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The Refuge

3.7 (145 reviews)
ModerateNew American, Bars
Open • 11:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

The Refuge Photos

THE REFUGE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Juke Box
Casual
Moderate noise
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - The Refuge

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Melissa H.

Amazing! Make a bomb extra dirty vodka martini. Yummy! The food is delicious too and the service is great. Ambiance is fun and relaxed. Definitely my vibe... you can just chill and be yourself. Try this place!!!

a glass of a drink with a lemon garnish
Wendy K.

My husband and I actually ended up eating here almost everyday five days in a row! It was next door to our hotel. We were there for my father in laws funeral... Each day we walked over for either lunch or dinner: the service was amazing (kind, perfect, on point), the food was WOW yummy, and the bartending was needed and sheer perfection! There was a sense this place was a locals hangout too. Friendly, upbeat, TVs and pool table. Onion rings and tots are a fav. The burgers and patty melt--classics. And you HAVE to get the cheesecake or chocolate hot fridge cake for dessert... splurge, it's worth it!

Ribeye. Salmon. Buffalo Wings.

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

Really good wings and great steaks! Plus the service is on point. Savanna is my favorite waitress. She's super cool.

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3 years ago

Love this spot! Great staff and owners, wings and quesadillas were good good!! Fun spot

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3 years ago

The food was really good along with the service. I would recommend coming here if your looking for a good atmosphere and good food!

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

Food is decent but bartenders/servers are so busy doing shots and getting drunk behind the bar that the service is terrible

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3 years ago

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4 years ago

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9 years ago

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8 years ago

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6 years ago

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7 years ago

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15 years ago

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3 years ago

The lamb burger was great! Probably one of the best burgers I tried. Had a lot of flavor.

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4 years ago

Fun place to eat. Lots of TVs to watch sporting events. Food is great and service is good. I encourage folks to stop by and enjoy.

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8 years ago

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The James Kitchen and Bar

The James Kitchen and Bar

4.3
(105 reviews)
0.8 mi

Total package....great food, great drinks, great service and pleasant atmosphere. We'd love to come…read moreback.

My girlfriends and I checked out The James a while back. I remember enjoying their pizza that we…read moreshared. I know my husband who is a huge pizza lover would absolutely love their pizza here. So for my birthday, I decided that we should hit up The James for dinner. I had made a reservation for a patio table a couple days ahead of schedule. I really wanted to sit outside with the family and enjoy our meal. Of course the day of my birthday, the weather was windy and cooler. I called the restaurant to see if we couple l could possibly dine inside. The gentleman that helped me over the phone wasn't really friendly but he assured me that dining inside shouldn't be an issue. We had a cute table reserved for us inside. It was pretty chill when we came in. A few people at the bar and another table enjoying their meal. The last time my friends and I were in, it was so busy. I actually appreciate how chill it was tonight. Nothing like enjoying my family and our meal in a calm space. We got some food ordered. We started off with some wings, clam chowder and zuppa tuscono soup. A pepperoni pizza for my husband and I. My daughter got the French dip sammy. I planned on having a little bit of my daughter's sandwich. I have to make sure it's tasty! The wings came out first. They were cooked perfectly! Crispy on the outside but the chicken wing was still tender. The buffalo sauce and ranch were in dipping cups on the side. We all had a few and then soups were dropped off. My husband's clam chowder was money. It was so good! Clams and potatoes through out each bite. My daughter's zuppa was very hearty and spicy. I love the kale in the soup. I had a couple bites but the heat was becoming a little too much for me. Our pizza was hot right out the oven. The cheese was perfectly melty. Plenty of pepperoni slices on the pizza. I appreciate the fact that the crust isn't crazy thick. It's thinner so you're not eating a tone of bread. The crust is crispy on the outside and chewy in the middle. The sauce is not overwhelming in herbs. This joint seriously has some of the best pizza in town! Each slice I had tonight was fantastic! My daughter enjoyed her sammy. I didn't get a chance to snag a bite. I was too busy tearing up our pizza. I did snag a few fries and these folks know how to produce a great fry. We didn't get the gorgonzola fries this time but it will be a must have the next time we hit this joint up. It's been a hot minute since I have had them and I still daydream about them. Our sweet server got me birthday dessert. Chocolate cake with raspberry sauce on it. It was devine. I couldn't tell if the cake was flourless. It was really dense like it was but I didn't mind. It was still so good. I enjoyed the raspberry sauce that came on it. Since the cake was so dense, the raspberry sauce added some brightness to it. As full as I was, I had to make sure my birthday dessert was finished. I'm a sucker for anything sweet no matter how full I am. Tonight's dining experience was great. Our server was sweet and delightful. Our food was killer good. My dessert was banger. And the vibe was chill. I honestly couldn't have asked for a better dinner to celebrate my birthday. I look forward to coming back, sitting on the patio and vibing out while enjoying our food.

