Rigatoni Braised local beef + black garlic-truffle butter + roasted local mushrooms + spinach + pickled red onion + lemon crema. That is the description of what I ordered for their handmade fresh pasta rigatoni that I got. Let me just say that all these flavors that they put into one dish were absolutely amazing. I really did not think they needed to have the spinach and mushrooms. Because the lemon crema and the Gorgonzola cheese were absolute phenomenal the braze beef was just to die for. This is a very small restaurant and there's only so many tables to get. I was able to sit at the bar which Aisha was the bartender. He did an amazing job and really helped lead me to my order of ordering the rigatoni. I had a beer with dinner and I did not order dessert. If you need to go to the bathroom, there is a door that leads outside the restaurant to the bathroom the weight was a little bit long for it, and luckily a neighboring coworker was able to lead me to their bathroom. I highly recommend checking out this place just because of the handmade pasta, which was something of a unique taste because it was well worth the price read more

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First time in Boise, Idaho, visiting for the Boise Half Marathon. I ended up dining at Alavita twice -- once to carbo-load the night before my race, and again the day after as a recovery dinner. Alavita is an upscale Italian restaurant, and I'd recommend making reservations, especially for dinner. My first visit was with a reservation for one, while my second was a walk-in where I managed to snag patio seating. On my first visit, I started with the House-Baked Focaccia, which came with truffle-honey butter. The focaccia was light, fresh, and served pre-sliced. The honey and butter combination was absolutely divine and paired wonderfully with the bread. It honestly made me wonder why more Italian restaurants don't serve something similar. For my entrée, I ordered the daily special, which I believe was a cheese tortellini with shrimp and corn in a lemon garlic sauce. It was flavorful, deceptively filling, and paired well with the focaccia. While it wasn't the best pasta I've ever had, it was a satisfying and enjoyable pre-race meal. On my second visit, I started with the fennel and arugula salad, which featured fennel-apple slaw, pistachios, rehydrated cherries, lemon, olive oil, and shaved Parmesan. I particularly enjoyed the cherries and pistachios, which added nice sweetness and crunch. Not mind-blowing, but certainly good. For my entrée, I had to try the Rigatoni: braised local beef, black garlic-truffle butter, roasted local mushrooms, spinach, pickled red onion, lemon crema, and Grana Padano. I ordered it because so many reviews mentioned it. I don't eat beef very often, so this was a bit of a treat for me. The braised beef was tender and flavorful. Interestingly, my opinion of the dish changed as I ate it. Initially, I had it around a 3.5/5, but by the end it had climbed to a 4.5/5. This might sound strange, but I found that when I slowed down, closed my eyes for a bite or two, and really focused on the flavors, the dish came together much better. The richness of the braised beef, the garlic-truffle butter, and the mushrooms became much more noticeable, and I found myself appreciating the combination more and more with each bite. For me, it was one of those dishes that rewards slowing down and savoring it. Overall, I highly recommend Alavita for Italian food in Boise. The service was friendly, the food was thoughtfully prepared, and both meals left me satisfied. The lemon garlic shrimp tortellini special made for excellent pre-race fuel, and the rigatoni was a memorable post-race meal. I went on to finish 10th overall in the Boise Half Marathon despite rainy conditions and the challenges of running at a higher elevation than I'm used to, so I was certainly grateful for the quality food beforehand. Hope to be back the next time I'm in the Boise area. Visited June 2026. read more

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My friend, who graduated from BSU with her MSW, and whose graduation we obviously attended, found this location. She was drawn to this location not only due the reviews but that they had the option of accommodating those with dietary restrictions. We were all excited to be there for the food but to also celebrate her. Booking the tables was quite an ordeal, but we managed. Unfortunately, at last minute, she learned that two members of her family that were supposed to attend, elected not to. As she did not find out until later in the day, she would not have been able to provide adequate time to contact them to let them now of the changes. I do want to share that overall, the experience was fantastic. Justin was a great server and the food and drinks were delicious. We did not get pictures of everything, but we ordered the following: Bucatini alle Vongole, Rigatoni, Blood Orange Bellini, (non-alcoholic) Limoncello Spritz, Lemon-Raspberry Tiramisu, and Pistachio Florentine Cannoli. I checked in with the others in our party, and they also indicated that the food was fantastic and the service wonderful. The concern we had was how some of our party was treated. This occurred on the evening on Friday, May 8, 2026. As mentioned, two members of her family elected not to join at the last minute. My friend and her wife relayed this to the hostess. My friend offered to try to squeeze into the booth with her other family members. The hostess then looked her and her family members up and down (with her face distorted in judgement), and said "you can try." My friend and her wife elected to sit at another table with two of her friends leaving the other table that had been reserved available (which was filled within 20 minutes by another party). This hostess then went over to the table where my friend is sitting and places her hand on the table, but I could not discern what was said. I find that type of behavior abhorrent. It is not only distasteful, but also makes patrons wonder if that is how this restaurant, this business, is run. If she is the first person you encounter, the face of this restaurant, the first impression - it does not bode well. There are some that may read this and think I am exaggerating, but I did note earlier, that the rest of our service was wonderful and the food divine. I do hope that whoever at the restaurant does monitor these reviews, really takes this feedback into consideration as I am sure that they do not want to be known as a space that shames patrons. read more

