A speak easy in Boise! I was intrigued! The whole experience was so fun to share with a group of…read morefriends! We stood in the alley and knocked on the door. A small window in the door opened and we had to provide a password to gain entry. (Initially our large group had to reserve 3 time slots and we would be seated separately.) I was in the first group. We were let into a small area with floor to ceiling bookcases. Of course there was a book that once pulled, opened a secret door to the bar within. The ambiance was dim lighting and groups of comfortable seating areas. The waiter was very attentive and knowledgeable about the drinks on the menu. I started with a mocktail that could be made vegan by omitting the egg white. Beautifully presented with a flower design. It was sweet and it was tart. The second drink I got was a cocktail that was smooth with a perfect amount of sweet. My friends got cocktails in their unique glasses. When our next group came through, they were led into a room. After a while, one friend came out to say hello to us. The waiter noticed that we knew each other and told my group to follow him. The room was dimly lit and was furnished with comfortable armchairs and couches. Our third group was able to join us in the room and we were able to mingle seated or standing. The different drinks that were ordered were so cool. A smoky bubble was set on top of a cone shaped glass that resembled an ice cream cone. I had a couple of friends that ordered gin drinks and they were served in a bathtub complete with rubber ducky! This was such a fun and special way to celebrate a friend's birthday! The service was superb!

I've been to several speakeasies around the USA and Gatsby should be the standard of what a…read morespeakeasy should be. No really! Imagine yourself walking through the 8th St promenade in downtown Boise. It's hustling and bustling with people and restaurants that are packed. Then, out of the corner of your eye, you see an alley. It's kinda dark, maybe a little unsettling at first. You see a steel door with a small panel at the top of the door. No door handles but a green lit old stagecoach light, a small wooden sign hanging g just beyond the door with a key on it. Hmmm, strange. In faded sharpie letters it says Knock knock on the metal door, so you knock twice. The panel on the door slides open and they ask for the password. Whoa!!!! Luckily you called ahead to make reservations so they whispered it to you. You give the password and door opens to a tiny little library with a couple of shelves full of books. The hosts welcomes you and you stare at the bookshelf knowing it isn't just a bookshelf but a door. You try pulling on different books guessing which is the right one but after a minute the hostess shows you and you enter a beautiful brick walled 1920s decorated room with seats and dim lights and no windows whatsoever. The artwork is prohibition-era themed. Heck, there's even a stack of wooden barrels that supposedly hold spirits. That is exactly the speakeasy experience you are looking for. We were seated in the boiler room, a private area which had beautiful wooden lockers with glass doors all lit up and full of booze. Books line the wall and there is an old fireplace covered with candles that have melted wax all over the mantle. In the corner is a poker table. Really the perfect vibe for a speakeasy. Glance at the menu and notice their tang of cheaper to very rare and unique spirits, some costing hundreds of dollars for a shot. Whisky, vodka, rum, gin, scotch, bourbon, you name it. But also check out their cocktails. They can even make mocktails if you don't want alcohol. Not only are the drinks unique but so is their presentation. The glades used I've never seen. Some drinks have a printed pattern on them, others come with dry ice that quickly evaporates or a cool smoked filled bubble. The whole experience was just amazing. This is a do not miss opportunity if you like drinks and cool, unique experiences. They even have another room in the back called the Garrison Room which looks like a mineshaft. I just love the thought put into this place. And when you are done, you exit through a nondescript door and exits to a patio area of another restaurant and back out to the promenade. Just a wow experience! So glad I did it.

The Speak Easy Vibe of this place is great! Love the low…read morelighting and chill energy. The drinks were fantastic. The Bar Tender was personable and Kind and a wonderful mixologist. Definitely recommend stopping in.

