We absolutely loved our dinner at the Basque Market. This was our first time in Boise and it was…read morevery interesting to learn about the history of the Basque people in Boise. The staff were very friendly and helpful. We chose a wonderful bottle of Granache and tried several dishes (all fantastic). Braised Chorizo.. Potato Bravas... this amazing ham sandwich. Also had the best Croquetas. If you are in the area, make a point to visit the Basque Market. You will be happy you did

Tony and Tara at the Basque Market were absolutely incredible. They created an unforgettable meal…read morefor our Summer Solstice wedding with a spectacular seafood paella, a delicious vegetarian paella, and beautiful Basque hors d'oeuvres that our guests couldn't stop talking about. The execution was flawless from beginning to end. Everything was perfectly timed, beautifully presented, and absolutely delicious. Serving paella outdoors on the longest night of the year was exactly the atmosphere we had hoped to create, and Tony and Tara helped make that vision come to life. If you're considering the Basque Market for catering, don't hesitate. They played a huge part in making our wedding one we'll remember forever. Thank you both--we couldn't have asked for anything better.

My girlfriend and I took Indulge Boise's Boise River Urban Wine Trail Tour, and it was about the…read morebest introduction to Boise we could have asked for. Angela, the head of Indulge Boise, led our tour herself! Her love for the area came through in every story and every stop on our journey. The Greenbelt and Garden City districts were calmly beautiful from the get-go, but she brought them alive with history, personality, and local pride. Henry, who was training to lead the same tour, was also a perfect presence--warm, curious, and already bringing his own perspective and enthusiasm to the experience. We absolutely lucked out with two pros, brimming with hometown pride. We started with amazing tacos at The Sandbar at the Riverside Hotel, then continued through a relaxed, beautifully paced mix of wine, food, river views, and local storytelling. Nothing felt rushed, and everything felt thoughtfully curated. (Every wine stop--Telaya, Proletariat, Dude Dewalt--was excellent and exactly what we needed at that point in the tour. As were the surprise lemonade and RIVER DOGS from PJ's!!) This is exactly the kind of tour I'd recommend to visitors, locals, or anyone thinking about making Boise part of their life. A 100% memorable afternoon--one that set us up for further exploration with a probable move here!

This is a must do if you're visiting Boise, Idaho! We had the best tour guide, her name is…read moreKayshauna. She took us to 4 very different and amazing local spots. It's an easy stroll with stops for local history. Kayshauna was fun, informative and friendly. First stop was beef tallow fries with bison burger and build your own seasonings. It definitely sets the mood for the tour. We moved to one of the most infectiously delicious spots - Ansots!! Ellie and her staff make you feel like family. The food sampling was varied and oh so yummy. We had to indulge in the Basque cheesecake and bought pieces to take back to enjoy later at the hotel. There are two more delicious stops. You will not go hungry! You can also opt to add alcohol to your food tour but there is water and mocktails if you didn't. It was one of the best things we did on our trip. Book it and you won't regret it.

Yummy! This restaurant is a gem. Great drinks and happy…read morehour nibbles. My husband and I really enjoyed our meal and the ambiance.

We really wanted to like Tavolàta, but almost everything fell far short of our expectations given…read morethe reputation. We were out for an anniversary dinner and our reservation was at 6:30. We arrived 5 minutes early and were seated right away which was nice. Our server was very sweet and attentive but that's about all the good things we can offer for the experience. The tables were cramped in the space, the noise inside was so loud and the atmosphere was uncomfortable. We overheard the conversations of diners two tables away from us and didn't feel like we could really talk with each other due to that. We ordered cocktails, focaccia, entrees and dessert. The focaccia was ok but not memorable and our drinks took awhile to arrive. When they did, they were ok but not great (too much ice, almost tasteless). Our entrees arrived and I was surprised to receive only 6 clams with my fettuccini. Seemed a bit sparse for the upcharge. I think shrimp would have been a better match or mussels and more of them. (From the photos I see online, the dish should come with more clams). The pasta was fresh but bland and unexciting. My partner had the bucatini carbonara and said it was similarly bland and the meat was overcooked to the point he didn't even finish it. We were excited for the tiramisu as well since it's a dish we love. What we received was very lackluster, near tasteless and scant in both presentation and portion. We honestly feel that TJs frozen tiramisu is better than the one we had that night. Overall, we expected much more. It wasn't terrible but truly disappointing. We won't be back as there are many better options in Boise for foodies to enjoy.