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Alavita is one of the more reliable Italian spots in downtown Boise, and overall it delivers a really enjoyable dining experience. The highlight here is definitely the fresh, house-made pasta--it's clear they put a lot of care into it. Dishes are generally well-executed with good flavor, and you can taste the quality of the ingredients. The menu is fairly focused, which helps keep things consistent, though a few dishes can feel slightly hot or miss The atmosphere is cozy and lively, making it a great spot for date night or a nice dinner out. Service is usually friendly and knowledgeable, with staff who can guide you through the menu and wine list. Timing can slow down during peak hours, but nothing too frustrating. Prices are on the higher side for Boise, but the overall quality and experience mostly justify it--it feels like a place you go to enjoy a proper sit-down meal rather than a quick bite. Overall, Great pasta, solid atmosphere, and definitely worth visiting if you're craving Italian in Boise. read more

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Neat spot , small but comfortable. Interim menu and friendly service. A fun enjoyable evening

I recently had the pleasure of having dinner at Alavita with a colleague/friend and really enjoyed the ambiance and quality of food. We had a cozy table at the front of the restaurant which gave a great view of the street/sidewalk and evening happenings. The focaccia had come highly recommended so we started the meal with that. It did not disappoint. The truffle honey butter was amazing. For my main course, I had the tagliatelle. The pasta was cooked to perfection, but I would have loved it to have a touch more of the bolognese. The wine list felt a little lacking. I would have loved to see a few more choices, but the glass I had was affordable and delicious. Service was outstanding. I will definitely visit Alavita again and I look forward to trying more dishes. read more

Took some out of towners here for a gluten free meal. It was amazing! The calamari was perction, I may go back just for this! We had salads, halibut, olives and burrata. Personally I'd've preferred the burrata warm so the center were melty, but the accompaning mustardo was lovely. The fish was perfect and the arugula fennel salads delicious. Service was attentive and fast despite a full house. Very much recommend Alavita!! read more

A great culinary experience. The place is cozy warm and quite friendly. The wine and the food and their services was above and beyond. The pasta is made daily and absolutely cooked perfectly. And you must finish the meal with Lemonchello Tiramisu. It's out of this world. read more

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ALAVITA is a romantic Italian restaurant downtown Boise. They are known for their hand made pasta which is exquisite. Their ingredients are always fresh and seasonal. The ambiance is intimate and perfect for date night read more

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I was truly impressed with Alavita. You can tell that their food is made from scratch with delicious local ingredients. The interior space is smaller than I expected but it provides such a cozy feel to the restaurant. We started off with the chefs charcuterie board and the focaccia. When I first saw that there was a coffee aioli on the board I immediately thought I wouldn't like it but boy was I wrong. It had the best flavor and was delicious spread on some bread. They had a great assortment of meats, cheeses, and spreads. For my entree I got the tagliatelle. It was a classic pasta bolognese and exceeded my expectations. Of course to round off the night we had to finish with the limoncello tiramisu. We had the best service and overall the best experience. We will be back! read more

ÀLAVITA - Limoncello Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - Boise, Idaho

It was really amazing except I was brought the wrong dish. Still good, but not what I ordered

Came here to celebrate a special occasion while in Boise. Quaint little spot with old school charm. Enjoyed the welcoming and friendly service from the moment we stepped into the restaurant. We started with the burrata and the chef's crudo. Plenty to share and the yellowtail was fresh. I thoroughly enjoyed the rigatoni dish - an amalgamation of flavors that one might question but turned out to be rich and delicious. Additionally, we ordered the tiger prawns which were perfectly cooked and juicy. They have a nice cocktail and wine menu to pair. read more

ÀLAVITA - Chef's crudo - Italian Near Me - Boise, Idaho

Àlavita was recommended via social media, and it definitely lived up to the hype. It was one of the best meals we've had in a long time. The artichoke hearts were AMAZING, along with the rest of our dinner. If we ever find ourselves in Boise again, we will be back! read more

ÀLAVITA - Parppedelle - Italian Near Me - Boise, Idaho

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Cozy spot downtown with amazing homemade pastas and fabulous cocktails! Highly recommend read more

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Great food, delicious and creative flavors paired together. We had a very kind and attentive waitress.. we would definitely return!

