The service was fantastic, prompt and friendly. The restaurant is a little on the loud side which was difficult for an older family member who struggles with hearing in places with a lot of background noise. It is small inside, so I definitely recommend reservations if your group is more than four people. Most of the food was quite good. The croquetas and chorizo on the appetizer list were amazing, as was the red bean soup. I was disappointed in the meatballs I ordered. There just wasn't a lot of flavor to the meatballs and the sauce might as well have been jarred pasta sauce (and it might have been). Another member of our group got the tongue and the tomato sauce for that was far better, so I don't know if it was just an off night to get the meatballs. The side dishes were also a bit disappointing, though as I understand it they did different sides every night so again, maybe I was just there the wrong day. The rest of the dishes in our group were all good. I would probably go back to give it another shot, but at that price point, unless they nailed it next time, I likely wouldn't go back. read more

Best Basque foods in Idaho. Love love their squid black ink dish. Taste just like in the Basque Country (bermeo)

This is fine dining at its best, without the stuffiness of places with waiters in starched collars and an expectation to dress up. The experience at Epi's is more like going to your favorite aunt's home and having her dote on you. Reservations are always recommended and I called and left a message on their voice mail Saturday morning for a table that evening. Co-owner Chris Ansogegui (who runs Epi's with her sister Gina Urquidi) called me about noon and sounded excited to have us join them for dinner. She was also the one who greeted us warmly as we entered the erestaurant, a former home on Meridian's Main Street. I ordered lamb chops (Arkumea Txuletak) and my companion ordered beef tongue (Mingaina) in a pepper and tomato sauce.Before we got those entrees, however, we had a Calamari (Kalamareak) appetizer that was the best squid dish I have ever eaten. There were also a house bread, a green salad and our choice of a red bean and cream of mushroom soup. We ordered one of each and they were both excellent. The mushroom soup even had a slight spice bite that was very pleasant. The main dishes were superb. The lamb chops came grilled and were perfectly charred and very flavorful. The tongue was soft and easily cut with a fork. We finished off the meal by sharing a slice of chocolate mousse cake. It was also very good. The service was impeccable. Our waitress came by often and boxed leftover items as we finished each course. Chris also served dishes and roamed around the dining room talking to patronsand asking how they were enjoying their meals. This is not a place for dining on the run. We spent two and a half hours there and it was hard to believe we had been there that long. Everything was served in courses and they waited until you were finished with one before moving on to the next. By the way, the closing hours are misleading in a sense. They aren't when the business shuts down but rather the ending time to seat new diners. So you've still got plenty of time to order and eat your meal. The Ansotegui family has a long food service history. Epi Inchausti, whose grandchildren named their restaurant in her honor, is considered the matriarch of Basque cooking in Idaho. Epifania and husband David Inchausti opened the Gem Bar and Boarding House in Hailey in 1936. Ernest Hemingway, Clark Gable, Bing Crosby and Tennessee Ernie Ford and Gary Cooper were among the celebrities she cooked for. An annual lamb dinner and auction that Epi and other area Basque women organized in the 1940s as a benefit for St. Charles Catholic Church is still held. Dining at Epi's isn't cheap. The tab can run to $50 a person, but the food and service are well worth the price for an occasional big night out. It's a great experience, as you can tell by reading all of the other reviews here. It's a rare place indeed that deserves and consistently receives such high praise. read more

Epi's A Basque Restaurant - Lamb chops. They were superb. - Basque Near Me - Meridian, Idaho

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We really enjoyed our recent dinner at Epi's. Chris is super friendly when she greets you at the door, and the whole experience makes you feel like you are a long time friend of the family. Epi's is a great place to go for a special date, or just a quiet dinner. My wife had a rib eye steak, and I had a sea bass special. Both meals were wonderful. We really need to frequent Epi's more often. The food is great, the atmosphere is wonderful, and the service is awesome. We'll be back! ========== Turning vegan would be a big missed steak. read more

Service was great! We had a party of 10, we ordered several appetizers, calamari and mushrooms were good. The main course left a lot to be desired, ordered the house favorite-halibut, it was okay and lacked flavor and smothered with a sauce that was okay. The shrimp dish was over cooked but good flavor. The rib eye was good, not fabulous just good. Our friends dish was cold and was sent back. We were so exited to go but it was a disappointment for us all. They were accommodating and great service but not planning on going back sadly! read more

A favorite, a special occasion with the best food. Like a holiday at your favorite aunts house.

