Formerly "Jakers", the makeover and transformation into Barbacoa would make the producers of "Extreme Home Makeover" proud. Before you even enter the restaurant, you know that you are in for a treat. Heavy brass doors flanked on either side by a nook piled high with cut logs mark the extravagant entrance to Barbacoa. There is an old-world charm with a funky twist - antique gilded mirrors hang throughout, paintings, oriental rugs and other ornate decor, with modern touches like a huge round table in the waiting room that is made up of hundreds of small logs standing on end, graphic patterns, metallics, and a blown glass chandelier called "Fire Light" created by local artist Filip Vagelpahl. This is the only place I know of where friends or relatives of guests are constantly being taken back to "check out the restrooms." The clever combination of styles is both "classy" and aesthetically pleasing, as is the variety of influences on the cuisine.

Sparing no expense, Robert Castoro recruited the services of world famous celebrity chef Mark Miller to help with some recipe consulting, based on his knowledge of the Latin cuisine and their culture. As a result, Barbacoa created a menu that fuses the cuisines of Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Spain together with Western and Northwestern inspired dishes. Grilled and Southwestern influenced cuisine is prominently featured on the menu. In addition, comfort foods like chicken pot pie and meatloaf intertwine with fresh takes on traditional dishes like the grilled Caesar salad in which the romaine lettuce is actually tossed on the grill or drinks such as "pop-tinis"- cocktails served with a mini-popsicle. Speaking of cocktails, this is definitely a place to see and be seen. When you slip into the lounge and bar area, you step into a classy, hip world that has quickly become the "hotspot" for Boise nightlife.

Whimsy is found throughout Barbacoa in both their decor and presentation: take a look in the bathrooms, the shy matador in the ladies will make you laugh out loud. And the presentation: touches like an appetizer with skewers suspended above your plate or fresh guacamole prepared tableside make for a dining experience that will stimulate your senses and elevate your mind.

The shop serves Grounds for Change brand fair-trade certified, organic-certified and shade-grown coffees and espressos. They offer an extensive list of speciality coffee drinks, smoothies, cold beverages, beers on draft, microbrew bottled beers and wines. An in-store wine shop sells a variety of wines and has wines on special frequently and free wine tasting on Friday and Saturday nights from 6 to 8 pm. Free wireless internet (WiFi) is available as well as a computer with Ethernet internet connection for customer use. Definitely one of Boise's best places to wind up or wind down!

Chefs Langston and Rhodes use a lot of fresh ingredients and try to use local produce when it's in-season. They also go local with their lamb from Lava Lakes, southeast of Sun Valley, and will soon add Idaho Trout to the new menu. Menu choices for lunch include appetizers, soups and salads, sandwiches, pastas, entrees and desserts. Menu choices for dinner include many of the lunch-time selections, but really take a step up with a wonderful range of appetizers such as the pesto-coated calamari with lemon-black pepper aioli and entrees such as the Lava Lakes lamb medallions lightly grilled with potato gnocchi, tossed in a gorgonzola and beet cream sauce. There’s crème brûlée, and then there’s crème brûlée – you have to taste the Café Vicino difference.

Virtually everything on the menu is imaginative and created with a flair one would expect of a master chef, with an equal amount of attention going into the presentation and delivery. Years of experience have taught chefs Richard Langston and Steve Rhodes which wines pair well with their creations, which in turn makes for an excellent wine selection. Those in the know are making well-worn tracks to a restaurant that is just a little off the beaten path. The menu changes seasonally, so stop by to check out the latest options.

Chandler's is also a great place to get an incredible meal, raising the bar on fine dining. With starters like grilled artichoke, escargot or the lobster bisque, or a filet mignon or Kurobuta pork chop in a pear brandy and Chanterelle mushroom demi-glace for entrees, no one will go wanting for more! Even the kids will be more than satisfied with a mouthwatering chocolate soufflé or some house-made ice cream or sorbet as their final course. Complement the meal with one of over 20 wines by the glass and over 250 wine selections by the bottle. They also offer lighter fare such as salads and sandwiches on their mid-day menu, and rooms are available for private parties and banquets.

