a gratuitous premium for "fancy" mediocre finger food. It's nice to be able to got out for a great dinner and feel like you got what you paid for. read more

Amazing food. High price, but worth the atmosphere, taste and preparation of the food, and amazing customer service.

Excellent food, ambience, and staff. Reservations are required. The mushroom soup was amazing.

Great food, awesome service. Hosted a large group of us at the last minute and didn't get flustered at all. If I ever find myself back in the Boise area I'll stop back in. read more

So... one more reason I wish I were Basque! Truly lovely service (I love watching peoples faces that have never been in before..I mean they make you feel like you're long lost friends and so excited to see you!). We have been in before and always enjoy appetizers to dessert.. but this time we were celebrating my mother-in-law's 90th birthday...and calling the day prior, there were no tables available. So we explained what she'd asked to be put on a cxlation list. Thankfully the next day there indeed was a table available early and we went on our merry way! My motherinlaw was treated like a queen- Bridgette (our server) even put a thick, comfy pillow on her chair! Chris & Bridget have been there since day 1...yep since 1999!! And then the food... first there's deep fried green chilis... it's not what you think! Not greasy and it's mild taste is good! We ended up taking what was left & chopping them up in eggs the next day! Beef red bean stew, calamari, the side salad... all wonderful starters. Next the spicy shrimp special and husband said the beef tongue was wonderfully tender & prepared well. The scallops special with lemon cream was delightful & at first I thought it seemed like a pretty small portion ..but it was just right with it's richness and everything else! The ONLY negative is it is such a small place & VERY loud with everyone enjoying delicious food & visiting ..but regardless, definitely recommend this place! read more

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Great food and friendly staff! Been on my list for more than a decade and finally ate here. Do yourself a favor and go! Wish I'd gone much sooner. read more

This place is Ahhhmazing!! It was a very enjoyable experienc. I could say that I died and went to heaven. from the crouquettes appetizers, to the clam chowder soup and bread, to Epis house salad and then the shrimp entree and the White wine. And we topped it off with the Green Apple bread pudding that was to die for. Epi's is my new favorite place to go. Thank you Epi for leaving such an amazing legacy of your delicious food! Thank you! The Buchanan's Meridian Foodies & Food Critiques read more

Epi's A Basque Restaurant - Basque Near Me - Meridian, Idaho

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We have been trying to get a table for quite some time now. Epi's is a small cosy place. We were greeted by our waitress and shown our table. We picked a Rioja Reserva for our dinner. As a starter we shared the calamari, these were very tender compared to the deepfried chewy ones you get somewhere else. For the soup we picked the red bean and cream of mushroom. The red bean was very tasty and savory, the cream of mushroom was a bit peppery with lots of mushrooms. As main dish we chose halibut and lamb stew, both very delicious. We have to make it back there for more. Five stars , no doubt! read more

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If you want to get a spot - you need to reserve the restaurant ahead of time to get a spot - I just got lucky because somebody didn't show up. They close also a bit early too and limited seatings. First time coming to Idaho and wanted to try some Basque like restaurants. Their calamari is good, but there wasn't enough crunch to it. The ham croquettas were really good overall and well flavored and had a great crunch to it. The lamb stew: the stew itself was a bit too salty but the meat was really tender. I felt that it was misleading with the soup and salad that they charge that much extra without telling us the price. But overall, it's a good restaurant and the service was great. read more

This is hands down one the best places to eat in the Treasure Valley. I have been going here for about 10 years and it never disappoints. The staff will treat you like family, most of them have been working there for years. I have never had a bad meal. Every time we go, I have the hardest time choosing what to eat. The halibut is my favorite. But the chicken, steak tips, shrimp, and dover sole are also amazing. They are kid friendly and will accomodate your special occasions. I would get reservations just to be safe. Dress up or don't- it won't matter. I recommend Epi's to everyone new to town or visiting and it's the one place I always bring my family and friends from out of town. If you are looking for a pretentious, snooty, overpriced meal to impress your friends- it may not be for you. This place is what Idaho is truly about. Good food and great service. Keep up the good work! read more