Fledgling specialty food business making fantastic salsa macha (two varieties right now - cranberry…read moreand peanut) using top quality ingredients and in 6.35 oz jars at a limited number of local retailers including the Boise Farmers Market (drive through service at least, not sure about the walk about) on Saturdays. The price point ($16.50 at Farmers Market) may seem a bit 'ouch' at first but these creations are worth every penny for the quality and flavor. See photo posted for the label of the cranberry salsa macha for ingredients list (olive oil, nuts, seeds, chiles, cranberries). Three first generation Mexican American sisters are the little engine that can behind this brand, leveraging their knowledge from their family's successful salsa business of twenty years standing in Mexico. If you know a home cook who is 'into' new trends for condiments you'll likely find salsa macha is on their radar and this top quality product would be a perfect host / hostess gift to take along as thank you. Of the salsa machas I have tried this brand is at the top of the list. The uses are many as in to top eggs, to use in rice or noodles, to add to salad dressings, to dress roasted sweet potatoes and at our house tonight some of the cranberry salsa will be dolloped on a braised pork shoulder and squash Mexican stew. I am so glad to have discovered this salsa macha and now you have too! They sell online it seems. https://www.chicanafoods.com/shop PS - More good news about this good business is some of the profits made by this company are used to support worthwhile causes like stay-in-school non profits.

I don't need to add more pictures, there's over 600 to see now…read more I waited 35 years to find an Italian restaurant that compared to Mama Lina's in Little Creek Virginia. An Italian woman who married a sailor and brought to Virginia Italian food that was wonderfully delicious and priced right. Here at Luciano's I flashed back to the best Italian food I've ever had. I had the house salad and spaghetti with meatballs and my wife had a pesto chicken with a white sauce. SO DELICIOUS!! I began to shed a tear...I've found my favorite Italian restaurant finally. As a flight attendant for a major international airline I go everywhere and taste great food. Luciano's did not disappoint. It's a very busy place. The staff were very aware of my wife and I as they raced from table to table. From Olive oil and vinaigrette to the desert menu we loved our time there. Be ready to wait. It's an experience as much as a meal.

It feels a little strange saying this as people who live in the NY/NJ area, but Luciano's served…read moresome of the best Italian food we've had in years. From the moment we walked in, you could tell this was a true family-run restaurant. The atmosphere felt warm and welcoming, and our waitress was fantastic--friendly, attentive, and happy to share recommendations for places to check out around Boise. The food was so good that we completely forgot to take pictures before digging in, which honestly says everything. We started with the Caesar salad, which was solid, but the stars of the meal were the entrées. My husband ordered the shrimp Alfredo, and I had the Rosemary Chicken Formaggio. Everything tasted incredibly fresh, flavorful, and homemade. Somehow, it was even better the next day as leftovers. My husband's favorite part of the meal was actually the rosemary focaccia loaf they bring out with oil and vinegar. Simple, but absolutely delicious. If you're visiting Boise and looking for great Italian food, Luciano's is absolutely worth the stop. We'd happily come back the next time we're in town.