The extensive menu is familiar with a fresh twist, and covers breakfast, lunch and dinner. It includes unparalleled offerings like the Oatmeal Brulee (oatmeal with a crunchy, caramelized top) or Frittata Di Pasta (frittata with zucchini, mushrooms, onions, eggs and herbs, tossed with pasta and baked with parmesan and mozzarella cheeses) for breakfast, the Monte Cristo (triple-decker sandwich with ham, turkey, swiss and cheddar cheese- breaded, lightly fried and served with raspberry preserves) for lunch, or the delectable Pork Scaloppini Marsala (pork tenderloin with shallots and mushrooms in a Marsala wine demi-glace) for a nice evening meal.

The cozy dining spot features low lighting, sunny yellow walls, brick-red chair rails and booths, and brick walls. Black and white framed photos of old landmarks around Boise are spread across the wall and a map near the entrance is almost entirely covered with straight pins to mark the hundreds of locations that Chef Lou diners hail from. Stop in to add a bit of your own history to the wall and grab a delicious meal with that special Chef Lou touch.

Whether you're new on this earth or been around for a bit; whether you’re a meat & potatoes, hunt'in, shoot'em up, 4 wheel driv'in fool; or a "don't step on an ant," sliver lip, tree hug'in, bunny lov'in, Birkenstock wear'in, Veggie Head... we'll put up with you all and we'll feed you all! We don't have much on our menu, but what we do have, may do the job! Burgers, fries & shakes & gourmet salads eaten to the tunes of... South Pacific, Jamaican, Caribbean, Latin, Reggae, Southern Rock, Jimmy Buffet, Allman Bro's, Doobie Bro's, Muddy Waters, Hendrix, Nickel Creek, Etc. Our food, our style, our love of life is what America is all about...
donnie mac's COOKS!

Open and elegant, you'l find Emilio's dining room decorated in classic white linen, beautiful flowers throughout with an amosphere of smoothing live piano. Dressed in all black with a modern twist of colorful ties, the professional serving staff is well-educated tn the ever-changing menu tha revolves throuqhout each season.

A recent winner of Wine Spectator Magazine's Award for Excellence, the extensive wine cellar features an inventory of over 250 bottles that will challenge and delight both the connoisseur and the adventuring wine enthusiasts. The modern cruvinet used by Emilio's for their by-the qlass wine program ensures the flavor of your favorite choice will be available.

Chef Hain invites you to Emilio's to experience the finest American New Age Cuisine that is sure to enrich your next special dining occasion.

Most of the menu items are family inherited; the hospitality is Idaho born, with a touch of Italian zest.

They have a full bar with a wide selection of liquors and 24 beers on draught, many of which are imports that are hard to find around town. The sports enthusiast will be pleased to find that they have 11 TVs and a big screen to watch the big game of the night.

At KB's you will find that they can be very different indeed. Starting in Ketchum, hence the name (from Ketchum Burritos) KB's has expanded to include Hailey and Boise in providing their unique take on this standard. Along with some regular offerings of their own design, including ones with fish, shrimp and various mixtures of ingredients with the standard chicken or beef, KB's also gives you the option of designing your own. You can allow yourself to be creative with their head-spinning list of ingredients. Their menu includes items for the younger set, salads, soft tacos, quesadillas, starter items, and vegetarian offerings. With all of that you can hardly go wrong. www.kbburritos.com

The food is also a step up from regular sports bar fare. Legends offers a variety of foods that range from the usual pub fare of wings or burgers to their own unique dishes such as the Wasabi Chicken Wrap, Parmesan-Crusted Salmon (topped with Roma tomato basil cream sauce), or the Black & Bleu Caesar Salad. They also serve brick oven pizza – the Margarita Pizza is a "Legends favorite." The full bar serves a range of cocktails, beers on draught and by the bottle, and wine. Check out their website to find out their current Happy Hour specials and upcoming special events.