I took my wife to Alavita for her birthday dinner two weeks ago. We made a reservation for a Tuesday which was good as it filled up fast. They put us at a small table that was up against two walls in the front corner. Not necessarily comfortable as you couldn't slide your chair back. The waiter was basically the bartender, so you can imagine service was painfully slow. We started with a couple cocktails that were good but very expensive. I then switched to beer(Peroni). We had meatballs and a burrata appetizers. Both were good. For dinner, my wife had carbonara and I had rigatoni with braised short rib. We debated over whether the carbonara was actually carbonara. It did not taste like it nor did it have any bacon. The noodles were quite overcooked as well. The rigatoni was good though. For dessert they did give my wife a birthday piece of limoncello tiramisu with a candle, so a nice touch. I wouldn't say we had a spectacular time, but we may give it another try with different entrees. I'd recommend they add a waitress or waiter and let the bartender deal with only the bar. Also do something about the cramped seating in the corner. read more

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I travel to Boise on business several times a year, and do my best to get out and try a new restaurant when I can. Do not skip this spot. I sat at the bar and had a couple glasses of wine, the seasonal beet salad, rigatoni, capped off with an espresso and tiramisu. The service was impeccable and the atmosphere is cozy and small. Chefs kiss y'all! read more

ÀLAVITA - Italian Near Me - Boise, Idaho

This was my favorite date restaurant we have been to in the valley! Great food, great service. The only downside was eating on the patio is pretty loud next to the Idaho Capital Blvd. We got the arugula & fennel salad, burrata, papperdelle with extra broccolini, risotto special with chicken, and budino and pistachio Florentine cannolis for dessert. We were seriously amazed, everything was so good! The cannolis were one of the best things Ive ever had, they would be worth stopping by for. read more

We had the best time last Friday at Àlavita. Sat in a nice booth. Our waitress Mikaela was wonderful. She really took the time to explain the menu and the new fall selections. She was so patient as we were all trying to decide. She is what we remember most. The food was delicious too. read more

If I lived here, this would be my spot. I would come here at least weekly to experience their charming atmosphere and lovely staff, happy to guide you through their Italian wines and (gluten free if desired) pastas. I almost cried when the pasta arrived and the taste didn't disappoint. read more

ÀLAVITA - Rigatoni - Italian Near Me - Boise, Idaho

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This is our first time in Boise and our waitress at brunch actually recommended Àlavita for us to try for dinner. We were not disappointed! We came around 8:15pm on a Friday night without a reservation and did not have to wait for a table. This restaurant is downtown and walking distance from a lot of other great shops and bars. They have a nice patio outside with a beautiful chandelier hanging above it. The interior is on the smaller side but feels larger than it is because of the high ceilings. It has an elegant and cozy vibe with dim lighting, red and black themed decor, and an overall quieter atmosphere. We each started with a glass of wine, a Sauv Blanc and a Chianti. We went with the burrata for an appetizer, it was a good serving size for two people! Light and spreadable cheese on the inside, served with plenty of bread. I've heard that this place is known for their pastas which are made fresh in house daily, so we had to try some! I went with the black ravioli and my husband got the rigatoni with braised short rib. Both were excellent! The ravioli had a nice lemon cream sauce. The braised short rib in the rigatoni was so tender and added the perfect flavor to the pasta sauce. Serving sizes were decent for a restaurant like this. Service was good, our waitress came by to check on us and refill our drinks several times. Nothing negative to say about this experience, thank you for a great first dinner in Boise! read more

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Arrived shortly after dinner opening on a Monday, not realizing reservations are recommended even on a Monday. They sweetly fit us in, giving us a lovely two-top at the front. Our server was friendly and warm, absolutely lovely. We enjoyed all my favorites: prosciutto, brie, pickled vegetable jardiniere, and then added an interesting parmesan...Gelato? I'm not sure of the description but it had the consistency of cream cheese and the flavor of parmesan. (The leftover cheese was great on pasta two days later.) I ordered the carbonara, my go-to first-time order. It was delicious. The pasta was the perfect consistency and I loved the peppery-forward recipe which wasn't saucey...so it felt lighter. As it was a birthday celebration we normally would have also had coffee and dessert but we were conscious of the reservation for that table and didn't want to make it awkward for the hosts. We will absolutely be back, this time with a reservation. Hopefully, we'll get the same server! read more