Food was fresh and very tasty. Loved the experience of sitting right next to oven with freshly…read morebaked bread

New owners, chef Natasha (Tasha) Getchell and Colton Messa, have made delightful improvements since…read morebuying this restaurant from the original owner in roughly December 2024. While the name remains the same, everything else seems an "ahhh..." some improvement from making the interior more welcoming, the service more gracious and the food more delicious. With the changes initiated in early 2025, it is still early days in their ownership and I'm sure there will be more to come as the eatery evolves. SPACE & SEATING: I swear the original owner had such bright lighting inside that one could land a plane there but now it is soft lighting that along with greeting offered by Colton makes guests feel very welcome stepping in the door. Italian themed music at just the right level to know it is there but not to compete with conversation. Table seating that was "sardine can tight" under the original owner, so tight that it made it a squeeze for servers trying to get to the tables and even blocked the path to the loo, has been rearranged to offer space to get around. MENU & $: The menu remains pasta centric but the new menu retains many of the former favorites and has been expanded to add new dishes. Pasta price points are roughly $23 and up for expertly prepared dishes of perfectly al dente pasta in generous portions and served hot to the table. There are also antipasti (cold and hot) that start at about $13 (example; for salads) to $23 (example for fried calamari and shrimp). Arancini are on the antipasti menu here and they are hard to find in this area. The new chef has also added "of the day" specials for fish and risotto. Because the pizza oven has put back in order, they are also offering a handful of pizza options. So one could order a meal as simple as a pizza and salad or do what we did when celebrating our anniversary here recently, and share the beet salad with orange an goat cheese ($17) to start then order both the Risotto del Giorno (on this evening it was sausage, broccoli rabe, corn $32) and Pescato (fish) del Giorno (on this evening it was full of lobster meat and tail-on shrimp over pasta in a perfect light white sauce $39) Of the day, del Giorno, options are AQ so the server will provide the price when describing the dish. Both of our dishes were delicious with in generous portions; some of the risotto came home with us to be enjoyed the next day. (See my photos.) My husband is Italian on both sides and grew up in an Italian neighborhood in Brooklyn and he thought the dishes perfect. IF I WERE QUEEN: I would bid wave my scepter and have them I would reduce the number of pasta dishes (some carried over from the old menu) and add in a few other non-pasta Italian options. (A la A Cena or Nostrana in Portland. This chef has the skill to do it.) SERVICE: The chef's daughter has been the main server but an accident a couple of months ago means she is needing time to recover and the friendly young woman serving on the night of our visit, with back up from Colton, did a lovely job. We felt well tended but not hovered over and she seemed to be offering the same gracious care to the tables all around us. It seemed she may have been a little new to the menu ingredients but that will come with time and this was big tip worthy customer care. LIBATIONS: A thoughtfully crafted wine list, beer and soft beverages across price points and our two by glass wine options totaled only $21. RESERVATIONS & AN "ALL ARE WELOME HERE" GREETING FOR WALK INS: Reservations via Open Table or by calling the restaurant and it is best to make one, although on busy Thursday when we dined in, there were a couple of walk ins, both a single and a family of four, who were able to be seated. And it is worth noting that the single young man diner and the family of four with teens in tow were treated with the same welcome and attention as the reserved dining guests. That doesn't always happen in restaurants and it didn't happen here under the original owner with the wife working front of house. ACCESSIBILITY: The inside set up has some tables that would be accessible to diners using wheelchairs and that is an improvement made by the current owners because under the previous owner that was not the case. The ongoing problem is the parking lot here has always been non-compliant for ADA with not a single spot of accessible parking near the restaurant. The lot owner finally marked a space with the ADA logo but the infuriating (that is the right response) thing is that they did not add a curb ramp so unless a wheelchair user can step up over a roughly 6" curb this is worthless. It also violates 36 year old Federal law and Idaho State building code.