We have been here a few times now and every experience has been great! The bartenders are very…read moreentertaining and always have a good attitude. The cocktail are also delicious. I even tried a bourbon cocktail (usually I'm a vodka or gin drinker) and it was so tasty! They have a bourbon vault with a good selection of high end bottles that you can order a pour of. I have not seen it, but there is an event space on the 2nd floor that you can rent out as well. We will definitely be back!

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.

This place is great. I'd give them a 5 except that my last visit they had changed the menu and…read moreomitted some of my very favorite things, like the poke tower appetizer which was ahhhmazing. Actually they had several wonderful appetizers now gone andI understand the budget with things like that but I can't why the removed the best items. *wah wah wahhh* Staff is super friendly but you do have to walk up steep stairs to sit, so don't go post surgery lol. Their French dip is great, I've had several friends love the burger and the fish n chips. And any soup I've had there is good. salads are good, not fabulous The fries are on the thick side, and not undercooked so those are yum except once I got some weird fries so I asked what the deal was and they said those were like emergency backup fries lol Super chill whisky bar setting, they have a Oaxacan mixed drink made with mezcal that is mmmmmm. It's totally worth a visit. :)

I haven't been to Bardenay downtown for a few years now. The last time I ate here was in 2017. My…read morehusband and I met up with a couple friends and had a great meal. Today my friend wanted to celebrate her birthday here so of course I said yes! We decided to sit on the outdoor patio today. It wasn't the warmest day but it was beautiful out. The sun was peeking out once in a while. The table was nicely shaded by a huge umbrella. The sun was nice but to have it beating on you isn't the best so the umbrella was appreciated. It was the perfect table for our outing. Jerika (I hope I spelled her name right) greeted my friend and I with her beautiful smile. We got some drinks started so while they were being worked on, my friend and I breezed over the menu. I did somewhat enjoy my charboiled salmon at the Eagle Bardenay for my birthday a couple weeks ago. The chefs did undercook my first plate of salmon. The server was kind to take my plate back to have the chefs remake it. The second attempt was appreciated but it was unfortunately a fail. The salmon came out so dry. I get that I wanted it well done but not jerky. But, today's a new day and I was willing to give it another shot. So today, I ordered the salmon with veggies instead of the salad. My plate came out and it looked promising. I love beautiful char marks on my food. The char marks today were perfect. My veggies looked nicely cooked but I could tell that some of the squash was still undercooked by the color. I didn't mind, it's a sign of freshness. As much as I wanted to stare at the prettiness of my food, I was ready to dig in! My salmon was so good! It was perfectly cooked! No raw spots in the middle, it was flaky and moist. It was a fabulous piece of salmon. The sun dried tomato butter is a fantastic add on to the salmon. I honestly could have polished another piece of fish. The chef that cooked my salmon today needs a raise! My lunch was chef's kiss! My friend enjoyed her lunch and her birthday drink! The outdoor patio was so relaxing. My lunch was also enjoyed. Our server was kind and attentive. I couldn't have asked for a better birthday lunch for my deserving friend. I hope that it won't be another 5+ years till I come back. I will need another plate of salmon with that sun dried tomato butter soon.

We went to Bardenay for a late lunch. We were greeted and seated right away. They have a nice menu…read morewith lots of variety. I ordered a burger - they have gluten-free buns, although they charge $2 extra for it. The burger was good and so was the bun. Their fries are coated in flour, so I got the sweet potato fries which were very good. The service was very good, the booth was a good size and it was clean. The food good.

I only come here for Brin tbh. She's the kindest bartender and creates the best vibes.read more

Too my real ID had to wait 20 minutes for the cops to come would not reccomend to anyone if you…read morewant to have a fun experience

Love the music here. We go for drinks and apps sometimes after work. The crowd is respectful. The…read moreoutdoor space is so fun when the weather is nice.

This needs to be my new go-to spot! Attraction is the live music and diverse crowd, but so is the…read morefood. Will come more hungry next time so can enjoy all the delicious looking appetizers wizzing by. I can vouch for the amazing charcuterie! Great service from Ashton! Tip: order extra of the toasted baguette slices--and swap the jam for balsamic.