EPIs fabulous calamari with their sauce. I even got their recipe and try to reproduce it at home. Nothing like the original Try the halibut with lobster sauce Did someone say bread pudding read more

Excellent 20 years ago--- excellent today! Delivery is awesome- but let's be real- how could delivery beat from kitchen to table in 10 footsteps? Grateful for delivery to keep this amazing place here for when we're out of this! read more

Amazing Basque food!! Timing for serving drinks, appetizers, salads & meal was absolute perfection. I think the waitress was magic! So worth trying out. It is a hidden gem in meridian. Small place & I've heard it's hard to get in but we made reservations same day and got treated like royalty. Seriously a must try at least once! read more

My brother was visiting last week and he requested we have authentic Basque food while he was here. I was worried that we wouldn't be able to get any with everything closed right now but I found Epi's was open for take-out! And everything we ordered was absolutely delicious. We ordered an array of things, many items I would never think to order, but yum! It was all so unique and so flavorful. We started with Ham croquetas, and chorizos - both so good! I loved the pimentos with the chorizo. Then we had the lamb stew and ink fish - loved the lamb stew! The ink fish was different and it grew on me but not everyone was a fan. I think it's an acquired taste :) We also had the grilled lamb chops and beef filet. And paired with it all we had a delicious Basque wine. Highly recommend trying this out and I look forward to dining here when everything opens up again! read more

This is our go-to restaurant in the Treasure Valley. Quality of food and service is unsurpassed. We are foodies and this place is AMAZING! Highly recommend the calamari with the incredible sauce, and the halibut. The Friday night clam chowder is the best we've ever had. We are partial to the seafood prepared here. ..scallops, salmon, shrimp and crab cakes are definitely what you want to order when available. Definitely an experience you don't want to miss out on. Not only is the food incredible, but the service is amazing and so welcoming. Thank you Eric, Josh and crew!! read more

Epi's is everything you expect to enjoy when dining out. Good atmosphere, great service and excellent food! You don't leave hungry!

Food is excellent but the wine was just passable. It was my birthday dinner but they did not do anything special.

Epi's had a good menu of Basque food in a quaint setting. Service was good. Food was good. Restaurant was a bit noisy and prices were on the high end for mid range dining but I would recommend based on service and food quality. Reservation are recommended. read more

The mushroom soup was delicious. The lamb did not taste at all like lamb; more like beef. So disappointing.

I love everything about this place. The service and the friendly atmosphere are unparalleled around here. The food is magnificent - so tasteful and plentiful. Even when I've taken some bad risks (tongue - just not for me), I never left disappointed. But for those going in, here's a few recommendations: The calamari is outstanding. Out of the regular soup choices, go for the mushroom - it's amazing. For entrees, even though it's probably not a true Basque dish, the halibut is straight-up out-of-this-world. It might seem like an obvious thing, but the best thing about the entrees here is that they don't overcook them. The fish is juicy and flaky. The meat is cooked according to how you order it. Also - don't forget the green apple bread pudding. I don't typically like fruity desserts, but this is probably the best dessert I've ever had in any restaurant anywhere. But, beyond the food - this place is about the experience. They treat you like family. They don't rush you. And prices are extremely reasonable for the quality of the food and service. This is the best restaurant around. read more

Roasted lamb was amazing!! I highly recommend the Mushrooms and Chorizo appetizer's. Service was good and atmosphere was good as well. Definitely recommend this place if you're in Meridian. read more

Authenticity is what you get at Epi's. This is genuine Basque food. If you are new to Idaho and want to try authentic Idaho food you must start with Epi's. The food and atmosphere can not be beat. The shank is always a can't miss dish to try. Put Epi's on your bucket list of restaurants. read more

Such good food and service definitely a must try. Friendly staff and don't forget desert. Worth the calories!

Went here for a special occasion. Our waitress was very friendly and helpful explaining the menu. To start we ordered a half order of the Ham Croquetas (wonderful) and a full order of the Calamari (amazing). For dinner we Haibut (best I have ever had), the beef tongue (was told it was very good great sauce) and the grilled lamb loin( very yummy). The dinners came with family style side and salads. The dinner was very laid back and not rushed, but we were well taken care of. Glasses were filled and we were checked on several times. I would highly recommend this restaurant. Portions are large, quality is great, service is outstanding. Reservations recommended. read more

Love Epi!!!!! Always great food and friendly staffs. The best basque food restaurant in Meridian.