Epi's Basque Restaurant Located in Meridian, Epi's is the best Basque Restaurant in Idaho, and quite possibly North America. There are only 10 to 12 tables, so reservations are recommended. But once you arrive, you will be treated like family. The food is meat/fish centric, simply prepared, perfectly seasoned and delicious. The owner Chris, whose treasured grandmother's recipes the menu is based on, is retiring at the end of this month. But I have it on good authority that the restaurant will remain open with all of the current chefs in place. I really can't say enough good things about Epi's, one of my favorite restaurants of all time. Places like this are what makes Idaho so special. Highly Recommended!!! read more

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Great service and good food! Been twice and have tried different meals each time, everything we've ordered has been delicious! Definitely a MUST try spot in Meridian. read more

I heard some changes might be coming to this restaurant, so I hurried up and made a reservation for 2. It was a late dinner for us on Thursday night. The restaurant closed at 8pm, and our reservations were for 7:45. But considering the last minute reservation, I was glad to get in. Facility: The restaurant is a cute little house convert. It is very cozy and loud. The bathroom is clean and has one bathroom for men and one for women. They do have a private room for small parties towards the front. Service: The service was amazing. We were greated quickly and seated shortly after. The staff is super friendly and makes you feel like family. Water was always refilled before it got empty, and the flow of service was perfect. Not too slow, not too fast. Food: AMAZING! I had heard ahead of time to try the halibut and Green Apple Bread pudding. So of course, that's what I got. The dinner came with bread, soup, salad and an extra side. We had 2 options for soup, so I opted for the classic Basque red bean soup. Delicious. For the salad, it was just a normal green salad, but what set it apart from others was their delicious homemade dressing. My Halibut came with a citrus crust, again so amazing, delicious and perfectly seasoned mashed potatoes. The shared side was a healthy portion of peas. My wife chose the filet mignon medallions and mashed potatoes. I managed to steal a couple from her plate. Well, maybe I gave her some of my Halibut too. The medallions were cooked perfectly to the requested temperature, seasoned and had nice flavor. Even though we normally don't get dessert and we were already pretty full, I had to try the bread pudding. I am not a huge fan of bread pudding to begin with so was a little hesitant. This one changed my mind. It was a good size, easily shared by 4 people so we ate half and took the rest to our kids. As we were leaving the owner greated us again and thanked us for coming. It was not like the typical, thank you as you were walking away as most places do. She was genuinely appreciative of us coming. I have found my new favorite restaurant in the area. I can't wait to return and be the creature of habit and hope the Halibut is still on the menu. Thank you Epi's for giving us a great evening out and, though we didn't say anything, we were celebrating our 19 Anniversary. read more

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A for effort. A+ for service and pleasantness. C- on food. To begin with hostess, waitress, shoot even the waterboy were friendly and kind and just so doggone glad to be there that it was infectious. The wine suggestion was excellent and quickly delivered but with the exception of the mushroom soup every single thing we ordered was one note and lacking. The salad was iceberg lettuce with a couple of shredded carrots and two baby tomatoes... that's it. The fries's didn't have salt... seasoning or garnish.. The bread was something out of the frozen food section. The entrees were just single note and sparse. There was no Pizzazz... no wow... no I got to have more of this.. no yum factor... it was just like wedding food. It was there and it was unremarkable. Which is a shame because we wanted to love this place so bad. Prices were high and it's definitely an attraction for the area but not somewhere we would ever probably return to for the food. There was nothing wrong with the food per se there just wasn't anything right with it. Boise has many better places to eat. read more

Epi's has been on my to do list for a very long time and I finally made it. The reviews are very good by our fellow Yelpers so my hopes were high. I have friends that rave about this place. The restaurant is located in an old house with a built on enclosed patio. When you enter the restaurant, you pass the singular table in the patio and enter the main restaurant where all the tables are located which was the houses original living room it seems. Just fyi...the restaurant does pack as many tables as they can in the room... I thought this brought a unique homey feel. The employees were all very nice and friendly. We started our dinner with Ham Croquettes along with Button Mushrooms. The mushrooms were cooked in a light sauce that did not mask the mushrooms. If you love button mushrooms, you will love these. The croquettes were cooked to a golden brown with a great exterior crunch. The insides of the Croquettes were very creamy but lacked the ham taste I was expecting. I am no Croquettes expert, but these were great. For dinner I ordered the Meatballs. The dinner was accompanied with bread, soup, salad, mashed potatoes, and peas. The accompanied food is for all dishes. No substitutes here. The bread was fresh and yummy. The red bean soup was my favorite dish of the night. It had great flavor and was not too heavy. The salad was very boring (see photo). The peas were overcooked and chalky in my opinion. The meatballs were nothing special. They did not have any wow factor or flavor and the garlic tomato sauce was bland. I went in with high hopes and left 'meh. The food appearance is sub par and very boring. The flavors of the food were a bit disappointing (I expected a lot more given the reviews). The portions of the food are just fine. If you are looking for a basque restaurant and want a friendly and comfortable spot, Epi's is your spot. Cheers Always! read more

