I took my friend out to lunch today for his birthday. He wanted to come to Luciano's so of course I…read moresaid yes. The last time I ate here, I really enjoyed our meal so I knew I was in store for a good lunch. I arrived first. I hung out for a bit. Raylyn (sp) greeted me and asked me if I wanted anything to drink. I had a flavored water so I content for the moment. My friend finally showed up shortly after. We got started on the foccacia bread and olive oil/balsamic dip. The bread was good but it wasn't warm like the previous time. It was nicely seasoned and buttery on top. The olive oil/balsamic dip is so good with it! We breezed over the menu while we were enjoying the bread. Raylyn came and took our order. We ordered some fried mozzarella to share. For lunch I got a side of meatballs and my friend got the chicken parm on pasta with a side salad. The fried mozzarella was so good! The piece of mozzarella that was fried was so thick! I had a fourth of one of the cheesesticks. I didn't want to get too full when I still had meatballs coming. My meatballs were so good! It was generously covered in their marinara sauce. It was rich in tomato with a slight heat to it, so good! My friend's chicken parm pasta was a generous portion! I probably could have made 3 meals off of his plate. He enjoyed the chicken of course and had some of the pasta. We couldn't end lunch without some birthday dessert so my friend got some cannolis started. This is my first time trying a cannoli and woooooow! It was so good! The cream in the middle had a orange flavor to it with some chocolate chips. The exterior of the cannoli was crunchy and sweet. The ends were dipped in semi sweet chocolate and was so good! I probably could have polished 2 more but I was so full from lunch. Next time I'm going to just have the bread and cannolis. That dessert was perfection. Lunch was fabulous today. Our food and dessert were divine. Raylyn did a marvelous job taking care of us! She was kind, attentive and is great at customer service. I can't stop thinking of those cannolis and I look forward to coming back soon to have some more!

Man.. I wish I had better things to say. We came here with no reservations (no biggie) and waited…read more45 mins (cool) but when we got seated we waited 15 mins before anybody even recognized we were there. We understand it was busy but at some point you have to manage your tables better.... We got to order our within 15 mins for our appetizers but had to wait another 30 minutes to order our main meal. an Hour later we were able to order our entree and that is unacceptable. We waited so long, we asked for our boxes and meals to go before it was even served to us. I really wanted to get this place more stars but at this point it's probably a three star if not a 2 1/2. I can't judge the food or anything else based on the lack of consideration or Manning in the place since we came..

We had a great date night at Tavolata this evening. Matt C was our server and gave us the BEST…read morerecommendations on cocktails and wine. He gave us the perfect recommendations for food as well. The ambiance is great inside this restaurant. It has a busy happy feel, cute decor for the holidays, and the staff is all extremely friendly. The food was delicious, although we are leaving in a food coma. We ordered one appetizer and two pastas, all 10/10. We will be returning!

I really wanted to like Tavolàta, especially given the reputation for handmade pasta, but the…read moreexperience fell short of expectations. We walked in around 7 pm and it seems like a slow night. So I expect everything should be good but it wasn't. We ordered food and drinks and start right off with food even came earlier than drink. Obviously server doesn't care. The food came , salad and pasta all together and the ravioli was not even warm. The pasta itself was decent, but nothing memorable. Flavors felt a bit flat, and for the price point, I was expecting something more refined or at least more balanced. Service was also inconsistent. Our server seemed friendly but stretched thin, It didn't feel like anyone was really paying attention to the table. They seems to be paying attention on the phone than the table. And they seem really rush us out when they were only 8.30 pm when they close at 10 pm not sure why they keep asking if we need a box and put down the check right after we got our food. Overall, not a terrible experience, but definitely not one I'd rush back for, especially with other great dining options in Boise.

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

Alavita is one of the more reliable Italian spots in downtown Boise, and overall it delivers a…read morereally 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.

Great food and better people. Food is authentic priced great and the service is better.read more

The name remains but owner chef Vincenzo and his wife who managed (I use the verb loosely) front of…read morehouse and who could be abrasive to staff and customers have left the building. That is a good thing for the new young owners who bought this business. Whether the former owners are still involved in any way, I do not know except to say they were seen dining in there on at least one occasion since the change happened. Since there are enough of us who had all around miserable experiences with the previous owners and said "never again", this comment is for others know that now is the time to come back. The ownership transition seems to have happened sometime after November of last year. If you check the website you'll see the "about" part of it is still about Vincenzo. I recommend the new owners change that to indicate this young couple is now at the helm. The menu, largely pasta, is about the same and with price points running from roughly $23 to $27 for them. Antipasti (cold and hot) start at about $13 for a salad to $23 for fried calamari and shrimp. The owner mentions that they plan to put the pizza oven in the space (see my long ago taken photo) to work as a pizza oven. (To now in the old ownership days it was used to finish bread.) Additions are also planned for for the menu. You will still need a reservation. The access problems from before are the same now. But the entire vibe of the place under the new ownership clearly including a skilled chef, will refresh your appetite to eat at this trattoria if it was ruined by the previous owners.

