Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Barbacoa Grill

    4.2 (1.7k reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Barbacoa Grill Photos

    Business Info

    BARBACOA GRILL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Trendy
    Upscale
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Barbacoa Grill

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Lobster side
    McKenna D.

    My husband and I are visiting from out of town, and after asking several locals for restaurant recommendations, Barbacoa came up again and again. We had an 8:30 PM reservation on a Friday night but arrived about an hour early. Despite the restaurant being busy, the staff was incredibly accommodating and seated us right away. Our server, Ryan, was fantastic--attentive, knowledgeable, and full of great recommendations. The tableside guac came highly recommended, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. I told my husband it was the best guacamole I've ever had (get it spicy if you're into that thing) The prices are definitely on the higher side, but the food, ambiance, and overall experience made it feel worth the premium. Somehow I missed taking a photo of my steak, but it was cooked perfectly and had a great flavor. Personally, I would have liked a little more seasoning, but it was still a very solid steak. Overall, Barbacoa delivered a memorable dining experience with excellent service, delicious food, and a beautiful atmosphere. I can see why it's a favorite among locals, and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone visiting Boise.

    BBQ Duck Quesadilla - IG @bougiefoodieboi
    Kyle W.

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

    Tableside Guacamole
    Madelon C.

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

    Medusa
    Pam B.

    Excellent food and service! Head to the bar area for an early dinner and happy hour drinks! didn't even need a reservation and we got a booth under Medusa

    Very micro sized oyster. 6= $24

    Not busy. Not smart service. Ordered salad. Oysters that were finger nail sized. Never took our steak order. 40th wedding anniversary wrecked. Cashed out. Left. Not to return unless I'm a guest and I'm treated.

    Flaming up the area on The Rock. The food was amazing.
    Susan C.

    All I can say is don't miss this place! Take a moment to take in the ambiance of the space, it's like an art installation. The views with the wide open doors is gorgeous. And most important, the service is impeccable. RICH was the best in presentation, service & over all experience. We wanted for nothing u see his watch. His sidekick, I feel horrible that I can't recall his name, was amazing as well.

    Amber D.

    We came during a busy time and generally they like for you to have reservations but fortunately they had room in the VIP section so we were sat in seconds. The room is cute and has good vibes but it definitely is VIP. Closed off to any people watching. We got the crab bisque, flatbread stuffed pepper and it was amazing!! I ate all of my plate. The waitress was very kind and attentive. I had found something in my food and I wasn't sure what it was so I asked the waitress and she wants sure. Honestly, I wasn't pressed about it and still ate the whole thing. She said the manager was going to comp me but I told her NO! I ate the whole thing I Will absolutely pay for it. She still took it off so I left a %50 tip. Excellent food, service and prices. Must recommend!

    Dani S.

    It's been a few years since I have been to Barbacoa. Tonight we came in for my husband's company late Christmas Christmas party. Last year we celebrated at their sister restaurant Coa Del Mar and enjoyed every bit of it. My husband and his co workers can't get enough of the filet hot rock. It was an unanimous vote to come to Barbacoa to celebrate our post holiday dinner. Our first interactions coming in was not pleasing. I will have to say, the hostesses were quite rude and unorganized. Our table had already checked in and sat. We were the last ones to show up. The hostess had a hard time locating our reservation even though our party was already somewhere in the dining area. We repeated the reservation name to her several times. Clearly she wasn't paying attention since we had to say it over and over again. After several attempts, she finally located our party. "Someone will guide you to your table". After standing there for a bit we realized no one was going to "guide us" anytime soon. It's such a shame that we started our experience with this kind of service. We ended up just locating our party on our own. She was completely useless in the help department. Our server had gotten drinks started for our table since we got there late. She got us squared away after we got ourselves situated. We breezed over the menu while she grabbed our sodas. Guac was also started for the table. The table side guacamole never disappoints. We toasted, enjoyed our appetizer and hung out till our server was ready to take our orders. I ordered the ribeye tonight. My husband got the filet hot rock with a couple of his co workers. I asked for my ribeye to be really well done. With my new kidney, I can't really have undercooked steak. Our server reassured me that my steak will be cooked well done and that it was going to be great. For my side I got some asparagus. I have had the asparagus every time I have eaten here and it's always fantastic. It was busy tonight and there were quite a few of us in our group so our food did take a minute to get prepared. But after everything was dropped off, I knew it was worth the wait. Our food looked phenomenal! The gentleman who poured my husband's cognac sauce did a great job, great presentation. I got my beautiful ribeye on a black board placed in front of me. My friend next to me ordered the salmon. On her salmon was a vibrant orchid. It added such an elegant touch to her plate. Everyone's food looked fantastic. This is where I compliment the chef. My ribeye was juicy, flavorful and it had outstanding char marks on it. For my ribeye to be cooked well done, it was so tender. The sauce that was paired with it was tangy and spicy. It was the perfect sauce for my ribeye. The asparagus once again was money. I ate a little more than half of my steak and I look forward to finishing it tomorrow. Dessert was a must after we finished dinner. I have had the fried ice cream pops in the past. They are too good! But the bananas foster was calling my name tonight. Our friends next to us ordered the same dessert. The rest of the party got the fried ice cream pops. The presentation for the bananas foster was magnificent. We dug right in after the flame went out. The bread pudding was divine. The gelato that came on the side was sweet and creamy. Paired together the bread pudding and gelato was the ultimatecombination. As full as I was, I had to finish this lovely dessert. Our start wasn't the best. The hostesses are the first people to set the tone of your dining experience. I'm happy that our server, the vibe and of course the food made up for such horrible first interactions. Our server was on point and so was everyone else who tended to our table. With Barbacoa having such a rich and romantic vibe, it resonates in their food. Everything about tonight was lovely. Looking forward to coming back when it's warmer so we can sit out on the patio by the water. I can't think of a better way to enjoy to have dinner.