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Do you enjoy eating in an older bungalow in downtown Meridian? Do you enjoy friendly and knowledgable servers? Do you crave croquetas? Then get to Epi's. I had the pleasure of checking out this local institution with some friends for the holidays. Our server informed us they are booked through the new year and I understand why! There are plenty of smiles and plenty of shared plates to go around the table at Epi's. We shared a giant bottle of Eguren wine. It was a smooth, delightful Basque wine. Ham croquetas were best I've ever had and the calamari was tender. Not a bit rubbery! If they have the mushroom soup on offer, get it. Firm mushrooms with a zippy white pepper finish. Delicious!! My husband and I shared the grilled chicken and the special: sole wrapped in shrimp and baked in a lemon butter sauce. The chicken was tasty but not too memorable. The fish was delectable. Would order again. Such a pleasant experience. I'll be headed back to Epi's for another special occasion very soon. It's a pricier restaurant, so not fit for most people on just an average day. But well worth the price for a unique experience. read more

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Food was outstanding and service was impeccable. All four of us enjoyed our dinner here.

Over 200 reviews, and a 5 star composite, not 4 1/2 stars. That's impressive. This is tough. I waited too long to do the review. I've forgotten too many details. The place was packed. Fortunately we had reservations. After a couple minutes we were seated, and treated like family. The service was flawless over the evening. The wine was well priced. The food excellent, but I'm not going to be able to give details. I'm not quite sure what local Basque food actually is, but this was good. There is a whole region South of I-84 and North of I-80 across Nevada and Idaho where Basque's have done sheep herding going back to the old West. This is the best of the Basque places I've been to. The only thing missing is the classic drink of the American Basque. A Picon Punch. One thing's for sure. when you see a Basque place, make an effort to go. Especially for Epi's. It's the best thing near Boise. read more

Unique. But the food was just ok. The ambiance was janky. Conversations were all out in the open since there was no music and you're 2 feet away from everybody else there. The demographic was definitely elderly. read more

Food is really good on the border of excellence. Portion size is a bit small but I love supporting a local company.

Always a delight, both in good and service!! All of our meals were perfect along with the service. Took my son and his GF and will be back. read more

Ambiance, service, and food exceptional. Loved the calamari!

My family and I celebrated my mother's 93rd birthday at Epi's. They far exceeded our expectations for having a great time. We sat on the enclosed front porch area with 2 heaters because it was a chilly evening. It was so cozy, we loved it! The food was delicious, the staff were exceptional and we had a very very memorable time. We all want to say "Thank You" to the owner and staff and we will definitely be going again. read more

For those of you who know me, I'm a big foodie. I've traveled across several countries to dine in elegance, and to discover the smallest local gems that nobody speaks of. So it's with pleasure that I endorse Epi's Basque Restaurant. From the moment you cross the threshold into grandma Epi's house, you are greeted with a warm smile and a familiar hug. It feels like you're home right from the start. The environment is quaint and cozy, and a place where strangers instantly become friends. The food is unprecedented, the layers of flavor erupt on your tastebuds like a perfectly orchestrated symphony. I ended up overeating just to experience the next dish. I highly recommend the lamb stew. By some miracle I was seated without a reservation, something the patrons next to me exclaimed rarely ever happens, so you'd do well to get reservations in advance. Drop me a line and let me know what you think! Happy dining :-) read more

Epi's A Basque Restaurant - Basque Near Me - Meridian, Idaho

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