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The James Kitchen and Bar
Pep pizza with olives
Pep pizza with olives
Gorgonzola fries with sauce on the side

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Gorgonzola fries with sauce on the side
Bittercreek Alehouse

Bittercreek Alehouse

4.3
(1.4k reviews)
1.9 mi
•$$

We had a fantastic experience at Bittercreek Alehouse! My husband ordered the fries and corn…read morechowder, and I had the veggie burger with the quinoa bean salad. Everything was fresh, hot, and incredibly flavorful. The service was excellent, and the staff made us feel very welcome. We chose to sit outside since the weather was beautiful, and it was the perfect setting for our family. Great food, great atmosphere, and great service--we highly recommend Bittercreek Alehouse and will definitely be back!

First, let's talk about the location. The street this place sits on is an absolute vibe. Even on…read morethe night we visited, there was a solo artist performing, people dancing in the street, and a mix of restaurants and businesses all along the strip. If the weather is cooperating, sit outside. The beer selection is impressive, with a great range of lagers and ales. We had our eye on one particular light, crisp option, but they were out for the night. Our server pointed us toward something comparable... I believe it was called Teddy Bearnd...it worked. Now, the food. My friend went for one of their signature burgers, which was seasoned simply so the beef really gets to shine. The only hiccup was that they were out of tomatoes, which is a non-negotiable topping for her, so keep that in mind if tomatoes are a must. I went a different route and ordered the beef focaccia. Uniquely layered ribeye and really good. We also shared a Greek salad that was simple but fresh and satisfying. And the french fries with their homemade ketchup? Don't skip em. Service was smooth and friendly from start to finish. No complaints.

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Bar
Bar
Yummy!!
Yummy!!
Old Rasputin XVII

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Old Rasputin XVII
Barbacoa Grill

Barbacoa Grill

4.2
(1.7k reviews)
0.3 mi
•$$$

Splurged and had a wonderful dinner out at Barbacoa. We love coming to Barbacoa and taking guests…read morethat 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.

A really fancy steakhouse in Boise with signature tableside guacamole and hot rock steak with a…read morefire 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.

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Hot stone fire presentation
Hot stone fire presentation
Table Side Guacamole
Table Side Guacamole
Wine chiller ice with flowers, leaves and berries

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Wine chiller ice with flowers, leaves and berries
The Wylder

The Wylder

4.6
(739 reviews)
1.6 mi
•$$

The hotel staff recommended this place for BEST pizza in Boise.She came from Chicago so we trusted…read moreher! It was crazy busy on a Tuesday night,come to find out it's partly because specials on bottle of wine. A pizza AND a bottle of wine only $38! We got the pizza with jalapeno,bacon and also shared salad with citrus dressing. Amazing food and stellar service !

Saturday 6 pm - the wait was 20 min for a table (which was less than the 30 min estimate) and 20…read moreminutes after ordering to get the food. But that was all explained to us, so we were fine with the waits. I don't even like lasagna but because of the hype on the menu, we ordered it - as well as a pizza. The lasagna was definitely the star. It looked terrible on the plate (like it was mostly tomato sauce), but it was so light and delicious! I could not stop eating it. The pizza crust was very good. We thought they added way too many toppings (and forgot one that we asked for) but it was still pretty good. Done with some moderation, it would be excellent. The service was very well orchestrated and they communicated delays, etc. throughout the process - you can tell they are well trained. Note: The spicy honey sauce isn't spicy at all. We heard the people next to us say the same thing. Maybe they should have a regular and a spicy so they could actually have a spicy hot for those who want spicy!

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Restaurant
Restaurant
Crispy Brussel sprouts
Crispy Brussel sprouts
Mushroom toast

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Mushroom toast
Ram Restaurant & Brewery

Ram Restaurant & Brewery

2.9
(270 reviews)
1.0 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.

My wife and friends visited this place for lunch. It was surprisingly empty, which was somewhat…read moredisappointing to witness. We sat in the bar area, where our table was broken and wobbly. The waiter was courteous and efficient, quickly bringing water and menus. I ordered the turkey havarti sandwich with avocados, accompanied by a side of fries. It was delicious and genuinely satisfying. The only reason I rated this three stars was due to the service. I had to request a water refill twice, and each time I looked at the bar, the waiter was absorbed in his phone. This might explain the emptiness of the place.

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Ram Restaurant & Brewery
Ram Restaurant & Brewery
Ram Restaurant & Brewery

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Pengilly's Saloon

Pengilly's Saloon

3.9
(73 reviews)
1.7 mi
•$

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

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

The Refuge - newamerican - Updated June 2026

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