Great gastro experience! There's a reason why it's a little challenging getting a reservation. From the ambiance, to the service, to the food it rocks! read more

Stopped by 6 minutes after they opened and they already had 5 tables full. The hostess told us they were completely booked for the night and suggested we make a reservation a week in advance. If you plan on checking this place out, make a reservation in advance. read more

WE love Epis but we're a tiny bit disappointed.... Lamb shank means lamb shank!!! You have to have the bone and two of our party...didn't get the bone!! Missed this....all else was good....!! read more

Food is amazing. They had great service and it was a fun date night for me and the wife. We can't wait to go back!

Best crab cakes around. Service is always top notch and they treat you like family. We always leave completely satisfied!

Every once-in-a-while during my travels across the U.S. I wander into something truly special and unique. Lucky for me, this happened last evening at Epi's. In town for a trade show, I offered to buy some customers dinner and they recommended this restaurant and I feel very thankful that they did. To sum things up, this place is special on every level... food, customer service, attention to detail, friendliness, warmth, you name it! If you're Gluten Free, don't judge a book by it's cover. This is a family owned restaurant and just looking at their menu might drive you away. One of the guests who joined me is Gluten Free and called the restaurant before they opened. The Chef answered the phone and described what he could cook for him. When we arrived, the same chef came out and went through the menu with our Gluten Free guest and they designed his dinner. He was so happy that he decided to join us and thankful for the special attention from the chef. He's in town a lot on business and will be visiting Epi's many more times in the future! I won't try to bother describing the food. I don't have the words to do it justice. Suffice it to say it's absolutely wonderful. I am particular fond of the red bean soup with the bread they serve. I honestly could have just eaten this all evening. However, the salad, Rock Fish special, and everything they served was simply outstanding. Order the bread pudding dessert with their awesome caramel and share it with the group. You'll end up ordering another one. It's heavenly! The chef and our server came out to say goodbye as we left. Nice touch! And a hug from the server was also nice. We Will Be Back!!! read more

Heard about this place many times and finally got a chance to check it out with some old friends. The wines were very tasty (I love the Moscato) and the food was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Was not disappointed and will be returning. I know we will be returning because my roommate is Basque and this is his favorite place lol. read more

So far, it's my favorite restaurant in Idaho. It's a little pricey but well worth it. Service and food are great. I have not been disappointed yet. read more

Is Epi's closing? Changes are afoot as noted on Epi's Facebook page in a post by longtime server Bridget Murphy. "There are upcoming changes in this beloved house. I will be retiring May 11 as I posted a few months ago. Chris will be retiring at the end of July. As far as whether or not Epi's will remain open, the answer to that is unclear at this time. As Chris says, she is leaving the answer to that question in God's hands We love you, our Epi's family." This was confirmed in reporting by Michael Deeds in this morning's (5/3/19) Boise newspaper. For those who want to read his article, I have inserted a link at the end of this overdue review. Which is not a review, really, but a love letter, of sorts, to owner Chris Ansotegui and all the people who make Epi's so special in the times my husband and I enjoy being well fed, well served and feeling loved as guests for authentic Basque food in a restaurant named after Chris' grandmother and located in old house on Meridian's main street. I don't need to write about the delicous food or the wonderful warm welcome extended in the space that feels like being in someone's home, as this once was, and gracious service as others have done that so well. I don't even need to offer tips that reservations are essential and this is a place to come when you have time for a leisurely meal and that the wood chairs can feel pretty hard by meal's end so if you're visiting with an aged relative or friend who has 'sit problems' they might want to know up front to bring their own cushion. But I might mention that Chris has created such a wonderful place where everyone feels so welcome that my husband and I know a young couple who were married there. They wanted to hold the ceremony in the restaurant because Epi's had become a special place for them during their 'courting' time for the loving spirit extended by Chris and the staff to everyone. And I will absolutely mention that when Chris converted this house to a restaurant in 1999 (she celebrates Epi's 20th year of business this year) she made it wheelchair accessible for ramp to the door and seating inside. As a person who has mobility limits myself (I have had MS since college) I appreciate that Chris followed the rules of the 1990 passed Civil Rights law that is known as ADA to ensure all people have equal access to enjoy Epi's. You would be astounded to find how many restaurants and bars in the Treasure Valley, including brand new ones and newly remodeled ones, ignore that civil rights law, even now in 2019 when the law is 29 years old, which means people in the 11% of Americans with mobility disabilites are excluded from participation. How wonderful Chris thought of inclusion. I thought of that on one visit when a child using a wheelchair was fully included at the table with her family. In the news article linked below Chris' brother, Dan, (currently with Basque eatery Txikiteo in Boise) says what makes Epi's so special is the spirit Chris has created and one feels "You get a hug either coming or going." Indeed. To that end, to see the heart of this restaurant, I have also inserted below a video of Chris speaking to customers that she posted on New Year's Day 2019, the kick off to Epi's 20th year. If you have not yet experienced Epi's now is the time to make a reservation and go. James Beard was once asked what was his favorite restaurant. His reply went something like this. "The same as yours. The one that loves you the most." With that in mind, it is easy to see why so many people have Epi's on their favorite restaurant list. Chris' comments on New Year's 2019 at start of Epi's 20th year: https://www.facebook.com/722146377847629/videos/2057306051002778/ News article: https://www.idahostatesman.com/entertainment/ent-columns-blogs/words-deeds/article229860749.html read more