Love the food and the waitstaff is lovely. The restaurant it self has great vibes. We sat at the bar and the wine was delicious and were enjoyed our food. read more

Great experience all around! After hearing positive reviews from friends, I made reservations online about two weeks in advanced to celebrate my husband's birthday. Unfortunately, there was a pretty bad rainstorm so we were about 10 minutes late. Luckily, they called us when they noticed we were running late which I appreciated! They were also transparent about the table time limit (1 hr 30 min) but reassured us that we'd have enough time for dinner even though we were a bit late. We ordered the Battilardo with the Chef's Selection, Black Ravioli, and the Elk Osso Bucco a la Milanese. The Battilardo was an interesting flavor rollercoaster that we enjoyed. I liked the Black Ravioli but didn't quite love it as I felt the sauce was a bit sweeter than I expected. I did, however, love the Elk Osso Bucco a la Milanese! The risotto was complex but not overwhelming. The elk was cooked well as it did not taste gamey (still a bit tough but that's elk). All in all, Àlavita is a solid dinner spot for a nice night out! Shout to our waiter Chad for his fantastic service! read more

ÀLAVITA - Black Ravioli & Elk Osso Bucco a la Milanese - Italian Near Me - Boise, Idaho

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Decor: upscale but unusual Drinks: well done. Great bar with lots of options (Rockefeller & blood orange) Food: extremely tasty, unique flavors and perfect portions for sharing (house bread & arugula pesto orzo special) Dessert: got dessert to go, love (orange tiramisu) Service: fantastic! Date: 10/10 Would we go back? Yes, have to go back to eat more tiramisu! Perfect birthday celebration spot and an amazing dinner before a show read more

ÀLAVITA - Arugula pesto orzo - Italian Near Me - Boise, Idaho

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The food was very disappointing. Me and my wife both ordered the Rigatoni. My wife said it reminded her of something she would throw together at last minute for dinner. Honestly we could have gotten a better meal at Olive Garden or almost anywhere else. read more

The atmosphere, the service and the food make this a night to remember in downtown Boise. This was the second time visiting this gem and it just keeps getting better. Thank you to you and your staff..... we will be back! read more

Probably some of the best Italian food I ever had and my grandparents are from Sicily.. I had the risotto and my boyfriend had the Wagyu steak. We also did the charcuterie board so delicious. Our waiter was awesome as well phenomenal service. read more

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Checked out this Italian spot on a recommendation of a friend. Glad we did! Hustling and bustling they are! I recommend a reservation! We sat at the bar! What a show. Amy was working her "tail feathers" off, with flair! Drinks were tasty and inventive! The food was incredible! Super soft warm Focaccia starts it off! Calamari was great. Lamb Chops, Scallops and Saltimbocca are all superb. But save room for the Limoncello Tiramisu! Great meal and very casual/upscale space in Downtown area! read more

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Beyond terrible service. Host was snotty and hesitant to seat us although we had a reservation. We are a couple with a teen but had come directly from a climbing competition so were dressed casually. Server was also rude. Food was fine but experience was one of the worst. read more

If you are craving good Italian food, check this place out! I recommend making reservations as the place can get crowded especially on weekends. Although you can walk in, but giving them a call wouldn't hurt as well to check on the wait time. Beautiful ambiance and decor. We were a party of 4 and served by Justin. We ordered: Drinks: Basil Foam, Zenzero Margarita, Idaho Blackberry, & Rock & Rye - No need to explain each cocktails here as they were all YUM! Battilardo with Soppressata, Prosciutto, pickled vegetables and parmesan gelato. This included jam, crostini and coffee aioli. - Delicious!! This is a perfect appetizer board while you wait for your main entrée. All the flavors match perfectly with the jam and cheese and the aioli with the meats. Great size for a party of 4. Calamari Fritti - Yummy! Fried to perfection! Light and crispy. Black Ravioli - oooh, you have got to try this! It is delicious! Perfect flavors and the shrimp is just a match. Tagliatelle - if you are looking for a red sauce with meat, this is good. Trottole - great kick with the duck confit. All the pasta dishes were delicious and al dente. Flavors of the sauces were all good and matched well. Service was great! We had a great dining experience. Definitely a place we will returning to. read more