Loved the food, service and atmosphere! Fresh made in house pasta! Mussels were really good too!read more

Went there for a quiet date, and we sat down to order. Service was friendly and fast - and then we…read moreattempted to order. Wanted a mule that was advertised on their social media. They don't sell liquor anymore. Fine. We'll have a glass of Moscato. But they just poured their last glass. Awesome. So I asked what they have from the brewery next door - Pilsner. Fantastic, I'll have that. Oops - all out! Zero for three. That was how the night started and ended. Will not be returning. 0/10 Do not recommend.

Great Italian deli. Customer service 5 stars! I order the #16 (they said it was the most popular…read morecold sandwich) it was great. We will definitely be going back!

Went for lunch and was so HAPPY we did. Phenomenal, real, authentic Italian subs, sodas, Italian…read morewedding soup. Felt like I was back in Boston although they're from New York. Felt homelike. Will be coming back for more!

Just love this place. The whole vibe inside is amazing with all the black and red. Reminds me of a…read moreclassic dinner club. Just needs a band with a crooner in the corner ;-) Service is always on point sitting at the bar, in a booth or at a table. Menu has a lot of choices and not just meat. I particularly enjoy the Wedge salad and seafood dishes. Love the open kitchen in the main dinning area. They have an excellent Happy Hour as well. Check them out!

The food was quite good and several things on the menu you don't see in Boise. I started with the…read moreshrimp and calamari Fritto Misto. It's fried seafood with some deep fried onions and red peppers. It was good, but not really much for $18. (Come during happy hour when it's 12.). Then I had a steak sandwich with Parmesan fries. It says it's hanger steak. Was very tender meat with pesto sauce on the ciabatta bread. Not much else on the sandwich and not enough sauce. Thin, shoestring type fries covered with garlic parsley, and lots of shredded Parmesan cheese. The service was outstanding. Even though Emma was busy, she helped me and explained the menu to me. This has got to be at least the fifth or sixth time this building has changed. It's quite fancy looking yet dark inside. And prices seem to go up every time. But it's a very good food and happy hour deals look good. I was there at the wrong time though.

Food is good, but the environment is what you're really going for. It's a nice river side…read morerestaurant, and all the food is good but a little plain. Drinks are perfect though!

Everything is pretty average here. The food is just ok. The service was decent. I like that there…read moreis an outdoor patio, but it was crowded and has an ok view. Parking is terrible, so if you are nearby definitely utilize the green belt.

They go above and beyond. Great food and incredible service. Great for large groups and kid…read morefriendly.

I really like the food here! The portions are generous and the servers are friendly and attentive…read more Prices are reasonable too.

We came in for my nephew's birthday tonight. We were all just here a week ago. The chicken…read moreparmesan and pizza really impressed them so they wanted another round of everything. We were sat in the little banquet room on the side. It's very nice and big so it comfortably sat the 9 of us. Our server got our drinks started and we looked over the menu. I was rather confused why she checked up on us a handful of times and never took our orders. After the 6th "check up" I asked her if she could take our orders. Honestly, we were tired of waiting. My husband and I decided to share a couple things. I really just wanted the clam chowder and salad, that's what I had last time and I really enjoyed it. But he convinced me to split a pizza and a chicken parmesan sammy. We did get a side of clam chowder with our chicken parmesan sammy so I was happy. Soups and salad seemed like forever to be served. I don't know what was taking so long. Salads are usually prepped and soup is already made for the day. It wasn't really busy so it annoying to wait a long as we did. But when it did finally come out, it so looked great. My soup was just as amazing as the first time I had it. I enjoyed the clams, muscles, and potatoes. It was rich and creamy. It was an excellent cup of soup. Our food started to trickle out slowly. I didn't get a chance to see my husband's chicken parmesan sandwich last time we were there so I can see why he wanted to order it again. The bread was fresh. The piece of chicken was generous and had a good amount of sauce on it. It was hot and savory. I enjoyed the couple bites that I took. The pizza we ordered was half cheese half pineapple. It was deep dish and the cheese was nicely melted all over the pie. After taking my first bite, I had to ask for extra marinara sauce. The pizza was all crust and no sauce. It was dry and needed the extra marinara on the side. I only had one slice, it was just too dense for me. We finished dinner and got our left overs boxed up. I thought our server was going to bring a birthday dessert for my nephew. He was told about the dessert and we hung out till we were over it. My nephew said he didn't need it so we decided it was time to head out. I'm happy we came and supported this local joint for my nephew's birthday. It's important that we support local owners. But overall service was ok for me. The large gaps in time waiting wasn't appealing. The pizza is something I wouldn't order again. The chicken parmesan sammy was decent. The clam chowder was killer and would be something I'd order again. Since we were basically here a week apart, I don't see us coming back anytime soon. But if we do, I'll just stick to what I had originally wanted.

The restaurant was right next to our hotel so we came here for lunch. Right when we walked in, I…read moreliked how it was a nice, cozy atmosphere compared to the frigid weather outside. As for the food, it wasn't anything too special. It definitely wasn't bad, just not something I'd get again. The staff were very nice though. They checked up on us often, and were overall very friendly.