Loved the distillery. Very welcoming in with a cute store as you walk in. Lots to try, but our…read morefavorite was the mixed drink flights. All of them were very delicious. It was hard to choose which one was my favorite. I would definitely come back again. We came here on a Saturday afternoon and it was perfect because it was not busy surprisingly. Great place to buy gifts for the season or birthday. We had also visited the Koenig winery which was also fantastic with a great view.

We had a great visit to Koenig Distillery; we actually heard about it from a guy we met on the…read moreplane, and it ended up being a solid recommendation. The property itself is beautiful and well kept, making it a nice place to spend some time. The self-guided tour is quick but well done. While there's no docent walking you through, you're still able to see the setup and get a good feel for the distilling process at your own pace, which we enjoyed. The gift shop is impressive, with a wide variety of quality items, though it does lean a bit on the pricier side. That said, everything feels thoughtfully curated. They do offer some small snacks to order alongside your drinks, which is a nice touch if you want something light while tasting. As for the spirits, everything we tried was delicious. They offer some really solid bourbons and ryes. We also picked up some incredible Vermont maple syrup and honey made right on the grounds, which were standout additions. The staff was very knowledgeable and friendly! Highly recommended!

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.

Gary is amazing, he helped me find drinks that I liked and we had a great time. Will be back!read more

I was at an event in Nampa the other night and ordered food online from Whiskey River because it…read morewas close to the venue. Within seconds, I received a text that my order had been received, but not confirmed, and to watch for a confirmation text. After 30 minutes, I still had not received a confirmation text, so I messaged asking for an approximate time. The reply stated they were "slammed" and that my order would be ready in about 30 minutes. After another 45 minutes, I still had not received any communication from them, so I decided to walk over to check on my order, hoping that it would be ready. The first thing I noticed was that there were not a lot of customers inside. I informed the server behind the bar that I was there to pick up my order, and she went back to check. When she returned, she told me that there were no pickup orders. I showed her the email with my order number and told her that I never received a confirmation from them. She went back into the kitchen, then came back and said they didn't have my order, but could make it while I waited - about 10 minutes. I reluctantly agreed and waited. When I got my order, I asked for a few extra cups of sauce. The server was put off, as if asked to perform an overwhelming task. Needless to say, I left the establishment with a less-than-favorable taste in my mouth. 24 hours later, I received a text from them that my order was confirmed and would be ready to be picked up. I texted back that this was 24 hours late and to cancel the order. The reply was that their texting service was unavailable, and to call for questions. I then replied to the confirmation email, hoping that would get through to them. No such luck. The reply I received said that delivery had failed - that their email box was full. I will say that the food was good, and that the server was mainly friendly. However, the whole online ordering system needs some serious revamping. I hope that Whiskey River will take this review as constructive criticism so that future customers will have an easier, smoother online ordering experience.

Thick as Thieves has long been one of my favorite speakeasies in Boise. I've been many times, but…read morethis is my first time leaving a review. The staff is always attentive and impressively knowledgeable about the drinks. This visit, I tried something different--a whiskey sour served over shaved ice. I loved how perfectly chilled it was; the ice kept the drink from becoming overly sweet as it melted. I typically go for more booze-forward cocktails, so this was a fun change for me. My partner ordered a Toki highball, which was a perfect fit for his keto diet--highly carbonated soda water, Toki Japanese whiskey, and lemon. Clean, simple, and refreshing. If you're in the mood for a dark, super romantic experience, the space delivers moody ambiance in spades. Be sure to make a reservation!

We really enjoyed having cocktails at this place. I love the art deco/Asian influence decor. They…read morehave a very interesting menu for craft cocktails. I especially loved the scotch butter drink. Service was great. We were the only customers on an off day so I would've expected it to be good. This was our first visit and I hope to come back another time later in the evening.