    Baked Salmon
    Nicki P.

    I've been here three times and I'm always impressed with the atmosphere and experience. We sat in the bar for this visit and had a three course dinner. Started with a few appetizers, and of course had to get the table-side guacamole. It's made custom to heat preference so we got medium this time. Ryan was our server and attentive the entire time. I ordered the salmon for dinner and it was incredible! A few friends of the steak, and it looked great too. We got a couple desserts to share, the ice cream donut and crème brûlée. Overall amazing meal and service.

    Eric D.

    The service was outstanding. The food was amazing. And the atmosphere was very pleasant and welcoming. I spent my birthday here with my girlfriend and her friend and her friend's boyfriend. We want to come back for more tasty entrees.

    Birthday Cotton Candy
    David M.

    Great decor and location, especially with Halloween additions. Service is always top notch at this restaurant and their others. Love their "BOGO" (buy one, get one) drink specials during happy hour. Everyone loved their meals. The rib entree is HUGE (sorry, no pics). Definitely need a to-go box. My carne asada could have used some more seasoning. Chose the hot rock and sauce and even though the sauce is delicious, it doesn't say "carne asada". Could have had some different and additional sides to make your own tacos but still a good dish. Would not order this entree again with all of the other good options. Would some here again.

    Pomegranate Martini
    Minji K.

    SO DELICIOUS everything we had was absolutely delicious we started out with guac - they asked how spicy we wanted it which i thought was a nice touch paella was seasoned well, full of flavor and had tons of different proteins seafood mixto was a lemon forward pasta and was perfect to go with the other dishes the new york strip was amazing, love the idea of the hot rock and get the cognac sauce on the side we got the zucchini chips on the side of the steak and they were perfectly crisp! sliced super thin!! Service was impeccable, Tim was so delightful and considerate

    View
    Lana W.

    Great ambience but not fabulous vegetarian options. Had the vegetarian enchilada- too much spinach for me, the vegetarian paella was good- grilled Caesar salad was average. - HUGE portions - can def share entrees

    See all

    21 hours ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    24 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 4
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Pam B.
    0
    45
    9

    7 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 hours ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 28
    Thanks 10
    Love this 22
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lana W.
    0
    109
    32

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kori A.
    173
    10
    0

    29 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    17 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Iris G.
    8
    18
    21

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 76
    Thanks 29
    Love this 66
    Oh no 2

    7 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Beth M.
    1
    137
    0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 days ago

    Horrible service...went for my bday. Food came out only after complaining. Waited very an hour. Over priced for horrible service.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    Page 1 of 44

    Barbacoa Grill Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Barbacoa Grill

    Do they have mocktails for recovering alcoholics or kids? I love the chill, but cannot have alcohol. Thank you in advance

    Yes they do.

    Price of porterhouse steak?

    $120

    Can you make reservations for happy hour?

    The bar is open seating so I assume not. You can call them.

    What is the dress code?

    All over the board. Some people were dressed up, others super casual.

    Are kids allowed at the bar area?

    Kids can go into the bar area but not at the bar top.

    Are there gluten-free and dairy-free options?

    Peter, We have a gluten free menu. As well as almost all of our dishes can be adjusted to be… 

    Is there bar seating that is first come/first served or do you HAVE to have a reservation?

    Our upper bar and rooftop bar are first come/first serve.

    When will the rooftop bar open this year? Thank you, I look forward to it :)!

    Our Rooftop patio opens May 5th but is weather pending.

    Do they still have Sunday HH, if so what are the times?

    Happy hour is BOGO 7 days a week from 4pm - 6pm. All alcoholic beverages under $15

    How does happy hour BOGO work? Does it include entrees?