We came to Corso to celebrate my friend's birthday. We all love happy hour so tonight we killed two…read morebirds with one stone. You can't beat happy hour vibes and birthday celebrations in one visit. Talk about a win win! I was that weird customer and got here exactly at 3 when they opened. To be honest with you, I loved that I got to spec out the bar area before everyone showed up. I got to appreciate the beautiful richness of the bar. It's just stunning. The red just makes the vibe sexy, mysterious and romantic. The tables were all beautifully lit with table lamps. I see people just falling in love with each other over a romantic cocktail here. I didn't really check out the dining area but if the bar area is this romantic, I can only imagine the other half of this joint. Cameron took care of us tonight. While I was waiting for the others to show up, I got myself a coke zero and chilled. I did peep out the menu and of course the happy hour menu. I knew we were in for a real treat. After the girls showed up, an old fashioned and a couple glasses of wine were ordered. And of course we got some food started! Oysters, fried caprese and shrimp cocktail. I know this food line up was going to be banger. One by one our food was coming out. Each appetizer was prettier than the plate before it. The shrimp cocktail was elegantly plated. The fried caprese was delicately garnished with herbs, tomatoes and a balsamic glaze. The oysters looked like they were just brought from the ocean fresh. Presentation was on point. I had to pass on the oysters. I don't eat oysters but I also can't have it cause of the new kidney. But from what I heard, the oysters were fantastic. I started off with the fried caprese, so good! The bread crumbs on the outside were savory and crunchy. The mozzarella in the middle was creamy and slightly melted. With the tomatoes, herbs and glaze in each bite...... wow. The ultimate flavor combo! Sweet, salty, cheesey and crunchy. To only have was hard cause I could have polished all 4! The shrimp cocktail was perfectly halved. Sprinkles of capers and microgreens added some earthy tones to the plate. I appreciate that they were sliced in half. It was easier to eat. I was able to cover each slice with some cocktail sauce. There was a nice heat from the horseradish that wasn't overwhelming. Enough to tickle your nose but not make you blackout. The fresh bread did make an appearance while we were eating. Better late than not getting fresh bread at all! The bread was out of the oven warm. I took a nice piece and slapped some butter on it. Fresh bread and butter will always be the best combo. I love the saltiness from the seasonings on top. It was soft, warm and crusty. I could have came here for a huge chunk of warm bread and left happy. That bread was killer. Cameron was great and got my friend, Laura a piece of limoncello cake for her birthday. Laura saved me a chunk of that slice of heaven. I was outside on a phone call when they started working on it. Grateful my friend was kind and shared her cake with me. Woooooooooww. We were making jokes about saying it would be our birthday every week so we can come in for limoncello cake. It was the perfect dessert to end our meal. I'm so happy we got to come in tonight. Food was chef's kiss. Cameron did a marvelous job taking care of us girls. The venue is absolutely gorgeous. And I loved how diverse the crowd was. The vibe was truly one of a kind unique. I look forward to coming back with my husband and having a romantic dinner here. I got the fun, light hearted happy hour experience. My next visit will most definitely be a romantic dinner with my husband kind of visit. I can't wait!

I hate leaving negative reviews, but after choosing Corso Italian Steakhouse to celebrate my mom's…read more50th birthday, I feel like people should know about our experience. It started with the stuffed mushrooms, which were disappointing. They were basically just stuffed with sausage and lacked any real flavor or balance. My Hugo Spritz arrived with what looked like only two sips in the glass, which was surprising considering the price. Unfortunately, the entrees were even worse. My mom's steak was served cold, and her twice baked potato looked like it had been made the day before and barely reheated. Another steak and potato were exactly the same. We sent both steaks back, and after waiting quite a while, they came back looking like they had simply been microwaved. Instead of fixing the issue, both steaks were now completely overcooked and dry. We had chicken piccata pasta and that was honestly inedible. My chicken Parmesan was just okay, but the broccolini had such a strong chemical taste that I couldn't eat it. For what should have been a special dinner celebrating my mom's 50th birthday, this was incredibly disappointing. Between the poor food quality, long wait to correct obvious issues, and the fact that the "fix" made the steaks even worse, this was one of the worst restaurant experiences I've had. We left frustrated and wishing we had chosen somewhere else for such an important celebration.

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.