Combined with a hotel located on the Basque Block, Leku Ona offers amenities reminding one of the "Old Country." Serving lunch and dinner six days a week there is also a European style bar that provides libations, espresso and "pintxos" from early in the day into the late night. The restaurant provides an excellent selection of entrees, appetizers and desserts along with an excellent wine list. Fresh specials are offered daily along with the standard menu to provide an authentic dining experience prepared by chefs Ramon Barquin and Asier Garcia who have both brought their culinary experience from the Basque homeland. Leku Ona offers banquets and "Family Style" dinners for large parties in addition to their regular service. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity typical of Basque tradition. On Egin!

Though the name implies an emphasis on one particular staple of Italian cuisine, Old Spaghetti Factory also serves up a plethora of other delicious Italian entrees such as their golden brown, battered Eggplant Parmesan or savory Chicken Marsala. One of the restaurant's most sought-after pasta dishes is the Mizithra cheese (a soft Greek cheese thought to be eaten by Homer when he composed the IIliad) and browned butter. Old Spaghetti Factory is nationally known for their "complete meal" in which bread, soup or salad, a beverage, and spumoni ice cream come with all of their entrees, giving those with a small dining out budget a chance for a delicious and inexpensive meal. Boise is indeed fortunate to have an Old Spaghetti Factory all to ourselves.

The scrumptious lunch menu offerings at Ono Hawaiian Cafe include: "surfer salads", cold and hot sandwiches, and hot entrees. For dinner, they offer a long list of pupu's (Hawaiian appetizers) accompanied by a poke menu (a traditional Hawaiian appetizer of fish usually served raw but cooked for Ono's menu) and a sushi menu. One of the most intriguing details one notices at Ono is the food presentation - teepees of skewered beef, square towers of noodles and drizzles of delicious sauces, many adorned with fuchsia orchids. To give you an idea of Ono's style and presentation, take a look at the front cover of the 2008 issue of Dining Decisions as we proudly feature one of Ono's creations.

In fact, this award-winning restaurant in Boise's Historic Hyde Park neighborhood specializes in local, seasonal and organic cuisine with excellent results. Proprietors Jennifer and Erik McLaughlin, who live only blocks from the restaurant, strive to maintain a truly special neighborhood dining spot. Executive Chef Fred Moffitt graduated with honors from the prestigious New England Culinary Institute and has cooked twice by invitation at the James Beard House. He has also worked at some of America's most famous restaurants including Arrows and Enoteca Vin. www.richardsofhydepark.com

The Tavern at Bown Crossing's dining area is upscale, yet casually decorated with stone-encased pillars, striped booths and tall tables. Colorful monochromatic art pieces grace the walls. A bar is located in the downstairs dining area with a smaller bar upstairs. In the summer, enjoy a tasty meal or cool down with a cold beer or cocktail on the large outdoor street patio or the patio up on the second floor, both with great views of Bown Crossing and the surrounding shops. The newlyopened Tavern Wine Market is just a few doors down from the restaurant, so stop in for a wine tasting or beer at the new wine bar.

The food is the kind of home-cooked goodness that everyone feels only their own mother can produce. In addition to the aforementioned prawns - meat, potatoes and a mouthwatering selection of seafood are also staples here, not to mention the desserts.

The crowds keep coming back - in droves. Over the years they have acquired a loyal following of regulars to the restaurant. A wait as long as an hour is not unheard of at Stagecoach Inn, but the fully-stocked bar inside can provide a welcome distraction and is also a popular spot after work - they pour one mean drink! The wood paneled walls, wagon wheel decor and stagecoach artwork brings an old-time feel to diners at the Stagecoach, the oldest, and greatest, family restaurant in Boise.