My husband and I decided to have one last date night before the arrival of our son and we become a family of 3. We have been wanting to try this establishment since we moved here... and the stars finally aligned. We started our meal with the croquettas. We were really intrigued by all of the appetizers... but knew our stomachs could only hold so much. We absolutely made a phenomenal choice! The croquettas were perfectly crisp, creamy and light! They were heavenly. As this was our first time, we really wanted to share and experience everything that we could during our dining experience. The soups were very good (this is coming from a person who really doesn't care for soup) and the salad was the perfect serving portion. Now on to the main event! My husband had the lamb leg and it was very good... but let me tell you... TRY THE HALIBUT! Words cannot even begin to explain how perfect this piece of fish was. The lobster sauce that was paired with it was incredible as well. We very much enjoyed our side dishes (the rice and sautéed peppers) as well. Finally, because at this point we had to fight through the food pain... we had dessert. We shared the citrus cake with raspberry sauce. It was a perfectly dense and refreshing (yes, dense and refreshing... odd right?!?). If you like citrus, this is a dessert "must try"! This was such a beautiful date night out for us. We are looking forward to future nights to visit again. read more

Great basque food and excellent service! They maintain the old family recipes. We love our anniversary dinners! Thank you!

Fabulous Basque recipes, delicious lamb dishes. Excellent wines, dessert was a delight. Great service. Reservations are a must.

We love Epis! Best food and service around! From chorizos to the absolute best seafood in the valley, Epis is the place!

Amazing food. Incredible Service. Started by a wonderful family and kept thriving by today's owners and chefs. I absolutely love this place.

Nothing better than finding a local, one of a kind restaurant. The food looked great and an excellent rating on Yelp so had to give it a shot. Was expecting a fancy place based on the ratings but was a little quaint house. We were early for our reservation but the staff immediately took care of us and set up a table. Started with mushrooms in a garlic and butter sauce and the ham croquetas. Both were amazing. Mushrooms cooked perfectly and so tender. That garlic butter sauce was just mild and tasty. The croquetas was also not a heavy ham taste. Crispy outside, moist inside. Great start. Next was a clam soup special. Also delicately flavored with a little spicy kick. Not a thick soup which I like. Again another great dish. For the main course I got the sizzling garlic shrimp. Had this once in Europe and thought it was a Portugal dish not Basque. Again this was great. A little bread left from the mushrooms was so great to sip up some of the broth in the bottom. We got the baby squid in ink sauce to share. The squid legs were cut off and stuffed with some other goodness inside the body and then cooked in the ink sauce. This was the only dish that was so so for me. Way too much sauce and the ink sauce was a little sweet and needed something a little savory added for me. Hard to really taste the squid with so much sauce. Would've been great with less sauce and maybe some type of pasta possibly. All in all this was a great surprise find and the little house made it a fun place to check out. Give it a shot if you're in Boise. read more

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I made reservations for a group of 9. They were amazingly accommodating for a Friday evening, the atmosphere was cozy, and the service was great! Unfortunately, the food seemed to fall flat, and that was the consensus across the board. It wasn't bad per se, but I'd say mediocre at best. The price was as expected, but the food just didn't live up to what I'd hoped it would be. Based on the meal alone, I probably wouldn't return. read more

A fun dining experience. The service here is excellent. A great place to take out of town guests. read more

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A loa ally owned restaurant and its DELICIOUS!!! I was given a gift card for Christmas and that was my first time trying it. I've been back 3 times now because it's soooo yummy! Definitely worth the splurge. We took it as take each time and it was packaged nicely. read more

Delicious and a very personable dining experience. Family run and you can feel it. Definitely a restaurant to support, they post on Facebook so you can follow along for seasonal dishes and chef surprises! Do go, you won't forget your experience there and you will very much enjoy the food. I have no idea where my photos went? Sorry. Had a beautiful piece of halibut in lobster sauce, impossibly tender veal shank, calamari & French fries. All excellent. read more