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The seafood linguine came loaded with shrimp, clams, and mussels. The sauce was a light white wine and garlic blend that really let the seafood shine. Everything tasted fresh, especially the mussels. The pasta wasn't overcooked, which I appreciated. They served it with a small side salad that had a tasty balsamic dressing. The service was smooth and I never felt rushed. I'd come back just for that dish alone. read more

ÀLAVITA - Italian Near Me - Boise, Idaho

A lovely small place with attentive and friendly service. All the pasta is made from scratch daily and most of the ingredients are locally sourced. The focaccia was delicious and the honey butter is special. A great start to the meal. The Frutti di Mare was tasty and perfectly prepared. The Chicken Saltimbocca was unique. It tasted more of the prosciutto the. The chicken which is to be expected. The vegetables were prepared well and I loved the green beans. Overall I would say this place is a pricy but unique and tasty experience. Part of me wishes for some more simple dishes but that is just me. I guess I have peasant tastes. Lol. If the menu looks good to you the. This place is well worth a try. Book early as the place is well reserved. read more

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Such a great cozy restaurant, and the food is delicious. Love coming here for special occasions!

Had a wonderful dining experience last Thursday night. Got in early (5pm), sat at the bar. Bartenders Morgan and Fillip took excellent care of us. My martini was great and we had a bottle of Italian wine that was quite tasty. We shared the Caesar salad, the Rigatoni and the Tiramisu. All were quite delicious. Àlavita is our favorite Italian restaurant and we strongly recommend it read more

Great food and attentive staff! The black ravioli that I ordered came with succulent sweet shrimp. The creamy sauce really enhanced the flavor and texture of the dumplings! The blackberry chocolate chip gelato was lovely as well! It is a really pleasant place to have dinner with friends and family. read more

ÀLAVITA - Blackberry Chocolate Chip Gelato - Italian Near Me - Boise, Idaho

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After hearing good things about Alavita for a few years, I finally decided to try it when my friend visited me from out of town. We made reservations for 6:30pm on a Sunday and got a perfect spot on the patio with a great street view of downtown. I ordered a refreshing glass of Alois Lageder Pinot Grigio which was the perfect choice for a warm Summer evening. The wine paired well with the Pappardelle pasta which had hearty pieces of sausage that were balanced out with fresh broccolini and cherry tomatoes. I think it will be my go-to dish every time! It is also important to note that their pasta is made fresh daily and you can taste its freshness! My friend is a vegetarian and the lovely hostess made an off-menu recommendation of mushroom Alfredo sauce with rigatoni noodles and her pasta rivaled my own in terms of flavor! Overall, I highly recommend Alavita! Not only was their food phenomenal but their service was top-notch. My only regret was not having enough room for dessert. I've had my eye on their Vanilla Budino and I will definitely be back soon to try it! read more

ÀLAVITA - Pappardelle pasta was 10/10! - Italian Near Me - Boise, Idaho

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This was my second visit to Àlavita and it was just as good as I remember. Delicious food, friendly and attentive service with a beautiful ambiance. If you haven't checked this gem out, what are you waiting for?! You'll love it! read more

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We had a delightful dinner with friends. I'm gluten free and found so many options on their menu. It was far beyond my expectations, and I can't wait to go back. Our server was wonderful and very informative about the menu. It's a comfortable, chic, relaxing environment. read more

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Alavita is conveniently located on ID street in downtown Boise. Very modern interior in a historic bank building. Center stage is the bar with tables surrounding. Signature cocktails were excellent. We had an excellent server who explained each dish in detail. My husband and I decided to share so we started with the meatball appetizer.  The meatballs were good size served on sauce with charred bread.  Unlike most restaurants, these meatballs were moist and tender. The texture was slightly gummy from too much bread filler.  The meatballs and sauce flavor fell flat and one dimensional with an overpowering chili oil flavor. We then tried the ahi tuna nicoise salad with cannelleni beans, tomatoes, small potatoes, gem salad and citrus dressing topped with fennel crusted ahi tuna.  The tuna was nicely cooked but the seasoning was very salty and had no fennel flavor. We had to send it back which the Manager kindly took off our bill. We then shared the black ravioli stuffed with shrimp and topped with spicy shrimp and fennel in a cream sauce.  I could tell the ravioli's were handmade but the filling was slightly salty overpowering the shrimp filling. The shrimp on top were tender and spicy but the sauce was not creamy and had a milk like consistency with no citrus or fennel infused flavor. I appreciate good Italian food but the execution was lacking tonight. read more

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