    No, order your 1st drink by 6 pm and the 2nd one is free. I enjoy their bar menu and specifically… 

    There's a rumor that there's a Vegan secret menu? Can someone confirm and if so what's on it?

    We do offer a Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten Free menu upon request. Hope to see you soon!

    View All 12 Questions

    You might also consider

    Saltbrush

    Saltbrush

    4.0
    (64 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    I had the opportunity to dine at Saltbrush for a business dinner recently. I had heard the pork…read morechop was amazing and as a midwestern girl, I was excited to try it. Spoiler alert--It is all that! Our server shared that it is a mainstay on the menu and how it is presented changes with the season. For our visit it was served with a rice salad. TBH, I would have licked the plate if I could. Also, I wish I could have finished every thing and picked at the bone. OMG Amazing. The restaurant itself is beautiful. Great build out, quiet--great place to have good dinner conversation. Service was outstanding. Wine list was solid. My only regret is that I wish I would have gone with a larger party so we could split dishes and try more. I can't wait to go back.

    The ambience is fun. Waitstaff was attentive but not over…read moreour shoulders the entire time. The food...... I could go either way. It wasn't bad but for the pricing, I wasn't wowed either. Here's some food review: The steak tartar lacked salt. But the flavor and quality of the beef was good. The duck fat potato didn't come with the trout caviar on top. It was crispy on the outside. Mush on the inside. The sauce lacked salt and needed more of a flavor punch. The curry snapper needed more curry taste but the dish was cooked very well. The duck confit was just okay in my opinion. Again, lacked salt again. The duck was fall of the bone tender but was placed on top of a miclx of mushy lentils and salad, not my jam. The ribeye was cooked well but in my opinion, a steak shouldn't be presented already cut. Would I go again? Yes. I'd take a date for a few cocktail and a nice meal. But did it wow me? Service wise. Yes. Food wise, meh.

    Photos
    View to the bar
    View to the bar
    Lasagna
    Lasagna
    Tenderloin

    See all

    Tenderloin
    Coa De Jima

    Coa De Jima

    4.3
    (249 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$$

    My wife and I were looking for a great Mexican food restaurant and we found it in Coa de Jima…read more We started with the Ceviche appetizer which was a recommendation of our wonderful waitress and it was phenomenal. It was just spicy enough to be noticed but not enough to ruin the meal. We pared it with the Cadillac margaritas which were amazing. I had the carnitas dinner which was delicious and abundant. Coa de Jima is definitely one of the best Mexican restaurants in the treasure valley and a great place for a date night, taco tuesday or mid-week dinner.

    I was excited to dine here (first visit), but was disappointed in the food and drinks…read more Walking in, the decor is beautiful and dramatic. Full bar, large booths. It's very inviting, if not decadent feeling. Unfortunately, the food and drinks were lacking. My mocktail was recommended by our server, but it was much too sweet, and had a weird aftertaste. We ordered chips, guac, and it came with two versions of salsa. One was incredibly bitter (tasted very vinegar-y), while the other just tasted strange. Neither me or my husband like it. The guac, however, was very good. We ordered the Seafood Ceviche, which is a dish we usually love, but not so much here! It was covered in an orange sauce that was overly acidic. It was so much and so acidic, we couldn't taste the seafood. It was lost in the sauce. It seems as though whoever's in the kitchen lacks some culinary intuition. The staff were good. It'a dimly lit, even during the day, for those with sight issues.

    Photos
    Coa De Jima bar
    Coa De Jima bar
    Mar y Tierra
    Mar y Tierra
    Spicy margarita

    See all

    Spicy margarita
    Anthony's Boise

    Anthony's Boise

    3.6
    (177 reviews)
    1.7 mi

    Tonight we had an exceptionally long wait after ordering. We were very frustrated as we had a puppy…read moreat home in a crate that has been sick - (we've never had this issue before) we love this place but by the time the meal came - we had to leave. The manager, Cassie was an all star- she not only paid for our food and drinks but sent us home with our meal, which was still good! Chris, the waiter was alone on the floor so we were not angry, we just had other commitments. They were both amazing and went above and beyond to keep their customer satisfaction ratings up! We love this place, we will be back and highly recommend it. Thanks for caring! Your type of people make a difference!

    First time we didn't have a perfect experience. Service was great, but I felt like Tristan (sp)…read morewas overwhelmed. Food was not the highlight this evening and with prices soaring, it was even more disappointing. The Good: Oysters were fresh, very delicious! Sourdough Bread Cocktails Daughters kids menu pasta Ahi Stack The Bad: Overcooked Steaks Calamari fried a bit too long Disengaged / Distracted Manager at reception I mention the manager because one of the servers accidentally broke a water glass right next to our table. No one was hurt but he should've came over and checked on my daughters to ensure that was the case. He decided to stay and chat with the greeter...you can put two and two together. I expect elite level quality and service, have gotten it before here but things have changed. You can do better Anthony's, and as a reminder, loved our server, not on her.

    Photos
    Open kitchen view
    Open kitchen view
    Halibut with a Fresh Nectarine Salsa.
    Halibut with a Fresh Nectarine Salsa.
    Bailies Chocolate Mouse with whipped cream-- oh my, wonderful. Part of a Sunset Prix Fixe.

    See all

    Bailies Chocolate Mouse with whipped cream-- oh my, wonderful. Part of a Sunset Prix Fixe.
    Chandlers Prime Steaks & Fine Seafood

    Chandlers Prime Steaks & Fine Seafood

    4.4
    (784 reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$$$

    If you're looking for a true fine dining experience in Boise, Chandler's Steakhouse absolutely…read moredelivers. From the moment you walk through the door, the restaurant exudes an upscale, elegant atmosphere, and every member of the staff is warm, welcoming, and professional. Our server, Kim, made the evening exceptional. She was attentive, personable, and incredibly knowledgeable, striking the perfect balance between professionalism and genuine hospitality. She truly elevated an already wonderful dining experience. We started the evening with a seafood tower, a bottle of champagne, and the beef carpaccio. The carpaccio was exquisite, beautifully prepared and full of flavor. I also ordered the lobster bisque. While I would have loved a few more chunks of lobster, the broth itself was rich, velvety, and incredibly flavorful. I would happily order it again. The steak selection is outstanding, including premium cuts from Idaho's own Snake River Farms, which was a nice local touch. I chose the ribeye accompanied by scallops, while my wife enjoyed the petite filet. Both were cooked perfectly and absolutely delicious. For sides, we shared the potatoes, asparagus, and Brussels sprouts. The potatoes and asparagus were the stars of the table, but the Brussels sprouts were also excellent and complemented the meal beautifully. The wine list is extensive and thoughtfully curated, with fantastic selections for just about every palate. We enjoyed a couple of outstanding bottles that paired perfectly with dinner. To finish, we shared the carrot cake and the butterscotch crème brûlée. Both desserts were outstanding and provided the perfect ending to an exceptional meal.

    3/29/26- Didn't Take long for us to come back haha. This is our favorite spot for great food and…read moreservice. This time buddy ordered prime rib with bone marrow and mac n cheese, other buddy got halibut, and I tried the Hawaiian caught mahi mahi I believe. All of it was great and the buddy who has never been there before is a picky steak guy and was super pleased with his steak and bone marrow! We'll be back again...and again. 3/14/26-Wow! Great experience, they are on top of their game. Food was amazing, so I'll be back for sure!

    Photos
    The front bar
    The front bar
    Duck Two Ways
    Duck Two Ways
    Front of restaurant

    See all

    Front of restaurant
    The Brickyard

    The Brickyard

    4.3
    (591 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$$

    This is an old school steak house down exactly right. From the impeccable service to the interior…read moredesign that is dated in the right way to the most important element- the food. This will hands down be our new go-to for any special occasion where we want to dress up and go out. Management even took an extra step to make sure my husband had the drink he wanted. It's probably one of the only times I've been to an expensive restaurant and didn't feel let down.

    Passing through I went to the Yelp gods to suggest a good spot to eat. Well, we decided on wanting…read moreto eat steak so we ended up here at The Brickyard. I really enjoyed dining here. The decor was beautiful and the piano player music was welcoming. Looks like they have dueling pianos which is a plus. Our server was Johnathan and he was very friendly and personable. 5 STARS for his service and being witty. Food: Steak Frites with truffled fries, chimichurri, blistard grape, tomatoes and sunny side egg. Dungeness Crab Dip Table side Salad Chef The steak was cooked medium temperature. It was a huge piece that I couldn't finish it. I ended up eating less than half and gave the egg to my friend to eat. I did like the fries. It was flavorful. My friends enjoyed their meals that they had no leftovers. Great location and delicious food. If you park in one of the street parking stalls, make sure you pay the meter.

    Photos
    Dining area
    Dining area
    Chocolate ice cream over a chocolate tart cake and then pour chocolate Bailey's over it.
    Chocolate ice cream over a chocolate tart cake and then pour chocolate Bailey's over it.
    Espresso Martini and The Lady

    See all

    Espresso Martini and The Lady
    ÀLAVITA

    ÀLAVITA

    4.2
    (457 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    Rigatoni Braised local beef + black garlic-truffle butter + roasted local mushrooms + spinach +…read morepickled 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

    First time in Boise, Idaho, visiting for the Boise Half Marathon. I ended up dining at Alavita…read moretwice -- 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.

    Photos
    ÀLAVITA
    ÀLAVITA
    Beer

    See all

    Beer

    Barbacoa Grill - steak - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...